The Middle East

Al-Zaatari in Jordan Soon to Become World’s Largest Refugee Camp

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Managing Editor, News

AMMAN, Jordan — Al-Zaatari, Jordan, the second largest refugee camp in the world, is set to become the largest by the end of this year.  The camp, already home to 500,000 refugees, receives between 2,000 – 4,000 refugees on days when the violence in Syria is especially dire, and will soon overtake the Dabaab camp near the Somali-Kenyan border as the highest-populated refugee camp in the world.  According to Jordan’s Ministry of Interior, al-Zaatari as a city is the fifth largest population center in Jordan.

Al-Zaatari’s refugee camp is estimated to become the world’s largest refugee camp in the world by the end of this year. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Jordanians, struggling to recover from the country’s recent economic collapse, are weary of the increase of refugees, and have resorted to blaming them for a shortage of water and electricity.  “This is really the first time where we hear people in this country very loudly articulating views against opening our borders to receive more refugees,” said Jordanian Legislator Mustafa Hamarneh.

Jordan, concerned about the long term effects of housing so many refugees, requested the global community to provide immediate aide.  “We need the UN’s assistance, and we need it immediately,” said Jordanian Minister of Interior Hussein Majali in a press conference.  Majali praised the UN’s efforts thus far, but said that more is still needed to be done.  “We could see two million refugees in Jordan by the end of the year,” said Majali.  “The crisis is affecting Jordan on every level, healthcare, economically, education, all our sectors are being stressed.”  Refugee Affairs Coordinator for Jordan’s Ministry of Interior, Saleh al-Kilani, said that the refugee crisis costs the jordanian government 2,500 Jordanian Dinars (approximately $3,500) per refugee per year, and that Jordan has already spent $826 million on the current crisis.

Syrians refugees are also voicing their resentment, as riots and protests now occur regularly within the al-Zaatari camps.  Residents of the camp say that they are tired of the “wretched living conditions,” and that “they are being made to feel like prisoners.”

The al-Zaatari camp itself is comprised of tents and mobile-home caravans.  The caravans create a class-based distinction between refugees who have little, and those who have less.  Refugees turned al-Zaatari into their own community by establishing an unregulated marketplace.  Refugees successfully converted tin stalls into shops and vendors, and created jobs within the camps, where they earn a steady income in teaching in Unicef-run schools, cleaning bathrooms, and pitching tents.

Jordan, a key ally of the U.S., is also concerned about the next state of Syria if the Assad regime falls.  It is weary of what could occur if Syria becomes an extremist state.  Hamarneh believes that no country in the Middle East, including Jordan, would be prepared for that outcome.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Jordan to Host ‘World’s Largest Refugee Camp’ — 16 May 2013

Catholic Online — As Death and Destruction Rain Down in Syria, Refugees Flee With Lives to Jordan — 16 May 2013

CBS News — Tensions Rise as Syrian Refugees Flood Jordan — 16 May 2013

Jordan Times — Jordan Hosting Largest Number of Registered Syrian Refugees — 16 May 2013

New York Times — Syrian Refugees Struggle at Zaatari Camp — 16 May 2013

Saudi Mistreatment of Shia Cleric

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia is a Sunni ran state, where ten-to-fifteen percent of its Shia population are systematically discriminated against by receiving unequal treatment with regards to justice and religious freedom, and from a lack of access to public employment and education. Shia cleric Ayatollah Nimr al-Nimr sought to put an end to this unfair treatment with his words and has been met with violence, imprisonment, and the possibility of crucifixion.

Shia cleric ayatollah Nimr al-Nimr remains detained with a bullet still in his leg while awaiting a trial which may ultimately end in his crucifixion. (Photo Courtesy of Ahlul Bayt News Agency)

Al-Nimr was shot in the leg four times while he was being detained by Saudi authorities. Three of the bullets have been removed from the shattered bone of his leg, but one still remains. Al-Nimr has not received regular medical care or physical therapy regarding his leg injury while being held at the Security Forces Prison Hospital. Additionally, requests for a second opinion on his health have been denied.

The official stance from the Saudi authorities has been that al-Nimr resisted arrest by ramming a security forces’ vehicle and inciting a shoot-off. Al-Nimr was not known by his family to own a gun, and has consistently preached throughout time his disdain for guns and a need for “the weapon of the word.”

Once apprehended, al-Nimr remained detained for eight months before being charged with anything. The Rasid news of Saudi Arabia has reported that al-Nimr will face charges of “inciting to infringe on property of the state,” “interference in the affairs of a sister nation,” and “incitement to commit terrorism crimes [in the sister nation],” presumably referring to statements he made criticizing Bahrain. The trial court is also considering charges of “instigating riots,” “heightening sectarian strife,” “destabilizing the security of the state and calling on sons of the country to participate,” and “storing materials on the internet that harm public order and religious values.”

