Players Banned from Wearing “Political” Poppy on Jerseys

November 10, 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

LONDON, England — The international governing body of soccer, FIFA, has rejected players’ requests to wear embroidered poppy flowers on their jerseys during a game between England and Scotland on November 11. In the United Kingdom, November 11 is the day which memorializes those who have passed away in war. Both England and Scotland have asked FIFA to allow them to wear the symbol out of respect for the Royal British Legion, which is a charity that sells poppy badges to raise funds for veterans. British soccer teams traditionally honor a moment of silence and wear embroidered poppies on their jerseys on the weekend of November 11.

Embroidered poppy symbol on a soccer jersey honoring fallen veterans (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

FIFA bans any political or religious messages on jerseys, and Scottish Football Association chief Stewart Regan supports FIFA’s position that the organization is “sticking to the letter of law.” FIFA considers the poppy to be a political statement, and will not allow the symbol to be worn on international shirts unless special permission is given by the organization.

The ban has elicited public outrage from fans. Falklands veteran Simon Weston supports the English Football Association’s position of risking an imposed fine, and allowing their players to wear the poppy on November 11 regardless of what FIFA decides. Weston told reporters that both England and Scotland both “took part in both World Wars and should take the lead. They should pay any fine has to give them. This is not a political gesture.”

The Football Associations of England, Scotland, and Wales are set to meet with FIFA in the upcoming days to discuss whether players should be allowed to wear the poppies on their jerseys. These associations are curious to learn what punishments would be administered should they decide to ignore the ban and wear the poppies anyway, as there are rumors that one punishment could be point reduction. The FAs ensure fans and players that they have “led remembrance discussions with FIFA to allow the England team to show its support for the poppy appeal during the World Cup qualifier with Scotland.”

In 2011, Scottish soccer players were allowed to wear armbands with an embroidered poppy on them after receiving special permission from FIFA.

For more information, please see:

BBC — FIFA ‘Rejects England & Scotland Request to Wear Poppies on Armbands’ — 1 November 2016

ESPN — FIFA Ban England and Scotland from Wearing Poppies in World Cup Qualifier — 1 November 2016

Independent — England vs. Scotland: Fifa Ban Poppy due to being a ‘Political Statement’ as FA make Contact to Find Solution — 1 November 2016

RT — FIFA Refuses to Allow British Teams Wear ‘Political’ Poppy on Shirts — 1 November 2016

Sky Sports — FA and FIFA Discuss Allowing Players to wear Poppies in England v Scotland Clash — 1 November 2016

Reza Photography: Values for Humanity

November 9, 2016

Values for Humanity

On this day, when the future of our world and the values we defend are tested, I would like to share a memory, to celebrate the recent nomination of António Guterrez to the post of UN Secretary General, and, above all, to encourage him in his mission.

A memory…

One day in the summer of 2015.

I had the honor of guiding António Guterrez, already then the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, through a private visit to the Dream of Humanityexhibition on the banks of the Seine in Paris.

The exhibition displayed images on the theme of humanity, on the theme
of exile and displayed seven large panels bearing different key values translated into the languages of the world.

The new mission of António Guterrez, more than ever after today,
is to spread these values and to encourage each nation to fight for them,
so that they are not trampled.

Reza

Protests in Morocco After Fish Seller Crushed to Death in Morocco

November 9, 2016

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

RABAT, Morocco– Protests have rocked Morocco after fish seller Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was crushed to death in a city garbage truck. Fikri, dove into the truck after municipal workers confiscated his swordfish and threw it away. It is illegal to catch and sell swordfish during the current season. The fish that was confiscated is was estimated to be worth a large sum of money.

Moroccans protest in Rabat. (Photo Courtesy of Thomson Reuters)

Protests are extremely rare in Morocco and this protest has paralleled the 2010 death of a fruit seller in Tunisia. The protest that followed the fruit seller’s death in Tunisia eventually lead to the Arab Spring in that country. Many protesters that are taking to the street to protest the death of Fikri are shouting “hogra” which is a term for abuse and injustice.

