By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – French-Australian journalist, Nadir Dendoune, was arrested in Iraq for taking pictures in a restricted area of Baghdad without formal permission. Dendoune, who had first entered Iraq on January 16th, has been held in detention since January 23rd. Iraqi government officials claim that the journalist for the Le Monde Diplomatique is healthy, and that his case is still being investigated.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, who admonishes the Iraqi government’s actions, claims that the arrest was a result of Iraq’s 2011 media law which places a series of impediments between journalists and the ability to gain information.

Sherif Mansour, a spokesman for the Committee to Protect Journalists further stated that, “[t]he arbitrary jailing of a journalist is a vestige of the Saddam Hussein regime that is completely out of place in Iraq’s democracy today.”

Iraqi officials have stated that Dendoune had lacked the requisite permits to take photographs by the water treatment plant in the southern Dora district. “[He] did not tell authorities about his activities, and did not ask for authorization to take photos,” said such official.

Those who support Dendoune, have not been sitting idly by and waiting for his release. Patrick Le Hyaric, Director of Humanity, has written letters to Viviane Reding, the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Vice-President of the European Commission, to Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to Fareed Yasseen, the Iraqi Ambassador in France.

The embassy has been working diligently with Iraqi officials to ensure that Dendoune has the healthiest of detention conditions and to find out why he is seemingly being arbitrarily held. Despite requests made by the embassy, Dendoune has been denied any consular visitation.

Additionally, a Facebook page was created by Dendoune’s family and friends, with articles, pictures, and information for support rallies, which aim to shed light on Dendoune’s situation. Others who have demanded the release of the journalist from arbitrary detention include Reporters Without Borders, the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, and the National Union of Iraqi Journalists.

The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory points out that this is not the first time that the Iraqi government has detained a foreign journalist. Just last year, Daniel Smith, an American journalist  was arrested and held for five days before he was granted release by order of the Prime Minister.

For further information, please see:

Guardian – Journalist Arrested in Iraq for Taking Photos – 31 January 2013

Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative – Immediate Release of Nadir Dendoune, Respect Freedom of Press and More Protection for Journalists Working in Iraq – 31 January 2013

Radio France International – Nadir Dendoune, un Journaliste Engagè Dètenu en Irak – 31 January 2013

Committee to Protect Journalists – International Journalist Detained in Iraq for a Week – 30 January 2013

Facebook – Comitè de Soutien Pour la Libèration de Nadir Dendoune – 30 January 2013

L’Humanitè – Patrick Le Hyaric: “Libèration Immèdiate Pour Notre Confrè Nadir Dendoune” – 30 January 2013

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel — Last Tuesday, Israel became the first country ever to boycott the United Nations’ human rights forum, which had allegedly planned to scrutinize Israel’s record.

The United Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was set to conduct a Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which in every four years reviews the human rights record of the 193 U.N. member states. Israel stopped cooperating with the council after it comprised a committee to review Israeli settlements and their effect on Palestinian human rights. The last time Israel cooperated with the council was in 2008. It is not a member of the 47 member state council.

“I see that Israel is not in the room,” said Council President Remigiusz Henczel to delegates present at the United Nations in Geneva. Henczel was urged by the council to encourage Israel’s participation in the rights review.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor made it clear that Israel intended to boycott the review. “We cut all our contacts with the council last March, including the current activity,” said Palmor. “Our policy has not changed.”

Arab states specifically were set to criticize Israel for its naval blockage and settlement expansion of the Gaza Strip. Palestinians see these acts as collective punishment, yet Israel finds them vital for security.

Pakistan’s Ambassador Zamir Akram, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said the group is concerned that Israel was creating an “unhealthy precedent” which other countries would follow in boycotting the UPR process. “What is surprising for us, is the level of leverage and understanding that is being extended to Israel by some countries for its behavior in violation of all its international obligations,” Akram said.

