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The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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The weekly update for ANHRI # 234
Fifth Year
31 October to 6 November 2008
Jordan
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Journalist Fayez Al-Ajrashi released on bail
The Jordanian authorities have released journalist Fayez Al-Ajrashi, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper El-Ekhabariya on bail. Al-Ajrashi left Al –Juweida prison (15 kilometers south of Amman) after paying three thousand Jordanian Dinars (about three thousand three hundred Euros) as bail but he is still faced with charges of "inflaming sectarian strife" and "inciting national discord" .
Sources
• Reporters Without Borders
Further information on Jordan page: http://www.anhri.net/jordan
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Bahrain
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A human rights activist’s turned into felony for the first time
The Supreme Criminal Court in Bahrain will consider the case of human rights activist and president of Bahrain Youth Association for Human Rights Mohammed Al-Massqati on 6th November from an misdemeanor– carrying 6 months and/or a pecuniary fine if sentenced – to a felony – carrying more severe punishments - for funding a non –licensed association working on securing and monitoring human rights principles in Bahrain.
Sources
• Bahrain Youth Association for Human Rights
Further information on Bahrain page: http://www.anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Save the life of Abdallatif Bouhigaila before too late
The former political prisoner Abdallatif BouHigaila is continuing his hunger strike for the thirty third day in demand of his right to medical treatment and a passport. Bouhigaila is suffering from several life-threatening diseases such as cancer of the kidneys and heart disease, whilst in prison and he is waiting authorities to respond to his message during his hunger strike.
Sources
• Justice and Equity Organization
Further information on Tunisia page: http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Algeria
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Accused of "insulting Islam”, censorship catches out a French weekly newspaper in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
The ministry of communication in Morocco ordered a ban on the distribution of a French international weekly newspaper on 31st October under pretext that it had been "insulting Islam". Three days later, the Tunisian and Algerian authorities applied the same order as the cover page of issue No. 2991 of 5th October 2008 read, "The conflict between Jesus and Mohamed, their path, message, and vision of the world".
Sources
• Reporters without Borders
Further information on Algeria page: http://www.anhri.net/algeria
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Saudi Arabia
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Reform advocates on hunger strike
In solidarity with the reform advocates in custody, a number of Saudi constitution reform advocates went on hunger strike to bring attention to the case of the detainees in the Kingdom and to prove that government controlled media could not silence the voices calling for civil and constitutional reform to drag the Arabic Peninsula into the twenty first century.. It is noteworthy that the leader of the Arabic Commission for Human Rights Dr. Matrook Al Faleh is still in Al-Hayer prison.
Sources
• Arabic Commission for Human Rights
Further information on Saudi page: http://www.anhri.net/saudi
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Sudan
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Repression of press freedoms and arrests of journalists continue
Journalists in Sudan have organized a sit-in and gone on hunger strike in protest against press proofs censorship imposed by intelligence officers on a number of Sudanese newspapers. The newspapers have also announced their suspension for three days as of next Saturday as part of their protest. Columnists whose columns have been banned in the past have also decided to withdraw their columns in protest at the repressive mechanisms imposed on the press by the intelligence forces.
Sources
• Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Further information on Sudan page: http://www.anhri.net/sudan
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Syria
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Attorney-general hinders the application of Syrian law and constitution rules
On 4th November the attorney-general in Damascus challenged the order issued by the court of appeal to give writer Mechael Kilo and activist Mahmoud Issa an immediate pardon and release them after serving only a quarter of their sentence in prison. The challenge came as an exceptional procedure to rescind the order which was issued by the court of appeal on 2nd November. Despite this challenge by the attorney-general, the two should be released on Tuesday, for there is no legal authority which can stop the implementation a decision of the court of appeal except a further decision issued by the same court.
Sources
• Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Further information on Syria page: http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Somalia
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Assassination of activists continues with the perpetrators escaping justice
Maryam Adam the well known Somali civil society and peace and reconciliation activist, has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen who then escaped. Maryam Adam resigned last year from her presidency of the Women’s Organization in the region of Baey but maintained her membership. Maryam made remarkable contributions in solving clan disputes in the region as well as in other provinces. Right up until her assassination, she was occupied reconciling warring clans in Bido city as witnesses and her colleagues and witnesses stated..
Sources
• Justice Observation Association
Further information on Somalia page: http://www.anhri.net/somalia
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Iraq
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local council ordered to close Al-Rashid radio station in Al-Mousil
Ninway provincial council were ordered to close Al- Rashid radio station in Al-Mousil on Saturday 1st November 2008. The closure is based on false charges of inciting violence and lack of a license to broadcast. This has been denied by the director of the station who has confirmed that the station has a formal license from ministry of Information.
Sources
• Freedom of the Press Council
Further information on Iraq: http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Deprivation of 900 captives from family visits.
