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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 195
Year 5
18 January 2008 - 24 January 2008
Tunisia
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Freedom for the independent freelance journalist Saleem Bukhdhair
On January 18, 2008, and in an unfair trial, the court of appeals in Safaqes supported the sentence of the first instance court which sentenced the independent freelance journalist Saleem Bukhdhair to one year in prison on trumped-up charges of allegedly verbally assaulting a public employee and violating public decency and hiding his ID. This comes as a threat by the Tunisian government who made Bukhdhair an example for any one who thinks to protest. Bukhdhair went on hunger strike in November 2007 to claim his right to get a passport. He ended his strike when the journalists dean interfered and promised him to get a passport. This put the Tunisian government in a critical situation, so it started to fabricate charges against Bukhdhair.
The trial was held under strong security procedures in an excessive attendance of political police officials. The court refused to listen to the witnesses. The judge did not care about ten argumentations that approved that he case was fabricated specially after approving that the political police official did not apply the law of ID when they treated Mr. Saleem Bukhdhair. The ID law states that in case a person does not show an ID, an offense notice should be done against him/her. Also, two witnesses stated a witness that lacked the legal form.
The judge also did not pay attention to the argumentations that displayed weakness in the law stance court sentence. He also did not care about procedures defects. He did not know that the basic crime of Bukhdhair was practicing independent journalism.
Sources
International Association For solidarity with Political Prisoners
Observatory for the Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation in Tunisia
Freedom of Expression Watching Group in Tunisia
18th October for Rights and Freedoms
The Tunisian Association for Defending Human Rights
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/tunisia
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Saudi Arabia
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For whom is this armament?
The Saudi kingdom were visited by two major presidents, the French president (Sarkouzi) and the American president (George Bush). The two visits came in the framework of armament contracts with the Gulf countries who became the biggest to import weapons. The weapons imported by the Gulf countries consumes their financial and natural resources for facing alleged threats.
The Saudi armed forces in the biggest among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and one of the biggest 10 countries buying weapons during the last two decades. Saudi kingdom spent US $19 billion on weapons between 2001 and 2004 while two thirds of its population live in bad economic conditions, and the unemployment is 59% and the tin and wooden houses are so many in the Kingdom. Also, the administrative corruption is more than to be recorded. A school girl gave up going to her primary school because she does not have heavy cloths to wear for the cold weather. Another 12-year old girl in Arar city met her end for not having a blanket to cover with, and the shutdown of electricity and water supplies for days in King Fahd Hospital.
The question now is, “for whom is this armament?”
Sources
The Committee of Defending Human Right in the Arabian Peninsula
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/saudi
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Sudan
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The government hinders the performance of UN forces in Darrefour
After three weeks of UN mission in Darrefour, the armed militia continues recruiting militants including children. Youth in Darrefour live in miserable conditions. Because of despair and angry, many young men find it suitable to join the armed militia. The migrant women face raping on their going out of the camps to get some food.
A group of 23 non governmental organizations issued a report in which they warned against the expected failure of the peace keeping troops because of the lack in support and the Sudanese government hindering situation.
The non governmental organizations demanded the Security Council to define the tasks that should be done by the Sudanese government to facilitate the UN forces work, and in case the government does not fulfill these tasks within 30 days, sanctions should be imposed on the Sudanese officials including the president Omar Al Basheer.
Reports mentioned that the Sudanese government employed the chief of Janjaoid group Mosa Hilal, a man of bad reputation, as a consultant to the Sudanese president Omar Al Basheer. This came two weeks before the African Union summit in which the Sudanese president is to meet the UN secretary general.
Mosa Hilal was released in April 2003 – after the rebellions attacked Fasher Northern Darrefour. He held meeting with local Arabian tribes chiefs and agreed on destroying the villages of non Arabian tribes and looting them. Those meeting were the turning point after which the government started to provide complete support to the militia.
Sources
International Amnesty Organization
Human Rights Watch Organization
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/sudan
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Syria
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Retaliating the opponents
On Monday January 21, 2008, Aleppo witnessed four bad events in which the properties of the Damascus declaration members were damaged in a step to scare and retaliate them. The events are suggested to be done by the Syrian security system.
- The gallery of Talal Abu Dan was attacked and all properties were ruined. Artist Talal Abu Dan was born in Aleppo in 1953. He was detained for 10 years on belonging to the communist party- political office (The Democratic People’s Party). He is married and he has 3 children.
- The private car of Muhammad Hag Darwish was smashed in front of his house. Muhammad Hag Darwish is from Edlip and dwells in Alleppo. He was born in 1960. He has a B.Sc. in chemistry and a member in the Human Rights Association in Syria. He is one of the founders of the Civil Society Reviving, and is a member in the National Council of Damascus Declaration. He is detained since January 7, 2008. He is married and he has 3 children.
- The private car of Samir Al Nashar was smashed completely. Samir is from Aleppo and was born in 1945. He has a B.Sc. in commerce and economy. He is one of the founders of Al Kawakibi forum in Aleppo. He is a member in the general secretariat of Damascus Declaration. He is married and has 3 children. He was detained on December 10, 2007 and was released on December 12, 2007.
- The private car of the lawyer Ibrahim Malik was assaulted with partial harms. Ibrahim was born in 1955. He is married and has 4 children. He was detained for belonging to the Communist Party- political office (the Democratic People’s Party).
It is worth to mention that the state security system has launched a campaign of arresting and summoning since December 10,2007, against the members of the National Council of Damascus Declaration. Some members were released while others are still detained.
