By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ZANJAN, Iran – A female student who alleged that she was molested by the vice-chancellor of the university has been arrested.  It is unclear what charges she is being charged with, but the prosecutor in the case has been quoted as saying that publicizing certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves.

After the initial allegations were made, large demonstrations broke out all over the university’s campus.  Sit-ins were staged and students grabbed the vice-chancellor and handed him over to authorities.  The woman alleged that the vice-chancellor harassed her after she went to discuss a problem with him.  Both the victim and the vice-chancellor are currently in custody.

For more information, please see:
AKI – Iran: University Protests Over Sexual Abuse – 20 June 2008

BBC – ‘Harassed’ Iran Student Arrested – 20 June 2008

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BAQUBA, Iraq – A female suicide bomber killed 15 people and wounded 39 others at a government building in the northern Iraqi city of Baquba.  Among those dead are eight police officers, two women and one child.

The attacker stepped out of a car and walked toward a group of police officers and detonated the explosives she was wearing.  The attack marks the second time this year that a suicide bomber apparently intent on killing police officers attacked the crowded downtown area of Baquba.

The attack also follows a recent trend of increased use of women as suicide bombers.  Female suicide bombers have carried out at least 21 suicide attacks this year in Iraq, up from eight in all of 2007.

For more information, please see:
Washington Post – At Least 15 Killed by Female Bomber in Iraq – 23 June 2008

BBC – Suicide Bombing Rocks Iraqi City – 22 June 2008

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BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi council member Raed Hmood Ajil opened fire on U.S. soldiers after a meeting in a town just south of Baghdad.  Two U.S. soldiers were killed and three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were wounded.

The councilmen came out of his car with an assault rifle and shot at American soldiers until he was killed by return fire.  The attack occurred after U.S. soldiers and Iraqi officials had attended a ceremony to open a new park.

For more information, please see:
Washington Post – Two U.S. Soldiers Killed as Iraqi Council Member Opens Fire After Meeting – 24 June 2008

CNN – Iraqi Councilman Kills U.S. Soldiers – 23 June 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – US Ambassador James Foley, the US Department of State’s coordinator for Iraqi refugees, will visit Syria from June 23-26.  His visit to Syria is part of a trip to four Middle Eastern countries in an effort to increase the number of refugees going to the US.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that nearly 1 in 10 Iraqis are either internally displaced or has fled the country.  An estimated 2.3 million are refugees, with nearly 1.5 million refugees live in Syria and 500,000 in Jordan.  In 2007, some 52,000 Iraqis applied for refugee status, making them the largest applicant group.

Foley’s Middle East tour includes stops in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the purpose is to increase the number of Iraqis traveling to the US in order to reach President Bush’s goal of accepting 12,000 Iraqis by the end of September.

“He will assess the needs of Iraqi refugees in these countries and look at ways to enhance programs that provide assistance to refugees and help resettle the most vulnerable in third countries,” said Kurtis Cooper, a Department of State spokesman.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – US Diplomat to visit Syria on Iraqi Refugees – 20 June 2008

Reuters – Refugees of Shattered East Account for 50% of World-s Refugees – 20 June 2008

By Laura Zuber

Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On June 17, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, confirmed at a news conference that militant groups had agreed a truce with Israel. In addition, Hossam Zaki, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, “Both sides have pledged to halt all hostilities and all military activities against each other.”

Israeli officials have yet to confirm that a truce has been reached with Hamas. But, security sources said an accord is in the offing. Defense Ministry official Major General (res.) Amos Gilad left Tuesday for Cairo to conclude the final agreement. While, Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister, stopped short of announcing an official agreement, he stressed the importance of making all possible efforts toward achieving calm.

According to the detailed time table released by Hamas, the six month cease-fire will occur in a series of stages. First, all violence should end beginning at 6am June 18. Then, if the cease-fire holds, then Israel will gradually relax the border blockade and begin to allow more supplies into Gaza. After two weeks of peace, the Israel and Hamas will begin discussing opening the Rafah border crossing, from Gaza into Egypt, and the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Hamas official Ahmed Yousef told the BBC: “I am confident that everybody will abide by what we’ve agreed. All the groups which went to Cairo gave their okay to the ceasefire… If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own.”

