By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – Tens of thousands of Bahrainis continue to hold Pearl Roundabout in the heart of country’s capital, weeks after small bands of protesters took to the streets demanding political reform.  Anti-government rallies continue to draw large numbers despite last week’s clashes with security forces that left at least seven dead.   Friday’s protests brought out over 100,000 people into the streets of Manama. In a move to appease opposition forces, the King has reshuffled his cabinet and promised to reduce housing loans by 25 percent.   The King pledged “to engage in this new process” and “move away from polarization.”  The military has also been ordered to stand down.  Despite these moves, tensions between Sunni and Shiite groups continue to rise. 

Moderate Shiites have been at the forefront of the protests in Bahrain. The protests represent a challenge to Sunni minority currently in power.  While pressure from citizens has caused the King to shake up the country’s leadership, opposition leaders contend that the changes were “superficial” and unlikely to bridge the gap between the two groups.  The government also released 308 political prisoners.  Direct talks between Sunni and Shiite parties however, continue to be untenable.  “This change is very superficial and doesn’t send good messages—it’s a case of old habits die hard as they’re patronizing the opposition to accept minimal change. The people are too sophisticated for this now: it won’t work,” states Ebrahim Sharif, director of the National Democratic Action Society.  Until opposition forces realize meaningful reforms, protests will likely continue within Bahrain.

Protests in Yemen rage on in spite of violent crackdowns by security forces as citizens seek the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.  The protests have been led largely by students and 27 people have lost their lives since the protests began in the country.  The President contends that he has received support from sheikhs and local officials and has resisted any move to divest him of power.   The government has been silent about the death of protesters but the President has announced that he will not run for re-election at the end of his term. 

Yemen continues to suffer high rates of unemployment, government corruption and lacks many substantive political freedoms.   And while protesters continue to battle for freedom and political reform, the country faces another battle for survival against Islamic militants and al-Qaeda.  With the government and the population split, the current situation presents a prime opportunity for Islamic terrorists to recruit additional fighters and solidify their power in tribal and less developed regions of the country.   Commenting on this risk, one protestor criticized the government’s propagation of the terrorist threat to acquire foreign aid to combat terrorism stating that “we are here to show the world that [President Saleh] is the terrorist.”

For more information please see:

CNN World – Bahrain King Reshuffles Cabinet As Opposition Leader Returns – Feb. 26, 2011

CNN World- Tribal Groups Joining Protests against Yemeni President – Feb. 26, 2011

International Business Times – Huge Anti-Government Protests Sweep across Yemen – Feb. 26, 2011

The Wall Street Journal – Protests Build Again in Bahrain – Feb. 26, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Tensions between anti-government protesters and security forces came to a boiling point Thursday spurring clashes and leaving at least one dead and 57 injured in Sulaimaniyah.  Police forces stormed the streets to disband protesters by shooting into the air.  When this failed to disrupt the rallies, police forces turned their weapons on the protesters.  Anti-government protests have been conducted in the Kurdish region of Iraq for a few days; surely precipitated by events in North Africa and elsewhere in the region.  Protesters attacked the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the office and house of the regions Governor.  Participation in protests grew Thursday after security forces killed three protesters in the city of Kut, one of the poorest cities in the country, the day before.

 The streets of many cities have begun to resemble the images of Tahrir Square, now iconic throughout the world as a site of resistance against government oppression.  Protesters have set up tents to camp in and control main streets and squares.  Protester’s carrying banners “Down with al-Maliki, down with the corruption, down with the thieves” have demanded political reforms to address unchecked corruption, high levels of unemployment and the poor state of government services.  They have also called for the release of 45 persons arrested during the opposition rally in Kut.

Some analysts warn that these protests could further divide the country along ethnic lines and risk creating mass violence.  Ibrahim Sumaiedi, a political analyst, commented “Society is divided along ethnic and sectarian lines, and everyone is armed.  If this happens in other cities in Iraq, we will face not reform or change but something far more devastating.”

Protests have already spread to other cities including Fallujah, Basra and Kirkuk.  Municipal leaders are feeling the pressure as citizens have begun demanding their resignation throughout the country.  In the Wasit province, over 2000 people took to the streets to demand change.  One protester Mahdi al-Yasiry, 37 years-old and unemployed, stated that “Everything in this province is bad.  No gas.  No electricity.  No Jobs. No nothing.”  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has imposed an indefinite curfew on the province and has called for an investigation into the causes of local unrest.

The government has urged citizens to protest peacefully.  Prime Minister al-Maliki reported that he was “happy to see the Iraqis are able to protest” but condemned the arson and destruction of government buildings.   The Prime Minister acknowledged that Iraqi citizens had a right to complain but contended that Saddam Hussein is to blame for the failures in the government’s social and economic policy.

For more information please see:

CNN World – 1 Killed, 57 injured in Iraqi Kurdish Protests – Feb. 17, 2011

Los Angeles Times – Iraq: At Least Two Protesters Dead – Feb. 17, 2011

New York Times – Protests Spread to More Iraqi Cities – Feb. 17, 2011

UPI – Five Killed in Further Iraq Protests – Feb. 17, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – Protests in the Middle East continue to spread and escalate as angry citizens test the resolve of their governments in Bahrain and Iran.  Energized by the ousting of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, thousands have flooded the streets in recent days to demand more rights and freedom from government tyranny.  Now the situation has turned deadly.  Protests in both countries have met fierce resistance by police forces ordered to break up opposition rallies by government officials. 

