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

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KABUL, Afghanistan – Saturday’s parliamentary election in Afghanistan once again illustrated the numerous problems facing international forces and Afghans in the country.   Since Saturday’s election, over 3000 complaints of fraud and intimidation have been filed with the United Nation-backed Electoral Complaint Commission (ECC).   In the days prior to the election, abductions of civilians and election officials raised security concerns throughout the country.

More than 20 individuals were abducted by Taliban insurgent forces on the eve of the election and at least 22 people were killed by insurgent attacks on election day.  During the election, insurgents conducted 485 separate attacks on election facilities, according to NATO forces.   Despite these fatalities, a Pentagon spokesman noted that election violence has decreased when compared to the 2009 presidential election in Afghanistan.

Over 2,500 candidates ran for the 249 seats up for grabs in the parliamentary elections.   Against a backdrop of political instability, the ECC is now charged with the task of ensuring the validity of election results as complaints of illegal voting continue to pour in.   Stressing the significance of the elections, a representative for the United Nation’s mission in Afghanistan reported “[t]he independence of these institutions is crucial to the credibility of the completion of the electoral process.”

Over 1000 polling centers were forced to close their doors due to inadequate security.   In a comment to the Washington Examiner, Army Captain Max Pappas, a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, stated that the “Taliban intimidated people, but they weren’t able to stage a massive attack. At least that’s a good sign, but this is far from over.”  Although international forces in Afghanistan remain committed to the fight against the Taliban in the country, many recognize the difficult challenges that lay ahead.  Although U.S. officials remain optimistic about the successful promotion of democracy in Afghanistan, Saturday’s election highlights that the prospect of a legitimate and functioning government may still be untenable in the short term.

For more information, please see:

Agence France Presse – Afghanistan Says Over 3000 Complaints About Vote – 21 Sept. 2010

Xinhua News Agency – 2 Election Officials Missing, Thousands Complaints Filed in Afghan Polls – 21 Sept. 2001

Washington Examiner – Election Day is Day of Fear in Afghanistan – 20 Sept. 2010

ABC News – 22 Killed During Afghan Polls: NATO – 19 Sept. 2010

Al-Jazeera – Abductions Hit Afghan Poll Build-Up – 17 Sept. 2010

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen – More than 8,000 civilians were forced to flee their homes as Yemeni forces launched an assault on a suspected al-Qaeda stronghold in the town of Hota in Shabwa province.  The government contends that over 100 al-Qaeda fighters were hiding in the town.  The outbreak in fighting comes as John Brennan, President Obama’s top counter-terrorism advisor, was visiting Yemen. 

Authorities suspect that radical Muslim cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-Yemeni citizen wanted by the U.S. has been hiding in his home province of Shabwa.  Analysts have been monitoring the development of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) which has considerable influence in the country’s tribal regions.   AQAP is responsible for a series of attacks inside Yemen, the latest happening in June.  Today, the government detailed that it had engaged “armed elements” of al-Qaeda inside the town killing at least three militants. 

The government has been giving notice to citizens since Saturday urging them to flee in anticipation of the anti-terror offensive.  Civilians fled to nearby towns creating cramped conditions.  The Red Crescent has been calling for food and medical supplies to support the growing populations.

This attack is just the latest in a larger campaign against AQAP within Yemen.  With U.S. military and intelligence support, the Yemeni government has been able to step up its attacks against al-Qaeda in the last year.   Yemen remains critical battlefield in the War on Terror as al-Qaeda continues to grow its ranks in the region.   The Christmas Day Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was found to have spent time training in Yemen.   

Last month fighting in Loder left 19 militants and 11 Yemeni soldiers dead.   The United States has expressed its confidence in the Yemeni government stating that it is “convinced” that the government can defeat the militant forces.   As the government steps up its military strategy it must remain aware that it not only has to manage the conflict but also the humanitarian fallout. 

For more information, please see:

Agence France Presse – South Yemen Clashes Send Thousands Fleeing: Govt Official – 20 Sept. 2010

BBC Middle East – Thousands Flee Fighting in Yemen’s Shabwa Province – 20 Sept. 2010

CNN – Obama Counterterror Aid Visits Yemen – 20 Sept. 2010

Reuters Africa – Thousands Flee in Qaeda Clashes in South Yemen – 20 Sept. 2010

Agence France Press – Yemen Troops Kill Two at Checkpoint in Troubled Town – 19 Sept. 2010