By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — At least 74 people were killed and hundreds more injured when fans stormed the field after an Egyptian football game on Wednesday.  An investigation is ongoing to investigate why riot police failed to stop the chaos.

The Egyptian military has declared three days of mourning.

The riots highlight a deteriorating security situation in Egypt, still flailing a year after a revolution, which found Hosni Mubarak, president for over thirty years, ousted and replaced by a temporary military rule.

The fight began after an upset victory by the Al-Masry team over the Al-Ahly team.  The winning team stormed the field and began attacking players and supporters of Al-Ahly, even going so far as to chase the players into their locker rooms. Health officials said that victims were stabbed, trampled, and beaten.  There were members of the Egyptian police among the dead.

Estimates put the number of fans supporting the winning team at about 10 to 1.  This disproportion likely added to the chaos.

The incident once again thrusts the ultras, a group of organized soccer fans that played a role in the Egyptian revolution, back into the spotlight.  The ultras have rallied against military rule, and have been very anti-police.

The relationship between the police and the ultras has brought some criticism that the police had reason to allow the riot to continue as a means of revenge.

Witnesses report that there were hundreds of riot police present at the game, but rather than get involved they just stood and watched.  The security forces attempted to turn off the stadium lights in an effort to force people out of the stadium, but this did not help.

The New York Times says the rumors are “impossible to confirm,” but one player interviewed by the Guardian says he saw police urge fans to come onto the field. He also claims to have seen people with “knives and swords” in the melee.

The violence got so bad that it began extending outside of the stadium, reaching into the neighboring province of Suez.

In response to the riot, the Egyptian government has declared that they will punish those responsible, and that justice will be sought.  The Egyptian parliament has called an emergency session.

Overall, there is a growing animosity towards the police and the military in Egypt.  Since the revolution the police and security forces have been accused of not actively engaging in law enforcement.  They have taken a stand back and watch position.

The riot will likely force the military to respond to these allegations of standing back rather than doing their duty.

The governor of Port Said has since resigned in response to the riot.  The head of the Port Said security has been suspended, and the head and board of the football association fired.

There are calls for the firing of the interior minister and a purging of the police force, as many voice disapproval of scapegoating regional officials rather than attempting to fix the real problem.

At least four people have been killed in post-riot fighting, much of which has been the result of protesting against police out of anger for their preventing to stop the earlier riot.

For more information, please see:

Bloomberg — Egypt Lawmakers Criticize Police After Deadly Soccer Riot — 3 Feb. 2012

Macleans — Egypt soccer riots continue — 3 Feb. 2012

Newsday — 4 killed in Egypt clashes over deadly soccer riot — 3 Feb. 2012

NPR — Egypt Soccer Game Turns Deadly for Fans — 2 Feb. 2012

 

 

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – On Wednesday, 31 January, Israel announced its plan to deport South Sudanese asylum seekers if they do not voluntarily leave the country by March 31, 2012.  If these asylum seekers leave before this deadline, they will receive a plane ticket home and a $1,300 grant.

The Israeli Interior Ministry’s press statement said, “Now that South Sudan has become an independent state, it is time for you to return to your homeland.  While it is not a simple move, the State of Israel is committed to helping those who wish to return voluntarily in the near future.”  In July 2011, South Sudan became an independent state and a member of the United Nations.

Israel’s South Sudanese community was angry and confused about the government’s decision.  Matthew Deng, a pastor of two South Sudanese churches located outside Tel Aviv, commented, “South Sudan is dealing with many issues, how can people go back now?  We don’t even have hospitals, schools – nothing…All we have is what is in [the capital] Juba.”

The Israeli government will advertise the grant offer to the South Sudanese people via media broadcasts and leaflet distribution.

The United Nation’s High Commission on Refugees’ William Tall said in order for Israel to act consistent with its signed agreements regarding asylum seekers, the country must screen asylum applications individually to evaluate if the South Sudanese applicants are genuine refugees.

In December 2011, Israel’s Population, Immigration, and Borders Authority (“PIBA”) reported of the 51,125 African asylum seekers and economic migrants throughout Israel, 13,066 people are from South Sudan.  Since 2005, paid smugglers have assisted Africans sneak into Israel through its border with Egypt’s Siani desert.  Last month, the interior minister documented 2,295 people entered Israel through this border.

