MECCA, Saudi Arabia – On February 23, the Prosecution and Investigation Commission started an investigation into 57 young men arrested on February 21 for allegedly “flirting” with girls at malls in Mecca.  The men were arrested by regular police officers after the police were summoned to the malls by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police or Muttawa.  According to the Saudi Gazette, an English-language daily, the muttawa sent 20 of its staff and policemen to Meccan malls to arrest the young men, who were transferred to the Al-Mansour Police Station.

The young men are accused of wearing “indecent clothing and playing loud music and dancing” to attract the attention of the opposite sex.  The men found innocent upon investigation will be released and the others will be referred to the court of law.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Saudi Police Crack Down on Flirting in Mecca – 23 February 2008

BBC – Saudi Men Arrested for “Flirting” – 23 February 2008

Saudi Gazette – 57 Men Nabbed for Flirting – 23 February 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – On February 21, Peace Now, an Israeli organization that monitors settlement expansion, released a report in which the group states that there is a clear policy of discrimination against Palestinians.  As the result of the Olso Accords, the West Bank was divided into three different areas: Area A, controlled by the Palestinian Authority; Area B, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and Area C, controlled by Israel.  In order to build private homes, expand private homes, or to build public buildings and infrastructure in Area C, a permit needs to be issued by the Israeli Civil Administration.

The Peace Now report states that between 2000 and 2007, less than 6% of building permits submitted by Palestinians have been approved.  During this period, only 91 (of 1,624) building permits submitted by Palestinians were approved, while 18,472 homes were built in the West Bank for Israeli settlers.  Also, the report states that of the 4,993 demolition orders issued to Palestinians, 1,663 were carried out, resulting in a 33% rate of demolition.  In contrast, of the 2,900 demolition orders issued to Israeli settlement buildings, 199 demolitions were carried out, resulting in a 7% rate of demolition.

Most of the demolitions have been carried out against private homes and buildings that were built illegally without a permit.  Captain Zidki Maman, spokesman for the IDF unit that oversees civil affairs in the West Bank, stated that “If Palestinians would submit request for building permits, there could be thousands more approvals.”  However, Palestinians frequently complain that the authorities reject most building requests as a matter of policy.

The status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank remains a focal point in the peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Abbas.  At the beginning of the talks, Olmert announced a settlement freeze in which no new settlements would be built, but did not limit the construction of new homes in existing settlements.  As a result, the expansion of settlements continues; evidenced by new homes in settlements such as Eli, south of Nablus, and Maskiot, in the Jordan valley.

While the IDF oversees all settlement activity and is aware of the construction, it has not approved the construction or issued permits for the construction.  Maman stated that the IDF is aware of the situation and “in the end, all illegal building is taken care of.”  He declined to say whether the illegal homes would be dismantled.

Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer stated “the Civil Administration figures clarify that the West Bank territories controlled by Israel are for Jews only.” Also, Oppenheimer said that “the data proves that the discrimination is clearly and blatantly against the Palestinian population, and the denial of permits and the firm enforcement in the Palestinian communities raises the suspicion that this is an intentional policy aimed at bringing about a quiet transfer of the Palestinians from Area C.”

For more information, please see:
BBC – W Bank Building “Bias” Condemned – 21 February 2008

Peace Now – Area C: Palestinian Construction and Demolition Stats – 21 February 2008

Yedioth – Peace Now: Only Palestinians’ Houses Demolished – 21 February 2008

Ha’aretz – Construction Continuing in West Bank Settlements Despite PM’s Pledge – 20 February 2008

Jerusalem Post – IDF Says Homes Still Being Built in Eli – 20 February 2008

YouTube – Making Maskiot: Israel’s Settlement Expansion – 20 February 2008

Reuters – ISRAEL-OPT: House Demolitions Cause Palestinians to Leave Village – 19 February 2008

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq—The Iraqi Interior Ministry launched a nationwide campaign on February 19, ordering Iraqi police officers to round up beggars, mentally disabled and homeless people for fear that they would be used as suicide bombers by insurgent groups.

“These [insurgent] groups are either luring those who desperate for money to help them in their attacks or making use of their poor mental condition to use them as suicide bombers” said Maj-Gen Abdul Karim Khalaf, a spokesman of the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

Khalaf said that beggars under the age of 18 would be brought to shelters and adult professional panhandlers would be charged with crimes. The mentally disabled would be taken to hospitals, he said.

“These people with mental defects can cause a lot of damage if they are left on the streets and taken advantage of by al-Qaida,” Khalaf said. “Their proper place is in the hospitals.”

Iraqi law forbids begging, but police have been too busy dealing with insurgent attacks to expend much energy taking care of panhandlers.

This crackdown is in response to a series of suicide bombings where insurgents have used the mentally disabled for suicide bomb attacks.  On February 1, two mentally disabled women were strapped with explosives in a crowded pet market in Baghdad.  The bombs were detonated by remote control, killing almost 100 people.

It was originally thought that the women suffered from Down syndrome, but that is not the case.  U.S. military spokesman for the Baghdad area, Lt. Col. Steve Stover, said, “Both [women] had recently received psychiatric treatment for depression and/or schizophrenia. From what we know now there’s no indication that they had Down syndrome.”

