By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt–In the first elections since President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February 2011, thousands of Egyptians are headed back to the polls for a third and final round of voting in the parliamentary polls. Lines began to form around schools that had been converted into polling stations at 8AM local time (6:00 GMT) on Tuesday 3 January 2011.

The voters who will cast their ballots on Tuesday 3 January and Wednesday 4 January represent the last 15 million voters to vote in first parliamentary elections in 60 years. In the first two rounds of voting, an unprecedented number of individuals voted, with an estimated turnout of 62 percent. Egypt’s voting system is highly complex, with two-thirds of the 498 elected seats being decided by proportional representation and the rest by a first-past-the-post system.

A total of 2,746 candidates are competing for 150 seats; one hundred on the electoral list and fifty for the individual seats. The runoffs are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 10 January and Wednesday 11 January. Once the results of the third round are announced, the parliament’s new lower house will hold its first session on Monday 23 January, two days before the first anniversary of the revolution, 25 January.

This seemingly positive event of free and fair elections continues to be overshadowed by the deaths of 17 individuals last month in clashes between the army and protesters, demanding that the ruling military step aside immediately. The military generals have insisted that the violence will not derail the election process. Egypt’s Supreme Council of Armed Forces, which took power when Mubarak was ousted, has repeatedly pointed to the elections as proof of its plan to hand the reins to a civilian government.

But police raids on pro-democracy and rights groups just last week have disrupted the work of leading Western-backed election monitors and has drawn accusations that the army was deliberately trying to weaken oversight of the vote and silence critics. The government claimed that the raids were part of a probe into illegal foreign funding of political parties and not aimed at weakening rights groups, which have been among the fiercest critics of the army’s unstable ability to rule.

Islamist groups, which came relatively late to the uprising, have won the largest share of seats in the previous round of the first free and fair election to take place in Egypt in six decades. The Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s best-organized political movement is widely expected to triumph and has claimed the lead through its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (JFP).  The final round will take place over two days in the Nile Delta provinces of Qaliubiya, Gharbiya, and Daqahliya; the New Valley province; the south governorates of Minya and Qena; the border province of Matruh; and in North and South Sinai.

Al-Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros, reporting from El-Arish, in the northern Sinai Peninsula, shared these sentiments about the developing situation.

“Overwhelmingly we are hearing people tell us that they will be voting for the Salafi Nour party or the Ikhwan, the Muslim Brotherhood’s party Freedom and Justice, so it’s very much a lot of grassroots support for the Islamist parties here. When it comes to the individual candidates, people are not talking to us about policy and issue and what the individual candidates stand for; it is very much on tribal and clan lines, that’s how people are voting here.”

Al-Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from a polling station in Shubra El-Khaima, north of Cairo, shared these words.

“This particular area is a bedrock of Muslim Brotherhood support. Some 70 percent of the vote, it is understood, has done to the Islamist parties so far, with the Freedom and Justice party the clear front-runner.”

In an industrial region north of Cairo, where labor disputes over low wages preceded the wider protests that helped bring down Mubarak, the optimism in the air was high as resident lined up to vote. Many Egyptian view the first free and fair elections they can remember as a chance to end the affliction of incompetent leadership and a culture of venality among the powerful that enriched a few and left the majority in poverty.

Ahmed Ali al-Nagar, a carpenter in his late 50s from Mahalla el-Kubra, shared these sentiments with Reuters.

“I am glad to be alive to witness this-a free election in Egypt. Workers had a big impact on the political outcome we are living through these days.”

Another individual, Amany al-Mursy, a middle-aged woman from Mansoura, also shared these sentiments with Reuters.

“I have chosen to vote for the Freedom and Justice Party as I like its talk and I think it has a long history and experience and I think they will help us the most. And if it does not do as we hoped, Tahrir Square is still there. If something goes wrong, we will go out and say something is wrong and remove the wrong people and replace them.”

