By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – The Egyptian military has announced a full-scale military assault on militant groups in the Sinai Peninsula in response to militant attacks against the Egyptian state.

Since July of this year, militant Islamist groups in Sinai have killed dozens of Egyptian officials in an insurgency sparked frustrations over the military coup that took Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi out of power, and in response to the military government’s treatment of pro-Morsi civilians and Islamist party members, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt’s judiciary has taken steps to declare an illegal organization returning the democratically elected former president’s party to the status it had under the Mubarak regime.

The military campaign comes in direct response to a failed assassination attempt carried out against an Egyptian government official last week. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, a militant group based in the Sinai Peninsula whose name translates to “Supporters of Jerusalem”, has claimed responsibility for an attack last Thursday that targeted the Egyptian Interior Minister. The group promised more attacks in retaliation for the military government’s crackdown on Egypt’s Islamists.

The group issued a statement on its website that said, “God allowed us to break the security system of the minister of interior … through a suicide operation committed by one of Egypt’s lions that made the interior butcher see death with his eyes, and what is to come will be worse.”

Last week’s attack was carried out in broad daylight by a suicide bomber who detonated himself in a car next to Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim’s convoy as the minister left his home in Cairo. Two people were killed, including an unrelated passer-by, in the attack and 20 more were injured.

In response to the attack, the Egyptian military deployed several helicopters to the region on Saturday. The Egyptian military helicopters conducted several air strikes in the Sinai targeting the militants.

Israel has expressed support for the military campaign. Amos Gilad, a senior official in Israel’s defence ministry, who called the assault “impressive,” said in a speech that the airstrikes represent Egypt’s first ever serious counter-terrorism campaign in the Sinai region which borders the Jewish state. He said, “For the first time, we see a determined struggle against terrorism in Egypt’s Sinai, unrelated to the interests of Israel.”

Communications were jammed and internet access was blocked in the Sinai region on Monday as the Egyptian military resumed attacks against the militant groups in the region. On Monday, the military attacked the southern Sinai town of Rafah, which is allegedly a militant hideout.

So far, twenty people have been killed, and twenty more have been captured, since the Egyptian military began the operation. Since the operation began, people have begun fleeing villages in the region, heading to coastal villages and attempting to enter the Gaza strip though underground tunnels.

For more information please see:

ABC News – Egyptian Tanks, Helicopters Push Through Sinai – 9 September 2013

Al Jazeera – Egypt Military Strike Rebels In Sinai – 9 September 2013

Al Jazeera – Sinai Group Claims Attack On Egypt Minister – 9 September 2013

The Guardian – Egypt Announces Full-Scale Assault on Sinai Militants – 9 September 2013

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian official told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority is frustrated with the progress made so far in its peace talks with Israel, which has proposed to maintain dozens of Jewish Settlement within the West Bank intact and allow the Jewish state to maintain its military bases in the Palestinian territory.

The Palestinian official argued that “Israel is using the issue of security to take land. From the general discussions we had in the last couple of weeks, the Israelis have shown no intention to dismantle any settlement.” He argued that the current proposals indicated that Israel would seek to retain control over about 40% of the West Bank, much more than the 2008 proposal made under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. In those talks Israel offered a complete withdrawal from roughly 94% of the West Bank, and offered a “land swap” for the remaining 6%.

In a statement made for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which began Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his hope that the ongoing peace talks will be successful. Netanyahu said, “We want a real, genuine and enduring peace and this must be anchored in recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and in our security. This is what ultimately is needed.”

However, Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expressed frustration with the talks in an interview for the Voice of Palestine radio station. He said, “Until now, there are no signs of progress. The Israeli position has not changed. It’s the one that we know on the ground, through daily settlement expansion.” Rabbo said the United States must put pressure on Israel to end the expansion of settlements; he said that without this, “there will be no progress.”

The frustration felt by Palestinians over the progress of the talks so far has resulted in demonstrations in Jerusalem’s Old city, which have led to clashes with police.

