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Our Reports
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 # 254
Sixth Year
26 March 2009 – 2 April 2009
Jordan
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Teachers Have the Right to Form Own Syndicate
The President of the Association of Private Schools "Mundhir Al-Sourani" confirmed the intention of private schools "to raise school fees as well as the installment payments for transportation starting the next school year." These statements were a source of concern for the National Campaign for Students Rights, who found them to be a flagrant sign that capitalist profit motives are tarnishing the core of the education process.
The campaign stressed the need for state intervention to halt private schools from controlling citizens by fixing specific profit margins for all private educational institutions, and the need to allow teachers to form a Syndicate.
Source:
National Campaign for Students Rights "Dhabahtouna"
More information and topics on the Jordan page:
http://anhri.net/jordan
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Bahrain
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The Right to a Fair Trial
On March 24, the second trial of what is locally known as the "Al-Hogeira scheme" was held. The Interior Ministry claims that 14 people in the town of "Al-Hogeira" in Syria were trained in the production of explosives. The accused face various charges, chief among them life in prison under Article VI of the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Furthermore, the public prosecution violated the Bahraini Penal Code by allowing the distribution of pictures and video of the accused on local television before the conclusion of their investigation. The accused also asserted that the public prosecution was not an independent body, as it had exerted psychological pressure on them to coerce confessions.
Source:
"Haq" Movement
The Arab-European Center for Human Rights and International Law
More information and topics on the Bahrain page: http://anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Verdict to Be Issued April 4th in Case of Dr. Sadik Shuro
The judge Mohamed Ali Bin Showaykha, President of the 8th Chamber in the Tunis Primary Court, refused to release Dr. Sadik Shuro for health reasons. Dr. Shuro is the former President of the Nahda Movement, and a former political prisoner under the charge of "keeping non-licensed assembly". The ruling has been postponed until the April 4th.
Source:
National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia
International Association for the support of political prisoners
Freedom and justice
More information and topics on Tunisia page: http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Syria
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Arrest of Human Rights Activist, Ahmed El-Hadji
The Syrian Security Forces arrested human rights activist, Ahmed El-Hadji, in accordance with the ruling of the Military Court judge to sentence him to five days. He was accused as a result of publishing an Internet article entitled "The Directorate of Education in Rakah and the Lottery of Education and Recruitment," in which he tried to state the reality of education, particularly in the province of Rakah.
El-Hadji was tried in military courts on the charges of "undermining the prestige of the state" and "weakening confidence in public authorities."
Source:
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
Arab Organization for Human Rights
More information and topics on Syria page: http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Journalist Abdullah Rayyes Ahmed Detained
Arbitrary detention is, more generally, a stark violation of human rights, and committing these acts against journalists is contrary to their right to exercise freedom of expression, as provided in the Iraqi Constitution, Article 38.
The Iraqi police and army in 'Salah ad Din' province arrested the journalist Abdullah Rayyes Ahmed, editor of Al-Sada newspaper and Al-Nebras magazine, without bringing any specific charges against him.
Source:
Iraqi Assembly to Defend the Rights of Journalists
More information and topics on the Iraq page: http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Land Day, a Day to Fight Discrimination
March 30 is an occasion for Palestinians to commemorate the events on that day in 1976, in which the Israeli authorities declared plans to expropriate privately owned lands and public property in the Galilee. Special Forces from the Israeli army entered that day with tanks to re-occupy Palestinian villages. In the ensuing confrontations, which came after the declaration of a strike by Arab masses, many unarmed Palestinian civilians were killed or wounded.
This year has witnessed the transformation of this celebration from a national day to a global event in which Arab and international institutions of civil society stand with oppressed Palestinians. Members of the global solidarity movements with the Palestinian people and divestment and sanctions campaigns officially announced March 30 as the beginning of the international campaign to boycott Israel as an apartheid regime.
Source:
'Etejah' - the Union of Arab civil societies
More information and topics on Palestine page: http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Egypt
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Burning of Houses Belonging to Baha'is in "al-Shuraniya" Village
Six Egyptian human rights organizations have filed a claim with the public prosecutor. In the complaint, they urged him to open an immediate investigation to identify those responsible for the criminal attacks perpetrated against the Baha'is over the last few days in the Egyptian village of Al-Shuraniya, affiliated with Sohag province.
The attacks began with the gathering of dozens of the village's inhabitants at the houses of Bahais, chanting "There is no God but Allah, Bahais are enemies of God." They then began throwing stones at the houses, smashing the windows, and trying to storm into them. The attacks further escalated with the hurling fireballs and Molotov cocktails at 5 houses, which led to their partial burning. Police forces did nothing but order the remaining victims to leave the village
Source:
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
More information and topics on Egypt page: http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Students on Hunger Strike in Mortal Danger
As a result of their position on the Western Sahara issue, 3 students are facing death threats. In spite of this danger, the local prison department, public prosecution, investigating judge and the Court of Appeal in Marrakech have refused to dialogue with them after a period of 40 days on hunger strike.
Abstention from food has left physical and psychological effects on the detainees, who are suffering from weight loss, severe fatigue, immobility and an inability to think. Their deterioration has resulted from the lack of access to primary medical care to treat the number of diseases draining their bodies.
Source:
The Executive Office of the Saharan human rights defenders
More information and topics on Morocco page: http://anhri.net/morocco
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Iran
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Roxana Sabri's Life in Danger
More than 100,000 people from various countries signed a petition expressing their concern at the arrest of "Roxana Sabri", an American journalist of Iranian origin.
A spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Justice declared that "Roxana" is in custody in "Even" prison, where 2 journalists died during the last six years for unknown causes.
Source:
Committee to Protect Journalists
More information and topics on the page of Iran: http://anhri.net/iran
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Arrest of Two Female Students in April 6th Movement
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the arrest of two female students, Amina Ahmad Taha Ghazi and Sara Mohamed Rizk inside of Kafr al-Sheikh university for distributing flyers calling on students to protest in the upcoming April 6th strikes. ANHRI demands their immediate release, and that the police stop their aggression against all students on the campus.
More information and topics on ANHRI page: http://www.anhri.net/press
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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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