By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen– The Jewish community of Amran Province is facing renewed threats of violence from their Muslim neighbors since the renewal of hostilities between Israel and Gaza began on December 27, 2008.  Yemen currently has a small Jewish community, comprising approximately 400 people.

Tensions between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Yemen initially increased in December 2008, following the murder of Jewish citizen Masha Al-Nahari.  At the trial of the accused murderer, Abdul Aziz Al-Abdi, journalists and attorneys present in the courtroom described the proceedings as, “full of chaos and quarrels.”  According to witnesses, one Yemeni soldier was attacked by a family member of the accused, while Al-Nahari’s family has received death threats.  The violence and threats follows after the government agreed to transfer the trial to the capitol due to a lack of security at the court in Amran, where the Al-Nahari family resides.

Currently, Yemeni Jews in Amran are living in a state of fear, after receiving numerous threats from the relatives of Al-Abdi and his supporters.  Hostility towards the Jewish community in Yemen, which began in the aftermath of Al-Nahari’s murder is increasing throughout the country in response to the ongoing situation in Gaza.  According to Hayeem Yaish, a Jewish activist in Yemen, harassment against Jews has rapidly increased since the start of the crisis in Gaza.  According to Yaish, “protesters told us the state [Yemen] won’t protect us and that they would attack us secretly if not openly.  We are intimidated every day and out pain grows constantly.  We even receive threats on our mobile phones.”

As the Al-Nahari trial continues and the violence in Gaza escalates, the Jewish community in Yemen has grown increasingly concerned with their safety, as they continue to face threats and intimidation in their neighborhoods.  According to the Jewish community, conservative Muslims are entering synagogues and Jewish community centers attempting to provoke a response from the Jews.  Jewish women are threatened with forced conversion in the streets, and anonymous groups have stoned Jewish homes and threatened to kill them.  Many Jews are now afraid to leave their homes.

On January 3, Jewish children in Raidi were attacked with stones by Muslim students who were protesting Israeli actions in Gaza.  One individual, Zaher Salem, was seriously injured after being hit in the head by a stone.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has promised to provide a piece of land and compensation to every family of the Jewish community, relocating them to larger cities.  The government has increased its efforts to protect the Jewish community, announcing a new plan to relocate the Jewish community of the Raida district of Amran province to Sana’a in light of the recent surge of violence and threats of violence against Jews.  However, the relocation, initially scheduled to occur on January 4 has not yet been implemented.  Yaish maintains that the longer the Jewish community remains in the Raida district, “the more the threats against us.  We really fear for our lives and the lives of our children.”  The Jewish community claims that the government has not taken adequate measures to protect them.  They maintain that while other citizens carry guns or knives in order to protect themselves, the members of the Jewish community do not, and therefore they are dependent on the state for protection.  While the government has delayed the relocation, no one in the Jewish community has been told when the transfer will in fact occur. 

For more information, please see:

IRIN –Yemen: Jews in North Increasingly Being Harassed – 5 January 2009

Yemen News Agency – Children Attack Yemeni Jew in Amran Governorate – 5 January 2009

Yemen Times –While Gaza Crisis Cause More Hostility Against Yemeni Jews, Murdered Jew Family Demands Transferring Trail to Sana’a – 4 January 2008

News Yemen – Yemeni Jews Abused Over Israeli Offensive in Gaza – 4 January 2009

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 3, Israel ground troops began an offensive into Gaza.  The Israeli army said the assault is intended to take control of territory from where Hamas fires its rockets. 

Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, said, “The objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas, in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians.”

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the ground campaign against Hamas “will not be easy or short, but we are determined”. He added, “Our aim is to force Hamas to stop its hostile activities against Israel and Israelis from Gaza, and to bring about a significant change in the situation in the southern part of Israel.”

The incursion followed a day of artillery barrages aimed at clearing the way for the 10,000 Israeli troops who had massed on the border.  Apparently, the artillery shells were intended to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area and reduce the risk to IDF ground troops.

