By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’ADA, Yemen – In northern Yemen, fighting between the Yemeni military and Shiite rebels broke a six-month old ceasefire.  According to a government official, fighting was renewed after rebels attacked military camps in the nearby Marran mountains.  The military responded with ground and air strikes on villages in Saada province, a stronghold for rebel activity.  However, rebel leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, denied official allegations and stated that the military struck first.  As a result of the renewed violence dozens of people have been killed in the past week; including 18 rebels and 29 Yemeni military and pro-army tribal fighters.

Earlier, al-Houthi warned the government to honor the terms of the ceasefire and complained of constant government discrimination and campaign of harassment.  While, al-Houthi stated that he was concerned about bloodshed, he added that they must defend themselves “against any assaults by the army.”  Currently, both sides are preparing for what al-Houthi called the “fifth war.”

In June 2007, the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels signed a cease-fire agreement, which was brokered by Qatar.  In the agreement, the government promised to free detainees, compensate victims, and to rebuild villages affected by the war.  In return, the rebels agreed to turn in their weapons and expel al-Houthi from the country.  However, both sides accuse the other of not fulfilling their obligations.

For more information, please see:
Yemen Post – Sa’ada 5th War Ruptures; 47 Killed So Far – 14 January 2008

Associated Press – 30 Killed in Renewed Fighting in Yemen – 11 January 2008

Yemen Times – Sa’ada Crisis Worsens Amid Threats of Violence – 6 January 2008

ADEN, Yemen – At least two people were killed and 15 injured during a rally for reconciliation between the northern and southern provinces of Yemen.  According to a statement by official local authorities, the violence resulted from actions by “criminal elements”, firing indiscriminately into the crowd, and who were later arrested.  The official state news agency, Saba, reported two deaths and 16 injuries.

The Iraqi government removed the ban on Baath party officials to run for public office.  The Baath party was the official party of Saddam Hussein.  The bill that may pass into law though could force many of the previously employed Baath workers into early retirement with severance packages, but some could regain their posts.

However, the highest ranking officials under Saddam Hussein would be locked out because of their previous contribution to Saddam’s rule.  It would reduce the number of Baath officials prohibited from government posts to only 3,500 from the 30,000 who were previously prohibited from working in the government.

The change is the first benchmark that would be passed to allow more of a power share of the government between the Shiites and Sunnis and lesson the tensions.

For more information, please see:

New York Times- Iraqi Parliament passes allows former Baath officials to take government positions- 13 January  2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On January 8, former political prisoner and opposition activist, Mohammad Haji Darwish, was arrested.  His arrest is the latest in the crackdown on political dissidence in Syria.

The Damascus Declaration, which calls for non-violent democratic change, was written and signed in 2005.  On December 1, Riad Seif, a member of Parliament and an opposition spokesman, hosted a meeting of 163 signatories of the Damascus Declaration to call for an end on Syria’s repressive laws and for a renewal of free speech and political organization.  In violation of the state’s ban on independent political parties, the attendees created the National Council and elected a president and a leadership committee.  US President Bush applauded the creation of the group and stated “the brave men and women who formed this council reflect the desires of the majority of Syrian people to live in freedom, democracy, and peace.”

Beginning on December 9, Syrian authorities began arresting individuals who attended the meeting.  On December 9, Syrian security forces arrested over 30 individuals who attended the December 1 meeting, including Dr. Ahmad Tohme and Jabr al-Shoufi, two leaders of the movement.  Within a few hours of their arrests, all but Tohme and al-Shoufi were released.  More opposition leaders were arrested in the following days; including Fidaa Horani, the president the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and Akram Bunni, an executive member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and brother of a leading political rights lawyer.

For more information, please see:
Daily Star – Syria Arrests Political Activist – Rights Group – 9 January 2008

AFP – Rights Group Says More Opposition Activists Held in Syria – 5 January 2008

Associated Press – Syria Arrests 2 Human Rights Activists – 18 December 2007

AFP – Syria Steps Up Crackdown on Dissidents – 17 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Syria: More Activists Arrested Following Opposition Meeting – 17 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Syria Arrests Dozens of Political Dissenters – 13 December 2007

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – An Egyptian court has convicted and jailed three police officers for beating a prisoner and forcing him to parade up and down a busy street wearing women’s underclothes.

Amid increasing high-profile accusations of brutality and torture by the nation’s police officers, the court in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria convicted three officers. It convicted senior officer Maj Yosri Ahmed Issa of torture and of degradation of prisoner, and sentenced him to five years in prison. Two other lower ranking officers who followed his orders were also given one-year sentences for degrading the prisoner.

The ordeal for the victim began on April 2007. Ibrahim Abbas was working at a car park when he asked officer Issa to move his car so other cars can enter the lot. Issa considered the request as an insult and arrested Abbas. At the police station, Issa attempted to force Abbas to confess to a robbery and beat him with batons. Later, he ordered the other two officers to force Abbas to wear women’s clothing and walk on a major street.

Many rights groups say that torture is widespread and systematic in Egyptian jails and police stations. They say torture can include beatings, electric shocks, and sexual assault. And because most torture cases never make it to court, rights violators often times enjoy impunity. Moreover, those who are accused of torture so far have been either acquitted or received light sentences and subsequent pardons.

In recent months, however, the ministry of Interior has increasingly investigated torture allegations. In November, three police officers were sentenced to seven years in prison for torturing a man to death. Three weeks earlier, a Cairo court sentenced two officers to three years in prison after a recorded video in which a man was sodomized with a stick was widely circulated on the Internet, including on the popular video-sharing site YouTube.

The Egyptian government denies torture is systematic. The authorities insist that they prosecute all cases where evidence of torture is provided against policemen.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Egypt nightie stunt police jailed – 7 January 2008

Associated Press – Police officer jailed 5 years – 7 January 2008

Reuters – Egypt court jails three police in abuse case – 6 January 2008

Independent Online – Egypt policemen jailed in latest abuse case – 6 January 2008

Impunity Watch – Egypt police jailed 7 years for torture death – 1 December 2007

Impunity Watch – Torture endemic in Egypt – 8 November 2007