The Middle East

Abdullah al-Senussi’s Lawyer Calls for ICC Trial

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Abdullah al-Senussi has once been described as the “world’s most wanted man.” During the rule of his brother-in-law, Muammar Gaddafi, Senussi ran the country’s internal security, external security, and was the chief of its espionage agency. His lawyer, Ben Emmerson, believes that if Senussi is not sent for trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, that he will surely be sentenced to death in Libya.

Senussi’s attorney believes that if Senussi is not rightfully sent to face trial at the ICC, that he will be summarily executed. (Photo Courtesy of the Guardian)

On June 27, 2011, the ICC issued arrest warrants for both Senussi as well as Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son. Nevertheless, Islam has been detained in west Libya, where he will be tried. Similarly, despite the arrest warrant, Senussi, who was being held in Mauritania, was deported back to Libya when Libya purposefully ignored the warrant and paid between $125-$200 million for him.

While Libya is supposed to follow the directives of the ICC, there is no real manner in which the ICC can enforce itself, nor the United Nations Security Council, who referred the case to the Hague to begin with. Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions in England threatened, however, that “the Libyan government need to decide whether they want to join the international community or not. If they continue to flout the UN security council [resolution]. . . they are not going to be treated seriously as part of the community of nations.”

Emmerson claims that if his client is put on trial in Libya, that the country has breached its obligations to both the ICC and Security Council. He further believes that when Libya obtained Senussi from Mauritania, that it partook in unlawful rendition. Emmerson wants a fair trial for Senussi and ultimately feels that if Senussi is tried in Libya, that it is “likely to be a short and summary process resulting in his conviction and summary execution.”

Senussi was believed to be the orchestrator of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, known as the Lockerbie bombing, which killed 170 people. Many also think that he was also the man responsible for the slaughtering of 1,200 prisoners at Abu Salim prison.

On the first of this month, Taha Baara, spokesman for Libya’s attorney general stated that Senussi’s trial would take place “within a month.” The Libyan authorities are required to respond to the ICC’s demands by January 15, 2013.

For further information, please see:

Guardian – Abdullah al-Senussi: Foreign Office Urged to Prevent Execution of spy Chief – 11 January 2013

Al Arabiya News – Libyan Ex-spy Chief Must be Extradited or Risk Execution: Lawyers – 10 January 2013

Amnesty International – Libya Must Seek Justice not Revenge in Case of Former al-Gaddafi Intelligence Chief – 18 October 2012

The Hague Justice Portal – Abdullah Senussi

Women Granted Seats on Shura Council for First Time

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia, a ultraconservative Islamic country historically governed by men, has for the first time granted seats on the Shura council to women. The Shura council is Saudi Arabia’s top advisory board.

Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council will now be made up of twenty percent women. (Photo Courtesy of the Guardian)

The one hundred and fifty member council now seats thirty women. Furthermore, courtesy of First Amendment: Article 3 of the council’s statute, which King Abdullah introduced, women can never constitute less than twenty percent of the council. Previously, women were only permitted to be consultants to the council and only on topics such as family and women’s issues.

Members of the Shura council sit for four-year terms. Since the nature of the council is to serve in an advisory capacity, it has no legislative power. Members may review laws and question ministers.

The thirty women who were given seats on the council include human rights activists, university graduates, and two princesses. One such woman is Thuraya Obaid, a United Nations administrator who has previously served as the undersecretary general to the world body and as an executive director to the United Nations Development Programme.

Female Saudi novelist Baridya al-Bishr described the new class of councilwomen as “the cream of the crop.”

King Abdullah’s appointment of women to the council has been warmly welcomed by women’s rights activists. Well known activist Wajeha al-Hawaidar believes that, “men can finally respect women when they see them playing a male role.”

This move was one of many changes King Abdullah has made to advance women since he became king. In 2009, Norah al-Fayez was the first woman ever named to a ministerial post. Then in 2011 he granted women the right to vote and run as candidates in local elections. Most recently, two Saudi Arabian women were permitted to be the first women to partake in the Olympics.

Nevertheless, there are still many more changes female activists wish to see implemented. Women are still not allowed to marry, divorce, work, travel, or be taken care of in a hospital without the permission. Women who are permitted to travel are still electronically tracked, and automatic text messages are sent to her male guardian informing him of her whereabouts.

