The Middle East

Syrian Network For Human Rights Releases List of Causalities

Summary By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter – Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), a London based human rights group, confirmed on Tuesday, 24 April 2012, that 33 victims died around the country.

Below is a list of victims sorted by region.  The victims are listed by name and the manner in which they died, if known.

Damascus and Damascus Suburbs: 10 Deaths this week

1-Khaled Ismail Anounu Arrifa’ee – Kafr Batnah – killed by the security forces gunfire in a demonstration

2- Omar Ridwan Assarmini – Douma – died in an explosion targeted him by the security forces

3- Muhammad Sameeh – Atadhamun – killed by the security forces gunfire in a demonstration

4- Muhammad Muhsen – Atadhamun – killed by the security forces gunfire in a demonstration

5- Muhammad Al-Khadhrah – Douma – Red Crescent paramedic personnel – Due to shelling

6- Muhammad Saryoul – Douma – died due to shelling

7- Haytham Addarrah – Douma

8- Muhammad Khair Muhammad Talq Azzarfan – Doum – 25

9- Fayez Tu’meh – Douma – death by sniper

10- Muwaffaq Hesaba – Douma

Dier Ezzor | 1 Death

1-Jamal Azzuhri – Al-Bukamal

Homs Province | 15 Deaths

1-Qutaibah Ma’rouf Al-‘Aitar – Al-Qusair – his body was dumped by the security forces in the farms after they executed him

2- Maysar Sa’eed ASuhouri – Al-Qusair – his body was dumped by the security forces in the farms after they executed him

A massacre took place in Al-Qusour Neighbourhood, the family members’ bodies were found slaughtered by the security forces

3- Rayyah Aterkawi – Al-Qusour – 102 – her throat was slit

4- Al-‘Alyaa Aterkawi – Al-Qusour – her throat was slit

5- Jasem Aterkawi – Al-Qusour – died after being slaughtered

6- Muhammad Al-Mustafa – Al-Qusour – died from gunfire

7- Qasem Al-Mousa – Al-Houla – Defected lieutenant – killed in Damascus for defecting

8- Adnan Assarmini – Talbeesah – kidnapped from his home in Assalameyah on 18 April and found killed along with his son

9- Husam Adnan Assarmini – Talbeesah – kidnapped from his home in Assalameyah on 18 April and found killed along with his father

10- Fayez Naser Ashawwa – Al-Qusour – death by sniper

11- Mahmoud Ismail Taleb – Al-Qusair – died due to shelling

12- Muhammad Al-Atrash – Dier Ba’albah – public execution during a raid

13- Rashed Al-Uthman – Dier Ba’albah – public execution during a raid

p14- Abdurrahman Attadmuri – Dier Ba’albah – ublic execution during a raid

15- Ahmad Assaleem – Tadmur

Hama Province | 2 Deaths

1-Meheo Abul-Kareem Assayadi – Halfaya – 26 – died from gunfire

2- Zaher Abdullateef Annaser – Hafaya – 25 – died from gunfire

Dar’aa Province | 2 Deaths

1-Shukri Muhammad Khair Al-Qazhali – Jebab – died from gunfire

2- Hatem Al-Khateeb – Al-Jeezah – Security personnel

Aleppo Province | 1 Deaths

1-Abullateef Abdullah Afash – Anadan – 55 – killed by several bullets to his head

Idleb Province | 2  Deaths

1-Hasan Aullah Ashawwaf – Idleb – 30 – died after fighting his wounds of an explosion for the last 20 days

2- Labeeb Ahmad Mu’arri – Mehambel – detained two days prior to finding his body to the side on the street on Tuesday

For more information, please see

Syrian Network for Human Rights – London – www.syrianhr.org – 26 Apr 2012

Syria Human Rights Violations Report: 22 April 2012

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Location: Hamaa | Halfaya

http://youtu.be/54q6lCNAGeI

This hospital’s freezer is filled with bodies after the regime’s forces shelled the town. The young man seen here is one of the victims of the assault. 

