By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 7 thousands of Iranian’s took to the streets and rallied against the government at universities throughout the country. The protests took place on Iran’s Student Day and were an effort coordinated by a number of opposition websites. The protests, which were focused on the controversial June presidential election, set off altercations between students and police around campuses. Protesters hurled rocks and set fires. Police officers and plain clothes Basij militia members were with tear gas, chains, truncheons and stun guns.

The Iranian government attempted to stop any chance of protests erupting on Student Day. The night before the protests government opponents shouted “Death to the Dictator” and “God is great” from their rooftops. Government officials attempted to kill off internet access on the eve of the protests. Additionally, authorities warned journalists working for foreign media to stay in their offices for three days. On the day of the protests Iranian authorities shut down the mobile phone network in the center of Tehran to stop opposition protesters from contacting each other.

Opposition leader, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s opponent in the disputed June presidential election, Mir-Hussein Moussavi announced his support for student demonstrations. He additionally stated on his website that the religious establishment couldn’t silence students and that they were losing legitimacy in the Iranian people’s minds. Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has also thrown his support behind the opposition, accusing Iran’s hard-line rulers of silencing constructive criticism.

Clashes erupted during the Student Day protests as thousands of individuals filled the street. According to witnesses riot police fired tear gas and Basij militiamen charged the crowd as protesters chanted. The Basij beat protesters on the head and shoulders as the crowd scattered. The protesters also chanted against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei has accused the opposition of creating opportunities for Iran’s enemies.

The protests mark the first major showing showing by the opposition in more than a month.  The BBC’s Jon Leyne claims that the main objective of the opposition is to keep their movement alive. Reports are that dozens of individuals have been arrested. The protests continued throughout the day. By nightfall a number of student groups held candlelight vigils for those arrested during the day.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Iran Police ‘Clash With Protesters’ – 7 December 2009

BBC – Iran Opposition Protesters Clash With Security Forces – 7 December 2009

Guardian – Iranian Police Use Tear Gas and Batons in Clash With Protesters – 7 December 2009

New York Times – Iranian Student Protesters Clash With Police – 7 December 2009

AP – Iran Chokes Off Internet on Eve of Student Rallies – 6 December 2009

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – On December 1, Dubai police arrested 247 people in a coordinated raid of 22 brothels.  Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim stated that 170 prostitutes, 12 pimps, and 65 people seeking to buy sexual services were arrested in the raid.  The operation was a joint effort between the Criminal Investigation Department and state security.  Investigation began after the Attorney General received reports of the ring running these brothels.  After he received final reports, the Attorney General ordered the raid.  The suspects will be referred to Public Prosecution for charges of prostitution.

The illegal sex industry is run mostly by foreigners who smuggle women from their own country.  Majority of these women are promised jobs as domestic workers, yet when they arrive, they are forced into the sex trade.  Tamim also encouraged women who are victims of human trafficking to contact the Al Ameen service (provided by the General Department of State Security).

In November 2006, the UAE passed a law prohibiting human trafficking.  The law established a state body to combat trafficking.  Under the law, human trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment, or, if the victim is less than 15 years of age, the death penalty.  In 2006, an estimated 4,300 victims of human trafficking were deported from the UAE and returned to their home country.  It is expected that most of the women arrested in the raids will not be charged, but rather deported.

For more information, please see:

Arab Times – Dubai police smash prostitution ring – 5 December 2007

Associated Press – Dubai police crack prostitution ring – 5 December 2007

BBC – Dubai authorities smash vice ring – 5 December 2007

Gulf News – Police smash huge prostitution ring – 5 December 2007

Reuters – Dubai police make biggest prostitution bust – 5 December 2007

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain- On March 30, 2006, 58 passengers died of the coast of Bahrain when the Al Dana boat sank.  The passengers were partying following the completion of the first level of the Bahrain World trade centers.

Allegedly, the owner and captain of the boat knew about the instability, because the boat rocked so much previous to the launch that day that some wine glasses had tipped.Some of the passengers disembarked before the launch.  The boat capsized an hour and a half later.  Some of the 150 passengers were saved.  It was also alleged that the crew when determining who to save typically chose the foreigners over the Bahrainis.

The captain and owner of the ship were initially charged with manslaughter regarding the deaths of the 50 people.  However, the defendants appealed the ruling that was supposed to come out on December 3, 2007.   The captain of the ship was given three years in prison for manslaughter and the owner was given 10 years of manslaughter.  The owner has claimed that he was made the scapegoat of the action when he appealed.  The court was responsive to his claim and reduced to five years.

The victims’ families complained, citing their confusion that the man held for manslaughter of 58 people could have his sentence reduced from ten years down to five years.  The owner has offered 20,000 dirhams ($2,582.52) to compensate the families.

The victims view on whether they will accept the money is varied.  A woman reported as being desperately waiting to receive the money because her husband who had provided her income had died on the tragedy.  A young woman orphaned by the tragedy had said that by accepting money she would be stating that she was acquiescing with the death of her parents.