People fleeing persecution and abuse from Sudan and Eritrea find Israel attractive because the country offers them safety and employment opportunities.  Since many migrants live in the poor southern neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, the Israelis call the area “little Africa”.

The Israelis struggle with how to approach the influx of migrants.  Recognizing their country developed from the Nazi genocide of Jews, some Israelis do not want to turn people escaping prosecution away.  However, others want to maintain their country’s Jewish character without the social and economic burden associated with migrants.

Presently, Israel is developing a 150-mile fence along its border with Egypt, threatening harsh punishment on people to assisting illegal migrants, and enlarging its detention facility to combat the influx of illegal immigration.

Orit Marom of the Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (“ASSAF”) said the people need a year or two to prepare to return to South Sudan.  Mr. Deng added the members of his community want to return to South Sudan, but they want to wait “until South Sudan is ready.”

For further information, please see:

The Jerusalem Post –South Sudanese Distressed By Looming Deportations – 2 Feb 2012

The Jerusalem Post – 2,295 Illegal African Migrants Enter Israel In January – 1 Feb 2012

Arutz Sheva – Israel Offers Assistance Basket For Departing Sudanese – 31 Jan 2012

The Boston Globe – Israel Says It Will Deport South Sudanese Migrants – 31 Jan 2012

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) produced a six-minute video entitled “Be Yourself” to cure gay men of homosexuality.  This “tutorial” posted by the government last week on YouTube shocked the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

Link to the UAE film \”Be Yourself\”.

Set in a typical suburban area in the UAE, the video tells the story of five young men: Rashid Al-Muaini, Majid Al-Muaini, Ali Al-Ghaithi, James Al-Ghaithi, and Mohammed Eissa.  Two of the characters dressed in traditional Emirati greet a third character in a t-shirt and jeans.  In his apparent shy and effeminate manner, he says “Hi guys” to the other characters in a high-pitched voice while he plays with his long hair and daintily shakes their hands.

The final two characters wearing western-style clothing join the trio and greet them in a masculine manner.  The effeminate character receives an invitation to join the other characters in an adjacent villa.   In the villa, the men tell the effeminate character he needs to change his personality.  He agrees.

As part of his straight makeover, the effeminate man mimics manly gestures.  The other men scrub his hands and face, and they cut his hair and nails.  When the newly masculine man departs, he says “Bye guys” in a high-pitched voice.  The men slap him and command him to thicken his voice.

Once the makeover concludes, the men appear pleased and proud of their work.  They also thank Allah for enabling the man’s “change.”

24-year-old founder of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Rights UAE Abdullah responded the video “angers me to no end, but it also saddens me.”  The video reminded him of hot afternoons when he was a teenager.  He forcibly observed men interacting or drinking coffee, so he could mimic them and make his father proud.

The UAE has enacted federal legislation that prohibits homosexual acts throughout the country.  The country can punish men engaging in consensual sodomy with fines, ten to fourteen years in prison, deportation, flogging, or death.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Rights UAE activist network informed the Canadian Prime Minister and Human Rights Minister, the United Nations, and various media outlets of the continued persecution their community faces.  For example, the network stated UAE officials used hormonal treatments to “cure” homosexuals.

Dubai resident and gay activist Omar said, “This is the only way to enable our rights as citizens because activism on the ground here will lead to our arrest and jailing.  We struggle.”

For further information, please see,

Albawaba  – UAE Gay “Cure” Video Causes Sting in LGBT Community – 31 Jan 2012

International Business Times – Gay Man ‘Cure Video’ Sparks Outrage in UAE – 31 Jan 2012

Huffington Post – United Arab Emirates’ ‘Be Yourself’ Video Shows Gay Men Being ‘Cured’ of Homosexuality – 30 Jan 2012

Pink News – Video: UAE ‘Straight Makeover’ Video Slammed – 30 Jan 2012

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain–Bahraini detainees and activists who were convicted for taking part in anti-government protests last year began a hunger strike on Sunday January 29 2012. The strike was announced as the Gulf kingdom’s interior minister called for punishment against those “attacking policemen” to be raised to a 15-year prison term.

Mohammed al-Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), shared these words with the AFP concerning the hunger strike.

“This evening, they will have their last meal.”

BYSHR stated that 14 prevalent human rights activists and opposition leaders would begin a hunger strike “in solidarity with pro-democracy protests and in protest against the brutal crackdown.” Also, that detainees held in police stations and the Dry Docks detention center would also participate in the strike as well as BYSHR activists not presently behind bars.

