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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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Weekly update for the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information # 201
Year 5
6 March 2007 - 12 March 2008
Jordan
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"Maintaining security" is the Jordanian ministry of interior pretext to strengthen restrictions over internet cafés
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information denounced decisions released by Jordanian ministry of interior which enforce internet cafés to install cameras aiming to identify the users of these cafés and also to register users data such as their names, phone numbers and time of use. The Network confirmed that these procedures represent a real retreat from freedom of internet and the right of information exchange.
Sources
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
For more information, visit /jordan
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Tunisia
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Arbitrary actions against Sihem Bin Sedreen and Omar Mustery
Front line Defenders expressed their concern about the safety of Sihem Bin Sedreen and Omar Mustery as they were subject to physical abuse by Tunisian police following their coming back from Europe. Sihem Bin Sedreen is still suffering multiple injuries. It is worth noting that Sihem was awarded the prize of Peace for the year 2008 by the Danish Institution for Peace.
Sources
Front Line Defenders
For more information, visit /tunisia
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Saudi Arabia
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Legal identity for the Saudi woman
Human Rights First Association called the Saudi government to enact laws and legislations which ensure women's identity before the judicature and legal entities, besides following up the implementation of such legislations. The Association's viewpoint is that granting legal identity for the Saudi woman is still out of reach because the Saudi woman don't have the right to litigate or appeal for legal decisions as a person with full citizenship, regardless of being a woman.
Sources
Human Rights First Society
For more information, visit /saudi
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Syria
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The International Women's Day
On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria declared its full consolidation with the women in Syria in order to enable women of having their rights and to remove all kinds of discrimination and violence against them.
Sources
Committee for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights
For more information, visit /syria
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Iraq
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Banning imposed on many newspapers in Basra on security instructions!
Journalistic Freedoms Observatory JFO expressed their denunciation of the decision issued by Al-Basra governorate which requires seizure of printing and issuance of newspapers on pretext of not having a former security permission for printing!. The Observatory confirmed that the all international charters concerned with freedom of expression agree upon the rejection of censorship, prior and subsequent to the publication of newspapers and publications. The observatory confirmed also that this decision can be counted as a serious incident that violates constitutional rights of freedom of expression in Iraq.
Sources
Journalistic Freedoms Observatory JFO
For more information, visit : /iraq
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Palestine
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letter to the Palestinian president calling him to release the detained journalists
Aldameer Association for prisoners' Support and Human Rights expressed in a letter directed to the Palestinian president its concern towards the continuation of chasing journalists in the west bank and shutting down of press and media institutions. Aldameer confirmed that the Palestinian people is undergoing conditions that need collective work and unity besides the need for ensuring general and journalistic liberties just to face dangers threatening Palestinians and their case.
Sources
Aldameer prisoner's Support and Human Rights Association
For more information, visit /palestine
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Lebanon
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Training workshop regarding the Palestinian law and free of information
Regional office of the Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor) in Palestine organized a training workshop regarding the Palestinian law and freedom of information in order to spread concepts & principles of transparency, raising awareness for journalists about their legal rights and developing the skills of positive criticism among journalists, decision makers and intelligentsia, besides granting journalists some positive trends concerning work and transparency in the Palestinian society.
Sources
Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor)
For more information, visit : /lebanon
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Egypt
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International Federation for Human Rights honours Ibrahim Issa, Kamal Abbas
In a ceremony held by the International Federation for Human Rights on Saturday, March 3, 2008, Al-Dostour newspaper editor-in-chef Ibrahim Issa and the Centre for Trade Union and Workers' Services general coordinator Kamal Abbas were honored as icons for defending human rights. The international Federation also declared its solidarity with them facing what they are subject to. The ceremony was attended by a number of independent judges, members of Judges Club and representatives for Egyptian human rights organizations.
Sources
Centre for Trade Union and Workers' Services
A number of journalists sit-in protesting at the position of the Syndicate Council
Hisham Mubarak Law Center expressed their solidarity with Al-Badeel newspapers journalists sit-in in the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists as they protested against obstacles laid by the syndicate's council to prevent their enrollment in the syndicate with no legal basis. The Center welcomed providing legal aid needed to face that persistent violation against the right to association and formation of unions.
It is worthy to mention that this is not the first time for the syndicate to play the opponent against journalists, as it was preceded by other crises, including the crisis of enrolling the journalists of "Nahdet Masr" and "Al-Alam Al-Youm" and "Al-Maal" and other newspaperss.
Sources
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
For more information, visit : /egypt
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Morocco
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Continuation of trials of dissidents in Morocco
Political prisoners allotted among Moroccan prisons started a hunger strike calling for improving their tragic detention conditions and also having their legitimate rights ensured by international agreements and treaties as prisoners of conscious. This comes in parallel with a prison sentence issued by a Moroccan court against two of political detainees.
Sources
The Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State
For more information, visit : /morocco
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Yemen
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Yemeni children in solidarity with their fellows in Gaza
Deputy Coordinator of the U.N received a letter from children of Yemen calling to stop aggression against Palestinian people.
The children arranged a parade that started from the parliament of children to the United Nations headquarter in San'aa, calling for the trial of war criminals in the Zionist army for crimes of genocide practiced against Palestinian people and children. They called the U.N to play its role of protecting civilians especially the children.
Sources
The Democratic School
For more information, visit /yemen
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Regional and international
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Bahrain: Reporters without Borders' mission report
Reporters without Borders (Bahrain mission) called the Bahraini authorities to fulfill legislative amendments as they had promised years ago, ensuring that freedom of the press in Bahrain is still fragile. Reporters without Borders's viewpoint is that Bahraini authorities must also put an end to the state monopoly in the media sector Audio-Visual, and they called for cancelling censorship imposed on the internet, especially that there are some websites that are banned in the kingdom.
Sources
Reporters without Borders
For more information, visit : /mena
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Emergency Law and systematic repression increase number of prisoners of conscious
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information confirmed that the severe deterioration of general freedoms and declining economic situations shouldn't divert attentions from the Egyptian prisons being crowded with prisoners whose only "crime" was their peaceful calling for democracy. The actions taken against opposition candidates and Muslim Brotherhood by the government in order to prevent them from running into next local elections is a systematic campaign against political & civil freedoms, and the Arabic Network is warning that the continuation of these conditions of police repression could eventually herald a state of disarray & complete chaos.
HRInfo releases "Manual on Basic Concepts of Human Rights"
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information released a new manual titled "Human Rights…Basic Concepts". It is an educational manual to understand human rights basic concepts and principles. The manual provides examples for some international, Arab and Egyptian human rights organizations working in the field of human rights. This manual tries as well to provide answers to many questions raised by volunteers and people interested in human rights field.
The Network details are available on : /en/reports
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anhri 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 anhri at:
Address: 19-26 July st-Downtown - Cairo- 4th floor - suit 55
Phone Number: (00202) 27736177
Email address:
info@anhri.net
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