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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 208
Year 5
25 April 2008-1 May 2008
Jordan:
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On 22/4/2008, the training course was organized by Amman Center for Human Rights Study, the training was related to information's Laws, and had addressed an introduction to constitution: separation of powers, citizens' rights and duties, Monitoring the Constitutional, and the historical evolution of the human rights and protection international mechanisms, the freedom of expression international standards, and publications law, with a comparison with Arab laws articles.
In another context Amman Center for Human Rights Studies with cooperation of the general secretary of the Chamber of Deputies Majlis Al Nuab, about the historical evolution of the human rights, and the role of the parliament in strengthening the human rights, and the role of the judiciary in strengthen the human rights, and the national and civil society institutions in strengthening the human rights, and the role of the information in strengthening the human rights, and the international mechanisms for human rights protection.
A delegation from the Justice for Prisoners Iraqi Network, has visited Amman Center for Human Rights Studies, both of the parties has assured the coordination and collaborative cooperation between them, for serving the prisoners rights in particular and human rights generally, to promote the public work and the legal and voluntary awareness.
The two parties agreed upon the importance of experience exchange in human resources training field and confirmed the importance of the continuity and communication, visits and experiences exchange.
Sources :
Amman Center for Human Rights Studies
For more information and topics on Jordan's web page: /jordan
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Bahrain:
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Bahrain Human Rights Center expresses its deep concern against the oppressive application of the law against local journalists and editors. The journalist Ga'far Al Gamry -from Alwasat newspaper- was fined an amount of 150 BHD (equivalent of $396) under the supreme penal court sentence issued on 16th April, 2008. he has been charged of publishing defaming news and misleading information about the Health Ministry employees.
Bahrain Youth Human Rights Association declared in its statement that the Bahraini authorities prohibited conducting a political symposium, and Awgaf(Endowments) Al Gafaria Administration, Gafaric- the concerned entity for following up with religious places related to the Shi'a sect- has contacted the responsible for Karbabad funeral- religious site of Shia Sect- and demanded the the symposium to be canceled for the sensitivity of the subject for the responsible entities in Bahrain.
Sources :
Bahrain Youth Human Rights Association
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
for more information and topics on the Bahrain web page: /bahrain
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Tunisia
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Alsayed Ali ben Salem has received “Mohammed Shakroon” human rights award for 2007, after his efforts defending human rights along with the efforts of “Tunisian bon for human rights”- Benzert branch which he chairs. He also is a founding member of the national freedom council and the vice chief of confronting torture association.
The international association for helping political prisoners condemns re-arresting the political prisoner Alhabib Bin Mohammed Salem Elhafsi right after releasing him. The Tunisian primary criminal court refused the case filed against the prisoner in accordance with the terrorism law, but convicted him for three months in prison for sneaking through the borders. As soon as he got out of prison and reached his home, some security members in plain clothes re-arrested him claiming that they need to end some administrative procedures.
The association also condemned the continuous detentions by the political police in “Malaha” area. The police arrested three released prisoners; Lasaad Mermash, Ibrahim alherzy and Ali alherzi> the security officers in plain clothed only declared that the detentions were related to “regular procedures in the occasion of the visit of the French president” the prisoner were detained fom 8;45 am to 1;40 P.M.
In a statement issued by the veiled women defense committee, the committee condemned a campaign against veiled students in the high institution for sciences led by the institution’s manager Samir Bin Ahmed and the writer Tawfik Kostantini. The campaign tries to “clean” the institution fromvieled students in preparation to the visit of the president Zein elabedien bin Ali and his French counterpart Nicholas Sarcozy next week.
Sources :
• Association for Political Prisoners Aid
• Committee for defending veiled women
More information and topics on Tunisia page /tunisia
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Saudi Arabia;
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In a statement Amnesty international said that it received a terrifying video tape in which there is a record to beheading a Saudi Man. Amnesty condemned this execution and called the Saudi government to stick to the UN decision to stop all death sentences in the whole world.
