News

Mosque attacks in Yemen kill over 100; many more wounded

By Ashley Repp

New Desk Reporter, Middle East

SANAA, Yemen-

As hundreds of Shi’ites gathered at two mosques in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, for Friday prayer services, attackers blended into the scenery using medical casts to conceal explosives. The bombers within the mosques then detonated the bombs, killing scores of worshipers. As people fled the mosques, bombers stationed outside then detonated a second round of bombs amidst the fleeing crowd. The death toll has not been officially set, but the number of those dead is estimated to be at least 130, and there are over 300 hundred wounded. Hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of individuals rushed in for emergency care, and staff made a call for immediate donations of blood to accommodate the pressing need in the wake of the attacks.

Yemen attack
Photo courtesy of CNN

 

While officials have not determined who is responsible for the attacks on the mosques, some point to ISIS, a Sunni extremist organization that considers the Shi’ite Houthi rebels to be heretics. Supporting this assertion, a twitter account that prominently features ISIS propaganda asserted that the mosque attacks were the first wave of attacks in Yemen. Some officials are skeptical that this was the work of ISIS, as the organization only recently set up in Yemen in November of 2014, and argued that, more realistically, this was the work of al-Queda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). AQAP has denied these allegations though, and asserts that it was given orders to refrain from attacking mosques and markets.

If this attack was indeed orchestrated by ISIS, it represents the ever growing concern that ISIS is expanding its reach quickly and effectively, and has the capacity to incite world wide security concerns. Compounding the concern, the attack in Yemen on Friday follows just on the heels of a terror attack in a Tunisian museum on Wednesday, for which ISIS also claimed responsibility. If ISIS continues to develop a stronghold in Yemen, the already precarious civil situation between Sunnis and Shi’ite Houthi rebels, could be further deteriorate and evolve into a civil war.

 

For more information, please visit:

BBC- Yemen Crisis: Islamic State claims Sanaa mosque attacks– Mar. 20, 2015

Al Jazeera- Scores killed in suicide attacks on Yemen mosques– Mar. 21, 2015

CNN- Yemen: Bombs kill 137 at mosques; ISIS purportedly lays claim– Mar. 20, 2015

Tunisia in shock following terror attack

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter- Africa

TUNIS, Tunisia

               Many Tunisians are in a state of shock as they attempt to process the terror attack at the Bardo Museum on Wednesday afternoon that left a reported 25 people dead. Scores of people have taken to the streets to protest the terror attack, in an effort to defend the fragile democracy, which saw its first democratically elected president in December. The protesters carried signs condemning terrorism, asserting that terrorism is not representative of Tunisia or of Islam.

tunisia-attack
Mourner brings flowers to the site of the attack- photo courtesy of NY Daily News

 

Two of the attackers were killed during the siege by police, but little is known about the individuals, or who is ultimately responsible for the operation. ISIS has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack; just prior to the attacks, an ISIS supporter tweeted “Coming good news to Tunisia’s Muslims.” ISIS has supporters in Algeria and an active presence in Libya. Tunisia, one of the region’s only democracies, lies geographically between Algeria and Libya, which makes it susceptible to ISIS activity and influence, as well as a target for operations aimed at disrupting democracy. Also problematic, thousands of Tunisians have already gone to Iraq and Syria to join ISIS. One of the two attackers killed had reportedly gone to Libya to receive training.

The attack will likely have a resounding impact on the tourism economy. Once a tourist destination, Tunisia had seen a substantial decline in tourism to the country, and only recently did the industry begin to grow again. Following Wednesday’s attack, some cruise companies have already decided to remove Tunisia from the list of countries their ships will stop at. The economic implications of the attack are likely to reveal themselves in the coming months if tourists decide to avoid Tunisia for safety concerns.

Photos taken from the scene reveal the gruesome nature of the attack. Blood from those slain by the attackers remained on the ground, congealing in the sun and heat. Those killed were predominantly tourists from cruise ships, and were visiting the Bardo Museum and Tunis for the day. Inside the museum, one staff member heard the gunfire and immediately ushered tourists in that wing into a room and shut the door, venturing out after the gunfire subsided.

