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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 226
Year 5
29 August 2008 - 4 September 2008
Bahrain
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Denouncement of Al Wifaq Violations against a Cultural Association
Bahrain Human Rights Watch Association expressed its extreme worries towards the intensified dispute between Ansar Al Wifaq Association and Al Tajdeed Cultural Association, where for the second time in less than a week, the Wifaq members had physically assaulted Al Tajdeed’s leader Mr. Nadir Ragab, in a symposium organized on Tuesday in Aali area.
Sources
Bahrain Association for Human Rights Watch
More information and topics on Bahrain Page: http://www.anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Assaults on Dignity of Opinion Prisoners
The prison director in Benzert had severely assaulted the dignity of the opinion prisoner Tariq Al Sousi, the rights activists and the founder member of the International Association for Support of Political prisoner, who accused of “disseminating with bad intention false news that might destabilize the public order”, on the backdrop of his comments about the abductions of Benzert, in the Magharibya news on 26 August, in al-Jazeera TV channel. The prison director had seized his crutches and forced him to move to the court carried by the prison guards, who had delivered him to the guards of the political police, where he was held on the arms of one of them to the investigation judge. All of the attending lawyers protested this violation of the simplest rights of the prisoner is paralyzed.
Sources
The International Association for the Support of the Political Prisoners
More information and topics on Tunisia page: http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Syria
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Omran Al Said Referred to the Military Judiciary
The Syrian Kurdish opponent Omran Al Said member of administration council and a member of the public relation office in the Kurdish Al Mustakbal Movement, was referred on 1 September to the Military Single Judge, Al Said was arrested arbitrary and detained with no charge, the interrogation was rescheduled to 3rd September 2008.
Sources
Eye on Syria
More information and topics on Syria page: http://anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Reuters Photojournalist Arrested South Baghdad
The American-Iraqi forces had arrested Reuters’ photojournalist Ibrahim Jassam on 1st September, after midnight raid on his house, and upon informing the force commander of his work as a cameraman for Reuters, the force ordered to arrest him and confiscate four of his cameras, his phone, while they destroyed his personal computer. His is withheld in an unidentified location.
Sources
Press Freedoms Observatory
More information and topics on Iraq’s Page: http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Arbitrary detention of journalists continues as result of tension between Hamas and Fatah
Following to arrest of four journalists at least in Gaza, Reporters without Borders called on the Palestinian political officials to bring to an end the wave of the arbitrary detentions that media professionals are exposed to. And said “The political struggle between Hamas and Fatah has inflicted a great deal of damage on the press in the Palestinian Territories,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Many media have been closed and dozens of journalists have been arrested. In the absence of the rule of law, they have no way of defending themselves. Mahmoud Abbas and Ismael Haniyeh cannot remain silent while this goes on. It is in their own interest to ensure there is room for free speech.”
Sources
Reporters without Borders
More information and topics on Palestine page: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Libya
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Losing Life under Torture
The Libyan Alliance for Human Rights had followed regrettably and surprisingly, a show presented by “Gathafi Foundation for Charity and Development” recently among some video recordings of some Libyans who were assassinated and extra judicial executed, where victims/accused citizens were confessing about all of the political “crimes” that attributed to them and even extraneous crimes.
The Alliance believes that the reason for not bringing them before the court, or even a mock trial would be specifically “the torture”, which they think it was too atrocious and caused hard to hid serious physical, physiological impacts on the victims. The “declaration of guilt” heard in the episodes are dangerous in all of the dimensions, and would lead to harsh sentences if the confessors were brought to judiciary, even if it was a fair and independent one.
Sources
Libyan Alliance for Human Rights
More information and topics on Libya page: http://www.anhri.net/libya
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Egypt
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Disallowing the Magazine Publicity Despite a Prior Judicial Ruling
Hisham Mubarak Law Center condemned the decision of the Supreme Council of Press that cancelled the license of “Azzohour” Magazine, issued by “al-Resala for Press, Printing and publishing” after it has received a letter from the Public Corporation of Investment with notice of revoking the establishment certificate, and according to this decision Azzohour will not be published. The decision came although the company owning Azzohour magazine had obtained an obligatory judiciary sentence to issue Azzohour magazine after challenging the Council decision disallowing the publicity of the magazine.
Sources
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
More information and topics on Egypt’s page: http://anhri.net/egypt
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Yemen
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Concerns about Justice and Integrity in the Current Election Record
Dr. Mohamed Al Mekhlafi the head of the Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights, had warned the political parties from enduring of the political and sectarian disputes, and calling on them to work in harmony for a crisis-free political space, and for the reform of the election system to assure the election integrity and democracy, which conform the safety valve for the election process.
Sources
Eye on Yemen
For more information and topics on Yemen’s page: http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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Morocco
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Upholding the Prison and Fine Sentence against Ibrahim Sabaa El Layl
The Moroccan Center for Human Rights said in its communiqué issued on 31st August that: The Appeal Court had upheld the primary sentence against the rights activist Ibrahim Sebaa El Layl, in its session held on Tuesday 26th August, and in the 8+ hours long session, the judge had upheld the initial sentence of six months term in prison, and a fine 1000 Moroccan Dirham”, the Moroccan Center said also in his condemning communiqué: “ the ruling, as well as having a political dimension, it was also came unfair and provoking, unjustifiable against an activist and official in a responsible legal organization, who is interested in defending human dignity and dignified life for all the citizen, among the standards and basis for the state of right and law”.
Sources
Moroccan Center for Human Rights
More information and topics on Morocco’s page: http://www.anhri.net/morocco
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Iran
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Iran Expels Al Arabiya Bureau Chief
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information condemns the expulsion of Hassan Fahs, the Chief of Al Arabiya News Channel’s bureau in Tehran yesterday, by the Iranian authorities after revoking his media accreditation. According to the website of Al Arabiya net, a documentary film about the Iran, was aired under the title: “The Road to The Revolution”, might be the reason behind this free media-hostile decision.
Sources
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
More information and topics on Iran’s page: http://www.anhri.net/iran
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information-Legal Aid Unit for Freedom of Expression
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Ibrahim The Postponement of another “Hisba” case against Dr. Saad El-Din Ibrahim
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) stated on 2nd September 2008, that the Khalifa Misdemeanors’ court in Cairo decided to postpone the review of the Actio Popularis (Al-Hisba) case, which was raised by Thuraya Labna, the Ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) member, against Dr. Saad El-Din Ibrahim, to the 28th of October 2008; she accused him of issuing false news and statements, which is criminalized under the Egyptian Penal code (Article 80, Passage D).
To read the full statement:
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0902-2.shtml
Libya Must Release the Opinion Prisoners Instead of Handing Phony Speeches about Reform
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said in its communiqué issued on 2nd September 2008, that the Libyan President should release the opinion prisoners, especially on the occasion of his thirty-ninth presidential anniversary, instead of his repetitive fake promises about reform and corruption combat, which he got used to release every year without any tangible procedures to limit the restrictions on both civil and political freedoms in Libya.
To read the full statement:
http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr0902.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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