The Middle East

Egypt Protesters Fortify Camps After Cabinet Threatens Dispersal

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Thousands of pro-Morsi supporters are defying warnings by the military-backed cabinet to cease protests across Cairo.  The government has authorized police to take “gradual steps” to remove the protesters but thus far no removal has occurred and does not appear imminent.

Protesters gathered in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

“The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security,” a statement from the interim government said on Wednesday, adding that it has told police to take “all necessary measures” to disperse crowds.

The protesters have employed barricades and sand bags to fortify significant sit-in locations in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares in Cairo.  Additionally, thirty-three marches were planned around the city in support of ousted president Morsi.

On Friday, state television said that protesters would be allowed to leave safely, but that within forty-eight hours security forces would begin a “siege” at the camps in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares.  Essentially, authorities will begin preventing people from entering the squares, which is one step from beginning removal of the protesters.  Given the security forces history of excessive force, human rights groups are concerned that the situation could result in further violence.

International human rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on the Egyptian government to refrain from using force against the protesters and allow for the peaceful demonstrations to continue.

“Given the Egyptian security forces’ record of policing demonstrations with the routine use of excessive and unwarranted lethal force, this latest announcement gives a seal of approval to further abuse,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty.

“The authorities as well as the security forces should start with an approach that avoids the use of force and is based on ‘methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation’, as recommended by international standards,” she added.

“To avoid another bloodbath, Egypt’s civilian rulers need to ensure the ongoing right of protesters to assemble peacefully, and seek alternatives to a forcible dispersal of the crowds,” said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The police’s persistent record of excessive use of force, leading to dozens of deaths this month, and the density of the sit-ins mean that hundreds of lives could be lost if the sit-in is forcibly dispersed.”

According to Human Rights Watch at least 137 people have been killed by Egyptian security forces in the last month alone.  Other reports claim that at least 250 people have killed since Morsi was removed from power on July 3.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Morsi backers stage defiant rallies in Egypt – 2 August 2013

Human Rights Watch – Egypt: Do Not Forcibly Disperse Sit-Ins – 2 August 2013

Al Jazeera – Egypt police told to break up rallies – 1 August 2013

BBC – Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat to end sit-ins – 1 August 2013

Indian man Receives the Death Penalty Upon the Conviction of Raping a Seven-Year-old Girl

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – A United Arab Emirates court has sentenced to death a 57-year-old Indian man who was recently convicted of raping a seven-year-old girl at a school where he worked as a janitor.

A United Arab Emirates Court sentenced to death a 57-year-old ma after being found guilty of raping a 7-year-old girl (photo courtesy of Aljazeera)

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Hussain Al Jaziri, reported that the little girl displayed multiple signs of sexual abuse.  “Her aunt, who is accustomed to giving her a bath after school, asked her to remove her trousers. Upon refusing to do so, and after her aunt’s insistence, traces of blood and semen were found in the girl’s underpants,” stated Al Jaziri.

“This is in itself a violation of the educational convention…The girl and her parents have suffered psychological damage and trauma following the incident.  They will continue to suffer because of what happened,” continued Al Jaziri.

According to court documents, on April 14th, the victim was dragged by the convicted into the school kitchen while she was returning from the administration office where she dropped off school papers per her teacher’s request.

The convicted then threatened the victim, saying that he would kill her and her mother if she told anyone of the incident.  It is believed that the teacher who sent the girl to the administration office left the country a few days before the convicted was arrested.

Claims against the school have been made by the prosecution for failing to provide the safety and security to one of its students while on its premises due to a lack of control and surveillance of the school workers.

The defense team of the convicted argued that neither a blood or DNA test were conducted to tie the former janitor to the rape, citing the unsupervised presence of the girl in the school as the direct reason for the crime.

The conviction of capital punishment was delivered unanimously by the presiding Judge Sayyed Abdel Basir and two other judges on three charges of rape, sexual assault and issuing of death threats.  However, the judgment must be confirmed by the court of appeals and cassation.

