By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – The aid flotilla “Viva Palestina” will depart this weekend from Syria in route to Egypt in order to deliver much needed aid and goods to Palestinians in Gaza.  “Viva Palestina” is said to be the largest aid convoy to break the Gaza embargo.  Despite international pressure, Egypt announced today that it will allow the flotilla to dock at its Al-Arish port in order to facilitate the transportation of goods into Gaza.  The government however, noted that it will prohibit George Galloway, the British ex-parliamentarian who is a member of the convoy, from entering the country as he is considered a persona non grata, literally meaning “an unwelcome person.”   

Accompanying this convoy are 40 survivors of the fatal aid flotilla crisis this summer.  The main ship in the flotilla is said to be carrying 380 activists from 42 countries, 147 vehicles and about $5 million in medical aid to Gaza.  Kevin Ovednen, the leader of the convoy, announced his pleasure with the Egyptian government’s decision, stating “[w]e are anxious to get to Gaza as soon as possible to deliver the goods and to show the people of Gaza that we have not abandoned them.”  

Egypt’s decision to refuse entry to George Galloway comes in response to clashes instigated by aid providers led by Galloway against Egyptian police in January of this year.  Fighting erupted when the aid providers and a convoy of aid carrying vehicles were denied entry into Gaza.  Commenting about Egypt’s decision to deny him access this time around, Galloway stated “I was not deported from Egypt and I am not ‘persona non grata’ there.”  He further commented “I have no wish to have a fight with the Egyptian government; my fight is with Israel.”

Israel imposed the embargo on the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after Hamas too control of the area.  The embargo covers numerous food items, medical supplies, and infrastructural products like cement.  Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been forced to suffer food shortages and extended periods of time without electricity and gas.  Since the flotilla incident in May, Israel has eased some of the restrictions imposed under the blockade.  The recent exceptions however, have only had a marginal effect on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the freedom of movement of Palestinians in Gaza remains very limited. 

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Egypt Grants Passage to Gaza Convoy – 14 Oct. 2010

CNN World News – New Aid Convoy Departing for Gaza This Weekend – 14 Oct. 2010

Jerusalem Post – ‘Viva Palestina’ Aid Flotilla Set to Depart for Gaza – 14 Oct. 2010

Palestine News Network – Egypt Allows Viva Palestina Aid Convoy Into Gaza – 14 Oct. 2010

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The remaining Filipino workers in the custody of Saudi authorities were released Saturday after the Philippine embassy negotiated their release.  Twelve Filipino workers were among the one hundred foreign workers arrested by religious police for participating in a forbidden religious activity earlier this month.  The workers allegedly held a Christian mass in a place of special occasions in the Nadeem District of Saudi Arabia.  Under Saudi law, conducting religious activities of faiths other than Islam is strictly prohibited in the country. 

The workers were released to their host employers but have been unable to return home as an investigation into their religious activities is still being conducted.  In Saudi Arabia, only the employers of foreign workers may be the guarantors of accused aliens since it is the employers who sponsor work permits for foreign employees.  The Philippine embassy reported that it could not take exception to the temporary release of Filipino workers however, it would continue to closely monitor the progress of the investigation against them. 

John Leonard Monterona, the regional coordinator of Migrante Middle East Chapter, stated that foreign workers “must be cautious and must have a ‘sense of extra care’ especially in Saudi Arabia which has been known to be strictly implementing its cultural laws.”  

Relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia have been tense in recent weeks after reports uncovered that at least four Filipino nurses working in Saudi Arabia may have been raped and beaten.   Although the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has commented that these reporters are unsubstantiated, foreign watchdog groups have been urging the government to initiate its own comprehensive investigation into the alleged incidents.

The continued investigation of Filipino workers however, is evidence of the country’s unwillingness to challenge the policies of the Saudi government and create more antipathy between the nations.  As the Philippine government has little to leverage against its Middle Eastern counterpart, it is likely that it will take a non-obtrusive approach towards the prosecution of its workers as it hopes to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia.

For more information, please see:

ABS-CBN News – Last of Jailed OFW in Illegal Religious Event in Saudi Released – 9 Oct. 2010

GMA News – DFA: All OFWs Jailed for Worship in KSA Released – 9 Oct. 2010

Inquirer.net – DFA: Reports of Rape of 4 Filipinas Unverified – 9 Oct. 2010

Republic of the Philippine, Department of Foreign Affairs – Remaining OFW Jailed for Religious Worship in Riyadh Released – 9 Oct. 2010

ABS-CBN News –14 OFWs Nabbed for Joining Religious Service – 6 Oct. 2010

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait – Domestic workers in Kuwait are facing abuse and prosecution reported Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday.  Domestic migrant workers have been forced to work long hours, are deprived of wages and are often subject to physical and sexual abuse.  Last year domestic workers filed over 10,000 complaints of abuse with their embassies however; HRW notes that this represents only a percentage of all cases of abuse.   Of these 10,000 cases, roughly 950 claims alleged that workers were raped and sexually harassed by their employers. 

