By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On February 29, Iraqi officials announced that its presidential council approved the execution of “Chemical Ali”, whose real name is Ali Hassan al-Majid.  In June 2007, an Iraqi court convicted Majid of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his role in the Alfal campaign against the Kurds in 1988.

In 1988, Majid was the commander of Iraqi forces in northern Iraq and following the cease-fire ending the Iran-Iraq war, he ordered the use of chemical weapons against the Kurds.  Alfal, meaning “spoils of war” was a campaign that targeted Iraq’s Kurdish population, who supported Iran during the war.  During Majid’s trial, the court heard that as many as 182,000 died in attacks that he oversaw.

During the trial, Majid remained defiant and showed no remorse.  At one hearing, he said, “I am the one who gave orders to the army to demolish villages and relocate the villagers. I am not apologizing. I did not make a mistake.”

His conviction and death sentence was upheld by an appeals court in September 2007.  Iraqi law states that executions must be carried out within 30 days of it being approved by the presidential council.  The US military stated that they have not received a request to turn Majid over; however, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki said that Majid will be hung in a “matter of days.”

While his sentence was affirmed by an appeals court in September, his execution has been delayed due to legal and political concerns.  Majid was convicted along with two other top officials of the Hussein government – Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, a senior military chief, and the former defense minister, Sultan Hashim al-Tai.

The presidential council, which comprises Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents, Tareq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shia, disagreed over the sentence of Hashim.  Iraqi Sunnis protested his sentence and  Hashemi was among prominent Sunnis who insisted Hashim was simply following orders and should be reprieved.

The US military, who has custody of the three former leaders, refused to surrender  any until the presidential council reached agreement.  While the council approved Majid’s execution, they have not yet approved the executions of Tikriti and Hashim.

For more information, please see:
Al Arabiya News Channel – Iraq Council Approves ‘Chemical Ali” Hanging – 29 February 2008

BBC – ‘Chemical Ali’ Execution Approved – 29 February 2008

Guardian – Chemical Ali to be Executed within 30 Days – 29 February 2008

Telegraph – ‘Chemical Ali’ Execution Approved in Iraq – 29 February 2008

Washington Post – ‘Chemical Ali’ Execution OK’d in Iraq – 29 February 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On February 26, an Egyptian court delayed delivering the verdict for a case involving 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The court postponed the verdict until March 25, one week after the nominations for the upcoming local elections.  According to the brotherhood, the court’s delay was politically motivated.

The municipal elections were scheduled for April 2006 but were postponed after members of the Muslim Brotherhood won 20 percent of the seats in the parliamentary elections in 2005.  It is speculated that group will win a landslide victory if its leaders are allowed to participate in the local elections scheduled for April 8.

In the past, the local councils have had relatively little power in national politics.  However, constitutional amendments in 2005 require that presidential candidates obtain 140 recommendations city councils before they could run.  If the Muslim Brotherhood wins enough seats in the local elections on April 8, they could challenge Mubarak for the presidency in the next presidential election.

Of the 40 defendants, 33 have been held since their arrest December 2006 and the other seven are being tried in absentia.  The defendants are being tried by a military tribunal for charges of money laundering and terrorism.  Earlier, an appeals court held that the defendants should be tried in a civilian court, but the state overturned the decision and the military tribunal resumed last year.

On February 24, nearly 2,500 students, most of whom are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, protested the trial.  At Ain Shams University, in Cairo, and al-Azhar University, in Assiut, students shouted anti-government slogans and condemned the trial.  Also, when the postponement was announced, several hundred protesters gathered outside the court at the Haekstep military base.

In the past two weeks, over 250 members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested.  Many of those arrested are potential candidates in the local elections.  In total, the group claims that over 600 of its members are imprisoned.  Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh, an influential Brotherhood member, warned that there could be up to 10,000 arrests by the time polls close on election day.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in 1928, has been banned in Egypt since 1954.  The organization is the current government’s greatest opposition.  The Egyptian police officials state the many of the recent detainees were arrested under suspicion of being members of the banned group.

