By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) just released its annual assessment on how press freedom is being treated throughout the world; and, the results were not pretty. The report details both the censorship of information, as well as the treatment of individual reporters. A new edition to the report included a “risk list” of ten places where press freedoms were particularly bad in 2012. Three such countries, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, are located in the Middle East.

This past year was not the safest of years to be a journalist. Globally, the number of journalists who were imprisoned in 2012 reached an all time high. Two hundred and thirty two journalists were reportedly detained, which is an increase of fifty three for the year before.

Seventy journalists had died while actively reporting in the past year which is a forty-three percent increase from 2011. CPJ’s research has came up with the harrowing figure that over the past two decades, one journalist is killed while working, once every eight days. These figures only include the known dead. There are at least thirty-five more journalists who are currently missing.

At this moment, Syria is the most dangerous place in the world to be a journalist. In the past year, at least twenty-eight journalist have been killed, while another two are missing.

While not as many journalists have been killed in Turkey; in no other place have more journalists been imprisoned. Forty-nine journalists were jailed in 2012. Turkey’s government utilizes laws which restrict the press’ freedom of speech, in order to curtail dissent.

Only four less journalists were imprisoned in Iran, however, the likelihood of their mistreatment during detention was far greater than anywhere else. Reporters and editors faced torture, solitary confinement, and deprivation of medical care. Those who were formally detained generally were arrested under some anti-state charge.

CPJ deputy director Robert Mahoney stated that, “when journalists are silenced, whether through violence or laws, we all stand to lose because perpetrators are able to obscure misdeeds, silence dissent, and disempower citizens.”

He added, “the battle to control information is an assault on public accountability that cannot go unchallenged. Governments must prosecute perpetrators and stop those seeking to incapacitate public oversight by blunting critical and probing reporting.”

Not only does limitation on freedom of speech violate international human rights law in its own regard, but the continuance of these attacks on the press serve to continue the existence of impunity in the Middle East.

The CPJ has been releasing its annual report since 1990.

For further information, please see:

Guardian – Journalism Under Attack Across the Globe Imperils Press Freedom – 14 February 2013

Huffington Post – CPJ Attacks on the Press Report: Number of Journalists Imprisoned, Killed Spiked in 2012 – 14 February 2013

Washington Post – Glance at Attacks on the Press – 14 February 2013

CPJ – Attacks on the Press: Journalism on the Front Lines in 2012

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain — A teenager was killed on Thursday morning while participating in a protest that took place in the village of Daih.  The protest itself took place during the second anniversary of the demonstrations for democratic reforms.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed via Twitter that a person had died, but offered no further details beyond this.  The Interior Ministry tweet stated that “Operations Room received call from SMC [Salmaniya Medical Complex, the country’s largest hospital] reportain an injured individual pronounced dead.”  Al Wefaq,Bahrain’s largest opposition group, said in a report that the deceased teenager was 16 year old Hussain al-Jaziri, and that he was killed by shotgun fire at close range.  Al Wefaq’s report stated that al-Jaziri sustained a serious injury to his stomach.”

Throughout the villages of Bahrain, clashes occurred after several hundred demonstrators, mostly comprised of Shi’ite youths, blocked the roads to Manama and hurled stones and firebombs towards police forces.  Protesters reported that teargas was used in several locations.  Three photojournalists were arrested while reporting in Daih.

The current clashes are the most violent in recent months and have the potential to mar talks that were initiated last Sunday between mostly Shi’ite Muslim opposition groups and the Sunni dominated government in an effort to end the political deadlock that has dominated Bahraini politics.

The Chief of Public Security, Major-General Tariq Hassan al-Hassan, issued a statement reporting that “[t]he worst clashes occurred in Daih where around 300 people at around 8 am attacked the security men stationed there to protect the area,” he said.  Al-Hassan also mentioned in his reports that Police forces in Daih had to take action since they “had come under attack from rioters with rocks, steel rods, and Molotov cocktails. Warning shots were fired but failed to disperse the advancing crowd who continued their attack. Officers discharged birdshot to defend themselves.”

