British man returns home after being jailed in Morocco for sexual orientation

MARRAKESH, Morocco

Ray Cole, and 70 year old British citizen, was jailed in Morocco for “homosexual acts.” Cole travelled to Morocco for a vacation with a Moroccan man, Jamal Jam Wald Nass, with whom he had developed an online relationship with in the preceding months. The two had explored Morocco; Cole had frequently updated his Facebook with pictures of the sites and cities he visited with his partner. On September 18th, the two men were arrested at a bus stop in Marrakesh, after a police officer had approached the men for suspected homosexuality. After being brought to the police station, Cole and Nass were jailed for being gay.

Ray-Cole-gay-homosexual-equal-rights-519786

Ray Cole- Photo courtesy of Express UK

Cole reveals that the conditions in the jail were horrible. He was forced to sleep on the ground, due to over-crowding, with little more than a blanket. Everything else, including his glasses, were taken away. Cole, who was jailed for nothing more than his sexual orientation, was held with men who had committed serious crimes, including murder. The British consulate worked actively to get Cole home to his family, and on October 2nd, he finally boarded a flight back to the United Kingdom.

 

While Cole returned home to a country that allows citizens to exercise their freedom of sexuality, this episode underlines a serious cultural barrier for homosexuals in Muslim countries—homosexuality is criminalized. As a result, gay and lesbian individuals are forced to keep their identity an absolute secret, or deal with the ramifications of being gay in a Muslim country, which can include prison, stoning, and death. Furthermore, as briefly touched upon, the crime of homosexuality puts offenders in the same category as some of the worst criminals, including murderers. How can these two crimes be reconciled as equally egregious?

 

Film maker Abdellah Taïa uses his work to explore the pain, challenges, and heartache of being gay in Morocco, documenting how a mob had yelled outside of his home about raping him, and not a single member of his family defended him. This sense of abandonment is not uncommon for homosexuals in Morocco and other Muslim countries. Taïa urges that something must change legally and culturally in these countries, as the criminalization of homosexuality is not sustainable.

 

So while Ray Cole returned home to Britain after the ordeal of being jailed for homosexuality, many are still relegated to silence in order to preserve their freedom and lives. While homosexuality remains a crime in Morocco, people that identify as homosexuals will not be able to live without the threat of violence. Will the attention brought to the situation in Morocco by Cole’s experience benefit the homosexual community in this Muslim country?

 

For more information, please visit:

The Guardian- British man jailed for four months for ‘being gay’– Oct 5, 2014

The Guardian- Morocco releases British tourist jailed for ‘homosexual acts’– Oct 7 2014

The Guardian- Moroccan partner jailed with Briton for ‘homosexual acts’ freed– Oct 9, 2014

The Guardian- Abdellah Taia: In Arab countries, homosexuality is a crime. This has to change– Oct 3, 2014

Pakistani Activist Becomes Youngest Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Managing Editor, Impunity Watch

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded today to Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai, a fierce advocate for girl’s education in Pakistan and around the world. At 17 years old Malala Yousafzai is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and Pakistan’s first Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Malala first came to attention in 2009 when she wrote an anonymous blog for BBC Urdu about life under Taliban rule in north-west Pakistan. Two years ago she was shot by Taliban gunmen for her advocacy while she was boarding her school bus in the Swat Valley.After recovering from life-saving surgery, she has taken her campaign for the right to education for all peoples, regardless of gender, to the international stage, giving a speech last year at the United Nations. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated Malala Yousafzai, calling her the Pride of Pakistan. “Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle and commitment,” he said in a statement.

Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi have been recognized by the Nobel Committee for their advocacy for the rights of children including the right to education and the right to live free of exploitation (Photo courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)

Young students in Malala’s home region were thrilled with Friday’s announcement “There are not many people in this world — in fact, no one — who is as brave as Malala,” said Badrai Khan, 19, a college student from Swat, Malala’s home region. “This award is an achievement for all girl students of Pakistan.” Khan said”Tomorrow, when I go to school, I’ll be a different, more confident girl, thanks to Malala and this recognition.”

Malala Yousafzai learned that she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while she was in chemistry class in England on Friday morning, she said. She wasn’t expecting to get the award. “I’m proud that I’m the first Pakistani and the first young woman or the first young person getting this award.” Malala has stated that she is happy to have been given the opportunity to go to school, thanking her father for not clipping her wings and allowing her to have the same opportunities as boys in her community.