           At least 2 people were killed and 50 injured Wednesday in Bahrain as security forces reportedly lobbed tear gas into crowds and attacked groups of protestors in Manama’s Pearl Square.  Witnesses also reported that the forces shot rubber bullets at those fleeing the square.  Pearl Square has been dubbed the new Tahrir Square and has been the focal point of the growing opposition in the Middle East over the last few days.  The protests, which started Monday, proceeded peacefully and thousands remained in the square throughout the nights, sleeping in tents.   Thursday morning, the square is nearly empty, the stronghold of the opposition abandoned. 

Sheikh Ali Salman, general secretary of the Wefaq party, the main Shi’ite opposition party in the country, stated “We’re not looking for a religious state. We’re looking for a civilian democracy in which people are the source of power, and to do that we need a new constitution.”  King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa presented a new constitution a decade ago which guaranteed more political rights to citizens but Salman and others argue that the leadership has not gone far enough and should embrace democracy. The Wefaq party has walked out of parliament.   

Clashes also erupted in Iran Wednesday at a funeral being held for a student shot during an opposition rally on Monday.  The protests in Iran, which are continuing into their second week, are the longest since those held after the reelection of President Ahmadinejad in 2009.  The government however, has not been timid in condemning the opposition.  Police forces have been given carte blanch in disrupting protests and dozens of people have been arrested.  While the protests in Iran are a clear indication of overwhelming dissatisfaction with the government, analysts fear that the movement will do little to shake up the ranks of government.   Only time will tell what may be the result of this latest anti-government moment in Iran but the leadership in Tehran has shown that it is willing to take every step to preserve its power.

A “Day of Rage” is also scheduled to begin in Libya on Thursday to protest the dictator Muammar Gaddafi.  Word of the protests spread rapidly through the social media networks Facebook and Twitter. Human rights groups have already warned about the likelihood of a security crackdown to quell and analysts are doubtful that the events which transpired in Egypt will occur again in Libya.  Many governments throughout the region feeling pressure from their citizenry have already given concessions and promised further reforms to calm dissent.   Gaddafi however, has been defiant and protestors have already faced violent resistance as several hundred people clashed with police forces on Tuesday.  Pro-Gaddafi groups have also turned out in large numbers to assist police forces suppressing the opposition.

For a country-by-country breakdown of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa click here.

For more information, please see:

Reuters Africa – Libyan Online Protesters Prepare for “Day of Rage” – Feb. 17, 2011

Agence France Presse – Bahrain Forces Break up Protesters’ Camp: Witnesses – Feb. 16, 2011

BBC – Middle East Protests: Country by Country – Feb. 16, 2011

DiscountVoucers.co.uk – Ahmadinejad Claims Iran Protests are Futile – Feb. 16, 2011

Reuters – Supporters, Opponents of Iran Govt Clash at Funeral – Feb. 16, 2011

Reuters – Two Dead as Bahrain Police Break Up Protests Camp – Feb. 16, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Proceedings began today in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran for the three American hikers arrested in Iran on July 31, 2009.  The three reportedly crossed an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in the mountainous region of Iraqi Kurdistan.  32 year-old Sarah Shourd, was released back to the United States on bail for health concerns but has been called back to Iran for the trial. The other two hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 28, have been detained since their arrest over 18 months ago. Their lawyer, Masoud Shafii, reported yesterday that a judge had denied his request to visit his clients on the eve of trial. 

 The U.S. government has repeatedly called for the release of Bauer and Fattal and this event has hardened the U.S.’ stance towards Iran.  The trial comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are at a high due to continued failure of nuclear program talks.  Human rights groups have loudly criticized the arrest and detention of these three U.S. citizens and demanded their release.  Other notable figures have also been prohibited from seeing the proceedings including Swiss Ambassador Livia Leu Agosti who has close relations with the United States.   

No evidence has been supplied by the government of Iran to support its allegations. The hiker’s lawyer has predicted that the three will not be convicted; “I’m pretty sure they won’t be convicted because [the trial] doesn’t have any legal justification.”  Shafii noted that the issue of spying is “irrelevant” but said the hikers could be conviction for illegal entry.  Their entry into the country was inadvertent however, since the border was unmarked remarked Shafii.  The change of illegal entry carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

Shourd did not respond to the court’s request to appear today.  Iranian officials have said the trial will continue and that she will be tried in absentia.  It is reported that Bauer and Fattal both pled “not guilty” as the trial began.  Their lawyer also put in a plea of “not guilty” for the absent Shourd.

For more information, please see:

BBC Middle East – Three U.S. ‘Hikers’ Accused of Iran Spying Go On Trial – Feb. 6, 2011

Christian Science Monitor – Iran Kicks Off Espionage Trial of U.S. Hikers – Feb. 6, 2011

Reuters Africa – Two Americans Deny Spy Charges in Iranian Court – Feb. 6, 2011

Voice of America – Reports: Iran Opens Trial of U.S. Hikers Accused of Spying – Feb. 6, 2011

CNN World – U.S. Hikers to Stand Trial Sunday in Iran – Feb. 5, 2011