One Investigator Kidnapped, While Other Security Official Found Dead in Libya

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Ever since Muammar Gaddafi had been overthrown, safety officials have not been safe in Benghazi, as more than a dozen have been killed. The two most recent men to feel the effects of such danger are Chief-Captain Abdel-Salam al-Mahdawi and Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser al-Magrabi.

Police officers congregate to demand the release of their Captain Mahdawi. (Photo Courtesy of Saudi Gazette)

Mahdawi was the acting head of the criminal investigation department in Benghazi. It is believed that after leaving his farm to go to work, he was abducted at gunpoint by bearded men at a traffic light on Venezia Street not far from the criminal investigation police offices.

Mahdawi was known to have “many enemies,” stated an unnamed official who claimed that Mahdawi, “had files on everyone – Gaddafi loyalists, hard-line Islamists and common criminals.”

A small group of police officers staged a demonstration outside of Benghazi’s landmark, the Tibesti Hotel, calling for Mahdawi’s release. Officers held banners asking, “Where are the men of Benghazi?”

One man’s body was found charred by hydrochloric acid in Benghazi’s Buhmeida district. Officials have not yet been able to confirm or deny whether or not the charred body is what remains of Captain Mahdawi.

Interior Minister Ashour Shwayel has promised to “search for the officer [Mahdawi] and determine the identity of the perpetrators.” Nevertheless, legal experts and police investigators have kept their distance from the unidentified body charred by hydrochloric acid for fear that they have not been granted protection from the groups they believe to be the perpetrators of the attack.

One body that was found and identified was that of Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser al-Magrabi. Magrabi was a Gaddafi era security official who was part of the internal security services in Benghazi. His dead body was found shot, on his farm somewhere in the Sidi Faraj region.

No one is certain as to who are carrying out these attacks, however, some believe the acts to be conducted by hard-line Islamists who wish to punish those officials who formerly served under Gaddafi. Magrabi’s security services were responsible for detaining thousands of Islamists and other dissidents during the time that Gaddafi’s regime was in power.

Benghazi has also become a hot spot for other extremist groups to flourish, like those militants who attacked the U.S. Consulate and killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others this past September 11th.

For further information, please see:

Gulf Today – Qadhafi-era Security Officer Killed in Libya: Officials – 5 January 2013

Saudi Gazette – Top cop Kidnapped in Benghazi – 4 January 2013

BBC – Libyan Gunmen Kidnap top Investigator in Benghazi – 3 January 2013

New York Times – Police Captain in Benghazi is Abducted – 3 January 2013

Protestors Arrested During Rally for the Freedom to Assemble

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Russian police detained Eduard Limonov, leader of the Other Russia opposition movement, and various other activists during a protest to defend the right to assemble.  Article 31 of the Russian Constitution protects the right to assemble; however, officials frequently deny the necessary permits.

Russian police arrest opposition leader Eduard Limonov in Moscow during a rally to protect the right to assembly. (Photo Courtesy of RFE/RL)

Police arrested Limonov when he addressed journalists in Moscow’s Triumph Square. The Strategy 31 Movement organizes protests on the last day of every month that has 31 days to demonstrate the suppression of free assembly under President Vladimir Putin’s government.

As near by Muscovites watched, demonstrators in the capital’s main street chanted, “Russia without Putin!” and slogans calling for the right to free assembly. The protest in Triumfalnaya Square gathered 50 to 100 people. Opposition activists reported that the riot police arrested at least 28 people.

Putin passed a law in 2012 that increased fines for organizers and protesters deemed to have violated the assembly rules. As a response, Putin’s critics believe the recent laws are merely an attack on those who do not agree with the President’s views as he returned for a six-year term in May.

In his New Year’s Eve address, Putin did not address the protests that took place in the past year. He instead stated, “We believe that we can change the life around us and become better ourselves, that we can become more heedful, compassionate, gracious.” He added that Russia’s fate “depends on our enthusiasm and labor”.

On January 1, the Interior Ministry stated that all protesters arrested during the Moscow’s year-end rally for the freedom of assembly were released.

For further information, please see:

UPI – Moscow protesters arrested, released – 1 January 2013

The Guardian – Russian police arrest opposition activists at New Year’s Eve protest – 31 December 2012

Reuters — Russian activists detained at protest for free assembly – 31 December 2012

RFE/RL – Activists Detained At Russian Protests For Free Assembly – 31 December 2012

Syrian Revolution Digest – Wednesday, 2 January 2013

The Shocking Truth!

