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

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Last week’s unprecedented uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt are now fueling government opposition throughout the region.  One day after Egypt’s “March of Millions,” the increasing prospects that anti-government protests will spill over into nearby Jordan and the West Bank have led many international commentators to fear regional destabilization.  Thousands of Jordanians, encouraged by Egypt’s March of Millions, took the streets of Amman to demand governmental reforms.  In response, King Abdullah II of Jordan took steps to quell opposition forces in the country by firing his Cabinet on Tuesday.  The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has also promised to hold long-delayed elections in the Occupied Territories. 

Many observers in the West have approached the current situation in the region with both fear and optimism.  While the ousting of President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and the increasingly likely resignation of President Mubarak in Egypt may pave the way for recognition of more rights and freedoms in these countries, the protests have also given some Western leaders pause as longtime allies of the United States and Europe may be replaced by leaders hostile their interests abroad.  

In addition some fear the resumption of violent conflict between Abbas’ moderate Fatah party and militant Hamas as each group vies for political supremacy.  After the most recent elections in 2006, both parties attempted to subdue the other in their respective territories, leading to security roundups and detentions of political leaders.  Now Abbas has ordered his security officials to ramp up pressure on opposition forces.  The Palestinian President publicly expressed his concern that Hamas could gain additional momentum in the wake of Egyptian protests.  He has urged that all anti-Israel demonstrations remain non-violent.  President Abbas’ Cabinet promised yesterday to set a date for municipal elects by the end of next week.  Hamas has already announced that it will not cooperate with Fatah in conducting the elections. 

Maintaining political control of the West Bank may be more difficult than initially anticipated by Abbas.  Dissatisfaction towards Abbas and his Fatah party continues to increase among Palestinians.  Young Palestinians are finding it difficult to side with either Fatah or Hamas.  Khalil Shikai, a Palestinian analyst, reported that “[t]hey feel that the West Bank is turning into a police state.”  Accordingly, rising opposition to both parties may create a power vacuum that threatens to pit disenfranchised citizens against political parties desperate to hold onto power.

In a move to appease local populations, King Abdullah instructed Jordan’s new Prime Minister, Marouf al-Bakhit, to pursue “real political reforms.”  Many Jordanians, however, have not welcomed the appointment of Mr. al-Bakhit, finding the change in leadership merely cosmetic.  Commenting on the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Hamza Mansour, leader of the Islamic Action Front (Jordan’s largest opposition movement), stated “[w]e reject the new prime minister and we will continue our protests until our demands are met.”  While opposition groups in the country contend that they do not wish to see complete regime change, they do seek to limit the power of the monarch.  In particular, opposition groups have argued that the appointment of the Prime Minister should go to the elected leader of the party holding a parliamentary majority.   While King Abdullah has promised electoral reform, he has also expressed his concern that U.S. interference count strengthen hard line Islamists.

Analysis also fear destabilization in Syria, a country which shares many similarities with Egypt.  Like Egypt, Syria suffers from high levels of poverty, unemployment and corruption.  Anti-government protests, organized by online social media websites, have already taken place over the weekend.   Syria has consistently been the target of international criticism for its poor economic and human rights record.  While protests in Syria remain mild in comparison to those held in Egypt and Tunisia, it is clear that the Syrian population sees this as a prime opportunity to ratchet up pressure on the government in Damascus. 

While no one can predict the final outcome of these popular revolutions, the situation in Africa and the Middle East will continue to be fast paced and dynamic.  Even if protests remain localized in Africa, the events which have occurred over the last two weeks are sure to change the nature of politics in the region.  The 2011 African protests will be a defining moment in the region’s history. 

For more information, please see:

Christian Science Monitor – Why Palestinians Remain So Quite as Egyptians Loudly Rail Against Mubarak – Feb. 2, 2011

Reuters Africa – Palestinians Expect A Boost From New Egypt – Feb. 2, 2011

Associated Press – Egypt Crisis Puts Pressure on US Allies in Mideast – Feb. 1, 2011

Bloomberg – Palestinians Anxious Mubarak Exit Mean More Mideast Disarray – Feb. 1, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The self-immolation of a 26-year-old Tunisian last week not only sparked protests against the Tunisian government, precipitating the overthrow of President Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali, but has also sparked a series of public suicides throughout the Middle East and Africa.  Reports indicate that self-immolations have occurred in a number of Middle Eastern and African states including; Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Algeria.  Now many fear that anti-government protests in Yemen may escalate and produce a new round of self-immolations. 

The latest incident of suicide by fire occurred in Saudi Arabia and is the first reported case of self-immolation ever in the country.  While the motives of the 60-year-old Saudi resident who set himself ablaze remains unclear, reports suggest that the man sought to protest the country’s restrictive citizenship process.   Commenting on the latest act of public suicide, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheik Abdel Aziz Al Sheikh condemned suicide as a form of protest or an escape from harsh living conditions stating that suicide is a “great sin” prohibited by Islam.    According to the Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt, the highest institute of learning in Sunni Islam, “Sharia Law states that Islam categorically forbids suicide for any reason and does not accept the separation of souls from bodies as an expression of stress, anger or protests.”

Although these incidents of self-immolation remain isolated, they are symbolic of the growing resentment of Arab populations against their respective governments in the region.  The use of this tactic raises further questions about strict governmental regulation of expression which makes it difficult, if not punishable, to engage in anti-government expression in some Middle Eastern and African nations.  For those who engage in in the act, suicide may be the method [of resistance] of last resort.    Despite the government’s strong rhetoric condemning suicide, Saudi officials warned that more incidents of self-immolation are likely to occur in the near future.   

For more information please see:

Malaysia Sun – First Incident of Public Suicide by Fire Reported in Saudi Arabia – Jan. 23, 2011

Gulf News Daily – Saudi Man Sets Himself Ablaze – Jan. 23, 2011

Associated Press – Saudi Man Dies After Setting Himself on Fire – Jan. 22, 2011

BBC News Middle East – Man Dies After Setting himself on Fire in Saudi Arabia – Jan. 22, 2011

Straits Times – Saudi Mufti Brands Suicide Protests as ‘Great Sin’ – Jan. 21, 2011