The Middle East

Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon: When Will Changes Be Made?

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon– The latest figures show that there are nearly four hundred thousand Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon.  Of that number, fifty-three percent live in twelve refugee camps scattered throughout the country.  The existence of these camps, however, does not mean that the refugees are living in suitable conditions.

Lebanese law forbids Palestinian refugees from working in seventy-two different professions.  These prohibitions include various private sector careers such as engineering, medicine, and law, as well as all public sector jobs.  Furthermore, there are a number of low skilled professions such as guarding buildings and trash collecting which are also subject to the prohibition.  As for the remaining low skilled positions, Palestinian refugees are required to obtain work permits and very few of these permits have been issued.

Aside from the professional prohibitions, a recent Lebanese law forbids Palestinians from buying and owning property.  Even Lebanese women married to a Palestinian man are forbidden from giving their children any property as an inheritance.  In addition, the new law obstructs renovation work at the camps by prohibiting the entry of any building equipment.  As a result, many of these camps lack many basic services such as electricity, water, and sewage systems.

In response to these conditions, the Lebanese argue that the refugees are temporarily in the camps and for them to normalize the situation with the Palestinians.  They are concerned that this would lead to an unwanted sense of permanent settlement.  Currently, it is estimated that nearly forty percent of 15 to 24 year-olds in the camps are unemployed.  Not only that, but chronic health failure is reported in just under twenty percent of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, a rate higher than that of Palestinian refugees in both Syria and Jordan.

In light of recent political developments in the region, the sentiment seems to be that the right of return for Palestinians is not a realistic possibility in the immediate future. As a result, many continue to feel that Lebanese law needs to reflect the ongoing struggle being faced by Palestinian refugees.

For more information, please see:

China View- Lebanese President Rejects “Any Form” of Palestinian Settlement of Refugees– 26 September 2009

The Daily Star- Sleiman Voices Hopes for Lebanese Seat on Security Council– 26 September 2009

The Palestinian Chronicle- Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon: From Deprivation to Violence– 18 September 2009

Iraqi Prisoner Possibly Killed in Revenge by British Soldiers

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

LONDON, United Kingdom – Baha Mousa, an Iraqi detainee who died in the custody of British soldiers, may have been killed in an act of revenge. The allegation came from Baha Mousa’s father, a police officer in Basra. Daoud Mousa claims that his negative comments and allegations about British soldiers led to his son being treated more poorly than other prisoners and ultimately dying in the hands of British military forces.

Baha Mousa, a father of two children, was arrested in September 2003 during a raid of hotel in Basra by British soldiers. The soldiers were in search of supporters of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Mousa was arrested along with nine other individuals. Guns were found with them and the men were held for possibly being insurgents. . Daoud Mousa arrived in time to see that his son and the other detainees on the ground and the hotel surrounded by military vehicles.

Daoud Mousa believes that what he saw next led to the violent treatment that his son received. After arriving at the hotel, the elder Mousa alleges that he saw a British soldier stuff bank notes in his pocket from the hotel’s safe. He informed the soldier’s superior of this, hoping that this would procure his son’s release. Daoud Mousa pointed out his son to the soldiers, but believes that this action may have led to the soldiers punishing Baha.

Baha Mousa was taken to the detainment center at the Battle Main Group camp. Two days later he was dead. An examination of Baha’s body after his death showed that he suffered asphyxiation and had at minimum ninety three injuries all around his body. Among those injuries were a broken nose and a number of broken ribs. Witnesses have come forth and said that the soldiers took particular joy in abusing civilians. They told of an incident where the soldiers attempted the coordinate the screams of detainees in order to create music.

An official inquiry was ordered by the British government in order to investigate Mousa’s death. The inquiry was told that British soldiers were using techniques that had been banned by the country in 1972. Four soldiers plead guilty to treating civilians inhumanely. Daoud Mousa is not ready to accept an apology, noting that he “will not accept the apology of a criminal.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Iraqi ‘Killed in UK Revenge Attack’ – 24 September 2009

Associated Press – Father: Iraqi Perhaps Slain in UK Revenge Attack– 23 September 2009

BBC – Iraq Detainee Death ‘Was Revenge’ – 23 September 2009

Guardian – Baha Mousa Inquiry:  Father Alleges ‘Revenge’ by UK Troops – 23 September 2009

Telegraph – Baha Mousa Inquiry: Iraqi Civilian Died After ‘Revenge Abuse’ in British Military Custody – 23 September 2009

Turkey’s Refugee Rights Come Under Pressure after Court Ruling

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

STRASBOURG, France– The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced in a statement on Tuesday that it had ruled against Turkey on charges of trying to deport two Iranian nationals who were recognized as refugees by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Iranian nationals, Mohsen Abdolkhani and Hamid Karimnia, left Iran and entered a refugee camp in Iraq.  After the camp was closed in Iraq, the two went to Turkey where they were arrested and deported back to Iraq.  Despite the deportation, Abdolkhani and Karimnia immediately returned to Turkey.

Subsequently, they were arrested and convicted of illegal entry into Turkey.  Turkish efforts to have them deported to Iran in June of 2008 were unsuccessful as Iranian authorities refused their admission to the country.  After the Iranian denial of admission, the two refugees requested temporary asylum status but have yet to receive an answer as to their petition.

As part of their domestic law, Turkey imposes limitations on accepting asylum seekers based on their country of origin.  More specifically, Turkish law forbids asylum status to people of non-European origin as refugees.  Despite their domestic law, Turkey is a popular destination for refugee and asylum seekers.

