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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 219
Year 5
11 July 2008 - 17 July 2008
Bahrain
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Imprisonment Sentences and Fines Handed Down to Human Rights Activists
The 4th Supreme Criminal Court in its Sunday, July 13th 2008 session issued guilty verdicts against a group of human rights defenders in the case is known as “December 2007’s Events.” The sentences included imprisonment and fines, At the same time the court overlooked torture claims, and the Bahraini security forces used extreme force with the defendants relatives.
The case goes back to 18th of December 2007, when rallies were held at the funeral of activist Ali Jasim Mohamed, who was killed while participating in the Martyrs Day Annual Rally which was demanding truth and justice for the victims of murder and torture of the former regime. Special Security Forces used extreme force to break up the Martyrs Day Rally, resulting in clashes between outraged youth and the officials. Several villages and areas where detained and suffocating gas was heavily applied resulting in the suffocation of children and elders as well a dozens of other injuries. The security forces used as an excuse alleged incidents of a burned police care and the loss of some firearms to launch a wide arrest campaign, despite the uncertainties around the stories.
Sources
Bahrain Youth Association for Human Rights
More information and topics on Bahrain page: http://anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Assault on Al Maulidi Al Zoabi, Correspondent for Al Hewar Tunisian Channel
Mr. Al Maulidi Al Zoabi a member of Gendouba Alliance for the the Progressive Democratic Party, and a correspondent for Al Hiwar Al Tunisi (The Tunisian Dialogue) TV was assaulted on Wednesday July 9th by three security personnel from the National Guards Station in Gendouba. Because Al Zoabi refused to obey their orders to hand over his camera without a warrant, assistants took him outside his housing area (Al Ashayshya, Bou Salim) and dropped him out of their car, after assaulting him violently and confiscating his camera. He was then carried to the hospital of Bou Salim with Assistance from some members of the Tunisian League, where he filed an injury report.
Sources
Tunisian League for Defense of Human Rights
More information and topics on Tunisia page: http://anhri.net/tunisia
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Sudan
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Request for Warrants against New Officials in Darfur Case, A step toward Justice
A group of international rights institutions confirmed that the Prosecutor General of the ICC submitted an application for a warrant of arrest against Omar Hassan Ahmad AL BASHIR the president of the Republic of Sudan on the charge of genocide. This is a basic step towards countering the practice of impunity for state violations of international criminal law. The signatory organizations of this communiqué, said that the strong support of the international community for ICC’s undergoing task is necessary to enable the court to bring justice to Darfur.
Thousands of Displaced in an Unfinished War
Stated Ashraf Milad Ruxi, a UNDP – Darfur former worker, and asylum lawyer in a testimony about what he saw in the Mila and Kononjo Internally Displaced Peoples camps in East Chad in 2005. Ruxi met more than 20 families were forced to migrate from Darfur. Their testimonies repeated a common fact, that airstrikes preceded attacks of the Arab tribal militias “Janjaweed.” The land attacks by the “Janjaweed” were used to finish off who survived or fled the hell descending from the Antonov Aircrafts which poured flame splashes over their heads.
Sources
Ifham(Understand) Darfur Website
More information and topics on Darfur website: http://ifhamdarfur.net
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Syria
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Government Blackout on Truth of What Happened in Saydnaya Military Prison
The Massacre at Saydnaya military prison is still a focus point for Syrian Human Rights organizations, while the government continues to impose measure to blackout any information on what took place. This week 8 human rights organizations expressed their deep concern toward the official silence of the Syrian governmental agencies, and the enduring blackout on the events that took place on 5th July inside the prison. Several sources have revealed information about a prisoner strike protesting the inhumane treatment in the prison, which the prison guards violently quelled violently with their arms, resulting in several injuries and deaths.
The 8 organizations demanded in their communiqué that the Syrian government respect its international human rights commitments and urged the state to take immediate action to apply the minimum standards for prisoner treatment.
Human Rights Activist Still Detained
Human rights activist Hassan Younis Kassim had joined a long list of detainees in Syria, when he was arrested by security forces after he was summoned to approach the General Intelligence Administration in Damascus. He is a student in the Faculty of Arts- Aleppo University.
Sources
Syrian League for Defense of Human Rights
Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syrian Organization for Human Rights (Sawasiah)
More information and topics on Syria page: http://anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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No Democracy without Free Journalists
For union rights, for decent conditions of work, for the rights for women in media and their equal representation in the union, and for journalism of the highest professional and ethical standards, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) released a communiqué on the occasion of the Iraqi Journalist Union elections on Friday, July 18. The communiqué of the (IFJ) expresses solidarity with Iraqi journalists, emphasized their continuing efforts to set standards of democracy, and urged the Iraqi journalists to give their full support to the Iraqi Journalists Union for the sake of independence and professionalism. The communiqué had also demanded that all Iraqi political groups and parties respect and defend the independence of the Iraqi Journalist Union and of its members.
Sources
The Iraqi Press Freedoms Observatory
More information and topics on Iraq page: http://anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Afaq TV Station Raided and Journalist Mosab Hossam Arrested
As the Israeli assault on the Palestinian press continued and escalated, on July 15th the Israeli Occupying Forces arrested independent journalist Mosab Hossam (25 years old), after raiding is family’s home in Nablus and seized his computer and documents. Hossam was interrogated for two hours on his work as a journalist and his social life. He was released later in the day.
