By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – On February 4, Yara, an American businesswoman, was detained by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as Mutaween or Saudi Arabia’s religious police.  Yara moved to Yeddah, Saudi Arabia, eight years ago, with her husband, a prominent businessman.  She traveled to Riyadh on a routine business trip when the building’s electricity went out.  Yara and a male colleague, a Syrian financial analyst, went to a nearby Starbucks to continue the meeting.

Yara and her colleague were sitting in the “family” area of the café, the only area where men and women could sit together, when they were approached by members of the Mutaween.  Yara recalled that the men told her “You need to come with us. This man is not a relative.”  She was then taken to a GMC Suburban, where she had her phone confiscated and was questioned by the Mutaween.

Yara stated that after being forced to sign and fingerprint what she believed to be a confession, she was driven to the Malaz Prison, near Riyadh.  There, she said that she signed and fingerprinted another pre-written confession.  Afterwards, she was stripped searched and put into a cell with other women.  The confessions that Yara signed stated that she was in a state of khulwa, or seclusion with an unrelated man, which is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

When Yara’s husband, Hatim, learned of her detention, he immediately traveled to Riyadh.  There, he spoke with the authorities and Yara was released.  Yara’s colleague was also detained by the Mutaween and was released on February 5.

For more information, please see:
The Times (London) – Religious Police in Saudi Arabia Arrest Mother for Sitting with Man – 7 February 2008

Arab News – Brewing Support for “Coffee” Victim – 6 February 2008

AFP – Saudi Woman’s Café Plight Highlights Rights Problems – 5 February 2008

Arab News – Coffee with Colleague Lands Woman in Trouble – 5 February 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On February 1, two pet markets were attacked in Baghdad.  It is suspected that the Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia is responsible for the attacks.  The first explosion occurred in the Ghazil market shortly after 10 am.  The Ghazil market has been attacked five times in the past two years.  The market is only open on Fridays and has seen a recent revival since the Friday driving ban has been lifted.

Minutes later, a second explosion occurred in at the New Baghdad bird market four miles away.  Reports of the elapse between explosions vary from five to twenty minutes.  Iraqi officials estimate that nearly 100 people were killed and over 200 injured, making it the deadliest attack since the US “surge” in Baghdad.  US military officials estimate that the number of causalities is fewer.

US and Iraqi military authorities stated that is likely the two female bombers, who attacked two pet markets on February 1, had Down’s syndrome.   Major General Jeffery Hammond, commander of US forces in Baghdad, claimed that the women “were used by Al-Qaeda because they were less likely to know what was happening.”  In addition to having Down’s syndrome, Iraq’s chief military spokesman in Baghdad claimed that the bombs were detonated remotely; US officials state that they were unsure of how the bombs were detonated.

There has been a recent trend of insurgent groups using female bombers.  There have been four such attacks since November.  This is attributed to the increase in security check points have aggravated insurgents’ attempts to use car bombs or male bombers.  Hammond added that the women were less likely to be searched because of cultural taboos, which disapprove of men searching women, and the lack of female security officers.  US Major General Mark Hertling, a commander in northern Iraq stated last month, that there is an increase in recruiting widows of former insurgents as suicide vest wearers.

US and Iraqi government officials condemned the attack and its method as inhumane and immoral.  Lt. Col. Steve Stover, US military spokesman for the Baghdad area, said “it sounds like (al-Qaida in Iraq) has stooped to a new low where they’re using people who may not even know what they’re doing and strapped something to them and told them go into a market.”  US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice stated that the move showed the “absolute bankruptcy and brutality of the enemy of the people of Iraq.”

The attacks occurred during a recent decline of violence against civilians.  Iraq Body Count reports that 767 deaths occurred during the month of January, as compared to 904 in December and 1,100 in November, and more than 2,500 for the months of July and August.  This brings concern to officials in the US and Iraq over the disengagement of US troops from the country.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – US, Iraqis Vow to Avenge Bombings – 3 February 2008

AFP – US Slams “Twisted” Qaeda as Baghdad Bombs Toll Rises to98 – 2 February 2008

BBC – Iraq Market Bombs Toll Nears 100 – 2 February 2008

Financial Times – Insurgents Use Disabled Women in Iraq Bombing – 2 February 2008

New York Times – Two Bombings Wreak Carnage in Iraqi Capital – 2 February 2008

Times (London) – Down’s Syndrome Bombers Kill 91 – 2 February 2008

DIMONA, Israel – On February 4, a Palestinian carried out a suicide bombing in Dimona’s shopping center, killing at least one Israeli and injuring at least 10 others.  A second suicide bomber was killed by Israeli police before he could detonate his explosives belt.  Responsibility for the attack was claimed by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the militant wing of Fatah, along with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).  This is the first suicide bombing in Israel since January 2007.

