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The Weekly Update for HRINFO, no. 153
Fourth year 15 March 2007 - 21 March 2007 Bahrain ======== Murder Threat Ghada Gamshir, head of the Women's Petition Commission, receives death threats. She discovers an attempt to spy on her home. This comes after being harassed for participating in a seminar in the Lords Council where she criticized the nominal reforms in Bahrain and the marginalisation of women. To read the statement in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain/bchr/2007/pr0317.shtml Sources For more information on Bahrain in Arabic, please visit:http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain ========================== Tunisia ======== Torture and violence in Tunisian Prisons The National Council for Liberties in Tunisia issued a statement this week stating several violations against political prisoners and those detained in accordance to the terrorism law. Violations reached the extent of deprivation of medication To read the statement in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia/cnlt/2007/pr0315.shtml Sources For more information on Tunisia in Arabic, please visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia ========================== Saudi Arabia ======== An open hunger strike started on 15 March by the two imprisoned Yemenis, Ahmed Abdo Ali Gobran (detained since September 2004) and Omar Abd Rabu Omar al-Azouly (detained since March 2004) in the Political Al-Malz prison in Riyad. They will remain on hunger strike until they are released and sent to Yemen. Sources For more information on Saudi Arabia in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/saudi ========================== Syria ======== Release Three statements were issued by three human rights organisations this week dealing with new of release of Dr Mahmoud Sarem (68 years) but his trial continues. The organisations called upon the release of the rest of detainees. Sources For more information on Syria in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/syria ========================== Iraq ======== Journalists and Media personnel The body of the television director was found with clear torture marks two days after he was abducted. This was the central issue of a statement by the Observatory for Press Freedoms. In a second statement the observatory dealt with the abduction of a news broadcaster for the Degla Radio station and his driver when they were attacked by unknown armed men in the University District. In a third statement, the detention of the correspondent and cameraman of Al-Horriya near the green district on 8 March 2007. This issue was also dealt with a statement issued by the Iraqi Association for the Defence of the rights of Journalists. In the statement the association demanded the Iraqi security forces to release them and provide explanations to the reasons of their detention. Sources For more information in Arabic on Iraq, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq ========================== Palestine ======== Violations of media freedom Israeli violations to media freedoms escalate in Palestinian territories while violations perpetrated by the Palestinians fall. This is what has been observed in a report by the Palestinian Centre for Media Development and Freedom (Mada) that observed in its monthly report 15 violations committed by the Israelis and the Palestinians. To read the report in Arabic, visit: http://hrinfo.net/palestine/makal/2007/pr0221.shtml The abduction of Alan Johnston, BBC correspondent in Gaza, since 12 March 2007 was the centre of three statements issued by three different organisations: The Palestinian Media forum, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. The three condemned the abduction and demanded Johnston's release and called upon the National Government to do all it can to release the journalist Security Chaos The Mezan Center, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Association for Human rights, issue two statements condemning the targeting of the envoy of the head of the UNHCR's office in Gaza. This attack and the abduction of the journalists were the reasons behind an Amnesty International statement calling upon the National Unity Government to take all the necessary steps to put an end to the deterioration of the security situation and the phenomenon of impunity. The deteriorated security situation was also dealt with in a statement by the national Association for Democracy and Law, referring to an armed battle between two families in Rafah leading to the death of an 8 years old child and the injury of three others. Sources For more information on Palestine in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine ========================== Libya ======== Arrests The arrest of one of the Libyan writers for articles that he posted on the Internet, criticizing Qadafi and calling for a peaceful demonstration in the Martyrs Square was faced with many criticisms. Al-Raqib Institution for Human Rights talked about another arrest. The institution demanded the Libyan authorities to immediately release Ali Sousi or put him before a just trial. It also demands for more humane detention cells and for the family to be able to visit the detained. Sources For more information on Libya in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/libya ========================== Egypt ======== Constitutional amendments Constitutional Amendments led to a series of demonstrations and condemnations. The National Association for Rights and Freedoms warned of the dangers of these amendments. Amnesty International called upon Members of Parliament to vote no to the proposed amendments that were described as a danger to Human Rights in Egypt. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights dealt with article 179 of the Constitution and concluded that the proposed amendment of the article does not aim at fighting terrorism but rather more to put immunity to the police authorities when violating citizen's rights. Torture The series of torture and violations was discussed by Human Rights Watch when it demanded an investigation into the torture of one of the bloggers Sources For more information on Egypt in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt ========================== Morocco ======== Reporters without Borders (RSF) issued a statement this week with regards to the threats to People's Diary Newspaper's correspondent, Ezz Eddin Gheiz. RSF said: "We urge the Moroccan authorities to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation to identify those who made these death threats," the worldwide press freedom organization said. "It is a new attempt to intimidate a local correspondent who reports on illegal activities and abuse of power on the part of some local figures". In addition, there has been a series of harassment of lawyers who exposed bribery amongst judges. Sources For more information on Morocco in Arabic, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco ========================== Regional and International ======== Darfur and Iraq Amnesty international issues two statements this week. The first it is calling upon the Human Rights Council to take all the necessary and immediate steps to confront gross human rights violations in Darfur. In the second statement, it deals with the trial of British soldiers who have committed violations in Iraq. It sees that the martial court that was recently concluded against 7 soldiers left many unanswered questions. Amnesty calls upon the UK to take all the procedures to ensure justice and change the way in which investigations are held with regards to such gross violations such as the ones committee by soldiers Sources For more information, please visit: http://www.amnesty.org ========================== Yemen ======== Abduction 40 human rights institutions issue as statement condemning the abduction of human rights writer and activist, Hanan Yehia Al-Wadeai by security forces. No charges have been produced against her except for that they received information that she had entered the Iranian Embassy. It is worth mentioning that the embassy is close to where she works in the Swedish Organization for Children's rights. She was released two hours later Sources For more information on Yemen, in Arabic, please visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/yemen ========================== Arabic Network for Human Rights Information ======== In a meeting, a number of human rights and media organizations, and bloggers agreed to start a defense campaign for freedom of expression and to intercept attempts to block websites and blogs through a case that was raised by Judge Abdel Fattah Mourad at the Administrative court. It has been decided that participants of the meeting and others will intervene in the case raised by the Judge to defend their continuation and to support freedom of expression and use of internet. The signatories call upon all defenders of freedom of expression in Egypt to intervene in the case by attending the session when its date is determined and intervene as beneficiaries of these websites. To read the statement, please visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/2007/pr0321.shtml To follow up on HRinfo's activities, visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/focus/2007/pr0212.shtml ========================== 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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