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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 213
Year 5
30 May 2008 - 5 June 2008
Bahrain
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Bahrain Center for Human Rights: Appointing Huda Nono as ambassador increases the Public frustration and congestion in Bahrain
Bahrain Center for Human Rights says that, it has been always promoting involving, integrating and empowerment of the religious and ethnic minorities in different state agencies, as citizens who own the same rights that others enjoy, and they also have the same duties. But in the issue of appointing Ms. Huda Nono, it is a message that will increase the frustration and congestion in the Bahraini public opinion. It will have a negative impact on the peaceful coexistence and tolerance. So choosing a Jewish woman for the ambassador post, instead of standing for and establishing the religious coexistence, as the authority wished to claim, however choosing this woman in particular will possibly promote the religious hatred, where formerly the government had used this lady in its battles with the civil society institutions, and with the opposition as well, within the sectarian conflict.
Sources :
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
For more information and topics on Bahrain Page: http://anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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The Tunisian Activists, Forced Disappearance, Abduction and a stream of unfair prosecutions
Abduction of the Young Man Ayman Al Gharbi
The Association for Support of the Political Prisoners said in a communiqué: “ the young man Ayman was kidnapped on 29/5/2008 after continuous harassment that last in long weeks. This operation took place when he received a phone call, requiring him to head to the security office in Bou Qatfa, to retrieve the withheld properties (his laptop, passport, ID card, and Driving License).
The association considered this abduction as a breach on the law and the citizen freedoms, guaranteed by the constitution, and shouldering the full responsibility for the assault on his physical and moral welfare, demanding him to released immediately and unconditionally.
The Rights Activist Abdel Hamid Al Saghir Disappearance:
The Association realized that the family of the rights activist Abdel Hamid Al Saghir still have no information about him since he disappeared on Saturday 31/May/ 2008, many attempts to relocate his detention place went in vain, where it is possibly that he could be kidnapped on the background of his rights activity in the students midst, and in the issue of the unemployed certificate holders.
noting that Abdel Hamid Al Saghir was under the continuous security watch, and the unstopping harassment, there are fears that his abduction has a relation with his interview on Friday 30, May, 2008. With the woman member of the International Association for Support of the Political Prisoners, Ms. Claudine Romeo who was pursuing an approach to assist him to complete his post graduate studies in Paris I University, after he was hindered for political reasons from continuing his education at the Tunisian University.
In an Episode of Unfair Trials
Many of the Tunisian citizens were exposed to unfair trials by the authorities in Tunis on the background of government raid under the pretext of fighting terrorism, accusing them of joining a terrorist organization within the republic, and being members in an organization that consider the terrorism as a means to achieve its goals, and not informing the authorities immediately, about what they coud have knowledge about of actions, and what he owned of information and instructions about committing one of the terrorist crimes.
In an stream of unfair prosecutions against each of Ali Ben Ka’ab who faced the charge of affiliating with a terrorist organization that use the terrorism as a means to achieve its goals within the republican land, Yasin Soula who charged of not reporting to the authorities immediately about what he could learn of actions, and the information he has, or the instructions about committing one of the terrorist crimes, Tawfiq Shandoul, Ali Amara, Khalid Al Ragad, Tarig Fath Allah, Farah Al Mansouri, Ramzi Al Ramadani, Nour Eldin Daif Allah Ben Mabrouk Al Khamasi, Ghazi Soula, Rashad Ben Gaffar, Abdellah Al Bou Slimi, Hisham Al Mersani, Hadi Al Merwani, Ramzi Al Washtati, Elisas Al Hadly, and Haikal al Tawati in different prosecutions.
Sources :
Association for Support of the Political Prisoner
More information and topics on Tunisia page: http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Sudan
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A delegation from the Security Council in Khartoum
The members of the Security Council met the Sudanese vice president and the president of the South Government Silva Kir in Juba, where they discussed the implementation of the CPA between the government and the SPLM.
The delegation members expressed their grave concerns towards the violence in oil-rich Abyei area, which the north and the south are disputing upon.