This comes a week after the breach of the Gaza-Egypt border and follows Israeli concerns of militants and weapons entering Gaza.  There are conflicting reports of where the bomber came from.  The Telegraph states that al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claims that the bomber came from Gaza.  While, the Associated Press writes that the group stated that the bomber came from Ramallah in the West Bank.

In addition to reports that the suicide bomber entered through the breached Rafah border, James Hider, Middle East Correspondent of The Times, states that there are reports that two busloads of Palestinian militants, who were in Syria and Iran, arrived at the Rafah border and crossed into Gaza.  The bombing and fear, resulting from the border breach and continued rocket attacks, could lead to Israel toughening its stance against militants in the occupied territories.

Arye Mekel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that Israel will fight terrorism by “all necessary means.”

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Israel Hit by Suicide Attack – 4 February 2008

Associated Press – 1 Killed by Israel Suicide Bomber – 4 February 2008

Jerusalem Post – Woman Killed, 10 Hurt, 1 Critically in Dimona Suicide Attack – 4 February 2008

Telegraph – Suicide Bomber Kills Israeli Woman – 4 February 2008

Times (London) – Suicide Bomber Strike in Israeli Nuclear Town – 4 February 2008

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt closed its breached border wall with Gaza on Sunday morning, ending 11 days of shopping expedition for Palestinian residents of the blockaded territory. Egyptian troops allowed Palestinians and Egyptians to cross the border so they can return home on the other side, but prevented any new cross-border movement.

According to Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, Egypt agreed to coordinate with Hamas to seal the Gaza border temporarily while the Egyptians search for a way to reopen the border. Zahar also said Egypt agreed to enable thousands of Palestinians stuck in Egypt to go to third world countries where they already have visas or residency permits.

Hamas blew the wall open on January 23 to end a seven-month Israeli and Egypt blockade of Gaza. Since the border breach, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have crossed the border to stock up on necessities in Egypt and Hamas has thwarted repeated attempts by Egypt to close the frontier.

During the blockade, thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip were denied access to the outside world. The Egyptian authorities have prevented the Palestinians from traveling abroad, including those who have legitimate reasons. Some had already been traveling abroad for medical treatment, or had appointments for treatment, while others were employed or studying in different countries.

Palestinians also lacked food, medicines, fuel and other basic necessities. Right before the border breach in January, the Israeli authorities had tightened their already stifling blockade on Gaza, making food and other supplies scarcer. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, has said that only 32 truckloads of goods entered Gaza between January 18 and 29 due to the blockade, causing a backlog of some 224 trucks belonging to various UN agencies to build up. Before the tightening of the Israeli blockade, an average of 250 trucks entered Gaza daily.

Zahar said Egypt plans to talk with European officials concerning the border standoff. The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, was expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday. The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, is also scheduled to come to the region.

For more information, please see:

Wasthington Post – Egypt closes border with Gaza – 3 February 2008

AFP – Gaza border with Egypt sealed after mass exodus – 3 February 2008

The Associated Press – Egypt to seal Gaza border Sunday – 2 February 2008

BBC News – Crossing into Egypt for supplies – 2 February 2008

Amnesty International – Egypt blocks Gazan’s access to the outside world – 31 January 2008

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

STRASBOURG, France- The European Court of Human Rights determined that Turkish police violated the human rights of two prisoners during their interrogation.  The prisoners received scarring from the electroshock that was used on their hands, feet, and genitals.  The prisoners were held by the Turkish gendarme.  The Turkish gendarme is the branch of the Turkish Armed Forces that acts as an extension of the Turkish police force.  (Gulf Daily Times)  Mehmet Ali Kaplan complained that when he was imprisoned he was blindfolded, beaten, tortured by having his testicles squeezed.  (AFP) Listing the allegations, the court noted: “He had received electric shocks through one of the toes on his right foot, his right thumb and his penis for about three hours”. (Gulf Daily Times) The court awarded the victims 8,000 euros ($11,836.80) in compensation. The gendarmes involved in the interrogation were tried and cleared of all liability in a Turkish court.

Also, in another similar case a prisoner suspected to be who was suspected to be a member of the separatist Kurdistan Worker’s Party.  The prisoner complained that the police brutalized him.  He stated that he was struck on the head by a police club and had his genitals squeezed.  The court awarded the prisoner 5,000 euros ($7,398) because of the lack of a sufficient investigation into the claims.

The 2007 European Court of Human Rights annual report stated that there were 319 judgments made against Turkey for its violations of the European Convention of Human rights.

For more information, please see:

Nasdaq (AFP)- European Court Condemns Turkey Over Police Torture- 31 January 2008

Jurist- Europe right court rules against Turkey in police abuse cases- 1 February 208

Gulf Times- European court slams Turkey over police torture – 1 February 2008

Bianet- HRW Report: Human Rights Trend is “Retrograde”- 31 January 2008