The Turkish military have sent ground troops into Iraq for the first time since the rising tensions regarding the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).  The Turkish military reported that the attacks were a success and that PKK bases had heavy losses inflicted upon them.

The Turkish intelligence believes that the PKK is being supported by the northern Iraqi Kurds. The Turkish military had previously threatened to strike with ground forces, but before this attack they had only sent air strikes.

Reportedly, the Turkish military was supported by American intelligence to capture the PKK members.  However, the US has denied any such support.  (BBC)  This perception of support by the Americans caused Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to skip his meeting with U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

For more information, please see:

BBC- US denies backing Turkey PKK raid- 17 December 2007

International Herald Tribune (AP)- Turkey’s military confirms ground incursion; claims inflicted heavy losses- 18 December 2007

Reuters- Iraq Kurdish leader snubs Rice over Turkey raid- 18 December 2007

Italian Priest Adriano Franchini was stabbed following mass by a 19 year old assailant.  The attacker observed mass with the priest’s congregation but became violent and angry following a brief conversation with the Priest.  The stabbing was in the stomach and the injuries were not life threatening.

The stabbing follows a line of similar cases where Christians have been attacked in Turkey.  The recent string of attacks on Christian leaders began in February 2006.  A 16 year old shot a Catholic priest, while he was kneeling in prayer, in response to the European newspaper caricatures of the Muhammad.  There has been many more killings and attacks against priests and clerics in all regions of Turkey.  Recently, the gruesome killing of three Christians who throats were slit has undergone investigation to determine whether police officers aided the killers. (See story)

Christians comprise less than one percent of Turkey’s population.  However, the Christians are committed to staying in Turkey despite the attacks.  A catholic bishop remarked, “our will to remain here is stronger after these attacks. However, while the Turkish population is generally good, such events attest that there is a sick branch in the big tree of the local population.”  (AP)

For more information, please see:

AP- Priest Attacked, Hurt in Turkey- 17 December 2007

Guardian Unlimited- Priest stabbed after Sunday mass in Turkey- 17 December 2007

VOA News- Italian Catholic Priest Stabbed in Western Turkey- 16 December 2007

NAKCHIVAN, Azerbaijan – US Deputy State Secretary Daniel Fried has expressed concern over detention of a journalist working for US-funded radio station in Azerbaijan. Fried’s statement on Saturday comes a week after the United States said it was “deeply disturbed” by imprisonment of Ilgar Nasibov, calling it a sign of deteriorating media freedom in the country.

Nasibov was jailed on December 6 after turning up at court expecting to be released after being cleared of defamation suit brought by Nakhchivan City Police Department Deputy Chief. Instead, a judge tried Nasibov without counsel, and sentenced him to serve three months in jail.

Azerbaijan is the leading jailer of journalist in Europe and Central Asia and has the fifth-highest number of reporters behind bars worldwide. It is also among the places where press freedom has deteriorated the most over the last five years according to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) research.

For More Information, please see:

TODAY.AZ – Daniel Fried: “Strong countries do not send their reporters to jail” – 15 December 2007

Press TV – US condemns Azeri reporter’s arrest – 9 December 2007

AFP – US ‘disturbed by imprisonment of journalist in Azerbaijan – 8 December 2007

CPJ – Tenth Azerbaijani jounalist imprisoned – 6 December 2007

CPJ – Backsliders – 2 May 2007

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq- On Wednesday three bombs went off simultaneously killing 25 people and wounding 135 others.  Although  initial reports that were released had stated that 45 people were killed, the death count was lowered.

Prime Minister Al Maliki remarked that the bombings were “desperate attempt” to take away from the success that has been ongoing by the Iraqi security forces.  (Gulf Daily News)

Although no group has yet claimed the attack, car bombs are weapon of choice for Al-Qaida and Sunni extremists.  These groups have been forced out of Baghdad and so should not pose a substantial threat to southern Iraq’s stability.

In contrast, there are rumors that the local Shiite militias are linked to Iran.  If they are backed by Iran and are seeking to assert their influence on the region it could be a threat to the Iraqi Security forces.  Especially since British troops have planned on pulling troops from the region by the end of the year.

However, the bombing should not affect the transfer.  An Iraqi official stated that “(The bombing) has nothing to do with Basra.  The handover will go on ahead on December 16.  The quality of the forces in Basra is excellent.”  (Gulf Times)

A bombing also occurred in the Kurdish dominated Town of Khanaquin killing four and injuring twelve.  Three police were among those who were injured.

Also Wednesday, a mass grave containing 16 bodies was unearthed.  All 16 corpses were men.  Twelve of the men were decapitated and the other four were mutilated.  Al-Qaida is reported to have killed and mutilated the men.

For more information, please see:

CNN- Troops discover mass grave in Iraq- 13 December 2007

AP- Iraqi City Mourns After Deadly Bombing- 13 December 2007

Gulf Daily News- Market blasts kill 40 in Iraq- 13 December 2007

Washington Post- Triple Car Bombing Kills 46 in S. Iraq- 13 December 2007

Los Angeles Times- As one Iraqi city reels, others are hit- 13 December 2007

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RABAT, Morocco – A court in Morocco has sentenced six men to between four and ten months in prison for homosexual conduct.

The men were arrested on November 18, when a private party was organized reportedly to celebrate “gay marriage” in a small city in northern Morocco. This private party was followed by a violent rally against homosexuality in the town five days later. Protesters ravaged the town, including the home of one of the party organizers who fled to the police station.

The court convicted the men for violating Morocco’s penal code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex.” It sentenced three defendants to six months, two defendants to four months, and the sixth, who also allegedly sold alcohol illegally, to ten months in prison.

According to lawyers for the defendants, the judge found them guilty even though the prosecution presented no evidence showing the six had engaged in the prohibited conduct. The only evidence submitted to the court was a video – which is circulating online including YouTube – purporting to show the November 18 party. However, the video showed no indications of homosexual activity.

It is a violation of international human rights law to criminalize consensual adult homosexual conduct. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has historically condemned laws against consensual homosexual conduct. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has also held that arrests for consensual homosexual conducts are human rights violations.

For more information, please see:

The Times – Six jailed for homosexuality – 13 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Overturn verdicts for homosexual conduct – 12 December 2007