The Weekly Bulletin Issue No. 377 Year 8
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
The Weekly Bulletin
Issue No. 377
10 NOV 2011 – 17 NOV 2011
Year 8
Egypt
Egypt: Fabricated Cases against Activists Continue
ANHRI condemns the testimonies deliberated by some media sources, particularly governmental media, on the case of the activist and blogger Alaa Abd El –Fattah, known as the Maspero case. It is the case concerning the killing of 27 Egyptian citizens in violent confrontations in front of Maspero, the Radio and Television Union building, among of which 12 were crushed under APCs.
Most recently on 14 November 2011, Al-Ahram Gate website published a story entitled “ A Witness at Maspero: I saw Alaa Abd El-Fattah and his colleagues stealing a weapon from a soldier of the military police”. The alleged witness was quoted to have said “I saw Alaa Abd El-Fattah with some of his friends, from which I recognized Bahaa Saber and Wael Abbas”
“This testimony is fabricated and trumped-up. The proof is that he claimed to have seen the activist Wael Abbas with the blogger Alaa Abd El-fatah, whereas Abbas did not participate in the Maspero demonstrations because he was on a trip to Tunis that day and his plane arrived in Cairo airport at 7 PM, when he went straight home in the fifth district of New Cairo where he stayed with his family and did not go to the downtown area at all. That confirms the fallacy and perjury of this witness, in a support of those who are targeting activists to abuse them. In addition to this false testimony, there was an attempt to fabricate charges against the activist Mohamed Adel, who was serving at his military unit the same day. These testimonies clearly show the lack of seriousness of the investigations and information that the military prosecution base the whole case on” said ANHRI.
Egypt: Free Blogger Held in Maspero Case
Egypt’s military prosecutor should immediately release an award-winning blogger charged in connection with the demonstration by Christian Copts on October 9, 2011, which turned deadly, Human Rights Watch said today. Alaa Abdel Fattah was detained and later charged with incitement and theft of a military weapon, even though the prosecutor had presented no evidence to support the charges. His detention came as military prosecutors started questioning activists and priests about their alleged involvement in publicly encouraging Copts to demonstrate on that day.
During the protest in the Maspero area, military vehicles ran over demonstrators and the military used excessive force to disperse protesters, resulting in the deaths of 27 civilians and one military officer. A November 2 report by the National Council for Human Rights, Egypt’s government-appointed human rights commission, said members of the military were responsible for killing demonstrators. Investigations related to this demonstration remain solely in the hands of military prosecutors, who have called in activists and priests for questioning but have refused to reveal any information about whether they are investigating any military officers for their roles in killing Coptic protesters.
“Instead of identifying which members of the military were driving the military vehicles that crushed 13 Coptic protesters, the military prosecutor is going after the activists who organized the march,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Abdel Fattah’s detention is a blatant effort to target one of the most vocal critics of the military. The prosecutor’s acts further entrench military impunity by failing to build public confidence that there will be a transparent investigation of those responsible for the deaths.”
Sources:
ANHRI
Human Rights Watch
For more information on Egypt:
http://www.anhri.net/?cat=53
Jordan
Jordan: ANHRI condemns the attacks on media outlets and the security failure in their protection
ANHRI condemns the ongoing attacks on media freedoms in Jordon during the past few days; a group of protestors stormed Aljazeera office in Amman along with the headquarters of the Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad which was also attacked and encountered attempts to prevent it from distribution by unknown persons
Most recently, a group of Jordanian citizens had organized a demonstration outside the office of Aljazeera in Amman on Saturday, 12 November, to hand a message to the director of office. As a result of his refusal to receive it, a group of the protesters, who are against the policies of the channel, broke into the office by force. They broke into the staff offices too and according to what the channel officials said, they attacked the Chief Financial Officer.
“Those attacks on Al-Ghad and Al-Jazeera by civilians are a way of intervention in their policies and a preventing them from publishing certain kind of stories. It is a kind of censorship and restriction on media freedoms that the Jordanian authorities should bear the responsibility of their protection” said ANHRI.
Source:
ANHRI
For more information on Jordan:
http://www.anhri.net/?cat=11
Bahrain
Bahrain: Human Rights Defender and Journalist Reem Khalifa on Trial as a Result of Fabricated Charges
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights and Bahrain Centre for Human Rights call on Bahraini authorities to drop all charges against Reem Khalifa, a journalist of Al-Wasat daily, who is facing a trial on November 16, 2011 at the Lower Criminal Court in Manama. She is charged with defamation and physical assault, a trump up charges, which are part of a smear campaign against independent journalists and public personalities in Bahrain who covered government crackdown on protesters in February 2011.
