By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Iran to abolish the “grotesque and horrific” execution of people by stoning to death. At least three people in Iran are said to have been stoned to death since 2002. Eleven more – nine of them women – are waiting to face a similar fate.

Under Iranian Penal Code, execution by stoning is the penalty for adultery by married persons. According to the Code, men are buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts before being pelted with stones until they die. Stones are deliberately chosen to be large enough to cause pain, but not so large as to kill the victim immediately. Victims typically die within 20 minutes.

The majority sentenced to death by stoning are women. According to Amnesty’s report titled “Iran: End executions by stoning,” women suffer disproportionately because “they are not treated equally before the law and courts… and they are particularly vulnerable to unfair trials because they are more likely than men to be illiterate and therefore to sign confessions to crimes they did not commit.” For example, one of the nine women facing execution was allegedly forced into prostitution by an abusive husband who was a heroin addict. She was sentenced to eight years in prison for being an accomplice to the murder of her husband by one of her clients, and is scheduled to be executed by stoning for adultery.

Despite the harsh reality, human rights activists in Iran are hopeful that international publicity can help bring an end to stoning. Amnesty says Iran’s parliament is already discussing an amended Penal Code that would permit the suspension of at least some stoning sentences. However, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director Malcolm Smart believes the Iranian government should take further steps and ensure “that the new Penal Code neither permits stoning to death nor provides for execution by other means for adultery.”

Iran has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, but the Iranian authorities deny that executions are carried out by stoning.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – End death by stoning, Iran urged – 15 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited – Amnesty demands Iran ends ‘grotesque’ stoning executions– 15 January 2008

Amnesty International – Campaigning to end stoning in Iran – 15 January 2008

Reuters – Amnesty urges Iran to stop stoning executions – 15 January 2008

AFP – Amnesty calls on Iran to abolish death by stoning – 14 January 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 17, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak closed Israel’s border crossings into Gaza.  This decision follows a week of Israeli escalation, mainly in the form of air strikes, aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel.  Such escalation includes an air strikes on January 18, that destroyed the building that housed the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza.

The closure not only prevents people from traveling in and out of Gaza, but it also prevents the delivery of essential supplies.  Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, stated that they were unable to deliver necessary humanitarian aid to Gaza, which only adds to the “already dire situation.”  In addition to humanitarian aid, the closure also prevents the delivery of fuel, which Gaza is dependent on Israel for.

According to Israeli officials, this closure is a demonstration of possible actions that Israel will take if the rocket attacks continue.  A spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Shlomo Dror, stated “It’s time that Hamas decide to either fight or take care of its population.  It’s unacceptable that people in Sderot are living in fear every day and people in Gaza are living life as usual.”  Israeli officials indicate that the closure will be reviewed on Sunday.  In a statement on January 17, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that while Israel does not desire to harm the residents of Gaza, that Israel will continue its campaign against militants “without compromise and without pity.”

The border closure ends a week of Israeli escalation that resulted in the deaths over 30 Palestinians. While most of Palestinians causalities were militants at least five were civilians.  The escalation began on January 15, when the Israeli military conducted a pre-dawn raid, described as “a routine operation to distance terrorists from the fence.”  The raid involved both ground operations and air strikes.  The air strikes targeted two groups of militants launching mortar shells and one car carrying militants and weapons.  One militant that was killed was the son of Mahmoud Zahar, a senior leader in Hamas.

In retaliation to the Israeli operations, militant groups launched an increased number of rockets into Israel; over a 150 since Tuesday.  Several landed in the town of Sderot, injuring four people.  Also, in a rare sniper attack, one Ecuadorian volunteer farmer was killed.

In addition to the operation in Gaza, Israel also conducted a raid in the West Bank, on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.  On January 18, Israel’s Security Service personnel surrounded the home of Ahmed Senakreh in the Balata camp.  He is wanted by the Israeli government for his involvement in the planning and implementation of suicide attacks.  Senakreh was killed during the incident.