After news had spread about the crackdown, homeless and disabled people disappeared from the streets.  Police in central Baghdad detained eight beggars, three women and five men on February 20, but they found few other street people a day after the campaign was announced.  Those detained in the sweep were to be taken to social welfare institutions and psychiatric hospitals.  According to the Ministry, they will be safe there, as the hospitals can provide shelter and care.

It is not clear, however, how safe they would be in the hospitals.  American and Iraqi troops recently detained the acting director of the al-Rashad psychiatric hospital in eastern Baghdad on suspicion of helping supply patient information to al-Qaida in Iraq.

For more information, please see:
Los Angeles Times – IRAQ: Rounding up the poor – 21 February 2008

Associated Press – US: Bombers Didn’t Have Down Syndrome – 20 February 2008

BBC – Iraqi police detain street people – 20 February 2008

CNN – Iraq to round up homeless, mentally ill, to prevent bombings – 20 February 2008

The Guardian – US: Bombers Didn’t Have Down Syndrome – 20 February 2008

Lebnanews – IRAQ: Government moves to curb suicide bombings – 20 February 2008

The Washington Post – Iraq Moves To Halt Use of The Disabled In Bombings – 20 February 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

LONDON, United Kingdom – On February 19, the BBC reported that British police feared an armed confrontation if they tried to arrest an Israeli general accused of war crimes in 2005.  BBC report cited documents prepared for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), a police watchdog, which investigated the failure to arrest Israeli Major General (retired) Doron Almog.  In September 2005, Almog remained on an El Al plane at Heathrow airport when he was tipped off that British police were waiting to arrest him.  The El Al plane later returned to Israel, with the general on board.

According to the BBC report, the police were concerned that if they stormed the plane, it would lead to an armed confrontation with El Al’s air marshals or the general’s security guards.  In the police log, Detective Superintendent John MacBrayne, who was in charge of the operation, commented that he was concerned whether the police had a legal right to board the plane after El Al refused entry.

The plan was to intercept Almog at the immigration desk, where he would be escorted to the Heathrow police station.  However, the plan was leaked to the Israeli Embassy and Almog was warned of the arrest.

Daniel Machover, of the British solicitors Hickman and Rose, which represents the alleged victims, said “We are astonished that the legal position wasn’t clear in the minds of the officers at the airport.”  Hickman and Rose also criticized the police for not keeping the arrest warrant secret.  They filed the complaint that led to the IPCC investigation into the failed arrest.

The IPCC completed its investigation in summer 2006 and stated that it found no evidence that the police were guilty of “improperly disclosing information.” The IPCC also stated that they were satisfied that there was no breach of the police code of conduct by not boarding the plane to execute the warrant.

The arrest warrant was issued in relation to a complaint filed by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.  The human rights group filed a complaint against Almog under Britain’s Universal Jurisdiction Legislation, a law that allows Britain to charge foreign nationals with war crimes, even if British citizens were not involved.  The group claims that the Israeli Defense Force, commanded by Almog, destroyed 59 houses in the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza in 2002, in retaliation for attacks against Israel.  The arrest warrant has since been dropped for procedural reasons.

The attempt to arrest Almog resulted in outrage and concern among Israeli officials.  In December 2007, former Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief, Avi Dichter, turned down an invitation to visit Britain out of concern that he could be arrested for his role in the 2002 assassination of a senior Hamas militant in Gaza.

For more information, please see:
Ha’aretz – Report: UK Police did not Arrest IDF General Fearing Shootout – 20 February 2008

The Times (London) – Israeli General Escaped Arrest at Heathrow “Because Police Feared Gunfight” – 20 February 2008

BBC – Police Feared “Airport Stand-off” – 19 February 2008

Guardian – UK Feared Clash with Israeli General – 19 February 2008

Independent – Why Israeli General Avoided Heathrow Arrest – 19 February 2008

Jerusalem Post – British Police Halted Almog Arrest – 19 February 2008

Telegraph – “Stand-off fears” Stopped Israeli General’s Arrest – 19 February 2008

BIERUT, Lebanon – On February 11, a Lebanese military prosecutor charged 19 soldiers, three of them officers, and 60 civilians in connection with the violent riots that resulted in seven deaths.  The incident, which occurred on January 27, began as Shia residents took to the streets to protest against electricity rationing.  The demonstration escalated into violence as the Lebanese military attempted to contain the demonstrators and shots were fired.

Military Tribunal Magistrate Jean Fahd charged two officers and 11 soldiers with involuntary manslaughter for violating military orders by opening fire at demonstrators.  Although they did not intend to kill, their actions “caused the death of six civilians and wounded several others.”  If convicted, they face a sentence of five years with hard labor.

Fahd also charged one officer and five soldiers with disobeying military orders but without causing any casualties.  If convicted, they face a sentence of two years with hard labor.  The tribunal also charged two civilians with carrying unlicensed weapons and 58 civilians were charge with rioting and treating army troops “harshly”.

No one was charged in connection to the death of Ahmed Hamza, a supporter of Amal, one of Lebanon’s main opposition groups.  According to military officials, it is still unclear whether the bullet that killed Hamza was fired by the military or by a civilian.

For more information, please see:
Daily Star – 19 Soldiers among 79 Charged in Protests – 13 February 2008

BBC – Charges over Lebanon Riot Deaths – 12 February 2008

International Herald Tribune – Prosecutor Charges 79 in Lebanese Riots that Killed 7 – 12 February 2008

Reuters – Lebanon Charges 19 Soldiers over Protest Shootings – 11 February 2008