It has only been recently that the courts have allowed al-Nimr’s lawyer and brother to attend his trials. As of today, the court is still refusing to assess whether al-Nimr’s ten month continued detention has been appropriate. Al-Nimr has been held in a four-by-four meter windowless solitary isolation cell. Four the first four months of his detention he was denied any visitation, however, now he has been allowed an hour visit by immediate family once every two weeks.

The prosecutors are looking to throw the whole book at al-Nimr, and a heavy book at that. The sentence they are seeking for al-Nimr is that of crucifixion. The treatment of al-Nimr has led to Shia protests, which has in turn led to the shooting of protesters by security forces.

Don’t be startled if the hanging of al-Nimr’s body from a pole leads to more demonstrations and subsequent killings of demonstrators to “maintain order.”

For further information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Saudi Arabia: Cleric who Backed Protests on Trial for his Life – 11 May 2013

Al-Monitor – Saudi Arabia Clamps Down on Dissent – 3 May 2013

Ahlul Bayt News Agency – Saudi Shia Cleric Ayatollah Nimr Appears Before a Saudi Judge – 1 May 2013

Al Jazeera – Cleric Faces Possible Crucifixion in Saudi Arabia – 30 April 2013

Ali Abdulemam Resurfaces in UK

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrian – Bahraini human rights blogger and free speech activist, Ali Abdulemam, who had gone missing for two years has finally resurfaced in the UK. He will reunite with his wife and daughters who he has not seen or spoke to since his escape from Bahrain, and is set to speak next week at the Oslo Freedom Forum.

Ali Abdulemam, founder of Bahrain Online, has made it to the UK after spending the past two years in hiding. (Photo Courtesy of the Guardian)

Since the inception of pro-democratic demonstrations in Bahrain in 2011, the Bahraini government has sought to control the media. The media paints a picture of human rights activists as criminals attempting to subvert the state. The 2002 Press Law allows the state to incarcerate journalists who are found to have criticize the religion of Islam, the king, or who have been deemed to have threatened national security.

Back in March 2011, Abdulemam’s home was raided by security forces, however, Abdulemam was not home and has not been home since. He was able to escape Bahrain while being hidden in a secret compartment of a car and was brought to Saudi Arabia , Kuwait, and Iraq before finding his way to the UK.

While Abdulemam was missing he was tried in absentia and found guilty by a a military court for “plotting a coup.” He was then given a fifteen year sentence.

Abdulemam’s activist activity dates back to at least 1998 when he created the web blog, Bahrain Online, for individuals to have a place to discuss the government. Back then, Abdulemam was using a psyuedonym. He eventually began using his real name because he wanted people to know that a real person was behind the posts.

Once his name was known, it was not long until him and other Bahrain Online bloggers were arrested on charges of inciting hatred against the regime and publishing false information. He was only held for seventeen days back in 2005 when he was released. The detention did not deter Abdulemam, but inspired him with purpose.

Abdulemam was not arrested again until 2010 when he and twenty-two other rights activists were detained and accused with having ties to a London-basd terror network whose aim was to bring down the state. Before he was tried for those allegations, he was given no notice of the charges against him and was not permitted to have a lawyer.

As a result, he was detained for another five and a half months before being released. During those months, Abdulemam claimed that he was beaten, insulted, and made to sign false confessions.

As soon as Abdulemam was released, he joined the protest movement that was going on at Manama’s Pearl Roundabout. Martial law was invoked to deal with the demonstrations, and Abdulemam fled the country before he could be detained again.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Missing Bahraini Blogger Surfaces in London – 10 May 2013

Atlantic – Escape From Bahrain: Ali Abdulemam is Free – 10 May 2013

Guardian – Bahrain Online Founder Ali Abdulemam Breaks Silence After Escape to UK – 10 May 2013

Voice of Bahrain – The 10 Worst Countries for Journalists – 6 May 2013

Syrian Rebels May Have Used Sarin Gas

By Dylan Takores
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Carla Del Ponte of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria stated in an interview on Swiss TV that Syrian rebels may have used sarin, a chemical nerve gas, in skirmishes with the Syrian army.

Carla Del Ponte. (Photo Courtesy of AFP)

Sarin gas is capable of causing respiratory arrest and death.  It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction and banned under international law.

Del Ponte reported the Commission received “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof” that rebels used the chemical agent.  She explained that the information came from testimony by doctors and victims from neighboring countries.  The testimony revealed that the victims’ treatments were compatible with methods used to treat injuries from the use of sarin.

