MANAMA, Bahrain- Human rights activist and president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, was released from prison on Saturday after serving two years for organizing and taking part in illegal protests that were considered “anti-government.”

In addition to holding the presidency of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Rajab is Deputy Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights.

Rajab is a key Shiite activist for the protest movement against the Gulf Arab monarchy’s Sunni rulers. Since 2011, the Shiites have been protesting, demanding greater rights and political freedoms for their people

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protestors have held numerous peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the government to relinquish power. Hundreds of citizens have been killed and even more injured and arrested in the government’s ongoing crackdown of these peaceful demonstrations.

Before his imprisonment, Rajab was repeatedly detained in connection with “pro-democracy” demonstrations that erupted in the Gulf. Rajab claimed he was punched in the face several times by riot police after leading these demonstrations. He also stated he was held in dire conditions and subjected to cruel treatment, including being placed in solitary confinement with dead animals and being held almost naked.

Rajab was sentenced, in early 2012, to three years in prison, but an appeals court later reduced his term by one year.

In mid-2012, Rajab was given an additional three months in prison for his comments on Twitter about Bahrain’s prime minister. This conviction was later overturned in an appeals court.

While in prison human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights First, campaigned for his release, calling on authorities for an early release.

After his release, Rajab told the Associated Press that he is “happy to be out [of prison} after more than 600 days.” Rajab called for the release of all political prisoners and said that stability can only be achieved “through respect for human rights.”

“After two years in prison, I see Bahrain’s political environment as more difficult than ever and still without a roadmap for real reforms,” Rajab said. “I am happy to be with my friends and back with the human rights community, but still saddened that there are thousands of others who are still behind bars or outside the country.”

Maryam al-Khawaja, the acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights while Rajab was in prison, said that “even though Rajab was released from prison, citizens should note that this is not a show of goodwill on the government’s part as Rajab was not pardoned or released early, but completed his full term.”

After his release from prison, Rajab was greeted by dozens of people outside the prison and hundreds of people gathered near Rajab’s house to welcome his release.

Rajab said that Bahrain’s situation today is worse compared to when he went to prison because of an upsurge in violence. Bahrain said that although he was imprisoned he will not stop participating in peaceful demonstrations, but denounces violence.

For more information see:

PressTV- Nabeel Rajab urges “serious dialogue” in Bahrain– 25 May 2014

BBC News- Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab released from prison– 24 May 2014

Watertown Public Opinion- Top Bahrain activist released from prison– 24 May 2014

Al Jazeera- Bahrain frees leading human rights activist– 25 May 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

JERUSALEM, Israel/Palestine – During his first visit to the Holy Land as the leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis called for peace in the region and endorsed the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After delivering an open-air mass in Bethlehem’s Manger Square in the West Bank on the second day of his three-day trip to the Middle East the Pope extended an invitation to the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to visit Vatican City for a “peace initiative.”

The Pope expressed disappointment with the breakdown of talks between the two states earlier this year saying, “for decades the Middle East has known the tragic consequences of a protracted conflict which has inflicted many wounds so difficult to heal,” the pontiff declared. The situation, he said, had become “increasingly unacceptable.” Booth President Shimon Peres or Israel and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accepted on Sunday Pope Francis Invitation.

Pope Frances said, “I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer” and called on the two leaders to agree to meet with him; saying, “in this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with Israeli President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace.” He added, building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace.” “Even in the absence of violence,” he said, “the climate of instability and a lack of mutual understanding have produced insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of entire communities, conflicts, shortages and sufferings of every sort.”

Pope Frances also made an unscheduled stop at the Separation Wall that divides Bethlehem and Jerusalem near an Israel military watchtower. At the wall be prayed for five minutes near graffiti on that wall that read, “”Pope, we need someone to speak about justice”, “Free Palestine” and contained a reference to the Warsaw ghetto. Mustafa al-Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian legislative council, said the pope’s decision to stop and pray at the separation wall “will remain in the world’s mind forever as a rejection of the apartheid wall.”

During his visit the Pope also addressed the need for a solution to the Syrian Civil War. The Pope said that it was “necessary and Urgent” that a peaceful solution to the Syrian Conflict be reached.

