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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 #267
Sixth Year
26\6\2009 – 1\7\2009
Tunisia
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A week of assaulting prisoners of conscience and their families.
Families of prisoners of conscience were not allowed to attend a seminar about " general legislative amnesty" hosted by the democratic progressive party on 27/6/2009. political police agents did nor only stop them from attending , but also physically harassed the mothers of Maher Baziosh ,Karim Al Ayary, Mohamed Al monsef Bagdady and anis Al- Hethaily. Prisoners of conscience continued their open hunger strike for the eighth day asking to be released.
Meanwhile, the members of the board of "Horreya w Insaf" are still under siege in since 26\6\2009.
Police agents are surrounding their houses in close surveillance. 66 agent plus 22 vehicles and 11 motorbikes are surrounding 11 people.
On 26\6\2009, Geith Odwani, in Borg El Romi , who is on hunger strike was transferred to Bo-katfa hospital in Benzert after his health condition deteriorated having hypoglycemia and low blood pressure.
The national freedoms council expresses deep concern for the escalation of assaults recently against human rights activists.
Source:
Eye on Tunisia
National Freedom Council
More details on http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Syria
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Members of the executive office of Azadi party facing a life sentence.
The Syrian human rights watch learnt that the Syrian court of cassation rejected the appeal submitted from the defence front of the executive office members of Azadi party and set 30\6\2009 for trying them in second criminal court accused of charges of penalty up to life sentence . The Syrian human rights watch requests immediate release, for all they have done is expressing their opinion and using their constitutional rights abiding with international treaties and charters that Syria has signed .
After the release of Reem Mohamed Nakhla, the Syrian institute for media and free expression asserted the necessity of respecting basic citizens' rights especially in expression and expressed relief for releasing Reem.
In the international day for anti- torture, some human rights NGOs ,namely the Kurd committee for human rights, expressed deep concern about the continuing torture of prisoners of conscience. Syrian security authorities are practicing organized wide range torture as a tool of oppressing any opposition activity, in an atmosphere of martial and emergency laws and a set of legislations and administrative decisions that form an legal land ideological incubator for practicing all sorts of violations one of which is torture
Source:
Syrian human rights watch
Syrian institute for media and freedom
Kurd committee for human rights
More details on http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Somalia
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Three reporters arrested
Reporters suffering is increasing day after day in conflict areas , Somalia is a true example. The country is under no united government which causes many troubles to reporters. On 24\6\2009, the security elements of Youth Movement in Bidwa shut down Goba , the local radio station. The manager Mokhtar Mohamed Harabi, News editor Mohamed Attawy and Mohamed Nour Mohamed were arrested. They spent their night in the police station accused of broadcasting negative news about security. The justice watch association in Somalia expressed deep concern about this matter and requested immediate unconditioned release of the three reporters and allowing the radio station to resume broadcasting
Source:
Justice Watch Association
More details on http://www.anhri.net/somalia
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Iraq
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Concerns about Kurdistan government assault on press freedom
The press freedom watch expressed deep concern about illegal practices of security authorities executing political orders not judicial orders in Kurdistan Iraq. The Kurd authorities confiscated copies of the issue #94 of "Lefain" magazine from bookstores in Zako , Dahook and burnt some. The press freedom watch called on the Kurd government to respect freedom of press and publishing and not to oppress and intimidate reporters. The press freedom watch requested the parliament to question those who are responsible for confiscating and burning the magazine.
About the same incident, the Iraqi association to defend reporters rights expressed resentment of this attitude in oppressing reporters and containing press freedoms despite the government officials reassuring of press and expression freedom respect and declared complete support with the magazine and its staff.
Source:
Press freedom Watch
Iraqi association for defending reporters rights.
More details on: http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Assaults on Palestinian Reporters continue
MADA, the Palestinian development and media freedoms association declared expressed deep concern about continuous detentions of reporters and writers in Gaza and the West Bank . Eyad sorur, Mustafa Sabry, Murad Abu Al-Bahaa and Younis Hasasna are reporters in Palestinian prisons. MADA asserts that there is a great retreat in press freedoms in Palestinian territories is a result of tension between Fateh and Hamas. MADA requested that both partied must settle their differences and that all reporters to be immediately released.