“Hopefully this verdict will provide the victim’s family with closure and security knowing that justice was served.  I also urge parents and child caretakers everywhere to promptly report any act of aggression or abuse taken against their children as refraining from reporting these incidents only protects the offender,” stated Al Jaziri.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera – UAE sentences Indian man to death over rape – June 29, 2013

Gulf News – Janitor rapist gets death penalty – June 29, 2013

Straits News – UAE court hands death sentence to Indian convicted of raping young girl – June 29, 2013

Zee News – Indian man given death penalty in UAE for raping 7-year-old girl – June 29, 2013

Wave of Deadly Car Bombs Targeting Shia Neighbourhoods Have Killed Dozens in Iraq Highlighting Rising Sectarian Tensions in the Country

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A recent wave of car bombs left at least 51 people dead and more than 200 wounded in mostly-Shia neighborhoods in cities across Iraq after 18 car bombs were detonated on Monday.

Recent civilian deaths approach 2008 levels. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

The majority of the attacks were carried out in Baghdad, the nation’s capital. Explosives were also detonated in the cities of Kut, Basra, Tikrit, Smawa and Muthanna Providence. The attacks targeted Shia communities and populated centers including a hospital, a bus station, a restaurant and several markets.

Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki has tightened security in the nation’s capital in response to fears that more bombs have yet to be detonated. There were long lines at checkpoints in Baghdad as the security services searched vehicles for explosives.

While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attacks, they have largely been seen as an attempt to widen the gap between Iraq’s Shia and Sunni communities. The Iraq Interior Ministry has placed blame on Al-Qaida and accused the terror organization of trying to widen the rift between Sunnis and Shiites. Following the attacks, the United Nations envoy to Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin called for an end to the senseless bloodshed because the violence could push Iraq back into a sectarian war, saying, “Iraq is bleeding from random violence, which sadly reached record heights during the holy month of Ramadan.”

According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 Iraqis have been killed in attacks since April of this year, the surge in violence marks the highest level of violence since U.S. military forces pulled out of Iraq in 2011.

The surge in violence since April followed a violent crackdown by Iraqi security forces on a Sunni protest camp which left more than 40 civilians dead. Sunnis across the country have protested the Shia led government of Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki, claiming an unfair distribution of power and discrimination against the Sunni minority. Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the country was under the control of the Sunni minority until the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003. While the violence level in Iraq remains below the peak levels it reached during the height of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007 violence remains at its highest levels since 2008, bombings remain common and at least 700 people are believed to have been killed in July.

The recent surge in violence has largely been under-covered by American media outlets, likely as a result of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region. However, The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad condemned the attacks, saying that United States “stands firmly with Iraq in its fight against terrorism.”

For further information please see:

Al-Jazeera – Deadly Wave of Car Bombs Strikes Iraq – 29 July 2013

Associated Press – Wave of Car Bombings in Iraq Kills at Least 58 – 29 July 2013

BBC News – Iraq Violence: Wave of Beadly Car Bombs Targets Shias – 29 July 2013

The Guardian – Baghdad Car Bombs Kill Dozens – 29 July 2013

Egypt’s interim interior minister warns dispersal of all protests in the wake of one of the deadliest pro-Morsi protests

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Following the aftermath of the ousting of former Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, dozens were killed in a clash between pro-Morsi protestors and the Egyptian Army.  The attack occurred early Saturday morning and carried on for several hours.

(photo courtesy of Aljazeera)

Two sides to the details of the attack and how much carnage actually occurred have been circulated.  The government is claiming that no live rounds were used and security forces only relied on tear gas, putting the death toll at 65. However, protestors claim the army was shooting to kill.

A Brotherhood spokesman, who witnessed the shooting, stated that, “When I arrived, bullets were whizzing past my ears…Today was brutal, people were fired at with live firearms.” The Brotherhood is also claiming that the death toll is as high as 120.

Medics at a nearby field hospital reported that nearly 70% of the deaths were caused by live fire with most of the victims being shot in the chest, neck, or head by what they believed to be snipers shooting from surrounding rooftops.