In Saudi Arabia, executions happen in public and in front of all people, usually prisoners are convicted to death after not sufficient legal representation. The kingdom continues executing prisoners though the UN general assembly adopted in 18th December 2007, a decision calls to stop executions all around the world.
Sources :
Amnesty International
Fr more information and topics see the Saudi Arabia page; /saudi/
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Sudan
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Peace talking on the radio waved and people die on the ground
All the victims, displaced, refugees, UN, International Criminal Court, Human rights NGOs and the visitors who witnessed the incidents in Darfur stand on one side, while the Sudanese government stand on the other side supported by some dictatorships. This week different human rights NGOs along with the International Criminal Court released a call to push the Sudanese government to give away the people charged with war crimes in Darfur. On top of this wanted list both the humanitarian affairs’ state minister Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kshaib the Janjaweed leader. Till now the Sudanese government refused to give them away neglecting all human values and claiming that the court cannot discuss cases related to Sudan as the government did not sign the court convention.
For more information Ifham Darfur website; http://www.ifhamdarfur.net
And Sudan page; /sudan/
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Syria
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Amnesty international condemned the new verdict against Kamal Alabwany who was convicted for more three years in prison based on some notes he declared while he was being held in his cell. On 23rd April the military court convicted him for “publishing false or exaggerated news that can desperate the people” which is according to amnesty a charge raised against all pro reform activists. Allabwany was convicted to 12 years in prison after his call to peaceful reform, now he will spend an extra 3-year verdict. Amnesty repeats its call to drop all the charges against allabwany and release him immediately.
The Arabic Organization for Human Rights in Syria knew that security officers confiscated all the electronic sets from the library of the political activist Abdul-Hafiz Hefez. The organization calls to immediate release of the sets and ask the government to commit to the international treaties and conventions on human rights.
Sources :
• Amnesty international
• The Arabic Network for Human Rights in Syria
• Committees for defending democracy and human rights in Syria
For more information visit Syria page /syria
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Iraq
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Journalistic Freedom Observatory declares its deep sorrow for the continuance of killing journalists working in Iraq and condemns the murder of the reporter Gassem AbdelJalil albatat by militants on Friday in Basra, southern Iraq. The center asks the authorities to open an investigation in his murded and bring the murderers to justice.
Th Iraqi Journalists Rights defense association organizes a celebration on the world Day for press in almansour hotel. During the celebration there will be a samary on the conditions of freedom of expression in Iraq. The Iraqi “Assafir” newspaper will participate cooperating with the media coordinating office in the association and will dedicate a whole page to the issue of freedom of press and expression in Iraq.
Sources :
• Journalistic Freedom Observatory
• Th Iraqi Journalists Rights Defense Association
For more information visit ; /iraq/
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Palestine
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In a statement issued recently the Palestinian Center for Human Rights warns against the dangerousness of the new Palestinian military death Sentence against the citizen “Emad Mahmoud Sad -25 years- after convicting him with conspiracy, betrayal and working with the Israeli army. The center asks the president Mahmoud Abbas not to sight the sentence.
Dammer institution for human rights condemned the continuing Israeli military attacks against Gaza, using random air strikes and lethal military strength against civilians especially children and women. Those raids led recently to the murder of a mother along with her 4children in their home in Gaza.
As part of its general policies meeting series, the Palestinian initiative for deepening international Dialogue and democracy, the initiative held a special session in the presence of the prime minister Salam Fayiad to discuss the Palestinian strategic future alternatives.
Sources :
• Palestinian initiative for deepening international dialogue and democracy
• Dameer institution for human rights
• Mezan center for human rights
• Palestinian center for human rights
For more information; http: /palestine
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Egypt
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together in on world organization organized a discussion circle titled “strikes in Egypt… where to?” many NGOs representatives, general characters, media people, activists and university professors attended the discussion
representatives of Egyptian political parties and some parliamentarians declared their adopting the new law project set by the Egyptian organization for human rights to replace the current law for political parties.