In a publication by the Human Rights Research Association (IHAD), it was reported that over twenty-six hundred refugees were detained last month for violating border regulations and, of that number, 378 were deported.  Many experts believe that these deportations constitute violations of universal human rights principles.  The cases of Abdolkhani and Karimnia are a prime example of these possible violations.  In the statement released Tuesday, the ECHR decided that Turkey would be in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights if they made another attempt at deportation of the two individuals.

The ECHR “was struck by the fact that both administrative and judicial authorities had remained totally passive regarding the applicants’ serious allegations of a risk of ill treatment if returned to Iraq or Iran.”  Furthermore, the Court was troubled by Turkey’s failure to consider the applicant’s requests for temporary asylum, to notify them of the reasons for not taking their asylum requests into consideration and for not authorizing them to have legal assistance.

Even prior to Tuesday’s decision, Turkey has been in the process of drafting new legislation to address the issue of refugees and asylum seekers.

For more information, please see:

Bianet- ECHR Convicted Turkey for Deportation of Iranian Refugees– 24 September 2009

Today’s Zaman- Court Ruling Puts Pressure on Turkey over Refugee Rights– 24 September 2009

Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights- Abdolkhani and Karimnia v. Turkey– 22 September 2009

Doubts Abound After Mideast Summit at U.N.

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Water Reporter, Middle East

 

NEW YORK, United States – A day after the leaders of the United States, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, many on all sides have expressed doubts that the meeting will result in productive peace negotiations.

 

On September 23, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Despite efforts by U.S. Mideast Envoy George Mitchell, the Obama Administration was unable to secure an agreement by Prime Minister Netanyahu to freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinian negotiators have demanded a settlement freeze as a pre-condition to any peace talks.

 

President Obama has begun to change tack in his efforts to restart peace negotiations, now focusing on the status of Jerusalem, the so-called “right of return” for Palestinian refugees, and the borders of a future Palestinian state. One international observer characterized President Obama’s efforts at the U.N. as completely unproductive.

 

“We’re in a corner,” said Zakaria al Qak, the foreign affairs director at Al-Quds University. “Obama is running out of steam. He was expected to set the direction in the first six months. But now it’s the politics of no choice, of deadlock.”

 

The Israeli Prime Minister appeared to be more optimistic about the possibility of progress.

 

“The president said let’s come and resume the peace process without preconditions. As you know I have been saying that for nearly six months,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu to Israeli television.

 

Other Israelis seemed more downbeat.

 

“This is a mood of resignation, of quiet despair that there is really [no] way out of the conflict,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of Israeli pro-peace group J Street.

 

Many Palestinians have considered President Obama’s insistence on moving forward with peace talks as backing off from the President’s call for a settlement freeze. Hamas, the ruling Palestinian party in the Gaza Strip, condemned President Obama’s call to resume the peace talks without an agreement on a settlement freeze.

 

One Palestinian put a positive gloss on the situation:

 

“It is clear that Obama will not accept failure of his political investment in dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict,” wrote columnist Talal Okal in the newspaper al-Ayyam.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Netanyahu: No Peace Until Palestinians Accept Israel as Jewish State – 24 September 2009

 

Jerusalem Post – Hamas Slams Obama for Backing Down on Demand for Settlement Freeze – 24 September 2009

 

Reuters – All-round Pessimism After Dud Middle East “Summit” – 24 September 2009

 

Ha’aretz – Obama Tells UN: We Do Not Accept Israeli Settlements – 23 September 2009

 

New York Times – White House Pivots on Mideast Peace Bid – 23 September 2009

 

 

Iranian Rally Leads to Violence

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On September 18, thousands of opposition supporters came to blows with Iranian security forces at a mass rally sponsored by the Mahmoud Ahmedinejad-led government. The supporters of the opposition held up signs in favor of the former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Moussavi, who lost the controversy-filled June presidential election to Ahmedinejad.

Ahmedinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had both warned supporters of the opposition that any demonstrations would not be tolerated. The Islamic Republic threatened that there would be a crackdown on any opposition at the annual rally. The clash between the two sides is viewed a clear defiance against the orders of the sitting President and the Islamic Republic, whose authority has come into question since the disputed June election.

Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets on the Islamic Republic’s annual al-Quds day rally. The yearly assembly is held on the final Friday of Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established the day as an annual international day of support for all Muslims to support Palestinians against the state of Israel.

The rally began peacefully, but tensions escalated as the march continued. Over one hundred thousand Iranians took the streets in Tehran for the yearly rally. Opposition supporters used the day to stage their first government protest in two months. The clash between the two sides led to multiple arrests and the use of violence by both sides. Opposition supporters threw stones and Iranian police used tear gas.

Reports have come through saying that Moussavi and former President Mohammad Khatami, another opposition leader, were attacked when the clash when opposition protesters clashed with government forces. It is alleged that attempts to beat former President Khatami after his turban was knocked off were stopped by opposition supporters. According to reports, the former President was not hurt during the day of clashes. Witnesses have come forward to say that opposition supporters held hardliners back from Moussavi as he attempted to get away in a car.

Ahmedinejad also used Friday’s rally in order to repeat his famous claims that the Holocaust was a myth. The Iranian President alleged that it was used as a “false pretext” to create the state of Israel and claimed that it was both a national and religious duty for Iranians to confront the “Zionist regime.” Despite his strong comments about Israel, Ahmednejad’s problems in his own country remain as chants of “resign” could be heard from the crowd.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Iran Opposition Chiefs Attacked as Mass Protests Hit Regime – 18 September 2009

Al Jazeera – Iranians Rally on ‘al-Quds Day’ – 18 September 2009

BBC – Clashes Erupt at Iran Mass Rally – 18 September 2009

New York Times – Despite Warning, Thousands Rally in Iran – 18 September 2009