The IDF had raided on 10 July, the quarters of Afaq TV local station in Nablus, confiscated all of the equipments, instruments and furniture, and placed seals on the TV entrance to indicate that it is closed for year.
A Palestinian Wins Weimar International Human Rights Award
Mr. Issam Younis the General Director of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights was awarded the 2008 Weimar International Human Rights Award. The award is dedicated to active persons, organizations and groups in the field of human rights who devote themselves to the promotion of tolerance and human relations between nations. Mr. Younis will receive the award in a ceremony to be held in Weimar City in the Federal Republic of Germany on December 10, 2008; the day marking the International Human Rights Day. This is the first time this award is granted to a Palestinian.
Sources
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
More information and topics on Palestine page: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Kuwait
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Punishment for who Writes in Newspapers
Al Qabas" newspaper leaked a government document, which prevents government staff from working in journalism. The document has been under preparation since February 2008. It imposes penalties that include dismissal from work for any employee who writes in newspapers. The Kuwaiti government provided a weak and unacceptable reason for this policy, which was stated as the need to "preserve state secrets”
Sources
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information on Kuwait page: http://anhri.net/kuwait
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Libya
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Conviction Rulings against Peaceful Demonstrators
The State Security Court handed down prison terms against 11 peaceful political activists on June 10th 2008. The charges were
“planning to overthrow the ruling regime” and “meeting with a foreign government official” and the sentences ranged from between 6-25 years. The activists were acquitted of fire arms possession charges. The activists are a part of group of men arrested on February 2007, following their efforts to arrange for a demonstration in memory of 11 people killed in clashes between police in a demonstration that took place one year ago. The authorities released two of them, while a third detainee has been missing since then.
Sources
Human Rights Watch
More information on Libya page: http://anhri.net/libya
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Egypt
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A Proposed Law Seizes Freedom of Expression
A new bill addressing satellite broadcasting strengthens the Egyptian Governments’ ability to impose constraints on the Media who are addressing key issues in the community. Constraints against the Media in Egypt have been seen in the prosecution of journalists, the prevention of channels from broadcasting through NileSat, and through laws such as the satellite broadcast regulations bill which was discussed by the Arab information ministers meeting on June 20th.
This satellite broadcasting bill is the most modern means by which the Egyptian government is trying to quell the word. The project of this law is one of the main concerns of rights organizations in Egypt. In a review of the new law draft, it became clear that it not only resembles a violation of freedom of expression, creativity, and information but also exceeds those rights to violate several other human rights, such as the right of personal privacy and privacy in correspondences. This is especially true because it gives a regulatory corporation the
authority to censor all of the broadcast networks implicitly under the item of “regulation and follow up.” It is actually codified as legislative model for security Espionage.
Sources
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Karmal Foundation for Digital Media
One World Foundation for Development and Civil Society Care
More information and topics on Egypt page: http://anhri.net/egypt
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Yemen
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Yemeni Popular Singer Fahd Al Qrani Sentenced and Imprisoned
The Yemeni government tried to silence the Yemeni singer Fahd Al Qrani, who is also a renowned comedian, through many means over recent years. On July 9th the Yemeni government managed to arrest and detain him and sentenced him to 18 months in prison and a fine equivalent to $2500. Qrani is still unable to believe that he is imprisoned for his sense of humor. In response he requested that his fans celebrate with him through an important event, and indeed thousands of them responded by going to demonstrations to demand his release and ask the government to undertake protections for freedom of expression in the country.
Sources
National Corporation for Defense of Rights and Freedoms
More information on Yemen page:http://anhri.net/yemen
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Freedom of Opinion and Expression in the Arabic Region
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has monitored freedom of opinion and expression in three different communiqués.
In Kuwait the government issued a decree preventing government employees from writing in newspapers and provided a weak and unacceptable reason for doing so, “preserving the state secrets”! The Arabic Network said: “this decree imposes a harsh blow on the press freedoms and freedom of expression and takes Kuwait back decades by violating several constitutional articles that have ensured the freedoms of opinion and expression.
The Network had also followed up with research, analysis, and a position statement on a new proposed law on audio and visual broadcast censorship, prepared by the Minister of Information. ANHRI added “it is not new to propose an unfair law in Egypt, but what is new is that this law holds the police baton when dealing with the media, and under a very strong technological revolution all types of media trends and telecommunications will not be free of broadcast constraints.
The US Government Should End its Prosecution of Al Arian
The Arabic Network released a communiqué on July 16th condemning the American government’s prosecution of Sami Al Arian, a Palestinian American academic and activist. Sami was known for his writings and lectures that exposed the real dimensions of the Palestinian tragedy. But the former head of the Justice Department, who was notorious of his radicalism and hostility against Arabs, did not hesitate to pursue Al-Arian and throw him in jail as soon as the opportunity presented itself in 2003. Sami has spent the past five years in jail where he suffered greatly. He has faced all forms repression and discrimination as the government has pursued its case against him accusing him of “Supporting Terrorism.” This is an accusation, which the United States has used against many who speak or write about their opinions.
To review the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information press releases:
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports
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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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