Many expressed their shock and disbelief that such an attack could happen at the Bardo Museum, which is just steps away from Parliament. President Beji Caid Essebsi called on Tunisians to unite in the face of terror, asserting that “we won’t win if we don’t stand together.” Tunisians seem to be uniting under this call and protesting against extremism and terror.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Tunis museum attack: President urges unity to fight terror– Mar. 20, 2015

The Washington Post- Tunisia rampage raises new fears about reach of Islamic State groups– Mar. 19, 2015

The Guardian- Troops patrol streets of Tunis in aftermath of terror attacks– Mar. 19, 2015

Time- Tunis reels from a terror attack possibly linked to ISIS– Mar. 20, 2015

U.N. Rights Chief Warns Nations Not to Lose Focus on Guarding Human Rights

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France – U.N. Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein recently spoke out against not only terrorism, but also against nations who lowered themselves to the level of the terrorists by employing tactics that violate human rights. “The fight against terror is a struggle to uphold the values of democracy and human rights, not undermine them,” Hussein said. He believes nations fighting terrorism are also restricting and violating the rights of people in the name of ‘national security.’

Hussein criticized terrorism, but also criticized the way that some nations have handled fighting it. (Photo courtesy of Mail & Guardian)

Hussein worries that employing questionable tactics in the fight against terrorism may actually be assisting terrorists. For example, ISIS has already successfully used human rights violations by the US at Guantanamo Bay as a propaganda tool to recruit more members. “Counter-terrorist operations that are non-specific, disproportionate, brutal and inadequately supervised violate the very norms that we seek to defend,” Hussein claimed. Hussein also criticized the US for its use of torture in the name of ‘national security,’ including torture sites throughout Europe.

Hussein was also quick to criticize the terrorists employing brutal tactics to begin with. While world powers may be acting in ways that fuel terrorism, “experiences of humiliation, inequality and discrimination … may drive, though they do not excuse, the urge to destroy.” Many of these violations have occurred over the past year at the hands of ISIS or affiliates of, including at least two terrorist attacks on European targets (Charlie Hebdo in Paris and a Jewish Museum in Brussels).

Also targeted by Hussein was the silencing of opposition to the Kremlin, Boris Nemtsov. First, Nemtsov was killed in Moscow, sparking international demand for an international investigation to ensure Putin is not involved and to bring the right people to jusitce. Since then, detained suspects claimed to be responsible for the killing have been showing signs of torture after being detained, with one, Rustam Yusupov, reportedly missing since detention.

It is precisely the injustices around the world in some leading nations that Hussein believes is fueling terrorism and allowing extreme human rights violations to occur. By eliminating torture, racial insensitivity and inequality, and wrongful silencing of the opposition, Hussein believes leading nations can better preserve human rights while also properly combatting terrorism.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Suspects in Nemtsov killing probably tortured – Russian rights activist – 11 March 2015

The New York Times – U.N. Rights Chief Criticizes World Powers – 5 March 2015

Mail & Guardian – UN calls on countries to ‘root out’ injustices that fuel extremism – 5 March 2015

UN News Centre – Member States must enforce human rights amid rising tide of extremism – UN rights chief – 5 March 2015

Although Ceasefire in Ukraine Holds, War Games Continue

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – Tensions between Russia and NATO nations remains high despite the ceasefire still holding in Ukraine, and unfortunately this is keeping Ukraine in the spotlight between the two forces. The United States will be sending troops to help train Kiev’s military, much against the demands by Russia to avoid involvement with the United States.

Russian Su-30 jets were used in practice attack runs on NATO ships in the Black Sea. (Photo courtesy of Business Insider)

United States’s senior envoy to Europe claims that there are still “thousands and thousands” of Russian troops deployed in Eastern Ukraine, along with “hundreds of pieces of military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, rocket systems, heavy artillery.” US Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges estimates that there are 12,000 Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, along with another 29,000 in Crimea. Further, the senior envoy claims that “[t]he Russian military has its own robust command structure in eastern Ukraine … they are funding this war, they are fueling it and commanding and controlling it.”

