Weekly Bulletin #370 Eighth Year
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Weekly Bulletin #370
15\09\2010 – 22\09\2011
Eighth Year
Egypt
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The National Coalition for Media Freedom urge to stop the deterioration of Media Freedom
The National Coalition for Media Freedom condemned today the massive deterioration of Media Freedom. The current government supported by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) has launched a number of measures to ensure this deterioration, comes on the top of the list of these measures: The declaration of halting the licenses for new satellite channels, then the security treatment of Al Jazeera Mubashir office and activating the Emergency Law including an article that criminalize the broadcast of fake rumors, although there is an article in the Penal Code that criminalize it.
The Coalition views these steps as a sign that the methodology of the media system before Jan25 revolution is still ongoing, as well as, the dream of changing the political regime is hampered by many restrictions because it should be side by side with the freedom of media and allocating a room for competition among all Mass Media.
Michael Nabil is in critical condition again
“We urge the Supreme Council to release Sanad and all the other prisoners of conscience at once,” Reporters Without Borders said. “A security policy involving the jailing of journalists and bloggers convicted by military courts is steadily undermining hopes of a democratic transition in Egypt.”
According to the information obtained by Reporters Without Borders, Sanad has resumed his hunger strike and is again refusing to drink. In messages to his brother on 13 and 14 September, he reportedly said he was “unable to leave bed now” and suffered “loss of vision” as soon as he stood up.
Source: Reporters Without Boarders
The National Coalition for Media Freedom
For more information about Egypt: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=53
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Oman:
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ANHRI: The Omani authorities are responsible for the safety of the two detained activists
The Arabic Network For Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned today the ongoing custody of the two activists Ammar Al-Hana’i and Ibrahim Al-Balushi in the prisons of Muscat, capital of Oman, since about two weeks for their peaceful activity in the pro-democracy and reform demonstrations.
Omani Security Services kidnapped Al-Hanai and Al-Balushi on the road in Al-Masna’a area, north of Muscat on 6 September, then it took them to a security body. The have been detained ever since without investigation or trial.
The two activists started a hunger and speech strike, objecting to their illegal detention.
“Detaining the two activists Ammar Al-Hanai and Ibrahim Al-Balushi for using their legal right to peaceful expression of opinion is considered to be an extreme violation against freedom of expression and indicates that the Omani authorities have chosen the police solution, like its Arab counterparts to threaten the political opponents and muzzle their mouths, instead of listening to their legal demands of freedom of expression and democracy” Said ANHRI
Source: The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information about Oman: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=288
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UAE:
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Emirati authorities should release all activists before the elections
Front Line Defenders and other three international human rights organizations said that Emirati authorities should immediately drop all charges against five activists imprisoned after calling for greater political rights and freedoms and free them ahead of national elections on September 24, 2011, four international human rights organizations said today. Amnesty International, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Front Line Defenders, and Human Rights Watch have requested permission to attend the trial of the five if it resumes as scheduled on September 26 in Abu Dhabi’s Federal Supreme Court.
Source:Front Line Defenders – ifex – anhri – hrw – amnesty
For more information about UAE: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=12
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Bahrain:
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Shouting in the Dark: Collective punishment of all Bahrainis who have shown support for the pro-democracy movement
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), in cooperation with the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), held a side event during the proceedings of the 18th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva about the situation in Bahrain.
The event included the screening of Al-Jazeera documentary “Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark,” a 51-minute film that captures the essence of state violations against protesters and dissenting voices since the mass protests began on 14 February in Bahrain. Violations documented in the film include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, targeting of hospitals and medical personnel, and punitive measures taken against citizens who participated in the protests that took place in Pearl Roundabout.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion. Maryam Al Khawaja, head of the foreign relations section of the BCHR, highlighted the strong need for international attention on the human rights situation in Bahrain, which until now has been conspicuously absent. Al-Khawaja stressed the importance of individual statements made by states at the Council condemning the ongoing human rights violations occurring in Bahrain, citing this as an imperative step that can be taken to pressure Bahrain’s authorities to curtail the crackdown.
Additionally, she gave an overview of the current human rights situation in the country which included the continuation of the military trials of civilians connected to protests, authorities obtaining confessions through duress, and allegations of torture and maltreatment inside prison facilities, which have resulted in several of the detainees declaring hunger strikes and thus exacerbating their vulnerable situation. This is in addition to the continuing campaign targeting Bahraini students and workers through dismissals from their studies and jobs based primarily on sectarian considerations.
Joe Stork, deputy director of HRW for the Middle East region, spoke of the strong resistance shown by officials to allowing foreign observer – whether representatives of human rights organizations or foreign media – into the country. Stork stated that what is happening in Bahrain is a policy of collective punishment of all Bahrainis who have shown support for the pro-democracy movement, citing the examples of the targeting of medics who assisted the injured protesters and the youth who expressed their support through Twitter.
Regarding his vision for the future, Stork expressed optimism that the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry headed by international lawyer Dr. Sherif Bassyouni will be quite balanced and, if genuine reform is implemented and the Commission’s recommendations put into practice, it would represent a step forward in Bahrain’s human rights record.
Source: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
For more information about Bahrain: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=13
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Sudan:
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Sudan authorities continue to confiscate newspapers
The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the growing censorship of newspapers in Sudan. In the past two weeks alone, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) halted the distribution of four different opposition newspapers without cause.