Doctor Hesham Ibrahim stated, “They were mostly killed by bullet wounds especially by snipers, especially in the head.  We have nearly cut throats, just like animals.”  Other doctors claimed that they were not equipped nor have a proper facility to treat all of the wounded.

A CBS News Reporter stated, “There was blood everywhere in the morgue.  Volunteers tried futility to mop it up with rags, only smearing it across the floor.  Relatives sobbed over their loved ones.  Women shrieked. The crowd outside chanted ‘down with the military regime.’ The stench of blood and the heat of the people was overwhelming.”

Egypt’s interim interior minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, warned pro-Morsi protestors that they will all soon be dispersed from the sit-ins throughout Cairo.  He claimed that lawsuits filed by residents near the protests provide legal grounds for removal of the protesters.

Acting to ensure “the minimum losses possible,” Ibrahim spoke at a news conference on Saturday, insisting the security force’s main goal is to “prevent bloodshed.”  “We hope that the protesters come to their sense and that they put an end to these protests in order to prevent bloodshed,” added Ibrahim.

However, two leading political figures who supported the army’s removal of Morsi, have condemned Saturday’s shooting.  The highest Sunni Muslim authority in Egypt, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque, has called for an investigation, while Mohamed El Baradei, the president of the interim government, claimed that excessive force had been used.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief, has urged all sides to stop the violence.  A spokeswoman for Ashton stated, “Ashton is following with concern the latest developments in Egypt and deeply deplores the loss of life…she also calls on all actors to refrain from violence and to respect the principles of peaceful protest and non-violence.”

Should the number of 120 deaths be confirmed, Saturday’s killings will be the deadliest bout since Morsi was deposed and detained by security forces over three weeks ago.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera – Egypt official warns pro-Morsi protesters – July 27, 2013

BBC News – Egypt minister: Pro-Morsi protesters to be dispersed – July 27, 2013

CBS News – Pro-Mohammed Morsi protesters, army-backed demonstrators clash in Egypt– July 27, 2013

Reuters – EU’s Ashton deplores deaths in Egypt, urges halt to violence – July 27, 2013

Death Toll Over 100,000 in Syria Conflict

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that over 100,000 people have now been killed in the conflict in Syria.  The UN Chief appealed to all parties involved to begin new peace talks as he addressed the media before a meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry.

Heavy weaponry used in urban in areas has produced a large number of the casualties. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

“More than 100,000 people have been killed, millions of people have either been displaced or become refugees in neighbouring countries,” Ban said. “We have to bring this to an end. The military and violent actions must be stopped by both parties, and it is thus imperative to have a peace conference in Geneva as soon as possible.”

Kerry also addressed the reporters stating that he had recently spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and that both countries remained committed to a peaceful outcome.

“There is no military solution to Syria,” Kerry told reporters. “There is only a political solution, and that will require leadership in order to bring people to the table. We will try our hardest to make that happen as soon as is possible,” Kerry said.

In the past, peace conferences have been delayed because of disagreements between Russia and the US and uncertainty as to whether the all of the Syrian parties to the conflict would show up.

The announcement occurred shortly after a car bomb was detonated in the al-Siyouf Square in the Jaramanah disctrict of Damascus.  Reports have the number of deaths ranging from seven to as many as seventeen with dozens injured.

The UN death toll estimate marked a significant increase from last month’s estimate of 93,000 killed in the conflict.  The UN has stressed that their numbers are an underestimate.

The death toll is not the only startling statistic that has been released by the UN.  In May, it was reported that more than one-and-a-half million had fled Syria and another four million were displaced within the country.

While Ban and Kerry pushed for peace talks, the rebel opposition called for more military support from the US.  Opposition Syrian National Coalition president Ahmad Jarba said that the rebels have a “right to self-defense” and need further support as the situation has grown “desperate” after regime advances.

For further information, please see:

CNN – Opposition presses for weapons as Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 26 July 2013

Al Jazeera – UN: Syria death toll rises above 100,000 – 25 July 2013

BBC – Syria death toll now above 100,000, says UN chief Ban – 25 July 2013

Global Post – Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 25 July 2013