By Meryl White

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran-  In May 2007, three pro-democratic student protesters were arrested regarding their actions protesting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at the Amirkabir University.

In December, President Ahmadinejad launched scientific research to determine whether the Holocaust existed.  On the same day he came to the Amirkabir University to display his ability to silence his critics.  However, President Ahmadinejad’s speech to the Amirkabir student body was shortened because of the crowd’s disapproval with the president.  The pro-democratic student body was filled with protesters who chanted “Death to the Dictator” while hurling items at the Iranian president. The Iran security detail used flash grenades to ensure Ahmadinejad’s safe removal from the premises.  Allegedly during his removal, Ahamdinejad threatened student leaders of possible future retaliation.  Read more...

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CASABLANCA, Morocco – The Moroccan government canceled a 30 percent price hike of bread due to violent protests that left at least 50 people injured. The protest was reminiscent of bread riots in 1981 that resulted hundreds dead in Casablanca. Breads and pastries are widely consumed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as families hold large feasts after daytime fasting. The government had authorized the price rise back on September 10.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera - Morocco rolls back bread price hike – 25 September 2007  Read more...

By Meryl White

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – In an attempt to “purge the nation’s airwaves of social pollution,” China communist government has banned television and radio advertisements for push-up bras, figure-hugging underwear, and sex toys.

This comes days after banning “sexually provocative sounds” on television.

According to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), among other targets are commercials featuring experts of famous people demonstrating the efficacy of medicines.  Read more...

By Elizabeth Costner

By Meryl White

CAIRO, Egypt – The White House raised “deep concern” about Egypt’s recent court cases against the independent press and the closure of a human rights organization.

This month alone, at least seven journalists were sentenced to imprisonment for exercising their right to freedom of expression. On September 13, a Cairo court sent four editors of independent newspapers to prison for publishing stories critical of President Hosni Mubarak and other officials. Less than two weeks later, three more journalists were sent to jail for “damaging the image of justice” by publishing an article calling 90 percent of Egyptian judges incompetent.  Read more...

BAGHDAD, Iraq-  Lawyers representing Iraqi families of prisoners have accused the Iraqi government of wrongly concealing information, including the whereabouts of over 1,500 detainees.  (IRIN)  Government authorities have not revealed whether the detainees are dead or alive, according to the Iraqi’ Lawyers Association (ILA).  The fifteen hundred detainees have not been detained for indefinite periods of time.  Furthermore, the problem has been compounded because some of the families were not clearly told the reason for the arrested of the detainee.  Read more...

On September 26, up to nine Palestinians were killed in two separate Israeli raids into Gaza.  Four or five members of the Army of Islam were killed during a strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).  Palestinian medical authorities report that four men were killed, while the Army of Islam report that five were.  Witnesses report that a missile hit the vehicle the militants were driving at a crowded intersection in Gaza City.

IAF officials report that these men were in the process of transporting several Qassam rockets.  The group was responsible for the kidnapping of Alan Johnston and believed to be the group who kidnapped Gilad Shalit, an Israeli corporal.  Read more...