On the first day of his visit to the region Pope Frances gave a message of unity during a Mass at a stadium in Amman, Jordan – a majority Muslim state with a large Christian population. Christian refugees from Syria and Iraq where among those present at the Mass. During t In televised remarks after that meeting,  During his visit the Pope paid tribute to Jordan’s efforts to promote interfaith tolerance as well as its efforts to welcome refugees fleeing violence in Palestine and war-torn Syria. During his visit the pope visited some of the more than 600,000 refugees who have fled the conflict since its start in 2011.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Pope prays for peace at separation wall – 25 May 2014

CNN International – Pope Francis Invites Israeli, Palestinian Leaders to Vatican Peace Talks – 25 May 2014

The Guardian – Pope Francis offers prayers at Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem – 25 May 2014

The Jerusalem Post – Peres, Abbas accept papal invitation to pray for peace at Vatican – 25 May 2014

Vatican Radio – Pope Francis makes unscheduled stop to pray at Israel’s security barrier – 25 May 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar – The Gulf State of Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup, has announced plans to reform its labor law after months of criticism from the international community that followed reports of human rights abuses of mirgrant works at construction sites ahead of the World Cup. The proposed changes are based on the recommendations made by the international law firm DLA Piper which Qatar hired last year to review workers’ conditions; however, the Gulf State has not set a timeline for the implementation.

Only about 10% of the country’s population actually have Qatari citizenship. The state’s economy depends on migrant workers. About 1.4 million migrant workers are now living in Qatar, the majority of whom are concentrated in the construction and services sectors. Qatar has been criticized for its failure to protect migrant workers and for the gross disparities that exist between Qatar’s native and migrant populations In a report issued by Amnesty International law November the organizations found that migrant works in Qatar “face a range of abuses at the hands of their employers”, some of which “amount to forced labor and human trafficking.

According to Amnesty International the labor law system used in Qatar and other gulf states known as the kefala, creates an “excessively unequal power relationship” between employers and workers, who are not allowed to change jobs or leave the country without their employers’ permission. DLA Piper’s report said the Qatar’s old policies could “result in a situation where migrant workers are ‘trapped’ in Qatar, with an abusive employer, and without means of exit or the ability to legally transfer to another employer for months.” The new laws will abolish this aspect of the kefala system.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association said it welcomes Qatar’s plans to improve labor conditions in the country. FIFA President Joseph Blatter said “this announcement is a significant step in the right direction for sustainable change in the workers’ welfare standards in Qatar. We look forward to seeing the implementation of these concrete actions over the next months. We will continue our close cooperation with Qatari authorities as well as dialogue with all key stakeholders.”

However, other organizations have criticized the government’s announcement saying that its propsed reforms do not go far enough to address labor rights in the country. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called the proposals “cosmetic” and said that in Qatar “There is no freedom of association, no minimum wage, and no effective labour compliance system.” The organization also said “modern slavery will still exist in Qatar.”

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Qatar Announces Changes to Labour Law 15 May 2014

CNN International – FIFA Welcomes Workers’ Welfare Measures Announced Today By the State of Qatar – 15 May 2014

BBC News – Qatar: Foreign Worker Restrictions ‘To Be Eased’ – 14 May 2014

FIFA – FIFA Welcomes Workers’ Welfare Measures Announced Today By the State Of Qatar – 14 May 2014

The Guardian – Laws after Outcry over ‘World Cup Slaves’ – 14 May 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East 

CAIRO, Egypt. In a shocking decision an Egyptian court sentence 683 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death for “inciting violence” during deadly riots that broke out last year after the government cracked down on demonstrations in the central Egyptian city of Minya orchestrated by supporters of the Brotherhood in opposition of the military coup that resulted in the removal or President Mohamed Morsi from power last July. Mohamed Badie, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, was among those sentenced.

The sentence shocked the families of the accused, many accusing the state of using the court system as another tool for cracking down on the rights of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists. The sister of Abu Bakr Ismail, a 30 year-old pharmacist and father of two said “My brother is an innocent man.” She said; “he was arrested because he was bearded and memorized the Quran.”

In March, in a spate case, the same judge sentenced 529 men to death in connection to the murder of a single police officer who was killed during the violent clashes that broke out between government officials and Islamists. The violent clashes between security forces and opponents of the coup followed a deadly crackdown by security forces on two Cairo sit-ins being held by supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi.

The ruling raised the one-month total for capital punishment sentences for the judge, Said Yusuf, beyond the total number of people believed to have been judicially executed world-wide last year. While these verdicts are shocking observers have noted that it is unlikely that they will be carried out. Egypt’s state prosecutor has ordered a judicial review of both cases. Also, only a fraction of the men convicted in these cases are in police custody; and under Egyptian law any person sentenced in absentia has the right to a retrial.

The sentences reflect the paradigm shift that has occurred in Egypt since the state’s first democratically elected leader, who was supported by the Muslim Brotherhood, was removed from power last year. Since the removal or President Morsi the government has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, once again considering it an illegal organization, returning it to the status it had under the Mubarak Regime.

The violent crackdowns on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which have included these “mass death-Sentence” cases have sparked a firestorm of international condemnation and called the states transition to democracy into question.