 

Location: Hama | Masha’ Al-Arba’een

This woman is begging a monitor to help save the embattled citizens of Syria, telling him, “We are slaughtered, we are slaughtered.” 

 

Location: Damascus Suburbs | Douma

(WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC CONTENT)

Several residents were killed and dozens were injured when the regime’s forces violently shelled the town on Tuesday. This footage was taken inside a makeshift hospital, and pictures the bodies of the dead. Extremely graphic footage of one of the victims, whose brain was blown out.

 

Location: Aleppo | A’zaz

http://youtu.be/udOrOzNAFj4

To keep up the appearance of committing to the Annan plan and fool the UN monitors before their arrival, the regime’s forces are seen here hiding tanks in trenches in the town. 

 

Video courtesy of:

Syrian Network of Human Rights – Violations Report – 22 April 2012

www.syrianhr.org

Libya Bans Religious Political Parties

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – On Wednesday, 24 April, the National Transitional Council (NTC), Libya’s governing body, enacted a law that banned political parties founded on religious, tribal, or geographic ideals.  However, parties that stand on Islamic principles intended to campaign for assembly seats during the 19 June election.  Parties including the Muslim Brotherhood denounced this surprise move.

Women demonstrating in Libya. (Photo Courtesy of Deutsche Welle)

NTC spokesperson Mohammed al-Hareizi emphasized the law encourages “national unity”.  He said, “Parties are not allowed to be based on religion or ethnicity or tribe”.  He added, “We don’t want the government to be divided by these ideological differences.”  The NTC developed this law to regulate the swelling of political parties in Libya.

This law also combats geographical division in the nation.  This month, eastern Benghazi has called for autonomy and possibly secession from Tripoli as the area prepares for its local council elections.  Libyans throughout the nation are calling for TNC leaders to resign because they failed to establish a functional government.

In two months, Libyans will elect a 200-member assembly responsible for forming a government and compositing a constitution.  Independent candidates will fill 120 of these seats while political organizations will fill the remaining 80 seats.  Free elections will occur in Libya once this assembly has fulfilled its objectives.  Diplomats believe several strong religious leaders will run in the free election once the country ratifies a new constitution.

Parties and organizations intending to campaign for these seats must receive approval to run.  For approval, parties must have at least 250 founding members where organizations need at least 100 founding members.  Mustafa Landi, a member of the NTC legal committee, clarified these groups “cannot be an extension of a political party abroad or receive foreign funding.”

The Muslim Brotherhood, Libya’s most organized political group, founded the Freedom and Development party and the Justice and Construction party this year.  The Muslim Brotherhood reported that rather than directly contesting these elections, the organization will advocate for social issues and development in Libya.  During his dictatorship, Moammar Gadhafi banned many of these political organizations

Spokesperson for the Freedom and Development party Mohammed Gaira asserted “This is not democracy” after the law passed.  He added, “We don’t understand this law…It could mean nothing, or it could me that none of us can participate in the election…We are a nationalist party and Islam is our religion.  This law is unacceptable and only suits liberals.”

For further information, please see:

All India Radio – Religious Political Parties Banned in Libya – 25 Apr 2012

Deutsche Welle – Libya Bans Party Formation Based On Religion, Tribe – 25 Apr 2012

The Telegraph – Libya Tries To Hold Off Rise Of Religious Parties With New Election Rules – 25 Apr 2012

The Voice of Russia – Religion-Based Parties Banned in Libya – 25 Apr 2012

The Washington Post – Libya Bans Political Parties Based On Religion; Islamists Denounce Move – 25 Apr 2012

Syria Human Rights Violations Report: 22 April 2012

Idleb, Jabal Ez-Zawiyyaah

Dozens were injured and many were killed as the regime’s forces pounded residents’ homes with rocket shells. The injuries on this casualty victim illustrate the extent of the shelling.

Douma, Damascus suburbs

This young man was killed by a sniper on his way to work on Sunday.

At-Tal, Damascus suburbs

The family of this young man bids farewell to him after was killed by the relentless gunfire at the hands of the regime’s forces during a demonstration.