The Nobel Peace Prize was also awarded to India’s Kailash Satyarthi. Both Nobel Laureates were cited by the Norwegian Nobel Committee “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.” According to the Nobel Committee, Satyarthi has been known to participate in peaceful protests and demonstrations calling for an end to child exploitation. At the age of 26 he gave up a career in electrical engineering to devote his life to advocating for children, even raiding factories where child workers were held captive. In 1994 Satyarthi started a program called “Rugmark,” now known as GoodWeave International, in which rugs are certified and labeled to be child-labor free. Satyarthi started the program because of the high level of child exportation in the rug industry, children have been historically expatiated in several countries around the world where rugs are woven.

In 2004 Satyarthi said his home and office have been attacked, but he said the danger is worth it. “If I was not fighting against child labor, I don’t know what else I could do. It was always in my heart, I could not live without that,” he said at the time. “It’s really a kind of spiritual feeling which is difficult to explain,” Satyarthi said. “And the smiles come on the face of the children when they realize that they are free.”

The chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee commented on the theme of child rights that is the focus of the work of this year’s Nobel laureates, both from historically divided region. He explained that “children must go to school, not be financially exploited.”

For more information please see:

ABC News – 5 Things to Know About Nobel Prize Winner Kailash Satyarthi – 10 October 2014
BBC News – Malala and Kailash Satyarthi Win Nobel Peace Prize – 10 October 2014
CNN International – Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi Share Nobel Peace Prize – 10 October 2014
USA Today – Malala’s Nobel Is ‘For All Girl Students Of Pakistan’ – 10 October 2010

Seven Arrested for the Murder of Suspected Witches

By: Danielle L. Cowan (Gwozdz)
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Operator, Africa

DODOMA, Tanzania – Police in Tanzania have arrested and charged twenty-three people for killing seven people for alleged “witchcraft.”

The tortured and burned body of a young woman (photo courtesy of AFP)

Villagers burned the victims alive.

“They were attacked and burnt to death by a mob of villagers who accused them of engaging in witchcraft,” the western Kigoma region police chief said.

“Five of those killed were aged over 60, while the other two were aged over 40,” he added.

Among those killed was the local traditional doctor, or called the “witch doctor.”

Relatives of those killed described the horrific scenes of their family member who had been killed. These images described members hacked with machetes or burned almost beyond recognition.

“When I returned home in the evening, I found the body of my mother lying 10 meters away from our house, while the body of my father was burnt inside the house,” Josephat John told one newspaper.

A Tanzanian human rights group has estimated that about 500 “suspected witches” are killed in Tanzania annually.

BBC has stated reports between 2005-2011 claim more than 3,000 people have been killed after being accused of witchcraft.

One of the villagers detained for the murder is the village local leader.

The village is now empty. The leader of the Murufiti village told the BBC that “[m]en and women have run away from the village. Even child are not there. . . . Everyone was scared of the event, and others feared police search.”

Among the targeted villagers, it has been claimed that villagers with albinism (“albino”) have been targeted because it is believed that their body parts used for charms can bring good fortune and prosperity.

For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Tanzania arrests 23 over killing of seven ‘witches’ – 10 October 2014
Mail & Guardian – Seven accused of witchcraft burned alive in Tanzania – 10 October 2014
The Frontier Post – Seven witchcraft suspects burned to death in Tanzania – 10 October 2014
iAfrica – Seven burnt for witchcraft – 10 October 2014
news24 – 7 witchcraft suspects burned to death in Tanzania – 10 October 2014

Goldcorp Halted in Its Developmental Tracks by Chile Supreme Court

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile’s Supreme Court suspended the development of the El Morro mine owned by Canada’s Goldcorp on Tuesday.  The Court sided with indigenous groups that oppose the mine because of its potential environmental impact.

The Diaguita community filed a request to cease mining, arguing that the mine could cause pollution in a local river.

El Morro mine | Photo courtesy of newgold.com

The top court ordered the project’s environmental permit be withdrawn until the Diaguita indigenous community is consulted about the $3.9 billion gold and copper mine. In doing so, it overturned a lower court decision dismissing an appeal the Diaguita filed in April.

“The Diaguita people are happy that justice is on the side of the humble, of those who defend Mother Earth, our water resources and our indigenous land,” Diaguita leader Maglene Campillay said after the ruling.

Goldcorp, based in Vancouver, owns 70 percent of the mine, while New Gold Inc. owns the remaining 30 percent.  Currently Goldcorp is trying to determine its next step.