The Sudan is the second stop after Djibouti in the delegation tour in Africa, which include Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ivory Coast.
Alison has focused on the local and regional dimension of the conflict in Darfur, especially after the attack of the Darfur rebels on Omdurman city, and the fail of the relationships between Chad and Sudan, and the crisis between the South and the North induced of the dispute on Abyei city.
The special envoy mentioned the importance of finding a political resolution for the disputes between the government and the signatory parties of the peace accord with the government.
“Alison and Salim Ahmed Salim the African Union Envoy will held informal discussions on the next two days with international and regional partners about the political operation in Darfur.”, said the UN Deputy Spokesman Ms Marie Okabe and added: “the purpose of these discussions that a delegate of the Sudanese Government will attend- is to understand the reality of the situation, and study the routs for advanced actions, through engagement of the all parties in the negotiations as soon as possible.”.
The UN and AU representative in Darfur Henry Anyidoho is encouraging Darfur’s people to stop fighting and Turn to Peace
Anyidoho’s invitation came during the Dhaene Horses Festival in Southern Darfur, where he talked with the chief of Rizigat Tribe, and the local officials and educated tribals.
The festival that went on for 4 days, served as a tribal and ethnic forum for reconciliation and mediation, considered as an important history in the interests of Darfurians since 1920.
Let us turn to peace route, it is so easy to stop fighting instead of going on, why should you chose the hardest?”, confirming that the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur UNAMID, will work with all of the dispute parties, calling on every one to remove any misconceptions or doubts about the neutrality of the mission.
Anyidoho has also explained the nature of the UNMID forces mission to the tribal leadership, reminding them that those forces who came from different parts of Africa dedicated their lives to serve the peace in Darfur.
Further to this, Anyidoho advised Darfurians to ask themselves about the root reasons of this conflict, adding that there are no progress could be achieved in Darfur in an atmosphere of dispute and malice.
On another hand, the special envoy of the Secretary General on Darfur Crisis, Jan Eliasson has arrived to Sudan to held some discussion with the government of Sudan and the concerned parties.
Sources :
Ifham Darfur Web Site
For more information and topics on the Sudan page; http://www.anhri.net/sudan
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Syria
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The Syrian Authorities Detained Five Members of One Family, Depending on a Malicious Report, and Impose Travel Ban on a Number of Human Rights Defenders
On Thursday 29th May, 2007 a polices forces from Rukn Eldin, in Damascus, had raided one of the houses in Rukn El Din area, inspected the house, and detained five persons from one family, who are: Ahmed Saado, Ibrahim Saado, Ekhti Saado, Abdel Raziq Saado, and Nidal Saado.
This was early point of the Thursday morning, following a “report” delivered to the Rukn El Din police station, included a claim about involvement of one member of this family in a savage organization, and that this family had insulted state officials, and hiding arms. This was after a quarrel between one of Saado’s family members and the claimant. Although the authorities did not find any arms and could not prove any activity of this family that its members are not belonging to any political organization but still withholding them in Rukn El Din Station prison, with ill treatment as their relatives mentioned after visiting them. Despite the police case minute was written but none of them was referred to the court yet.
The Front Line Foundation expressed it is extreme concern after receiving reports about travel bans imposed against the human rights defenders Radif Mostafa, Mohanad Al Hosainey, Rasim Al Atasy, Mahmoud Maree, Ahmed Manjonah and Seren Khoury. Radif Mostafa is a lawyer and the chairperson of the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights. Mohanad Al Hosainey is a lawyer and the head of the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights (Sawasiah). Rasim Al Atasy is an engineer and the head of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Syria. Mahmoud Maree and Ahmed Manjonah are both lawyers with the Arabic Human Rights Organisation
in Syria. Seren Khoury is an independent lawyer. Front Line is concerned that these travel bans form part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Syria.
Take Action
Please take action on behalf of human rights defenders in Syria.
Copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided.
Thank you for taking action on behalf of human rights defenders in Syria.