Al-Hassan said that he initiated an investigation, and intends to quiz several members of the unit involved in the incident.  Al-Hassan also pleaded to demonstrators to not use al-Jaziri’s death as means to commit more violence.  “I urge all citizens not to heed the calls to exploit this death to undermine public order and cause further loss of life and property,” he said.

Al Wefaq says that the death of al-Jaziri “exacerbated emotions” for demonstrators throughout the country who participated in protests.  It has called for a massive demonstration to take part on Friday morning, requesting everyone to take part.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera — ‘Teenager Killed’ in Bahrain Protest — 14 February 2013

BBC News — Teenager Killed in Bahrain Anniversary Protests — 14 February 2013

Gulf News — Teenager Killed as Clashes Erupt in Bahrain — 14 February 2013

Reuters — Teen Killed in Protests on Bahrain Revolt Anniversary — 14 February 2013

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel — Last Monday Israeli police arrested 10 women for wearing tallits (prayer shawls), at the Western Wall, one of Israel’s holiest sites. In Orthodox Judaism, wearing a tallit at the Wall is a custom traditionally reserved for men.

The women, all members of an activist group called the Women of the Wall (WOTW), whose mission is to promote gender equality in religious practice.  WOTW visited the Western Wall to pray for the Jewish new month of Adar at a monthly service which featured veterans who fought at the Western Wall during the Six Day War of 1967.  Among the arrested women were WOTW founder Anat Hoffman, Lion Nevo, an 8 month pregnant rabbinical student, and Rabbi Susan Silverman, sister of the comedian Sarah Silverman, and her 17 year old daughter Hallel Abramowitz. The ladies linked arms and sang songs as they were escorted to a police station.  Some women were released after they were questioned for three hours by police, however those who did not agree to a conditional release will have to attend a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Monday.

“They (police) said ‘take off your prayer shawls’, and we said ‘no,'” said Silverman.  Police Spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that the women were violating a “regulation set by the High Court” a decade ago, which was enacted to uphold Orthodox rules at the site for the sake of avoiding tensions between worshippers.  Silverman said that the regulation amounted to “spitting on the Sinai,” the site in the Bible where God gave Moses the 10 Commandments.  “All Jews are in a covenant with God, regardless of gender,” she said.  Sarah Silverman commended her sister through her Facebook page, saying that she was “SO proud” of her sister and niece for their act of “civil disobedience.”

The police were criticized for the arrests.  “It’s unacceptable that the police are stopping women from wearing a tallitot, it’s like Iran. I can’t believe they are stopping people from praying in one certain way or another, said Llon Bartov, a veteran who fought in the Six Day War. “This is just attrition,” said WOTW Founder Hoffman.  ” They want the group to become frightened.”

The women who were detained claimed that they were amongst hundreds of supporters who came to pray at the Wall.  Dozens of men who supported their cause were also present.  Some of them had even smuggled prayer shawls which they passed over the gender barrier “like contraband goods.”  After their arrest, WOTW moved its Torah reading to the police station where their fellow members were being held.

For further information please see:

Al Jazeera — Israel Detains Women Over Prayer Shawls — 11 February 2013

The Jerusalem Post — 10 Women Arrested at Kotel for Wearing Tallitot — 11 February 2013

Russia Today — Shawl Male Rule: Israeli Police Detain Ten Women Over ‘Improper Attire’ at Holy Site — 11 February 2013

The Times of Israel — 10 Women with Prayer Shawls Arrested at Western Wall — 11 February 2013

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait– Kuwait considers itself to be in the forefront of providing human rights and freedom of speech in the Middle East. Nevertheless, if one happens to say something that would “offend the emir,” then one has committed a violation that could potentially result in a five year prison sentence.

This past week, at least four individuals, three of which were former members of parliament, were convicted in court for “offending the emir,” Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The three former parliament members were Islamists Falah al-Sawwagh and Bader al-Dahum and populist Khaled al-Tahus. Each got received a three year prison sentence with their conviction.

The fourth individual to be convicted for “offending the emir” was a youth activist named Mohammad Eid al-Ajmi. Ajmi received the maximum five year sentence for a statement he made on the popular social networking site Twitter.

The three former parliament members were all arrested in October at a protest in opposition of the emir. The protest was in reaction to alterations the emir made in the voting system just six weeks prior to the election.

