Impunity Watch: Middle East

Israel Continues to Allow Settlement Expansion Despite International Protest

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel/West Bank - An Israeli government spokesman said on May 28 that Israel must be allowed to expand its settlements in the West Bank, echoing the sentiments of Israeli’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to his cabinet on May 24.  Mark Regev, speaking on May 27, said that any final arrangements regarding West Bank settlements would have to be part of any agreement with the Palestinians, but that until such an agreement is reached, Israeli settlements would be allowed to expand to compensate for “natural growth.”

Approximately 500,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements inside the West Bank and in predominantly-Arab East Jerusalem, areas which were captured by Israeli in 1967 and which many Palestinians believe will be the basis of a future Palestinian state.  While the Israeli government has condemned the twenty-two settlements, deeming them to be illegal, the organization Peace Now estimates that fifty such settlements have been built since 2001 and Israeli settlements currently take up approximately 40% of the land in the West Bank. 

Under international law, such settlements are illegal because they are on land that Palestinians claim form their independent state.  In the U.S.-supported roadmap peace plan, Israel must stop all settlement activity, and specifically included natural growth.

On May 27, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted that construction of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank must immediately stop.  During his meeting with Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, on May 28, U.S. president Barack Obama repeated his call for a freeze on settlement construction, and said that he expected to hear a response from Prime Minister Netanyahu shortly.  Middle East experts have called the Obama Administration’s response to the current settlement expansion the strongest on the issue from the U.S. in years. 

For more information, please see:

Irish Times – Israel to Allow Expansion in Settlements – 29 May 2009

New York Times – Obama Calls for Swift Move Toward Mideast Peace Talks  - 28 May 2009

BBC News – No Exception in Israeli Settlement:  Clinton – 28 May 2009

New York Times – Israel Insists on Some Construction in West Bank Settlements – 28 May 2009

Al-Jazeera – Netanyahu:  Settlements to Expand – 25 May 2009

Palestine Monitor – Obama’s Logic vs. Netanyahu’s Rhetoric – 20 May 2009

Egyptian Dissident Continues to Speak Out After Sentence is Overturned

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Saad Eddin Ibrahim in 2003
CAIRO, Egypt – Saad Eddin Ibrahim was convicted on the charge of damaging Egypt’s reputation for speaking out against current President Hosni Mubarak and his regime in August of 2008. The conviction was founded Ibrahim’s vocal opposition of Mubarak and the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Ibrahim suggested in an opinion piece for the Washington Post that the United States withhold aid until Cairo took steps to end the smuggling of arms into the Gaza strip, and to rein in police abuses.

On May 25, Judge Ashraf Sheta overturned Ibrahim’s two-year sentence. The decision comes just days before President Obama is scheduled to speak in Cairo, and there is speculation that this decision was motivated by Obama’s visit. Ibrahim is hesitant to believe this, and has praised the Egyptian appellate court for their independent decision.

Ibrahim has been living in the United States in exile, and would like to return to Egypt to see his wife and family. He is hesitant to return while he still faces charges of spying, and treason. If convicted he could be sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. His lawyers are advising that Ibrahim remain in the United States until the charges have been resolved.

The complaints filed against Ibrahim have all been brought by members of the NDP. Ibrahim believes that this is a way for the government to try to intimidate him without directly criticizing or sanctioning him. While visiting Egypt previously there have also been attempts on Ibrahim’s life, which he thinks might have had some government involvement.

In spite of all of this, Ibrahim plans on continuing to speak out. He sees it as his duty to be a critic, because the country needs critics. Ibrahim wants to be a free voice to speak on behalf of those who are oppressed, and hopes to shed light on the problems within his nation.