Around nine hundred prisoners have been deprived of family visits as a form of punishment. The reason is that they reside in Gaza. The sufferings involved in the withdrawal of family visits extend to their wives, friends, parents, brothers, sisters, and sons. Altogether that adds up to the collective punishment of thousands of Gaza citizens.
Sources
• Palestine behind Bars
Further information on Palestine page:
: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Libya
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Violence and turmoil in the city of Kofra
Reports have been received from the city of Kofra (one thousand and sixty kilometers south of Banghazi) confirming that violent clashes took place between people belonging to the Al Tabu ethnic group and security forces. This was the first violent reaction to the decision to deprive the Al Tabu drives of Libyan nationality and consider them as foreigners, which was published on 3rd December 2007. The Al Tabu ethnic group, numbering less than one million, also live along the Sudan-Chad border and speak Arabic alongside their own dialect. They also live in Libyan cities such as Kofra, Katroon, Al-Abary, Marzoog, Ribyana, Tazaryo, and Tagarhi .
Sources
• Arabic Commission for Human Rights
Further information on Libya page: http://www.anhri.net/libya
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Egypt
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Security forces attack students at the faculty of engineering in Helwan University
The Institution for freedom of thought and expression voiced its deep concern over security policies which restrict the rights and freedoms of students embodied in the attacks of students Nagi Kamel and Mustafa Shawgi, members of the resistance movement in Helwan University.
Sources
• Institution for freedom of Thought and Expression
Further information on Egypt page: http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Sahrawi human rights activist prevented from registration at Ibn Zahra university in Agadir
Once again Ali Salem A Itamk, member of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders Alliance has been deprived of his right to register at the college. The reason given for this ban is that A Itamk is usually that people holding high office think that he is an enemy of the state. The manager of the university campus claims that he missed the deadline for his registration. The commission representing Sahrawi students submitted his registration form early and has received several promises, all of which were in vain.
Sources
• CODESA
Further information on Morocco page: http://www.anhri.net/morocco
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Yemen
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Yemeni Organization for Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms urges minister of interior to protect a journalists from security forces
In a message to ministry of interior Mutahar Rashad Almasri, Yemeni Organization for Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms demanded the protection of reporter of Alnas newspaper and Ilaf and Maarab press internet websites Nasr Jabr who has been receiving threats and insults from former political security director of Damt province-currently governor of Dallie province Mohamed Tahir through the phone number 7336930, and also from security officers in Damt province after he released news about police officer who killed a baby of eight months.
Sources
• Yemeni Organization for Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms
Further information on Yemen page: http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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Iran
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Payman Fatahi (also known as Ostad Ilya),
the leader of the Al Yasin Society, was arrested in Khordad 1386 (May 2007) under fabricated charges. During six months of confinement in a solitary cell, Ostad Ilya was subjected to physical and psychological torments and, under severely stressful conditions, he was forced into a false confession. After the release of Ostad Ilya, the threats and harassments continued until 28/7/1387 (October 19), when he was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence for further investigation. Once inside the Ministry, he was attacked by agents in the religious affairs section, and was assaulted with punches and kicking and shocked with cattle prod-like devices. As a result, the leader and thinker of the Al Yasin youth group sustained injuries and bleeding. The main reason for such severe physical punishment has been described as the mailing of a secret letter addressed to the leadership by Ostad Ilya. The letter indicated that the accused possessed information on constraints exerted by the religious affairs section of the Ministry of Intelligence and the use of torture to force people into false confessions.
Sources
• Iran Voice for Human Rights
Further information and topics on Iran page: http://www.anhri.net/iran
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Regional and international
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reform advocates and human rights activists remain in costudy in Saudi Arabia
The Arabic Organization for Human Rights observed in deep concern the continuation of the detention of reform advocates, intellectuals, and human rights activists in Saudi since the beginning of 2007.the Arabic Organization strongly condemned the violation of their rights in contradiction to the Saudi criminal code, and authorities ignorance of release appeals made by international and regional organizations. The detained advocates deprived of their basic rights such as their right to be interrogated by public prosecutor, the right that should be present at interrogation, the solitary confinement for more than two months, and arbitrary arrest without trial for more than six months.
Sources
• Arabic Organization for Human Rightst
For more information and topics on MENA page: http://www.anhri.net/mena
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Legal Aid Unit for Freedom of Expression
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Egypt: Kareem Amer: two years awaiting justice
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said in a statement released today 6th of November that Kareem Amer has now completed his second year in prison, and his lawyers from ANHRI and Hisham Mubarak Law Center are still waiting the result of an appeal brought before Egypt’s Prosecutor General. Amir’s lawyers hope to see justice done through this appeal and bring an end to his unjustified imprisonment. ANHRI published a message delivered by Kareem on this occasion on his blog:
http://karim.katib.org/node/10
To read the full statement: http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2008/pr1106.shtml
For more of ANHRI’s Communiqués:
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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