Although, the families have differed whether they will accept the money, the family members agree that the amount of money that is being offered as a compensation for the death of their relative is insulting.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Many die in Bahrain boat disaster- 31 March 2006

BBC News- Bahrain boat death was ‘unsteady’- 26 October 2006

Gulf Daily News- Victims relatives shocked- 4 December 2007

Gulf Daily News- I am a scapegoat says dhow owner- 5 December 2007

Gulf Daily News- Al Dana appeal ruling denied- 22 November 2007

Gulf Daily News- BD 1.5m insult!- 28 November 2007

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

On Saturday, the Turkish military claimed that it inflicted “significant loses” on the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).  (CNN)  The military claimed to have killed 50-60 Turkish rebels inside Iraq.  The Turkish military did not state whether it had used the American intelligence that President Bush had promised.  However, an unnamed PKK military official has claimed that no attack occurred.

Since early fall Turkey has threatened to attack the PKK in Iraq, which is a Kurdish militia seeking to gain independence from the Turkey.  In the past few months, the PKK increased its attacks on the Turkish military.  The constant attacks caused the Turkish government to act in order to respond to the building pressure by its public demanding justice for the troops that were killed.

Turkey immediately mobilized its troops to the Iraqi border, because it believed that the PKK rebels had attacked in Turkey and then fled to a base in northern Iraq.  However, the Turkish government showed reluctance to attack and physically invade Iraq.  Although, the military received immediate support from the parliament to launch an attack Prime Minister Erdogan and President Gul were hesitant to attack.

Their hesitancy was both justified and wise because launching an invasion into Iraq could both destabilize the region and Turkey.  The Iraqi region has been destabilized since the downfall of Saddam Hussein.  However, the northern region under the control of the Kurds and President Barzani has remained stable, because of their embrace of the Americans.  However, Turkey has chosen not to recognize Barzani as the official voice of the Kurdish people.  This is probably because the Turks fear that if Barzani is recognized as the official voice for the Kurds, then it may encourage the PKK to continue their struggle so that they may ultimately be recognized as the spokesmen for the 15 million Kurds in Turkey.  Additionally, the Turks have been hesitant to enter Iraq to pursue the PKK, because they understand that with the transient nature of the PKK.  It is possible that killing the current PKK members  may only increase the militia’s enrollment by angering more Kurds within Turkey and encouraging them to join the cause.

These limited attacks will only be successful for the Turkish government, as long as it does not lead to a full scale invasion.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera- Turkey ‘right to intervene in Iraq’- 2 December 2007

BBC News- Turkish army fires on PKK in Iraq- 1 December 2007

CNN (AP)-  Turkey attacks Kurd rebels in Iraq- 1 December 2007

Gulf News- Kurdish officials deny Turkish incursion into Iraq- 2 December 2007

Impunity Watch- Tension Mounts between Turkey and Iran against Kurdish militia in Iraq- 28 October 2007

Impunity Watch-Turkey: Military may pursue PKK into Iraq- 11 October 2007

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Gaza – In the past week, Israeli military operations have killed about 20 people, mostly militants.  Most recently, on December 4, a missile strike targeting a training base for Hamas’ armed wing in southern Gaza.  According to Palestinian medical workers, two militants were killed and two others were wounded in the strike.

On December 2, an air strike killed five members of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, near the Khan Younis.  According to Hamas, the men were on night patrol and were 500 meters from the border.  However, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) states that the strikes were triggered when an armored unit spotted a mortar launching team near the border.  During this incident, at least three men were also injured.  Some of the injured were members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a smaller militant group allied to Hamas.

Also on December 2, Gaza medics report that one individual was killed and three others wounded in an incident east of Gaza City.  Residents recall hearing gunfire in the area.  The Israeli military stated that troops returned fire when Palestinian gunmen opened fire.

In addition to increased military strikes inside Gaza, on November 30, the Israeli Supreme Court held that Israel could impose fuel cuts but had to postpone planned electricity cuts.  Israel’s highest court agreed that there was no need to issue a stay on the fuel cuts, especially since the government took measures to ensure that fuel delivery to Gaza’s only power plant would be maintained.

However, while the court ruled that the Israeli government took measures to ensure that the reductions do not cause humanitarian harm.  Several hospitals in Gaza report dangerously low fuel supplies, which are required to run generators, threaten their ability to provide Palestinians with medical care.

Israel seeks to use these sanctions as a less lethal method to combat rocket attacks launched from Gaza.  In recent years, Israel has been faced with the difficult question of how to efficiently combat the persistent rocket fire from Gaza.  On December 3, IDF reports that three soldiers were lightly wounded by shrapnel from a mortar shell fired from Gaza.  During the same attack, three other mortars were launched, but no causalities resulted.  Also, earlier on December 3, fifteen other mortar shells were fired from Gaza, but again, no causalities resulted.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Israel hits Gaza amid fuel fears – 3 December 2007

Jerusalem Post – Gaza: At least four gunmen  killed by IDF – 3 December 2007

Reuters – Two Hamas militants killed in Gaza air strike, medics say – 3 December 2007

Al Jazeera – Deaths in Israeli attack on Gaza – 1 December 2007

BBC – Five killed in Israeli Gaza raids – 1 December 2007

Reuters – Six Palestinians, including militants, killed in Gaza – 1 December 2007

Al Jazeera – Israeli court backs Gaza fuel cuts – 30 November 2007