Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Vows to Target China

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East Desk

ALGERIA– Al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb or “AQIM” has vowed to avenge the deaths of many Islamic Uighur people during the recent riots in the northwestern province of Xin Jiang in China.  Although the threat does not come directly from Al Qaeda, the Algeria based group’s threat is likely to be supported by other branches of the terrorist organization.

This is the first threat by any branch of the greater Al Qaeda organization on China. Following the recent violence in the province of Xin Jiang many jihadists have been calling for vengeance. 

There are an estimated fifty thousand Chinese living in Algeria,  and they are part of hundreds of thousands of Chinese that work in North Africa and the Middle East.  There are many potential targets for AQIM very close to their cell in Algeria. Earlier in June AQIM attacked a convoy that carried many Chinese engineers. In this attack 24 Algerian security officers were killed, as the target was the greater project, and not the Chinese engineers.

Most of the people who have died in the recent attacks in Xin Jiang are ethnically Han, with only a small portion of Islamic Uighur casualties. China has asked for understanding from the terrorist group, and believes that if AQIM was aware of the whole story, that they would support China’s actions.

One Uighur living in exile in the United sates, Rebiya Kadeer, hopes that other Muslim countries, besides Algeria, will support the Uighurs in China. Kadeer was once a very successful businesswoman in China, but was forced to leave because of her peaceful protesting of Chinese rule. Kadeer hopes that increased Muslim support of Uighurs will help their rights in China.
For more information please see:

The Australian – Algerian Al-Qa’ida Vow to Target Chinese Workers – 15 July 2009

AFP – Al Qaeda Vows to Hit China Over Uighur Unrest – 14 July 2009

Penn Energy – Al Qaeda Threatens China’s Overseas Oil, Gas Interests – 14 July 2009

Telegraph UK – China Pleads for Understanding as Al Qaeda Vows for Revenge over Uighur Deaths – 14 July 2009

Recent Increase in Violence Spurs Increase in Security

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Vehicle bans were imposed in two predominantly Christian towns and security was increased around churches in Baghdad following a recent string of attacks that targeted the Christian minority.

The most fatal bombing occurred around dusk on June 12 as worshipers left the Church of Mariam Al-Adra, or the Church of the Virgin Mary, which is part of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, in central Baghdad. A car bomb exploded outside the church killing three Christians and one Muslim who was also outside the church at that time. More than twenty others were injured by the blast.

On the evening of July 11, and early morning on July 12 four other homemade bombs were placed at two churches in the neighborhood of Wahda and two other churches in the Dora and Al Gadir neighborhood. At least eleven people were wounded in these attacks and some minor damage to the churches occurred.

Also on Saturday, Aziz Rizko Nissan, a senior Christian Government official, was shot and killed in the northern city of Kirkuk. It is unclear whether or not his religion played a role in the killing, or whether the killing was related to Mr. Nissan’s position in government.

In addition a bomb exploded next to a U.S. convoy of personnel that included U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill. No one was injured in this explosion, and it is unclear if this attack is at all related to the other attacks.

On the morning of July 13, another bomb detonated near a church in the city of Mosul, injuring at least three children. This was the seventh church to be attacked in Iraq in this recent string of violence, bringing the total injuries to at least 35 with four fatalities over the past three days.

All of these attacks follow an announcement by Iraq’s senior military commander, Lt. Gen. Babakir Zebari, warning that attacks by extremists and insurgents would continue for years, even though these groups were losing ground. Zebari explained that although losing ground, the extremists and insurgents have a few strongholds and will continue to attack for the next several years. This announcement comes only weeks after American troops have moved out of Iraqi cities. Many Iraqis are complaining about their own military’s lack of action now that the US military has withdrawn from the cities. Referring to Iraq’s security services in the heavily secured government zone, Hossain Ali, a college student said, “They are just hanging out in the Green Zone and staring at us being killed.”

In October of 2008 in Mosul, many Christians fled the country following a string of attacks deliberately targeting Iraq’s Christian population. At the time, more than a thousand Christian families fled the city and at least fourteen Christians were killed in the city. There has been speculation that the attacks were designed to stir religious tensions, even though Sunni and Shi’ite groups are the ones targeted.

There are around 750,000 Christians in Iraq. Christians have been targets of attacks in the past, but are spared much of Iraq’s deadly violence. Authorities imposed vehicle bans in the predominately Christian towns of Tilkaif and Hamdaniyah, which are near the northern city of Mosul. Christian- dominated areas are now a security priority, although deputy head of Ninevah provincial council which includes Mosul said that “we will make our best efforts to keep security for the province and all its citizens of all ethnic and religious backgrounds without exception.”

For more information please see:

AP – Iraq Beefs Up Security After Attacks on Christians – 13 July 2009

CNN – Wave of Church Bombings Stretches into a Third Day – 13 July 2009

The Washington Post – Car Bomb Kills at Least Four Near Church in Baghdad – 13 July 2009

BBC – Baghdad Church Bombing Kills Four – 12 July 2009

NY Times – Church and Envoy Attacked in Iraq – 12 July 2009

Burma’s Junta Prepare to Free Political Prisoners


By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW YORK, United States– Burma’s UN Ambassador Than Swe announced during a Security Council session that his country is preparing to release some of the political prisoners so that they can participate in the 2010 general election.  This decision was made at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his last visit to Burma.

Swe said, “The Myanmar [Burmese] government is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds…Myanmar [Burma] today is steadfastly proceeding on its chosen path to democracy.”

