By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran-Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has declared that his country will not back down from its nuclear rights as nuclear rights talks have again begun in Geneva.  The heated speech was delivered in Tehran, denouncing two of the six countries whose representatives are scheduled to meet with Iran’s foreign minister.

“France was guilty of kneeling before Israel, while America considered itself superior to mankind.  Israel meanwhile was led by people unworthy of the title human,” stated Khamenei.  “I insist on stabilizing the rights of the Iranian nation, including the nuclear rights.  I insist on not retreating one step from the rights of the Iranian nation,” he further said.

His remarks arrived hours before diplomats from the U.S., Great Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany started another new round of talks in Geneva with Iranian negotiators, the third set in little over a month

A French government spokesman called these remarks “unacceptable” and warned that they would only “complicate negotiations.”  However, Khamenei softened the blow by saying that Iran wanted “friendly relations with all nations, even the United States.”

Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, met with Katherine Ashton, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs, in Geneva yesterday.  Ms. Ashton chairs the “P5 plus 1,” a committee formed to handle Iran’s nuclear program, consisting of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: U.S., Great Britain, France, Russia, and China.

Iran has signed the non-proliferation treaty affording nations the right to civilian nuclear technology in exchang for not acquiring nuclear weapons.  However, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has ruled Iran in breach by not disclosing its activities and not allowing full inspections.

In response to their breach, the U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran that have crippled its economy.  Recent talks in Geneva have been aimed at relaxing these sanctions in response to Iran’s compliance in termination of it uranium harvesting which is nearing a “weapons-useable” threshold.

“We will maintain the sanctions as long as we are not certain that Iran has definitely and irreversibly renounced it military program to obtain nuclear weapons,” French President Francois Holland said in Israel on Monday.

The previous meeting in Geneva discussing the sanctions imposed on Iran was attended by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry along with Will Hague, the Foreign Secretary, and their French and German counterparts when agreement seemed near in the future.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-Khamenei vows no retreat on nuclear programme-21 November 2013

Hurriyet Daily News-Khamenei vows no retreat in Iran talks-21 November 2013

Sky News-Iran vows no retreat in nuclear talks-21 November 2013

Telegraph-Iran’s Supreme Leader vows ‘no retreat’ as nuclear talks begin-21 November 2013

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq-A United States army soldier has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder over the deaths of two Iraqi civilians.  Sergeant Michael Barbera will face a hearing dealing with the deaths that occurred on March 6, 2007.

Barbera was charged last Wednesday while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.  Accusations of these killings first came to light last December when a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review investigation published its article.

The report claimed that Sergeant Barbera was ordered by his team leader to kill two teenage cattle herders for the belief that they were insurgents operating out of a nearby farm, and a third boy later walking towards.  However, the two boys were brothers, age 15 and 14, were both deaf and unarmed.  None of the three boys had any ties to the insurgency.

According to the Tribune-Review, members of Sergeant Barbera’s squad reported the killings to Army investigators but no actions were taken.  Frustrated at the lack of action, several squad members approached the newspaper with the story.

Of the three deaths, Sergeant Barbera is only being charged with two deaths.  Authorities have yet to release the names of the two people that Sergeant Barbera is accused of killing.

Sergeant Barbera is facing an Article 118 premeditated murder charge with two specifications of murder, and an Article 134 charge of two specifications of conduct prejudicial to order and discipline.

At the time of shooting, Sergeant Barbera was assigned to the 5^th Squadron, 73^rd Cavalry Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 82^nd Airborne Division.  He is currently assigned to the 1^st Squadron, 40^th Cavalry Regiment, 4^th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25^th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

He now awaits an Article 32 investigation hearing to determine whether he will face a court-martial.  The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, the same site of the trial for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales who was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to killing 16 Afghan civilians.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-US soldier charged with murdering Iraqis-16 November 2013

Guardian-US soldier charged with murder over deaths of two Iraqi civilians-16 November 2013

Huffington Post-Michael Barbera, U.S. Soldier, Charged With Murder In Iraq War Killings-16 November 2013

Los Angeles Times-U.S. soldier charged with murder in killing of two Iraqi civilians-16 November 2013

 

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt’s top military general hailed a visit by Russian officials as the beginning of a new era of defence co-operation between the Egyptian State and the Russian Federation. Russia’s defence and foreign ministers met with Egypt officials in Cairo this week in a trip that has been called historic, though the delegation left Egypt yesterday without announcing a deal for any new defence deals between the Egypt and Russia.

The historic meeting came just weeks after the Obama administration announced that the United States would cut military aid to Egypt in response to growing concerns about the actions taken the military government against supporters of ousted President Morsi. While the United States did not cut all of the annual aid to Egypt, the cuts represented a significant shift in relations with Egypt’s interim government, the United States cut aid not connected with the promotion of democratization or counterterrorism efforts carried out by the Egyptian military. The meetings may have been meant as a sign to the United States. Yasser El-Shimy an Egypt analyst with the International Crisis Group said  the meetings were “meant to send a message to say Egypt has options, and that if the United States wishes to maintain its strategic alliance with Egypt, it will have to drop the conditions it attaches to the military aid.” The United States has said it will consider renewing feign aid if the Egyptian states shows signs of progress towards democratization. However, Egypt’s warming relations with Russia may be a sign that the United States has lost some of the coercive power its funding of the Egyptian military once held. As the United States cut funding to Egypt the Egyptian state showed that it is willing to look elsewhere to fill the vacuum left by aid cuts. Egypt has downplayed suggestions that the meetings with Russian officials signify a further cooling of relations between Egypt and the United States.  “We are not replacing one party with another,” said Badr Abdel­atty, an Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman. “We want to strengthen the independence of our foreign policy. We want to diversify. And Russia is a very important global power.” While support for the United States by the public, which perceived the United States as supporters of a military dictatorship though its support of former President Hosni Mubarak, and the military, which now sees the United States as an unreliable ally, has fallen in Egypt Russia and Vladimir Putin have become increasingly popular. The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper has published posters on Thursday reading “Thanks, Putin.” These developments came as the Egyptian military government continues to crack down on Islamist supporters across the country. Earlier this week an Egyptian court sentenced twelve protesters who demonstrated in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to 17 years in prison for taking part in a violent student-led protest. For more information please see: Al Jazeera – Egypt Hails Renewed Military Ties with Russia – 14 November 2013 The Washington Post – Egypt Hosts Top Russian Officials, A Sign it is Turning Further Away from Alliance With U.S. – 14 November 2013 Al Jazeera – Egypt Warms to Russia as US Ties Cool – 15 November 2013 Al Jazeera – Pro-Morsi Protesters Sentenced to 17 Years – 13 November 2013