For more information, please see:
AHN – Egyptian Protesters Angered at Military Trial Verdict Delay – 27 February 2008

Al Jazeera – Egypt Accused of Delay Tactic – 27 February 2008

Reuters – Egypt Delays Brotherhood Verdict and Arrests 17 – 26 February 2008

International Herald Tribune – Over 2,000 Egyptian University Students Protest Against Islamist Leaders’ Military Trial – 24 February 2008

International Herald Tribune – Muslim Brotherhood Says Egypt’s Government Trying to Block it from Key Local Elections – 21 February 2008

BBC – Egypt Detains Brotherhood Members – 20 February 2008

CNN – Egyptian Security Forces Raid Muslim Brotherhood – 20 February 2008

Jurist – Egypt Police Arrest 70 more Muslim Brotherhood Candidates Ahead of Local Elections – 20 February 2008

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Importer, Middle East Desk

CASABLANCA, Morocco – A Moroccan court sentenced Fouad Mourtada to three years in prison and a 10,000 dirhams ($1,304) fine on February 22 for making a fake Facebook profile of Prince Moulay Rachid.

Mourtada, a 26 year-old computer engineer, was accused of “villainous practices” and of stealing the identity of the crown prince, who is second in line to the throne.  There are thousands of fake profiles exist on Facebook, ranging from President George W. Bush to Osama Bin Laden.

After posting the fake profile, Mourtada was allegedly kidnapped and tortured on February 5.  A website started by his family and supporters said that Mourtada was arrested, blindfolded and taken to an unknown building where he was beaten and insulted (www.helpfouad.com).  The Moroccan Security Forces denied that Mourtada was tortured.

Mourtada is quoted as saying the following to relatives who visited him in jail: “I never thought that by creating a profile of his Highness Prince Moulay Rachid I am harming him in any way.”  Mourtada said he built the page as a tribute to Prince Rachid.  “I admire him,” Mourtada said.

Since the allegations were made, the Moroccan blogosphere has exploded in protest.  Facebook groups, such as “Help Fouad Mourtada – Aidez Fouad Mourtada,” have given further notice to the issue.  The group is planning a peaceful protest outside of the Moroccan Embassy on March 1.

Since Mourtada’s arrest, at least four other Facebook profiles of Prince Rachid have sprung up, although the pages’ authors are thought to be outside of Moracco and beyond the country’s jurisdiction.

Reporters Without Borders expressed their worry that Mourtada’s arrest would have a stifling effect on free speech.

“This is the first time a Moroccan has been convicted for an online offence and Mourtada was the victim of a summary trial,” a Reporters Without Borders press release said.

“We are worried about the effect on freedom of expression on the Moroccan Internet as all of the country’s bloggers will feel targeted. This disproportionate sentence has shocked the Moroccan blogger community, which is one of the biggest in the region.”

Mourtada’s sister, Amina, echoed those sentiments, telling the Washington Post “Morocco should not want to go down in history as the first country to torture and imprison someone ‘for having created a profile on Facebook.’”

Mourtada’s brother, Ilyas, said the family would appeal the conviction.

For more information, please see:
Reporters Without Borders – Moroccan Bloggers Worried After “Disproportionate” Three-Year Jail Term For Internet User Who Created Spoof Facebook Profile – 26 February 2008

The Washington Post – Fouad Mourtada Gets Three Years for Phony Facebook Page – 26 February 2008

CNN – Morocco Jails Facebook Royal Imposter – 25 February 2008

New York Times – Morocco: Prison for Facebook Prince – 23 February 2008

United Press International – 3 Years for Royal Facebook Fake in Morocco – 23 February 2008

Reuters – Moroccan Jailed over Spoofing Prince on Facebook – 22 February 2008

For sites supporting Fouad Mourtada, please see:
Facebook – Help Fouad Mourtada – Aidez Fouad Mourtada –

Fouad Mourtada’s Family’s Website – http://www.helpfouad.com/

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Importer, Middle East Desk

CASABLANCA, Morocco – A Moroccan court sentenced Fouad Mourtada to three years in prison and a 10,000 dirhams ($1,304) fine on February 22 for making a fake Facebook profile of Prince Moulay Rachid.