Convicting a police officer to prison after raping a Sudanese refugee
Hisham Mubarak law center follows with worry the hunger strike declared by the activist and writer “Mosaad Abu Fajr” refusing the humiliating conditions in his detention.
Human rights supporting program declares its disappointment regarding the practices of security officers against Egyptian citizens and workers during the strikes and incidents on 6th and 7th of April.
Sources :
• Together in one world
• The Egyptian organization for human rights
• Hisham Mubarak law center
For more information; /egypt
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Morocco
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On the labor world day, the Moroccan association for human rights celebrates the day and salutes the workers.
Sources :
• The Moroccan Association for Human Rights
For more information : /morocco
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Yemen
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The Yemeni Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms expresses its deep concern regarding arresting the artist Fahd al-Korani and his wife after pieces of art criticizing the conditions in the country.
Change organization for defending rights and freedoms follows up ,with deep concern, the protesting moves and procedures of the employers of the judiciary system who ask for their constitutional financial rights from which they are deprived.
After an invitation from the change organization for defending freedoms and rights, a group of activists and politicians will sit-in to demand releasing the detained journalist “Mohammed al-makalee” and all the detained citizens after the peaceful protests in the southern cities.
Sources :
• The Yemeni organization for defending rights and freedoms
• Change organization to defend rights and freedoms
For more information; /yemen/
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Regional and international;
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Female journalists in the Arab world and Iran released a campaign to empower women and allow them to occupy leadership positions inside journalists’ syndicates.
Sources :
International Federation for Journalists
For more information : /mena
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Arabic Network for Human Rights Information;
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The Arab Network for Human Rights Information Stated today, that the French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Tunisia that commenced yesterday, must not show any direct or indirect support to the Tunisian Government's policies that put extreme pressure on the legal activists, journalists and opponents, especially the Tunisian aggressive method in dealing with criticizing voices is not hidden from the French government.
Continuing on the same suppressive policies against the legal activists and journalist, the Tunisian Prosecution have summoned yesterday each of the advocate Radia Al Nasrawy the head of the Tunisian Association Against Torture, and the Advocate Mohamed Al Nuri, head of the Freedom and Justice Organization, without mentioning the summon reasons officially, only announced to the lawyers consolidate with the Nasrawy and Nuri that the investigation is related to some allegations about publishing false news, on the background of covering the suppression of students demonstrations last January demanding -the Palestinian city-Gaza blockade break up.
In another statement the network declared that the Saudi government released the famous Saudi blogger Fouad alfarhan this morning. Alfarhan was released after spending 145 days in prison, since 11th December 2007. "before releasing alfarhan, the authorities blocked his blog http://www.alfarhan.org at the beginning of April." The network added.
HRINFO said that "It is good to release alfarhan, and despite of our happiness for his freedom, we are waiting a declaration by the Saudi government clarifying the real reasons for his detention and, unblocking his blog immediately"
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information stated today that all prisoners of opinion are detained in Burg Al Arab prison except Dr. Ayman Nour who is detained in Mazra'at Tura prison. Three of the opinion prisoners out of five are arrested according to the emergency law. The three are Ali Abdul Fattah, director of the Egyptian media center, Mos'ad Abu Fagr, a novelist and a blogger and an activist in "wedna na'ish" (we wanna live) movement and Karim Al Behairy, a labor historian and blogger who was recently detained due to the strike called for by internet activists and democratic movements. The three prisoners are detained in Burg Al Arab detention camp located in Alexandria desert.
The remaining two prisoners are the secular blogger Karim Amir, sentenced to four years in prison, and detained in Burg Al Arab, and Dr. Ayman Nour, sentenced to five years in prison, and detained in Mazra'at Tura prison south Cairo.
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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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