Following the incursion, Hamas remained defiant. Hamas spokesman, Ismail Radwan, said, “Your incursion into Gaza will not be a walk in the park and Gaza will become your cemetery God willing.”  Additionally, Hamas said it broadcasted a Hebrew message on Israeli military radio frequencies: “Be prepared for a unique surprise, you will be either killed or kidnapped and will suffer mental illness from the horrors we will show you.”

As the ground offensive began, the air strikes continued.  Palestinian health officials report that 13 Palestinians were killed during a raid on a mosque in Beit Lahiya.  According to the Associated Press, it is not immediately clear why the mosque was hit.  However, when explaining earlier raids on mosques, Israel stated that the mosques were being used as weapons caches.

In addition to continued Israeli air strikes, rocket fire from Gaza was also unabated.  On January 3, at least 29 rockets were fired into Israel; damaging four houses and “slightly injuring” three people.  One rocket hit on a house in the southern city of Ashkelon, causing nearby houses to catch on fire.

As Israel began its ground incursion, Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concerns regarding the heightened need to protect civilian life because of likely combat in densely populated urban areas.  HRW called on both sides to strictly abide by the laws of war, specifically the taking of all feasible measures to avoid civilian causalities.

There are reports that Israel made at least two attempts to limit civilian causalities during the ground offensive.  First, the IDF dropped leaflets over Gaza City and the border areas, which urged Palestinians to flee their homes. The warning stated, “For your own safety, you are required to leave the area immediately.”

Also, prior to firing artillery shells in Beit Lahiya, a resident reported that Israeli army called and told them to leave the house within 15 minutes.  Despite the warning, two residents were killed and five were wounded when an artillery shell hit their home.

Not only did HRW call for increased precaution but only called for increased accountability for past violations of the laws of war.  According to HRW, the IDF reported that there have been no investigations into unlawful deaths from the March 2008 Gaza operations, called Operation Warm Winter.  Also, Hamas has done nothing to hold those firing rockets into civilian areas accountable.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Israel Begins Gaza Ground Offensive – 4 January 2009

BBC – Israeli Troops Enter Gaza Strip – 4 January 2009

Ha’aretz – Barak: Gaza Invasion Won’t Be Short, and Won’t Be Easy – 4 January 2009

AFP – Israeli Army Takes War Against Hamas into Gaza – 3 January 2009

Associate Press – Israeli Ground Forces Enter Gaza in Escalation – 3 January 2009

Guardian – Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border into Gaza – 3 January 2009

Human Rights Watch – Israel: Gaza Ground Offensive Raises Laws of War Concerns – 3 January 2009

Jerusalem Post – “Gaza Will Become Graveyard for Troops” – 3 January 2009

New York Times – Israel Troops Launch Attack on Gaza – 3 January 2009

The Telegraph – Israeli Tanks Roll into Gaza to Halt Hamas Rocket Attacks – 3 January 2009 ml

The Times – Israeli Tanks Roll into Gaza to Crush Hamas – 3 January 2009

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.S. and British troops withdrew from the fortified Green Zone surrounding Baghdad with the turning of the new year after the expiration of the U.N. mandate.  Iraqi forces are now responsible for ensuring the safety of the region.  Although the Iraqi defense minister pledged that Iraqi armed forces could handle the security profile, there has been a surge of violence in the area since January 1st.

On January 2, a suicide bomber acted just outside Baghdad, killing 23 and injuring approximately 110 people.  The attack was aimed at a group of Sunni tribal leaders.  The bomber entered the home of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Salih and proceeded to set off the explosives.  The meeting of the leaders was being held in a marquee on the grounds of the Sheikh. 

The meeting was held at the request of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.  Those in attendance included the leaders of Sunni and Shiite groups in the region known as the Triangle of Death, due to the violence, in hopes of convening reconciliation. 

