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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 # 297
seven Year
28/1/2010 – 3/2/2010
Jordan
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Citizenship Revoked
Human Rights Watch released the 60-page report, "Stateless Again: Palestinian-Origin Jordanians Deprived of their Nationality", details the arbitrary manner, with no clear basis in law, in which Jordan deprives its citizens who were originally from the West Bank of their nationality, thereby denying them basic citizenship rights such as access to education and health care.
"Jordan is playing politics with the basic rights of thousands of its citizens. Officials are denying entire families the ability to lead normal lives with the sense of security that most citizens of a country take for granted", said the report .
Jordanian officials have defended the practice, as a means to counter any future Israeli plans to transfer the Palestinian population of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to Jordan.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
More on http://www.anhri.net/jordan
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Tunisia
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Sentence against Ben Brik Upheld
The Tunisian League for Defending Human Rights issued a statement regarding upholding the prison sentence of six months against Taoufik Ben Brik. The league expressed surprise and denounced the harshness of the sentence especially that the trial lacked fairness basics. Both courts of appeal and first instance rejected claims of Ben Brik and defense that Ben Brik alleged signature was forged. Defense requested to signature authentication and confrontation between Ben Brik the woman who claimed being assaulted and the two eye witnesses.
In addition defense has noticed the inconsistencies in police reports as well as legal irregularities as Beb Brik was moved to Siliana prison which is does not lie in the legal chamber before which he is tried. He is under difficult conditions of detention and is chronically suffering an autoimmune illness. Moreover , he is not allowed any visits.
Source:
Tunisian League for Defending Human Rights
More on http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Syria
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Maleh Appeal Rejected
Syrian court of cassation rejected the appeal submitted by the defense of Haitham Maleh, and ratified the decision of the military investigating judge, accusing Maleh of "spreading false news that weaken the nation sentiment" as per article #286 of the penal code as well as allegedly criticizing the administration. Trial session date before the court of military commissions will be determined at a later date.
On 14/10/2009, security service arrested Haitham Maleh and on 27/10/2009 he was referred to military prosecution where he was questioned on his statements in media interviews and a series of articles that he had written. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights demanded the Syrian government to immediately release the Syrian human rights activist Haitham Maleh and all prisoners of conscience in Syrian prisons. The observatory stated that Maleh did no more than having enjoyed freedom of opinion guaranteed by the Syrian constitution and international treaties and conventions ratified by Syria.
Source:
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
More on http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Media prevented from reporting in Maysan
Interior ministry agents in Maysan prevented reporters and photographers from covering the process of removing mines around oil wells at a border point. The reporters were accompanied by officials of the city council and members of the Maysan oil company. Security tried to confiscate press gear without justification, and the situation ended up by dragging reporters to the police station.
More on http://www.anhri.net/Iraq
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palestine
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Jerusalem in Danger
The recent Israeli decision to confiscate 660 dunums of land in the town of Issawiya in Jerusalem was described by a statement of the Palestinian Organization for Human Rights RASED/Monitor ,as the continued policy of the Israeli occupation to implement Judaization of Jerusalem through land confiscation , imposing high taxes , property demolitions and prosecution of merchants. Many were forced to close their shops because of high taxes,especially the “arnona" tax, a tax levied by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem, and imposed on citizens and settlers. Yet, while being imposed in small amounts on settlers with paying in installments and in return of many services, it is imposed in high percents on Palestinians , paying in cash and receiving almost no services in return.
Source:
Palestinian Organization for Human Rights Monitor /RASED
More on http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Kuwait
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Solidarity with Bedoun Knights forum administrator
Congregation of Kuwaiti Bedoun ,TKOUN, declared its strong denouncement of the arbitrary measures against Bandar Fadly , Bedoun Knights forum administrator , detained in Taima police station in Jahra without any legal justification. He was arrested on 31/1/2010 till now.
Source:
Congregation of Kuwaiti Bedoun ,TKOUN
More on : http://www.anhri.net/kuwait
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Lebanon
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The Center for Defending media freedoms and cultural rights "SKEYES” issued its annual report, which monitored issues related to media freedom and culture in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan in 2009.
The report is based on the news and files issued by the "SKEYES" in 2009, based on the information gathered from correspondents of journalists in all four countries or from reliable press or human rights sources.
The report : http://www.anhri.net/lebanon/sk/2010/pr0201.shtml
Source:
SKEYES
More on http://www.anhri.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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Another Relapse of Freedom of expression and opinion in Egypt.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights expressed complete resentment of the continued imprisonment sentences against journalists and of the huge amounts fined to them. On 2/2/2010, Giza criminal court sentenced Yasser Barakat editor of AlMougaz weekly to a total of one year in prison and a fine of LE 60000 convicted of libel of Mustafa Bakri editor of AlOsboa , weekly.