For more information, please see: 

Ahram – Final Round of Egypt’s Parliamentary Election Kicks Off – 3 January 2012

Al-Jazeera – Egypt Holds Third Round of Voting – 3 January 2012

BBC – Egyptians Vote in Third Round of Parliamentary Poll – 3 January 2012

CNN – Egyptians to Begin Third Round of Voting After Weeks of Unrest – 3 January 2012

NYT – Egyptians Vote in Final Round of Parliamentary Elections – 3 January 2012

Reuters – Egyptians Head to Polls Again in Parliamentary Vote – 3 January 2012

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) has reported that former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s second-oldest son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has not met with a lawyer since his arrest by anti-Gaddafi forces on 19 November.  HRW’s Fred Abrahams said although Saif al-Islam has not complained of mistreatment, he should see a lawyer provided by Libyan authorities immediately.  A suspect in detention requires access to a lawyer promptly, usually within 48 hours, under international and Libyan law.

Saif al-Islam is the greatest high-profile detainee from his father’s regime.  The 39-year-old was the heir apparent to his father’s dictatorship in Libya.  Saif al-Islam aided the fight against Libyan rebels for months.

Mr. Abrahams spent thirty minutes alone with Saif al-Islam in Zintan, where the rebel militia is holding Saif al-Islam.  His overall physical condition is good, and the rebels are not torturing him.  Saif al-Islam stated he remains isolated from seeing anyone he chooses, and he only has seen officials visiting him.

Nick Kaufman, a Gaddafi family lawyer, attempted to contact Saif al-Islam, but he lacked a contact person with the National Transitional Council (“NTC”).  The International Criminal Court (“ICC”) directed Mr. Kaufman to the Red Cross, which refused to help him.

Rebels captured Saif al-Islam after he sought medical care for a hand injury he sustained from a NATO airstrike.  While detained, Saif al-Islam received sufficient medical care and an operation for two fingers and his thumb on his right hand three weeks ago.

Once the Libyan authorities transfer Saif al-Islam to a secure facility in Tripoli, Libya’s chief prosecutor Abdelaziz al-Hasadi said Saif al-Islam will have access to a lawyer.  However, Abrahams commented, “The world is watching how Libya handles this case, and Libya should prove that it will grant Gaddafi all the rights that were too often denied in the past.”

Al-Hasadi will try Saif al-Islam on charges of corruption before the war and crimes that occurred during the rebel uprising.  Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib stated Saif al-Islam would receive a fair trial following the terms of the NTC.  Furthermore, the ICC indicted Saif al-Islam with two counts of crimes against humanity in June.  Since Libya and the ICC want to try Saif al-Islam with the same charges, Libya must challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction and demonstrate a genuine ability and willingness to prosecute Saif al-Islam in a credible and fair trial.

From his meeting with Saif al-Islam, Mr. Abrahams received the impression that he “doesn’t fully understand that he is no longer one of the most powerful people in the county.”

For further information, please see:

The Telegraph – Libya’s Government ‘Broke International Justice Standards’ over Saif Gaddafi – 30 Dec 2011

ABC News – Gadhafi’s Son: Get Me A Lawyer – 21 Dec 2011

BBC – Libya’s Captured Saif al-Islam Gaddafi ‘Has Not Seen A Lawyer’ – 21 Dec 2011

San Francisco Chronicle – Rights Group: Jailed Gadhafi Son Has No Lawyer – 21 Dec 2011

The New York Times – Qaddafi Son Being Held by Rebels, Rights Group Says – 21 Dec 2011

By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen — Protesters demonstrating outside of the Yemeni capital of Sana’a are demanding that outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh, as well as many of his compatriots, face trial for the killings of hundreds of protesters in what has so far been a 10-month uprising.

Similar protests are being held across Yemen in at least 18 other cities. Saleh supporters held a counter-rally near the presidential palace on Monday.

Saleh still holds the position of president, but he transferred his powers to his vice-President last month.  In turn for stepping down, Saleh signed a deal granting him immunity from prosecution once polls are held in February.

Yemeni protesters have objected to this deal, which was brokered by Gulf Arab nations with the support of the United States.  They feel that the deal does not allow for any true broad political changes, or provide any retribution against the crimes committed by Saleh and his loyalists.

“Our message to Ali Abdullah Saleh is there’s no guarantee or immunity for him,” said activist Mohammad Asal.

The government has issued a statement to the Yemeni people asking them to be patient as there will be some turnover time before the people’s demands can be considered by the newly appointed cabinet members.

