By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East 

TEHRAN, Iran-In accordance with an agreement created last fall, Iran has diluted half of its stockpile of twenty percent enriched uranium.  A UN report is set to be released this week, confirming the dilution.

The dilution presents a significant step forward in complying with Western efforts to reduce Iran’s nuclear program as peacefully as possible.  As such, world powers are upholding their side of the bargain by releasing the fifth of eighth tranches of finances, a huge relief for the Islamic Republic.

The short-term deal between Iran and the P5+1 world powers was reached last November, at a time when the Islamic Republic was producing 181 kg of 20 percent enriched uranium.  This amount was nearly enough to create one nuclear warhead that would have only taking Iran only two months to create.

Not surprisingly, Iran’s twenty percent enriched uranium stores has been a huge concern for Western and Arab governments.  The interim Geneva solution will expire on July 20, unless all parties agree to a longstanding comprehensive nuclear stalemate.

If no agreement is met or negotiations don’t continue, Iran would enter August with the ability to manufacture high-grade stockpile in less than a year.  Further, Iran has also been producing “highly advantaged centrifuges” which have the ability to bypass the key thresholds and create weapons-grade material from uranium with lower than ten percent enrichment.

Iran further denies any interest in atomic arms.  However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a delay in Iran’s construction of plants designed to turn low-enriched uranium gas into useless oxide powder.  Tehran told the IAEA last month that the site would be commissioned on April 9^th but has failed to give  a legitimate reason for why it has yet to be constructed.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, however, is optimistic that a deal will be reached in three months or less.  “There is a political will to get an answer.  The domestic audience will be satisfied if we have a good deal.  Of course some people will never be satisfied but that is fine because we have a pluralistic society,” stated Zarif.

However, there are numerous criticisms of the interim agreement.  Those opposing have said that Iran has had difficulty receiving billions of dollars from oil revenue unfrozen the agreement.  Meanwhile, Iran’s Gulf neighbors expressed alarm this week over growing signs of support from Iran for Assad’s military.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-Iran cuts sensitive nuclear stockpile-17 April 2014

Jerusalem Post-Iran on target with interim nuclear deal: Cuts high-grade uranium stockpile in half-16 April 2014

Reuters-Iran cuts sensitive nuclear stockpile, key plant delayed: IAEA-16 April 2014

Tehran Times-Iran has significantly reduced stockpile of higher-grade enriched uranium-16 April 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

United Nations Headquarters, United Nations – Horrific images of deceased Syrian detainees killed by the Assad regime as a result of torture and severe malnutrition during the county’s civil war were presented at the United Nations Tuesday. The images were among some 55,000 photographs taken by a Syrian police photographer known as Caesar and smuggled out of Syria, the images document some of the most horrific crimes committed by the Assad regime including torture. The United Nations Security Council spent more than two hours viewing the photographs on Tuesday Morning. The photographs were shown to the Council in an effort by France to refer the Syrian Case to the International Criminal Court.

 

The United States Ambassador tot eh United Nations, Samantha Power, responded to the images after she saw them at a closed meeting of the U.N. Security Council, “The gruesome images of corpses bearing marks of starvation, strangulation and beatings and today’s chilling briefing indicate that the Assad regime has carried out systematic, widespread and industrial killing.” She also said that; “nobody who sees these images will ever be the same. The perpetrators of these monstrous crimes must be held accountable, and the international community must unite in the face of such horrors.”

While working at a military hospital from September 2011 to August 2013, Caesar photographed the bodies of detainees from three regime detention centers in the Damascus area. His smuggled photographs were passed over to the Syrian National Movement, which is backed by Qatar. Ten of the 55,000 photographs of roughly 11,000 Syrians tortured by the Assad regime were released to the public in a study called the Caesar report. The study was funded by the Gulf state of Qatar, a major supporter of the Syrian opposition.

Two of the report’s authors, David Crane, chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and founder of Impunity Watch, and Doctor Stuart Hamilton, a British forensic pathologist briefed the Council on Tuesday. Crane stated that the photographs document evidence of killing on an industrial scale by the Assad regime. He stressed that rebel forces are also “committing international crimes” in Syria. “We’re well beyond a good-guy, bad-guy scenario here,” he said, pointing out that human beings are killing one another “at a scale that has not been seen since Rwand

Tuesday’s briefing came a day after The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the treatment of detained persons saying that “in armed conflict, torture constitutes a war crime. When it is used in a systematic or widespread manner, which is almost certainly the case in Syria, it also amounts to a crime against humanity.” She continued “I urge the Government and armed opposition groups in Syria to immediately halt the use of torture and ill-treatment, and to release all those who have been arbitrarily detained in conditions that clearly breach international human rights standards. Those detained must be treated humanely.”

The comments come as her office issued a paper containing detailed testimony from victims and witnesses, describing systematic patterns of torture and ill-treatment against individuals in Government facilities, as well as documenting reports of torture by other armed groups.