Domestic workers compose one-third of the 1.81 million foreign workers in Kuwait.  Rights observers contend that there is a lack of legal protection for migrant domestic workers who face abuse and wage restrictions from employers.   Laws limiting the hours a person may be legally obligated to work during a single day do not apply to migrant workers.  One Sri Lankan worker reports that she was forced to work more than 18 hours a day for a period of 10 months without receiving pay.  She now lives in a small government run shelter and is dependent on social services. 

Human rights groups say that the government is to blame.  In Kuwait, migrant domestic workers, under a sponsorship program (kafala), are bonded to their employers.  This makes it possible for employers to exercise complete control over workers during the course of employment without any recourse for employees.  Workers may not change jobs without the permission of their employers and those who attempt to leave an abusive environment are subject to indefinite detention and criminal penalties. A representative of HRW stated “If abused or exploited workers try to escape or complain the law makes it easy for employers to charge them with ‘absconding’ and get them deported.”

Rights groups have called for the abolition of the sponsorship system.   The government stated that it plans to abolish this system by February of next year and replace it with a government-administered recruitment program.   The government however, has been unable to elaborate on whether any additional protections would be afforded to migrant domestic workers under the new system. 

For more information, please see:

Arab Times – Some Employers Take Advantage of Weak Legal Protection – 7 Oct. 2010

Daily Mirror – Domestic Workers in Kuwait at Risk? – 7 Oct. 2010

Jakarta Post – Kuwait: For Abused Domestic Workers, Nowhere to Turn – 7 Oct. 2010

Agence France Presse – Abuse of Maids in Kuwait Rising: HRW – 6 Oct. 2010

By Alyxandra Stanczak
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BERUIT, Lebanon – Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated when his motorcade was hit by a suicide bomber in 2005. After the incident, four pro-Syrian officers were detained and held without charges. In 2009, the officers were released due to lack of evidence. Among the officers was ex-Lebanese general Jamil al-Sayyed.  Al-Sayyed brought a case in Syrian courts against people he believed misled the investigation of Hariri’s assassination which resulted in his four-year imprisonment.

Al-Sayyed is a Shiite ex-Lebanese general who is backed by Hezbollah. Although a primarily Lebanese group, Hezbollah receives a lot of support from Syria and Iran.

This past Sunday, a Syrian judge issued arrest warrants for thirty-three people of interest in the case who have been ignoring court summons. Al-Sayyed brought the suit in Syria, citing distrust in Lebanon’s judiciary. It is unlikely that the arrest warrants will be executed outside of Syria.

Among those issued arrest warrants are senior Lebanese judges and international officials.

When the initial investigation of the suicide bombing occurred, western-backed parties in Lebanon believed that Syria and Hezbollah were responsible for the attack. This claim was denied by both parties. The allegation has since been denied by Saad Hariri, current Lebanese Prime Minister and son of Rafik Hariri. Saad Hariri was quoted as saying the allegation arose from political motivations.

Al-Sayyed maintains he brought the case, of which the issuance of arrest warrants was necessary, because at least six of the defendants in his case are Syrian. Additionally, he maintains the Lebanese judiciary as well as the U.N. backed tribunal, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, refused to look at his case of false witnesses.

For more information, please see:

Daily Star – Syria’s warrants add to the chaos – 5 October 2010

People’s Daily Online – Lebanese PM says Syria’s arrest warrants over Hariri’s killing disappointing – 5 October 2010

Al Jazeera – Syria orders arrests in Hariri case – 4 October 2010

Jerusalem Post – Lawyer: Syria posts arrests warrants in Hariri case – 4 October 2010

Associated Press – Syria posts arrests warrants in Hariri case – 3 October 2010

By Alyxandra Stanczak
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

NEW YORK, New York – On September 25th, Sarah Shourd met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad to plead for the release of two U.S. hikers being held in Iranian prison. Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were accused of spying when they were hiking in Iraq and accidentally crossed over into Iran. The three were arrested and have been detained at Tehran’s Evin prison since July 31, 2009. Shourd was released on 14 September because of a medical problem.

When Shourd met with Ahmadinejad, she stressed to him that their hiking group did not intend to cross the border from Iraq into Iran. The basis for her plea with the Iranian president is that Bauer and Fattal should be released on humanitarian grounds.  At this same time, Ahmadinejad has called on the  United States to release eight Iranian prisoners citing the release of Shourd as a good faith humanitarian gesture and hoping for reciprocation.

Shourd’s meeting with Ahmadinejad was possibly facilitated by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who met with Shourd and the families of the other two detained hikers this past Thursday. Ahmadinejad was in the United States to speak in front of the United Nations General Assembly.

Shourd commented that the meeting with Ahmadinejad was “a very human encounter, very personal.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Report: Oman talking to Iran on US prisoners – 26 September 2010

Al Jazeera – US ‘hiker’ pleads with Ahmadinejad – 25 September 2010

Today’s Zaman – Shourd, families of still-held hikers meet with Ahmadinejad – 25 September 2010