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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 190
Year 4
7/12/2007 – 13/12/2007
Bahrain
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Violence and heavy rubber bullets against a peaceful March
Tear gas and heavy rubber bullets were used by the special security forces of the Bahraini Interior Ministry to disperse a peaceful rally. The March was performed by a small group of youth whose ages are between 15 and 17 years old. The March took place after finishing the ceremony of a Shiite memorial. The security forces and non-uniformed police men chased the young people through the streets of Dariz village for about 2 hours.
Many people were injured after being confronted by the security forces who used heavy rubber bullets and sticks to deal with them. Also, seven young men were severely beaten after being arrested. The General Prosecutor of the North region issued an order to detain the seven young men for two weeks, despite the appeals of relatives and lawyers to set them free in order to set for their exams.
On Saturday December 8, 2007 the same story was repeated but with the families and relatives of the detainees when the formers gathered to ask for setting the latter free. The situation was to pass peacefully but for the security forces who decided to disperse the set-in by force. The security forces chased the gathering people through the villages using heavy rubber bullets and tear gas.
Sources
Bahrain Human rights center
For more details visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/bahrain
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Tunisia:
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Aggravation of the phenomenon of torture and impunity
A serious phenomenon is increasing inside police stations and jails in Tunisia, it is the phenomenon of torturing and abuse. Also, physical abuse in streets and in front of political parties and associations premises, is taking place against human rights activists, in a situation of increasing political and social protest.
It is strongly noticed that all complaints issued by victims families or lawyers before courts or administrative authorities are neglected. This paves the way to the executioners to perform their assaults peace mindedly since the executive and judiciary authorities are providing protection. Moreover, the courts continue sentencing cruel sentences based on fabricated evidences formulated under the pressure of torturing. Courts neglect all international treaties against torturing; such treaties compel the Tunisian judiciary authority not to use such evidences.
Cases of hunger strike are many as a means of protesting against unjust sentences and inhuman jail circumstances. Political detainee Al Sadeq Shoro, the ex-president of Al Nahda movement, has gone in hunger strike since 3/12/2007 to protest against his unjust detention and the collective punishment against his relatives since his wife is deprived from having a passport and his brother is deprived from his position as a university professor. Mr. Shoro’s health is deteriorating, he was noticed unable to standup.
Sources
The international assembly for supporting political detainees
Tunisian anti-torturing assembly
For more details visit: http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia
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Algeria
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The Algerian intelligence mastermind the operations carried out by (FIS)
Human rights organizations reports revealed wild exercises of torturing against the imprisoned in Algeria. Also, the reports revealed the disappearance of some detainees and the inhuman practices done under supervision of the jails directorates. Some of the torturing procedures are practiced by members of the Algerian intelligence, which is called the military information department, who penetrate the jails and perform their wild jobs. It is worth to mention that the psychologists working at the psychology department in the jails are agents for the intelligent. The lawyers, also pass secret information given to them by the detainees to the security authorities. Both psychologists and lawyer are neglecting not only the administrative structure but also the laws and customs and the international treaties signed by the country. Many detainees, therefore, were led to commit suicide or led to madness.
Torturing the detainees, the arrested or the suspected, is not the only crime committed by the security system in Algeria. Wild practices, like murdering, kidnapping, maiming, civilians killing, and bombing public places and relating it to the Islamists, were recognized in the Algerian experience in what is so-called terrorism combating. The most dangerous operation carried out by the Islamist Salvation Front (SIF) were masterminded by the intelligence through the legal officers working for the security systems. This was mentioned in the report titled “Torturing in the Algerian jails”, issued by the Arab Commission for Human Rights, on the world day of human rights.
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/mena/achr/2007/pr1208.shtml. Upon releasing the report by the Arab Commission, intelligent officers visited Al Hrash jail and forced the detainees whose name were mentioned in the report to talk in order to know how did information passing happen. This led to a confrontation between the detainees and the jail directorate which illegally allowed the intelligent officers to penetrate the jail. Then the detainees made a set in and refused to return to their cells after the day break. The jail directorate asked the intervention of the anti riot forces which used sticks and proboscis to force detainees to return to their cells. Due to this some detainees were injured, and the seriously injured ones were moved to Zemerly Hospital in Al Harash.
Sources
The Arab Commission for Human Rights
For more details about Algeria visit http://www.hrinfo.net/algeria
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Syria,
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On the world day of Human rights
In the 59th anniversary of human rights declaration set by the UN general assembly, Syria is suffering the worst inhuman circumstances. The Syrian government, after 44 years of emergency ruling, still rules the Syrian people under the emergency laws. Public freedom is still under custody. Civil activists are severely oppressed. Random and tyrannical arresting is occurring allover the country. The exceptional state security court is legible to carry out execution sentences. The list of travel forbidden persons is getting longer. Jails are fed up with detainees whose number in one cell is being duplicated. Torturing and abuse is in every jail. The Syrian security authorities celebrated the 59th anniversary of the human rights declaration in it own way; by arresting many civilian and political activists who demand reformation in Syria. This took place on December, 9, 10, and 11 in a signal by the Syrian security authorities who adopt a strategy which is against all kinds of rights and freedom. On the same track, some arrested activists were set free while others are still under custody.