The charges stem from an assault of pro-government supporters on Reem Khalifa, which took place in Ramada Hotel in Manama on July 14, 2011. Reem Khalifa was leaving a press briefing which was interrupted by pro-government supporters. The briefing was organized by the Irish delegation that included a group of Irish doctors, politicians and human rights representatives. The Irish delegation traveled to Bahrain to highlight the plight of Bahraini medics arrested for providing medical treatment to pro-democracy protesters in February 2011.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Gulf Center for Human Rights
For more information on Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
UAE: Activists Planning Hunger Strike
Five activists jailed seven months ago for “publicly insulting” United Arab Emirates officials plan to begin a hunger strike on November 13, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. The activists said the hunger strike will continue until authorities release them unconditionally and end all judicial proceedings against them.
In a joint statement on November 11, they detailed violations of their basic rights by judiciary, prosecution, and prison officials, including their prolonged detention on politically motivated charges and a patently unfair trial. The five said they were “compelled” to go on a hunger strike after languishing in prison for seven months and having “exhausted all possible means of redress.” International rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have documentednumerous fair trial violations and say that the case against the five is a gross violation of their right to freedom of expression.
“Every month that these men remain locked up on absurd charges of insulting UAE rulers further undermines the government’s claim that this is an open and tolerant country,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “This trial is all about zero tolerance for political dissent and has nothing to do with justice or security.”
Source:
Human Rights Watch
For more information on UAE
Sudan
South Sudan urged to release journalists held over article
The South Sudanese authorities must immediately release two journalists at risk of torture or ill-treatment after being detained over an article criticizing the country’s president, Amnesty International said today.
Both men have been detained without charge and are believed to be held at the National Security Services’ (NSS) headquarters in Juba, with no access to a lawyer or their families
“Detaining someone simply for criticizing the president is an outrageous attack on freedom of expression,” said Erwin van der
Borght, Amnesty International’s Director for Africa.
“The South Sudanese authorities must reveal the exact whereabouts of Dengdit Ayok and Ngor Garang and the two men must be released immediately,” he said.
Source:
Amnesty
For more information on Sudan
Kuwait
Kuwait: An Egyptian newspaper confiscated; no reasons given
ANHRI condemns the confiscation of Masrahna, an Egyptian newspaper, by the Kuwaiti authorities without giving any reason, expressing its frustration over the ongoing deterioration of freedoms in Kuwait.
Most recently, Masrahna newspaper, which is issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, received a letter from the National Company for Distribution, which distributes the newspaper outside Egypt, advising of the confiscation of issue No. 322, without stating any reason.
The issue holds a number of photographs from theatrical shows, on the background of which there is a cross under the title “Ecclesiastical Theater… Decades of Enlightenment”. It also includes a special file about the Ecclesiastical Theater and the text of two medieval morality plays entitled Every Man, and Adam, by anonymous authors, in addition to studies on the Ecclesiastical Theatre.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time for the newspaper to be confiscated. Issue No. 26 was also confiscated in January 2008. An image of Virgin Mary with Jesus as a child was featured on the cover. The Kuwaiti authorities justified the confiscation under the pretext of “prohibition of images of prophets”.
In the context of targeting freedom of opinion and expression, the authorities arrested the bloggers Hamad Al-Alyan and Tareq Al-Materi earlier this month, and prosecutors accused them of prejudice to the monarchical identity on Twitter.
A Kuwaiti court sentenced the blogger Nasser Abel to three months in prison on 27 September after being convicted of charges of contempt for the Sunni sect on Twitter.
Months earlier, the same court sentenced the activist Ali Mubarak Al-batali to three months in prison for contempt for the Shiite sect on Twitter too.
“The confiscation of the newspaper and failing to give any reasons are a clear violation of freedom of opinion and expression, which is now in a dangerous situation in Kuwait with the successive restrictions on media and opinion makers” said ANHRI.
“The Kuwaiti authorities must stop the suppression of media freedom and make room for the expression of opinions” added ANHRI, pointing out that this crackdown is a part of an organized campaign targeting opinion makers in order to gag detractors of the authorities.
Source
ANHRI
For more information on Kuwait
Yemen
Yemen: collective punishment ongoing; women and children are the victims
ANHRI condemns the ongoing campaign of collective punishment pursued by the Saleh regime against the Yemeni people, who demand freedom and the ouster of president Ali Abdullah Saleh . Most recently, loyalist forces shelled whole civilian neighborhoods and even cut basic services such as electricity and water.16 people, among of which four women and two children, were killed,and more than 50 others were injured as a result of the bombing on Taiz city on Friday. Additionally, many people were subject to the indiscriminate detention campaign.
City of Sana’a and other Yemeni cities have witnessed mass demonstrations organized by activists to protest the so called ” Taiz massacre”. The National Council of the Peaceful Revolutionary Forces also issued a statement condemning that massacre, which is considered to have targeted women and revolutionaries in an unprecedented escalation.