On Wednesday, Israeli police arrested seven Palestinian demonstrators in Jerusalem’s Old City after the protesters allegedly threw stones at police officers. Israeli security forces had increased their presence in the area for Rosh Hashanah.

Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said the clashes erupted after about 300 Palestinian demonstrators attempted to block worshipers from reaching the Temple Mount compound. The site is considered holy to both Jewish and Muslim worshipers. Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism. The compound is known to Muslims as the “Noble Sanctuary,” it is Islam’s third-holiest site. The demonstrators were masked and began to throw stones at visitors which prompted police forces to move in.

On Wednesday, the protesters sought refuge from security forces inside Al Aqsa Mosque. The security forces did not enter the mosque that day and no one was injured. However, on Friday Israeli police fired stun grenades to disperse Palestinian worshipers who allegedly threw rocks at police after Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. According Rosenfeld, two Israeli policemen suffered minor injuries during the incident.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera –  Israeli Forces Surround Al-Aqsa Mosque – 6 September 2013

Al Jazeera –  Israeli Police Clash with Palestinians – 6 September 2013

Reuters – Israeli Police, Palestinians Clash At Jerusalem Holy Site – 6 September 2013

 Boston Harold – AP EXCLUSIVE: Israeli Proposal Detailed In Talks – 4 September 2013

Washington Post – AP EXCLUSIVE: Palestinian Says Israeli Peace Talk Offer Sees Settlements, Bases in West Bank – 4 September 2013

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia –  Rappers Ala Yaacoubi, known as “Weld El 15”, and Ahmed Ben Ahmed, known as “Klay BBJ”, were sentenced to twenty-one months in prison on Monday. The two were convicted of insulting the police and undermining public decency after their performance at a concert in Hammamet on August 22.

The court’s ruling was in absentia as neither rapper appeared for trial. According to the rappers’ defense lawyer, Ghazi Mrabet, the two artists were never summoned to appear.

“We are surprised by this verdict…Our clients have not been summoned for trial as it is stipulated by law,” Mrabet told the privately-owned radio station Mosaique FM.

Following the concert, the artists were detained by police and questioned before being released. Mrabet added that his clients were physically assaulted by police during the detainment and that a doctor had documented Yaacoubi’s injuries.

Yaacoubi made headlines in June after he was convicted of insulting police and sentenced to two years in prison for his song “Police Are Dogs” (Boulicia Kleb). The anti-police song has a music video that contains a montage of police beatings. After outrage from various human rights and censorship groups, such as Human Rights Watch, Yaacoubi had his sentenced reduced to six months and suspended.

The authorities have accused Yaacoubi and Ahmed of performing “Police Are Dogs” at the August 22 concert. Varying reports have Mrabet denying that his clients performed the anti-police song to admitting that an excerpt was played.

Both rappers remain in hiding while they await the appeal process, despite demands to turn themselves in. Mrabet was adamant that the court’s decision violated free speech and would be appealed.

“I will speak to my clients to challenge this ruling, but jail sentences demonstrate that the relentless campaign against artistic freedom, freedom of expression, continues,” said Ghazi Mrabet, quoted by the AFP news agency.

Prime Minister Ali Larayedh denied that freedom of expression is an issue in Tunisia, pointing to Yaacoubi’s June conviction “for inciting hatred and calling for the death of police and magistrates”.

For further information, please see:

Index On Censorship – Tunisian rappers convicted of “insulting public servants” after concert arrest –  4 September 2013

ABC – 21 Months Prison for 2 Tunisian Rappers  – 2 September 2013

BBC – Tunisian rapper Weld 15 sentenced again – 2 September 2013

allAfrica – Tunisia – a New Prison Sentence for the Rappers “Weld 15” and “Klay” – 2 September 2013

Human Rights Watch – Tunisia: 2 Years in Prison for a Song – 15 June 2013