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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 199
Year 5
14 February 2007 - 27 February 2008
Bahrain
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Calls for ending detention & torture of the detained activists
Human Rights Watch called for the Bahraini government to investigate alleges of repeated abuse against the detainees of political opposition activists & also allow independent physicians to examine the detainees who have been allegedly subjected to abuse, including torture & sexual abuse. These detainees have been arrested after clashes between the opposition & police forces in Al-Manama city & suburbs in December 2007
In the same context, 55 human rights organizations sent a letter to the King of Bahrain calling for the immediate release of the arbitrarily detained activists, expressing their denunciation of the torture & sexual abuse that some of them were subjected to.
Moreover, the authorities prevented human rights activists from attending a court hearing in the trial of the activists.
Sources
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
International Organization for Defense
More information on Bahrain page: : http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Attacks on 2 human rights activists
Several human rights organizations condemned the attacks inflicted on the 2 human rights activists; Fatma Kasila & Samia Abbu during their field visit to the city of Susa as they were preparing a featured report for the committee for respect of freedoms regarding the issues of the anti-terror law. A police force formed of many non-uniformed individuals attacked them, beating & insulting them in addition to stealing their papers, cameras, voice recorder & money.
Condemnation of execution sentences & violating the right to fair trial
An appellate court issued its sentence in the so called "Soliman's case" on Wednesday February 20, 2008, affirming the execution sentence against the defendant Saber Al-Rakouby, yet reduced the execution sentence to life imprisonment. & affirmed sentences on the remaining 28 defendants in the same case ranging from 3 years imprisonment to life imprisonment .
Amnesty International denounced the affirmation of the execution sentence against one of the defendants & the fact that the severe violations to their right to fair trial were not dealt with properly, including the appeal to a re-trial of all the defendants.
Sources:
National Council for Liberties in Tunisia
Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights
International Society for the Support of Political Prisoners
Amnesty International
More information on Tunisia Page : http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia
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Saudi
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Calls for halting the execution of a woman accused of "witchcraft"
Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent to King Abdullah (The Servant of the 2 Holy Mosques) that the King should halt the execution of Fawza Faleh & cancels her condemnation of witchcraft.
In April 2006 Judges based their decision of declaring her guilty in the case on the forced confession of Fawza Faleh & on the testimony of some witnesses that said they were "bewitched" by her witchcraft. Later on, she retreated from her confessions before the court & alleged that she gave these confessions under threat. The procedures of the case witnessed many violations of the guarantees of a fair trial, among which for instance that the judges didn’t investigate whether her confession was in her own free will or if it is reliable. They didn’t also investigate her alleges of being tortured. Moreover, there is no written penal code in Saudi Arabia & "witchcraft" is not a well-defined crime.
Sources
Human Rights Watch
More Information on Saudi Page: http://www.hrinfo.net/saudi
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Syria
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Criticism of the document of "regulating satellite broadcasting"
Bothe the Arabic Organization & the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria criticized the document issued by the Council of Arab Information Ministers titled " principles organizing the mechanisms of television and radio transmission and reception in the Arab region" which is considered to be a new step toward confiscating free media & culture & a new restriction of freedom of opinion & expression.
Websites Banning & publications prohibition
The Syrian authorities banned "Gidar" (i.e the wall) website so that the number of banned websites increases to 151 sites. Gidar website is a cultural intellectual website founded by the Syrian poet Khalaf Ali Al-Khalaf. It is believed that the reason for banning is an article published there titled "Fear: the psychological profile of the Syrian citizen scared from the Intelligence" by Gaber Al Sakka. The Ministry of Information also prohibited the distribution of an issue of the weekly magazing "Al-Dabbur" as the editorial by the Editor in Chief Bassam Taleb was criticizing the lack of transparency regarding governmental decisions. In a similar case, the website of Syria News www.syria-news.com (which is closely related to the regime) was banned. Also the authorities prohibited the distribution of issue no. 25 of the "Al Mogtmaa Al Ektesady" (i.e Economic Society) magazine on February 1, 2008. The Editor Ali AlShoufy believes that the issue was prohibited because of publishing an article about the many Syrian leaders who are having a "double nationality", most probably American or Canadian citizenship besides the Syrian nationality.
Sources
Syrian Center for Media & Freedom of Expression
Reporters Without Borders
Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria
National Organization for Human Rights in Syria
More Information on Syria Page: http://www.hrinfo.net/syria
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Iraq
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Journalists beaten, insulted & prevented from practicing their work
On February 16,The guards of the Oil Company Of the South attacked more than 20 journalists & media workers and prevented them from entering the company cultural center to cover the press conference of the Oil Minister Husain Shahrestani. Also, a force affiliated to the Iraqi Army prevented the correspondent of "Al-Masar" channel from covering some clashes in Basra City after beating him. Moreover, the governor of Basra prevented the correspondent of Al-Hurra Channel; Mazen Al Tayar from preparing any reports & threatened him that he will prevent him by all ways including using force. And on a parallel context, a force affiliated to the American Army on February 23, 2008 broke in the headquarters of "Al-Furat" satellite channel representing the high council of Islamic revolution in Iraq. The news director & political programs director were arrested in the attack.
