Weekly Bulletin #369 Eighth Year
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Weekly Bulletin #369
09\09\2010 – 14\09\2011
Eighth Year
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Egypt
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The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is a new predator of press freedom
Reporters Without Borders is very disturbed by information minister Osama Heikal’s 7 September decision, after consulting with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, to temporarily freeze the granting of satellite TV licences to recent applicants without saying how long the freeze will last.
Heikal also threatened other TV stations, accusing them of indiscipline and saying he was asking the relevant agency to “take legal measures against satellite TV stations that jeopardize stability and security.” He said the measures were needed to restore order to the “increasingly chaotic media scene” and because of “concerns over incitement to violence.”
Also Reporters Without Boarders saw that these announcement and comments amount to a declaration of war on the broadcast media and, in particular, independent satellite TV stations that dare to criticize the Supreme Council’s policies.
Restricting the media is a continuation for the corrosion of the gains of the revolution
ANHRI condemned today the ongoing measures and procedures applied by the interim authorities in Egypt that administer the country in the transitional phase, circumventing the gains of the Egyptian revolution and restraining public freedoms, especially freedom of expression. In this context, the Egyptian security services raided the office of Aljazeera Mubasher Misr channel in Al-Agouza destrict and seized the broadcasting equipment, as well as having arrested a technical engineer who works for the channel without a permission from the prosecution, claiming that the channel operates without a license.
Source: Reporters Without Boarders
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information about Egypt: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=53
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Iraq
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Assassination of the theatrical and media professional Hadi Al-Mahdi
ANHRI condemned the killing of the theatrical media professional Hadi Al-Mahdi, few days after having published on his personal Facebook account that he had been receiving anonymous threats because of his involvement in the popular protests in Iraq.
Al-Mahdi was one of the most prominent activists calling for these popular protests since their outbreak last February. He was arrested by the security forces following one of these protests and was beaten. Subsequently, he filed a complaint to the Supreme Judicial Council, in which he mentioned his kidnapping and detainment without a judicial permission, and blamed any danger he or his family may encounter on the General Commander of the Armed Forces.
Source: The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information about Iraq: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=18
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Bahrain
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Appeal to the writers: Do not participate in the creation of a false reality about the actual state of freedom of expression
Bahrain Center for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Bahraini Press Association, launched an appeal, through its website, to the writers and authors participating in the “Ta’a AlShaba / We all read” festival to review the human rights situation, particularly those related to the freedom of expression and publication, in Bahrain before confirming their participation in the festival. It made a reference in the appeal to the many and continuous attacks on Bahraini journalists and writers who are being arrested, tried before military courts, dismissed from their jobs, and forced to immigrate at times when the country arranges for official cultural festivals without their participation, which do not contribute in any way, to the reinforcement of the freedom of expression except through drawing a false picture about the situation in Bahrain . The Center and the Association demanded the participating writers to show solidarity with their fellow Bahraini authors and journalists and send a clear message, that unless Bahraini authorities open an investigation about the death of two journalists, stop unfair trials against writers who express their views, and drop the charges issued against some of them, and unless there is a real improvement to the climate of freedom of expression in Bahrain, they will not be able to participate in festivals, that only contribute to creating a false picture about reality of freedom of expression in Bahrain.
Source: Bahrain Center for Human Rights
For more information about Bahrain: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=13
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Sudan
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Shameful record in attacking the freedom of press
Reporters for Human Rights (GAHR)re-called the Sudanese journalists, activists of freedom of expression and legal experts to form a broad to safeguard the freedoms against the systematic violations by the bodies of the regime. This front has to support at all the efforts of journalists for more solidarity campaigns and advocacy, and arrangement of the rows to continue the fighting in the battle with high confidence and relentless.
It also said “(a few weeks ago, Reporters for Human Rights (GAHR) concerned the continuation of governmental policies on the freedom of press and expression, and it moves towards increasing its egregious violations, by the arrest of journalists and the confiscation of newspapers (Al- Ahdath – Al-Gareda – Al-Medan), and to stop the newspapers from publication ( Ajras Al-Horeyya – the other five English newspapers)”.
Source: Reporters for Human Rights (GAHR)
For more information about Sudan: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=16
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Saudi
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UK must deliver justice over Baha Mousa abuse case
Amnesty International has called on the UK authorities to bring to justice all those responsible for the death of Baha Mousa, after an inquiry into the death of the Iraqi hotel receptionist found that UK soldiers violently assaulted him while in custody in Basra in 2003.
Baha Mousa suffered 93 separate injuries before he died, said the inquiry’s report, which was released today. Nine other Iraqis held with Mousa were also subjected to human rights violations that constituted war crimes during their detention.
