Mustard Gas Confirmed in Syria

By Brittani Howell

 Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

Damascus, Syria 

On Friday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) stated that mustard gas has been used by insurgents in Syria. The use of mustard gas is alleged to be the cause of death of an infant in August.

A projectile alleged to have contained mustard gas, lands in Aleppo, Syria in September. (Photo Courtesy of the Guardian)

“In this case, the team was able to confirm with the utmost confidence that at least two people were exposed to sulfur mustard, and that it is very likely that the effects of this chemical weapon resulted in the death of an infant,” stated the OPCW.

Mustard gas, or sulfur mustard, can cause severe damage, in the form of blisters, to the skin, eyes, respiratory system, and internal organs.  Sulfur mustard also can cause severe itching and wheezing.

On August 21, the town of Marea was hit by a mortar. According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) a family of four had suffered difficulty breathing and developed blisters as a result of a mortar striking their home. The symptoms pointed to a mustard gas attack.

It is alleged that the Islamic State was responsible for the attack on Marea in August. Many fear that the Islamic State is using chemical weapons in Syria and in Iraq.

The OPCW also reported that toxic chemicals, including chlorine, were alleged to be used in an attack in the Idlib province in March. Human Rights Watch has alleged that Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, dropped barrels full of chlorine in a rebel area in March.

According to Assad, 1,300 tons of chemical weapons were destroyed per the agreement with the United States and Russia. The United States, however, suspects that the Syrian government has concealed some of the original stock of weapons.

A spokeswoman for the National Security Council of the United States, stated that the United States is, “continuing to investigate these allegations very closely and to be proactive about the threat from chemical weapons or similar threats.”

Over 250,000 people have been killed since the start of Syria’s civil war. Millions more have been forced to flee. There is growing concern that the use of chemical weapons will greatly escalate the conflict further.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Syria Conflict: ‘Mustard Gas Used’ in Marea Attack – 6 November 2015

CNN – Mustard Gas Used in Syrian Town – 6 November 2015

The Guardian – UN Watchdog Confirms Mustard Gas Attack in Syria – 6 November 2015

The New York Times – Syria: Rebels Used Mustard Gas – 6 November 2015

The Washington Post – Weapons Inspectors Say Non-State Fighters in Syria Used Mustard Gas – 6 November 2015

“Sexist Terrorism”: Thousands March in Madrid to Protest Violence Against Women

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

MADRID, Spain–

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Madrid last Saturday to denounce violence and discrimination against women. The rally, organized by feminist groups, had members of all major political parties, and over 380 regional and 70 state-run feminist organizations in attendance, and had over 21,000 activists in total taking part. The protestors wore purple and black and lay in the streets to commemorate thousands of women abused or murdered by intimate partners and in hate crimes in what they described as “sexist terrorism.”

http://twitter.com/losotrosjudios/status/663078922167304192/photo/1

Activists were primarily concerned with expanding coverage under current domestic violence laws, and receiving more public funding to protect women from abusive partners. They held banners that read, “Stop machista violence!” and chanted, “We aren’t all here, the dead are missing!” Currently, Spain has an emergency hotline available to women that does not show up on their telephone bills, in addition to free legal assistance and accommodations for abused women. Spain is seen as a pioneer in combatting violence against women through progressive legislation and the availability of social programs.

Many of the activists in attendance were survivors of domestic violence themselves. “I think it’s important that people like me demonstrate today, because I’m an example of a woman who’s been able to get out of domestic violence,” Olga Aranza stated. “And that means that all abused women can also get out violence and that they deserve a better life. You really can get out,” she added. Another woman, Angela Gonzales, had a daughter that was murdered by her former husband in 2003.

Most of the men involved with the march felt personally connected with the issue at hand as well. According to attendee Miguel Navarro, “it’s essential that we men also take part in this demonstration so that we send a clear message to women, telling them they are not alone in this struggle.” Likewise, Nacho Molina stated, “in Spain, there is still a need to educate men so that they put an end to machismo (exceedingly masculine violence).”

For more information, please see—

BBC– Violence against women: Madrid stages big protest march— 07 November 2015

Euro Weekly– “Sexist Terrorism” turns Madrid streets Purple— 08 November 2015

RT– Stop ‘machista’ violence: Tens of thousands incl Podemos, FEMEN protest domestic violence in Madrid— 08 November 2015

SBS– ‘Sexist terrorism’: Thousands in Spain march against domestic violence— 08 November 2015

Germany, Facing Internal Pressure, to Expedite Deportations of Refugees

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany–

After weeks of debates within the government regarding the recent “overwhelming” influx of refugees, Germany is preparing to expedite the process of deporting asylum seekers. On Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that an agreement had been reached between the coalition government, allowing for three to five reception centers that would either accept or deport refugee applicants. For weeks, the opposition government has requested the majority party to reduce the number of refugees allowed in Germany, citing struggling local authorities.

Germany has been facing internal pressure to deport refugees from the country, as resources have been stretched thin. (Photo courtesy of Al-Jazeera)

The leader of the opposition party, Horst Seehofer of the Christian Social Union, called the agreement “very very good,” and said his relationship with Merkel had been “cemented again.” However, he did not revoke his threat to file a legal complaint against the government over its expansive refugee policy. Other members of the opposition parties have criticized the agreement, stating that the number of refugees entering the country far exceeds the resources available.

Robert Habeck, a critic of the agreement and a member of the Green Party commented, “people are waiting for half a year before their asylum applications can even be submitted. It is a complete mystery as to how the federal government can conclude the process within a few weeks in the special reception centers.”