The writing was on the wall, and we all refused to see it. Assad had no intention of going gently into that good night, yet he was given all the leeway he needed to transform his crisis into a quagmire with regional, even international implications. Dealing with psychopaths like Assad is never easy, but that’s no excuse for indifference and inaction, nor is the fact that this tragedy is unfolding in some far away country. Distances have lost their relevance in our world, it’s about time our policymaking reflected this reality. Mass murder, ethnic cleansing, tyranny are no longer local concerns with local implications: they are global problems with global implications, and world leaders have sat on their hands for too long in regard to the Syrian crisis, this is unconscionable and inexcusable. Irrespective of the geopolitics involved, this tragic chapter in our contemporary history needs to be brought to a proper end, and the criminals involved need to be held accountable. 

Today’s Death Toll: 207 (including 6 women and 8 children)
141 in Damascus and suburbs including 47 in Mleiha, 32 in Mouadamieh and 8 in Deir Al-Asafeer; 17 in Aleppo; 14 in Daraa; 15 in Idlib; 7 in Hama; 5 in Homs; 4 in Deir Ezzor; 2 in Raqqa; and 2 in Sweida.
Points of Random Shelling: 257
14 areas were subjected to aerial shelling mainly in Damascus Suburbs. Barrel bombing was confirmed in 5 areas, and Mouadamieh was subjected to cluster bombs. Thermobaric bombing was documented in one area in Mleiha. 117 locations were subjected to artillery shelling, 72 locations to mortar shelling, and 68 to missile attacks.
Clashes:  The Free Syrian Army (FSA) clashed with regime forces in 125 locations, with the fiercest clashes taking place in Damascus Suburbs and Idlib Province. In Hama, the FSA was able to control parts of Taftanaz Military Airport, downed an attack helicopter in Taftanaz, and another in Afas. In addition, the FSA attacked the military airport in Thaala in Sweida and repelled regime attempts to storm Basr Al-Harir. The FSA seized control of the checkpoint in western Nahia in Sheikh Miskeen, and repelled regime attempts to storm the village of Al-Saan in Homs (LCCs).
News
Special Reports
Few Syrians interviewed in Aleppo believe that a brand of Islam like that practiced by Jabhat al-Nusra can survive in Syria. But any regime that succeeds Assad is likely to be Islamic in nature, some say. “We want a regime that applies sharia law, but that is fair and just,” says Abu Mohammad, a Free Syrian Army commander in Aleppo and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. “Many Muslims believe that if we apply the true Islam, we can use it to get rid of corruption and problems like bribery,” he says.
The civil war’s threat to Damascus The spirit of Syria’s capital lies in its diverse people and exquisite buildings. Both are in great peril
In addition to our shared humanity, what’s at stake for America is that due to the world’s inaction, the rebel movement is now contaminated by al-Qaida and other Islamist forces – all of whom have enthusiastically filled the vacuum that we have chosen to ignore. In short, we overlook Syria at our own peril. At best, the situation there can now be deemed a civil war; at worst, a petri dish where extremism will be grown for a generation.
After almost two years of bloodletting in Syria, there is little chance that negotiations of the kind UN peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has been urging would end the conflict. More likely, they would prolong it. And worse, they would perpetuate Bashar al-Assad’s favorite strategy of fanning fears of rebel sectarianism and extremism to dissuade the world from intervening against him.
“Given there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013,” Pillay said. “The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and istruly shocking.” … The analysts noted that 60,000 is likely to be an underestimate of the actual number of deaths, given that reports containing insufficient information were excluded from the list, and that a significant number of killings may not have been documented at all by any of the seven sources. The recording and collection of accurate and reliable data has grown increasingly challenging due to the conflict raging in many parts of the country.
Indeed, the revision does not come as a surprise to me, I have long said that the official casualty figures fail to give an accurate impression of the what’s really taking place in Syria: most of those believed missing or detained are probably dead, this is what previous experiences with the regime tell us. Also, activists on the ground are having a hard time keeping up with the all the violent developments taking place.
Also, the figures we have do not include regime casualties. Many of the soldiers fighting for the regime have no choice in the matter: they were lied to, manipulated and/or coerced, and when some try to defect, they are often killed on the spot by loyalist officers. In many ways, they are victims as well.
Personally, I believe that we have long exceeded the 100,000 mark in terms of casualties. A comparative perspective informs us that official figures are usually off by a factor of three. We will not know the truth of it all until the end of the conflict which may not happen anytime soon.
Video Highlights
The Massacre at Mleiha, Damascus Suburbs: a runor was spread earlier in the day that the local as station finally had some gas. Indeed, Syrian TV came and covered parts of the distribution process, but as soon as the TV crew left, an aerial raid took place and the gas station was bombed, killing around 50 locals.
Rushing to the scene http://youtu.be/tKi-JI20zzI Pulling bodies from under the rubble http://youtu.be/lxLgWylKQQU The martyrs http://youtu.be/ikApkegbqQ0Human remains http://youtu.be/eY8xWPl5BEQ Nearby residential buildings were also targeted http://youtu.be/LHlhtEZkayc
The nearby communities of Eastern Ghoutah were also targeted: Douma http://youtu.be/jl7kvN7pTtI , http://youtu.be/tdWWir04D-I Deir Al-Assafir http://youtu.be/5rM5g6uD3Qg , http://youtu.be/6KBTou6WcH8 Arbeen http://youtu.be/PKJ9kq9Ws0A
Several neighborhoods in Damascus City itself were also pounded: Mazzeh http://youtu.be/mBwbiuA1LLg
To the south, local sift through the rubble in search bodies in the town of Mouadamiyeh http://youtu.be/fdih2E9jxMw
In Idlib, helicopter gunships took part in shelling the town of Taftanaz http://youtu.be/e2iFC7o2FCY , http://youtu.be/MCPL7WDMKgo , http://youtu.be/Ys8pxUFvOYw In Binnish, local rush to pull out the bodies from under the rubble in the aftermath of an aerial raid http://youtu.be/QCeGOroTWX0
Fighter jets took part in pounding the town of Basr Al-Harir in Daraa http://youtu.be/4B5n0vnaOPQ
In Homs City, the aftermath of aerial raid on Old Homs, one of the oldest towns in the world http://youtu.be/i5WXHONBUP0