On September 4, 6, 8, and 11, Sudanese authorities confiscated four print-runs of the Sudanese Communist Party thrice-weekly Al-Midan, local and international news reports said. On Tuesday, the paper was seized again by the NISS, for the fifth time in two weeks. On September 4 and 8, two other opposition newspapers, Al-Jarida and Al-Sahafa, respectively, were confiscated by authorities. On Tuesday, the pro-government paper Akhbar al-Youm was seized, local reports said.
Source: The Committee to Protect Journalists
For more information about Sudan: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=16
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Kuwait:
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A press release by Kuwait Association fro Human Rights regarding the ongoing detention of Al Moghared Nasser Aabl
Kwait Association fro Human Rights strongly condemned the ongoing detention of Al Moghared Nasser Aabl. As known, the detention should not be for the defendants in the opinion cases, and he could be released until being summoned before the court as far there is no necessity for his detention.
Kwait Association fro Human Rights called for the immediate release of Nasser Aabl until the court issues its sentences as we hopeful need.
“As we urge the legislators in the People’s Assembly to to amend all legislation may confiscate the freedom of individuals for their opinions or believes” said Kuwait Association fro Human Rights.
Source: Kuwait Association for Human Rights
For more information about Kwait: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=19
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Saudi Arabia:
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The Saudi government is responsible for the well being of Al-Johani
ANHRI condemned the ongoing disappearance of the Saudi activist Khaled Al-Johani since 11 March 2011 in the pretext of his remarks to the BBC Arabic in which he criticized the oppression of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia and expressed that he did not fear arrest.
Saudi activists on the Internet called for protests in what they called “Friday of rage” on 11 March 2011, many protesters responded to the call in different Saudi cities except for the city of Al-Riyadh because of the tight security grip over it. However, the citizen Khaled Al-Johani was the only one who made it to the location of the demonstration in the city that day. While on the streets of Al-Riyadh that were full of security men in the utter absence of citizens, Al-Johni was interviewed by the BBC Arabic during the preparation of an episode of the program “Ma la Yuqal” (What is not said). In his remarks to the program, he expressed his objection to the political situation in Saudi Arabia and that his country has become a huge prison because of the ongoing authorities’ repression of freedom of expression.
Source: Sawaseya Center for Human Rights and Anti-discrimination
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information about Saudi Arabia: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=15
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Yemen:
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Yemen violence surges as protesters are killed
The Yemeni authorities must immediately stop the killing of peaceful protesters by security forces, Amnesty International said today following reports that dozens of people have been shot dead in the capital Sana’a since Sunday.
Hundreds more are said to have been injured after security forces used snipers and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) against protesters marching to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Around 26 people were killed on Sunday.
Amnesty International called on the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is debating the situation in Yemen in Geneva today, to urge the Yemeni authorities to order the security forces to immediately cease their use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters.
Source: Amnesty International
For more information about Yemen: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=21
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Syria:
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Free the prisoners of conscience
The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria condemned the ongoing policy of the summons, prosecution and detention by the authorities, which underlines the continuation of emergency law, which previously had stopped by the issuance of a decree. The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria urges the Syrian authorities to work on the application of the decree suspending the operation of the emergency law, and to release all the detainees immediately and prevent the security of its continued intervention in the lives of citizens.
The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria was informed that there is a large numbers of detainees who have been held for more than two months and until now none of them was released or transferred to the judiciary, moreover, the security authorities refrain to give any information about the circumstances or place of their detention.
Brutal attack on pianist Malek Al Gandali’s parents
The Syrian Committee for Human Rights strongly condemned the brutal attack on the parents of the prominent global pianist Malek Al Gandali, Mr. Maumoon Gandali and his wife Lena Droubi have been suffered a vicious assault by the thugs of the Syrian authority in their home in the city of Homs, thugs strongly beaten them with punches leaving bruises and very tumors on the faces of the old parents affected on their eyes and Lip-kins, all of this because the pro-revolution situation of the Malek and his support to the freedom and dignity of the Syrian people.
Source: The Arab Organization for Human Rights-Syria (AOHRS)
The Syrian Committee to Protect Human Rights
For more information about Syria: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=24
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Palestine:
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A Sit-in in solidarity with the detained journalists in the prisons of the occupation
Doha Center for Media Freedom Sat up a protest tent in Gaza Strip in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City for eight hours in solidarity with the journalists, the five detainees in the prisons of the Zionist occupation.
The speakers in this protest stated that the Zionist occupation will not be able to stop the camera eye to document his crimes or break the pens of journalists to expose the repressive practices against the Palestinian and Arab prisoners in the prisons of oppression.
For more information about Palestine: http://www.anhri.net/?p=39282
==============================================================The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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ANHRI issued this week 9 press releases about the freedom situations in the Middle East & North Africa as follows:
1- Oman: ANHRI condemn halting the issuance of Al Zaman newspaper for a month and detaining its editorial team http://www.anhri.net/?p=39832
2- The slowdown of the public prosecution at investigating the complaints of Sensors against Corruption opens the door to persecute them http://www.anhri.net/?p=39764
3- UAE: Free Activists Before Elections http://www.anhri.net/?p=39818
4- The Military Council and the Egyptian government have to declare their support for the Syrian people http://www.anhri.net/?p=39690
5- ANHRI: The Omani authorities are responsible for the safety of the two detained activists http://www.anhri.net/?p=39681
6- Yemen: ANHRI condemns the killing of peaceful protesters
7- The Mubarak regime persists
8- The Saudi government is responsible for the well being of Al-Johani
9- ANHRI releases issue No. 31 of Wasla newspaper under the main title “The people demand the independence of the judiciary” http://www.anhri.net/?p=39396
For more information about the press releases of ANHRI:
http://www.anhri.net/?cat=1
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