Sources
The Syrian Committee for Human Rights
The National Organization of Human Rights in Syria
The Syrian Human Rights Organization (Swasia)
Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria
The Syrian Observatory Human Rights
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/syria
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Iraq
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Restraining journalist from their work
On January 21, a local police officer restrained the journalist Eiad El Mallah, Radio Sawa reporter, from covering a demonstration done by Al Monshaa protection employers who demanded raising their salaries. The police officer confiscated Eiad journalistic ID and recorders and forced him to leave. The officer verbally abused Eian and threatened him of being arrested if he covered the demonstration.
In Basra and on January 18, an armed militia kidnapped the journalist Ala Mousa who was physically abused before being released. A force affiliated to the Iraqi army broke through the house of the journalist and human rights activist Mr. Talib Al Hussaini, on January 21. He was sent to the headquarter of the force and was physically and verbally abused before being released. Also, the American troops detained the journalist Rasheed Majeed Al Sarai, editor-in-chief of Al Fatah newspaper, on January 15 without a legal cause. On January 20, the deputy interior minister guarding forces arrested the journalist Muhammad Al Fartosi without a legal cause and released him one hour later.
Sources
Observatory Press Freedoms
The Iraqi Association for Defending Journalists’ Rights
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/iraq
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Palestine
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A humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
The supreme parts of the fourth Geneva Convention should act according its legal and ethical responsibilities mentioned in article 1 of the convention. They should work on forcing Israel to respect the convention terms in the occupied Palestinian territories. The silent reaction of the international society became a conspiracy that powered Israel to violate all forms of law and human rights and international humanitarian international law.
On Sunday, January 20, 2008, 8pm, the electricity generator ran out of fuel and stopped working leaving Gaza in complete darkness. The 1.5 million residents face a humanitarian catastrophe that will remain shameful to the international society. Gaza residents suffer a sharp lack in fuel, medicines and some basic food stuff. In Al Shifa Hospital, there are 30 new-born infants in incubations who will die if electricity supplies are shutdown. The hospital decided that no surgeries will be done. Gaza residents are besieged since all passages are closed, which is a death sentence against 1.5 million persons residing Gaza strip.
Sources
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
The National Association for Democracy and Law
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/palestine
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Kuwait
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The political “Hestba” cases against Al Jazera space channel
Al Jazera space channel faced a “Hesba’ case under the title (driving harms away on behalf of the society). Al Jazera space channel faced criticism and its branch in Kuwait was closed after broadcasting a report about the Kuwait-American maneuvers. On January 16, the channel was fined KD 20 thousand (50 thousand Euros), on a defaming case. In 2002 four Kuwaiti lawyers launched a law suit against the channel accusing it of harming the national Kuwaiti feeling and defaming the Kuwaiti history.
That was because of an episode of the “Al Itegah Al moakes” program presented by Faysal Al Qasim. The episode broadcasted in February 2002, hosted an Egyptian politician and a Kuwaiti journalist to speak about the American possible invasion to Iraq. During the episode the two guests exchanged charges and the Egyptian politician accused Kuwait of stealing the Iraqi oil.
Sources
Reporters without borders
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/kuwait
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Lebanon
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Targeting Al Anba newspaper’s editor in chief
Recently, threats and dangers against journalists increased in the deteriorated security situation and political separation. Last years witnessed a setback of the freedom of expression in Lebanon due to the physical and abstract abuse against journalists and media persons. The latest violation was represented in setting fire in Aziz Al Matni car. Aziz is the editor in chief of Al Anba newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Social Party in Lebanon headed by Walid Gonblat.
Sources
Maharat institution
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/lebanon
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Egypt
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Detaining hundreds of protesters
Upon the wild besiege imposed on Gaza strip by Israel who deprived Gaza residents from electricity and fuel supplies, protest demonstrations in Egypt were done. On January 23, the security forces arrested about 240 civil society activists, social alliance and political parities representatives during their march to the Arab League to hand a protest to the secretary general regarding the current events in Gaza. After arresting them, they were taken in police trucks belonging to central security forces and were sent to the central security camp in Al Darasa.
Sources
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
Freedom Center for Political Rights and Democracy Support
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Sentences against activists
The supreme Moroccan court is to issue a sentence against the members of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights who were detained on June 5,6 2007 after participating in a peaceful set-in in Bani Malal city. They expressed, through the sit-in, their solidarity with other 7 members in the association who were detained after demonstrations done on May 1, 2007. During the sit-in the participant released shouts against the royal ruling system which can not be touched by any means.
Along the previous years, many activist and journalist were sentenced by courts on criticizing the royal government. They were accused of encouraging against the royal ruling system.
On January 17, the court of appeals (first instance) sentenced Al Saied Sa’eed Al Belal to 18 moth in jail and 500 Derhams fine on encouraging for armed gatherings and assaulting state officials.
Al Saied Sa’eed Al Belal is a Sahrawi human rights defendant and is a member in the Sahrawi committee for supporting self ruling in Western Sahara.
Sources
International Amnesty Organization
The Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/morocco
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Yemen
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News websites banning
On January 19 the Yemeni authorities blocked and banned the independent search engine www.yemenportal.net. The number of the banned news websites became 8 websites since October 2007. This comes as an attempt by the Yemeni government to thwart the criticism provided by such websites regarding the government war against the Hathis in Sa’ada and north cities. The government is unable to respond to these websites.
Sources
Reporters without Borders
National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms
For more details visit http://www.hrinfo.net/yemen
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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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