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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 216
Year 5
20 June 2008 - 26 June 2008
Bahrain
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Human Rights Watch Association Demands Release for Opinion Detainees
In its communiqué, stated the Association of Human Rights Watch, that the Bahraini authorities detained two rights activists: Abd Allah Hassan Abu Hassan from the National Democratic Action Association (Wa’d), and the activist Ali Mattar from the Association of the National Justice Movement. “the arrests came concurrently with the beginning of the Bahrain act as a member in the United Nations Human Rights Council that ends at 2011. The Association intends to address the Head of the Human Rights Council for the release of the detainees in Bahrain, asking the Bahraini authorities to commit to the ratified international covenants and oaths.
Sources :
Human Rights Watch Association
For more information and articles on Bahrain page: http://anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Targeting, Abductions, and Arrests against Activists in Tunisia
The International and local human rights organizations condemned targeting activists in Tunisia, the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (IASPP) expressed its deep concern toward the abduction of the activist Abd el-Karim al-Harouni on the backdrop of his activity and defense of the human rights in Tunisia, the civil society organization called for uniting the efforts to demand discontinuity of these practices and offenses.
In another context: the Tunisian League for Human Rights, supports el-Houdh el-Moungi citizens and demands release of Adnan el-Hajji the union well known activist, and the spokesman of the Protesting Movement in el-Radif.
Amnesty criminalized the serious human violations committed in under the framework of the government policies in security and encountering the terrorism, in the “alleged” prevention of forming the “terrorism cells” within Tunisia. The authorities was responsible for the arbitrary arrest and detention – which considered as a breach in the Tunisian law, as well as the forcible disappearance of the detainees, and utilizing torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Sources :
The International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners
Amnesty International
Tunisian League for Human Rights
More information and topics on Tunisia page: http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Sudan
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Withdrawal of Defense Committee of the Suspects in Omdurman Attack
on 22nd June, the Court of the Khartoum North held its second session for prosecuting the Darfur tribal suspects in 10th May clashes, the head of the Defense Committee requested to give the lawyers access to their defendants, so as to prepare themselves for defending them, but the claimant representative considered this request as sort of procrastination and prevarication, after the head of defense comment, the court decided to reject the request and proceed in the trial, Which aborted the fair trial process, forcing the committee of defense to withdraw from the court.
Janjaweed militias committed terrible rape and murder crimes in Mershenj Village South of Darfur.
On 20th June Minor girls aged 15 -18 years old were exposed to a terrible rape crime by a group of the Sudanese border-guards militias in Mershenj village. “An armed group from the militia located in the area, attacked the girls house mid night of last Friday, threatened the girls with their fire arms, and raped them” said eye witnesses from Mershenj area 70 km south Nyala the capital of Darfur region. One of the victims’ neighbors (named Ahmed Ezzadin) was killed while he was trying to help the attacked family, and the perpetrators were caught by the civilians”.
Situations of civilians detained in Khartoum should be revealed
The Sudanese Government should immediately account for hundreds of men, women, and children arrested in Khartoum since a rebel attack on the capital in May 2008, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released on 17th June, 2008. “the Government should also bring to justice those responsible for the torture and mistreatment of detainees.”
“The 28 pages report, document the repression of the Sudanese government following the 10 May attack. “Eyewitnesses suggest that more than 60 civilians were killed during the fighting. The government has detained hundreds of people but has provided no information on their identities, whereabouts, or any charges against them. Most of the people arrested were, or appeared to be, from Sudan’s Darfur region, indicative of a discriminatory intent”
More information and topics on Ifham (understand) Darfur website: http://ifhamdarfur.net
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Syria
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Arrests, Unfair Trials against Political and Rights Activists in Syria
“The Air Security in Damascus arrested the writer and activists Haman Ahmed Haddad on 5/5/2008, and his destiny is unknown until now.” Said the Committees of the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights and Freedoms in a press release and demanded the government to provide information about his situation and release him if he is not charged of any offense.
In another context:
On 23/6/2008, the session of the trial Mazin Darwesh the Syrian activists led by the sixth military judge capita in Damascus, according to the claim filed by the police of Adra who charged him of “defaming the state bodies”. The court handed down a sentence of 10 days in prison, which was reduced to 5 days because he has no criminal record. As well as retrieving his portable computer and all of the contents of its suitcase, and seizure of the rest of the documents and the press investigation related materials. The committees said that the depending on the press investigation related materials before publishing them as a base for the judgment by the court is considered as a precedent for prosecuting the journalists for their intentions.