The Commission was appointed in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate war crimes in Syria.  It has little access within Syria, but conducted extensive investigations and gathered testimony from individuals in many neighboring countries.

Since Del Ponte’s statement Sunday night, the Commission has downplayed the comment.  Paulo Sergio Pinheiro clarified on Monday that the Commission has not yet reached any conclusive results.  He declined to comment any further on the allegations, but stated that the Commission would report its findings on the subject to the Human Rights Council on June 3rd.

The statement followed reports issued last week by the US and UK that claimed an investigation found evidence the Syrian government forces used sarin against rebels.  The reports said investigations revealed “compelling” evidence that Bashar al-Assad’s loyal army used the gas, but required incontrovertible proof in order to request UN intervention.

The US responded to Del Ponte’s statement on Monday.  White House spokesman Jay Carney stated that the US is “highly skeptical” of her remarks.  The US contends that any use of sarin gas likely came from al-Assad’s army.

Both the Syrian government and the rebels accused each other of using sarin.  The government denied allegations from the US and UK reports.  The government claimed that the opposition is attempting to frame the Syrian army.  Both sides assert that the other used chemical weapons on three separate occasions near Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC – UN commission downplays claim Syria rebels used sarin – 6 May 2013

CBS – W.H. on Syrian sarin gas claim: Look to regime, not rebels – 6 May 2013

Guardian – US casts doubts on claim Syrian rebels may have used sarin gas – 6 May 2013

VOA – UN Panel: No Proof of Syria Nerve Gas Claim – 6 May 2013

Yahoo – U.N. has testimony that Syrian rebels used sarin gas: investigator – 6 May 2013

Lebanon Registers its First Civil Marriage

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon — On April 25, history was made in Lebanon, when the Lebanese Ministry Interior registered the marriage contract of Kholud Succariyeh, a Sunni Muslim, and Nidal Darwishon, a Shia Muslim.  The registration of their contract was regarded as the first civil marriage contract “made in Lebanon.”

The registration of Sukkarieh and Darwish’s wedding is seen as an accomplishment by human rights groups. (Photo Courtesy of Al-Monitor)

Prior to then, Lebanon, a country with more than eighteen different religious sects, had no institutional civil marriage.  The contract was finally registered after a year-long campaign took place in the country to grant such unions.  Institutional civil marriages were banned in Lebanon since 1936, when a French mandate granted religious communities to govern personal matters, also governing marriage.

Just over four months ago,  Succariyeh and Darwishon initiated their campaign to promote institutionalized civil unions to the Lebanese government.  Religious clerics attempted to prevent their marriage, who, on January 28, 2013, issued a fatwa saying: “Every Muslim official, whether a deputy or a minister, who supports the legalization of civil marriage, even if it is optional, is an apostate and outside the Islamic religion.  [Such officials] would not be washed, not be wrapped in a [burial] shroud, would not have prayers for their soul in line with Islamic rules, and would not be buried in a Muslim cemetery.”

After Succariyeh and Darwishon’s union was registered, religious activists quickly denounced the move.  Sheikh Sharif Tutayo of the Islamic Labor Front , considered the Interior Ministry’s approval a “blatant defiance of Islamic and Christian religious references.”

Regardless of the outspoken criticism by clerics and politicians, the couple garnered support for their cause by many public figures, including President Michel Sleiman.  Sleiman even took to Twitter to support the two on their marriage.

Lebanese law never prevented Succariyeh and Darwishon from the registration of their marriage, but since religious communities are in charge of governing the marriage, a legal problem may arise in terms what party or sect will govern the couple’s affairs with regards to inheritance, adoption, and divorce.  Lebanese spouses that come from different sects typically chose to marry outside of Lebanon, and later register their marriage with Lebanese authorities.  Therefore, when conflicts arose, Lebanese courts would settle disputes by applying the personal status law of the country they were married in.

Darwish said of the registration, that it was “the first victory for the civil state in Lebanon, the state we all dream of.”  Sukkarieh added that, “this is Lebanon’s first historic step towards institutionalizing civil marriage.”  Sukkarieh and Darwish’s marriage registration might seem like a small step for a secular Lebanon, but advocates believe it had a major impact.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Lebanon Civil Marriage Raises Hope for Change — 2 May 2013

The Voice of Russia — Lebanon’s First Civil Marriage Registered — 30 April 2013

The Daily Star — Qortbawi Lauds Charbel for Civil Marriage Move — 27 April 2013

Al Arabiya — Lebanon’s First Civil Marriage Registered, Agency says  — 25 April 2013

Al-Monitor — Lebanon’s First Civil Marriage A Sign of Change — 25 April 2013