Several senators in the United States, which has long-been a source of aid for the Egyptian military, moved to block future deliveries of military aid.  The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is “is alarmed by the news” of the mass death sentence in Egypit. The Secretary-General’s spokesperson said the Secretary-General is “concerned” about the situation and “intends to discuss these concerns and other issues with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt Nabil Fahmy.”

The rulings came as the Egyptian interim government claims it remains committed to following its roadmap to democracy. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the general who led the coup against President Mori, is expected to win the presidential elections to be held on May 26-27, a fact may critics say is a sign that the Egyptian state has returned to a military regime.

For more information please see:

The Economist – Hang Them All? – 03 May 2014

CNN International – Egypt Court Sentences Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood Supporters to Death – 29 April 2014

Al Jazeera – Egyptians Reel from Mass Death Sentence – 29 April 2014

Reuters – Egyptian Court Sentences Top Muslim Brotherhood Leader to Death – 28 April 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – In the time that has passed since the wildfire that is the Arab Spring spread to Egypt in 2011 when the county’s young masses took to the streets and toppled the Mubarak regime, which had ruled Egypt as a police state for several decades, it has become increasingly clear that Egypt’s future security is uncertain. While the world focuses on the questionable democratization process in Egypt, questioning whether the removable of President Morsi and the ongoing electoral process represents a transition to democracy or a pendulum swing back to a military regime, the real threat to Egypt future security may be located upstream, along the historic banks of the Nile River

Food and water security have had a profound effect on Egypt’s recent history and will continue to impact its future. Violence in Egypt have been linked to high food prices for decades; one of the major grievances of the Egyptian youth in 2011 was concern over unemployment and the high cost of food in Egypt. Egypt is a net-importer, the largest importer of wheat in North Africa. Food and water prices will likely increase in the future as Egypt’s population continues to increase and growing ecological concerns place a greater strain on the state’s water supply. The Egyptian population continues to grow at a rate of about 2% annually with the Historic Nile River, the main source of fresh water for the Egyptian people, supporting a population of 83 million people; these issues are already putting a strain on the Egyptian economy. The 2005 UNDP Human Development Report for Egypt stated that “poor water quality affects both health and land productivity with damage costs estimated to have reached LE 5.35 billion [$7.7m] or 1.8 percent of GDP.”

The Egyptian government believes the development of a massive hydropower dam upstream in Ethiopia will place its water security in greater because the dam will obstruct the flow of water into Egypt, which depends on the Nile for about 85% of its water. Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a project that spans an area of about 1,800 km2, is now roughly 30% complete. When it is finished the Grand Ethiopian will be the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. Despite concerns raised by Egypt Ethiopia is moving forward with construction.

In January Ethiopia rejected a proposal that would guarantee Egypt the right to most of the Nile River’s water. Egypt argues that its 1959 agreement with Sudan which gave Egypt the rights to 55.5 billion cubic meters out of a total of 84 billion cubic meters is the governing document on the Nile’s water. However, Ethiopia and other upstream nations reject the accord as they were not signatories to the agreement.

As construction continues Ethiopia has less incentive to negotiate with Egypt over the use and management of the Nile Watershed. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy has had the water dispute on his agenda. During a trip to Italy in February, Fahmy asked the Italian company contracted to build the dam to halt construction. In a letter to the company the Foreign Ministry said; “The government of Egypt calls upon the EU Commission, and the esteemed European governments, to give due consideration to the accountability of business enterprise of European nationality for their conduct in supporting Ethiopia’s projects affecting the Nile river downstream states.” A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said there is “no room at all for concessions or allowances harming our interests because it is a subject of national security”.

Ethiopia says it is open to negotiating the period over which it fills the dam’s retaining reservoir. However Egypt insists that it will be harmed regardless of this gesture. Egypt does not have a strong history of cooperating with other states over the use of the Nile Watershed. When the Nile Basin Initiative was formed as a partnership of Nile riparian state in 1999 with the support of the World Bank Egypt refused to sign any agreement that did not guarantee its current share of the Nile waters. While the end result of the current Nile water dispute remains uncertain what is clear is that Egypt’s future; much like its past, is deeply connected to the future and ecological health of the Nile River, which has supported the lives of the Egyptian people for thousands of years.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Egypt to ‘Escalate’ Ethiopian Dam Dispute – 21 April 2014

Daily Star Egypt – No New Policy on Ethiopian Dam: Foreign Ministry – 01 April 2014

BBC News – Will Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam Dry the Nile – 21 March 2014

Bloomberg News – Middle East’s Water Scarcity Seen as Food Security Issue – 20 February 2014