Target adresses:
President Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad,
Mouhajreen,
Presidential Palace,
Abu Rumanch,
Al-Rashid Street,
Damascus,
Syria
Letter:
Your Excellency,
I am deeply concerned following reports that travel bans have been imposed against human rights defenders Radif Mostafa, Mohanad Al Hosainey, Rasim Al Atasy, Mahmoud Maree, Ahmed Manjonah and Seren Khoury. Radif Mostafa is a lawyer and the chairperson of the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights.
Mohanad Al Hosainey is a lawyer and the head of the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights (Sawasiah). Rasim Al Atasy is an engineer and the head of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Syria. Mahmoud Maree and Ahmed Manjonah are both lawyers with the Arabic Human Rights Organisation in Syria. Seren Khoury is an independent lawyer.
The Foundation urged the Syrian authorities to lift the travel ban imposed on the human rights defenders and reminded them of the international covenants that they have signed and ratified, demanding the Syrian authorities to respect its commitment towards these conventions.
The Emirati Authorities detained the Syrian Teacher Abdel Rahman Aba Zaid
The human rights organizations are supporting the Syrian teacher, demanding to refrain from deporting him to Syria, so as to protect his life, it is worth mentioning that Mr. Aba Zaid is registered in the UNHCR in the Gulf, and works in the Arab United Emirates as a teacher since 1976.
The human rights organization in Syria called on the UNHCR and the Arab and international human rights organizations to immediate intervention to release him, and preventing his deportation or surrendering him to Syria, and securing a safe residence for him and his family.
Sources :
The National Human Rights Organization in Syria
The Syrian Commission for Human Rights
The Front Line Foundation for Protection of Human Rights Defender
More information and topics on Syria page: http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Palestine
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Mass Detention in Bait Hanoun Town Including a Journalist
According to Al Mizan Center for Human Rights, the Israeli occupation forces, kept on its attack against Palestinians in Gaza strip, involving in the Al Farta area, east to Bait Hanoun at the dawn on Thursday 29th May, 2008, detained about 70 Palestinians including the photojournalist Ashraf Mamdouh Al Kafarnah.
According to the information available for Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights, about 13 Israeli military vehicles and proceeded by 2 bulldozers, started bulldozing the land parallel to the Oriental Town borders, the same forces had launched a house raiding after ordering all of the male aged 16-50 years old of the population to gather in al Hamaleen mosque at 3:30 am of the same day using sound amplifiers. The forces moved them later in the military vehicles to an uncertain destination inside the occupation state.
The Israeli Supreme Court Expelled the Captive Noura Al Hashlmoun and her Children
The Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision expelling the captive Noura Al Hashmlon to Jordan with her Children, the lawyer of the Palestinian Captive Club was informed upon his visit to El Sharon Prison on 28th May, 2008, after he met with the mentioned prisoner and some of the other prisoners.
The Lawyer stated that the court decided to keep the husband of the captive in the administrative prison in Ramoun, and in case the captive refused to execute the expulsion she will face the imprisonment for uncertain term(open term detention)
It is worth nothing that the captive is a mother of six children in Al Khalil, anguishing in detention since 17/9/2008, and still withheld in the administrative detention where the eights extension of her detention will expire on 11/6/2008. The captive called on all of the rights and humanitarian institutions to attend her case, and putting the pressure on Israel to release her and allow her stay in Palestine without conditions.
Al Dhamir Foundation for Human Rights issued on Sunday 1/6/2008 a study about the Capability of the Press institutions in Gaza Strip to Access the Information Resources. It is considered as the first of kind in the series of the periodic reports about the violations of the opinion and expressions freedom in Gaza Strip. The study reviewed the remarkable deterioration in the journalist capability to access the fresh information from its direct sources in Gaza Strip, under the current political events in Gaza Strip, which is demonstrated in the different constraints that the press institutions correspondents face in covering the events, that conform opinion and expression freedoms by the government authorities and the Israeli occupation army. The constraints differ from detention to assault, beating, or death threats and obstructing the journalist from access to the event site, or confiscating and destroying the equipments.
Issuance of this study comes in the framework of Al Dhamir Foundation for Human Rights’ role in observing and documenting the reality of the press freedom in Gaza Strip.