Further to this, the security authorities in Alpo North did break in the house of Mr. Mahmoud Annajar on 16th June, inspected his place seized some of the publications and political newsletters and took him to one of the security detention centers, where he is held incommunicado until now, the Defense Committees demanded his release if he was not charged of any offense.
Sources :
The Committees for Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights
The National Organization for Human Rights in Syria
More information and topics on Syria page: http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Assault and Detention of a large number of journalists in Bagdad
The Press Freedom Observatory had denounced the exposure of a number of workers in the satellite local and news channels to batter and insult, and detention in Karkh hospital building in Baghdad. Where about 15 correspondents and TV photographers accompanied the Head of Baghdad Governorate council in his visit to the Public Hospital of el- Karkh, to check on the wounded civilians of the explosion took place in Horrya neighborhood, west of Bagdad, where a force of the official army had stopped them, battered and detained them in the hospital. The Observatory demanded to sue the suspects in this offense and to no to leave them any chance for impunity.
Sources :
The Press Freedoms Observatory
More information and topics on Iraq page: http://anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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The Israeli Occupation Forces Torture the Captives, Assault and Detained the Journalists
Abdel Naser Feruana the researcher specialist in Captives Issues, and the Director of the Statistics Dept. in the Ministry of Prisoners demanded founding an international committee to investigate in all of the torture techniques applied in the Israeli prisons which led to death of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and former prisoners, causing permanent disabilities and chronic diseases for thousands of others. He asked also for brining to court all of the those who practiced torture and/or ordered for its practice. Requiring Israel to comply with the international laws and agreements provided for prisoners rights.
In another context:
In its ongoing hostilities against the information freedoms in the Palestinian Territories, the occupation authorities since several decades had arrested a press team belong to Ramtan news agency, and they were released except Fouad el- Froukh, and Rami Hajahja. Mada Center condemns strongly the ongoing withhold of Froukh and Hajahja, called on the international foundation to put pressure on the Israeli government to release Hajahja and Froukh as well as all of the journalists detained in the Israeli prisons.
Sources :
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (Mada)
Palestine behind the Bars
More information and topics on Palestine page: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Sheikh Tawfik Alamir: Under Arbitrary Detention Ordered by el-Ehssaa Governor
“ the Criminal Detection Agency in Ehssaa withheld Sheikh Tawfik Alamir according to direct orders from the Ehssaa Governor Prince Badr bin Galui, this was the second time that His Eminence Sheikh Alamir exposes to arbitrary detention by the criminal detection agency, where he was previously detained on 29th April, 2005. Sheikh Amir considered as an activist preacher and a distinctive defender of human rights and religious freedoms, Amir was detained after being harassed in several occasions by the governor of el- Ehssaa personally and the security officials as well. Human Rights First Association has demanded the government of Saudi Arabia to release Sheikh Tawfik Alamir immediately and to comply with the international covenants and oaths.
Sources :
Human Rights First Association
More information and topics on Saudi Arabia page: http://www.anhri.net/saudi
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Egypt
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The Ministry of Environment Confirms the Credibility of the Blogger Tamer Mabrouk whose Trial was Postponed to 7th July, 2008
Misdemeanors Court of Azzohour has decided to postpone the hearing of the defamation case filed by “Trust Chemical Inc.” against Tamer Mabrouk the owner of the blog named: “el-Hakika el-Masria” – The Egyptian Truth- http://www.elhakika.blogspot.com – to the 7th of July for the hearing of the Defense Committee of the blogger Tamer Mabrouk
The session of today witnessed positive progress, indicating the truthfulness of the blogger’s publication, where the reports sought and received by the court made by both of the Ministry of Environment Office and the Industrial Security Committee were found supporting to the information published in the blogger web site, and that the waste which the Trust Chemical Co. throws in el-Manzalah lake is really polluting the environment.
“Challenging the defamation articles as unconstitutional, does not only stand as an important progress in Tamer Mabrouk’s case, but resemble a new hope for all of the authors and journalists who are being charged of these hateful offenses. Gaining a judgment of unconstitutionality of these articles resembles a victory for the expression in Egypt” said the rights institutions defending Tamer Mabrouk, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Mosawah Association for Human Rights, and the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights.