The Moroccan royalty, which has managed to prevent any Arab Spring like protests from consuming the government, is growing irritated with the protests that are not ending. Morocco is seen across the world as a progressive North African country and is welcoming the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November. The “February 20 Movement” which started Arab Spring like protests in Morocco in 2011 is said to be taking advantage of the current protests to show the Moroccan people that the government still does not care for its people. The King of Morocco has visited Fikri’s family in hopes of smoothing over the feeling of ill will in the country.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Fishmonger’s Gruesome Death Sparks Protests in Morocco – 31 October 2016

BBC News – Morocco Protests: Death of Fish Seller Triggers Rare Demonstrations – 30 October 2016

Thomson Reuters – Morocco protesters take to streets again over Fishmonger’s death – 31 October 2016

Thomson Reuters – Protests at fishmonger’s death test Moroccan monarchy nerves – 3 November 2016

Justice for Sergei Magnitsky: Bill Browder to Give Damning Testimony On the Criminality of the Putin Regime to UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016 – Bill Browder, author of the best-selling book, “Red Notice: How I Became Putin’s Number One Enemy,” and leader of the global Magnitsky Justice campaign, will testify in the British parliament today, 8 November 2016, at 3:45 pm.

The hearing entitled “Critics of the Kremlin give evidence” is part of an inquiry on the UK’s relations with Russia and is organized by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons.

Mr Browder will speak about his personal experience of dealing with Russian authorities, who have declared him a threat to national security; his campaign’s recent discoveries connecting illicit funds stolen from the Russian people directly to President Putin’s cronies; the role of Western enablers in attempting to protect Russia’s kleptocrats in the UK, and the implications for UK-Russia policy.

Mr Browder will talk about the fate of his young Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered the theft of US$230 million from the Russian treasury by a criminal enterprise involving Russian officials, and who was killed in Russian police custody at the age of 37.
After Magnitsky’s death, Russian authorities posthumously accused him of the crime he had uncovered and exonerated all officials.

The Global Magnitsky Justice campaign has uncovered illicit funds connected to the US$230 million laundered in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, and a number of proceedings around the world have been initiated as a result.

The Global Magnitsky Justice campaign also calls for targeted visa and financial sanctions on those connected to Sergei Magnitsky’s death and the crime he had uncovered. A law imposing such sanctions was introduced in the USA in 2012. A similar legislation has been initiated in the UK.

The testimony by Mr Browder on UK-Russia relations will take place at Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, and will start at 3.45pm on Tuesday, 8 November 2016.

Mr Browder will be preceded by Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky who will also give evidence to the committee.

For more information, please contact:

Justice for Sergei Magnitsky

+44 207 440 1777

e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org

www.lawandorderinrussia.org

billbrowder.com

twitter.com/Billbrowder

Announcement of the hearing on UK-Russia relations at the Commons Select Committee:

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2015/russia-critics-evidence-16-17/

The UN Calls for the Release of Activist Milagro Sala

November 8, 2016

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA—The United Nations demanded the release of Milagro Sala, an indigenous activist, claiming the Argentine government arbitrarily detained her. Milagro Sala was detained on January 16, 2016 while protesting reforms implemented by Jujuy’s provincial government.

Milagro Sala was detained by the Argentine government. (Photo Courtesy of The Argentina Independent)

Milagro Sala was arrested for “inciting criminal acts” in connection to the protests she has led against the government, specifically her attempt to block roads around the municipal buildings in San Salvador de Jujuy. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention report identified “a system of consecutive accusations and court cases that maintain Sala’s detention indefinitely and violate judicial independence.” The report continues by stating that there is no legal justification for her detention and “it has not been demonstrated that there is a risk of escape or of obstruction of the investigation.” A judge had ruled for Sala’s release on January 29th, but three days before her release, she was charged with extortion, fraud, and conspiracy. In addition, the report claims that the State blocked her right to defense by not informing her of the charges or the crimes accused of.

The United Nations is demanding the immediate release of Sala and for an investigation of the violations of her rights. The UN has asserted her detention was based on her exercising her human rights.

Milagro Sala is the head of the 70,000 member Tupac Amaru organization, as well as a representative in Parlasur, the parliamentary institution of the Mercosur trade bloc for South America. Sala has protested against President Mauricio Macri’s government since he took office. Sala is his administration’s first political prisoner. She was a supporter of former President Cristina Fernandez, who was accused of mismanaging money by constructing lower income housing in Jujuy province.

Many in Argentina have protested President Macri’s cuts in education, jobs, revisions to the tax and tariff rate, and the expansion of privileges for commercial exporters at the cost of farmers.

For more information, please see:

The Argentina Independent—UN Work Group Demands Milagro Sala’s Release—28th October 2016.

Telesur—UN Demands Argentina release Indigenous Leader Milagro Sala—28 October 2016.

Washington Post—UN Panel Tells Argentina to Release Activist Milagro Sala—28 October 2016.

La Nacion—La Carta de Milagro Sala en la que Pidió Jurar Como Diputada de Parlasur Desde la Cárcel—03 November 2016.