By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi judicial panel has found that Sunni Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi and his employess ran death squads that killed both security officials and Shi’ite pilgrims.  The findings, the first independent assessment of accusations against the vice president, are likely to increase sectarian tensions in the already politically divisive case.

Al-Hashemi has denied the charges, and the accusations themselves have angered many Sunnis who see them as part of a campaign by the Shi’ite prime minister to push them out of Iraqi politics.

The announcement comes at the end of a two-month investigation where the nine-judge panel found at least 150 cases of either al-Hashemi, his bodyguards, or his other employees with links to violent attacks such as roadside bombs and the assassination of security agents and Shi’ite pilgrims.

A statement from Judicial Council spokesman Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar did not offer any evidence to support the panel’s conclusions.

Decisions from the panel are not legally binding.

The Interior Ministry, which is run by Shi’ite Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki, issued an arrest warrant for al-Hashemi in December.

The case originates in part from television footage that aired on state-run television in December, showing supposed confessions by men said to be al-Hashemi’s bodyguards.  The men said that they killed officials working in Iraq’s health and foreign ministries, and Baghdad police officers, receiving $3,000 from al-Hashemi for each attack.

Al-Hashemi has taken refuge from arrest in the autonomous Kurdish government in Northern Iraq.  He has refused to return to Baghdad where he does not feel safe and has expressed concerns about no receiving a fair trial.  There is a belief amongst al-Hashemi and other Sunni officials that the judiciary is not independent of al-Malaki’s government.

“We are an independent body that is not linked to any executive body,” Saad al-Lami, one of the nine judges, said after the findings were announced. He said al-Maliki’s office has “nothing to do with these investigations.”

The Judiciary Council’s findings will be turned over to the Iraqi criminal courts.  This will allow the relatives of those killed to file lawsuits against al-Hashemi.

The political divisiveness of this case has tapped into underlying resentments between the Sunni and Shi’ites in the Iraqi government.  The minority Sunnis fear they are being politically sidelined by the Shi’ite majority as payback for the years of persecution under Saddam Hussein, who had favored the Sunnis.

Likewise the Shi’ites fear connections between the Sunnis and the near daily attacks by al-Qaeda and other insurgents.

Some Iraqis greet the judiciary’s findings with weariness and skepticism after years of endless government infighting.

“This is political immaturity when the government officials are ignoring the devastated country and people and direct all of their attention to settle old scores with political opponents,” said Hassan Hamid, a Shi’ite trader from eastern Baghdad.

For more information, please see:

Al Arabiya — Iraqi VP Hashimi denies any involvement in 150 terrorist operations — 17 Feb. 2012

ABC — Judicial Probe Says Iraqi VP Behind Death Squads — 16 Feb. 2012

AP — Judicial Probe Says Iraqi VP Behind Death Squads — 16 Feb. 2012

BBC — Iraqi’s Sunni Vice-President Hashemi ‘ran death squads’ — 16 Feb. 2012

 

 

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia – On Wednesday, 15 February, Tunisian officials arrested the head of Attounissia and two of its editors after the Tunisian newspaper published a picture of German-Tunisian soccer player Sami Khedira with his nude girlfriend.  The Justice Ministry claims the publication of the photo violated public morals.

The photo the newspaper printed displays the Real Madrid midfielder in a tuxedo covering the breasts of Lena Gercke, Khedira’s girlfriend and German model, with his hands.  German GQ magazine published the same photo on the cover its of March 2012 issue.

Chokri Nafti, the Justice Ministry spokesperson, reported the prosecutor charged publisher Nasreddine Ben Said, editor in chief Hbib Guizani, and editor of the world section Hedi Hadhri with “disrespecting public decency.”  The prosecutor detained the men while the Justice Ministry investigated the case.  The journalists argued they were simply reporting sports news.

On Thursday, Mr. Ben Said’s lawyer Chokri Beledi reported Tunisian officials released Mr. Guizani and Mr. Hadhri.  Mr. Beleid added, “Ben Said’s imprisonment is illegal and is aimed at terrorising the media…The judiciary used the same law that Ben Ali used to pursue journalists and it is being utilised to strike down enemies just as it was under Ben Ali.”

The police are guarding the newspaper’s building after a female journalist reported receiving phone calls that threatened to burn the office.  Reuters identified her as the informant for these calls, but the Associated Press concealed her name to combat her fear of retaliation by religious extremists.

