By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 21, Iranian authorities raided and indefinitely closed down the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) in Tehran. The DHRC was founded five years ago by 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi received the award for her human rights work, making her the first Iranian to receive the honor. Ebadi was arrested at the raid and taken into custody for several hours. No other arrests were made, but the office remains closed.

The DHRC served as a place to report human rights violations in Iran, defend political prisoners and support families of those prisoners. The raid occurred as the center was preparing a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Human Rights Day on December 10.

Iran’s judiciary confirmed the closure of the center, stating it was involved in illegal activities. The judiciary claims the center was acting as a political party without obtaining a legal permit. The center is targeted for having illegal contacts with local and foreign organizations, and organizing news conferences.

In August 2006, the Iranian government informed Ebadi that the center was illegal and planned to arrest those who continued to work there.

According to Narges Mohammadi, deputy head of the center, dozens of policemen entered the office without showing a search warrant. The policemen said they were not obliged to show a warrant because they were wearing police uniforms. Iranian authorities have provided no written justification for the raid.

The DHRC is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights and has also been awarded a human rights prize by the Human Rights National Commission in France.

Over the years, Ebadi’s advocacy of human rights has led to imprisonment and a stream of threatening letters and telephone calls. Ebadi has noted the raid will not stop human rights activists in Iran. She insists the raid was illegal and she plans to protest.

 

For more information, please see:

CNN – Iran Raids, Closes Office, Nobel Winner Says – 21 December 2008

Huffington Post – Shirin Ebadi Office Shut Down by Iran: Nobel Laureate Claims Harassment – 21 December 2008

Iran Press Watch – Police Raid, Close Offices of Shirin Ebadi – 21 December 2008

News Daily – Police Raids Iran Nobel Laureate’s Office – 21 December 2008

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEL AVIV, Israel – On December 24, peace activists in Israel and around the world are participating in a day of action to urge Israeli authorities to release teenagers imprisoned for refusing to serve in the army for reasons of conscience. The day will include a rally and press event near the Defense Ministry. 

Nearly 100 Israeli high school students have signed an open letter declaring their refusal to serve in the Israeli army and their opposition to Israeli occupation and oppression policy in the occupied territories and the territories of Israel. They have voiced their concern in taking no part to further commit human rights abuses. 

There is a history of refusal to serve in Israel. Military service is mandatory for all graduating high school seniors in Israel. Resisters of enlisting face the possibility of years in prison.

Tamar Katz, Raz Bar-David Varon and Yuval Oron-Ofir are three conscientious objectors currently serving their third prison sentences. Katz (19) has been jailed for over fifty days. She is being held in isolation and deprived of family visits as punishment for refusing to wear a military uniform in prison. At least six other Israeli teenagers have been jailed in the past few months for refusing to enlist. 

There is no civilian service alternative to military draft in Israel. A “conscience committee” exists within the Israeli army, however, exemption is generally only granted to those who refuse to serve for religious reasons. Orthodox Yeshiva students are exempt from military service, and Orthodox girls can apply for alternative service.

Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s researcher on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, explains all conscientious objectors should be given the opportunity to present the grounds of their objection to a decision-making body which is impartial and independent. According to Amnesty International, the conscience-committee is sending the wrong message to Israelis.

Amnesty International asks Israeli authorities to establish an impartial exemption committee. Amnesty seeks the immediate and unconditional release of the teenagers and other conscience of war prisoners.

For more information, please see:

AlterNet – From U.S. War Resisters, A Letter of Solidarity to Israeli Army Resisters – 18 December 2008

Amnesty International – Israeli Teenagers Jailed For Refusing to Serve in Army – 18 December 2008

Common Dreams – Israeli Youth Resist Palestinian Occupation – 17 December 2008

Electronic Intifada – We Refuse to Serve in the Israeli Occupation – 28 August 2008

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TINDOUF, Algeria – Several human rights organizations have expressed concern over the conditions of refugees located in refugee camps in southwest Algeria.  The area has been the cause of political turmoil between Morocco and Algeria since the 1970s when Spanish colonial powers left the region.  The refugees largely belong to a political movement known as Polisario, which has expressed a desire for political autonomy. 

In July, the Secretary-General of the UN released a report describing the situation in the region.  His report stated that there had been reports that humanitarian aid to the region was being hindered and that the absence of secure food stocks since 2006 was a growing concern.  Since this report several other NGOs have released reports regarding human rights and humanitarian law violations in the region.

On December 12, World Action for Refugees, a Norwegian human rights organization released a report denouncing human rights violations in the region.  The report claimed that the refugees were subject to inhuman living conditions and asked that they be allowed to return to their countries of origin if they wish.   The report stated that regional populations were often completely dependent on humanitarian aid and that the people were denied the rights of freedom of movement, expression and association.

The most recent report on the region was released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on December 19, 2008.  HRW claims that the problems in Western Sahara have been on the back burner for too long and hope that their report will help bring focus back to the problems.  The report, titled “Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps,” focuses on the current problems in the region, rather than continuing to focus on past conflicts.  The report criticizes Morocco, claiming that it denies recognition of human rights organizations in the region, disperses peaceful protests, and tortures people in its custody.  HRW asks Morocco to allow access to the region by UN peacekeepers and other UN organizations.  It also requests Polisario to allow those same UN officials to enter the region.