Sources :
Al Mizan Center for Human Rights
The Palestinian Captive Club
Al Dhamir Foundation for Human Rights
More information and topics on Palestine page: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Lebanon
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The Third anniversary of the Assasination of Samir Kassir’s in the absence of any progress in the case
Three years after the assassination of the French-Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir on 2nd June, 2005, neither the French nor the Lebanese judiciary had convicted or detained to any of the suspected.
The Reporters without Borders demonstrate its concern about the slow judicial procedures.
Gisèle Khoury the widow of Samir Kassir told Reporters without Borders about her concerns towards the progress of the investigations, considering the case as endless, especially in the conditions of the multiple political changes taken place not only in Lebanon but also in the whole region, which is possibly could change the investigation routine. Therefore she counts on the judicial process that take place in parallel in France.
Indeed the family of the journalist demanded France to open an investigation into the assassination the next day to the event. In this context the organization announced: “although we can understand the necessity of the judicial procedures and the impact of the Lebanese political context in its progress, but we could only express our deep concern towards the fact that the murderers of this journalists are still free three years after the event took place. And the Lebanese journalists will not be able to feel safe in their home country as long as the impunity prevails still in there”.
Sources :
Reporters without Borders
More information on Lebanon page: http://www.anhri.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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Civil Society Organization in Egypt Expresses its Displeasure Towards the extension of the Emergency Laws Enforcement
The civil society organizations expressed their deep concerns towards what the constitutional authorities has decided in regard of the unjustifiable extension of the emergency law enforcement to 2010. Or approving the terrorism combat law each comes first.
Where the voting indications came shocking and against all of the expectations, despite the assurance of cancelling the emergency state in every occasion, but the decision come against the hoped and supported by significant majority.
The matter that annoying all, indicating that there are some other movements against the declared trend, that claims working for opening the door for freedoms, but this decision disappointed the hopes and negating the reality that we live.
The parliament decree regarding the extension came upon request of the president Hosni Mubarak through the government, and demanding refraining from enforcing the emergency law, and working for increasing the awareness of the citizens about the risks of the emergency state and the dangers induced of that we suffer and live in now. Where there are many issues need to be addressed, improved, and updaed by the government to open the door for freedoms and more effect.
ive practice of the democracy, not to aim constantly to obstruct the practice of the public freedoms, and promoted the government to refrain from enforcing it for the country prosperity.
16 Rights Organizations Condemned the Government Objection to an Egyptian NGO Participation in the UN General Assembly Meeting
16 Rights Organizations condemn and protest the government intervention expelling the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights in the UN General Assembly Meeting on the AIDS Combat. The meeting was planned to be held in New York on 10th and 11th of June, 2008. The signatory organizations regard the government action as unprecedented, objecting the participation of an Egyptian right NGO which is perceived as crucial escalate in the harassment and the compress on the Egyptian human rights organizations. The signatory organizations demand the United Nation Corporation to take the required procedures to ensure the participation of the civil society in its activities, and bridging any gaps that could allow the governments to restrain this required participation for the success of the UN in achieving its goals.
Human Rights Watch: Egypt should investigate in the Forced Deportation of Refugees and Concerned of their exposure to harassment and detention
“Egyptian authorities should investigate the forced return to Sudan of at least 11 Sudanese who were officially recognized as refugees and asylum seekers, Human Rights Watch said today. The forcible return (refoulement) of people to a country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution constitutes a breach of Egypt’s basic obligation under international refugee law.” Said Human Rights Watch and added: “Relatives of five of the deportees and three lawyers familiar with their cases told Human Rights Watch that on April 19, 2008 Egyptian authorities deported to southern Sudan approximately 30 Sudanese men and boys. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Egypt had recognized at least 11 of them as refugees or asylum seekers. At least two of the deportees were 17-year-old children. The wife of one deportee told Human Rights Watch that her husband had called her on May 13 and said he and others were being detained in Kobar prison in Juba, in southern Sudan, and could face trial.”