Many Gaza residents called for vengeance as they attended funerals; Zahar vowed “to answer Israel in the only language that it knows.”  Abbas deplored the operation as a “massacre” and “a slaughter against the Palestinian people.”  Abbas called on the US to intervene in order to preserve on-going peace talks.  Earlier this week, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet to discuss core issues and US President Bush stopped in Israel and the West Bank to promote the peace talks.

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Israel Orders Gaza Lockdown – 18 January 2008

BBC – Israel Closes Crossings With Gaza – 18 January 2008

CNN – Israel Closes Gaza Border, Raids West Bank Camp – 18 January 2008

Reuters – Israel Flattens Hamas Ministry in Gaza Strip – 18 January 2008

Telegraph – Ehud Olmert: “We are at War with Hamas” – 18 January 2008

AFP – Palestinians Urge US to Intervene Over Israeli Raids – 17 January 2008

Associated Press – 3 Civilians Die in Israeli Strike – 17 January 2008

Telegraph – Israeli Attack Kills 18 Palestinians in Gaza – 17 January 2008

YouTube – Gaza Violence Escalates – 17 January 2008

BBC – Fresh Gaza Air Strike Kills Three – 16 January 2008

Daily Star – Abbas Deplores Israeli “Massacre” in Gaza – 16 January 2008

Reuters – Palestinians on Strike over Israel’s killing of 18 – 16 January 2008

BBC – In Pictures: Gaza City Raid – 15 January 2008

Washington Post – 20 Palestinians, Mostly Fighters, Killed in Israeli Raids – 15 January 2008

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

A crowd of 30,000 protesters gathered to show their disapproval of the results of the presidential election.  The main opposition candidate, Levan Gachechiladze, reaffirmed his commitment to them to fight for their democracy.  “We will not compromise.  We will not take a single step back. We will not let them falsify the election.” (AP)

Last week, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was reelected president.  However, his main opponent Gachechiladze contends that votes were not tallied correctly, because he contends that Saakashvili should not have received more than 50% of the vote.  The Georgian election law usually allows for two rounds of presidential election.  This allowance was created to account for the multiple numbers of candidates who run for the presidency, which this year was nine candidates running for president.  Typically, the top two vote getters will move on to a final round of voting, which would have really helped Gachechiladze since the seven candidates that were eliminated probably would have supported Gachechiladze.  However, in this election Saakashvili received a majority vote (53.5%) and so it was not necessary to hold a second round vote.

The outright election of Saakashvili caused opponents such as Gachechiladze to assert that the votes were miscounted. Therefore, he began discussions with the acting president of Georgia, Nino Burjanadze.  Burjanadze was made president by Saakashvili to enable Saakashvili to be able to run for another term in office.  However, Gachechiladze has promised that he will continue to fight for the democracy of his country without compromise as he talks with the president.

Gachechiladze has rejected the idea that he would take a government post as a payment to stop protesting the legitimacy of the election.  “Making deals on government positions is not going to happen. I am one of those who do not recognize [Saakashvili as President],” he said.  (Civil Online Magazine)

The resolution of this election and the preservation of the democratic process is essential in Georgia as it tries to deepen its ties with the European Union and the West. If the election is not resolved quickly it could lead to a possible bitter rivalry between the opposing parties.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press- Georgia Opposition Holds Protest Rally- 15 January 2008

Civil Online Magazine- Gachechiladze on ‘Speaking’ with Authorities- 16 January 2008

Reuters- Georgia opposition vows court move to win recount- 15 January 2008

BEIRUT, Lebanon – On January 15, a bomb explosion in northern Beirut killed three, two Lebanese and one Syrian, and injured over 20.  However, the US State Department reports that four people died as a result of the attack.  According to Lebanese security forces, the bomb was placed either behind dumpsters next to a main road or packed into a stolen car on the road.  It is thought that the target of the bombing was an US embassy vehicle that was passing the bomb as it exploded.  While armored, the vehicle did not have any embassy markings and had Lebanese license plates.