“It may put us back a bit from a time standpoint. But we need… to get that deposit to the point where it’s ready to build anyway,” Jeannes said.

“If we have to go back to … permitting at the very beginning, it could take another two to three years before we’re even allowed to start,” he said.

The company’s five-year plan does not include any production from El Morro.

Goldcorp, the world’s largest gold miner by market value, expects gold prices to increase steadily after next year, when it says its output will peak, but Jeannes said he expected prices to stay roughly between $1,150 and $1,400 through 2015.

Spot gold rose to $1,227.40 an ounce early on Thursday, before paring some gains to trade up 0.3 percent at $1,225.64 by 0708 GMT.

“Goldcorp remains committed to open and transparent dialogue with its stakeholders and to responsible practices in accordance with the highest applicable health, safety and environmental standards,” Marks said.

Chile’s economy widely relies on the mining industry.  Chile is the top copper producer in the world.  The country boasts some of Latin America’s most stable ground rules for mining.  However, mining and energy projects have been delayed  as environmentalists and indigenous communities go to court demanding tougher protections for nearby populations and natural resources.

The mine is expected to be worth USD $4 billion.

The Diaguita stresses that local communities were never consulted on the El Morrow mine.  Goldcorp has ceased construction on the mine twice before in 2012 and 2013.  

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Chilean Supreme Court Orders Halt to Mine – 7 Oct. 2014

ABC News – Chile’s Top Court Halts Goldcorp’s El Morro Mine – 7 Oct. 2014

Jurist – Chile Top Court Halts Mining Development for Consultation – 8 Oct. 2014

Reuters – Goldcorp Looks to Cut Costs on Delayed El Morro Project in Chile -CEO – 9 Oct. 2014

Mass Graves Unearthed in Poland Reveal More About Dark Past

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

WARSAW, Poland – A mass grave has been unearthed in Bialystok, Poland. The grave was unearthed near the site of the Bialystok Detention Center, an active prison today currently holding 680 prisoners. More than 280 bodies have already been dug up behind the prison, but more have been found on former prison property behind what is now an apartment complex.

 

Priests and rabbis take part in prayer at the site of a mass grave at Wasosz, Poland. (Photo courtesy of NBC)

According to Zbigniew Kulikowski, the prosecutor in charge of the case, the mass graves were not burial grounds; they were “death fields.” The dead are likely victims of the Soviets, Nazis, and Polish security forces.

First, Soviets swept into Poland in September 1939, when over 100 people went missing. Next, from 1941 to 1944, Nazis killed about 6,000 around Bialystok. Finally, in the 1950’s and until 1956 when there was a shift in Soviet policy, Polish security forces were killing Poles. All three of these eras included holding prisoners, often to be killed, at the Bialystok Detention Center, which was created back in 1912 by the Russian czar.

Andrzej Ossowski, the team’s geneticist, says the team has made 40 identifications, including identifications from other sites. Marcin Zwolski, a historian for Poland’s Institute of National Rememberance, and who discovered the site, tries to find any identifying characteristics before bringing samples to Ossowski. Zwolski says that the sites are difficult to discover because the responsible parties “didn’t want anyone giving respect to the dead people.”

Other similar sites have been discovered elsewhere in Poland. The small town of Wasosz suffered a tragedy in 1941 when around 250 Jews were killed and buried in a pit outside town. While some want to dig up the site and examine the evidence, Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich says exhuming the bodies would violate Jewish law regarding respect for the dignity of the dead.

The site in Bialystok has suffered similar resistance. Maciej Bialous, a sociologist at the University of Bialystok, says that “people don’t talk about it … Some people don’t know about it, others don’t care and a lot of people just want to forget it.” Zwolski confirmed: “Some people still feel it is still safer not to talk about such matters.” Zwolski even reports that his team received anonymous threats and had bricks thrown through windows.

The sheer age of these cases and the nature of the circumstances at the time of these crimes make it very difficult to collect evidence. The lack of interest by some, tied with the strong disapproval of the investigation by others, is getting in the way of bringing closure to families that have suffered over decades. Despite these difficulties, the continued work of Zwolski, Kulikowski, Ossowski, and others on the team will continue to unveil more bodies and identify more victims from the atrocities that happened decades ago.

For more information, please see:

Newser – Polish Dig Unearths Decades of Killings – 6 October 2014

The New York Times – Unearthing a Barbarous Past in Poland – 5 October 2014

NBC – Wasosz Pogrom Mass Murder Investigation Sharply Divides Jewish Leaders – 5 October 2014