On the same day as HRW released their report, King Mohammad VI of Morocco gave an address reaffirming its commitment to human rights.  In his address, he condemned the suffering and humiliation experienced by those living in the Tindouf camps and expressed a commitment to open dialogue in hopes of peace in the region.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch –  Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps – 19 December 2008

Human Rights Watch – Morocco: Suppressing Rights in Western Sahara – 19 December 2008

PR Newswire – Morocco Cites ‘Unyielding Commitment’ to Universal Human Rights Protections, Founded on ‘Sincere Action’ Not Just A ‘Slogan’ – 19 December 2008

Reuters – U.N. Should Being Monitoring Rights in W. Sahara – HRW – 19 December 2008

Relief Web – Norwegian NGO Defends Rights of Tindouf Camps Population to Return to their Country of Origin – 12 December 2008

United Nations – Question of Western Sahara: Report of the Secretary-General – 15 July 2008

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TINDOUF, Algeria – Several human rights organizations have expressed concern over the conditions of refugees located in refugee camps in southwest Algeria.  The area has been the cause of political turmoil between Morocco and Algeria since the 1970s when Spanish colonial powers left the region.  The refugees largely belong to a political movement known as Polisario, which has expressed a desire for political autonomy. 

In July, the Secretary-General of the UN released a report describing the situation in the region.  His report stated that there had been reports that humanitarian aid to the region was being hindered and that the absence of secure food stocks since 2006 was a growing concern.  Since this report several other NGOs have released reports regarding human rights and humanitarian law violations in the region.

On December 12, World Action for Refugees, a Norwegian human rights organization released a report denouncing human rights violations in the region.  The report claimed that the refugees were subject to inhuman living conditions and asked that they be allowed to return to their countries of origin if they wish.   The report stated that regional populations were often completely dependent on humanitarian aid and that the people were denied the rights of freedom of movement, expression and association.

The most recent report on the region was released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on December 19, 2008.  HRW claims that the problems in Western Sahara have been on the back burner for too long and hope that their report will help bring focus back to the problems.  The report, titled “Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps,” focuses on the current problems in the region, rather than continuing to focus on past conflicts.  The report criticizes Morocco, claiming that it denies recognition of human rights organizations in the region, disperses peaceful protests, and tortures people in its custody.  HRW asks Morocco to allow access to the region by UN peacekeepers and other UN organizations.  It also requests Polisario to allow those same UN officials to enter the region.

On the same day as HRW released their report, King Mohammad VI of Morocco gave an address reaffirming its commitment to human rights.  In his address, he condemned the suffering and humiliation experienced by those living in the Tindouf camps and expressed a commitment to open dialogue in hopes of peace in the region.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch –  Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps – 19 December 2008

Human Rights Watch – Morocco: Suppressing Rights in Western Sahara – 19 December 2008

PR Newswire – Morocco Cites ‘Unyielding Commitment’ to Universal Human Rights Protections, Founded on ‘Sincere Action’ Not Just A ‘Slogan’ – 19 December 2008

Reuters – U.N. Should Being Monitoring Rights in W. Sahara – HRW – 19 December 2008

Relief Web – Norwegian NGO Defends Rights of Tindouf Camps Population to Return to their Country of Origin – 12 December 2008

United Nations – Question of Western Sahara: Report of the Secretary-General – 15 July 2008

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEL AVIV, Israel – On December 24, peace activists in Israel and around the world are participating in a day of action to urge Israeli authorities to release teenagers imprisoned for refusing to serve in the army for reasons of conscience. The day will include a rally and press event near the Defense Ministry. 

Nearly 100 Israeli high school students have signed an open letter declaring their refusal to serve in the Israeli army and their opposition to Israeli occupation and oppression policy in the occupied territories and the territories of Israel. They have voiced their concern in taking no part to further commit human rights abuses. 

There is a history of refusal to serve in Israel. Military service is mandatory for all graduating high school seniors in Israel. Resisters of enlisting face the possibility of years in prison.

Tamar Katz, Raz Bar-David Varon and Yuval Oron-Ofir are three conscientious objectors currently serving their third prison sentences. Katz (19) has been jailed for over fifty days. She is being held in isolation and deprived of family visits as punishment for refusing to wear a military uniform in prison. At least six other Israeli teenagers have been jailed in the past few months for refusing to enlist. 

There is no civilian service alternative to military draft in Israel. A “conscience committee” exists within the Israeli army, however, exemption is generally only granted to those who refuse to serve for religious reasons. Orthodox Yeshiva students are exempt from military service, and Orthodox girls can apply for alternative service.

Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s researcher on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, explains all conscientious objectors should be given the opportunity to present the grounds of their objection to a decision-making body which is impartial and independent. According to Amnesty International, the conscience-committee is sending the wrong message to Israelis.

Amnesty International asks Israeli authorities to establish an impartial exemption committee. Amnesty seeks the immediate and unconditional release of the teenagers and other conscience of war prisoners.

For more information, please see:

AlterNet – From U.S. War Resisters, A Letter of Solidarity to Israeli Army Resisters – 18 December 2008

Amnesty International – Israeli Teenagers Jailed For Refusing to Serve in Army – 18 December 2008

Common Dreams – Israeli Youth Resist Palestinian Occupation – 17 December 2008

Electronic Intifada – We Refuse to Serve in the Israeli Occupation – 28 August 2008