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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 #264
Sixth Year
June 5, 2009- June 11, 2009
Bahrain
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Recruiting Mercenaries
A Bahraini Human Rights website published a list of the names of workers in the National Security Service. This list was a base for Bahrain Center for Human Rights to clarify the composition of this system based on sectarian discrimination and the recruitment of mercenaries.
After the Center's statement the security forces in May 14, 2009, arrested Hassan Salman BuAli from his work place on the charges of leaking secret information. On the same day, he had been summoned to the Public Prosecutor who ordered to continue his detention pending the investigation.
This week, Bahrain Center for Human Rights reported that during the investigation with Mr. Hassan Salman investigators offered him his release on one condition; to sign a memorandum against Nabeel Rajab the Chief of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Ms. Laila Dashti the supervisor of Bahrain Forum website accusing then of inciting an funding him to publish these names.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
For more information visit; http://anhri.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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A petition to support the Executive Office of the Press Syndicate
Facing the governmental attacks and attempt to coup the Executive Office of the Press Syndicate and the withdrawal of confidence from the Office after the declaration of a report critical of the government, a group of Tunisian journalists abroad declared their support to the executive office of the syndicate and called it to continue working as the legitimate representative of the trade union. They also declared uphold to the right to free trade union work and absolute rejection of any attempt to undermine the efforts of the union to improve conditions of journalists, and to consolidate the foundations of journalism. The petition also denounced exposing journalists to administrative and political pressure to withdraw confidence from the legitimate leadership of the union.
Source:
Tunisian Journalists Abroad
For more information visit; http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Algeria;
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Arresting a journalist in Tebessa
Algerian authorities have used the absence of a reporter's accreditation as an argument to silence any journalist who dares to expose any acts of fraud committed by local officials. In May 2009 a reporter for Annihar newspaper spent three days in detention pending investigation, during this week another reporter of the same newspaper "Rabeh Mawashy" had been arrested. The General Prosecutor of Tebessa accused the journalist of working without accreditation.
Source:
Reporters Without Borders
More information on; http://anhri.net/algeria
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Sudan
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A new press law opens the way for repression
In a painful blow to press freedom in Sudan, and as a way to threatening of more repression, restriction and confiscation, the Sudanese parliament approved the draft press law, which was met with fierce criticism from the Sudanese journalists and civil society in Sudan and abroad. The law grants the Press Council the power to issue closure orders against newspapers up to 3 days without authorization from the judiciary. the law did not provide mechanisms to organize the flow of information between authorities and journalists, it also contained double meaning words and clauses that are flexible and tolerant interpretations such as the ban on publication of anything that would "provoke religious or ethnic or racial strife, or call for war or violence". The law also stressed that the newspapers should "respect and protect public morality, and religious values."
Source:
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information visit; http://anhri.net/sudan
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Syria;
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Security prosecution of Waleed Bunni in side the prison
Dr. Walid Bunni, a reformist and human rights activist in Syria, is serving a term of imprisonment of two and a half years issued in October 2008 against him along with eleven colleagues among the leadership of the coalition of Damascus Declaration, against the background of a meeting of the Damascus Declaration National Council meeting which was held early in December 2007.
This week the second military criminal court held a session in Damascus to trial Dr. Walid on charges of "spreading false news that weakens the spirit of the nation" based on the betrayal from within the central prison of Damascus criminal prisoner (informant Ashour) who is convicted of public money theft crimes and car robberies and also murder and smuggling.
Source:
Committee for the Defense of Democracy Freedoms and Human Right in Syria
Syrian organization for human rights (SAWASIAH)
The Arabic Organization for Human Rights In Syria
the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights in Syria
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
For more information visit; http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Arresting a journalist in Nasiriyah
The security services in Dhi Qar governorate arrested this week "Jassim Kinani" the correspondent of "Al-Ahd" radio station in Nasiriyah, while he was on his way to cover the incident of a suicide bombing. He was encountered by elements of the police who arrested him and put him in jail without giving the reasons, now he is being held at the police station of the town.