“What happened to Baha Mousa and the other men detained with him at the hands of British soldiers must never be allowed to happen again. Whatever the pressures the soldiers may have faced in Iraq during that time, torture can never be justified in any circumstances,” said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
“Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions and brought swiftly to justice, including in criminal proceedings – nothing less will do”.
Source: Amnesty International
For more information about Saudi:
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Yemen
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Yemeni journalists continue to be targeted
The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by Monday’s attack on two Yemeni journalists by a group of armed men. Reports of other attacks on journalists point to a worsening situation for press freedom in the country.
Abdul al-Hafeez al-Hatami, correspondent for the news website Al-Sahwa Net, and Raafat al-Amiri, cameraman for Suhail TV, the opposition pro-revolution news station, were covering the rising oil prices in the Al-Duha district in the western province of Hobeidah when they were attacked by a group of armed men, Al-Sahwa Net reported. The assailants confiscated the journalists’ camera and returned it only after a local tribe intervened and negotiated with the attackers.
On August 28, BBC reporter Abdallah Ghoraib and cameraman Zein al-Saqaaf were attacked by five armed thugs while they were covering a protest against oil and electricity outages in Sana’a, the news website News Yemenreported. The group of men interrogated the reporters on what they were filming and why they were there and then beat them and destroyed their camera, Ghoraib told News Yemen.
Source: The Committee to Protect Journalists
For more information about Yemen: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=21
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Syria
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Transfering of Joan Soliman from Al- Hasaka Central prison to the Division of the Political Security in Damascus
Committees for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria, have been informed that on 11\ 9\ 2011, Professor Joan Soliman, the human rights activist Syrian colleague, member of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria has been referred to the Division of political Security in Damascus, in a step to escalate the ongloing arbitrary arrest against him, since 4 \9\2011. A security patrol raided his house in Ras Al Ain – Hasaka northeast Syria, and then he was referred to the Political Security branch in Hassakeh to Al- Hasaka Central prison and to be remitted to the political security in Damascus. Colleague Joan Soliman was born in 1982 and have a master degree of philosophy.
Source: Committees for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria
For more information about Syria: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=24
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Palastine
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(Monitor) calls on the Israeli occupation authorities for the immediate release of journalist Samir Allawi
Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor) condemned the arrested of journalist Samir Allawi, concerns and express fears of being subjected to torture, physical, psychological abuse or cruel for extracting confessions justify the kidnapping of the occupation, which is still looking for any cause for accussing Allawi to justify the crime of the illegal arrest. Sometimes they charge him of belonging to the Palestinian movement (Hamas) and othertimes they charge him of having links with suspected Islamic organizations.
Since 9/8/2011, the Israeli occupation authorities arrested a Palestinian journalist Samir Allawi, 46, a correspondent for Al Jazeera in Afghanistan and held him away from the world, although his health problems and refusing to release him, despite the illegality of the arbitrary detention.
(Monitor) assumed the full responsibility for the lifs of Allawi for Prime Minister of the occupation government Benjamin Netanyahu, which is insist on violating of human rights and freedom of opinion and expression in the Palestinian territories.
Source: Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor)
For more information about Palastine: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=25
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Libya
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Ongoing arbitrary arrests against the people of Tawargha
Amnesty International stated that the Transitional National Assembly has to make further efforts to protect the dark-skinned Libyan people. It was after allegations about the arrest of some members of the tribe of Tawargha, threat and beatings them on suspicion that they had participated in the forces of Gaddafi.
There were reports informing that a number of detained people of Toargha in Tripoli were forced to kneel facing the wall, before being waged by their captors beat them with sticks and whips. Simply, other members of the tribe were disappeared, as well as, armed rebels arrested them when they were going through checkpoints and taken to hospitals.
Diana Eltahawy, researcher on North Africa for Amnesty International – currently based in Libya- has stated that “the Transitional National Assembly should put an end to the forms of these violations, especially those that target the most vulnerable groups such as people Toargha.Moeover, the Council should send messages emphasizes that Libya will not condone the commission of the crime of torture, or tolerate whith it anymore.”
Source: Amnesty International
For more information about Libya: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=26
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Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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ANHRI issued this week 4press releases about the freedom situations in the Middle East & North Africa as follows:
1- Restricting the media is a continuation for the corrosion of the gains of the revolution http://www.anhri.net/?p=39094
2- Iraq: ANHRI condemns the assassination of the theatrical and media professional Hadi Al-Mahdihttp://www.anhri.net/?p=38965
3- ANHRI announced the issuance of its second monthly report of the media coverage of the judicial system and the Military Council during the month of August 2011http://www.anhri.net/?p=39183
4- ANHRI condemns the trial of the activist Waleed Aboul-Khair for his views
ANHRI Have issued this week one report:
The media coverage of the judicial system and the Military Council during the month of August 2011:
For more information about the reports and studies of ANHRI:
For more information about the press releases of ANHRI:
