Impunity Watch: Middle East

Stranded Palestinian Pilgrims Protest for Re-Entry

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

El-ARISH, Egypt – Following a pilgrimage to Mecca, two thousand Palestinians are stranded in Egypt as a result of a dispute on their re-entry into Gaza.  The Egyptian and Israeli governments would like the pilgrims to return to Gaza via the Israeli controlled Aouja crossing, to ensure that weapons or money are not smuggled into Gaza. 

However, Palestinians insist that the pilgrims be allowed to re-enter via the Egyptian controlled Rafah crossing.  The Rafah crossing is the only entry into Gaza which is not controlled by Israel.  In mid-December, the Egyptian government permitted the pilgrims to exit Gaza through the Rafah crossing, despite Israeli protests against it. 

Some of the Palestinian pilgrims are members (or are related to members) of Hamas or are wanted by the Israeli government.  They fear that if they will be arrested if forced to return through the Israel.  Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, said that Hamas rejects any other crossing.  Also, Hamas lawmaker, Yehia Moussa, said that Egypt had an obligation to allow the pilgrims to return home.

On December 28, over two thousand Palestinian pilgrims left Jordan to sail to the Red Sea port of Nuweiba, Egypt.  The Egyptian government finally permitted entry into Egypt after the pilgrims were stranded on the ferries for two days.  Then, the Palestinians were bused to several camps in the Sinai until the parties agree on a method of re-entry.  Currently, Egyptian officials are considering several options; including receiving assurances from Israeli authorities that no one will arrested or allowing the pilgrims to re-enter through Rafah, despite Israel’s wishes.

Following the busing of at least one thousand pilgrims to temporary camps near el-Arish, Egypt, many of the pilgrims began protesting.  Many refused to exit the bus, while others broke windows and started fires to protest Egypt’s decision.  Masses of Palestinians gathered on the border between Gaza and Egypt and demanded that the pilgrims be allowed to enter.  However, the demonstration was quickly controlled by the Hamas security forces.

In a similar incident, Palestinians and Israelis clashed at a border crossing.  According to an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) official, IDF soldiers fired warning shots into the air to disperse the on-coming crowds and these warning shots resulted in the death of a Palestinian woman.  However, witnesses claim that following warning shots in the air, IDF soldiers also fired shots into the crowd, killing one woman and wounding three others.

For more information, please see:
Al-Jazeera – Stranded Pilgrims Riot in Egypt – 31 December 2007

BBC – Protest by Stranded Gaza Pilgrims – 31 December 2007

Jerusalem Post – IDF: Pilgrim ‘Apparently’ Shot by Troops – 31 December 2007

London Times – Pilgrims Left in Limbo as Egypt Bars Their Route Home to Gaza – 31 December 2007

Reuters - Stranded Palestinian Haj Pilgrims Protest in Egypt – 31 December 2007

AFP – Palestinian Pilgrims Stuck in Egypt Refuse to be Moved to Camps – 30 December 2007

Associated Press – Pilgrims Stuck in Egypt Taken to Camps – 30 December 2007

BBC – Gaza Pilgrims Stay on Their Buses – 30 December 2007

Reuters – Gunfire Kills One Palestinian Pilgrim, Wounds Four – 30 December 2007

Al-Jazeera – Gaza Pilgrims Stranded off Egypt – 29 December 2007

BBC – Gaza Pilgrims Stranded in Red Sea – 29 December 2008

International Herald Tribune – Close to Two Thousand Palestinian Pilgrims Trapped in Egypt – 29 December 2007

Human Rights Watch Urges Morocco to Investigate Rights Activists Beating

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RABAT, Morocco – Human Rights Watch on Friday urged the Moroccan Ministry of Justice to investigate the police beating and intimidation of two human rights activists in Western Sahara. More importantly, the New York-based rights organization expressed "concern that the action is part of a broader attack on human rights monitoring by the authorities in the Western Sahara region."

Police allegedly detained Dahha Rahmouni and Brahim Alansari, members of two nongovernmental human rights organizations in El-Ayoun, on December 14 and beat them while in custody. Two days later, the authorities released both without charge, but threatened to use statements they were compelled to sign if they continued their activities. Rahmouni is a member of unrecognized organization based in El-Ayoun called the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations. Alansari is a member of the legally recognized Moroccan Association of Human Rights.

Rahmouni and Alansari are known as sympathizers of the independence movement Polisario Front in Western Sahara. In 1976, Morocco annexed the northwest African territory of 260,000 people after Spain withdrew from what is known as "Spanish Sahara." Although the Moroccan government has offered it autonomy, Polisario Front movement is calling for full independence.

Currently, talks between the two sides are at stalemate. Two rounds of talks to resolve the 32-year-old dispute were held in June and August this year, but each side had stuck to "rigid position." January 7 negotiation is impending, but many believe the outcome is not hopeful based on past history.

Human Rights Watch said "the Moroccan authorities tightly restrict independent human rights activities in the contested Western Sahara region on the pretext that several rights organizations there violate Moroccan law by espousing independence for Western Sahara," and added that "authorities frequently keep activists in these organizations under police surveillance and subject them to various forms of harassment."

The Morrocan government denies all allegations of mistreating independence activists.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Times – Endless conflict in West Sahara – 30 December 2007

Reuters – Morocco urged to probe beating of rights activists – 29 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Investigate police beating of rights activists in Western Sahara – 28 December 2007

BRIEF: Bahrain Extends Amnesty Deadline

Bahrain has extended its amnesty deadline for illegal workers to January 31, 2008.  The purpose of the extending the deadline is enable illegal workers to stay in Bahrain or leave the country without having to pay high penalties for violating their contracts.  The amnesty was issued as a response to the reported abuses of migrant workers. 

The government stated that the amnesty has been successful and that 80% of the illegal workers have benefited from the amnesty.  Around 12,000 workers have already left the country and 22,000 workers legalized their stay.  However, the government is committed to helping the remaining 20%  of illegal workers through amnesty and has promised to launch an “inspection campaign next week to ensure that no one is working in Bahrain illegally.”

For more information, please see:

Gulf Daily News- New deadline for amnesty seekers- 31 December 2007 

BRIEF: Kurds Promise to Continue to Fight

The Kurds have promised to continue fighting Turkey until they are promised equal rights including the right to teach the Kurdish language in public schools.  Suzdar Avista a local Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) leader stated that “We will not surrender, and if Turkey continues its aggression against our bases and kills civilians we will respond, we'll begin fighting inside Turkey.” (International Herald Tribune)   

Some locals have remained in the area despite the constant shelling.  They have condemned the Turkish actions.  They believe that the purpose of the attacks has only to improve the morale of the Turkish people, rather than actually eliminate the PKK rebels.   

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune (AP)- Kurdish rebels in Iraq vow to carry out more attacks against Turkey if airstrikes continue- 30 December 2007

Iraq: Thousands Seeking New Livelihoods

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

The Turkish military has attacked the northern Kurdish region of Iraq.  The Turks have claimed that the attacks have killed hundreds of PKK militants, including up to 175 rebels killed on December 16 alone.  (BBC-Turkish jets in fresh Iraq strike)

The attacks have destabilized the region and forced those who live in the area to seek safety.
"Since 16 December when Turkish warplanes renewed their bombing of the borders, nearly 700 families, about 4,000 people, have fled their villages, leaving everything behind," said Mohammed Khalil, a spokesman for the Regional Displacement and Immigration Directorate.  (IRIN)

The instability has forced many Iraqis to sell their homes and possessions in order to relocate during the attacks.

However, since many Iraqi Kurds in the northern mountainous region were farmers and shepherds, many of the people relocated have been forced to find new livelihoods.  They have been forced to find the shelter from relatives while seeking to begin a new life from scratch. 

For example in a phone interview, 65 year-old father of eight, Hama Numan Jalil, a relocated farmer from the border region explained his plight from his cousin’s home.  “I lost all my animals last week: nine cows, 18 sheep and 14 goats which we depend on for a living . . . We left everything behind - our home, which is partially damaged, and our land, and now we have ended up here at my cousin's home in the city; my cousin has 10 sons to feed already,” Jalil said.  (IRIN) Jalil stated that he would probably have to remove his children from school to make sure that they could be able to survive. 

The Turkish attacks have been condemned by leaders of Iraq’s northern Kurdish region.   However, these condemnations seem to not have dissuaded the Turks who seek to eliminate all strongholds of the PKK.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Turkish jets fresh in Iraq- 26 December 2007

BBC News- Iraq Kurds warn Turkey over raids- 25 December 2007

IRIN News- IRAQ: Newly displaced in north considering alternative livelihoods- 26 December 2007

Jailed Iran Rights Activist Sent to Hospital

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – A prominent human rights activist jailed since October was rushed to a hospital after collapsing in a prison shower.

Emadeddin Baghi, 45, suffered a "double heart attack" in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, where he has been held for the past 74 days. He was taken to a private hospital when a prison official found him unconscious in the shower. He had collapsed twice in his cell earlier in the morning due to high nervous pressure.

Baghi, a reformist journalist who is in jail for the second time, has reported been held in solitary confinement ever since he was first taken to Evin, and his health deteriorated steadily during the past two months. His lawyer believes his poor health was mainly due to appalling prison conditions and harassment he has been subjected to during interrogations.

Baghi was arrested in October on charges of violating national security. Iranian authorities said that due to his ongoing activities, he had to serve the remaining year of an earlier prison sentence he had received back in 2003. In 2003, he was sentenced to three years in prison on similar charges of threatening national security, but he only served two years of the term. Authorities have accused Baghi, who campaigns for the humane treatment of prisoners and against the death penalty, of using his activism as a guise to cover anti-regime efforts.

In 2005 Baghi was awarded a top human rights prize by the French government for his work campaigning against the death penalty. Since his jailing, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the US State Department have both called for his release.

In Iran, capital offences that results a death penalty include murder, rape, armed robbery, serious drug trafficking, and adultery. Iran is reportedly the second most prolific applier of the death penalty worldwide after China.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune - Media advocacy group RSF worried about health of jailed Iranian activist - 28 December 2007

AFP - Jailed Iranian rights activist hospitalized - 27 December 2007

The New York Times - Human rights activist, jailed in Iran, is transferred to hospital - 27 December 2007

Associated Press - Jailed Iran rights activist in hospital - 27 December 2007   

BRIEF: Iraqi Cabinet Approves Bill that could Free Thousands

The bill would pardon prisoners who have been wrongly detained. There are an estimated 50,000 Iraqis that have been jointly arrested by the US military (26,000) and the Iraqi security forces (24,000).  The number prisoners has spiked since the increase in the military strength by the US military, which has cut down on insurgent violence. 

The main target of the bill is to free uncharged prisoners who have not been linked to dangerous terrorist activities and yet have been held indefinitely.   Most of the prisoners are Sunni prisoners, which has caused rising tension.  A main hope by the drafters is that the release of the prisoners will limit some of the hostility among the rivaling Sunnis and Shiites factions.   

For more information, please see:

All Headline News- U.S. Optimistic Over The Release Of Thousands Of Iraqi Detainees In 2008- 26 December 2007

Jurist- Iraq cabinet approves pardon of 'innocent' detainees: report - 26 December 2007

PBS News hour- New Law Could Pardon Thousands in Iraq- 26 December 2007

YAHOO! News (Reuters)- Iraqi cabinet approves draft general pardon law- 26 December 2007

Several Days of Protests, Followed by Arrests in Bahrain

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – On December 17, police and protestors clashed during a demonstration marking ten years since the death of a leading Shiite activist.  The demonstration, organized by the opposition parties, sought compensation for claimed human rights violations which occurred the 1980s and 1990s, when the opposition protested perceived discrimination against Shiites.  During the December 17 demonstration, the police used teargas and later, a demonstrator, Ali Jassem, died as a result of inhaling teargas.  However, a statement from the Interior Ministry claimed that an official medical examination concluded that Jassem died as a result of a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Jassem’s death spurred several days of riots and clashes with the police; including burning tires, blocked roads, and destruction of police vehicles.  The largest demonstration occurred on December 20, following a clash between the police and the mourners at Jassem’s wake.  Mourners attacked a police officer in Jedhafs village.  Riot police responded by entering the village.  According to a witness, the police began firing indiscriminately on the mourners with rubber bullets and teargas.

Then, 500 men gathered and began destroying public and private property.  The spokesman for the Islamist Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy opposition party, Abdul-Jalil al-Singace, said that Jassem’s death could lead to new protests and mass demonstrations similar to those that occurred during the 1990s, which resulted in 40 deaths.

Following the demonstration in Jedhafs, the police conducted sweeps of mainly Shiite villages and arrested close to 40 individuals.  Witnesses state that people were beaten and abused by the police during these arrests.  The Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy issued a statement which claimed at least three people were hospitalized.  The Interior Ministry confirmed that arrests took place but would not disclose the number of people arrested.  The ministry also stated that the arrests are not politically motivated, but instead related to charges of arson, destruction of police cars and stealing police weapons.  A statement from the ministry to the official state news agency said that the charges are “criminal and they are not political activists.”

New protests occurred during the following days.  Hundreds of family members of those arrested staged a sit in outside the police stations in the villages of Bani Jamara and Malkiya.  Riot police were present at both locations, and the protest in Malkiya became violent.  Later, on December 25, family members arrived at the public prosecution office in Manama with clothes that the government requested for the detainees but refused to hand them over or leave unless they saw their relatives.  Opposition parties and rights groups claim that the government officials denied the request and riot police forced the family members out of the office.  However, Interior Ministry spokesman, Mohammed bin Daina, denied the event occurred and stated that the office was evacuated in order to prevent chaos. 

Family members and opposition parties claim that the government is refusing to allow anyone to see the detainees, even legal counsel.  Harez Harez, a lawyer for some of the accused, told the Associated Press that the government “violated legal procedure by banning lawyers from meeting with the suspects and attending the interrogation sessions.”  He also stated that, from his conversations with government officials, 28 individuals were detained.

Bahrain, a parliamentary monarchy, is ruled by a Sunni family.  However, 70 percent of its population is Shia.  Resentment within the Shia majority stems from high unemployment rates and the government’s policy of naturalizing Sunnis from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and granting the immigrants jobs which otherwise would go to Shiites.  Rights activist Abdul-Nabi al-Ekri stated, “the government has created a volatile situation by accelerating naturalization of foreigners with the aim of changing Bahrain's demography and this exacerbated frustrations among different sections of society.”

For more information, please see:
AFP – Bahrain MPs Denounce Clashes in Shiite Areas – 25 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Bahraini Police Scuffle with Relatives of Detained Shiites – 25 December 2007

YouTube - Shia in Bahrain - 25 December 2007

Al Jazeera – Bahrain Protests Lead to Arrests – 24 December 2007

Gulf Times – Disturbances Hit Bahrain Areas for Fifth Day: Reports – 24 December 2007

BBC – Bahrain Rocked by Days of Clashes – 23 December 2007

Reuters – Bahrain Arrests 40 After Week-Long Protests – 23 December 2007

Guardian – Violent Clashes Erupt in Bahrain – 22 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Bahraini Police Stage Security Sweeps Following Clashes – 22 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Violent Clashes Erupt in Bahraini Capital – 21 December 2007

Al Jazeera - Mourners Clash with Bahrain Police – 20 December 2007

Associated Press – Bahraini Shiites Clash with Riot Police – 18 December 2007

Egyptian Guard Killed in Shootout with Traffickers

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAFAH, Egypt – An Egyptian border guard was killed on Friday in a shoot out with people traffickers who were trying to smuggle African migrants into Israel.

