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

CAIRO, Egypt – Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused the Egyptian government of using torture and false confessions in a high-profile terrorism case in 2006.

In 74-page report “Anatomy of a State Security Case: The ‘Victorious Sect’ Arrests,” the rights group examines how 22 young Egyptians were tortured into making false confessions about their plan to carry out attacks on tourists and other civilian targets in Cairo. According to the report, there are indications that even the name of the group “Victorious Sect” was created by security agents who arrested them back in February and March 2006.

Although government prosecutors eventually dismissed all charges against the 22 detainees, 10 of them still remain in custody. The rights groups said those who were released are afraid to speak publicly for fear of exposing themselves or their co-defendants to further harassment by state intelligence agency. One of the 22 detainees who did speak out told Human Rights Watch that they were “beaten up with fists and sticks, and kicked around” and the authorities used electricity on different parts of the body, “including sensitive areas.”

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Rights group says Egypt used torture in terror case – 12 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Torture and Coerced Confessions Used in High-Profile Terrorism Investigation – 11 December 2007

Unted Press International – Rights group Faults Egypt over arrests – 11 December 2007

BEIRUT, Lebanon – On the morning of December 12, a car bomb exploded and killed General Francois al-Hajj.  He had left his home in Baabda, a suburb of Beirut, minute earlier and was on his way to the Ministry of Defense when a parked car, filled with explosives, was triggered.  The Explosion left a crater two meters across and a meter deep and set fire to several cars nearby.  Hajj, his bodyguard, and his driver were killed in an explosion, which left a crater two meters across.

Hajj is the eighth assassination in Lebanon since former Prime Minister Hariri was killed in 2005.  However, this is the first attack on a high ranking member of the military.  The military is seen as neutral and as the only institution capable of maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon.  The attack has caused outrage amongst both pro-government and the Pro-Syrian opposition and both sides have condemned the attack.  So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, one suspect has been detained.

Hajj was the chief of operations during this summer’s fifteen week battle against the Islamist militants in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.  If General Suleiman is elected president, it was thought that Hajj would succeed Suleiman as the army’s chief of staff.

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Lebanon Blast Kills Army General – 12 December 2007

The Associated Press – Car Bomb Kills General in Lebanon – 12 December 2007

BBC – Blast Kills Lebanon Army General – 12 December 2007

The Daily Star – General Among Four Killed in Lebanon Car Bomb – 12 December 2007

The Guardian – Lebanon Bomb Kills Senior General – 12 December 2007

Middle East Times – Bomb Strikes at Core of Lebanon Army – 12 December 2007

The New York Times – General Killed in Bomb Attack in Lebanon – 12 December 2007

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza – On December 11, Israeli tanks, accompanied by military aircraft and bulldozers, moved into southern Gaza.  Residents and Hamas members state that 30 tanks participated in the operation near the Sufa crossing.  According witnesses, the tanks pushed about 2 miles into Gaza and engaged Palestinian gunmen.  However, an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesperson stated that only 10 tanks were involved.

As a result, an estimated four to six militants were killed in the operation; including members from the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees.  Palestinian medics report that twelve others were injured; three were injured critically and five seriously.  Also, four Israeli soldiers were “lightly” injured when their tanks was hit by an antitank missiles.  During the operation, the IDF went house-to-house and detained 60 Palestinians for questioning about Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli government has down played the operation as a normal response to the constant rocket attacks launched from Gaza.  Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, claims that over 4,000 rockets have been launched from Gaza in the past few months.  Israel argues that the rocket attacks justify this “surgical incursion” into Gaza to destroy terrorist infrastructure.

Also, last week, Israel announced plans to build over 300 housing units in East Jerusalem.  In 2003, Israel promised to freeze development on occupied Palestinian territory.  However, Israel claims that they annexed East Jerusalem and thus the building is not contrary to international law.  Palestinians responded to the operation and the housing announcement with outrage. President Abbas’ spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, stated “the Israeli policy of escalation aims to sabotage and place obstacles before the negotiations even before they start.”

One result of the Annapolis conference was that Olmert and Abbas agreed to meet in the future and to negotiate a final peace agreement by 2008.  The first meeting between the two leaders is scheduled for December 12.

In addition to this operation in southern Gaza, an airstrike was carried out in northern Gaza.  It killed one member of the Islamic Jihad.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Israel Launches Gaza Incursion – 11 December 2007

BBC – Israeli Tanks Push Deep into Gaza – 11 December 2007

CNN – Six Dead in Israeli Attacks – 11 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Israeli Army Attacks Southern Gaza Ahead of Talks – 11 December 2007

New York Times – Israeli Bulldozers Move into Gaza – 11 December 2007

Reuters – Israeli Ground Troop Kill Five in Gaza Strip – 11 December 2007

Times – Israeli Tanks in Gaza Threaten Peace Talks – 11 December 2007

Yedioth – Gaza Operation: 6 Militants Killed, 40 Interrogated – 11 December 2007