Ultimately, the council appointments signify great progress for women in Saudi Arabia. The change, however, does not come without limitations. Women still must be segregated from men once inside the council in a special area, and must also enter through a separate door.

For further information, please see:

Al-Akhbar – In Historic First, 30 Women Appointed to Saudi Shura Council – 11 January 2013

Guardian – Saudi King Allows Women on top Advisory Council – 11 January 2013

Middle East Online – Precedent: Saudi Women Named to Shura Council – 11 January 2013

Ya Libnan – Women Named to the Saudi Shura Council for First Time – 11 January 2013

Syrian Rebels Release 48 Iranian Prisoners

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria — In a deal with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, brokered by Qatar and Turkey, a Syrian opposition group released 48 Iranian prisoners in exchange for 2,130 civilian prisoners .  On Wednesday, the prisoners were met by the Iranian Ambassador, Mohammed Reza Shibani, in Damascus.  They were then flown to Tehran.  The exchange was the biggest to occur in the 21-month old Syrian conflict.

Iranian prisoners, released on Wednesday by Syrian opposition groups, met with the Iranian Ambassador to Syria at a Damascus hotel. (Photo Courtesy of Al Arabiya)

“This is the result of months of civil diplomacy carried out by our organization,” said Bulent Yildirim, head of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish humanitarian group who helped broker the deal.

Iranian state television reported that the Iranian prisoners were held hostage by Syrian opposition fighters since last August, and were threatened to be executed.  Iran said that the prisoners are Shias who traveled to Syria on part of a pilgrimage.  Opposition fighters, however, claimed that the prisoners were members of Iran’s National Revolutionary Guard who came to Syria with the purpose of assisting pro-Assad forces.

The opposition fighters released a video showing Iranian military identification cards, allegedly taken from the captives.  “The fighters captured 48 of the Shabiha (militiamen) of Iran who were on a reconaissance mission in Damascus,” said a man in the video, who appeared to be an officer of the Free Syrian Army.  “During the investigation, we found that some of them were officers of the Revolutionary Guards,” he said, revealing ID documents taken from a prisoner who was in the background.

The Iranian government denounced the allegations, insisting that the prisoners traveled to Syria to visit the Sayyida Zainab shrine south of Damascus where they were captured.  An official at the Iranian Pilgrimage and Travel Organization denied that the prisoners were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and said that the group, which included college student and public servants, were all civilians.

Of the 2,130 civilian prisoners who were brokered as part of the deal, 73 of them are women, four are Turkish citizens, and one is a Palestinian.  The others are Syrian.  “Most of the prisoners to be swapperd are Syrian citizens in exchange for Iranians, and there are a few Turks as well,” said Osman Atalay,board member of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation.

Meanwhile, Lakhdar Brahimi, UN Envoy to Syria, said of Assad’s speech last Thursday, where he called on Syrians to fight the “murderous criminals,” was a “lost opportunity to resolve the crisis in Syria.”  Brahimi will meet with top US and Russian officials in Geneva next Friday to discuss ways to push through a peace plan which was outlined by the Action Group for Syria.

For further information, please see:

Al Arabiya — Syria Rebels Release 48 Iranians in Prisoner Swap: Reports — 9 January 2013

Al Bawaba — Iranians Freed by Syrian Opposition Fighters Arrive in Damascus Hotel — 9 January 2013

Al Jazeera — Syrian Rebels Free Iranian Hostages in Swap — 9 January 2013

BBC News — Iranians Held by Syria Rebels Released — 9 January 2013

Syrian Opposition Rejects Assad’s Recent Peace Proposal

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian and international opposition forces refused a peace plan proposed by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad during a speech he made last Sunday.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s (center) peace proposal was rejected the next day by local opposition groups and the West. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

In his speech, Assad called for Western countries to desist from finding and arming rebels, and said that he would be willing to work with countries “who have not betrayed Syria.”  Originally billed as the unveiling of a new peace plan, Assad did not offer to make any compromises in establishing peace with his opposition, and also appeared to take a tougher stance on many of his positions.  In his speech, Assad called on Syrians to fight “a war to defend the nation,” and made it unlikely for any prospect of negotiations.  This was Assad’s first address to the nation since June.

