BRIEF: Hundreds Sign Letter Urging Release of Iranian Activist

BRIEF: Hundreds Sign Letter Urging Release of Iranian Activist

TEHRAN, Iran – Hundreds of Iranians have signed an open letter calling for women’s rights defender Khadijeh Moghaddam to be released.  Moghaddam was arrested on April 8 on charges of acting against national security.  She is involved in the drive to gather one million signatures opposing laws that discriminate against women.  She is also an environmental activist.  Bail was set at one billion rials (108,000 dollars).  The letter was sent to newspapers and websites across Iran.

The letter was signed by over 600 people and demanded that Khadijeh Moghaddam’s “illegal detention” end as soon as possible.  The letter said, “Moghaddam is a pioneer in environmental protection in Iran,” the letter said, noting her cooperation with city officials over waste management and protests against deforestation.  “She has been active for years in creating jobs for women and forming women’s cooperatives,” it added. “Who would believe Moghaddam has harmed national security or caused public offence?”

Amnesty International said they believed Moghaddam was arrested solely for her work to increase the support for equal rights for Iranian women.  Several women have been jailed for their involvement in the campaign as Iran has stepped up arrests of human rights campaigners and trade unionists over the past year.  One of the campaign’s leaders, Parvin Ardalan, was barred from leaving Iran in March to collect a prestigious Swedish rights award, the Olof Palme Prize.  She won the award for her contributions to the women’s rights movement.

For more information, please see:
Radio Free Europe – Iran: Arrests, Jailings of Political and Rights Activists Continue – 14 April 2008

AFP – Iran Activists Protest Feminist’s Arrest – 12 April 2008

BBC – Iran Pressed to Free Campaigner – 12 April 2008

Gazan Militants Breach Israeli Border, 2 Israeli Civilians Killed

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

NAHAL OZ, Israel – On April 9, Gazan militants attacked the Nahal Oz Terminal, which provides Gaza with most of its fuel supplies.  Shortly following a delivery, two militants launched mortar shells at the terminal’s fuel depot, while two others climbed over the border fence.  Once in Israel, the militants shot and killed two Israeli contractors.  Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers responded quickly and arrived at the crossing within minutes.  IDF engaged the militants and killed two, while two others were able to escape.

Shortly following the raid, an IDF air strike targeted a vehicle carrying the fleeing militants.  In addition, a subsequent Israeli air strike targeted a militant’s house in Gaza City.  In total, at least eight Palestinians were killed in the strikes.  Some of those killed were four civilians, including a 15 year old boy.

Following the raid at the Nahal Oz Terminal, Israel closed the crossing, effectively stopping all fuel deliveries to Gaza.  The spokesman for the Israeli military liaison office with Gaza, Shady Yassim stated that “Its opening will depend on the security evaluation.”  Israel did not ship fuel on April 10, and at least two Israeli ministers said that Israel should cut if off completely following the attack.

Three Palestinian groups, including the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility for the attack.  “The target was a Zionist army base and the aim was to abduct soldiers to swap them for Palestinian prisoners,” said Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the PRC.

While the attack was claimed by the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, Israel placed sole responsibility on Hamas.  “Hamas clearly controls the Gaza Strip. They are directly responsible for this attack and we will hold them accountable,” said Mark Regev, the spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

A Foreign Ministry statement said “Israel considers the ruling Hamas in the Gaza Strip the sole party responsible for today’s terror attack at the Nahal Oz Terminal. Hamas bears responsibility and will also bear the consequences.”

The attack follows several weeks of uneasy peace between Israel and Gaza, where Palestinian rocket attacks and IDF operations have decreased amid Egypt’s efforts to broker a ceasefire.  However, the Associated Press states that Hamas has expressed impatience with Egypt’s failure to forge a cease-fire and repeatedly accused the world of ignoring the plight of Gazans.

Instead of, or in addition to, violence, many Gazans are peacefully demonstrating to attract international attention to their plight.  On April 10, hundreds of Gazans gathered at major junctions in Gaza City to protest against the Israeli blockade and accompanying economic sanctions.  In addition, a mass demonstration has been called for on April 11.

In related news, prior to the Nahal Oz Terminal attack, one IDF soldier and one Hamas militant were killed during an IDF raid in southern Gaza near Khan Younis.  An Israeli army spokeswoman stated that ten Palestinians were arrested during the raid and brought to Israel.  IDF stated that the raid was in response to shooting near the border and to prevent future attacks.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Israel Threatens Retaliation After Gaza Violence – 10 April 2008

Associated Press – Gaza Gunmen Kill 2 in Southern Israel – 10 April 2008

The Independent – Hamas Blamed After Two Israelis Killed at Fuel Depot – 10 April 2008

International Herald Tribune – Gaza Fuel Depot Closed After Militants from Gaza Kill Two Israelis in Border Attack – 10 April 2008

Jerusalem Post – Israel Closes Nahal Oz Crossing Following Terror Attack – 10 April 2008