In another context:
Egyptian Journalist Targeted to Police Assault for Exposing an Influence-Peddling Case
Three rights organizations have submitted a petition to the Deputy Minister, yesterday June 21, 2008, demanding an investigation into the brutal assault of journalist, Kamal Murad of Al-Fajr Newspaper by three police officers four days earlier. The police officers, who are from Rahmanya Center in Buhaira Governate in the Delta region, badly beat Murad, verbally insulted him, and seized his private notes and mobile-memory card. This assault and seizure followed Murad’s exposure of a influence peddling case involving a local trader and his two police officer sons.
This incident is believed to be revenge for Murad’s role in a recent and famous torture case (known as Emad el-Kabir’s Case). Murad was the journalist who published the torture story of the Egyptian driver Emad el- Kabir by the police officer Islam Nabih. Officer Nabih was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Many of the police officers that attacked him while outside the Rahmanya Prosercutor’s office, stated to Murad; You will see, O’ the one who sent the officer to jail for three years.”
The three rights organization have established a front to defend Kamal Murad, and bring those officers to court, as a step towards elimination of the impunity phenomenon and limit the torture and ill-treatment which has extended to journalists.
Sources :
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information “ANHRI.NET”
The Arab Council for the Support of Fair Trial
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
Mosawah Association for Human Rights
The Egyptian Center for Housing Rights
For more information in English:
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0623.shtml
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0622.shtml
More information and topics on Egypt page: http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights in partnership agreement with the UNHCR has established two centers to provide legal aid for refugees and asylum seekers in Rabat and Wigda in Morocco, aiming to provide information and assistance in Refugee Status Determination process. As well as helping the refugees and asylum seekers in the administrative and judiciary conflicts, arranging meetings about the rights and responsibilities of the refugees in Morocco. The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights commemorating the World Refugee Day on June 20th, regard protection of refugees and asylum seekers, respect of their provided rights by the international refugee law, is a part of protection of the fundamental rights of individuals and groups; affirming the states responsibility for protecting these rights. Asking for enforcing these rights and guarantee for them without discrimination based on races, religion, nationality or political opinion or association with specific social group.
Sources :
Moroccan Organization for Human Rights
More information and topics on Morocco page: http://www.anhri.net/morocco
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Yemen
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Tagheer (Change )Activists are a target for the Security Agencies’ Brutality
Tagheer (Change) Organization in Yemen required all of the international and local organizations working in the human rights arena to advocate for the opinion prisoners in Yemen, and urged the Yemeni government to release the peaceful activists and the democratic change advocates in Yemen.
“ Opinion detainees in Yemen suffers enforced disappearance, torture, and violence directed against them by the regime, and the politicized unfair trials used to silence the voices call for change in Yemen.” Said al-Tagheer Organization, and asked the government to release them, and to comply with the Yemeni constitution and the international oaths and covenants, and all of the laws that provide the rights for a fair trial, and right for opinion expression in a peaceful way.
Sources :
Al-Tagheer Organization for Defense of Rights and Freedoms
More information on Yemen page: http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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Iran
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Iranian Woman Rights Activist Sentenced to 5 Years
Hana Abdi, Iranian a student and a woman rights activist from Sanadaj Kurdistan, who is languishing in jail since November 2007, was charged of “ assembly and conspiracy to threaten the national security” under the article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code, and sentenced accordingly to 5 years in prison to spend in exile, in Azerbaija. While the trial of her colleague Ronac Safazadeh who lives in jail since November 2007 still pending.
Ronac is facing a serious charge called “Moharaba” which means armed activity against the state, punishable by death penalty. The charges against her are also solely based on interrogations during her solitary confinement. The Campaign called on head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi, to immediately intervene in these cases and initiate an independent investigation into prosecution of Abdi and Safazadeh.
Sources :
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
More information on Iran page: http://www.anhri.net/iran
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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In the Arab Media Enemies Meeting, a trend to siege the electronic media and the Arab League is a fragile entity
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information "ANHRI.NET" condemned the results of the ministerial council of Arab information ministers that was held in the headquarter of the Arab League yesterday and the day before. The meeting resulted in condensing using the elastic expressions to define the document of satellite channels transmission and push towards applying it and make its words suitable for the internal legislations of every state. This is happening despite they declared that the document is just a "guide". “using the word (freedom to expression) so frequently by the Arab Information Ministers, reminds us with Interior ministers when using the phrase (defending human rights), then expand torturing people” Gamal Eid the executive Director of ANHRI said as for the electronic media; the network confirms that launching such an Arab electronic media committee completes the confiscation -cancellation -censorship triangle which bonds the printed and electronic media along with satellites.
To review the full communiqué see: http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0621.shtml
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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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