Sources :
Maat Legal and Constitutional Studies Center
Egyptian Democratic Institute
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
For more information and topics on Egypt page: http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Yemen
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The Security Agencies Prevent the Sit In of “Together Against Saada War” campaign in front of the Presidential House.
The security agencies prevented the campaign of “Together Against Sa’ada War” from their protesting sit in that the campaign called for in front of the presidential house to stop Saada war and deal with its subsequences.
News Yemen correspondents convey that the security agencies had prevented a large number of the rights activists from implementing their sit in, evicted them from their place in front of the presidential house, indicating that the campaign had withdrawn peacefully, and moved its protest to the Deputies Council.
The protest that the legal, political and media institutions and workers will participate in at 9:00 will demand opening Saada for the relief agencies, civil institutions, and media outlets, engaging all of the constitutional and civil institutions of different councils, the NGOs, and political parties in the mediation details that took place throughout four years, which the Qatari mediation was the last one. Beside requiring the end of all of the exceptional procedures that do not comply with the laws and constitutions including the arrest raid that took place concurrently with the war in Saada.
Sources :
The National Corporation for Defense of Rights and Freedoms
More information and topics on Yemen Page: http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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“ The Egyptian government represented in the Ministry of Social Solidarity is going to close down - one of the most important human rights association based out of Cairo- the Egyptian Awn (Aid)
Association for Human Rights under a surprising and ironic excuse, alleging that the association’s budget is “small” and doesn’t have any huge financial resources, as if the government is punishing the association activists for their voluntary work, and not receiving any funds!”, said the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (anhri.net).
“Our association is legally registered, and most of us are lawyers, since we started our activities in 2006, we have been depending on our members’ subscriptions and personal donations, despite of our limited resources we gained an excellent reputation and could develop closer people around us. The thing that annoyed the government, hence decided to undertake closing it down or suspending it.”, said Esmael Badr the advocate and the association chairman to ANHRI
Gamal Eid, the executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (anhri.net) stated: “ the Egyptian government is intending to close one of the most important human rights associations based out of Cairo, after closing down the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid, and the Center for Trade Unions and Workers’ Services. If such a decision comes out, it will become a blemish in its image, and will prove the governmental hostility against the serious human rights associations, revealing its constant violation of the right to association.”
More information on the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information:
http://www.anhri.net/egypt/aid
Steps on The Road
A new book issued by the Arabic network, tackles different experiences and mutual support methods
between Internet and human rights
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information issued a new book contains the arguments and discussions of 30 human rights, political and internet activists from 12 Arab Countries on how to expand the mutual support among human rights NGOs, internet activists and media men; that kind of support which would finally result in stronger support for freedom to expression causes in the Arab World.
In the book, the reader will find a presentation for the expanded discussions among activists, bloggers, journalists and media men. enclosed, there are also 10 work papers presented by some participants in the workshop. Those papers contains different experiences, views, suggestions on how to increase cooperation among journalists and media men, internet activists and human rights activists, establishing a solid base for more cooperation supporting freedom to expression in the Arab World. Such increased cooperation would be of great importance because of the increasing role of internet and its activists in fighting against political tyranny.
The printed version of the book is available at the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information headquarter, and can be browsed on the website of the Arab Initiative for free internet openarab.net, that follows the Network.
For more information on the workshop visit;
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0228.shtml
The full report in Arabic;
http://www.openarab.net/ar/node/531
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anhri is a legal organization that defends the freedom of opinion and expression of the press and the right to exchange information. Moreover, it works on collecting the publications of nearly 140 Arabic human rights organizations from 18 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, which are published in Arabic and presented in one website. It also provides human rights Sources in the Arab world for media workers, journalists, activists and the public in an attempt to increase the number of internet users and those interested in human rights issues in the Arab speaking world. Though one of many human rights groups serving the Middle East and North Africa, it is the only one in the Arab world devoted exclusively to protecting the freedom of expression across the region.
For more information, suggestions or membership in the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, please contact anhri at:
Address: 19-26 July st-Downtown - Cairo- 4th floor - suit 55
Phone Number: (00202) 27736177
Email address:
info@anhri.net
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