Iranian Woman Escapes Stoning

Iranian Woman Escapes Stoning

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On March 17, the Iranian Judiciary Amnesty Commission released a woman sentenced to death by stoning.  Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, was convicted of adultery and had been in prison for the last 11 years, was released in the city of Qazvin.

Ebrahimi was released along with her four-year-old son whom she conceived with Jafar Kiani.  Kiani, also convicted of adultery, was stoned to death in July 2007.  Kiani was stoned to death despite a 2002 directive by judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi that imposed a moratorium on such executions. Kiani’s stoning was the first such execution to be confirmed in years.

Ebrahimi’s lawyer, Shadi Sadr, said that his client could not believe that she was pardoned.  “I cannot tell how the commission came up with this decision,” Sadr said. “Whether it was our defense, top clerics’ rulings against stoning or Ayatollah Shahroudi’s decree.”

“But you cannot deny the role of public opinion and domestic and international pressures,” said Sadr.  Sadr is a leading women’s rights activist and is campaigning to remove stoning from Iran’s law books.

According to Amnesty International, death by stoning is still legal under Iranian law.  Article 102 of the Iranian penal code states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts while being stoned.  Another article prescribes the size of stone to be used.

Sadr said that Ebrahimi and her son had returned to northern Iran to be with her family.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Iran Frees Woman Facing Stoning For Adultery: Lawyer – 18 March 2008

AGI – Iran: Woman With Death Sentence Released With Son – 18 March 2008

BBC – Iranian Women Escapes Stoning Death – 18 March 2008

News.com.au – Woman Escapes Stoning for Adultery – 18 March 2008

Amnesty International – Amnesty International appeals against planned executions by stoning – 20 June 2007

UPDATE: Tourist video captures riot in Tibet

BEIJING, China – Michael Smith, an Australian tourist, captured violence in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in video on Friday.  The video shows Tibetans smashing windows and setting fire to Chinese shops and cars, while people are heard cheering. Han Chinese, China’s largest ethnic group, operated many of the businesses targeted by the rioters.  It also shows Chinese security forces, but no clashes between them and the rioters. No deaths or injuries were seen on the video.

Smith said he “met so many Tibetan people on the streets, so many young Tibetan boys just screaming for Tibet’s freedom.”  One young Tibetan male shouted to Smith’s camera “We don’t have any freedoms.  “The Tibetan people are going crazy.  It’s absolute mayhem on the streets,” Smith said.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Tourist video shows riot, flames in Tibetan capita – 18 March 2008

CNN – Tourist films Tibet riots – 18 March 2008

Papuan Activists Jailed for Political Expression

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

JAKARTA, Indonesia –- The Indonesian government is charging nine Papuan activists with plotting against the state for waving a Papuan Morning Star flag at a peaceful, student protest last week. Indonesia’s recent efforts to round up Papuans involved in political expression has drawn harsh criticism from human rights organizations.

Human Rights Watch, the largest human rights organization, is calling for the nine’s release, and condemning the Indonesian government for suppressing freedom of speech. “Raising a flag at a demonstration is a nonviolent act, but in Indonesia it can land you in prison,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch. 

While several provisions of Indonesia’s criminal code were declared unconstitutional in 2007, others remained intact; specifically, a law prohibiting the display of the Morning Star Flag in Papua, the South Maluku Republic Benang Raja flag in Ambon, and the Crescent Moon flag in Aceh. All three flags are examples of banned separatist symbols. Just last week, two pro-independence demonstrators were sentenced to 15 and 17 years in prison for preparing flags for the South Maluku Republic.

But political instability and public protests have long marked Papua’s history. Once a Dutch colony on New Guinea’s western end, Papua became Indonesia’s largest province in 1969. Violence erupted in 2003 after President Megawati Sukarnoputri separated Papua into three provinces: Central Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Tengah), Papua (or East Irian Jaya, Irian Jaya Timur), and West Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat). Indonesian courts declared that the creation of the central province was unconstitutional and in opposition to Papua’s Special Autonomy status.

The separation has divided Papuans who accuse the Indonesian military of violating human rights. In addition, many Papuans complain that the money earned from Papua’s natural resources mostly ends up profiting Jakarta. As a result, many Papuans have been campaigning peacefully for independence from Indonesia. 