Car Bombs Attack Shiite Pilgrims, Ignite Tensions in Iraq

By Emily Schneider
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Shia pilgrims were targeted by a car bomb yesterday, resulting in twenty deaths. Many Shiite Muslims made the pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbala, about 100km southwest of Baghdad, to celebrate the festival of Arbaeen.

Thousands of Shia Muslims have been attending a religious festival in Karbala, Iraq. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Millions of pilgrims have visited Karbala to mark an anniversary associated with the revered Shia figure, Imam Hussein. Provincial governor, Amal al-Din al-Har, quoted by AFP, said that the festival drew around 750,000 pilgrims from 30 different countries.

The most recent spate of attacks is reinforcing fears that sectarian violence is increasing. In the past, Shiite pilgrims were targeted by Sunni militants during religious festivals.  Zaid Mohammed, a 21-year old student, walked to Karbala from a nearby city to celebrate the festival in spite of these fears.

“All the people came here to show their gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Imam Hussein while fighting injustice,” he said. “We have decided to confront all the security risks that we might face on our way to Karbala.”

As pilgrims were returning from the festival in the late afternoon, a car bomb exploded in the small town of Musayyib, about 60 kilometers south of Baghdad. This is the second explosion this week. The first blast occurred this past Monday in the town of Musayyib. That blast killed seven people.

The bomb went off near a bus stop frequented by pilgrims from Karbala taking them to other Iraqi cities, police told BBC News. There were no reports on Thursday of any group claiming responsibility for the bombing. Oftentimes, past attacks on Shia pilgrims have been blamed on Sunni militants even when they did not directly claim responsibility.

Ali Sabbar, a pilgrim who witnessed the explosion, told Reuters news agency: “I was getting a sandwich when a very strong explosion rocked the place and the blast threw me away. When I regained my senses and stood up, I saw dozens of bodies. Many cars were set on fire.”

Another witness, teacher Ibrahim Mohammed, said, “the explosion shook the whole block and smashed the windows of my house. I ran to the scene of the explosion only to find charred bodies and burning cars. There were women screaming and searching for their missing children.”