“The situation in Yemen is on the brink, especially with the insistence of international powers on the Arab initiative, which offers a safe exit for Saleh without a trial or paying for his crimes. However, he still clings to power, ignoring his people’s demands of his ouster ”said ANHRI.
Source:
ANHRI
For more information on Yemen
Syria
Syria: Activists targeted, Artistic centers sabotaged; more people killed
ANHRI condemns the ongoing repression against freedom of expression and opinion in Syria, despite the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership in the its council, and expresses its deep regret over the situation that freedoms have reached in Syria.
An arts hall sabotaged
On 13 November, the Syrian security forces stormed Alpha Hall in Suwaida, burned the books in the library and vandalized works of art displayed inside. The hall belongs to the sculptor Saeed Rashed who is known for supporting the popular opposition movements. The hall was being prepared to be opened for visitors on the occasion of هits periodical exhibition.
Afterwards, Security forces headed towards Al-Mazraa library, which belongs to Mohamed Baraka, a member of Damascus Declaration and a well known political opposing activist. Subsequently, the owners of the neighboring shops formed a cordon around the library and were able to prevent them from destroying it.
Trial of activists
On the same day, Court of First Instance in the city of Ras Al-Ein, held a trial session against the lawyer Mohamed Suleiman Khalil, secretary of the Kurdish Organization for the Defense of Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria, the lawyer Suleiman Mohamed Ismail, a member of the Board of Directors of the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights in Syria (Al-Rasid), and the lawyers Ali Abdullah Colo, Abdul-Wahab Jamil Mohamed, Abdul-Majid Ibrahim Elew, Ismail Mahmoud Aliko, Akram Mohyi Eddine Mamo, and Mohammed Issa Mohammed Ali Ahmed, for “demonstrating without a permit”, “inciting demonstrations”, “showing contempt, libel, and “slander against the entity of the state and its president”. The hearing was postponed to 30 November.
Ongoing killing of protestors
Amid the ongoing killing of demonstrators; 22 civilians were shot dead by security forces, including 12 in Hamah, seven in Homs, a boy in Deir ez-Zor and two in Dara and Edleb countryside. The killing was for chanting slogans against the regime, in a demonstration in favor of the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership.
“The situation in Syria has become catastrophic. Dozens of protestors are killed daily for demanding the ouster of the regime. Opponents and opinion makers are being targeted through ongoing detentions and unfair trials. Even artistic centers are not safe from the tyranny of the dictators security services” said ANHRI.
Source:
Syria
For more information on Syria:
Morocco
The arrest of the human rights Sahrawi defender Atiku Bray
On November 14th2011, The Moroccan authorities arrested the Sahrawi defender of human rights, Atiku Bray, near his family‘s home district Xi Cysts, at the public street in Dakhla, Sahara Occidental.
Bray was arrested as a result of a search warrant issued by the Attorney General at the Court of Appeal in El-Oyoun, Sahara Occidental. That was on the grounds of the confrontation that followed the attack of the camp residents on Sahrawi civilians in various neighborhoods in the mentioned city.
Source:
Executive Officeof the Community of Sahrawi
For more information on Morocco:
Palestine
MADA: The occupation forces arrested journalist Raed Sherif
Israeli occupation forces arrested a leading radio broadcaster, Raed Rateb Al-Sherif, from his home in the West Bank city of Hebron.
According to his father Rateb Al-Sherif: Center for MADA that the Israeli occupation army came to their house one o’clock in the morning and ordered everyone out of the house, including children, and asked for his son, Raed, but he told them that he lives in another house . Therefore, they took him with them to the home of his son and knocked at the door strongly and when he came out, they arrested him.
”I told them to knock on the door gently as my son’s wife is pregnant, but they told me to keep quiet and they just followed the road. His wife is now in the hospital and there is a possibility of abortion, and concerning my son we do not know where they took him until now.” Rateb added.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the detention of journalist RaedSherif which is considered a clear violation of international laws. The Center calls the concerned international bodies to press on the occupation government to release him immediately.
Source:
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
For more information on Palestine:
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
ANHRI issued 10 press releases this week on the conditions of freedom in MENA:
Wasla’s 35th issue: We Are All Victims
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4930
Jordan: ANHRI condemns the attacks on media outlets and the security failure in their protection
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4923
Kuwait: An Egyptian newspaper confiscated; no reasons given
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4919
Syria: Activists targeted, Artistic centers sabotaged; more people killed
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4899
Bahrain: A journalist menaced by imprisonment and fine over fabricated charges.
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4882
Justice of the Military Council is Unjust
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4878
Public figures discuss ways to improve the performance of the post-revolution media
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4864
ANHRI: Saleh must be subjected to trial
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4838
Kuwait: Twitter bloggers investigated for prejudice to the monarchical entity
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=4806
For more press releases by ANHRI:
http://www.anhri.net/en/?cat=1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anhri
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