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

 

 

 

 

By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Malaysian police have arrested a Saudi blogger who was fleeing Saudi Arabia following calls for his execution, stemming from comments made on Twitter thought to be insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.

 

Hamza Kashgari was hoping to gain political asylum in New Zealand when he was intercepted upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

A spokesperson for the Malaysian police confirmed that they had detained the 23-year old blogger.

“This arrest was part of an Interpol operation which the Malaysian police were a part of,” the spokesperson said.

No details were announced on whether Kashgari would be extradited to Saudi Arabia.  Even though the two countries do not have an explicit extradition treaty, Kashgari could still be extradited under other bilateral security agreements between the States.

Clerics and locals in Saudi Arabia have called for Kashgari’s execution based upon three comments he made on Twitter on the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.

The tweets depicted a fictitious conversation between Kashgari and the Prophet.

“On your birthday, I find you wherever I turn. I will say that I have loved aspects of you, hated others, and could not understand many more,” one tweet read.

Kashgari later deleted the tweets after he received over 30,000 responses within a day of posting.  The online reaction to the tweets included a series of tweets with the hashtag #HazmaKashgari, YouTube videos (one of which including his home address), and a Facebook group with over 12,000 members entitled “The Saudi People Demand the Execution of Hazma Kashgari.”

Some in Saudi Arabia feel that Kashgari has been made a scapegoat for a larger conflict between the ultraconservatives and liberals in the majority Muslim nation.

The incident once again highlights the impact of Twitter and related social networking sites in the Middle East.  The free forums allow for debate and discussion, but it can also lead to scandal.

Saudi Arabia does not have a written set of criminal laws, however blasphemy has been recognized as a crime punishable by execution under Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. It is not a capital crime in Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations are calling on Malaysia not to send Kashgari back to Saudi Arabia.

“If Kashgari is not presumed innocent, he can hardly expect a fair trial if returned to Saudi Arabia,” said Christopher Wilcke, a senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Malaysia should save him from any travesties of justice and allow him to seek safety in a country of his choice.”

Due to its role in Kashgari’s arrest, Interpol has been accused of abusing its powers.

“If an Interpol red notice is the reason for his arrest and detention it would be a serious abuse of this powerful international body that is supposed to respect basic human rights (including to peaceful free speech) and to be barred from any involvement in religious or political cases,” said Jago Russell, the chief executive of the British charity Fair Trials International.

He went on to call on Interpol to uphold its obligations to fundamental human rights and to stay out of this case “which is clearly of a religious nature.”

Interpol, which has 190 member countries, has a series of colored notice systems that police forces around the world use to pass on requests for help.

Last year Interpol was accused by Fair Trials International of allowing the system to be abused for political purposes when it issued a red notice for the arrest of the Oxford-based leader of an Asian separatist movement, Benny Wenda, who has been granted asylum and has lived in the UK since 2003.

Interpol has not commented on the arrest of Kashgari.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Malaysia arrests Saudi blogger over tweets — 10 Feb. 2012

Guardian — Interpol accused after journalist arrested over Muhammed tweet — 10 Feb. 2012

HRW — Malaysia Don’t Send Saudi Back — 10 Feb. 2012

New York Times — Malaysia Detains Saudi Over Twitter Posts on Prophet — 10 Feb. 2012

Washington Post — Saudi blogger’s tweets about prophet Muhammad stir Islamists to call for his execution — 09 Feb. 2012

 

 

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On Monday, 6 February, Iranian security forces detained several freelance reporters for possible connections with the British Broadcast Corporation’s (“BBC”) Persian service.  Iran has banned affiliation with the BBC in the country.

BBC stated “no BBC Persian staff members or stringers [were] working inside Iran.”  It added, “We strongly condemn any actions against the families and acquaintances of BBC Persian staff.”  BBC also accused Iranian authorities of intimidating and bullying its Persian service staff last week.

The semi-official Mehr news agency reported the arrests of “a number of people deceived by the lie-spreading BBC Persian network.”   The unnamed “knowledgeable source” said BBC had “the mission of gathering news and information, producing content in various formats, recruiting, training and preparing for the departure of Iran’s elite media workers from the country.”  The source claims the arrested journalists “received huge amounts of money from the company.”

The source added Iran’s judiciary department will issue a verdict once the charges, including committing several security crimes, are finalized.  Lastly, the source reminded journalists that “any kind of co-operation with the BBC Persian channel is illegal and will be prosecuted.”

Although the BBC’s Farsi-language service remains outlawed in Iran, illegal satellite receivers transmit the program.  The Iranian government alleges the BBC encourages unrest within the country by broadcasting “anti-revolutionary programs.”  Tehran has also accused the BBC of hosting Iranian dissidents and serving as a cover for British intelligence.

BBC’s Director General Mark Thompson reported Iranian officials are using “disturbing new tactics” in conjunction with intimidation to target the media.  Iranian authorities arrested the sister of a staff member and held her on unspecified charges in solitary confinement at Tehran’s Evin Prison before releasing her.  Thompson added, several staff members’ Facebook accounts were hacked and subjected to a “consistent stream of false and slanderous accusations…ranging from allegations of serious sexual assault, drug trafficking, and criminal financial behavior.”

Iranian official also arrested six film-makers in September for collaborating with BBC Persian.  The BBC countered the allegations by stating the film-makers were independent, and the BBC simply bought the documentaries’ broadcast rights.  Authorities released two of these film-makers in October.

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) correlates the media harassment with Iran’s parliamentary elections next month.

The BBC spokesperson said “These latest reports appear to confirm our recent statements and should be of deep concern to all those who believe in a free and independent media.”

For further information, please see:

BBC – Iran ‘Detains Alleged BBC Persian Journalists’ – 7 Feb 2012

CBS News – Iran Arrests Several on Links to BBC Farsi Service – 7 Feb 2012

CNN – BBC Accuses Iran of Intimidating Journalists – 7 Feb 2012

Sydney Morning Herald – BBC Freeland Reporters Arrested in Iran – 7 Feb 2012