For more information, please see:

The Media Line - Egyptian Dissident: Obama Should Listen to People, Not Officials - 27 May 2009

The Media Line - Egyptian Dissident ‘Will Not Stop Criticizing Regime - 26 May 2009

AFP - Egypt Court Overturns Dissident’s Jail Term - 25 May 2009

Al Arabiya News Channel – Egypt Court Acquits Leading Rights Activist - 25 May 2009

BBC News - Egypt Quashes Saad Eddin Ibrahim Jail Term – 25 May 2009

Demolitions of Palestinian Homes in Jerusalem Continue

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel - Despite calls from the United Nations for demolitions of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem to cease, the city continues to demolish what it calls “illegally developed” homes. The deputy mayor, Naomi Tsur, says that all residents of Jerusalem are being treated equally. Tsur insists that all homes built without permit are being destroyed, regardless of their being in east or west Jerusalem.

The Israeli police pounded on the doors and entered homes as if they were executing a raid. One resident was told that she had five minutes to don her scarf, collect her valuables, and get out of the house. One thousand illegally built homes in Jerusalem have been marked for demolition so far this year. Israeli based NGO B’Tselem estimates that that number could double in the next few months.

Amidst the rubble of her home a Palestinian girl gets food from her fridge. Her home in east Jerusalem was demolished on April 22. Image Courtesy of Tara Todraswhitehill/AP

Many Palestinians whose homes have been demolished admit that they built their home without a permit. Permits are difficult to get, because there is only a limited percentage of land that Palestinians are allowed to build on, and most of this land is already being used. Out of the seventy square kilometers that constitute the west bank and east Jerusalem that were annexed by Israel, only thirteen percent is zoned for Palestinian construction.

Even changes to existing homes, like additions, are subject to Jerusalem’s strict building permit regulations. In Jerusalem’s Old City, a resident has been ordered to demolish a room of his house and to pay a 6,000 shekel fine (1,500 USD). The resident was given 45 days to comply, or he faces a three month jail term. He had already paid an 8,000 shekel fine in 2004 for building the room onto his house.

Jerusalem is allegedly stingy in their granting of building permits. Many Palestinians are denied permits if they submit applications, which discourages many other citizens from even attempting to get the proper permits. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) alleges that the building permit process and the current demolition practices are all part of a plan to remove the Palestinians from Jerusalem.

Mayor Nir Barkat’s administration denies the allegations of the ACRI, and recently announced that 13,500 additional housing units would be allowed in east Jerusalem. These additional units are not an immediate solution, only part of a city plan for the year 2030. The city has a large development plan that will allow a developer to create a large tourist complex near the Old City, and supports a group that buys Palestinian land in east Jerusalem, and relocates the Palestinians to more Arab neighborhoods.

The demolitions and restrictions on Palestinian development in Jerusalem add to the difficulties of the peace process and the proposed two state solution. With mounting pressure from the United States and world wide for peace, Israel will be under more scrutiny for its city planning measures that appear to be discriminatory in effect.

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Demolitions build Jerusalem tension - 25 May 2009

Ma’an News Agency – Jerusalem Court orders Palestinian to demolish room of his home - 24 May 2009

BBC News - Jerusalem Mayor ‘stepping up demolitions’ - 19 May 2009

Christian Science Monitor - In Jerusalem, an uptick in demolition orders of Arab homes – 19 May 2009

United Nations Radio - End Palestinian demolitions in Jerusalem, UN tells Israel – 1 May 2009

Spate of Attacks on Journalists in Ex-Soviet Republics in Recent Months

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

YEREVAN, Armenia - A prominent Armenian journalist, Never Mnatsakanian, was attacked by unknown assailants outside of his home in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, on May 6.  Mnatsakanian’s assault is the latest in a series of attacks on journalists in the South Caucasus region.  In addition to the assault on Mnatsakanian, the editor of a pro-opposition news website, Armenia Today, was severely beaten on April 30. The Paris-based media outlet, Reporters Without Borders, ranked Armenia 102nd out of 173 countries in its 200 report of media freedom.

