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

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan

Impunity Watch, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Egyptian State media reported that an improvised explosive device was detonated at a police station in Downtown Cairo wounding two workers Monday. Three people on a motorcycle reportedly threw a homemade grenade style explosive devise at the police station. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

The attack came just a day after Egypt’s state run news agency reported Sunday that former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will stand trial for charges of inciting murder and violence. The military backed government is essentially holding Morsi responsible for the deaths of protesters and other civilians since security forces began violently cracking down on protesters. The ousted President is also being investigated for his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising against former president Mubarak. While no formal charges have been brought, he has been accused of murder and conspiring with Hamas during his escape.

Egyptian security forces have killed hundreds of supporters of President Morsi since opponents of the coup began protesting the government after Morsi’s removal from power on July 3. Like the former president many of the protesters have been accused by the government of inciting violence and even coming terrorist attacks.

As part of its crackdown on supports of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist political parties the military backed government has been excluding Islamists from the transitional process. The transitional government recently named a constituent assembly with almost no Islamists members. The government gave the assembly 60 days to review amendments that would repeal Islamic policies established over the last year by the Muslim Brotherhood led government and other more hard-line Islamic parties under President Morsi. The transitional government has also favoured policies that would officially raise the Egyptian military back to the elite status enjoyed under the presidency of the Military backed Dictator Hosni Mubarak.

The Nour Party has complained that the transitional government has had a deplorable policy of “exclusion of the Islamist current” in the commission of the review panel. The Nour Party was founded after the downfall of President Mubarak. The party also noted that the committee excluded members of the youth movements that ignited the revolution through social media driven demonstrations beginning on January 25, 2011.

The Egyptian government has also taken steps to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood, returning it to the illegal status placed on the party, which won a majority of votes in Egypt’s polar vote that was forced on it under Mubarak. A judicial panel has advised an Egyptian court to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood as a legal non-governmental organization, the mood would effectively outlaw former President Mohamed Morsi’s Political party.

 

For further information please see:

Reuters – Egypt Sends Mursi to Trial as New Constitution Advances – 1 September 2013

Al Jazeera – Bomb Blast Hits Cairo Police Station – 2 September 2013

Al Jazeera – Egypt Panel Urges Brotherhood Dissolution – 2 September 2013

CNN International – Egypt to Try Former President Mohamed Morsy in Protest Deaths – 2 September 2013

NBCNews – Improvised Bomb Wounds Two at Cairo Police Station – 2 September 2013