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq-Heightened security could not prevent an explosion in a town south of Baghdad during the Ashura commemoration rituals.  The attacks hit in the town of Hafriya, in the Wasit province, on early Thursday.

The near-simultaneous bombings targeted a Shiite religious procession killed at least eight people while wounding dozens of others.  Worshippers were gathered inside a tent performing rituals to commemorate the death of Inmam al-Hussein when the attack struck.

During the religious event, regional authorities expect two million pilgrims, at least 200,000 from outside Iraq, will visit the city of Karbala for the ten days leading up to Ashura.  In an attempt to be prepared, 35,000 soldiers and policemen have been deployed to Karbala.

However, late Thursday another suicide bombing ripped through Karbala during the religious process, killing 43 people.  The bomber was disguised in a police uniform, as he made his way through the crowd.

Iraq suffered a third attack on its holiest day when a bombing targeting an army patrol in a predominantly Sunni town north of Baghdad killed two soldiers.

The commemoration of Inmam al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, is held to show remorse for not defending him during his death.  Tradition holds that he was decapitated and his body mutilated.  Worshipers display remorse by beating their heads and chests with some making incisions on their scalps as an act of self-flagellation.

“I have been coming since I was young, every year, even during the time of the tyrant Saddam,” said Abu Ali, a 35-year-old pilgrim who visits from Basra, a southern port city.  “I challenge anyone not to cry,” said Ali, in referring to the strong emotions emanating from the ritual.

Imam al-Hussein’s death is one of the events that created the division between the Sunni and Shiite Islam, which dates back to a battle in 680 A.D.

Shiites are the majority in Iraq, Iran, and Bahrain, making up about 15 percent of Muslims worldwide.  Sunni militants that are linked to Al-Qaeda, regard Shiites as apostates and typically target them during religious holidays like Ashura and Arbaeen.

The increased violence against Shiites is the latest in Iraq’s deadliest unrest since 2008.  Prime Minister Nuri-al-Maliki, a Shiite, has appeadled to the United States for help by way of intelligence sharing and the supplying of new weapons systems.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-Deadly blasts hit Iraqi religious procession-14 November 2013

Al Arabiya-Blasts hit Iraq as millions mark Ashura-14 November 2013

CNN-36 killed in blasts targeting Iraqi Shiite Muslims on holy day-14 November 2013

Global Post-Iraq bombers kill 43 as millions mark Shiite holiday-14 November 2013

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar – Francois Crepeau, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, called on Quarter to improve labour relations and respect the rights of migrant workers in the country, which is preparing to host the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.

 

According to the United Nations Qatar should allow workers to organize into unions, abolish the discriminatory “kafala” system, adopt legislation to protect labour rights, and properly enforce existing legislation, to protect workers in the country.

Crepeau said on Sunday that there have been some positive developments for migrant workers but argued that the state must adopt reforms in order to protect the rights of migrant workers in the Country which has the highest ratio of migrant workers in the world.

Migrant workers make up approximately 88% of Qatar’s population. Qatar currently has a high demand for construction workers as the country undertakes several massive development projects including construction projects connected with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Crepeau’s speech came at the end of an 8 day visit to Qatar to investigate allegations of abuses of the rights of migrant workers. The plight of migrant workers in Qatar gained international attention after The Guardian published a report on the issue earlier this fall. During his visit, Crepeau met with government officials, migrant workers, academics, and members of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee.

While Qatar has announced plans to improve conditions of labourers in the country the state has been criticized for failing to enforce existing labour laws meant to protect worker rights. Qatar has fought to keep the images of labour conditions in the country from being seen by the international community. In October the Guardian reported that two German film makers, Peter Giesel the head of a Munich-based production company, and his cameraman Robin Ahne were detained for 27 hours after filming the working conditions of workers in Qatar from the balcony of the Mercure Grand hotel in Doha.

Despite continued concerns about the labour rights situation in Qatar the Fédération Internationale de Football Association organizations has remained committed to house the 20202 World Cup in Qatar. According to FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is “not reversible”.

On Saturday Blatter told reporters in Doha after meeting the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that “There is no doubt that the World Cup in 2022 will be organised in Qatar.”

For More Information Please See:

Al Jazeera – UN official urges Qatar labour reforms – 11 November 2013

Al Jazeera –  UN recommendations on Qatar migrant rights – 10 November 2013

Al Jazeera – Blatter: World Cup in Qatar is not reversible – 9 November 2013

The Guardian – Qatar detained two Germans who filmed World Cup labour conditions – 14 October 2013