by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured in an attack believed to have been caused by chemical weapons.

The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) indicated that an odorless and colorless gas was released during heavy airstrikes which lasted over one hour near the ancient city of Palmyra. The odorless characteristic of the gas lends itself to the suggestion that the attack may have been sarin, rather than chlorine, which has a distinct smell.

The attacks are being blamed for the deaths of at least 90 individuals, including at least 28 children, and the injuries of over 300 civilians. The organization further stated that the number of casualties was high due to shortages of medical staff trained in chemical weapons response. The UOSSM stated that the majority of those who lost their lives appear to be children who “died very quickly after foaming at the mouth due to exposure to the gas.” Medics at the scene indicated that the children appear to have experienced symptoms such as “convulsions, suffocation, vomiting, dilated pupils and coughing blood.”

The UOSSM released pictures of the bodies of deceased children lined up on the ground in Syria, with discoloration around the eyes and foaming of the mouth. The graphic images did not appear to display any evidence of visible, physical injuries.

The attacks have attracted international outrage. The CEO of UOSSM, Dr. Khaula Sawah, released a statement in which she indicated “I just cannot describe the situation any more. 100 people, mostly children and women, die instantly from exposure to an unknown chemical gas.” She went on to say that the international community and responsible parties have not responded to constant calls for ending this “massacre.” Her statement indicated that “genocide is occurring, people are being massacred and action has yet to be taken.” The Chair of UOSSM in Canada, Dr. Anas Al Kassem, declared “we cannot stand one more day of horrors. Every day a new sadistic action is taken against the people of Syria as the world looks on dumbly.”

The head of the Syrian Observatory on Human Rights, Mr. Rami Abdel Rahman, indicated that he could not confirm whether the airstrikes were carried out by Syrian or Russian warplanes.

The Syrian government, and its Russian supporters, have long denied using chemical weapons. A U.N. panel which conducted a year-long probe into Syrian attacks, however, determined that Syrian government forces carried out three chlorine gas attacks on villages in 2014 and 2015. The panel, which included experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, further found that ISIS was responsible for a mustard gas attack in Syria in August 2015.

For more information, please see:

Daily Mail—Heartbreaking images show the bodies of dead children lined up on the streets in Syria after they died in a ‘gas attack’—13 December 2016

Independent—While the world watches Aleppo, Assad may have just used sarin gas on civilians near Palmyra—14 December 2016

BBC News—Palmyra: ‘Chemical gas attack’ hits IS-held Syrian area—12 December 2016

Reuters—Syrian Observatory reports suspected gas attack in Islamic State area near Palmyra—12 December 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A Saudi Arabian court issued death sentences to 15 individuals, and prison sentences ranging from six months to 25 years for an additional 15 individuals, after they were convicted of spying for Iran.

In February 2016, Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court initiated trial proceedings against 32 men: 30 members of the country’s Shia Muslim minority, an Iranian citizen, and an Afghani national. They were accused of “treason, setting up a spy ring, and passing on sensitive data to military zones.” Saudi Arabian media indicated that the defendants provided Iran, the country’s long-term rival, with sensitive national security information which attacked the nation’s “territorial unity and integrity,” as well as its armed forces. The defendants were accused of meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, coordinating with Iranian intelligence agents, possessing weapons, forging documents, and accepting bribes. Additionally, prosecutors alleged that they were attempting to sabotage the country’s economy, “undermine social peace and public order, spread chaos, incite sectarian strife, and carry out ‘hostile acts’” against the nation. The charges further included allegations of traveling to Iran and Lebanon for the purpose of receiving training on espionage techniques.

A lawyer who represented a majority of the defendants, Mr. Taha al-Hajji, informed Amnesty International that his clients were detained between 2013 and 2014 without an arrest warrant, and secretly imprisoned for approximately three months. During the trial, some defendants testified that they were threatened with solitary confinement. They further indicated that they were coerced into signing confession statements on the grounds that they would be “banned from having contact with their families” if they declined to do so.