Middle East Online – Israel Says to ‘Settle the Score’ with Hamas – 10 April 2008

The Telegraph – Two Israelis Die in Battle at Fuel Depot – 10 April 2008

Al Jazeera – Palestinians in Cross-Border Raid – 9 April 2008

BBC – Gaza Gunmen Attack Border Depot – 9 April 2008

BRIEF: Journalists and Protesters Arrested in Egypt

MAHALLA AL-KUBRA, Egypt- In the Northern Delta town, Egyptian police arrested nine journalists and activists.  The people in the city were roused because of the escalating food prices.  The rising prices combined with the low wages has made it more difficult for the people to survive.  According to Yahoo news, the bread price in Egypt has risen by 48% in the past year.  The journalists were covering the events related to the Egyptian opposition movement Kefaya.

The group is calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down from power.  President Mubarak has ruled Egypt since former President Anwar Sadat’s assassination.  President Mubarak has received much criticism because his expansion of presidential powers because of the state of emergency that has existed since Sadat’s assassination in 1981.  In his desire to quell possible threats to the national peace he has arrested many members of both the Muslim Brotherhood and Coptic Christians.  His tactics have disenfranchised him from many Egyptians.

The Kefaya have incited riots in the area.  There have been over 300 people arrested and one person killed during the two days of protests in the city.  One of the people arrested was the former chief of the Kefaya movement, Ishaq.  The Kefaya group believes that the government sought to employ “agents” that were used “to create chaos and justify the massacre.”  (AFP) They believe that the police have responded with disproportional force.

Unlike the protesters, the journalists were freed.

For more information, please see:

Afriquenligne-  Egyptian govt arrests 9 Journalists as media workers groan- 13 April 2008

AFP- Egypt opposition movement protests wave of arrests- 10 April 2008

The Media Line- Egypt Releases “Riot Journalists”- 13 April 2008

Yahoo News!-  Egypt bread price up nearly 50 percent in 12 months- 12 April 2008

BRIEF: Bainimarama Reaffirms Committment to Elections in Secret Meeting

NADI Fiji — During last year’s Pacific Island Forum interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama laid out his commitment to returning democratic elections to Fiji by 2009.  Many international observers, notably Australia and New Zealand, have come to question that commitment, particularly in light of the interim government’s insistence that the People’s Charter must be completed before democratic elections can be held. 

On Thursday, however, the interim PM met with the prime ministers of Papua New Guinea and Tonga in secret to reaffirm his commitment to restoring elections.  While the meeting itself and the agenda were kept secret, interim Finance Minister Parmesh Chand described the meeting as “a friendly meeting among leaders”.  Bainimarama told the Pacific leaders that he is planning to have the elections go ahead as planned in March.  Tongan PM Dr. Fred Sevele told Radio Australia, “Sure, there have been some delays in achieving some of the deadlines for some of the activities, but now things are moving and we are reassured.”

The leaders also reportedly discussed the upcoming Pacific Island Forum, which will be held in August at Niue. 

For more information, please see:
Mathaba News Network — Pacific leaders meet in secret talks with Fiji interim PM — 12 April 2008

Fijilive — ‘Bainimarama reaffirmed march polls’ — 13 April 2008

Pacific Magazine — Fiji, Tonga, and PNG Leaders Meet in Nadi — 12 April 2008

Solomon Times — Quiet Meet in Fiji for Three — 12 April 2008

BRIEF: Family of Uzbek Critic Say He Is Being Tortured by Government

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – Yusuf Juma, an outspoken Uzbek critic and poet, and his two sons Bobur, 25, and Mashrab, 22, have been jailed since December for minor offenses, and according to their family they have been tortured while in prison.

Yusuf and Bobur were arrested after conducting a protest against President Islam Karimov in December before the election.  They called for a boycott of the election and the resignation of Karimov from the Presidential race.  Karimov was running for his third term as President, which violated a constitutional ban on a President serving more than two terms.  They were arrested and charged with battery, the use of insulting language, and resisting arrest.

Mashrab was arrested in a separate incident and charged with hooliganism, a charge believed to have been brought in an attempt to silence Yusuf.

Relatives who have visited the prisoners say that they have been under strong psychological and physical pressure.  The sons have been forced to watch each other being beaten, and Yusuf was so weak that he was unrecognizable.

Proceedings against Yusuf and Bobur opened on April 8th, but were adjourned to next week.  They face five years in jail if convicted.

Given the start of their trial, the European Union (EU) has been under great pressure to enforce their Central Asia strategy, which they adopted last June.  Critics say that the EU has not fully implemented the human-rights aspects of the strategy against countries like Uzbekistan, including the creation of human-rights benchmarks and the use of sanctions.  The EU is scheduled to review its policy specific to Uzbekistan at the end of April.

For more information, please see:

RadioFreeEurope – Uzbekistan: Family Says Jailed Poet, Sons Are Being Tortured – 11 April 2008