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Weekly Update of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 189,
Fourth Year
November 30, 2007-December 6, 2007
Bahrain
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The government violates the right to freedom of association
This week witnessed the solidarity of many human rights activists in particular and civil society in general with Mohamed Abdalnbe Almaskati Bahraini activist who is being tried of committing the "crime" of "starting the activity of an association prior to the deployment of the registration statement!" It should be noted here that Bahrain, and since the announcement of the scandal of the government being granting citizenship on a political basis,the scandal known in the media as "Albandar scandal", Bahrain has become more hostile to human rights activists and known for putting obstacles in the way of granting licenses for new associations, the very thing that is not compatible with the slogans used by the government of Bahrain to respect human rights , nor with the preparations for the review to be undertaken by the United Nations of Bahrain's record on Human Rights in April 2008.
Sources
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights
Further information and topics on the page Bahrain: http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain
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Tunisia
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The right to fair trial violated
we can call this week in Tunisia "Week of unfair trials"! This week has witnessed a court hearing on December 4, 2007 where the judge sentenced the journalist Slim Boukhdir to a year in prison on charges of assault on police and refusal to show the identity card to the police officers, as well as violating good morals. This sentence caused human rights organizations to classify it a political court sentence coming as a punishment for Boukhdir's articles exposing issues of corruption in Tunisia. The sentence, according to several human rights organizations, is based on an investigation record full of legal violations which destroys any possibility of a fair judgment.
Also this week witnessed the trial of the so-called "Group of Solomon" and the court was held in a hurry. The defense lawyers were not informed of the trial date until the morning of the hearing. Also, the case for was postponed for an inadequate period of only 9 days while the case file contains more than two thousand pages. The hearing was held in exceptional circumstances where large groups of special forces and the political police services surrounded the court building and the neighboring regions for rapid intervention if needed. These large groups of police forces prevented a significant number of ordinary litigants arbitrarily from entering the court to attend their cases.
Sources
National Council of freedoms in Tunisia
Reporters Without Borders
Arab Network for Human Rights Information
Further information and topics on the page Tunisia: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia
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Syria
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The right to peaceful assembly
Syrian human rights organizations addressed this week issues of detentions and trials against some of the citizens in the city of Qamishli on the background of an assembly strike on November 2, 2007, as they tried to hold it on that day, in protest against the Turkish military gatherings on the Iraqi-Turkish borders. The assembling citizens were to condemn the threats of Turkish military intervention in Iraqi portion of Kurdistan under the pretext of pursuing Kurdish armed elements.
The arrested citizens are facing several charges including: engaging in a political or social organization of an international nature, and provoking sectarian & racist tendencies, as well as inciting conflict between communities and various elements of the nation. These charges would lead them to the court according to articles 288 and 307 of the general Syrian Penal Code.
Sources
Kurdish organization for the defense of human rights and public freedoms in Syria
Further information and topics on the page Syria http://www.hrinfo.net/syria
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Palestine
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The rights of civilians under occupation
State of silence and lack of action by the international community, and the absence of any serious or active moves that would stop violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories and to provide protection for the civilian population of this state of Palestinians. The Israeli siege has resulted this week in doubling of the the suffering of civilians, and caused the death of many citizens because of denial of access to medicine doses necessary to their survival, or because of denial of access to hospitals, as well as lack of necessary medical supplies and materials. The occupation forces continued to deny dozens of patients who were receiving treatment in hospitals outside the Arab occupied Palestinian territories their right to return to their homes. Meanwhile, the Israeli Supreme Court ratified on Friday, 30/11/2007, to a decision that allows occupation authorities to reduce the amount of fuel allowed to pass to the Gaza Strip, and therefore there is a possibility of starting to reduce the electricity supply to Gaza, which would make the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip really disastrous.
Sources
National Assembly for Democracy and Law
Mezan Center for Human Rights
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Further information and topics on the pages of Palestine: http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine
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Lebanon
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Right to Asylum
The occupation of Iraq and the loss of security led to the killing and displacement of many Iraqi citizens which in turn caused a great exodus of refugees into neighboring countries, including Lebanon, but the Lebanese authorities detain Iraqi refugees who do not have valid residence visas. They have already detained many of them for an indefinite periods in order to force them to return to Iraq, making Iraqi refugees in Lebanon live in constant fear of arrest and the possibility of staying in prison for an indefinite period unless they have agreed to return to Iraq and face the dangers there.
All Iraqis who have fled from southern and central Iraq in search of refuge in Lebanon or anywhere else in the Middle East are generally considered refugees by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. However, Lebanon is not a State party to the 1951 Convention for Refugees. The UNHCR recognition of the Iraqi refugees are not considered legally as refugees according to the Lebanese law. But the Lebanese authorities treat all Iraqis entering o illegally residing in Lebanon as illegal immigrants, regardless of their intention to seek asylum
Sources
Human Rights Watch
Further information and topics on the page Lebanon: http://www.hrinfo.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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A state of activity of human rights organization
This week is witnessing a state of activity among human rights organizations. Several organizations have issued reports and held workshops in addition to preparations of a number of press conferences
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights issued a report on Sunday 2/12/2007 on the illegal immigration to Europe, entitled "Migration of Egyptian young people... escape to the unknown", the report addresses the size of the phenomenon of illegal immigration across the Mediterranean to Europe, its causes and motivation, mechanisms and tools, how to overcome, the report also contains live testimonies of the families of some victims are young people who met with the Egyptian Organization.
Also announced Alndem Center for treatment and psychological rehabilitation of torture victims called on a press conference organized by the Center and hosted by Hisham Mubarak Center for Law that will be held on Monday, December 10, 2007 at ten am on the occasion of the World Day for Human Rights to declare their status report entitled "Torture as a State policy"
Sources
Hisham Mubarak Center for Law
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
Alndem Center for treatment and psychological rehabilitation for victims of violence
Further information and topics on the page Egypt: http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt
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Morocco
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The right to participate
On the occasion of the World Day for Human Rights, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights repeated their calls for implementation of human rights in Morocco under the slogan" "Freedom for the prisoners and politicians, democratic constitution and a decent life for all". The Association emphasized that the key to addressing human rights in Morocco passes through responding to the demands of basic human rights, such as respect for the Moroccan people's right to self-determination at all levels. This will take place only, according to the association, by establishing a democratic system implying the main concepts of democracy including political, economic, social and cultural development. The ultimate goal is establishing the values of citizenship for all citizens, granting all human rights for all, particularly equality in all fields between men and women, and the principle of highness of the international treaties and conventions ratified by the national legislation, which accomplishes the sovereignty of the people as a source of all powers. They also emphasized the importance of separation of religion and state, and the protection and promotion of the Amazegi language and culture.
Sources
Moroccan Association for Human Rights
Further information and topics on the page Morocco: http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco
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Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Slim Boukhdir in the trap of journalists' Hunter
Cairo on December 5, 2007
Arab Network for human rights information today condemned a Tunisian court on December 4, 2007 sentencing journalist, Slim Boukhdir to a year in prison on the fabricated charges of assault on police and refusal to show his id, as well as the violating good morals!
The Arabic Network considered that the sentence against Boukhdir is a kind of the political trial aiming at punishing him for his articles that exposed issues of corruption in Tunisia. This is proved by reviewing the investigations record where frequent legal violations destroy any possibility of a fair trial.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information condemned the way the Tunisian authorities treat journalists who criticize the government as we believe that the trial of Boukhdir trial is a political and unfair trial. Therefore, the Arabic Network calls on Tunisian government to revise this sentence according to the law, and stop prosecuting journalists and activists.
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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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