The explosion occurred after the US embassy vehicle had passed and the car following it, carrying the two Lebanese nationals, was hit.  The Syrian national was riding a scooter close by.  The driver of the US embassy vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries and the sole passenger, a non-American, sustained no injuries.  Lebanese security forces state that the unmarked car was scouting the road in security preparations for a ceremony for the outgoing US ambassador.  One American was injured in the attack; however, he is not affiliated with the US embassy.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated that preliminary evidence indicated that the car was the target.  According to McCormack, evidence supporting this conclusion includes the type of car (an SUV), the location – a road frequently used by American diplomats – and the lack of other potential targets in the area.  This is the first attack directed against US personnel in Lebanon since the end of the Lebanese civil war.  In the 1980s, US military barracks and the embassy were targets of attacks.  However, no individual or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack so the intended target remains unstated.

Following the explosion, Lebanese police and US embassy security personnel cordoned the area to begin investigations.  McCormack stated that a joint diplomatic and security team, including the FBI, will investigate the attack.

Lebanese and US officials have condemned the attack.  US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the US was outraged “against the terrorist attack” and that “the United States will, of course, not be deterred in its efforts to help the Lebanese people, to help the democratic forces in Lebanon, to help Lebanon resist force and interference in their affairs.”

Lebanese officials condemned the attack as an attack against Lebanese security and stability.  Hezbollah also condemned the attack since it was on Lebanese territory and killed innocent people.

This follows a January 8 explosion injuring several UN peacekeeping personnel south of Beirut.

For more information, please see:
Associated Press – US Embassy Vehicle Hit by Car Bomb – 16 January 2008

Daily Star – Three Killed by Bomb Meant for US Embassy Vehicle – 16 January 2008

Middle East Times – Lebanon US-Targeted Blast Raises Stakes – 16 January 2008

New York Times – Bomb Targets US Car in Beirut – 16 January 2008

Reuters – US Car in Beirut Seems to Have Been Target – 16 January 2008

Telegraph – Beirut Attack on US Embassy Car Kills Three – 16 January 2008

BBC – Four Killed in Beirut Explosion – 15 January 2008

BBC – Bomb Strikes UN Patrol in Lebanon – 8 January 2008

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch released a report calling on the Iranian government to amend or abolish laws that allow the government to arbitrarily suppress and punish individuals for peaceful political expression, association and assembly in breach of international law.

In “‘You Can Detain Anyone for Anything’: Iran’s Broadening Clampdown on Independent Activism,” Human Rights Watch documents the expansion in scope and number of the individuals and activities persecuted by the government over the last two years. The 51-page report accuses Iran of using vague “security laws” to suppress in effect any public expression of dissent. Furthermore, those arrested are subject to prolonged detention without charge, solitary confinement, and torture.

“Dozens of Iranian laws provide the government cover for suppressing any peaceful activity they perceive as critical of their policies,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities can trample over people’s basic rights and still claim to be acting legally.”

Since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assumed office in August 2005, the Iranian government has increasingly used “security laws” as a pretext for persecuting civil society activists. A set of laws within Iran’s Islamic Penal Code entitled “Offenses Against the National and International Security of the Country” enables the government to stifle peaceful political activities and deny due process rights to anyone, including women’s rights campaigners, student activists, workers, and journalists and scholars.

The report also claims that Iranian authorities often hold detainees arrested on security grounds in facilities operating outside the mandated prison administration, most notoriously in Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin prison. There, detainees are purportedly subject to various psychological and physical abuses during interrogation and in detention.

For more information, please see:

AKI – Political crackdown on public dissent worsens, says rights group – 9 January 2008

Albany Times Union – Human rights? Not in Ahmadinejad’s Iran – 8 January 2008

Human Rights Watch – End widespread crackdown on civil society – 7 January 2008