By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait – Human rights groups have called for the immediate release of stateless persons arrested during anti-government protests in Kuwait on Friday.  Roughly 100,000 stateless Arabs, known locally as “bedoons” or ”bidoons,” live in Kuwait and are deprived of many civil rights available to Kuwaiti nationals. In particular, bedoons are not afforded basic rights to health care, education and employment. In 2000, the government launched a large scale security crackdown against bedoons and continues to suppress bedoon dissidents who seek rights and recognition.  Although some officials have drafted bills designed to secure civil rights for the stateless population, the Parliament has continuously blocked attempts to debate such legislation. 

Friday’s peaceful protests in the country’s capital were met with a violent response from riot police who used teargas and water cannons to disperse protestors.  Despite the participation of Kuwaiti citizens in the rallies, bedoons were singled out for arrest and detention.  The independent Human Rights Association has demand the “release of all those arrested during the events on March 11 without delay and without pressing charges against them.”  Fueled by successful oustings in North Africa and the mass mobilization of Arabs throughout the Middle East, bedoons have been increasingly vocal about their desire for civil rights in recent weeks. 

Bedoons have been stateless for over fifty years and demands for equality have historically fallen on deaf ears.  Today, the government continues to justify the suppression of stateless persons as a means to secure Kuwait from “illegal residents.”  As non-citizens, bedoons are also prohibited from possessing a driver’s license, receiving birth and death certificates and having marriage contracts attested by representatives of the State.  Despite warnings by the government to not engage in anti-government protests, hundreds of Kuwaiti’s continue to take to the streets of Kuwait City, Sulabiya and oil-rich Al-Ahmadi. 

For more information please see:

Ahram Online – Kuwait Urged to Free Stateless Detainees – Mar. 12, 2011

Kuwait Times – Bedoons State Protest for Citizenship – Mar. 12, 2011

Agence France Presse – Kuwaiti Stateless Protest for Citizenship – Mar. 11, 2011

Los Angeles Times – Kuwait: Riot Police Break Up Protests by Stateless Arabs – Mar. 11, 2011

Reuters Africa – Riot Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Kuwait Rally – Mar. 11, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – As protests continue throughout the country, the international community has ratcheted up pressure on Iran due to its excessive use of the death penalty to punish crimes.  This comes after ten people were hanged Wednesday for trafficking narcotics.  Statements from Amnesty International and United Nations representatives condemned the executions, noting that international law reserves the use of the death penalty for only the most serious crimes.   Iran’s death penalty policy has received much scrutiny over the years but the government has yet to succumb to demands to reform the policy.   According to Amnesty International, Iran executed 388 people in 2009 alone and is second only to China in the total number of individuals put to death.

Recent unrest and uprisings in the country have led the government to crack down on opposition groups.  UN rights chief Navi Pillay reported that a wave of arrests of protesters and critics has occurred since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt over a month ago.  Supporters of the government have called for the execution of opposition leaders and anti-regime demonstrators. 

Some argue that these latest executions are being used as a political tool to frighten and deter the citizenry from protesting.  Drewery Dkye of Amnesty International contends that “[t]he Iranian authorities have used the implementation of the death penalty…to convey a message to opponents of the regime to get in line.”   The government denounced critics of its policy noting that it was necessary “to maintain law and order and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.”  One report finds that 89 individuals have been executed since the beginning of the year. 

Now Sweden and the United States are seeking to appoint a special investigator to look into human rights violations committed by Iran.  Iranian activists have applauded this move and have expressed their hope that the United Nations Human Rights Council embraces the proposal.  In addition to drug related crimes, the death penalty is considered a proper punishment in Iran for rape, armed theft and adultery.  While the proposal has received wide support, analysts predict that the resolution will fail under opposition from Russia and China who generally disfavor international quarries into other nation’s affairs.

For more information please see:

Reuters – U.S. and Sweden to Push U.N. Rights Body to Act on Iran – Mar. 4, 2011

Payvand Iran News – Iran Executions Under Scrutiny – Mar. 3, 2011

Agence France Presse – Iran Hangs 10 Drug Traffickers – Mar. 2, 2011

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Iran: 10 Drug Dealers Hanged – Mar. 2, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – Debate over Israel’s illegal settlement policy has reignited in recent days after Palestinian protesters were met by violent resistance from Israeli settlers in the West Bank.  Israel’s temporary moratorium on settlement construction ended in September but many hope that recent international pressure will force the government to continue a “silent freeze.”  Last month, members of the United Nations put forward a draft resolution condemning Israel’s building of settlements in the West Bank.  The resolution failed only after the United States exercised its veto power in opposition to the resolution.  While Prime Minister Netanyahu has come under intense fire from the international community, internal pressure from Israeli settlers may force him to take a more hardline stance on settlements in the future. 

Since the settlement freeze, about 1700 new housing units in 67 different settlements have been constructed according to Peace Now and 4000 new housing units are still waiting government authorization.  Despite further settlement development, the Prime Minister has been increasingly vocal about Israel’s unsustainable settlement policy noting that “the diplomatic struggle isn’t over additional building in the settlements, it’s over the settlements themselves.”   While the Prime Minister has called for the immediate destruction of all illegal settlement outposts, actions speak loader than words.  And while Netanyahu has promised one thing, he appears to be doing just the opposite.  Despite his anti-settlement rhetoric, Netanyahu on Monday swore to legalize established outposts, stressing “we are currently making efforts to maintain existing construction.”

There are other reasons why the Prime Minister’s promise has been received with skepticism.  The Israeli Supreme Court has already ruled that the settlements are a legal mechanism to promote and strengthen the Jewish state.   In addition, “outposts” have a distinct legal meaning from “settlements” in Israel.  Therefore, while the government has promised to dismantle all of its outposts, all Israeli settlements, which remain a central impediment to peace, will continue to stand.  Finally, history has showed that anti-settlement policies are political suicide for Israeli Prime Ministers.  This may be especially true for Netanyahu who has already faced intense backlash from his Likud party for being too soft on the settlement issue. 

To address these concerns, one senior official noted that the government may seek a smaller piecemeal peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority.  Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that such an approach may be taken by the government, calling this option a “phased path” which would seek to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict on an issue by issue basis instead of through a comprehensive treaty.  This approach has already received substantial criticism from Palestinian officials and some in the international community; including German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has stressed the importance of a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated “[t]his talk about interim agreement and ‘phased path’ is just a reflection of the fact that we don’t’ have a partner for the end game in this Israeli government.”  

For more information please see:

Haaretz – Israel Vows to Raze all Illegal Outposts Built on Private Palestinian Land – Mar. 1, 2011

Vancouver Sun – Israel Might Seek Interim Palestinian Peace Deal – Mar. 1, 2011

Jerusalem Post – Netanyahu Slams Settlers Over Gilad Farm Clashes – Feb. 28, 2011

JTA – Settlers Accusing Netanyahu Gov’t of Imposing Silent Building Freeze – Feb. 28, 2011

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