Mourtada, a 26 year-old computer engineer, was accused of “villainous practices” and of stealing the identity of the crown prince, who is second in line to the throne.  There are thousands of fake profiles exist on Facebook, ranging from President George W. Bush to Osama Bin Laden.

After posting the fake profile, Mourtada was allegedly kidnapped and tortured on February 5.  A website started by his family and supporters said that Mourtada was arrested, blindfolded and taken to an unknown building where he was beaten and insulted (www.helpfouad.com).  The Moroccan Security Forces denied that Mourtada was tortured.

Mourtada is quoted as saying the following to relatives who visited him in jail: “I never thought that by creating a profile of his Highness Prince Moulay Rachid I am harming him in any way.”  Mourtada said he built the page as a tribute to Prince Rachid.  “I admire him,” Mourtada said.

Since the allegations were made, the Moroccan blogosphere has exploded in protest.  Facebook groups, such as “Help Fouad Mourtada – Aidez Fouad Mourtada,” have given further notice to the issue.  The group is planning a peaceful protest outside of the Moroccan Embassy on March 1.

Since Mourtada’s arrest, at least four other Facebook profiles of Prince Rachid have sprung up, although the pages’ authors are thought to be outside of Moracco and beyond the country’s jurisdiction.

Reporters Without Borders expressed their worry that Mourtada’s arrest would have a stifling effect on free speech.

“This is the first time a Moroccan has been convicted for an online offence and Mourtada was the victim of a summary trial,” a Reporters Without Borders press release said.

“We are worried about the effect on freedom of expression on the Moroccan Internet as all of the country’s bloggers will feel targeted. This disproportionate sentence has shocked the Moroccan blogger community, which is one of the biggest in the region.”

Mourtada’s sister, Amina, echoed those sentiments, telling the Washington Post “Morocco should not want to go down in history as the first country to torture and imprison someone ‘for having created a profile on Facebook.’”

Mourtada’s brother, Ilyas, said the family would appeal the conviction.

For more information, please see:
Reporters Without Borders – Moroccan Bloggers Worried After “Disproportionate” Three-Year Jail Term For Internet User Who Created Spoof Facebook Profile – 26 February 2008

The Washington Post – Fouad Mourtada Gets Three Years for Phony Facebook Page – 26 February 2008

CNN – Morocco Jails Facebook Royal Imposter – 25 February 2008

New York Times – Morocco: Prison for Facebook Prince – 23 February 2008

United Press International – 3 Years for Royal Facebook Fake in Morocco – 23 February 2008

Reuters – Moroccan Jailed over Spoofing Prince on Facebook – 22 February 2008

For sites supporting Fouad Mourtada, please see:
Facebook – Help Fouad Mourtada – Aidez Fouad Mourtada –

Fouad Mourtada’s Family’s Website – http://www.helpfouad.com/

NEW YORK, United States – Human Rights Watch and the Moroccan Human Rights Association called on the Moroccan government to protect the rights to privacy and a fair trial.  In November 2007, six men were arrested and later convicted under Article 489 of the penal code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex.”

The men were arrested after a video of a private party, allegedly including the men, circulated on the internet.  Abdelaziz Nouaydi, a Rabat lawyer on the men’s defense team, said that the men were convicted after the prosecution showed no evidence of any Article 489 violation and only offered the video as evidence.  However, the video showed no indication of sexual activity.  The men were sentenced to imprisonment, ranging from three to ten months.  Article 489 provides a punishment of up to three years imprisonment.

HRW states that criminalizing consensual, adult homosexual conduct violates international law.  Morocco has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which bar interference with the right to privacy.  Also, the United Nations Human Rights Committee stated that laws that criminalize consensual homosexual conduct violate the ICCPR.

For more information, please see:
Human Rights Watch – Morocco: Protect Rights to Privacy and Fair Trial – 26 February 2008

Human Rights Watch – Morocco: Overturn Verdicts for Homosexual Conduct – 12 December 20083