by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — On January 11^th, an Egyptian court approved freezing the assets of three prominent human rights activists in connection with the ongoing case in which NGOs are accused of receiving foreign funds in an attempt to destabilize the country.

In its holding, the court froze the assets of prominent human rights activists Mozn Hassan, director of the Nazra for Feminist Studies, Mohammed Zaree, head of the Arab Penal Reform Organization, and Atef Hafez, director of the Arab Organization for Judicial Reform, as well as five other rights activists. Hassan spoke out against the decision, and stated this was the “first time in history [in which] a feminist or women’s rights organization” had its assets frozen.

The case against Hassan and her organization had been initiated in March 2016, and led to widespread criticism from women’s rights groups. 43 organizations had condemned the investigation decision, and declared that the country should “acknowledge the important and pivotal work” undertaken by Hassan in the “advancement of women’s rights [and] provision of support services for survivors of sexual violence[.]”

President Sisi has long defended the country’s dedication to human rights by indicating that Egypt “should not be judged by Western standards.” The European Union (EU), however, criticized the Egyptian court’s decision to freeze assets. In its statement, the EU indicated that the “decision continues a worrying trend of restricting space for civil society to operate in Egypt.” The British Foreign Office Minister also issued a statement declaring his concern over the decision, while urging the country to “lift restrictions on civil society organizations, and allow them to operate freely in line with the constitution.”

In response, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s “sharply worded statement” accused both countries of “double standards,” while “telling them to mind their own business.” The statement further declared that the comments made by the EU and UK “amounted to flagrant interference in the country’s affairs.”

For more information, please see:

Haaretz—Egyptian Court Approves Freezing Assets of Three Human Rights Activists—11 January 2017

The Guardian—Egypt court ruling upholds decision to freeze assets of women’s rights activists—12 January 2017

Albawaba—EU condemns Egypt for freezing NGO directors’ assets—13 January 2017)

ABC News—Egypt Slams EU, UK for Criticizing Ruling on Activists—14 January 2017

Ahram Online—Egypt says EU and UK statements on NGO asset freeze shows ‘double standard’—14 January 2017

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran — A United Nations expert on Iranian human rights issued a warning regarding the health risks faced by prisoners of conscience who have been on a prolonged hunger strike protesting their legality of their detention.

The United Nations expert, Ms. Asma Jahangir, reported that in recent weeks, at least eight prisoners of conscience have been “on life-threatening hunger strikes.” She called upon Iranian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release [prisoners] who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted for exercising their rights.”

Among the prisoners of conscience is Mr. Arash Sadeghi, who ended his three-and-a-half month hunger strike last week after his spouse was released from prison on bail. Ms. Jahangir reported that the spouses are “human rights defenders who have been imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association.” She stated that Mr. Sadeghi is being kept in his cell and denied treatment at a specialized medical facility despite his critical health. She called upon Iranian authorities to comply with international human rights standards and medical ethics.

Ms. Jahangir expressed concern over the continued detention of Iranian human rights defenders who have been “tried [based on] vaguely defined offenses and heavily sentenced following trials marred with due process violations.” She indicated that such prisoners have no alternatives other than “to put their life at risk to contest the legality of their detention.”

Mr. Ali Shariati, another prisoner, has been on a hunger strike since October 31, 2016. He was sentenced to five years in prison for peaceful activism, which included a “non-violent protest to condemn acid attacks against women in Iran.” Ms. Jahangir expressed concern over the health issues faced by Mr. Saeed Shirzad, a children’s rights activist who has been on a hunger strike since December 7, 2016, and Mr. Mohammed Ali Taheri, who cannot be located after starting a hunger strike on September 28, 2016 and being transported to a military hospital in October 2016. A further prisoner, Mr. Hassan Rastegari Majd, is reportedly being held in solitary confinement as retaliation for undertaking an extensive hunger strike.

For more information, please see:

Fox News—UN flags risks faced by prisoners on hunger strikes in Iran—9 January 2017

National Council of Resistance of Iran—“Prisoners of Conscience at Risk of Dying …” – United Nations Expert Warns—9 January 2017

United Nations News Center—Iran: UN rights expert warns prisoners of conscience at risk of death after prolonged hunger strike—9 January 2017

Sputnik—UN Concerned Over Hunger Strikes of Iran ‘Prisoners of Conscience’—9 January 2017

Jurist—UN rights expert condemns Iran for continued imprisonment of activists on hunger strike—9 January 2017