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The Weekly Update for HRINFO, no. 147
Fourth year 2 February 2007 - 8 February 2007 Jordan ======== New violations against freedom of expression Arabic Archive Institution issued two press releases on violations against the right to freedom of expression in Jordan. The first press release detailed the claim filed by Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs against journalist Ahmed Salama and editor-in-chief of Al-Helal weekly. The minister accused the journalist and his newspaper with defamation and spreading false rumors, because the paper published an article criticizing his performance on 18-24 January 2007. According to article 41 of the Jordanian penal code, the journalist and his editor-in-chief are facing up to three years in prison. The other press release condemned the physical and verbal attacks by Security Service on a journalist from Al-Ra'ay newspaper. The Security men did not stop beating him even after he fell unconscious for half an hour. The journalist is now suffering fractions in his left arm and severe contusions in his face. Same journalist was previously attacked by policemen for five times. Sources More information on Jordan page: http://www.hrinfo.net/jordan/ ========================== Bahrain ======== Sentencing two activists to prison term Bahrain Center for Human Rights issued a press release to condemn the sentencing of two activists: Dr. Al-Sahlawy (one year in prison) and Mr. Salman (six months in prison) for holding printouts from World Wide Web. Sources More information on Bahrain page: http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain/ ========================== Tunisia ======== Security Pursues Activists The Tunisian regime is pursuing the members of Tunisian League in Benzart. Severe violations International Association to Support Political Prisoners is highly concerned by the severe violations against prisoners in Mernakeba prison. The Association issued another press release to highlight the complaint of a father of two prisoners who are suffering bloody attacks and harsh treatment. National Center for Freedoms in Tunisia issued a press release on the same issue. The center focused on offering public opinion protest on the violations committed against prisoners during investigations, trail, and imprisonment. Sources More information on Tunisia page: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia ========================== Saudi Arabia ======== Detention Five human rights activists and reformists were arrested on account of signing an open letter calling for constitutional kingship. The letter referred to the campaign launched by Human Rights First and Arab Commission for Human Rights and was signed by elite Arab and Non-Arab journalists, intellectuals, and human rights activists. The letter alos called for releasing prisoners of opinion and conscience in Saudi Arabia. Sources More information on Saudi Arabia page: http://www.hrinfo.net/saudi/ ========================== Sudan ======== Freedom of Expression Sudanese court decided to unlimitedly ban an independent daily Sudanese newspaper, for writing about the assassination and beheading of Al-Wafaq editor. Sources More information on Sudan page: http://www.hrinfo.net/sudan/ ========================== Syria ======== Prevented from Travel Syrian Security Bureau prevented the Syrian thinker Dr. Abdel Razek Eid from traveling to France to have a surgery. Detention Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria condemned the detention of a student of Science during exams. Sentences State Security Exceptional Court sentenced 12 Kurdish detainees for long periods in prison on Sunday 4 February 2007. They are accused of membership to a Syrian group aiming at extracting a landscape from Syria, in addition to accusing them of committing terrorist attacks. Such convictions are usually set by Syrian exceptional courts against Kurdish activists. Call for Strike Arabic Commission for Human Rights in Syria issued a press release to call for a strike before the Syrian embassy in London to protest on: ongoing detention, dictatorship, exceptional courts, corruption, and tyrant regime, on Saturday 10 February 2007. Sources More information on Syria page: http://www.hrinfo.net/syria ========================== Iraq ======== Journalists Unidentified gunmen assassinated journalist Samir Abed Mahdy. Al-Samawa police forces attacked and arrested journalist Lamia'a Al-Khaledy, reporter of Al-Dyar TV while covering the rituals of 10th Mohramm celebrations. Sources More information on Iraq page: http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq ========================== Palestine ======== Security Disorder 25 murdered and 220 wounded, including 41 with serious wounds, and other dozens of Palestinians were kidnapped by elements from Fateh and Hamas. In addition, important headquarters and two universities were bombed. Sources More information on Palestine page: http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine ========================== Egypt ======== Huwaida Association for Human Rights Legal Aid and Al-Nadim Center for Psychological Rehabilitation for the Victims of Violence issued two separate press releases calling for holding torturers accountable instead of trialing the persons who endeavor to disclose their crimes. In order not to go unpunished 12 human rights organizations and advocators announced the formation of a coalition to observe the criminal trial of state security officer who is accused of torturing a citizen to death. Egyptian Organization for Human Rights issued a press release on 263 torture cases during 2000-2006 in Egyptian police stations. The statistics referred that 79 persons were killed in police stations apparently out of torture. Other 10 cases took place since the beginning of 2007 up till now. These statistics reveals the failure of Egyptian laws to hold torture criminals accountable. The Egyptian Organization is the only human rights foundation interested in reporting on wide scale of torture by Egyptian regime against the banned Muslim Brotherhood Group. Strikes Coordinating Committee of Syndicate and Labor Rights and Freedoms reported on the labor strikes which took place this week in different areas: Zefta, Shebien El-Kom, Kafer El-Dawar, and Al-Saf. Sources More information on Egypt page: http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt ========================== Morocco ======== Activists Put to Trial Amnesty International called for ensuring a fair trial for two activists who were convicted by collecting and publishing information on human rights violations in Western Sahara. That is in addition to their announcement to let Sahara people enjoy their right of life. Sources More information on Morocco page: http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco/ ========================== Regional and International ======== Freedom of Expression In a press conference in Cairo on 5 February, Committee to Protect Journalists announced the issuance of its annual report titled "Attacks on the Press" on the situation of freedom of press in the whole world. Attacks on the Press in 2006 documents hundreds of cases of media repression in dozens of countries, including murders, assaults, imprisonments, censorship, and legal harassment. Featuring in-depth regional analyses, the book outlines the threats and dangers faced by journalists around the world as they are confronted by war, repressive regimes, and punitive laws that curtail freedom of the press. A total of 55 journalists were killed worldwide as a direct result of their work in 2006, 32 of them in war-torn Iraq, making it the deadliest year in a single country ever recorded by CPJ. The number of journalists jailed for their work also increased for the second consecutive year to 134, according to CPJ research, and one in three is now an Internet journalist. Sources More information on Regional and International page: http://www.hrinfo.net/mena ========================== The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information ======== The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information co-issued a joint press release with other 6 human rights organizations calling upon the Supreme Council of Press to comply with law and license Al-Badiel newspaper. To read the press release: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/2007/pr0204.shtml To read other press releases from HRinfo: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/ ========================== Please feel free to contact HRinfo for any quiries, suggestions or input
Address: 5,105 St, 2nd floor, Al-Hurria Sq, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt Tel&Fax: 00202- 5249544 E-mail: info@hrinfo.net |
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The published articles reflect the author's opinion, either individual or organization, it does not necessarily present the Network's opinion
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