MADA condemns the assault against Nayef Hashlamoun , Reuters photographer , where he among other Palestinian reporters were covering a volunteer work event in Safa ,Al –Khalil sponsored by volunteers from Palestine, Israel and other nationalities. One of the Israeli soldiers beat Nayef severely in his chest and right arm. Nayef fell on the ground one of his cameras was broken. Zionist occupation forces would not allow ambulance to pass through for 30 minutes meanwhile Nayef was left lying on the ground.
Source:
MADA
More details on http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Lebanon
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Protocol between 3 organization for mutual efforts thrust
The Palestinian association for human rights "RASED" and the institute for human rights and democracy media "SHAMS" and the Iraqi institute for human rights studies signed a cooperation protocol on 30\6\2009 in an attempt for human rights organization to team together to enhance human rights movement and avoid all political prejudices that disperse and void the basic principles of human rights. Observing incidents in Arab Countries proves it especially in Iraq and Palestine.
SKEYES strongly condemned Israelis hacking the web site "Palestine network for media and information" PPI and their taking over of the central control panel . SKEYES considered this as a continuation of the policy of Israel assault on the Palestenian media body and its main constituents
Source:
RASED
SKEYES
More details on : http://www.anhri.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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Freedoms Assaults and Fears of Violence During Next Elections.
The organization for civil society support and human rights condemns the rising frequency of arrests and detention of Muslim brothers, last of which was on 28\6\2009, 4 leaders were arrested. The organization requested immediate release of all detainees , so far they adopt non-violent political work asserting that principles of constitution and law must be followed and respected for all political parties.
On the other side the forum for development and human rights considered the imprisonment sentence of Yasser Barakat and fining him 20000 LE reflects the degraded atmosphere in which the press personnel are dwelling , having an impotent union which proved unable to bridge the gaps between colleagues of the same profession.
The Egyptian organization for human rights expressed deep concern about detaining The blogger Wael Abbas at Cairo Airport . the organization has called Wael and he said he was in Sweden attending a conference in Talbrg involving many young leaderships. Upon his arrival to Cairo on 30\6\2009 at 3 AM, his passport, laptop and conference material were taken from him , so he started a sit-in at the airport to get his belongings back. At the end of day he got his passport only.
Sons of Earth organization monitored the following in the first half of 2009:
106 sit-ins
83 strikes
41 marshes
36 protest stands
18 crowdings
21 workers suicide
More than 100000 fired or staffed down
Experts, law professors and party representatives warned of the escalation of violent behaviour in the coming public elections compared to the previous one on 2005 calling for taking all necessary measures to stop violence.
Arabic program for human rights activists declared that 11 Arab cultural figures called on the African rulers to request the Sudanese government to pass human aid to 2.7 million people in Darfour living in refugee camps.
Source:
Egyptian organization for human rights
The forum for development and human rights
Arabic Program for human rights
Sons of Earth for human rights
More details on: http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Meeting of the executive office of Sahara people defending human rights
the executive office of Sahara people defending human rights, CODESA, held a meeting on 29\6\2009 on Ouyoun , western desert. The Moroccan organization for human rights met with activists and the defense fronts of the 3 Moroccan papers which Gaddafi is suing.
The organization asserts the reserved right for any person irrespective of his position to go to court to defend his reputation and pride, at the same time insists on freedom of the press and expression as important tools to support and root democracy and that the public must have access to information and the right to comment. The organization concluded that all should abide to ethics and requested that the judiciary handling of press cases must be from an angle supportive of freedom of expression and freedom of press.
Source:
CODESA
The Moroccan organization for human rights
More details on http://anhri.net/morocco
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Yemen
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Sit-ins for Saada Detainees Yield In.
Protest sit-ins in front of prime minister office requesting release of all Saada detainees are continuing for more than week. Sit-ins are organized by Yemeni organization for Defending human rights democratic freedoms and detainees kin. Moein Al-Motawakel ,one of the detainees, was released thereby giving a thrust to go on with the sit-ins for the release of all.