Despite the renewed optimism for lasting peace, there is a fair amount of skepticism. In the past seven days, IDF operations have resulted in the deaths of 20 Palestinians in Gaza. For example, two IDF operations in and near Khan Younis killed six Palestinians. Also, according to Israeli military, over 90 rockets and mortar shells have been fired by Palestinian militants into Israel.

In related news, on June 16, the new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Richard Falk addressed the UN Human Rights Council. In his address, Falk expressed concern that his role would be biased and asked the UN to expand his mandate to include investigating human rights violations carried out by Palestinians, as well.

Currently, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 is limited to investigating Israeli violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This has caused Israel and others to argue that the Human Rights Council is biased and one-sided.

Falk stated that “the idea of investigating violations of international humanitarian law only make sense if all the relevant parties are included.” Also, that attention has been diverted from Israel’s human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories by those who argue his role is one-sided and biased. “One exposes the real character of the occupation much more effectively if one responds to that criticism, which I think is in any event a fair criticism.”

Falk’s appointment as the new Special Rapporteur was controversial. In 2007, Israel responded angrily when Falk compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with Nazi atrocities against Jews during the Holocaust. At the June 16 meeting of the Human Rights Council, Israel expressed concern as to whether Falk fulfilled the requirement that the Special Rapporteur be independent, impartial and objective.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Israel and Hamas Agree Ceasefire as Air Strike Kill Six Palestinian Fighters – 18 June 2008

Ha’aretz – Hamas, Egypt Back Gaza Truce, Israel yet to Confirm Deal – 18 June 2008

Al Jazeera – Israel-Hamas Truce Announced – 17 June 2008

BBC – Israel and Hamas ‘Agree Truce’ – 17 June 2008

Human Rights Tribune – Thunderclaps over Palestine – 17 June 2008

International Herald Tribune – New UN Rights Expert Wants to Investigate Palestinian Abuses as well as Israel’s – 16 June 2008

ReliefWeb – High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Rapporteur on Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territories Address Council – 16 June 2008

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian police have begun a new campaign against violations of the state enforced dress code.  The police are arresting women whose headscarves do not fully cover their hair or if their clothes do not hide their figure.  Men are also being stopped if their hairstyles are deemed inappropriate.

After Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, a dress code was imposed requiring women to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise the shape of their bodies.  Violating these rules can result in lashes, fines or imprisonment.

Police have closed dozens of stores and hairdressers in an attempt to stop the selling of potentially inappropriate clothes and hairstyles.  The crackdown is an annual attempt by the government to curb dress code violations at the beginning of the summer, when women are more likely to wear lighter clothes as the temperature rises.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Iranian Police Crack Down on Dress Code Violations – 16 June 2008

BBC – New Iranian Dress Code Crackdown – 16 June 2008

Reuters – Iran Police Start Wider Crackdown on Un-Islamic Dress – 16 June 2008

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BAGHDAD, Iraq – A female suicide bomber targeted soccer fans in a café north of Baghdad on June 14.  The fans were celebrating Iraq’s World Cup qualifying win when the suicide bomber attacked.

The explosion injured 34 people including seven policemen.  More injuries were prevented because a policeman spotted the woman holding a detonator and yelled for the crowd to disperse.

20 women have carried out suicide bombings in Iraq this year, many more than in previous years.  Only eight women carried out suicide bombings in Iraq in all of 2007.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans; 34 Hurt – 14 June 2008

CNN – Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans in Iraq – 14 June 2008

International Herald Tribune – Iraq: Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans Near Café North of Baghdad, Wounding 34 – 14 June 2008

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TEHRAN, Iran – Japanese tourist Satoshi Nakamura, 23, was kidnapped while traveling in Iran last year.  He was released on June 14, eight months after he had been taken hostage while traveling alone in Iran’s dangerous southeastern border with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseini Ejehi was quoted as saying drug smugglers and armed bandits were responsible for the kidnapping.  Iran has historically blamed kidnapping of foreigners on criminals and drug smugglers and foreigners are urged to be cautious when traveling there.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Nakamura was in good spirits when they spoke with him.  No further details, including whether a ransom was paid, have been released.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Kidnapped Japanese Tourist Freed in Iran After 8 Months – 15 June 2008