Other critics within Merkel’s coalition government believe the agreement curtails the rights of refugees, and questioned the legality of detaining asylum seekers and refugees for an indefinite period of time. Initially, Merkel requested that “transit zones” be set up across the country, where new refugees would be detained before their status was determined. The Social Democratic Party, who claimed these zones would be akin to “internment camps”, rejected this.

Up to 10,000 refugees have entered Germany daily since January, totaling around 758,000 migrants. The influx has shown no signs of stopping, with the 800,000 refugee limit set by the German government likely to be exceeded sometime in the near future.

For more information, please see—

Chicago Tribune– Merkel ally says government will survive refugee turmoil— 04 November 2015

Al-Jazeera– Germany to expedite deportations of refugees— 06 November 2015

Irish Times– Germany agrees compromise on refugees after ‘intense’ talks— 06 November 2015

Wall Street Journal– Germany Steps Back Hours after Tighter Asylum Rules Are Unveiled— 06 November 2015

5th Circuit Upholds Blockage Of Obama Immigration Plan

By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America and Oceania

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America — The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a Texas-based federal judge’s injunction blocking President Barack Obama’s plan to protect parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents along with more immigrants who came to the country as children. The Obama administration will ask the Supreme Court to weigh in on the president’s plan to shield as many as 5 million immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation.

Protesters Hold a Rally Outside the Court of Appeals in New Orleans. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

Lawyers for the administration had been expecting the Fifth Circuit ruling to go against the president, noting the high number of judges appointed by Republican presidents.

The three-judge panel for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans ruled 2 to 1 against an appeal by the Obama administration, saying a lawsuit brought by 26 states to block Mr. Obama’s actions was likely to succeed at trial.

Mr. Obama announced last November that he would use his executive authority to effectively stop deporting the undocumented parents of American children. That program, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, would also allow the parents to work legally in the United States.

The plan was first blocked in February by a Federal District Court judge in Texas, who ruled that allowing millions of illegal immigrants to remain lawfully in the United States would prove costly to the State of Texas. The judge at that trial also said the government had not followed the proper procedures for enacting the new immigration rules.

Writing for the two judges in the majority, Judge Jerry Smith found that Texas had established it was in a strong legal position to bring the lawsuit because it would be harmed by new costs for issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants. He also found that the program would undercut the will of Congress.

In a scathing dissent, Judge Carolyn King said the two other judges, as well as the District Court judge, had misstated the basic facts of the case. She accused her colleagues of basing their decisions on conjecture, intuition, or preconception.

In the last several weeks, administration officials and other supporters of the immigration actions had expressed frustration that the appeals court had taken so long to rule. Marielena Hincapié, the executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said that while the appeals court ruling might be seen as another defeat for her cause, “the silver lining is that this is just in the nick of time for the administration to go to the Supreme Court.”

Under normal circumstances, in order for the Supreme Court to hear the case this term, briefing would have to be completed by mid-winter. The National Immigration Law Center has called for a quick Supreme Court appeal.

For more information please see:

BBC News — Federal appeals court halts Obama immigration action – 10 November 2015

CNN — Court upholds block on Obama’s immigration plan – 10 November 2015

USA Today — Appeals court deals crippling blow to President Obama’s immigration plan – 10 November 2015

US News — Obama appeals to Supreme Court in immigration case that could protect 5 million – 10 November 2015

Washington Post — Immigrants now must rely on Supreme Court for deportation relief – 10 November 2015

NY Times — Appeals Court Deals Blow to Obama’s Immigration Plans – 9 November 2015

Egyptian Journalist Detained by Military Intelligence

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

On Sunday, an independent, investigative journalist was detained by Egyptian military intelligence. The journalist, Hossam Bahgat, is the founder of the human rights group, Egyptian Personal Rights.

Hassam Bahgat is an independent investigative journalist and founder of Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

Bahgat was summoned to the Military Intelligence, headquartered in Cairo, where he was interrogated from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. when he was finally allowed to call his lawyer. Bahgat is to be detained overnight and the prosecutors are to decide on Monday whether they will send Bahgat to trial.

Bahgat has not been formally charged, but he may be facing charges of “publishing inaccurate and false information that harms national interest,” stated Bahgat to the Mada Masr news chief editor. His lawyer also stated that Bahgat could also face charges for insulting the military.

Bahgat’s most recent report investigated the convictions of 26 officers accused of planning a coup against the government. In the report, Bahgat explored whether there was dissent in the ranks and if there would be retribution against officers who may have crossed the secret police.

According to the human rights lawyer who attended the interrogation to support Bahgat, the article Bahgat wrote was the focus of the interrogation.

Bahgat also allegedly mocked the news media, in a review, regarding the media’s conspiracy angle, blaming terrorism for the Russian jet crash. He wrote, “ the West is conspiring against Egypt and punishing Russia because it is fighting in Syria, and Egypt is the one who is paying the price.”

The Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International stated, “The arrest of Hossam Bahgat today is yet another nail in the coffin for the freedom of expression in Egypt.” He continued, “The Egyptian military cannot continue to consider itself above the law and immune from criticism.”

When a military spokesman was questioned regarding the charges Bahgat is facing he stated, “You can ask him yourself when he gets out.” New York Times then asked if Bahgat would et out, to which the general replied, “I have no idea.”

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Egypt Military Arrests Journalist in ‘Blow for Freedom’ – 8 November 2015

BBC News – Independent Egypt Journalist Hossam Bahgat ‘Arrested’ – 8 November 2015

The New York Times – The Egyptian Military Files Charges Against Investigative Journalist – 8 November 2015

The Washington Post – Egyptian Journalist Faces Accusations by Military – 8 November 2015