Part of the deal with Saleh divides up ministerial positions in the government equally between members of Saleh’s government and the opposition.  The presence of any members of the old government is what has many protesters again taking to the streets.

Some members of the opposition still suspect that Saleh is going to sabotage his political transition.  Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a defected general, who has quickly become one of Saleh’s arch-rivals, notes the “continued bolstering of military units loyal to Saleh,” and the “refusal” by pro-Saleh troops to withdraw from the streets of Sana’a despite orders from the government as evidence of this.

In a statement published by Yemen’s official news agency, Saleh said he would “not allow the collapse of state institutions,” in response to the increased number of protests aimed at unseating his loyalists.

Saleh currently is attempting to travel to the United States for medical treatment on wounds suffered during an assassination attempt in June.  This comes after a request to visit the United States to discuss the upcoming Yemeni election was denied

The United States is evaluating Saleh’s request for a visa.  Washington is trying to ensure that Saleh is just coming to the country for medical aid and has no plans to stay.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Yemen since February.

For more information, please see:

Courier Mail — Yemen leader “plans to keep power” — 03 Jan. 2012

USA Today — Yemenis rally, demand president face trial — 01 Jan. 2012

Al Jazeera — Yemeni protesters demand trial of president — 31 Dec. 2011

AFP — Yemenis rally for Saleh trial despite shootings — 25 Dec. 2011

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIT SHEMESH, Israel – After ultra-Orthodox extremists harassed eight-year-old Naama Margolese, rallies erupted against ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremism.  On her way to school, these extremists spat on Naama and called a prostitute for her immodest school uniform of long-sleeved shirts and a long skirt.

Beit Shemesh borders an ultra-Orthodox area and a modern Orthodox Jewish community with many American immigrants, including Naama’s parents.  Tensions have increased over the years between secular Jews and ultra-Orthodox Jews who want a strict interpretation of religious law.  Naama’s religious school moved to this location in September, and the ultra-Orthodox view the school as a territorial infringement.

Almost daily for months, dozens of ultra-Orthodox men physically confront and verbally harass the 400 school girls asserting the girls’ presence is a provocation.

Naama said, “When I walk to school in the morning I used to get a tummy ache because I was so scared…that they were going to stand and start yelling and spitting…They were scary.  They don’t want us to go to school.”

Israel became enraged when they saw Naama crying on her walk to school during a local news report.  The Israeli leadership issued statement of outrage, nearly 10,000 people joined a Facebook page to protect Naama, and thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Tuesday in her honor.

President Shimon Peres supported the rally.  He stated, “The entire nation must be recruited in order to save the majority from the hands of a small minority.”

Protestor Kinneret Havern added the rally combats “all the extremist elements that are rearing their heads and are trying to impose their worldview on us”.  People held signs staying “Stop Israel from becoming Iran” and “Free Israel from religious coercion”.

As journalists came to Beit Shemesh to report on Naama, extremists jeered and threw eggs at them.  Furthermore, “modesty patrols” required chaste appearance of female by throwing stones at outsiders and violators and calling women whores.  The ultra-Orthodox population has also posted signs for sidewalk segregation of sexes and for a woman’s dress code of closed-necked, long-sleeved blouses and long skirts.

300 ultra-Orthodox men and boys threw eggs and stones at police for requiring the sidewalk segregation sign removed on Monday.  Officers detained several people and one officer sustained injuries.  Although the ultra-Orthodox activists stated they condemned the violence, they claimed the media initiated the violence to make the obedient residents look bad.

On Thursday, Naama returned to school welcomed by Education Minister Gideon Saar and members of the Knesset’s Committee on the Status of Women.  Mr. Saar said Israel will not “back down in the face of bullying and threats.”

For further information, please see:

Haaretz – Israeli 8-Year-Old Returns To School For First Time Since Accosted By Haredi Men – 29 Dec 2011

The Sydney Morning Herald – Fury At Ultra-Orthodox Jews After Girl Abused – 29 Dec 2011

BBC – Israelis Rally Against Ultra-Orthodox Extremism – 27 Dec 2011

USA Today – Israeli Girl’s Plight Highlights Jewish Extremism – 27 Dec 2011