The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

ANHRI Weekly Update #390, 8^th year

10/02/2012- 16/02/2012

Egypt

Cairo Center organize a series of lectures on the right to organization in Fayoum

Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies (CCHRS) held a series of public lectures on freedom of organization and the measures of civil work liberation in the localities and villages of Fayoum governorate. The first lecture was held on Thursday 16 January, for the schools’ staff member and their families, the 2^nd was for the parents and the students, and the 3^rd lecture on 18 Jan for about 40 youth from ‘Om Elmasrien’ association in Abu Bakr Elseddeeq locality. The lectures were given by Ahmed abol Magd, consultant of training on human rights principals. The training course was held in the frame of the awareness raising activity done by the center to spread the human rights culture, simplify the international measures and general principals.

Military court arbitrary sentences 3 citizens to imprisonment

The Egyptian authorities arrested Mohammed Abdallah Nemr (45 year), Islam Abdallah Aly Toni (20 year), and Ahmed Maher Sief Elden (31 year) for protesting against the local city center’s policies in June 2011, interrogated them with the charge of inciting the public to assembly and assault the city center chairman. The three had been maltreated by police men, and were sent to a speedy military trial that sentenced them to two years of imprisonment

Sources: Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, One World Foundation for Development and Civil Society Care, Alkarama Foundation for Human Rights

For more information on Egypt: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=53

Oman

Union Activist Detained

ANHRI condemned the detention of Mohamed al-Salty, union activist, for more than a week in the Internal Security headquarters of the Omani security services, who have not brought him to any judicial investigative body or given any reason for such an arbitrary detention. Al-Salty is a prominent unionist and was head of the Natural Gas Labor Union. “Sultan Qaboos had promised political reform to calm down the angered population after last year’s demonstrations. Rather than undertaking amendments guaranteeing public rights and freedoms, the Sultanate issued legislations that granted the security services broad powers to restrict freedoms, especially freedom of expression,” said ANHRI.

Source: ANHRI

For more information on Oman: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=288

Bahrain

Oppression continues in the 1^st anniversary of the Bahraini revolution

The Bahraini revolution commenced on 24 February 2011 has completed its first year and the protests continue, and so oppression as well. Peaceful protesters are still facing excessive violence by security services, while the authorities have not fulfilled its repeated reform promises, amid a disgraceful Arab and international silence. ANHRI called upon the international community and the Arab League to take immediate measures to pressure the Bahraini authorities to stop the usage of violence against peaceful protests; to respond to the people’s legitimate demands calling for democratic reform; to the release the human rights activists, opposition leaders and prominent bloggers detained in the Bahraini prisons.

Source: ANHRI

For more information on Bahrain: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=13

Sudan

Darfur: New weapons from China and Russia fuelling conflict

Arms sales from China and Russia are fuelling serious human rights violations in Darfur, Amnesty International said. These arms transfers highlight the urgent need to strengthen the existing ineffectual UN arms embargo and for governments to agree an effective Arms Trade Treaty.

Source: Amnesty International

For more information on Sudan: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=16

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian columnist under threat for Twitter posts

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned death threats and a publishing ban against columnist Hamza Kashgari for comments he posted on Twitter addressing the prophet Mohammed.

Kashgari, a 23-year old poet, was a columnist for the Jeddah-based daily Al-Bilad before last week, when he caused an uproar by posting material on his Twitter account that were deemed religiously offensive and inappropriate by many in the kingdom, including its rulers. Some influential clerics and ordinary citizens called on the authorities to prosecute Kashgari for blasphemy and apostasy, both capital crimes in Saudi Arabia. Others directly demanded his execution or offered monetary reward to his killers.

Source: CPJ

For more information on Saudi Arabia: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=15

Morocco

Saharan political prisoners subject to a thorough inspection and Saharan students start a hunger strike

The Saharan political prisoners were surprised on 11 Feb., with the local prison management launching a wide inspection campaign included all the cells in which they have been detained bending investigation after being cracked down by the Moroccan authorities with criminal charges before military trials in Akdim Izik camp case. This was a result for the sit in carried out by a group of them inside the visit hall, condemning the terrible health situation of all the detainees. In addition, 6 Saharan students had started an open hunger strike protesting their arbitrary detention and demanding fair trials with improving their situations inside prison.

Source: Collective of Saharan Human Rights Defenders

For more information on Morocco: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=20

Yemen

Blasphemy Campaigns and an assassination attempt

The Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights strongly condemned the blasphemy campaign targeting a number of writers, activists and intellectuals during the last period, aiming at defaming them and inciting the public opinion against them. The observatory expect that campaign to extend as a result of the spread of these the blasphemy groups who seek bloodsheds and incite strife within society.

Source: YOHR

For more information on Yemen: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=21

Syria

Human rights activist Mazen Ibrahim Alqasem arrested

The Syrian Society for Defending Human Rights expressed its deep concern over the news report about arresting its member the human rights activist Mazen Ibrahim Alqasem (29 year) after stopping him early on Sunday 13 Feb. when he was trying to enter the distressed city of Hums with medical aids

Source: Syrian Society for Human Rights Defense

For more information on Syria: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=24

Palestine

Palestinian writer Khalil Shahin targeted by incitement campaign after an interview with Aljazeera channel

Khalil Shahin, writer and political analyst, member of the revolutionary council and the Fath movement’s media officer in Europe, charged Jamal Nazal with being behind a campaign of incitement against him, Khalil, aims at defaming his reputation and slandering him. The charges, insults and incitement published on many websites following Fath movement after an interview on Aljazeera channel on 6 Feb. 2012 in a commentary on AlDoha declaration.

A journalist arrested, another’s detention renewed and four others injured while covering clashes

ANHRI condemned the ongoing campaign of repression launched by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian journalists, including arbitrary detention and physical assaults while performing their job. ANHRI also expresses its deep regret over the deteriorating condition of freedom of opinion and expression in Palestine under occupation. On 5 February 2012, at about 2:00 a.m. local time, Israeli troops raided the home of Amr Halayga, photojournalist, in al-Shoyoukh village, al-Khalil province, drove all his family members out into the cold, and detained him without explanation. He is currently in custody in Ashkelon Center for investigation. The ongoing detentions and attacks on journalists are part of an organized campaign launched by the Israeli occupation forces to gag anyone who attempts to expose violations committed against the Palestinian people,” said ANHRI.

Sources: SKeyes, ANHRI

For more information on Palestine: http://www.anhri.net/?cat=25

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

This week ANHRI has issued 9 press statements on the situation of freedom of expression in MENA:

1. Morocco: Activist sentenced to jail for “insulting the King” http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6747

2. Saudi Arabia: Successive blows for freedom of expression http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6726

3. Syria: Artist killed, activists detained and journalists’ houses bombarded http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6765

4. Oman: Union Activist detained http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6777

5. South Sudan: ANHRI condemns attack on journalist inside parliament http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6679

6. Palestine: ANHRI condemns the repressive crackdown on journalists http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6722

7. In the so called the foreign fund case http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=6755

8. The 47^th issue of Wasla on the stand headlined “save us from Fascism, Amen!”

                For more of ANHRI’s press releases: http://www.anhri.net/en/?cat=1