The 14 leading individuals in jail include several opposition leaders who wee convicted last year of plotting to overthrow the regime of the Sunni Al-Khalifa after security forces ended a month-long protest movement demanding democratic changes. But the conflict between members of the Shiite majority and police have intensified recently as the first anniversary of protests that began on 14 February 2011 gets closer.

According to the BNA state agency, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa said on Sunday 29 January 2012 that the recent clashes have seen an “increase in violence and attacks on security personnel.” He also stated his intention to urge parliament to pass laws to punish “assailants and the instigators” of attacks that target security forces with jail sentences lasting up to 15 years.

“My responsibility is to call for the strengthening of law protecting police as there are no deterrent laws so far.”

The interior ministry has reported that some 41 officers were injured in orchestrated attacks on police on Tuesday 24 January 2012 with protesters in Shiite villages, while the opposition said one protester was killed and several others were injured.

In addition to dealing with alleged attacks on officers, the Bahraini government is also refuting opposition claims that security officers were responsible for the deaths of anti-government protesters, stating that they died of “natural causes.”

The death of teenager Mohammed Ibrahim Yacoub was one of four deaths reported by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Also, the opposition group al Welfaq accused Bahraini authorities of running over Yacoub with a police car. According to the Bahrain News Agency, the Ministry of Health denied the allegation.

Luma Bashmi, a spokeswoman for the president’s office at the Information Affairs Authority, stated to CNN on Friday 27 January 2011, that the 17-year-old had “died from complications of Sickle Cell Anemia following his arrest on Wednesday 25 January for rioting in Sitra.”

Yacoub, whose age was previously reported as 19, reportedly told police about his medical condition when he began to feel ill during his interrogation. Then, police took him to a medical center but his condition continued to worsen. Intensive care doctors were not able to resuscitate him, due to internal bleeding and a fatal drop in blood pressure.

As part of the Health Ministry’s defense, it released a video purportedly taken at the time of the arrest that it allegedly shows Yacoub unharmed. It also released a medical report that indicated the boy’s cause of death was “sickle cell complications” and that his body had remained free of injuries.

According to a BNA report, Yacoub was arrested on Wednesday 25 January 2012 for participants in act of violence and vandalism.

Bashmi, of the Information Affairs Authority, also reported on the deaths of two more protesters. The first, Saeed Ali Al-Sikri, reportedly fell in the bathroom of his residence on Wednesday 25 January 2012 and later was pronounced dead in a hospital. The public prosecutor ordered forensic blood tests but no results have been released at this point. The second, Abbas Al-Shakikh, had been diagnosed with cancer last year. He was admitted to a hospital but his condition quickly deteriorated and he passed away on Wednesday January 25 2012.

The demonstrations and protests in Bahrain began on 14 February 2011, inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. But unlike other nations in the Arab Spring, the movement in Bahrain failed to gain any real traction and have been repeatedly quelled by crackdowns backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In November 2011, Bahrain’s Independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report highly critical of the crackdown. Set up by the king, the commission concluded that police had indeed used excessive force and torture during last year’s crackdown on protests. Commission chairman Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni stated at the time that abuse of detainees included beatings with metal pipes and batons and threats of rape and electrocution. Additionally, the report stated that the mistreatment included physical and psychological torture, intended to extract information or to punish those held by security forces.

The report recommended reforms to the country’s laws and better training of its security forces. But the reports surrounding the death of protests such as Mohammed Ibrahim Yacoub make it clear that change has not happened at all and that civilians continue to suffer.

 

 

For more information, please see: 

ABNA – Iran Condemns Bahrain’s Cruelty Against Peaceful Demonstrators – 30 January 2012

Ahram – Bahrain Detainees To Begin Hunger Strike – 29 January 2012

Reuters – Bahrain Wants Stiffer Penalties For Security Staff Attackers – 29 January 2012

CNN – Bahrain Government Refutes Claims Over Protester Deaths – 28 January 2012

BBC – Bahrain Criticized Over ‘Inappropriate’ Use of Tear Gas – 27 January 2012

Al-Jazeera – Bahrain Confirms Teen Died In Police Custody – 26 January 2012

NYT – In Bahrain, Worries Grow of Violent Shiite-Sunni Confrontation – 25 January 2012