Amnesty International has characterized the trial process as “grossly unfair.” The defendants were held in custody for nearly three years without charges or a trial. Once proceedings were initiated, the defendants were charged with an “exhaustive list” of accusations, comprising nearly 100 pages. At that point, Mr. Hajji indicates, some defendants had just met their attorneys for the first time. Furthermore, several lawyers complained that they had not been permitted to meet with their clients, view evidence, or prepare adequate defenses.

The Deputy Director of Campaigns for Amnesty International’s Beirut office, Mr. Samah Hadid, issued a statement in which he stated that it is a “slap in the face” to sentence 15 people to death after a “farcical trial which flouted basic fair trial standards.” He further indicated that the legal proceedings in this case have made a “mockery of justice.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has denied any instances of Iranian spying in Saudi Arabia, while indicating that the accusations are “baseless and serve political motives.”

For more information, please see:

The Independent—Saudi Arabia sentences 15 people to death over Iranian spy case—6 December 2016

BBC News—Fifteen Saudi Shia sentenced to death for ‘spying for Iran’—6 December 2016

Reuters—Saudi court sentences 15 people to death for spying for Iran—6 December 2016

International Business Times—Saudi Arabia sentences 15 people to death over accusations of spying for Iran—7 December 2016

 

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A Saudi Arabian court extended a human rights activist’s jail sentence by two years, from nine to eleven years.

Mr. Issa Al-Hamid, a Saudi Arabian human rights defender, had received a prison sentence of nine years in April 2016 for a “long list” of charges, which included “communicating false information to undermine the image of the state.” The charges referenced online articles written and statements made by Mr. Hamid in which he had called upon the Saudi king to order an investigation into rights abuses. He had further spoken about issues such as the right to demonstrate.

Following an appeal, on December 1^st, the Specialized Criminal Court of Saudi Arabia increased Mr. Hamid’s prison sentence to eleven years. It further imposed a travel ban of equal duration, in addition to a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately $27,000 USD).

The group with which Mr. Hamid was associated, Saudi Arabia’s Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), was shut down by Saudi authorities in 2013. All of its founders have subsequently been sentenced to prison in connection with their “peaceful human rights activities.”

Mr. Samah Hadid, Deputy Director of Campaigns at Amnesty International, stated that the extended prison sentence is another example of the authorities’ “continuous ruthless and relentless crackdown on political dissidents” in the country. He indicated that the decision is a reflection of the “regime’s unabated persecution of human rights defenders.”

Mr. Hadid stated that these “blatantly unfair proceedings” appear to be “designed to silence” individuals who are attempting to “expose the Kingdom’s incessant human rights violations.” He urged Saudi authorities to “urgently quash the unjust conviction” of Mr. Hamid, as well as the convictions of all other human rights defenders. He further stated that Mr. Hamid and his two brothers, who are both doctors, have paid a high price for defending human rights, and noted that such individuals should be “protected and recognized, not sentenced and imprisoned.”

Saudi Arabia has long been the subject of international criticism due to its lack of protection for human rights, “draconian restrictions on freedom of speech,” and severe punishments for those opposing the regime.

For more information, please see:

Press TV—Saudi court increases human rights activist’s prison sentence by two years—2 December 2016

Middle East Online—Saudi increases jail term for rights activist to 11 years—1 December 2016

Amnesty International—Saudi Arabia increases ruthless sentence in unfair trial of human rights defender to 11 years—1 December 2016

 

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Eleven members of the Islamic State group (ISIS), including a local commander, were captured by Lebanese special forces on the morning of Friday, November 25^th.

The Lebanese military issued a statement indicating that the eleven terrorists were captured in an operation targeting ISIS headquarters. It took place in an area heavily populated by hundreds of ISIS fighters along the Lebanese-Syrian border. The statement indicated that the operation led to the capture of ISIS’s local commander in the town, Ahmad Youssef Amoun, who fired upon the Lebanese soldiers attempting to arrest him. He was seriously wounded in the operation and subsequently taken to a hospital in Beirut for emergency treatment.