Although Iraqi authorities typically tighten security in Karbala and along routes used by pilgrims during the festival, they admit they are unable to prevent all attacks.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Shia Pilgrims Killed by Car Bomb in Iraq – 4 Jan. 2013

BBC News – Car Bomb Kills Shia Pilgrims South of Baghdad Iraq – 3 Jan. 2013

Huffington Post – Car Bomb in Iraq Kills 20 Shiite Pilgrims – 3 Jan. 2013

Washington Post – Car Bomb Targeting Shiite Pilgrims Reflects Iraq Tensions – 3 Jan. 2013

 

Russian Court Acquits Doctor Charged with Negligence in Magnitsky Death; Posthumous Trail Against Magnitsky Begins

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia –  A Russian court has acquitted the only person to be formally tried in the death of Sergei L. Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died in prison three years ago after uncovering tax fraud by Russian officials.  Dr. Dmitry Kratov was head of medical services at Butyrka Prison, where Magnitsky was held, and had been accused of negligently refusing requests to treat Magnitsky’s life-threatening hepatitis, diabetes, and heart condition.

Dr. Kratov, the prison medical officer accused of denying Magnitsky medical attention. (Photo Courtesy of RFE/RL)

Last Monday, prosecutors, in an unusual move, asked for charges to be dropped against Kratov, with which the court agreed Friday.  The prosecutors changed direction, no longer pressing for a conviction, four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a news conference that Magnitsky had died of natural causes and was not tortured in prison.

The Moscow Tverskoy District Court Judge, finding no connection between Dr. Kratov’s lack of medical care and Magnitsky’s death, further stated that Kratov could sue the government for illegal prosecution.

However, according to Nikolai Gorokhov, a lawyer representing the Magnitsky family, Kratov signed paperwork to refuse Magnitsky’s repeated requests to be moved from prison to a hospital.  Furthermore, Gorokhov claims that Kratov was aware that Magnitsky had been diagnosed with pancreatitis and gallstones five days before Magnitsky’s death.

Furthermore, prosecutor Dmitry Bobkov earlier stated that Kratov “failed to organize the necessary diagnostic and treatment measures, which resulted in Magnitsky’s death,” but also claimed that Kratov never received complaints from Magnitsky nor was informed by staff members.

60 Russian officials were implicated by the United States Helsinki Commission as allegedly playing roles in Magnitsky’s death.  Charges were brought against some of those 60, but dropped earlier this year against all, including another doctor, except Kratov.

Magnitsky’s employer, Hermitage Capital, issued the following statement Friday: “There is no doubt that people responsible for Magnitsky’s death are being protected by the president of Russia . . . Now that President Putin is personally involved in the obstruction of justice in a major case of extrajudicial killing, he will have to face the consequences of his actions.”

Instead, it is the late Magnitsky who faces judicial prosecution.  After blowing the whistle in 2008 on a $230 million tax scam by Russian tax and police officials against his employer Hermitage Capital, Magnitsky was promptly thrown in prison by those he had accused on charges of the very same tax fraud he had uncovered.  Although the case was closed after Magnitsky’s death, it was again reopened in August 2011.  In February 2012 investigators then announced plans to try the deceased Magnitsky, and in November prosecutors sent the case to court.

Magnitsky and his employer, London-based head of Hermitage Capital William Browder who is being tried in absentia, are accused of $17.1 million in tax evasion.

Last week, Russian prosecutors went ahead with the beginning of the posthumous fraud trial against Magnitsky before the Tverskoy District Court (the same court which acquitted Kratov).  However, the preliminary hearing in the case was postponed until January 28th because the defense lawyers representing the Magnitsky family refused to participate, citing the illegality of trying a dead man.

Gorokhov, who continues to represent the Magnitsky’s family, has stated that he has “no plans to participate in an unconstitutional affair.”

Gorokhov has argued that posthumous legal proceedings are only appropriate if aimed at quashing a previous conviction or rehabilitation.  According to Gorokhov, to continued fraud probe against Magnitsky, which was initiated by prosecutors despite requests by Magnitsky’s relatives to the contrary, also violates a decision by Russia’s Constitutional Court.

Browder, who has campaigned to punish those allegedly responsible for Magnitsky’s death, denounced the fraud trial as “an act of reprisal against those who exposed the criminal group of corrupt officials.”

For further information, please see:

Rights in Russia – Write to Your MP on the Sergei Magnitsky Case – 1 January 2013

Moscow Times – Former Butyrka Doctor Acquitted of Negligence Charges in Magnitsky Case – 28 December 2012

New York Times – Russian Acquittal Escalates Human Rights Feud With U.S. – 28 December 2012

RFE/RL – Moscow Court Acquits Doctor In Magnitsky Case – 28 December 2012

ABS-CBN News – Russia Puts Dead Lawyer on Trial – 27 December 2012