Although Tunisia is a more moderate Muslim country, the newspaper does not tend to publish such bold photographs.  The country has struggled balancing its strong secular societal norms with the ultraconservative movement that spurred after its secular dictator fell last year.  Secular Tunisians fear the conservative Muslims leading the government will censor the media to align the country with its religious moral standards.

The Tunisian Union of Journalists stated, “We are condemning the continued detainment and arrest warrant issued against Ben Saida. The lack of professionalism of Attounissia’s editorial decision-makers does not justify the state taking away an individual’s freedom, rather this problem can be solved within the professional institutions for the journalists.”  Attounissia has also accused Mehdi Mabrouk, the Minister of Culture, of censoring the newspaper by standardizing artistic tastes.

Furthermore, Tunisia’s highest appellate court will issue its delayed ruling on a lower court’s decision to block pornographic websites on Friday, 24 February.

In response to the arrests, the anonymous female journalist said, “This issue is political and aims to quell the voice of the media and stop its criticizing the government.”

For further information, please see:

Money Control – Tunisia To Try 3 Journalists In Morality Dispute – 17 Feb 2012

Tunisia Live – General Prosecutor Frees Two Newsmen But Continues Detainment of Paper’s Owner in Sami Khedira Photo Publication Case – 16 Feb 2012

All Africa – Tunisia: Newsmen Arrested in Tunis After Publication of Racy Sami Khedira Photo – 15 Feb 2012

The Boston Globe – 3 Tunisian Journalists Arrested Over Nude Photo – 15 Feb 2012

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – On Monday, 13 February, an Israeli military court denied the appeal to reduce the jail sentence of Khadar Adnan, the Palestinian man who initiated his hunger strike fifty-eight days prior.  Mahmoud Hassan, one of Mr. Adnan’s lawyers, reported his client would remain detained without trial until May 8, when his four-month sentence expires.

On Tuesday, 14 February, Mr. Adnan’s lawyers said they would appeal Israel’s Supreme Court to overturn the military court’s decision while Mr. Adnan continues his hunger strike.  Mr. Adnan is near death, and Israeli officials have guarded him at the hospital in northern Israel for six weeks.  His lawyer reports Mr. Adnan remains shackled to his bed and argues the Israelis are holding him in “inhumane conditions.”

Thirty-four year old Adnan began his hunger strike the day after Israel arrested without a charge.  His hunger strike fights “for the dignity and pride of Palestinian prisoners held without justification,” and he protests the humiliation he endures from the military justice system.  Mr. Adnan’s fifty-nine day hunger strike, where he only drinks water, has exceeded any previous Palestinian prisoner’s strike.

Israel has held Mr. Adnan, a member of the militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, in “administrative detention” since January 8 after the government arrested him on December 17.  Since 1967, Israeli law permits Palestinians imprisonment without charge for a six-month period by an Israeli military judge in this administrative detention.  These six-month periods may repeat indefinitely with renewed court approval.  Moreover, detainees may not view the evidence the Israelis have against them.  Presently, Israel is holding approximately 310 Palestinians in administrative detention.

Human Rights Watch asks Israel to immediately charge Mr. Adnan or release him.

On Saturday, 11 February, Israeli soldiers dispersed hundreds of Palestinian protesters supporting Mr. Adnan outside the West Bank’s Ofer Prison.  At a separate rally for Mr. Adnan, Israel arrested two Palestinians and two Israelis.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have joined Mr. Adnan’s hunger strike throughout Israel’s jails.  Issa Qaraqua, the Palestinian prisoner affairs minister, encourages the Palestinian territories to demonstrate, march, and fast in solidarity on Wednesday, 15 February.  Furthermore, if Mr. Adnan dies, Palestinian officials warned mass protests would erupt throughout the territories.

Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, asked Israel “to do everything in its power to preserve the health of the prisoner and resolve this case while abiding by all legal obligations under international law.”

For further information, please see:

Agence France-Presse – Palestinian Hunger Striker To Petition Top Israel Court – 14 Feb 2012

Jerusalem Telegraphic Agency – Palestinian On Hunger Strike In Israeli Prison Denied Release – 14 Feb 2012

Al Jazeera – Israel Denies Appeal of Jailed Hunger Striker – 13 Feb 2012

Boston Globe – Israel Reject Palestinian Hunger Striker’s Appeal – 13 Feb 2012

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain–Bahrain has deployed thousands of its security forces to confront any anti-government protesters ahead of the first anniversary of the beginning of a Shia-led uprising. Since 14 February 2011, the uprising is still seeking to loosen the ruling Sunni dynasty’s monopoly on power. The Sunni Muslim royal family rules the country, but most of its people are Shia, placing it on the tipping point of regional influence between neighboring countries Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran.