Photographs said to be of Mr. Amoun were posted on local media websites showing a “young man with a thick beard lying on a hospital bed with a blood-stained sheet covering most of his body.” The Lebanese military stated that Mr. Amoun was responsible for several recent explosions that hit the country. He is alleged to have been involved in making car bombs used in attacks throughout the country. The military further stated that he was also behind the attacks on army posts carried out in August 2014 when ISIS briefly occupied the town of Arsal.

A presidential statement released on behalf of the country’s newly appointed president, Mr. Michel Aoun, indicated that he praised the “pre-emptive security operation.” He is quoted as saying “such special operations strengthen stability and limit terrorist schemes.” The statement issued by the military indicated that no army personnel were injured in the operation.

Over the past two years, ISIS has claimed responsibility for multiple explosions in the country which have killed hundreds of people. The terrorists also captured twenty-five Lebanese soldiers and policemen in August 2014, and have been holding nine of them hostage since then.

For more information, please see:

International Business Times—ISIS In Lebanon: Army Arrests 11 Members, Including Local Commander—25 November 2016

Gulf News—Lebanon army detains Daesh commander near Syria border—25 November 2016

Middle East Monitor—Lebanon captures 11 alleged Daesh militants—25 November 2016

ABC News—Lebanon Army Says 11 IS Militants Detained Near Syria Border—25 November 2016

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — On Wednesday, November 23^rd, a prominent Egyptian human rights activist was banned from leaving the country as she attempted to board a plane.

Ms. Aida Seif Al-Dawla, Director of the El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation Victims of Violence, was attempting to board a flight before she was stopped by Egyptian authorities. A statement released by the Center indicated that she was traveling to Tunisia to attend a conference bringing together NGOs working on rehabilitating victims of violence in North Africa.

An airport security official stated that the travel ban was implemented because of Ms. Al-Dawla’s involvement in the “ongoing trial implicating the majority of the most active human rights groups in Egypt.” Ms. Al-Dawla issued a statement in which she indicated that the travel ban is aimed at “eradicating the rights movement” in an attempt to cover up the government’s systematically committed violations. Her statement further indicated that the government’s attempt to “prevent individuals who dedicated their efforts to support and alleviate the pain” of violence victims “will not work.” Egyptian human rights activists stated that the travel bans are “part of the authorities’ attempts to silence criticism from civil society groups.”

The Egyptian government had attempted to shut down the Center earlier this year. In February, the Health Ministry had threatened to close the Center due to “violations,” which included “shifting its focus from operating as a medical facility to working in human rights and advocacy.” The threat had attracted local and international criticism and outcries from rights groups. In early November, Egypt’s Central Bank had ordered the freezing of the El Nadeem Center’s bank account. The Bank had lifted the freeze shortly thereafter when the Center documented that it does not fall under the authority of the Social Solidarity Ministry.

Ms. Al-Dawla is one of many human rights activists who have been banned from travel for their involvement in the country’s pending foreign funding case. Earlier this week, the Egyptian legislature also ordered issued travel bans for Ms. Azza Soliman, lawyer and head of the Center for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance, and Mr. Ahmed Ragheb, lawyer and Director of the National Community for Human Rights and Law. Both were on their way to attend international conferences, and were informed that the ban was the result of a judicial order, issued without their knowledge, regarding the case involving illegal foreign funding of NGOs.

For more information, please see:

Ahram Online—Egyptian activist Aida Seif El-Dawla banned from travel: Nadeem Centre—23 November 2016

All Africa—Egypt: El Nadeem Center Director Aida Seif El Dawla Banned From Travel—23 November 2016

New York Times—A Top Egyptian Human Rights Activist Banned From Travel—23 November 2016

Financial Times—Egypt imposes travel bans on human rights activists—23 November 2016