ICTJ – International Day of the Disappeared
ICTJ: Justice for the Disappeared is at the Heart of Transitional Justice
Syrian Network for Human Rights: Lost Cousin in Daraya Massacre
My cousin Mohammed Mustafa Al Abbar from Daraya killed by the Syrian security forces during the horriblemassacre that took place in my home town Daraya on 29 of August. He was summoned to a security facilities for interrogation, later they released him but after two hours the security took him again, two days later his family found his body in the basement of a one of the building in Daraya. They executed him like all the families killed in Daraya .
The security forces searched from house to house, looking for adults and young men, among the houses was my apartment in the city. They destroyed all the furniture, but my family was lucky, the security forces left the city in the first day of the military campaign on Daraya.
I knew Mohammed very well, I remember his smile, he was struggling to provide for his family because he was responsible for his family and three children. I still can not imagine when I will return to Daraya, hopefully soon, but when I do, he will not be there waiting for me as he used to do .
Daraya, a city of dignity, has paid a heavy price for demanding freedom. Thus far, 633 of Daraya’s sons were martyred and well over 1,755 were detained by regime forces. Regime forces carried out one of their most barbaric attacks against a city that was made famous for its commitment to nonviolence. The death toll has doubled in the past few days due to field executions and revenge killings, and includes those martyred in yesterday’s massacre in which well over 300 people were killed, including dozens of women and children. The regime’s military campaign, ongoing for the past 4 days, has resulted in hundreds massacred, dozens detained, and utter destruction throughout the city.
Information in this report provided by:
Syrian Network for Human Rights – Lost my Cousin in Daraya Massacre – 1 September 2012
OTP Weekly Briefing: Lubanga Case Establishes the Principles and Procedures in Reparations Process
[scribd id=104875690 key=key-1qume28ac44nnwpp9l59 mode=scroll]
Thousands Gather in Bahrain’s First Authorized Protest Since June
By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MANAMA, Bahrain — Tens of thousands of protesters marched along a three-kilometer stretch of highway west of Manama on Friday. It was the country’s first authorized protest in over a month since the government announced a ban on protests in June. The Interior Ministry said the ban was necessary to “restore order.”
Protesters chanted pro-democracy slogans, waved Bahraini flags, and demanded the release of Nabeel Rajab, a prominent human rights activist who was jailed two weeks ago for leading illegal protests. The Al-Wefak National Islamic Society and other opposition groups led the rally, which bore the slogan, “Liberty and Democracy.” The opposition parties voiced their demand for the elected parliament to have full powers and the ability to form governments. It was considered to be a peaceful demonstration, and there were no clashes between government authorities and protesters.
Even though Bahrain is mostly comprised of Shiite Muslims, the country’s government, whose current structure grants King Khalifa considerable power, is Sunni. Because of this, many Shiites in the country believe they are discriminated against by the ruling Sunni minority. They feel that their access to government positions and better jobs is restricted. In response to these complaints, the government has enacted some reforms, yet the opposition remains unsatisfied.
Pro-democracy protests have been ongoing since February 2011. Even when the ban was in place, many unauthorized protests occurred around the country, especially in Shiite villages. In an interview with Al Jazeera, journalist Reem Khalifa said that since the protests began, “[i]t has never been quiet…especially in the over-populated Shiite areas. Every day there is tension in various areas around the island.”
The Bahraini government believes that the protests have occurred under the direction of Iran, whose majority of the population is also Shiite.
On Friday, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior released a statement in which the Northern Governorate Police announced that public and private property was violated during the rally. The statement also claimed that participants chanted illegal political slogans and “that the case will be referred to the competent authorities.”
Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East Division told Al Jazeera that he would give Bahrain a “very bad review,” but that the criticism the country is facing must be “having an impact.”
“It’s also true that some members of the government are very sensitive to their international image. They’re concerned about their reputation that Bahrain has gotten over the last couple of years as a place that doesn’t tolerate any peaceful dissent,” said Stork from Washington.
For further information, please see:
Russia Today — Thousands Swamp Bahrain Highway in First Legal ‘Freedom and Democracy’ Demo in Weeks — 2 September 2012
Daily News Egypt — First Authorised Protest in Bahrain Gathers Thousands — 1 September 2012
Digital Journal — Op-Ed: Bahrain Demonstrators Call for Democracy and Release of Activist — 1 September 2012
Al Jazeera — Tens of Thousands Join Protest in Bahrain — 31 August 2012
Amnesty International Urges Slovak Government to Desegregate Schools
By Connie Hong
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Amnesty International is urging the Slovak government to address the issue of segregation that plagues the country’s schools and classrooms. Currently, thousands of Romani children living in Slovakia are forced to learn in classrooms separated from their Slovakian peers. Although the organization has urged the government for the past five years to provide reform to the country’s educational system, nothing has changed.
Roma students are being forced to learn in separate classrooms. (Photo Courtesy of Equality) Continue Reading