by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain — The wife and infant son of a London-based human rights activist were prevented from departing Bahrain, and detained and questioned for several hours.

Bahraini immigration officers prevented Mrs. Duaa Alwadaei and her 19-month-old son from boarding a flight to London. Mrs. Alwadaei’s husband, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, who is the Director of Advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, was arrested hours before her travel ban for protesting a visit by the king of Bahrain in London.

Mr. Alwadaei claimed that his wife was subjected to a seven-hour interrogation, during which a senior official told her that she was being subjected to a “travel ban” because of his work. He alleged that Bahraini police questioned his spouse on his appearance at the protest, his organization, and her life in London. He stated that the officials told his wife they are “coming after my family, asked her about my brothers, sister and parents.” He claimed that his wife’s interrogator threatened to charge her with assaulting a police officer, which carries a prison sentence of three years, if she spoke out about her treatment. He further alleged that his wife was left “terrified” after being dragged across the airport floor, and that she was beaten by two female police officers when she refused to accompany them into custody.

In response, the Bahraini embassy in London released a statement which indicated that Mrs. Alwadaei was “briefly detained for questioning, searched and released.” The embassy further noted that “at no time was she abused or mistreated by authorities.” The Bahrain government noted that Mrs. Alwadaei had been released after her questioning “to make her onward destination.”

Bahrain has faced international criticism over its human rights crackdown which has led to the arrest of opposition figures, the stripping of citizenship, and the dissolution of the main opposition party. The country is now being censured by human rights groups for imposing travel bans and arresting its opponents. A researcher for the Human Rights Watch stated that the Bahraini authorities’ act was a “contemptible and cowardly attempt” to take vengeance against the family of a “prominent U.K.-based Bahraini exile and activist.” A director of the human rights group, Reprieve, stated that the organization is “seriously concerned” about the country’s retaliations against Mr. Alwadaei’s family for his peaceful protest in the U.K. The director further noted that although Bahrain may have banned freedom of expression, the U.K. government could not permit Bahrain to punish individuals who demonstrate in the U.K. against human rights abuses such as torture. She called upon the Bahraini government to allow Mrs. Alwadaei and their son to return to their home in London.

Mr. Alwadaei is a “fierce critic” of the Bahrain government and has addressed dozens of events in the U.K., U.S. and Europe. He protests the government of Bahrain on a regular basis since he was imprisoned and tortured for his role in Bahrain’s 2011 pro-democracy protests. In 2015, he was stripped of his Bahraini citizenship after claiming asylum in the U.K. in 2012.

For more information, please see:

Middle East Eye—Wife and baby of Bahraini rights activist on ‘travel ban’ after London protest—30 October 2016

Reuters—Bahrain blocks exit of activist’s wife: rights group—30 October 2016

The Guardian—Bahrain prevents family of dissident from flying to London to join him—29 October 2016

Daily Mail—Family of activist who jumped on Bahrain king’s car targeted—29 October 2016

 

 

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The UN stated that ISIS has executed over 200 people near the city of Mosul and has taken thousands of individuals hostage to use as “human shields” against Iraqi forces.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that ISIS carried out the mass execution as revenge against individuals who refused its orders to join them. The UN further noted that it fears the group intends on using those held hostage as “human shields” against the advance of Iraqi forces on Mosul.

High numbers of civilian deaths have been reported over the last week as ISIS attempts to gather people into its last major stronghold in Iraq. Over 7,500 families have reportedly been abducted by ISIS at gunpoint from surrounding Iraqi cities and have been moved to “strategic locations where ISIS fighters are located.” The civilian death toll is expected to grow exponentially once ISIS enters Mosul, which is Iraq’s second largest city.

The use of human shields is banned under international humanitarian law. The UN refugee agency stated that it is considered a violation of the right to not be arbitrarily deprived of life. The Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty International further stated that using a civilian to “shield yourself from attack is a war crime.”

An increasing number of civilians have been fleeing their homes as the fighting around Mosul intensifies. The International Organization for Migration reported that the operation in Mosul has displaced over 16,000 people thus far. UNICEF warned of an impending, “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” due to the millions of civilians that are expected to escape the city in the upcoming days and weeks.