Ban visit Burma UN Secretary General Ban visit Burma (Source: AFP)

Ban told reporters after the Security Council meeting that he conveyed the international community’s expectation to the Burmese government in the clearest terms possible. He also added that “the world is now watching closely whether they [Burma’s junta leaders] will choose to act in the best interest of their country” since the Burmese people will bear the cost of any lack of cooperation by their government with the international community.

Other UN members, including the U.S., United Kingdom and France, together called for stronger action by the Security Council against Burma, especially with matters related to Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader who is currently on trial for violating her house rest.  Ban’s request to see Suu Kyi was denied during his visit, and Suu Kyi is not likely to be among the prisoners to be freed in time for the 2010 election.

The new constitution, which 92% of voters approved in last year’s referendum and will be voting for in the 2010 election, bars Suu Kyi from holding a political office.  Thus, some claim that the election is to further strengthen the powers of the junta generals.  In response, Swe remarked that “undue pressure from the outside would not be conducive to Myanmar’s [Burma’s] home-grown political process.”

Nevertheless, U.S. envoy Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council members that there could be “no free and fair election while key leaders of Burma’s Democratic opposition, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi…languish in Burma’s prison.” 

There was no official word on how many of the estimated 2,100 political prisoners will be release in time for the 2010 general election.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Burma junta ‘to free dissidents’ – 13 July 2009

Bloomberg – Myanmar to Free Political Prisoners, Envoy Tells UN – 13 July 2009

Mizzima – Burma preparing to free political prisoners – 14 July 2009

Kashmiris World Over Observe Martyr Day

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Kashmiris all over the world observed Kashmir Martyr Day on Monday to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination.

In occupied Kashmir, the present authorities have imposed curfews in places such as Srinagar and have barricaded all roads leading to Lal Chowk; home to the Lal Chowk March. The Chairman of the All Parties Huriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, despite being kept under house arrest by the India, urged all people to massively partake in the Lal Chowk March to remember Kashmir’s martyrs. Indian police have arrested scores of people in occupied Kashmir, and raided the homes of several APHC leaders.

Different functions are being held in other parts of Kashmir that include speakers who have been paying tribute to those who lost their lives on June 13, 1931 when the Dogra troops shot dead 22 protesting Kashmiris in front of Srinagar Central Jail.

In Islamabad a rally was held where participants presented a memorandum at the UN office in which they asked the UN Secretary General to put an end to human rights violations and restrictions on movement and press. They further urged the Secretary General to play an active role in the Security Council to bring about a final resolution on the Kashmir dispute issue.

Here in the US, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of the Kashmiri American Council, spoke to representatives of Amnesty International and urged them to put an end to the atrocious violations being committed in Kashmir. In particular, Dr. Fai spoke about the recent abduction, rape, and murder of two young girls in Shopian by the military. Kashmiri territory has been in dispute ever since the Partition between India and Pakistan in 1947. Since then, there has been civil and international unrest surrounding the issue. Kashmir has been home to human rights violations, and breeding ground for acts of violence.

Dr. Fai ended her speech by quoting President Obama from his L’Aquila, Italy speech saying, “We don’t want stronger nations bullying weaker nations. On the other hand, where you have nations that are oppressing their people, isn’t there an international responsibility to intervene?”

 For more information, please see:

South Asian News Agency – Kashmir’s Martyr Day Observed World Over – July 13, 2009

Kashmir Watch – The Kashmir Tragedy: Kashmir Martyrs’ Day –  July 13, 2009

Greater Kashmir – Martys’ Day Observed in Pakistan – July 13, 2009  

Rape No Longer Legalized Under Afghan Marriage Law

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – A new version of Afghan marriage law no longer requires a wife to submit to sex with her husband, only that she perform certain housework.  The original law required the wife to submit to the husband’s sexual advances every four days.  This sex clause was met with international condemnation for appearing to legalize marital rape.

This marriage law applies only to the minority Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, and the 10% Shiite minority is allowed to settle family affairs under their own jurisprudence under the Afghan Constitution.  Nevertheless, the critics considered the law as a return to the old Taliban-era rules when the Afghan government is supposed to be promoting democracy and human rights.

The United Nations released a statement saying, “The United Nations has had concerns about parts of the law that do not conform with international law, particularly in regard[s] to the rights of women.”

Afghan marriage law Afghan Shiite women protesting the original marriage law (Source: AP)

The revised law now says the wife need only do housework that the couple agreed at the time of their marriage, and the clause requiring the women to obtain her husband’s permission to leave the house and the sex clause have been deleted.

The new draft appears to give women more freedom, stating that a woman is the “owner of her property and can use her property without the permission of her husband.”  However, although the new draft may be seen as a move towards better protection of women’s rights, many activists argue that the government has not done enough to make a significant change in the women’s daily lives. 

Women’s advocate Shukria Barakzai said, “We need a change in customs, and this is just on paper.  What is being practiced every day, in Kabul even, is worse than the laws.”  She remained skeptical as to how much change the new law will bring to the women’s lives, adding, “Still there are forced marriages and child marriages…and the lack of access to divorce.”

Although the revised law is likely to be approved, it is unclear how long it will take the parliament to take up the draft since the legislature is in recess for the next two weeks.

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post – Afghan Marriage Law No Longer Legalizes Rape – 9 July 2009

MSNBC – Afghanistan revises contentious marriage law – 9 July 2009

Telegraph – Afghanistan revises marriage law but women still required to submit to sexual intercourse – 9 July 2009