On January 1, attacks killed three Iraqi police force members and two others in Mosul, a city about 250 miles north of Baghdad.  The UN has condemned violence in Mosul following the assassination of Mowaffaq al-Hamdani, a candidate for provincial council.  The UN said that campaign violence must not be allowed to intimidate candidates.   According to the UN secretary general’s special representative for Iraq, violence of this kind interferes with the right of every Iraqi to exercise their vote.  Al-Hamdani is the second candidate to be assassinated. 

U.S. troops have agreed to stay on in the area in order to assist with the transition; however they are to follow Iraqi orders.  Iraqi forces are officially in charge of the region and U.S. troops have agreed to leave if asked.  Iraqi generals have expressed their opinion that the Americans are not there to follow, but to supervise.  However, they believe that it is still a good first step.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post – Peacemaking Event is Attacked in Iraq – 3 January 2009

BBC – Suicide Bomb Kills Many in Iraq – 2 January 2009

Reuters – Election Friction Flares in Iraq’s Violent North – 2 January 2009

Washington Post – Green Zone Handed Off With Little Fanfare – 2 January 2009

BBC – Iraq Takes Control of Green Zone – 1 January 2009

New York Times – Attacks Occur As Iraq Takes Control of Key Sites – 1 January 2009

By Lauren Mellinger

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Saudi Gazette – NSHR Calls for Law Against Family Violence – 3 January 2009

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TORONTO, Canada – Canada is the main sponsor of a draft resolution on human rights violations in Iran. The UN General Assembly committee recently passed Canada’s resolution. The draft was approved by 70 members of the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Fifty-one members voted against and 60 members abstained.

Iran called for a “motion of no action” in an attempt to prevent the General Assembly from considering the resolution. The motion of no action was defeated by one vote. On December 18, the fifty-fifth UN resolution concerning human rights violations in Iran was passed.

The resolution accuses Iran of gross human rights violations, including torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, such as flogging and amputations. It criticizes the Iran for executing juveniles, killing people by stoning, and for discriminating against women. In addition, Iran is accused of maintaining a lacking legal process and for arbitrarily sentencing political and religious opponents to prison. The resolution urges Iran to stop human rights violations affecting religious and ethnic minorities, including Jews, Christians, Kurds, Arabs, Sunni Muslims and Baha’is.

The resolution calls on Iran’s government to improve its progress toward a greater realization of the protection and promotion of human rights for all Iranians.

The resolution was co-sponsored by 42 European and North American countries. Israel, Fiji and Micronesia have also shown their support. Several non-government groups took part in the campaign, including members of the Baha’i faith, some 30,000 of whom live in Canada.

Though, the General Assembly resolution is not legally binding, a resolution approved by the 191-member states carries more political weight than those passed by the 53-member human rights commission in Geneva, which passed a similar resolution in April 2001.

Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of the resolution, by stating that “It sends a message of hope to the victims of state-sponsored brutality and to the human rights defenders who seek to effect positive change in Iran.” Cannon noted that Canada will continue to promote Canadian values, such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the world.

According to Iran’s FARS news agency, Iran has recently released a book titled “Human Rights Violation by Canada,” as well as a 70-page booklet accusing Canada of unlawful strip searches and beatings by Canadian police. Furthermore, Iran has accused Canada of following the Israeli regime in supporting a propaganda campaign against Iran.

For more information, please see:

United Nations – General Assembly Adopts 52 Resolutions, 6 Decisions Recommended by Third Committee on Wide Range of Human Rights, Social, Humanitarian Issues – 18 December 2008

Ahwaz – Iran Fails to Stop UN Condemnation – 26 November 2008

The Gazette – Canada Leads Victory Over Iran on Rights – 24 November 2008

United Nations – Third Committee Draft Resolutions Address Human Rights Situations in Myanmar, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran – 21 November 2008

BNET – U.N. Adopts Human Rights Resolutions Against Myanmar, Iran – 18 November 2008