By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

TEL AVIV, Israel – On June 24, the Islamic Jihad fired several rockets into the southern Israeli town of Sderot. While there were no causalities, the rockets did cause damage to residences.

In claiming the rocket attack, the Islamic Jihad stated that the attack was in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of two members in the West Bank, which was not included in the Hamas-Israeli agreement. The Islamic Jihad also stated that the attack was exceptional and in response to a specific action.  Read more...

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ZANJAN, Iran – A female student who alleged that she was molested by the vice-chancellor of the university has been arrested.  It is unclear what charges she is being charged with, but the prosecutor in the case has been quoted as saying that publicizing certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves.

After the initial allegations were made, large demonstrations broke out all over the university’s campus.  Sit-ins were staged and students grabbed the vice-chancellor and handed him over to authorities.  The woman alleged that the vice-chancellor harassed her after she went to discuss a problem with him.  Both the victim and the vice-chancellor are currently in custody.  Read more...

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – US Ambassador James Foley, the US Department of State’s coordinator for Iraqi refugees, will visit Syria from June 23-26.  His visit to Syria is part of a trip to four Middle Eastern countries in an effort to increase the number of refugees going to the US.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that nearly 1 in 10 Iraqis are either internally displaced or has fled the country.  An estimated 2.3 million are refugees, with nearly 1.5 million refugees live in Syria and 500,000 in Jordan.  In 2007, some 52,000 Iraqis applied for refugee status, making them the largest applicant group.  Read more...

By Laura Zuber

Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On June 17, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, confirmed at a news conference that militant groups had agreed a truce with Israel. In addition, Hossam Zaki, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, “Both sides have pledged to halt all hostilities and all military activities against each other.”

Israeli officials have yet to confirm that a truce has been reached with Hamas. But, security sources said an accord is in the offing. Defense Ministry official Major General (res.) Amos Gilad left Tuesday for Cairo to conclude the final agreement. While, Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister, stopped short of announcing an official agreement, he stressed the importance of making all possible efforts toward achieving calm.  Read more...

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian police have begun a new campaign against violations of the state enforced dress code.  The police are arresting women whose headscarves do not fully cover their hair or if their clothes do not hide their figure.  Men are also being stopped if their hairstyles are deemed inappropriate.

After Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, a dress code was imposed requiring women to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise the shape of their bodies.  Violating these rules can result in lashes, fines or imprisonment.  Read more...