In Kuwait’s constitution, it is declared that the emir is “immune and inviolable,” hence it is illegal to criticize him. Kuwait’s government has stated on multiple occasions that it is all for free speech, however, it must act against such improper statements about the emir.

Since October, twenty five people have been charged with offending the emir. Of the twenty five, six so far have had to face jail terms.

Numerous groups including the U.S. government, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and domestic groups like the Kuwait Society for Human Rights have criticized the recent behavior of Kuwait’s government with respect to free speech and freedom of association.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland stated that, “we. . .oppose laws that curb the peaceful exercise of free expression.”

Amnesty International highlighted Kuwait’s increase on restrictions and pleaded that the country protect users of social media.

Nadim Houry, the deputy director of the Middle East region for Human Rights Watch went as far as to say that, “sending politicians to prison for criticizing the ruler is at odds with official claims that Kuwait is a beacon of freedom in the Gulf.”

Mohammad al-Humaidi, the director of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights called for, “the government to expand freedoms and adhere to the international (human rights) conventions it has signed.”

For further information, please see:

Gulf News – End Jail Terms Over Offences to Rule, Human Rights Watch Says – 8 February 2013

Human Rights Watch – Kuwait: Quash Convictions for ‘Offending Emir’ – 7 February 2013

Arabian Business- Kuwait Jails Former MPs for Criticising Emir – 6 February 2013

Radical Islam – Kuwaiti Youth Gets Five Years for Insulting Emir – 5 February 2013

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia – Popular secular politician, Chokri Belaid, was shot in the neck and head and killed just outside his home in Tunis, on his way to work, a couple of days ago. This was the first time a politician was assassinated in Tunisia since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011. Today thousands of supporters attended his funeral while many others protested all throughout the country.

Belaid was a human rights activist and lawyer who was the co-head of the leftist Democratic Patriots Party. Although the party lacked much power in Tunisia, Belaid was seen as an outspoken critic of the government who, for many, symbolized the Tunisian revolution.

French President Francois Hollande stated that, “[t]his murder robs Tunisia of one of its most courageous and free voices.”

A day before his assassination, Belaid partook in a televised interview in which he blamed the moderate, Islamist Ennahda party for giving “an official green light” to political violence. He also claimed that Ennahda and Salafists attacked a meeting of his liberal supporters this past Sunday.

The prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, has promised to act swiftly in arresting the perpetrator of what he deems to be a terrorist act. President Moncef Marzouki said that, “[t]here are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they’re determined to ensure it fails.”

Despite not yet knowing who committed the murder, in the wake of Belaid’s death, demonstrators have set an Ennahda party building on fire in Mezzouna. Others ransacked raided the party’s offices in Gafsa where petrol bombs were used. At least half a dozen Ennahda buildings have been destroyed so far.

Additionally, crowds of protestors have been chanting “Ghannouchi, assassin, criminal” and that they want a “second revolution.” Rachid Ghannouchi is the leader of the Ennahda party.

Throughout the many protests across the country, the police have fired tear gas at the demonstrators to disperse them. The use of tear gas was not absent from Belaid’s funeral either; however, this time the police were not trying to get rid of Belaid’s supporters.

The funeral was rather peaceful for a while, with little security intervention. Reports have indicated though, that while the mourners’ procession approached the cemetery to lay Belaid’s body to rest, that young men just outside the cemetery were attempting to steal mourner’s phones cameras, and cars. When police tried to stop these individuals, the young men began throwing stones at the police and began to set the cars ablaze. As a result, the police were forced to use tear gas which ultimately found its way into the cemetery.

Reports out of CNN indicate that the tens of thousands of mourners last stop in its procession may not be the cemetery. Apparently, there may also be a plan to march to the Ministry of the Interior after the funeral. Police fired tear gas there just a day ago to get rid of protestors.

For further information, please see:

Alchourouk – Two Days MRA Assassination Belaid Preoccupation with Security Back: Congestion in the Street and Horror Among Citizens – 8 February 2013

Assabah – The Final Lesson – 8 February 2013

Guardian – Tunisia Turmoil: Chokri Belaid’s Funeral and General Strike – Live Updates – 8 February 2013

BBC – Tunisia: Chokri Belaid Assassination Prompts Protests – 6 February 2013