 

Opposition groups urged demonstrators and protesters to funnel towards an empty area that has become know as “Freedom Square” outside the capital, Manama. Since the uprising began, the Bahraini government has imposed martial law and effectively extinguished much of the unrest a month after it began, with the assistance of Saudi troops. The demonstrations and protests began again after the emergency law was lifted in June 2011.

The ruling Al-Khalifa family has accused Iran of stimulating the uprising. Iran has denied playing a role and Bahrain’s Shiite groups deny that they have received support from abroad. In an interview with Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa accused his opponents of chanting in support of Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s 1979 revolution. The king has downplayed the severity of the threat the demonstrations and protests had posed to the 200-year-old rule of the Sunni dynasty.

“It’s just a case of manners. But when they shout ‘down with the king and up with Khomeini’ that’s a problem for national unity. I regret the events of the past year. But there is no ‘opposition’ in Bahrain, as the phrase implies one unified bloc with the same views. Such a phrase is not in our constitution, unlike say the United Kingdom. We only have people with different views, and that’s okay.”

With the king downplays the demonstrations and protests, the people of Bahrain still act with the belief that change will occur. According to several activist groups, teenagers blocked off streets in the village of Sanabis, approximately 2 kilometers west of Manama, taunting police as “cowards” and “mercenaries” because some are thought to be of Pakistani or Yemeni descent. A policeman shouted to the people to return to their homes.

“This gathering is illegal,” he said.

One teenager lobbed four petrol bombs some 30 meters towards a group of police, who responded with a volley of sound grenades and tear gas. Shops were mostly locked up in the district, which was riddled with blocked roads and anti-government graffiti.

In addition, opposition actions have involved marches organized by opposition parties with government approval, as well as street protests called by activists online under the title “February 14 Youth Coalition” which usually result in clashes with police. One of the activists, holding a large rock and covering his face with a scarf, said the clashes were a result of police brutality against peaceful protests. He shared these words with an Ahram correspondent.

“Today we sat outside our homes as a peaceful method of protest. Then the repression by these Khalifa forces began. So we have to confront them. It was before our houses. They are the one who came in their cars.”

The government has said such clashes are acts of “hooliganism” by youth who put police and other Bahrainis’ lives in danger. The police say they must act to restore law and order. Jamal Fakro, deputy head of the appointed house of parliament, shared these words with Al-Jazeera concerning the protesters.

“People have come to the conclusion that the opposition only want to bring unrest to the country. They are not serious about any goals.”

Shias account for about 70 percent of Bahrain’s population of some 525,000 people but claim they have faced decades of discrimination, such as being denied access to senior political and security posts. The Sunni leaders have taken some steps on reform, including relinquishing more power to parliament. In an announcement early on Monday 13 February 2012, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa named a Shia, Sadok bin Abdulkarim al-Shehabi, as health minister. The health minister position is particularly important because Bahrain’s main hospital played a significant during the early weeks of the uprising with authorities claiming medical staff aided demonstrators. Dozens of doctors and nurses have been put on trial for their alleged participation.

The government has so far refused to make any far-reaching or long-term changes that the demonstrators, protesters, and main Shia group, Al Wefaq had demanded. Al Wefaq is the largest opposition party and their demands include ending the monarchy’s ability to select the government and set all-important state policies. Al Wefaq criticized authorities for imposing a “siege” on the villages of Manama ahead of the first anniversary of Bahrain’s “revolution.”

Al Wefaq released a statement on Sunday 12 February 2012 claiming that police stormed houses and fired tear gas indiscriminately in densely populated civilian areas. There were no reports of actual injuries. At least 40 individuals have lost their lives during the months of unprecedented political unrest in Bahrain. And until the majority of the population feels that its interests are adequately and appropriately served by the government and regardless of who is in power, the anniversary of the unrest is sure to elicit more harm than good for the people of Bahrain.

 

 

For more information, please see:

Ahram – Clashes in Bahrain, King Warns Against Disunity – 13 February 2012

Al-Jazeera – Bahrain Tense Ahead of Planned Protests – 13 Februrary 2012

The Guardian – Kettling Would Work Well in Bahrain, Says Former Met Police Chief – 12 February 2012

MSNBC – Pitched Battles in Bahrain as Protest Anniversary Nears – 13 February 2012

NYT – Bahrain Youths and Police Clash – 13 February 2012

CNN – 2 American Women Arrested During Protest in Bahrain – 11 February 2012