Some civilians who were able to flee indicated that ISIS fighters had deliberately prevented them from escaping conflict areas. One civilian recounted an attack in which ISIS fighters based in a neighbor’s house shot his brother. Due to the ongoing crossfire, they were unable to escape their home for two days, during which his brother lost consciousness from severe blood loss. He was only able to carry his brother to a hospital after an air strike created an opportunity for escape. Another civilian reported that he lost his wife after she was struck by a mortar because ISIS fighters would not let them leave their house. He further stated that the fighters shot at neighbors who tried to escape.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights indicated that ISIS’ “depraved, cowardly strategy” is to use the presence of civilians to render certain areas immune from military operations by effectively using thousands of men, women and children as “human shields.” The Commissioner urged those fighting ISIS to withhold revenge attacks. He further called on the government of Iraq to ensure the application of international humanitarian law.

For more information, please see:

ABC News—ISIS Using Tens of Thousands as ‘Human Shields’ as Iraqi-Led Forces Advance on Mosul—28 October 2016

Daily Mail—ISIS slaughters more than 200 people and abduct nearly 8,000 families to use as human shields as it retreats into the centre of Mosul—28 October 2016

Amnesty International—Iraq: new testimony shows ISIS taking human shields in battle for Mosul—27 October 2016

CNN—ISIS ‘executes’ 232 near Mosul, takes thousands as human shields, UN says—28 October 2016

The Guardian —Islamic State using hostages as human shields in Mosul – UN—28 October 2016

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey — Human Rights Watch published a 43-page report on Tuesday, in which it accuses Turkish police of beating, sexually abusing, and threatening to rape detainees.

The human rights group said that a “climate of fear” has prevailed since thousands of people were arrested after President Erdogan declared a state of emergency in response to July’s failed coup attempt. The state of emergency has allowed the government to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as it deems necessary. In September 2016, prison monitoring boards were dissolved under an emergency rule decree. The report noted that several new regulations, which infringe on detainees’ rights, have been enacted. These include the extension of the maximum length of police detention without judicial review from four to thirty days, denying detainees access to lawyers for up to five days, restricting detainees’ choice of lawyer, and restricting detainees’ right to confidential conversations with their lawyers.

Human Rights Watch indicated that thirteen alleged cases of abuse had been uncovered, in which the detainees claim abuse of power, sleep deprivation, severe beatings, sexual abuse and threat of rape. These cases were not limited only to alleged coup supporters, but also include detainees suspected of ties to Kurdish militant and leftist groups.

In one case, Human Rights Watch found that several detainees had been forced to undress and were left outside under a “baking sun” for several hours. The case further noted that these detainees were then severely beat by police officers and threatened with sodomy by a baton. In another case, a detainee noted he was blindfolded and then beaten by police. He stated that the police chief “began to slap me in the face and eyes. They beat me on the soles of my feet, on my stomach, then squeezed my testicles, saying things like they’d castrate me.” A further case quotes a detainee as stating that a police officer told him “because of the state of emergency, nobody will care if I kill you.” The report further states that many lawyers are reluctant to represent detainees held in connection with the coup attempt. Attorneys who do represent these individuals are noted as expressing fear that they would become the target of the ongoing crackdown. One lawyer stated that she tried to represent a detained soldier, only to see him repeatedly beaten in front of her. Although she attempted to stop the beating, she was unable to do so and had to turn away out of fear.

The Europe and Central Asia Director of Human Rights Watch stated that “by removing safeguards against torture, the Turkish government effectively wrote a blank check to law enforcement agencies to torture and mistreat detainees as they like.” The organization called on authorities to “immediately rescind” the provisions of the state of emergency decrees which “enable abuse.” Human Rights Watch also urged the Turkish government to permit the U.N. Special Investigator on Torture to visit Turkey.

Mr. Bekir Bozdag, Turkey’s Justice Minister, argued that the country is being unfairly accused of torture, while strongly denying ill-treatment of prisoners. He further stated that the Ministry has assembled a task force to investigate all claims.

For more information, please see:

Voice of America—Human Rights Watch Report Accuses Turkish Police of Torture—25 October 2016

Chicago Tribune—Human Rights Watch: Torture reports after failed coup in Turkey—25 October 2016

Independent—Detainees ‘beaten, sexually abused and threatened with rape’ after Turkey coup, Human Rights Watch claims—25 October 2016

Hurriyet Daily News—Human Rights Watch says state of emergency gives Turkey ‘blank check’ to mistreat suspects—25 October 2016

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — On Tuesday, October 18^th, Saudi Arabia executed a member of the royal family after he was convicted of shooting and killing another man during a brawl.

Saudi Prince Turki bin Saud bin Turki bin Saud al-Kabeer was executed in the capital, Riyadh, for killing a man during a group fight three years ago. Although details on the method of execution were not provided, most death penalties in Saudi Arabia are carried out by beheading in a public square.