For the Caesar Report please see:

A Report into the Credibility of Certain Evidence With Regard to Torture and Execution Of Persons Incarcerated By the Current Syrian Regime

For further information please see:

BBC World News – Syria Crisis: ‘Torture’ Photos Shown To UN Security Council – 15 April 2014

Fox News – Horror of Syria’s War Displayed At Un – 15 April 2014

The Guardian – Syrian Torture Images to Be Examined By UN Security Council – 15 April 2014

The New York Times – At U.N., A Grim Viewing of Alleged Syrian Torture – 15 April 2014

United Nations News Centre – UN Rights Chief Condemns Rampant Use of Torture By Syrian Forces, Opposition Groups – 14 April 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Palestine – The politics of the Israeli-Palestinian crises has prevented an athlete who has represented his country at more than 40 international contents, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, from competing in one of his home countries largest running events.

Nader al-Masri began competing as a long distance runner in 1999, he first competed at an international level in Belfast, Northern Ireland and went on to compete in more than 40 international competitions across Europe, Asia and the Arab World. He represented Palestine at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, where he ran 5,000 meters in 14 minutes, 41 seconds. He has won two marathons in his home country, both in Gaza, where he has competed in marathons spanning the coastline of the Gaza Strip. However, as a result of political tensions he has been unable to compete in races in the West Bank.

The Israel government has barred 30 runners, including Nader al-Masri, from leaving the Gaza Strip to participate in The Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem, Palestinian officials said last Tuesday. The decision highlights the real life effects of Israel’s tight restriction on Palestinian travel in and out of the Gaza territory.

Human rights activist argue these restrictions on travel amount to collective punishment, punishing to people of Gaza for the actions of the Hamas organizations, which controls the coastal strip. Some further criticizes the restrictions claiming travel bans are an attempt to sever ties between Gaza and the West Bank, both territories are claimed by Palestinian to be a part of the emerging Palestinian state.

The Egyptian govern has also restricted Palestinian travel from Gaza to Egypt, which share a common border since Hamas took power in the territory in 2007. These restrictions have led to a virtual halt of all exports in and out of Gaza, including much needed fuel for electricity, and has left most of the territories 1.7 million residence unable to travel abroad or visit the rest of Palestine.

The Palestinian Olympic Committee said it had requested that the Israel Government issues travel permits for the 30 runners so that they could leave Gaza and attend the second annual international marathon in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday. Itidal al-Mugrabi, a senior official in the committee, said all requests were denied last month. She said the Bethlehem event, which also included shorter races, was expected to draw some 700 runners from Europe in addition to Palestinian athletes.

After being denied a permit allowing home to leave Gaza, Masri approached the Israeli rights group Gisha, which appealed the decision to Israel’s Supreme Court.

The judges ruled Tuesday that they could not intervene in the defense minister’s policy considerations, but suggested the military should consider more exemptions from the travel ban, including exemptions for athletes.

Masri said of the decision; “I’m very sad because I couldn’t take part in this race.” He added, “I want everyone to know that I’ve represented Palestine in over 50 events and I don’t know why the Israelis refused to allow me to take part. So many foreigners and Arabs are taking part in it.”

The Palestine Marathon went forward and was held under the banner “Right to Movement” in order to highlight obstacles to freedom of movement placed on Palestine living in the occupied territories by the Israeli government. More than 3,000 Athletes took part in the event.

The travel restrictions continue to have a devastating effect on the day to day lives of Palestinians, not only have the bans created shortages of basic supplies and utilities but the bans have prevented Palestinian from visiting friends and family living outside of Gaza or from participating in events located outside of the territory. In addition to the recent bans on athletes leaving the Gaza Strip 36 young musicians who requested to leave Gaza for a weeklong music competition in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem were permission to leave Gaza, organizers said.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Nader Al-Masri, the Missing Palestinian – 11 April 2014

Al Jazeera – Thousands Take Part in Palestine Marathon – 11 April 2014

International Middle East Media Center – Thousands Run the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem – 11 April 2014

The New York Times – Mideast Tensions Sideline a Gazan Marathon Runner – 10 April 2014

CCTV News – Israel stops Olympic runner from leaving Gaza ahead of West Bank marathon – 08 April 2014

The Washington Post – Israel bars Palestinian Olympian from leaving Gaza – 08 April 2014

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia-After much support from Saudi Arabian King Abdullah calling for women’s rights social reforms, Saudi authorities have been asked to remove the school ban on girls’ sports.

Saudi women, under strict interpretations of sharia law, are banned from driving and must obtain permission from a male relative to leave the country, start a job, or open a bank account.

Saudi Arabia has maintained an official ban on sports classes for girls in state schools due to pressure from religious conservatives.  King Abdullah, however, has implemented great change in women’s rights when he appointed thirty women to the 150-member chamber for the first time, just a year ago.

The Shura Council, which advises the Saudi Arabian government on policy, requested that the education ministry investigate into allowing girls to participate in state-run schools, assuming that they conform to sharia rules on dress and gender segregation.

The Council’s decisions are not binding, but influential in Saudi Arabia because it is the only official forum for the public to discuss new laws and government policy surrounding sensitive social issues.  A law removing the ban would not become official until it received ministry and cabinet approval.

