BAGHDAD, Iraq-  Local NGOs have raised concerns regarding reports that children have been tortured and abused while being interrogated in Iraqi prisons.

“‘Children are being treated as adults in Iraqi prisons and our investigations have shown that they are being abused and tortured,’ said Khalid Rabia’a, a spokesman for the Prisoners’ Association for Justice (PAJ).”  (IRIN)

Mr. Rabia’a cited an example of five child prisoners who were between 13 and 17.  The children were interrogated because the Iraqi military operators had suspected that the children were supporting insurgents.  “‘The five children showed signs of torture all over their bodies.  Three had marks of cigarettes burns over their legs and one couldn’t speak as the shock sessions affected his conversation,’ Rabia’a said.” (IRIN)

The Iraqi government has denied the allegations and stated that those individuals who have abused adults or children through the prison system have been eliminated and punished.  However according to the IRIN, at least 220 children are being held in the Iraqi prisons.  An Iraqi official, who requesting anonymity, stated to IRIN that under his watch alone there were 20 children held captive and being abused.

The problem has been acknowledged by Iraqi Vice President Tarek al-Hashimy, who is beginning a campaign to end child abuse.

For more information, please see:

IRIN Middle East- IRAQ: Child prisoners abused and tortured, say activists- 25 October 2007

JERUSALEM, Israel – On October 28, Israel confirmed that it began to restrict delivery of fuel to Gaza, pursuant to sanctions recently approved by Barak.  However, ten human rights groups have petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice to order Israel to freeze implementation of the sanctions.  The court rejected the petitioners’ demand for a freeze, but instead required the government to justify its decision by November 2.  According to the petitioners, the sanctions are a collective punishment that would cause “irreversible damage to the health and welfare of the residents of Gaza.”  While the court ordered Israel to justify the sanctions, they refrained from banning the sanctions completely.  In response to the court order, Israel’s Attorney General, Menachem Mazouz, suspended plans to restrict delivery of fuel and electricity to Gaza.  He stated that more research is required to implement the plan without causing a humanitarian crisis.

The European Union and United Nations criticized Israel’s decision to impose economic sanctions.  The European Union called the measures “collective punishment” and while noting the distressed caused by rocket attacks, stated that collective punishment is never the answer.  Also, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon repeated his call to militants to halt their rocket attacks but called Israel’s planned response to be “unacceptable.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Israeli AG halts electricity cut to Gaza – 30 October 2007

BBC – Gaza electricity cuts suspended – 30 October 2007

Ha’aretz – Mazuz prohibits punitive power cuts in Gaza Strip – 30 October 2007

Forbes – Court orders Israel to justify Gaza sanctions – 29 October 2007

Yedioth – Petition: Prevent reduction of Gaza fuel, electricity supply – 28 October 2007

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Thousands of foreign construction workers protested over low wages and poor working and living conditions.  Early October 27, workers, mostly of south Asian origin, took to the street to demand a pay rise, better living conditions, and better transportation to work.  The demonstration turned violent when Dubai police tried to remove a road block.  Some protesters threw stones at the police and passing motorist; one motorist sustained minor injuries.

A Jebel Ali (a construction company) representative stated that workers involved in the riot, which resulted in the damage of public property, had been detained and will be deported.  Gulf News reported that a UAE Ministry of Labour official confirmed that some rioters were in custody and that a team of ministry employees were working to cancel the workers’ visas.  In a statement following the protests, Minister of Labour Ali bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi said that the government will take the necessary measures to deport whatever number of workers responsible for the riots.  The Ministry of Labour said that it warned workers to return to work or their visas may be cancelled and they will face a lifetime ban from entering the UAE.

Despite the threat of deportation, many workers went on strike on October 28.  Foreign construction workers have gone on strike several times earlier this year.  Now, like then, the workers demand higher and/or timely wages, and better working conditions.  The demands for higher wages have become more urgent in recent months as a result of the falling US dollar.  The UAE dirham is closely tied to the US dollar.  As a result of the decreasing value and increased cost of living in Dubai, many workers are not able to save money to send to their families.  Most of the workers come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

In response to the strikes, the Minister of Labour labeled the acts as “uncivilized” and that the workers should have registered their complaints peacefully.  However, workers claim that they had no other option since their requests for higher wages and better conditions had been ignored by the construction companies.  Despite visibility of their plight, workers have seen little support from the local and international community.  Some analysts, such as Mohammed al-Shaiba, believe now is the time for the government to set a minimum wage.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Dubai construction workers strike – 29 October 2007

BBC – Dubai construction workers strike – 29 October 2007

ArabianBusiness.com – UAE threatens deportation after violent protest -28 October 2007

Guardian – Dubai strike threatens building boom – 28 October 2007

Gulf News – Workers to be deported after violent demonstration – 28 October 2007

For more information about the condition of migrant workers in the UAE, please see:

Al Jazeera – Blood, Sweat, and Tears – 15 August 2007

Human Rights Watch – Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers – 12 November 2006

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia – A Tunisian court convicted a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner for three years on terrorism charges Wednesday. Lotfi Lagha, a Tunisian national, had been charged with criminal association with the aim of harming or causing damage in Tunisia. Lagha plans to appeal the guilty verdict, but his lawyers allege that the Tunisian authorities had beaten him during detention.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Washington made an unprecedented decision in blocking US military’s plans to transfer a Guantanamo Bay detainee to Tunisia because the detainee may be tortured in his home country. Judge Kessler of the US District court for the District of Columbia said sending the detainee to Tunisia would be “profound miscarriage of justice” that would amount to a death sentence. Two former Tunisian detainees sent home had already reported having been abused and tortured. Human rights group report that the Tunisian security forces use sleep deprivation, electric shocks, submersion of the head in water, beatings and cigarette burns.

Yet US authorities repatriated Lagha in June after he spent five years in the detention center at the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo, Cuba. Abdullah al Hajji Ben Amor, another former detainee who faces trial at the end of October, was returned home at the same time as Lagha. Both Lagha and Hajji alleged that they were mistreated by the Tunisian authorities while in detention.

Lagha was arrested in 2002 on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan but it remains unclear why he was there. Lagha also alleged mistreatment while in US custodies. He told his lawyers that US medics cut his frostbitten finger unnecessarily and against his will while in the center.

Currently, ten Tunisian detainees remain in Guantanamo Bay and at least eight of them have been convicted of crime in Tunisia even though they were not present at their trials.

Tunisia denies all allegations on human rights abuses.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Tunisia jails ex-Guantanamo prisoner for three years – 24 October 2007

Guardian Limited – Ex-Gitmo detainee convicted in Tunisia – 24 October 2007

Arab News – US judge blocks Guantanamo detainee transfer to Tunisia – 11 October 2007

BBC News – US judge blocks Guantanamo move – 10 October 2007

AFP – US judge blocks repatriation to Tunisia of Guantanamo detainee – 10 October 2007

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey- Turkey’s likelihood of invading Iraq in order to eliminate the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels has increased.  The PKK desires an independent Kurdistan for the Kurds living in Turkey.  The Turkish military reported that it has eliminated 30 terrorists that were preparing to ambush the Turkish military.  Since Sunday, 64 insurgents have been killed by the Turkish military.  (Fox News- AP)

Also, the possibility of a peaceful remedy through diplomacy between Turkey and Iraq is quickly diminishing.  Turkish Defense Minister Jassim stated that Turkey had proposed “concrete steps” to rectify the problems with Iraq.  (AFP)  According to Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan Iraq has not responded accordingly and has only said “just words” and not “concrete proposals”, which is increasing Turkish frustration. (AFP)

The increased tension has been encouraged by the PKK and possibly militant factions within the Turkish military.  The PKK waged a constant war with Turkey from 1984-1999.  At the end of the war the PKK lost support as its supporters got tired of the warfare.  The PKK could benefit from a Turkish invasion of Iraq, because it would probably create animosity toward the Turkish government by the 15 million Turkish Kurds, which the PKK hopes it can translate into its supporters.  This prolonged warfare was very difficult on the nation of Turkey.  Generally, the people of Turkey have appreciated the relative peacefulness they have experienced since the end of the war.  However, since the war has ended the Turkish military has not occupied the limelight.  This has led some analysts believe that some militant factions in Turkey are inciting violence in order to restore prominence back to the Turkish military, which would come through another war with the PKK.  (Independent Online)

The situation has gotten worse as the Iranians have simultaneously expressed their anger towards the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK). The PJAK is a militia seeking to create an independent Kurdistan and is affiliated with the PKK and has recently increased its attacks on security forces in northwestern Iran.  The Iranians also have expressed their belief that the situation can be resolved peacefully.

Although the direct diplomacy between Turkey and Iraq has been faltering, Turkey has stated that it will not invade Iraq until after the Prime Minister Erodgan’s diplomatic visit with President Bush on November 5.  Also, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is planning to visit Ankara on November 1.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera- Turkey Delays PKK attack decision- 27 October 2007

Al-Jazeera- Turkey-Iraq talks on PKK ‘fail’- 27 October 2007

Al-Jazeera- Turkey troops kill Kurdish fighters- 28 October 2007

AFP- Turkish leaders increase pressure on US, Iraq- 24 October 2007

Fox News (AP)- Turkey: U.S. Will Not Stop Iraq Incursion; 64 Suspected Rebels Killed- 25 October 2007

Guardian Unlimited- Turkish Forces Clash With Rebel Kurds- 28 October 2007

Independent Online-   Turkey reluctantly prepares for attack on Kurds- 28 October 2007