Mohammed Abdel Mohsen al-Guindi, 21, was killed when gunfire broke out after the group refused to surrender. The migrants fled across the border and the traffickers managed to escape. Egyptian authorities are currently searching in the area for suspects.

The border between Egypt and Israel has become a major transit route for Egyptians and foreigners to cross into Israel to smuggle goods, including people. The border is also used for east European prostitutes heading to work, voluntarily or involuntarily, as well as for African migrants and asylum seekers, and for smugglers of illegal weapons and drugs.

The migrants who crossed the border on Friday are likely part of influx of African asylum seekers seeking entry into Israel, where more than 2,500 of them entered illegally in the past two years. Several hundred of those are Sudanese refugees from war-torn Darfur, but most are coming to Israel looking for jobs. As a result, dozens of Africans have been arrested in recent months as they sought to cross the border, and at least three migrants were killed in the process.

On the day after the incident, Egyptian border guards arrested another 11 African migrants who were trying to cross illegally into Israel. Five were injured when guards opened fire to stop them and four were wounded while trying to jump over barbed wire along the border. One was shot in the knee.

For more information, please see:

New York Times - Egyptian guard killed in clash with smugglers at Israeli border - 23 December 2007

Reuters - Egypt says smugglers kill soldier at Israel border - 22 December 2007

AFP - Egypt policeman dies in shootout with people traffickers - 22 December 2007

International Herald Tribune - 11 African refugees arrested before crossing into Israel; 5 injured - 22 December 2007

Israel Expands Settlement Plans

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – The proposed budget for the Construction Ministry includes $25 million dollars earmarked for the building of 740 new apartments.  The Construction Ministry budget includes funds to build over 500 apartments in the Har Homa settlement in East Jerusalem and 240 apartments in the Maaleh Adumim settlement in the West Bank. 

At the conference in Annapolis in late November, Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders agreed to renew the 2003 peace roadmap.  In the 2003 roadmap, Israel promised to freeze settlement growth.  Rafi Eitan, the Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, told local radio that Israel never promised to halt construction within the municipal borders of Jerusalem, which, according to Israel, includes East Jerusalem which was annexed during the 1967 War.  Also, Israel claims that since that any future agreement would include Maaleh Adumim as a part of an Israeli state, building in that settlement is permitted as well.  Eitan stated that Maaleh Adumim is an “integral part of Jerusalem in any peace accord.”

The international community and Palestinian leadership have expressed disagreement with the settlement building plans.  The announcement comes shortly before another peace meeting between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, accused Israel of trying to sabotage the renewed peace efforts.  Erekat called Israel’s move as “destructive”.

In addition, senior Hamas officials signal that the group is prepared to reach a truce with Israel.  Ahmed Yusef, a polical advisor to Ismail Haniya, stated that Hamas is ready to “reach a truce with Israel” so long as the siege on Gaza is lifted and Israel halts it policy of assassinations.  However, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, has ruled out a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, describing the conflict as a “true war”, and that it will continue. 

For more information, please see:
AFP – New Israeli Settlement Plans Unveiled on Eve of Peace Talks – 23 December 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel Funds More Settlement Growth – 23 December 2007

Associated Press – Israel Building Plans Could Spur Fury – 23 December 2007

BBC – Israel Confirms Settlement Plans – 23 December 2007

Chicago Tribune – Olmert Rules  Out Truce Talks With Hamas – 23 December 2007

Ha’aretz – Israel Expands Plans to Construct New Homes in E. J’lem, W. Bank – 23 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Israel Plans New Homes on Occupied Land – 23 December 2007

Washington Post – Israel Unveils Settlement Plans on Peace Talks Eve – 23 December 2007