Sources
Arab organization for human rights in Syria
National organization for human rights in Syria
Commissions of defending democratic freedom and human rights in Syria
For more details about Syria visit http://www.hrinfo.net/syria
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Iraq
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The best organization for defending press freedom
Reporters Without Boarders Organization granted the year 2007 award of the best organization working in defending press freedom to the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory organization for its non-stop efforts in condemning violence against professionals working in media sector. The award was granted upon the voting of an international committee including 35 journalists from many nationalities as members. The competition was between many organization coming from Brazil, Azerbaijan, and Zimbabwe. The award ceremony took place in Paris on December, 5, and may journalistic figures attended the ceremony.
Sources
Reporters without boarders
For more details about Iraq visit http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Targeting the civilians by a missile in Al Fakhari village
At the dawn time of December 11, the Israeli occupation force invaded northern Gaza and Khan Unos. Many Palestinians were wounded and arrested. An Israeli air craft launched a missile against citizens who were near the clinic of the UNRWA in Abu Oda street located in the campus of the faculty of agriculture in Bait Hanon village. In the same time the Israeli tanks besieged the national eastern way to deprive the Palestinians from their right to move and travel. This causes death cases among the sick persons who are hindered to reach any hospital or to get a medication. It worth to mention that those how have visited Gaza six months ago are still unable to leave Gaza and return back to heir families and jobs.
Sources
Al Mezan Center for human rights
Addameer Association - Gaza
The national association for democracy and law
For more details about Palestine visit http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine
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Libya
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The Libyan suppression practice reaches demonstrators in Lisbon
The situation in Libya did not witness any improvement in the field of human rights. The laws that suppress freedoms and violations against rights are still activated since 1969. The situation in Libya is getting worse after declaring the establishment of state security court and prosecution which will be responsible for executing the suppressive laws. This comes as a new step on the track of chasing and arresting all opponents of the ruling system. Some political opponents have already set for such tribunals. Many human rights activists disappeared along with political opponents inside and outside Libya. The same happened to some Libyan citizen who were abroad and returned to Libya after being promised to be safe, but as soon as they arrived in Tripoli airport, they were arrested and detained in unknown place. The long arm of Libyan suppressive government reached its opponents in European countries. On Saturday, December 8, the guards of Lt. Colonel Moamar Al Qadhafi assaulted ativists belonging to the Libyan opposition during their protest demonstration in front of the premise of the Euro African Summit in the Portuguese capital Lisbon
Sources
The national front for the salvation of Libya
The Libyan union for human rights defenders
For more details about Libya visit http://www.hrinfo.net/libya
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Egypt
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Torture and Coerced Confessions Using
Torture and coerced confessions used by security authorities were tackled this week by both Human Rights Watch Organization and Nadeem Center for Psychological Therapy and Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence.
In its released report, the Human Rights Watch Organization stated that A high-profile terrorism case announced by the Egyptian authorities in 2006 was likely based on torture and false confessions, the case is known as the “Victorious Sect”. The results released by the organization changed the vision that was stated by the government about this serious case.
Nadeem Center also released as report titled, “Torturing in Egypt – facts and testimonies..2003:2006”. The report tackles the state systematic torturing and violence events in the period between 2003 and 2006. Such period witnessed the beginning of political activity calling for democracy and justice, and witnessed also, because of that, an increase in the state violence against the right to express, assembling and demonstrating. This period also witnessed wild practices of torturing in police stations, state security premises, security offices, metro stations, universities and even in streets. The report includes some events that were witnessed by the center itself, based on the victims who came to the center or victims to whom the center representatives went. The report also includes some aggressions witnessed by the center and some aggressions which were against the center members themselves.
Sources
Human rights watch organization
Nadeem Center for Psychological Therapy and Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence.
For more details about Egypt visit http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt
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Morocco
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The Association Marocaine des Droits Humains celebrates the world day for human rights
The Association Marocaine des Droits Humains celebrated world day for human rights this year under the slogan of “Freedom for political detainees, democratic constitution and good life for all”. This slogan reflects the association’s condemnation of the continuous political detention and its call for freeing all political detainees in general, and the members of the association in particular.
The slogan also reflects the association call for the necessity of setting a constitution which is democratic in form and content. The current constitution hinders democracy and hinders the establishment of the state of law and rights. The slogan also reflects the need for providing the factors of saving a good life and dignity for the society. Dignity is value that should be represented in the constitution and laws and in the social and political relation, starting from the relation between the authority and the people on one hand, and between the citizens themselves.
Sources
Association Marocaine des Droits Humains
For more details about Morocco visit http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco
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Yemen
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Opposing Yemen unity is a signboard for violations against politicians and human rights activists
Ahmad Saif Hashed is a parliament member and a member in the parliament committee of rights and freedoms and president of the national organization for defending rights and freedom. He encountered threats of having his parliamentary immunity lift because of accusation of being opposing the national unity. In 2003, Mr. Ahmad encountered an assassination attempt; he survived but his driver was murdered. In the beginning of this year he was detained by the political security. Mr. Ahmad was physically assaulted during his visit to the passports jail. The visit was response to the detainees call after the death of their mate who died because of torturing and negligence of the jail directorate.
Opposing Yemen unity is only a signboard for violations against politicians and human rights activists in Yemen.
Sources
Civil organizations in Yemen
More details about Yemen visit http://www.hrinfo.net/yemen
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The Arabic network for human rights information
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Collective imprison terms against journalists and editors
On December 11, The Arabic network for human rights information condemned the collective imprison terms against journalists and editors in Egypt. The latest was six cases of libel and defamation before Al Agouza misdminour court against journalist Wael Al Ebrashi, editor in chief of Sout Al Ommah newspaper. That was because of the serious anti corruption articles publish in his newspaper. The articles tackled some breaches done by some companies.
For more details about the network visit http://www.hrinfo.net/press
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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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