The nine Papuan activists, including a 16 year old boy, have been in custody since March 13. The West Papua National Authority has reported that Indonesian police have been threatening and harassing relatives of the charged activists. Meanwhile, responding to the military threat, other activist leaders have gone into hiding.

“If Indonesia wants recognition as a rights-respecting nation, it should stop imprisoning people for acts of peaceful expression,” Pearson said.

For more information, please see:
Reuters, Asia –- Free Peaceful Protesters in Papua –- 19 March 2008

Radio New Zealand International –- West Papua National Authority fears Indonesian forces are rounding up more Papuans –- 19 March 2008

UNPO, Netherlands — West Papua: Worrying Signs of Crackdown — 18 March 2008

Radio New Zealand International –- Australian NGO raises concerns about Papuan protestors arrested in Indonesia –- 17 March 2008

News.com.au –- Nine in court for waving ‘Free Papua’ flag –- 18 March 2008

The Jakarta Post –- New law to end Papua legal dispute –- 05 March 2008

Kenya’s Legislature Approves Power-sharing deal

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor, Journal

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan legislature approved the constitutional amendment that creates the position of prime minister and two deputies and creates a coalition between the two major parties, President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity and opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement.  In light of the disputed elections late last year that fueled ethnic conflict resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 and the displacement of 600,000, Kibaki and Odinga originally reached the political deal at the end of February.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 names Odinga as the prime minister while Kibaki will retain the presidency.  The Act provides that the cabinet will include the president, vice president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and other ministers.  Ministers cannot be discharged without approval from their corresponding party.  The deal stipulates that the two parties will share equal power, however, if one party decides not to participate, the coalition will be disbanded.  The bill does not afford a new election in the event this situation arises.

On a reconciliatory note, both parties have agreed to investigate the violence that occurred directly after the election.  The commission will comprise of independent, international experts who will be appointed by both parties.  This comes after Odinga and his party filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court in January accusing Kibaki and his government of using force against opposition demonstrators.  The commission’s work is expected to be completed within three months.

Much of the world has supported the deal, including former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, who helped facilitate negotiations between the parties.  Both leaders had urged the National Assembly to approve the legislation.  Odinga recognized Kibaki as president and thanked him for his efforts, while Kibaki requested that Kenyans try to move past the violence of the past few months and move forward.

For more information, please see:

africanews.com – Kenya: MPs endorse amendment – 19 March 2008

BBC News – Kenya MPs support power-sharing – 18 March 2008

The Jurist – Kenya parliament approves power-sharing agreement in bid to end violence – 18 March 2008

impunitywatch.net – Kenya reaches peace deal; its government defends against allegations of planned violence – 5 March 2008

CNN.com – Kenya power deal ‘on the right track’ – 28 February 2008

BRIEF: Rights Group Doubts Zimbabwe Election Can Be “Free and Fair”

CAPETOWN, South Africa – International human rights group Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) claims the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe are not likely to be fair, because the current government  intimidated opposition supporters. HRW also says there are deep-seeded flaws in the electoral process. The group alleges human rights abuses leading up to the electoral process, including violence against detractors; restricting freedom of assembly; gaining political advantage through distribution of food and farming equipment; and denying opposition supporters access to the media. Also, HRW believes voter registration lists are inaccurate, saying they have “found evidence of dead people registered to vote including a former minister who died thirty years ago.” The group concludes that the poll, scheduled to take place March 29, cannot possibly be a “free and fair” vote, given the current conditions.

Eighty-four year old President Robert Mugabe is seeking his sixth term in office as representative of the Zanu-PF party, which has held power in Zimbabwe for twenty-eight years following independence. He is being opposed by his former finance minister Simba Makoni and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mugabe’s Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC that “such reports reflected what the West wanted to hear.” He denies any bias in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and accused HRW of having an agenda.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, however, has said the distribution of polling stations have been biased have been biased in favor of rural areas, where Mugabe has a network of support.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Zimbabwe rejects free poll fears – 19 March 2008

Voice of America – Rights Groups Doubt Zimbabwe Elections Will be Fair – 19 March 2008