Yemeni Human Rights Watch issued its fourth annual report on human rights and democracy in Yemen from the aspect of economic, social and cultural rights. The analytical part of the report was for monitoring the relation between poverty and human rights status in all areas. This is the first report in Yemen to discuss economic, social and cultural rights, it was prepared in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy NED.
The Women Forum for Research and Training, WFRT, organized a discussion ring about penalizing violence against women in the family. The ring included academic staff, researchers and human rights activists. The paper submitted by Prof. Soad Al-Qudsi summarizes all challenges and constraints, that face civil society institutes in their attempt to rectify and enhance the current situations to achieve complete citizenship for women and protect them from all sorts of domestic violence and their psychological consequences.
Source:
WFRT
Yemeni Organization for defending Rights and Democratic Freedoms
More Details on http://anhri.net/yemen
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Regional and International
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European Union and human Rights
Civil Society dialogue , human rights and transparency in
management were three items on the agenda of the European union when Sweden was Head. Now , Sweden is heading EU once more starting July 2009. Sweden and EU should make deeds as strong as words regarding human rights in euro-Mediterranean area.
EU is considered one of the active doers in human rights. Commitments to HR are mentioned in the constituent treaty of EU in addition to mechanisms to respect and defend HR in EU and elsewhere. In the EU summit for the Mediterranean , 13\7\2008, presidents and prime ministers in EU promised to enhance democracy and expressed their aspirations to build “ a common future based on complete respect of human rights, democratic rights and basic freedoms”.
Source:
MENA
More details on http://anhri.net/mena
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ANHRI
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ANHRI Statements
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ANHRI condemns fining Kamal Murad and detaining Wael Abbas
Arrahmania misdemeanor court reduced the sentence against Kamal Murad from serving 6 month in prison and a LE100 fine to a fine of LE200 and rejecting the civil case of him physically assaulting the police force while on duty .ANHRI considers this reduced sentence yet a punishment , knowing that Murad, a reporter in Al- Fajr weekly in Egypt, was assaulted by he police and his side of the story ,as a victim was not heard now that the case is closed.
AHRI said that the continuing violations of human rights and harassing Egyptians has become intolerable. Security service officers detained the blogger Wael Abbas upon arriving from Sweden for five hours , he was offered no food and not allowed to the restroom. His passport and laptop were confiscated ,he was self – inspected and his handbag and medicines were scrutinized . he refused to sign a submission receipt for his laptop. He just began a sit –in to get his gear back. Due to long hours of detention ,his luggage was lost.
Misdemeanor appeal court in Dokki, Giza , settled the made up case of judge Abd-Al Fattah Murad accusing bloggers Alaa and Manal and Gamal Eid ,ANHRI executive of insult and libel , in reaction to ANHRI revealing his theft of copy righted ANHRI material about freedom of using the internet in the Arab world and claiming of his own and publishing it in a commercial book.
The court sentenced acquittal upholding the first acquittal on 31\12\2008. it rejected the prosecution appeal and the civil case.
On the other hand the president insult case was adjourned to 18\7\2009. The defendant, now uder arrest , Mounir Saad Hanna , a clerk in education administration in Adawa, Menya was accused of writing a poem insulting the president . he was prosecuted with no lawyer with him as per the criminal procedures code. He was tried without hearing his statements. The misdemeanor court in Adawa ,Menya sentenced him to 3 years in prison and a fine of LE100000.
More Statements on http://www.anhri.net/press
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Sufferings
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Sudanese dream of Australia
One recent suffering on the site was the complaint of a Sudanese living in Egypt and a father of four, of the fighting in Darfour unemployment in Sudan. The Sudanese thinks Australia is a better place to live.
Trespassing on your own land
Another complaint came from an Egyptian ,A Nubian living in Luxor, Qena , an owner of a stretch of land of 1F 16K south of Luxor airport. He states his grandfather bought it and registered it in the real estate public office. He says he has all sufficient documents , nonetheless he has no access to his land as he was stopped by the military authority in Qena.
More on http://www.humum.net
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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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