Hama, Hama Province

The killing and destruction by the regime’s forces in Hama continues after the United Nations monitors left the town. This video captures the regime’s forces on a high building gesturing and threatening residents that a violent onslaught is about to begin again.

This is leaked video footage of the regime’s forces bragging about the pictured items (the chairs, fan, etc.) which they stole from residents after killing them.

This footage shows the pain of a mother crying to the United Nations monitors that she hasn’t heard from her son in months after he was arrested by the regime’s security forces, and that they refuse to give her any information.

Dar’aa, Khirbet Ghazala

These residents, at great risk, were able to capture footage of the regime’s checkpoint at the entrance of the town, where every vehicle entering and leaving is stopped and residents are berated by the regime’s forces, who often steal what is in the vehicles.

Homs, Al-Qusair

None of the points in the Annan Plan have been respected by the regime’s forces, and the tanks, military chekcpoints and armoured vehicles remain in the streets.

Homs, Al-Holeh

Even water is being prohibited from the residents, after the regime’s forces targeted the water tanks of the town in order to force the residents to flee as one basic necessity after another is taken away by the regime from residents.

Homs, Joret Al-Shayyah

Nothing is left in the town but massive destruction after the relentless shelling attacks on a daily basis by the regime’s forces.

 

Videos Courtesy of:

Syrian Network of Human Rights – Violations Report – 22 April 2012


 

ICRC Worker Kidnapped in Yemen Amidst Violence

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANAA, Yemen–While traveling from a northern part of Yemen to the Red Sea port city of Hudaida, a French official working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reportedly been kidnapped by armed men. The identity of the official was not disclosed.

A map of Yemen. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

It is not yet clear who is responsible for the kidnapping, although it is not uncommon for Westerners to fall victim to such actions. Last week, Al-Qaeda announced that it was holding Saudi diplomat Abdullah al-Khalidi, a deputy counsel in Aden, who was abducted outside his home in the southern port city on 28 March 2012.

A Swiss woman working as a teacher was also kidnapped in Hudaida in March. The French news agency AFP reported that she is being held by Al-Qaeda after being taken to the far eastern province of Shabwa.

Dibeh Fakhr, an ICRC spokeswoman in Sanaa, stated that the kidnapped man works in the northern city of Sadaa and that the kidnapping occurred late on Saturday 21 April 2012, approximately 30 km from Hudaida.

“He was with two Yemeni drivers who the kidnappers released shortly afterwards. Until now, we have no contact with the kidnappers or our employee.”

The kidnapping comes amid a fresh round of fighting between the military and the Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda in the southern city of Zinjibar. The fighting cost 19 individuals their lives and nearly 30 others were injured during clashes between the group and government forces, who have taken control of the eastern part of the city.

The battle represents repeated attempts by the Yemeni government to regain parts of the country that it has lost to Al-Qaeda fighters who took advantage of last year’s violent uprising against the former ruler, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Zinjibar is the capital of the Abyan province and holds particular military significance for the government’s ability to drive Al-Qaeda out of the southern Yemeni territories. The coastal city also lies near several vital shipping lanes and millions of barrels of oil pass through them every single day.

According to medical officials, the fighters who had lost their lives were buried near the town of Jaar and turned a kindergarten there into a field hospital in order to treat the wounded. The school also now functions as a command center for the fighters, especially considering that the violence has not allowed the children an opportunity to attend and learn.

On Friday 20 April 2012, the Yemeni defense ministry reported that in the town of Lawdar, another town in the Abyan province, at least 250 Al-Qaeda fighters and 37 government soldiers had been killed in two weeks of extended fighting. The ministry said that it was sending more troops to the area to attempt to cut down on the fighting. With all of the violence occurring in the country, one can only hope that the kidnapped ICRC worker is not forgotten.

 

 

For more information, please see: 

Al-Jazeera – Red Cross Official Kidnapped in Yemen – 22 April 2012

CNN – French ICRC Official Kidnapped in Yemen – 22 April 2012

Reuters – International Committee of Red Cross Aide Abducted in Yemen – 22 April 2012

BBC – French Red Cross Official Kidnapped in Yemen – 21 April 2012