Egypt Deports Son of Chechen Rebel in Spite of Concerns

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East       

CAIRO, Egypt – On June 19 Egypt deported the son of a Chechen rebel leader back to Moscow, in spite of concerns of mistreatment and torture in Russian custody. Maskhud Abdullaev, the 22 year-old son of Supyan Abdullaev, was flown to Moscow despite warnings that he may face mistreatment and torture if deported. Supyan Abdullaev, with Movladi Udugoy, founded the Islamic Resistance Party, which has fought against Russia in two disputes.

Maskhud Abdullaev was detained as a result of a bomb attack in February in a popular Cairo tourist area that killed a French teenager. Egypt blamed the attack on militants with links to the terrorist organization al Qaeda. An investigation led to security sweeps that resulted in the detention of dozens of foreign students in May. Abdullaev was detained along with five other students that were studying at Cairo’s Al-Azhar Islamic University. Abdullaev has been studying there since 2006.

The human rights organization Amnesty International reports that Abdullaev was initially held incommunicado at Egypt’s Tora prison. Amnesty also reported that Abdullaev and the other students from Al-Azhar University claimed to have refugee status in Azerbaijan. However, Egyptian authorities insisted upon the students’ return to Moscow, in spite of risks of torture and mistreatment if they are sent to Russia.

Abdullaev and Ahmed Azimov, another Chechen student from Al-Azhar, arrived in Moscow on Friday via Egypt air. These two were supposed to be deported along with four other students on Thursday, but a traffic jam separated them from the group.

Satsita, Maskhud’s mother, waited in the Moscow airport to catch a glimpse of her son when he returned. She did not see him, and could not get any further information from the customs officers or other officers. When Azimov, Abdullaev’s travel mate, came out, he said that he and Abdullaev had been separated and questioned. That was the last that Azimov had seen of Abdullaev.  

Amnesty International warned against the deportation, because it put all six students at risk of torture and mistreatment. Amnesty criticized Egypt for deporting these students. Egypt is a state party to the United Nations Convention on Torture, which expressly prohibits the return of anyone to a place which they would likely be tortured. All five students would be at risk of mistreatment, but Abdullaev would especially be at risk because of his father.

For more information, please see:

Al Arabiya-  Fate of Deported Chechen Warlord’s Son Unknown– 21 June 2009

AFP- Egypt Deports Chechen Warlord’s Son– 19 June 2009

Reuters- Egypt Deports Son of Chechen Rebel Leader to Moscow – 19 June 2009

AFP-Egypt Deports Chechen Students– 18 June 2009

Amnesty International- Egypt: Forcible Return/ Fear of Torture or Other Ill-Treatment– 17 June 2009

UN’s Nepal Mission Extended

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Security Council voted to extend its mission in Nepal for another six months.  Although the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is being extended, the Security Council is urging the government to resume its peace talks so that the UN’s 250-person mission can leave in January 2010.

UNMIN UN workers in Nepal (Source: UN)

UNMIN was established to support the peace process and to monitor weapons storage sites at camps for former Maoist fighters.  However, the peace process has been stalled since May when the Maoists walked out of the government when their attempts to fire the country’s army chief failed.  This has caused a hold up in the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel and the drafting of a new constitution.

The Security Council had hoped to complete the mission in Nepal this month, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week that Nepal’s political crisis has prevented UNMIN from completing their work.

Nepal has been fighting anarchy, insecurity and impunity since the end of the country’s civil war when the Maoists overthrew Nepal’s monarchy, killing and displacing thousands of Nepalese. 

A peace deal was crafted in 2006, but the process has been slow.  Furthermore, the UN had recently expressed concerns regarding a rise in kidnappings for ransoms, which in turn encourages culture of impunity because there currently is no security enforcement in Nepal.

Karin Landgren, UN’s Nepal envoy, said, “It is our hope….that…the government and parties will take peace process forward, creating the conditions for the mission to complete its mandated tasks.” 

UN’s report on Nepal also warned that law and order continues to remain a “serious concern” because many armed groups are operating with impunity, especially in southern Nepal.

For more information, please see:

AFP – UN chief recommends extension of mission in Nepal – 18 July 2009

China View – UN extends mission in Nepal – 24 July 2009

Reuters – U.N council extends its Nepal mission but wants out – 24 July 2009

Tibetan Monks Finally Escape China

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHARAMSALA, India – Lobsang, and his fellow Tibetan monks courageously broke their silence in front of a group of 20 foreign and Chinese journalists over a year ago. After a long year of hardship, three out of 15 protesting monks have finally managed to find refuge in India, and tell their story.

Lobsang and others bravely unfurled hidden banners reading messages like “We have no human rights” a year ago when journalists arrived at their monastery, despite the obvious dangers that awaited them.