In response, the United States intends to carry out its plan to send roughly 300 troops to western Ukraine to train Kiev’s troops in fighting the pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Further, under the fiscal 2015 budget to help train and equip the armed forces of allies around the world, the US has already set aside $19 million to assist the Ukrainian National Guard. On top of this, the US has still failed to rule out sending lethal aid to Kiev. Additionally, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that more sanctions may be pressed onto Russia if the ceasefire fails, as it would likely be the result of instability caused at least partially by Russian involvement.

Russia has been active in trying to denounce the involvement of NATO nations in the Ukrainian conflict. Recently, Russian Su-30s and Su-24 aircraft from Russia’s new Black Sea Fleet in Crimea have run mock attacks on NATO warships in the Black Sea.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo – EU ready with sanctions if Ukraine ceasefire violated, Merkel says – 4 March 2015

Yahoo – ‘Thousands’ of Russian troops in east Ukraine: US envoy – 4 March 2015

Business Insider – Report: Russia is practicing attack runs against NATO warships in the Black Sea – 4 March 2015

Defense News – US Soldiers Readying for Ukraine Deployment – 3 March 2015

ABC – US Commander: Arming Ukraine Increases Pressure on Putin – 3 March 2015

Global Research – Despite Russian Warnings, US Will Deploy a Battalion to Ukraine by the End of the Week – 3 March 2015

Bangladesh: Convicted Islamist Leaders Appeal against Death Penalty for War Crimes

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Recently convicted Bangladesh Islamist leaders moved to overturn their death penalty sentences for war crimes.

Since 2010, the International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced more than ten ex- and present political leaders for war crimes committed during the country’s civil war. Most were convicted for crimes against humanity by collaborating with the Pakistani Army. According to the government, three million people died and approximately 200,000 women were raped during the nine months of war, and East Pakistan became an independent country, Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s ex-minister Syed Mohammed Kaiser appealed his death sentence in middle January. The verdict, sentencing him to death, was delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal a month ago, and he was found guilty on 14 out of the 16 charges brought against him. It is well known that Kaiser organized a militia named after him, “Kaiser Bahini,” in 1971, and guided the Pakistani Army to attack villages and to abuse supporters of Bangladesh’s independence. He fled once Bangladesh achieved liberty, and then rejoined Bangladesh’s political sphere as a parliamentary member. He later became the Minister of Agriculture.

Former Minister Syed Mohammed Kaiser (bdnews24.com)

An Islamist party leader, ATM Azharul Islam (“Azhar”), also moved the Supreme Court to overturn his verdict. He was also sentenced to death in late December for the genocide of 1,400 Hindus and supporters of Bangladesh’s liberation. He was known as a leader of a notorious militia, “Al-Badr,” that attacked villages by cooperating with the Pakistani Army. It is said that his militia committed the one of the largest genocides during the 1971 war.

Azhar is the eighth leader of the Islamist party to be convicted of war crimes. Whenever a conviction has been obtained, the party’s supporters have reacted wildly. They argue that the International Crimes Tribunal has a political and religious purpose that is to oppress the party. The party and its supporters often called for a nationwide shutdown and protests.

One of Justice of the court, Justice Rahim, previously commented on Azhar’s case that “we are trying him as a war criminal suspect . . . his stature as an Islamic or religious figure is not our concern.” However, many human rights activists and politicians from other nations have expressed concern over the continuous death sentences in Bangladesh, but most agree that the inhumane war crimes must be punished, even after a long period of time.

For more information, please see:

Globalpost – Bangladeshi ex-minister appeals against death penalty for war crimes – 20 January 2015

Bdnews24 – Tribunal sentences Kaiser to death for 1971 war crimes – 23 December 2014

Bdnews24 – Jamaat leader Azhar moves Supreme Court to overturn death sentence – 28 January 2015

Bdnews24 – Jamaat leader Azhar to die for 1971 genocide – 30 December 2014