“We do not reject political dialogue… but with whom should we hold a dialogue? With extremists who don’t believe in any language but killing and terrorism?,” asked Assad.

Assad’s foreign opposition was dismissive of his speech.

The U.S. State Department denounced Assad’s speech, calling it “detached from reality,” while Britain said the speech was “empty.”  The European Union maintained its position on Assad, calling for him “to step aside and allow for a political transition.”

State Department Spokeswoman Victorian Nuland said of the speech that it was “yet another attempt by the regime to cling to power and does nothing to advance the Syrian people’s goal of a political transition.”

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi says that he endorses any decision which helps the Syrian people in putting Assad on trial in front of the International Criminal Court.

Assad’s opposition within Syria found the speech to prove that Assad is not willing to step down.

Louay Safi, member of the Syrian National Coalition Opposition Block, said that Assad’s speech was nothing more than “empty rhetoric.”  George Sabra, Vice President of the opposition National Coalition said that the speech itself did “not even deserve to be called an initiative… We should see it rather as a declaration that he will continue his war against the Syrian people.”  The National Coalition also noted that Assad refuses to hold a dialogue with rebels, making negotiations impossible.  The opposition claims that they will negotiate only if Assad offers to resign from the presidency.

Opposition groups are unwilling to compromise with Assad unless he offers to step-down.  Nevertheless, that is a move that Assad is not likely to make any time soon.

For further information, please see:

Al Arabiya — Syrian Opposition, West Reject Assad ‘Peace Plan’ — 7 January 2013

Al Jazeera — Syrian Opposition Rejects Assad’s Peace Plan — 7 January 2013

BBC News — Syria Crisis: US Decries Assad ‘Western Puppets’ Speech — 7 January 2013

Reuters — Assad Peace Plan Greeted with Scorn by Foes — 7 January 2013

One Investigator Kidnapped, While Other Security Official Found Dead in Libya

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Ever since Muammar Gaddafi had been overthrown, safety officials have not been safe in Benghazi, as more than a dozen have been killed. The two most recent men to feel the effects of such danger are Chief-Captain Abdel-Salam al-Mahdawi and Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser al-Magrabi.

Police officers congregate to demand the release of their Captain Mahdawi. (Photo Courtesy of Saudi Gazette)

Mahdawi was the acting head of the criminal investigation department in Benghazi. It is believed that after leaving his farm to go to work, he was abducted at gunpoint by bearded men at a traffic light on Venezia Street not far from the criminal investigation police offices.

Mahdawi was known to have “many enemies,” stated an unnamed official who claimed that Mahdawi, “had files on everyone – Gaddafi loyalists, hard-line Islamists and common criminals.”

A small group of police officers staged a demonstration outside of Benghazi’s landmark, the Tibesti Hotel, calling for Mahdawi’s release. Officers held banners asking, “Where are the men of Benghazi?”

One man’s body was found charred by hydrochloric acid in Benghazi’s Buhmeida district. Officials have not yet been able to confirm or deny whether or not the charred body is what remains of Captain Mahdawi.

Interior Minister Ashour Shwayel has promised to “search for the officer [Mahdawi] and determine the identity of the perpetrators.” Nevertheless, legal experts and police investigators have kept their distance from the unidentified body charred by hydrochloric acid for fear that they have not been granted protection from the groups they believe to be the perpetrators of the attack.

One body that was found and identified was that of Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser al-Magrabi. Magrabi was a Gaddafi era security official who was part of the internal security services in Benghazi. His dead body was found shot, on his farm somewhere in the Sidi Faraj region.

No one is certain as to who are carrying out these attacks, however, some believe the acts to be conducted by hard-line Islamists who wish to punish those officials who formerly served under Gaddafi. Magrabi’s security services were responsible for detaining thousands of Islamists and other dissidents during the time that Gaddafi’s regime was in power.

Benghazi has also become a hot spot for other extremist groups to flourish, like those militants who attacked the U.S. Consulate and killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others this past September 11th.

For further information, please see:

Gulf Today – Qadhafi-era Security Officer Killed in Libya: Officials – 5 January 2013

Saudi Gazette – Top cop Kidnapped in Benghazi – 4 January 2013

BBC – Libyan Gunmen Kidnap top Investigator in Benghazi – 3 January 2013

New York Times – Police Captain in Benghazi is Abducted – 3 January 2013