Ireland’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union said it appealed to Israel to join the review, saying that a phone conversation held earlier with Israel on calling of the boycott was a “positive signal.”

Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, Ambassador to the UNHRC, addressed the council on the matter last Tuesday. She avoided naming Israel, but stressed how essential it is for Washington to ensure that all countries’ human rights records are examined. “The Universal Periodic Review has been a valuable mechanism both becasue it is universally applicable to all U.N. member states on equal terms and because it is conducted in a cooperative and collaborative manner.”

Eight Israeli human rights groups called on Israel to reverse its decision and participate in the UPR. However, United Nations Watch Director Hillel Neuer said that Israel is justified in its boycott, saying that the council had a history of signaling out Israel, and that it had passed more resolutions against Israel then all other countries combined.

For further information, please see:

Israel Hayom — Israel First Country Ever to Boycott UN Human Rights Review — 30 January 2013

Al Jazeera — Israel Boycotts UN Human Rights Council — 29 January 2013

Jerusalem Post — UN Avoids Israel Showdown, Delays Rights Review — 29 January 2013

JTA — Israel Boycotts Scheduled U.N. Review of Human Rights Practices — 29 January 2013

 

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Exactly two years ago, on January 25th, the Egyptians underwent a revolution to oust the military dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. On the second anniversary of this revolution, thousands of Egyptians have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the country’s Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi.

Demonstrations became clashes with stone-throwing, gunfire, and tear gas between protestors and police in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, and Port Said. Two state-owned buildings, one in Damietta and another in Kafr el-Sheikh, and one office used by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood were also set ablaze by arsonists.

So far nine individuals have been killed. Seven of which were protestors and the other two were police. As reports are updated, the numbers continue to change, however, at the moment approximately two-hundred and eighty civilians have been injured, while another fifty-five security personnel have been hurt.

Many of the protestors present at these rallies were not shy to speak ill of their current president, Mohamed Morsi. Senior member of the Free Egyptians, Karim Abadir, stated that, “there’s no military dictatorship any more, but there are the beginnings of a theocratic one.”

Hisham Abdel-Latif, a protestor from the Cairene suburbs remarked that Egyptians are, “now ruled by a gang that is exactly the same as the Mubarak gang, except they now have beards.”

Protestor Moustapha Magdi said, “I’m here to get rid of Morsi. . .First Mubarak, then Tantawi, now Morsi. We are only ruled by bastards.”

Others chanted the mantra of 2011’s revolution, yelling as they marched, “the people want to bring down the regime,” and “Leave! Leave! Leave!”

The main complaints against Morsi are that he is only concerned with instituting Islamic law and that he has failed to address Egypt’s struggling infrastructure.

Not all of Egypt feels this way. A recent poll revealed that Morsi boasted an approval rating of sixty-three  percent. There are also other individuals who believe that Morsi has not been given a chance.

The Muslim Brotherhood does not believe that these violent protests are beneficial to the fragile country. Additionally, the Brotherhood notes that its rivals are refusing to properly adhere to the results of the free elections of the new democracy that placed the Brotherhood at the helm of the country.

Morsi, himself, took to Twitter to criticize the stone throwing protestors. He tweeted that, “the ugly violence aims at tainting the civilized nature of Egypt’s revolution. . . I call on all citizens to hold onto the noble principles of the Egyptian revolution to peacefully and freely express their views.”

For further information, please see:

Ahram – Live Updates 2: Nine dead on Egypt’s Uprising Anniversary as Morsi Offers Condolences – 25 January 2013

Arabiya News – Egypt Protesters Attack Official Buildings, Torch Brotherhoods HQ – 25 January 2013

Al Bawaba – Clashes Across Egypt on Second Anniversary of Revolution – 25 January 2013

Guardian – Violence Flares in Egypt on Anniversary of Revolution – 25 January 2013

Reuters – Five die in Egypt Violence on Anniversary of Uprising – 25 January 2013