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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 HRINFO, no. 186
Fourth year
9 november 2007 - 15 november 2007
U.A.E
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Freedom of Expression
In a step on the path to reforms which requires more steps to be taken, the governor of Dubai decreed weeks ago an annulment of press crimes. Despite this decree is as enforceable as any legal code yet the press code still suffer from ambiguities and requires the implementation of the annulment of the press crimes in the new code currently under study.
The latest in journalists' trials was the verdict delivered on November 8,2007 by Dubai appellate court to free(Mohsin Rashid and Shimba Casiril Janjahran) journalists working in the Khaleej Times newspapers, while the criminal court in Ras khiema issued a decision to imprison (Mohammed Rashid Alshouhi) the head administrator of Majan website for one year with suspension and a fine of 10000 Euro; the court ordered the website to shut-down permanently according to article 16 of the electronic press code.
Sources
Reporters Without Borders
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/uae
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Jordan
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Elections
The Elections Network in the Arab world followed closely the election process in the Arab region and covered it in the 15th episode of the Election Observer publication which covers in its second chapter the parliamentary election in Jordan which saw 989 candidates running for the parliament seats in its 15th session set to take place on November 20, the publication also discussed the decisive measures taken to counter the( political money phenomenon) and establishing a complaints office in the ministry of interiors.
Sources
Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/jordan
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Bahrain
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The right to work
The Universal declaration on economic, social and cultural rights in its 6th article provided that states parties to this covenant must acknowledge the right to work which gives every individual the right to choose and accept or refuse the type of work and to take the necessary measures to protect this right.
3 unemployed citizens expressed their right to work by protesting in front of the civil services department-the official body responsible for employment- since November under threats from security services to end the protests which erupted based on the officials unfulfilled promises to create working opportunities.
Sources
The Bahraini Youth Society for Human Rights
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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Violations
The Tunisian government violated the right of eight Tunisian human rights activists to travel to attend a conference on democracy and human rights organized by Human rights Watch, Human Rights First, Amnesty International in the United States and Tunisia's observe group in IFEX and the International Federacy for Human Rights)
Currently Mohamed Anowri, a lawyer working in the field of human rights and Saleem Bo Khodair, an independent journalist, went on strike to protest against this violation.
A lawyer denied from the right to see his client
The minister of justice Basheer Altakari hurled slanders at Abdel Raoof Ayadi in a press meeting on November 8 and accused him of false charges and issued a decision to prohibit him form visiting his clients in jail despite that the lawyer carries permissions to do so.
This decision came after Mr.Alayadi filed a complaint related to the barbaric torture inflicted upon on of the arrested in " Soliman's case" and a number of arrested under the counter-terrorism code , the torture took place on October 15 in order to quell a food-strike , the arrested individual went on during the Eid holidays in Almernaqia prison.
Sources
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)-Tunisia.
The National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia
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Algeria
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Arrests
After publishing an essay condemning the involvement of the local security services in embezzlement, Nour Aldeen Boukra, the head of Alnahar office in Ennaba in Northern Algeria, about 600 km, was arrested on November 12 for one night for allegedly defaming (Alsinai Za'aeem Ahmed). The judge asked him to reveal his sources while Bokeraa believes that his arrest is connected to an essay published on November 12 about the trial of a former intelligence official.
Sources
Reporters Without Borders
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/algeria
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Syria
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Screening-out websites
In a legal precedent, the Nazaha website filed a lawsuit against the minister of communication and culture in Syria to suspend and revoke a decision to screen out the Nazaha website and also the website asked him to reveal the reasons and motives that enticed him to take that decision. The Minister Amro Salim replied by saying (the minister of communication and culture didn't issue an order to screen out that website) the case will be adjourned to next November 27.
The number of those prohibited from traveling has surged lately. The latest was Rasim Alsyad Alatasy the head of the Arabic Organization for Human Rights in Syria as he was stopped by the Syrian security services from traveling to attend the international gathering for Jerusalem which convenes in Istanbul, Turkey from 15 to 17 November.
Sources
The Syrian Centre for Media and the Freedom of Expression
The Arabic Organization for Human Rights in Syria
Committees to Defend Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/syria
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Iraq
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Assassination
The Iraqi Society to protect Journalists' rights called upon the minister of interiors in its statement this week to launch an official investigation into the Assassination
Of (Ali Shaheed Alkarawai) the suspended Jomhoria's editor in chief. Alkarawi was abducted by a terrorist group in September 6, 2007 and demanded a ransom which his family failed to procure and that led to his assignation on November 4, 2007.
Sources
The Iraqi Society to protect journalists' rights.
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Violence
The central festival organized by Fatah group to mark three years since Yasser Arafat has left, saw a sporadic shootings in Alkateeba square in Gaza. The shooting let to 6 dead and 150 injured some with serious injuries. Members of the" executive force" prevented many persons from reaching the festival by setting several barricades and forcing vehicles and busses to drop any extra passengers.
Sources
The National Society for Democracy and Law
The Dameer Organization for Human Rights
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine
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Egypt
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forbidden identities
Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights have jointly issued a report titled" forbidden identities", the report which came in 98 pages documented the methodical refusal of the officials of the ministry of interiors to permit Bahais and former Muslims from recognizing their religion in the necessary documents and identification documents. Officials are making their case based on their interpretation of the Islamic Shari (law). This refusal extends to affect many parts of the individuals' daily life-i.e. the choice of spouses, children education and executing the simplest financial transaction and other transactions.
Journalists' Elections
The Egyptian organizations followed closely the elections of the journalist's syndicate which is set to take place November 17 .these organizations believe that the supervising committee's decision constitute a violation against the freedom of opinion and expression ,especially to the right to run for elections. these rights are guaranteed by international treaties and protected by the Egyptian constitution .these decisions also represent a violation to the sovereignty of the law as it stands against executing court's verdicts issued in favor of one of the potential runner-ups, as the committee refused to accept the applications of two members( Ahmed Ezzdin and Abdo Mafghraby) of the general assembly although they have the right to run for elections, in addition to that the committee turned down other lawful demands to instate members or candidates in the syndicate's records.
Sources
Human Rights Watch
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Hisham Mubarak Centre for Law
The Committee to Monitor the Elections by Human Rights Journalsits
For more info: : http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Repression
Students of Mohamed Alawal University in Wejda protested for two days, November 9 and 8 triggering the security services to interfere in a flagrant manner and arrested 14 students, including 4 females. The students were treated in very degradeful manner (battery, name-calling and other intimidations against the female students) the students were forced to sign on official papers without having any idea about the content of these documents. These arrests caused severe clashes in the vicinity of the University.
Sources
The Moroccan Society for Human Rights
For more info: http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Karim Amer faced torture in Borg Alarb Prison
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and Hisham Mubarak Centre for Law sent a communiqué to the Egyptian General Prosecutor on November 11 , the communiqué demanded an investigation into this assault on Karim Amer, the Egyptian blogger who was sentenced to 4 years in prison for vilifying religions and defaming the president of the republic. The torturing was orders by "Midhat Samir" the investigation officer in the prison, and came after karim uncovered a corruption practice inside the prison. karim was sent to a solitary cell where he was assaulted repeatedly and have one of his teeth broken. This assault came to mark one year since Karim was imprisoned.
For more info: 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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