Reuters – Freed Japanese Arrives in Iran’s Capital – 15 June 2008

Associated Press – Japanese Tourist, Seized by Bandits in Iran, Freed – 14 June 2008

BBC – Japanese Captive Freed in Iran – 14 June 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – On June 12, 30 Arab human rights groups issued a joint statement to the Saudi government to release Dr Matruk al-Faleh. Faleh is a prominent reformist who was arrested on May 19.

In the joint statement, the groups expressed concern over Faleh health. According to Faleh’s wife, he has been on a hunger strike since his arrest in mid-May. In addition, Faleh suffers from diabetes and hypertension.

The human rights groups called upon the Saudi government to “end to their arbitrary practices targeting Saudi activists who aspire to effect democratic reform in the kingdom.”

The reason for Faleh’s arrest is unclear, although the human rights groups believe that it is linked to Faleh’s representation of reformist Abdullah al-Hamed and a statement Faleh wrote after visiting him, which was critical of conditions in the jail.

In August 2005, King Abdullah pardoned and released Faleh after he spent 17 months in prison for advocating a constitutional monarchy.

For more information, please see:

Middle East Times – Arab Rights Groups Urge Saudi to Free Jailed Reformist – 12 June 2008

AFP – Saudi Activists Appeal to King Over Jailed Reformist – 5 June 2008

Washington Post – Saudi Critic Jailed After Decrying Justice System – 21 May 2008

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SANANDAJ PRISON, Iran – On June 10, Iran ignored international pleas and executed a juvenile offender, Mohammad Hassanzadeh, aged 17. Hassanzadeh was convicted for a murder he committed when he was 15 years old and is the second juvenile offender that Iran has executed this year.

Amnesty International criticized Iran: “This latest execution of a juvenile offender is yet another blatant violation by the Iranian authorities of their international obligations under the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child not to sentence to death those under the age of 18 at the time of the offence.”

Also on June 10, Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi, head of Iran’s Judiciary, granted a one month reprieve to two other juvenile offenders; Behnoud Shojaee, and Mohammad Feda’i. Shojaee and Feda’i were convicted of separate incidences of premeditated murder. According to letter written by Feda’i, he was beaten by prison authorities until he agreed to sign a confession without knowledge of its content.

According to Amnesty International, there are 85 juvenile offenders sentenced to death in Iran. In 2007, Iran executed at least 335 individuals, seven of which were juvenile offenders.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Iran Executes Juvenile Offender – 12 June 2008

Jerusalem Post – 2 Iranian Kids Reprieved from Execution – 12 June 2008

Amnesty International – Kurdish Boy Executed in Iran – 11 June 2008

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HEBRON, West Bank – On June 9, Thamam al Nawaja (58 years old), her husband (70), and their nephew, were assaulted by four masked men. Nawaja had been herding her goats near the Jewish settlement of Susia, near Hebron.

“The settlers gave us a 10-minute warning to clear off from the land,” said Nawaja. “They don’t want us to stay on our land. But we won’t leave. We’ll die here. It’s ours.” When her family refused to leave, the men began attacking Nawaja and her family. Nawaja was badly injured and transported to an Israeli hospital, where she stayed for three days. Her husband and nephew were transported to a hospital in Hebron.

The incident was filmed on a camera distributed by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, as part of their “Shooting Back” project. The objective of the project is to provide video evidence, instead of an oral statement, of an assault to the Israeli police.

Oren Yakobovich, who leads the “Shooting Back” project, states “When they have the camera, they have proof that something happened. They now have something they can work with, to use as a weapon.”

The Yesh Din human rights organization commented that Palestinians have filed six complaints about assault in the last three months. Two have been closed on grounds that the perpetrator was unknown.

For more information, please see:

BBC – ´Jewish Settler Attack´ on Film – 12 June 2008

Ha’aretz – Three Palestinian Sheperds Tell Police: We were attacked by masked settlers in Hebron Hills – 10 June 2008