In support of the decision, Council members relied on recent studies showing an increase in obesity related illnesses among Saudi Arabian women.  “The education affairs committee saw that ratifying this decision does not contradict Sharia law, pointing out that a previous fatwa (religious ruling) allowed for sports for women in general,” stated one council member.

Those in opposition argued that most schools are not equipped to allow girls’ sports, while also challenging the notion that physical education lessons has decreased obesity in boys.

Private schools have officially removed a ban on girls sports last year, following many private schools already providing girls physical education classes.

Saudi women were included in its Olympic team for the first time only two years ago, at the London 2012 Games.  The allowance garnered much support but also criticism of the two female athletes, a runner and a judoka, on social media.

Opposition, however, is great as many powerful clerics and their supporters fear the kingdom is losing its Islamic values in favor of western ideas.  Despite these challenges, King Abdullah has made major strides in making it easier for Saudi women to work and study alongside men, while promoting more tolerant views of other religions.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Bawaba-Saudi girls will soon be able to play soccer, shoot hoops-10 April 2014

Al Jazeera-Saudi considers lifting ban on girls sports-10 April 2014

Guardian-Saudi Arabia may review ban on girls’ school sports-10 April 2014

Reuters-Saudi authorities asked to allow school sport for girls: agency-10 April 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East BEIRUT, Lebanon – Mariam al-Khawli, a Syrian refugee who fled the conflict in her home country two years ago, self-immolation in front of the United Nations headquarters in Beirut Lebanon last Week. She doused herself with gasoline and lit herself on fire in protest of the devastating cuts to aid for refugees that have affected her ability to provide for her family. She came to Lebanon two years ago with her husband and four children after fleeing the violence in her home country. Like many refugees she depended on aid to provide for her family, including treatment for her children’s health conditions, which had stopped in August.

Mariam al-Khawli survived her protest and is now being hospitalized. According to her doctor, Gabriel al-Sabeh, said 70 percent of Mariam al-Khawli’s body is now covered in severe burns and if she survives she will be hospitalized for several months to treat her injuries. Mariam al-Khawli’s decision to protest the United Nations aid cuts in this fashion was driven by her family’s desperation. Her husband is unable to work due to a lung abscess and three of her four children have blood conditions that require treatment. She said of the UN’s action that “”they burned my heart before they burned my body. They burned my heart from the inside.” Mariam al-Khawli is one of more than one million refugee’s struggling to survive in Lebanon. On 3 April the one millionth refugee to enter Lebanon was officially registered. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called this a “devastating milestone” for a small country whose resources have been stretched extremely thin as a result of the sudden and massive influx of civilian refugees into their population. It is now believed that about one quarter of the population on Lebanon is now made up of Syrian refuges. Ninette Kelley, regional representative for Lebanon at the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Refugees, said Khawli’s case was “a very sorrowful reflection of the enormous desperation and need of the refugee community and it is also a telling reminder of the consequences of the Syrian emergency and the unfolding crisis here in Lebanon”. According to UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres this “devastating milestone” has been worked by the rapid depletion of resources in Lebanon, the host country for more than one million refugees from Syria and previous conflicts in Palestine, which has left the country “stretched to breaking point.” He said, “Tiny Lebanon has now become the country with “the highest per capita concentration of refugees worldwide,” and is “struggling to keep pace.” According to Antonio Guterres “almost half of the Syrian population is displaced.” The United Nations has cut the size of food parcels providing to starving Syrian communities by a fifth because of a shortage of funding form donor states. The United Nations’ World Food Programme managed to get food to a record 4.21 million people inside Syria in March despite funding challenges. However, this was just fort of its target of reaching 4.2 million people. Donor states pledged $2.3 billion for aid agencies helping Syria at a conference in Kuwait in January. However, only $1.1 billion of the funds pledged has actually reached these agencies. The delay in donor states meeting their pledges for the Syrian people has led to a cut in the standard size of a food basket for a family of five people. Last month, Lebanon’s foreign minister said the crisis was “threatening the existence of Lebanon,” a country that is still recovering from its own bloody 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. According to Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, an organization that has about 1,000 relief workers on the ground in and around Syria, Syrian refugees living in Lebanon could be significantly higher than the official numbers. He said not all Syrian refugees living in Lebanon had become officially registered with the United Nations, a process that often takes months. Egeland argued that the scope and breadth of the refugee crisis creating by the Syrian Civil War is not well understood and the international community may not be prepared to deal with the crises. He said, “his is not just another war, this is a generational challenge and we are not up to meeting that challenge.” For more information please see: Al Jazeera – Fund Crunch Forces UN to Cut Syria Food Aid – 09 April 2014 Al Jazeera – Syrian Refugees Hit Million Mark in Lebanon – 03 April 2014 Al Jazeera – Syrian Self-Immolation Case Reflects Tragedy – 03 April 2014 The Times of Malta – ‘They Burned My Heart Before My Body’ – 03 April 2014 The New York Times – Lebanon Hosts Over a Million Who Fled Syria, U.N. Reports – 03 April 2014