Chambers 9 and 13 of Giza criminal court issued two successive prison and fine sentences against Yasser Barakat editor of “AlMougaz” weekly . The first was issued by chamber 9 sentencing Barakat to six months and a LE 20,000 fine in an insult and libel case filed by Mustafa Bakri , MP and editor of “AlOsboa” weekly due an article in AlMougaz titled, “Surprise for MPs”, on issue #94 dated 15/1/2008.
The second was issued by chamber 13 sentencing Barakat to six months and a fine of LE 40000 in another libel suit by Bakri because of an article published on issue #98 dated 12/2/2008 titled, " Oh Mighty Lord to thou I confine my weakness”.
Both sentences came in a series of 13 cases filed by Bakri against Barakat in the dispute that took place between them in 2008. Earlier ,Giza criminal court sentenced Barakat to six months and fined him LE 20000 for insult and libel after Barakat had published an article titled "Bakri ,Syrian intelligence and Sawiris"in 27\11\2007, which was considered an insult by the MP.
The journalist union intervened and managed to convince Bakri to drop the case in order that he would not be the reason to put a journalist behind bars, to which Bakri responded and waived the case.
This sentence displays an unhealthy deterioration in the journalistic community showing clearly that journalists are constantly subjected to prison in publishing issues as well as gigantic fine amounts , exposing the alarming incompetence of the journalist union to fulfill its basic duty ;defending journalists and claiming their rights..
The statement : http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2010/pr0203.shtml
Source:
ANHRI
More on http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Six months imprisonment for Boubakr Aledeb
Moroccan court sentenced the blogger Boubakr Aledeb to six months and a fine of 500 dirhams convicted of "damaging state property", "abuse of a state official” and "participating in an illegal demonstration."
He is still detained in Galmim prison since his arrest on 26/1/2010. His defense has decided to appeal to the court decision. Reporters Without Borders said "This is a new blow to freedom of expression in Morocco”.
Boubacar Alede has been formally arrested for contributing to an illegal demonstration, while it seems that the motives behind his arrest pertain to his blogging activity , consistently defending freedom of expression. This showed clearly in the absence of any charge against him before his arrest, being of an illegal nature. It must be noted that his trial in such haste wasted his legitimate rights to defense.
Source:
Moroccan Organization for Human Rights
Reporters Without Borders
More on http://www.anhri.net/Morocco
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Yemen
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Prosecuting Maqaleh
State Security prevented lawyers volunteering to defend the journalist and political activist Mohamed Maqaleh from attending the investigation session . State prosecutors begun investigation after Maqaleh forced absence of three and a half months.
Naji Amissi, Mohammed Saeed Alshawafi, Najib Sharaf AlHajj and Asaad Omar were prevented to attend the first investigation session whereas Marwan Dammaj Yemeni journalists syndicate secretary general was allowed to enter the hall without being allowed to see Maqaleh or talk to him.
According to Dammaj, he was able to hear Maqaleh’s voice while not being able to communicate with him in any way.
Maqaleh was brought to the prosecutor blindfolded with a group of detainees. Dammaj said he was certain of Maqaleh poor health condition.
Denunciation
Yemeni Journalists Syndicate condemned detention of the journalist Mohamed Ahmed Hadery Director General of “shomoa” media institute and stated that the detention decision was irrational and illegal. In its statement it said that it was a clear violation of the Yemeni constitution and article #185 of the criminal procedure code, which prohibited pre-trial detention of journalists in press felonies.
This arbitrary arrest and detention is not only a violation of fundamental right to express and opinion, but a crime of illegal detention criminalized by the penal code and one of the serious crimes where the penalty may reach to five years in prison.
The union statement on the subject said that the arrest decision arrest clearly displayed the confused performance of state departments taking irresponsible measures. The decision is a serious threat to journalist work and an abuse to the remaining marginal press freedom in Yemen.
The union expressed deep concern at the successive detentions and threats that affect and intimidate journalists lately and reveal the state resentment of the role of press in covering Yemeni issues.
Source:
Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights
Syndicate of Yemeni Journalists
More on http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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ANHRI
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Iranian channel Barred
The Arabic Network for Human Rights expressed utter refusal of the abuse of Arabsat satellite administration against AlAlam Iranian channel . Arabsat decided to bar the channel without giving reasons for the second time in less than two months ,manifesting a serious violation of media freedoms.
On the evening of 27/1/2010 , AlAlam staff were surprised to find the channel barred on "Arabsat" without notice, right after the Arab media ministers had held their meeting in Cairo in response to the U.S. Congress' decision to punish the owners of satellites, which are considered "hostile to the United States."
Despite the declarations of media ministers that they totally refused any American intervention in Arab media affairs and that the contracts between operators and channels provide no barring authority to operators under any pretext , however this last barring decision displayed inconsistency between statements and practices
The statement
http://www.anhri.net/en/rports/2010/pr0201.shtml
More on 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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