Source:
Journalistic Freedoms Observatory
For more information visit; http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine;
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Renewal of the armed fights in Qalqilya
This week the manifestations of armed clashes between members of the security services and Hamas militants in the West Bank has been renewed, and the bloody clashes in the city of Qalqilya broke out for the second time in three days. The last clashes resulted in killing three people, two activists from the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades and one security element, to increase its number of unfortunate victims of the clashes in Qalqilia to 9 people in three days. Moreover the clashes severely damaged a number many houses and facilities in neighborhood.
Source:
The National Society for Democracy and Law
More information on; http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Lebanon
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Elections and the journalistic work
"Skeyes" and Doha Center for Information braised the professional competence of the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior to ensure the conduct of the parliamentary elections, protect the journalists covering the elections.
Security forces intervened in a timely manner to protect the group of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation while their being in the area of Al Bastah in Beirut, for the verification of the news of harassing "Mesbah Eido" who is loyal to the Future Movement, while the photographer was taking pictures, he had been intercepted by a person who prevented him from shooting and then a group of youths gathered immediately smashed the camera and caused bruises to the photographer. Later the Army elements intervened to get the group of journalists out of the place.
Source:
SKeyes
For more information visit; http://anhri.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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Legislative mechanism against freedom of expression
During this week, the series of journalists bringing other journalists to courts continued, the journalists used the same legislative mechanisms that are hostile to freedom of opinion and expression.
The Giza Criminal Court ruled against the "Yasser Barakat," chief editor of "Al-Mogaz" newspaper, due to charges of defaming Mr. Mustafa Bakri, editor of "Al-ousboue" newspaper. The court sentences Barakat to 20 thousand pounds fine.
It is to be noted that this provision was the second of its kind against "Yasser Barakat" based on a case filed by "Bakri". Previously the criminal court in Giza in February 2009, ruled to fine Yasser Barakat 40 thousand pounds in compensation, after his publishing reportage.
Source:
Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue
For more information visit; http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Yemen
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The worst stages for freedom of opinion and Expression
Public freedoms and freedom of opinion and expression in Yemen witness its worst phases since the establishment of the Republic of Yemen in 1990 and the approval of a Constitution guarantees human rights, political pluralism and public freedoms.
Recently, harassment of journalists and the confiscation of newspapers in the outlets and prevent it from printing, increased. In addition, the cases against journalists are also increasing and is based on political charges for their exercising their profession and for criticizing the general conditions, and governmental and procedures.
Source:
Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights
For more information visit; http://anhri.net/yemen
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Iran
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A letter to the president
The head of the Human Rights Defense Center, Shirin Abadi, wrote a letter addressed to Mr. Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, and demanded the removal of the padlock seal to the office of the Human Rights Defense Center and the curtailment of security and political pressures imposed on civil rights, political and human rights activists by organizations that are under his control. Ms. Abadi gave an overview of a series of restrictions and other limiting factors against herself and other members of the Center in the past six months, and in the letter she asked whether this sort of treatment, which is against the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, works for the longevity of the regime or contributes toward the national interest of Iran.
Source:
Human Rights Defense Center Website
For more information visit; http://anhri.net/iran
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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State Security Police forces Internet café owners to monitor customers and report them
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said today that State Security police insists on violating the right to privacy, and is keen to spy on Internet users in Egypt, searching for individuals who exercise their right to express their political views online peacefully.
After the state security officers forced the owners of Internet cafes to register the names and identity numbers of those who visit the cafes frequently, now they ask owners of the cafes to spy on their customers and know which websites they browse and report to the police on anyone who browses the "political" websites.
"Yesterday, security forces raided an Internet cafe in Agouza district, and asked for the visitors' registration book with all details on visitors from the beginning of the café's work in January 16, 2009, although the owners had leased it in May 25 and opened the place for clients in June 5", ANHRI said. The network added that when the owner of the place told police that there are no books; they had taken his ID card and the license of the café. Moreover they confiscated the equipments of internet service, and took him along to the Security Directorate in Giza. There he was forced to sign a minute charging him of practicing 'an activity without a license"
For more statements; 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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