Head of Journalists Union survives an assassination attempt
On February 23, 2008, the Head of Journalists Union Shihab Al Tamimi (75 years old) was targeted by an assassination attempt while getting out of a cultural center in Al Waziriya district close to the Turkish embassy in Bagdad. The 3 masked assassins ran away & their identities are not revealed yet. Shihab Al TAmimi was seriously injured in his shoulder & was taken to Ibn Al Nafees hospital based in the green area that is controlled by the American Army.
Sources
Reporters Without Borders
Observatory of Press Freedom
More Information on Iraq Page: http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq
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Oman
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Crude discrimination against two tribes, extracting their titles and identities
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information denounced the faulty decision issued by Omani Ministry of Interior which attempt to conceal it since May 2006. This decision involves removal the surnames of two tribes (Al-Kholaifein & Al-Toueih) & replacing them by "Awlad Kholaifein & Awlad Toueih" OR replacing the word "Al-Kholaifein" &" Al-Toueih" with Al-Harthy. That decision raised a great concern among many Omani tribes cause when the tribal identity any citizen taken off or even attributing that citizen to some other tribe that differs from his own, is considered as social declassing which would open the way for social discrimination at wide range against those citizens and undermines the principle of equality.
Sources
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information, visit http://www.hrinfo.org/oman
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Palestine
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Escalating killings and destruction in Gaza strip
Israeli troops escalated killings committed against civilian inhabitants and their properties in Gaza strip. Attacks launched on February 2nd, 2008 resulted in four persons killed following a break in and bombardment in Rafah. In addition, the explosion occurred in Al-Bareig camp resulted in 8 Palestinians killed among which a woman and baby girl besides 57 injured among which 20 children and 22 women, as two human rights organizations called for investigating the accident and disclosing all its accompanying circumstances.
On the other hand, humanitarian and health situations are still deteriorating in Gaza strip due to siege imposed.
Sources:
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
For more information, visit http://www.hrinfo.org/palestine
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Libya
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Arbitrary disappearance of citizens and prosecuting others because of peaceful gathering
One year ago on February 16th, 2007, Libyan authorities arrested 14 Libyan activists on charge of organizing a peaceful demonstration. Twelve of them are currently facing an unfair trial and standing before state security Court which has been formed recently, while so far, no body knows about the destiny of Gomaa Bu-Fayed & Abdul-Rahman Al-Qutewy after being arrested since then. Libyan league for Human Rights expressed their fear that the disappearing two persons might have been killed in coordination with an official, semi-official bodies.
Sources
Amnesty International
Libyan League for Human Rights
For more information, visit http://www.hrinfo.org/libya
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Egypt
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New detention campaign against Muslim Brotherhood
On Wednesday, February 20th, 85 persons of Muslim Brotherhood were arrested through a new detention campaign among which engineer "Khaled Hamza" the editor-in-chef of Ikhwanweb website. These detentions go along with prosecuting 40 of Muslim Brotherhood prominent leaders who are facing a military tribunal where the aim of targeting them was proved to be politicized. A number of serious violations have been discovered like records forgery, manipulating possessions, falsifying testimonies and lack of providing evidences that prove allegations directed against them besides that the financial committee didn't investigate "money laundering" accusations raised against them. The judgment of this case has been adjourned till next March 25th.
One Year passed on imprisoning blogger Kareem Amer
Regarding the anniversary of imprisonment for one year, Amnesty International & Reporters without Borders called for immediate unconditional release of Kareem Amer. Kareem was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment last year on charges of publishing articles on the internet that criticizing Islam and the president.
Sources
Arab Commission for Human Rights
Amnesty International
Reporters without borders
For more information, visit www.hrinfo.org/egypt
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Hate Speech has nothing to do with freedom of expression
The Arabic Network expressed in a press release their denunciation of republishing of caricatures against Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H), considering the whole matter as a hate speech. The Network said " freedom of expression is a significant value which is untouchable and we support it to the maximum extent. Yet, this value is definitely innocent of hate or racism represented by these caricatures." In addition, The Arabic Network for human Rights is supporting the Islamic leaders who urged people to stay calm and start a dialogue in order to deal with the crisis. The Network also called the civil society bodies in the European, Islamic and Arab world to pay respect for the religious icons concerning any religion or belief.
Novelist and blogger Mousaad Abu Fagr is still illegally detained
Several judicial decision were passed regarding Musaad Abu Fagr to immediately release him yet the security authorities are still illegally detaining Abu Fagr who was arrested on December 26th, 2007. The Arabic Network, Hisham Mubarak Law Center and People's Committee for Citizens Rights all expressed their fear that a decision official detention might be in preparation regarding Abu Fagr.
To read more about the Network statements, visit : http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports
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HRinfo 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 HRinfo at:
Address: second floor, flat 10, 5,105 St, Horriya Square, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt.
Phone Number: (00202) 5249544
Email address:
info@hrinfo.net
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