The guilty verdict was supported by an appeals court, and later authorized by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia. A royal order was then issued to carry out the Courts’ ruling. The Saudi Gazette reported that the prince’s family made several attempts to reach an agreement with the victim’s father prior to his execution. The victim’s family, however, refused offers of “blood money” and instead demanded justice.

This is the first execution carried out by Saudi Arabia in over four decades. The Interior Ministry stated that King Salman was keen on “enforcement of security, justice and God’s judgments.” The statement released by the Ministry further warned “that legitimate punishment would be the fate of whoever tries to assault innocent people and shed their blood.”

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies, in which the members of the royal family enjoy perks not available to rest of the country’s citizens. The royal execution has been widely interpreted as a message from the monarch that “no one in the kingdom is above the law.” A prominent Saudi lawyer, Mr. Abdul-Rahman al-Lahim, stated “the greatest thing is that the citizen sees the law applied to everyone, and that there are not big people and other small people.” Other Saudis praised the monarch, King Salman, under an Arabic hashtag which translated to “Decisive Salman orders retribution for the prince.”

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Shariah law and is often criticized by human rights groups and Western governments for what they consider to be harsh and arbitrary punishments. Human Rights Watch stated that the country has executed 134 people as of January 2016. Amnesty International reported that at least 158 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2015.

For more information, please see:

CNN—Saudi Arabia executes member of royal family—20 October 2016

New York Times—Saudi Arabia Executes a Prince Convicted in a Fatal Shooting—18 October 2016

Al Arabiya—Saudi Arabia: Prince executed for murder—18 October 2016

Washington Post—Saudi Arabia executes member of the royal family for first time in four decades—19 October 2016

Khaleej Times—Saudi Arabian prince’s last hours before execution—21 October 2016

 

 

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian court sentenced an Iranian-American and his father to ten years in prison and also fined them $4.8 million.

Mr. Siamak Namazi, who is a businessman in his mid-40s, was arrested in October 2015 by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”) while visiting family in Tehran. In February 2016, the IRGC arrested his 80-year-old dual citizen father, Baquer Namazi, who is a former Iranian provincial governor and former UNICEF official.

Siamak and Baquer were each given a single court session lasting a few hours in duration, before the sentences were given. The court proceedings were kept in secrecy and details of the allegations against them have not been publicly released. They were not permitted to hire their own defense attorney due to an Iranian law which allows only government-approved lawyers to represent defendants in cases related to national security.

In a statement, Siamak’s brother, Mr. Babak Namazi, stated that the sentences are unjust. He indicated that his father has been “handed practically a death sentence.” Baquer Namazi’s wife indicated that he suffers from a serious heart condition, as well as other medical issues, which require special mediation.

Tehran prosecutor, Mr. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, stated that the men were sentenced to prison for spying for the U.S. and “cooperating with the U.S. government.” Mr. Javad Karimi Qudossi, a member of the security and foreign policy committee in Iran’s parliament stated that Siamak was actively “recruiting spies for America and inserting cultural, military and political spies inside the country.” Iranian officials have not clarified who is responsible for paying the $4.8 million fine. It did, however, indicate that the amount is what Siamak and Baquer had received from the U.S. “for their mission in Iran.”

These are the latest sentences against dual citizens directed by powerful Iranian judiciary and security forces following the U.S.-Iranian nuclear deal. Security officials have arrested dozens of artists, journalists and businessmen, including Iranians with dual U.S., European or Canadian citizenship, as part of a “crackdown” on “western infiltration.” The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (“Campaign”) stated that the country does not recognize dual citizenship, and that it routinely “harasses citizens and dual nationals with trumped up national security charges.” Since the country does not recognize dual nationality, detainees with dual citizenship are unable to obtain consular assistance.

The sentences have attracted international attention. The U.S. State Department’s deputy spokesman, Mr. Mark Toner, indicated that the father and son had been “unjustly detained” in Iran. He stated he was “deeply concerned” by the reports and called for their immediate release. On Tuesday, UNICEF called for the release of Baquer on “humanitarian grounds.”

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times—Iranian American father and son sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran, report says—18 October 2016

CNN—American father and son sentenced to 10 years in Iranian prison—19 October 2016

Reuters—Iran sentences two U.S. citizens to 10 years in prison—18 October 2016

NBC News—Iran Sentences Iranian-American, His Father to 10 Years Each in Prison—18 October 2016