The journalists had been invited by Chinese officials to show that Tibetans were content under Chinese rule; however, the 15 monks outside the monastery seized the opportunity to express their true feelings. “If we monks hadn’t seized the opportunity to express our feelings, which are feelings in all Tibetan monks, then we would have missed a chance to tell the world,” said Lobsang.

Several Chinese officials insisted that the protests were planned by the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan monks themselves were not unhappy under Chinese rule. The monks from Labrang said harsh Chinese policies sparked the protest. “I and my friends decided on our own to protest. The protests were caused by human rights violations and Chinese policies toward Tibet. We couldn’t tolerate it anymore.”

Alongside Lobsang, a half-dozen other monks scrawled slogans such as “We have no freedom of speech” on Tibetan flags with their wills written on the back, convinced of their death.

Now that Lobsang and two other monks from the protest, Gyatso, and Jamyang have found refuge in India after a year of hiding from Chinese authorities, they speak more freely about the situation in Tibet. Over the years the Chinese government has been limiting the number of monks allowed to live in monasteries and have been cracking down on festivities honoring the Dalai Lama. The protests that began over a year ago have resulted in the detention of numerous monks and have led to the emptying out of monasteries. Chinese authorities have further clamped down on Tibet, making it more difficult for monks to the leave the country.

The tightly controlled conditions have also led to an increase in the number of suicides amongst Tibetan monks.

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Monks Tell Tale of Escape – June 21, 2009

Tibet Custom – Monk Suicide on the Rise in Tibet – June 22, 2009

AFP – Dalai Lama Urges Pressure over Tibet Oppression – June 5, 2009

Canada Denies U.S. Request to Admit Cleared Guantanamo Detainees

By Sovereign Hager
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Canada refused a request by the Obama administration to admit Guantanamo detainees from China, of Uighar ethnicity, amid speculation regarding pressure from the Chinese government.  China has actively sought the return of the 17 detainees for prosecution, but the U.S. will not return the men due to fear of torture.
The detainees were cleared for release by the Pentagon in 2004 and will remain in an offshore prison until the United States finds them asylum.  Albania accepted five of the men in 2006, and is the only country to do so.
Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper cited security concerns and “security concerns” and a lack of connection to Canada in saying that ” there is no rational for accepting them into the country”.  Canadian detainee Omar Khadr, accused of killing a U.S. serviceman, would reportedly be “a different case” because he is a Canadian citizen.  However, Canada intends to let his prosecution continue to be handled by the United States.
Two of the detainees, who have been held for over seven years staged a protest with handwritten signs calling for their freedom.  The Pentagon initially refused to allow journalists to release photos of the protest signs, however, the White House approved their release.  The Obama administration has been seeking placements for cleared Guantanamo detainees, asking foreign governments to make sacrifices and unpopular choices to help close Guantanamo Bay.

Last week, the Obama administration argued in a filing to the Supreme Court that a ruling blocking the detainees’ ability to receive asylum in the U.S. should be upheld.  That ruling overturned a federal judge order that the Uighurs be given sanctuary in the U.S., considering the fact that the Pentagon no longer considered them enemy combatants.

Muslim Uighurs from China’s Xinjiang province seek autonomy for their region. The Chinese government has been cracking down on separatist activities.  China has warned that any country that accepts the men will be considered as harboring terrorists.

Pakistani President Bans Jokes Ridiculing Him

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –The Pakistani government has initiated a crackdown against citizens that joke at the President’s expense. Pakistanis who send jokes by text message, email, or blog, risk being arrested and facing up to 14 years in prison.

According to the country’s Interior Minister Rehman malik, the Federal Investigation Agency will now electronically trace jokes that ‘slander the political leadership of the country’, in particular, jokes regarding Pakistani President Asif Zardari, widower of Benazir Bhutto.  This initiative will be carried out under the auspice of the new Cyber Crimes Act.

Mr. Malik said the move would punish the authors of “ill motivated and concocted stories through emails and text messages against the civilian leadership.” The government also listed counter-terrorism concerns as a reason for the ban.

President Zardari has long courted controversy. During the late Prime Minister’s Benazir Bhutto’s tenure, he was dubbed “Mr. 10 percent” when alleged evidence revealed he had been receiving “kickbacks on government contracts.” Other alleged nicknames include, loosely translated, “chief thief” and “bandit.”

Human rights agencies in Pakistan have described President Zardari’s ban as “draconian and authoritarian,” and compared it former President Musharraf’s media ban during a time of political opposition – drawing a distinction only in name between a civilian and military government.

 For more information, please see:

Digital Journal – Pakistani President Bans Jokes Ridiculing Him – July 22, 2009  

World Sentinel – Indecent SMS Sender Could Fail Jail Time in Pakistan – July 22, 2009  

Telegraph – Pakistan President Bans Jokes Ridiculing Him – July 21, 20  09