News media have reported similar attacks on journalists in neighboring Azerbaijan. On May 10, Azerbaijani police used physical force against protestors marching against the commemoration of the “Flower Holiday,” a nationalist celebration of the late president.  News media reported that police had arrested thirty students involved in the protests.  Police also attacked Khadija Ismailova, director of the Baku bureau of Radio Liberty, after she tried to get information from them about the arrests.  Other sources report that Durna Safarli, correspondent for Radio Liberty, Elchin Hasanov, reporter for Yukselish Namina, and Afgan Mukhtarli and Layla Ilgar from the newspaper, Yeni Musavat, were also attacked by police as the journalists covered the Flower Holiday protests.

In Armenia, a senior police official has recommended that journalists carry guns to protect themselves against such attacks.  Several non-governmental organizations have called for police investigations, though many Armenians believe that such investigations are cursory at best.  One journalist attacked in late 2008, Edik Baghdasarian, is conducting his own investigation into the identities of his assailants.

Article 19, a United Kingdom-based advocacy group for free expression, has condemned the attacks on journalists in these former Soviet republics as “creating a climate of impunity for the perpetrators and fear amongst journalists working in these countries.”

For more information, please see:

NASDAQ - Armenian Television Journalist Attacked in Capital - Police - 22 May 2009

Article 19 - South Caucasus:  Continued Violence Against Journalists Symptomatic of Ongoing Repression in the Region - 15 May 2009

Eurasianet.org - Armenia:  Free Speech Under Assault in Yerevan - 14 May 2009

Human Rights House Network - Journalists Harassed by Police while Attempting to Cover Student Protests - 13 May 2009

Azeri Report - Student Protests Spoiled “Flower Holiday” of Azeri Government - 10 May 2009

Yemeni Police Kill Three in Clash with Protesters

By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

ADEN, Yemen - Three people died following protests in Southern Yemen during the week of May 18, after police clashed with the protesters.  One man died at the scene of the protest.  The other two died in the hospital shortly thereafter.   At least twenty-five others were injured and another 120 were arrested for their involvement.

The protests were focused on the political status of South Yemen.  The protests marked the 19th Anniversary of Unity Day, the day when South Yemen and North Yemen were united at one nation.  The people of South Yemen have claimed independence and many of the organizations leading the protests are considered separatist organizations.  Most of the protests have been organized by the Southern Movement, a group that is strongly against the government in Yemen's capital, Sana'a.

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula; however most of the oil reserves are located in South Yemen.  A large portion of the population is also located in the South.  Residents in the South claim that they face discrimination and live in poor economic conditions.  As the economic crisis has hit the country, residents of the South claim that they have been denied jobs and property so that they could be reserved for Northern residents. 

Over 3,000 protesters were trying to go into Aden City to protest these conditions when they were met by security forces that were sent to break up the groups.  When the protesters met the security forces, they used themselves as human shields when police fired live rounds into the crowd.  They also shot tear gas into the groups of people. 

State-run news agencies in Yemen refused to admit that the clash took place, despite reports of the clash in many international news sources.  The news agency, SABA, claims that the deaths were not caused by security forces but instead by "rogue elements."  According to Aden Governor, Adnan al-Jefri, the event has been escalated and magnified by the media.  He told SABA on May 21 that there had been "no clashes...between security forces and demonstrators in Aden." 

For more information, please see:

CNN - Yemen Denies Reports of Deadly Clashes - 22 May 2009

AFP - Yemeni President Urges Dialogue After Deadly Clashes - 21 May 2009

Al-Bawaba - Yemen: At Least Three Killed in Clashes - 21 May 2009

BBC - Civil War Fears As Yemen Celebrates Unity - 21 May 2009

Reuters - Three Killed as Police Disperse South Yemen Protest - 21 May 2009

SABA - Aden Governor: No Clashes Between Citizens and Security - 21 May 2009

Baha'i Leaders Mark One-Year Anniversary in Prison

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran - May 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the arrest of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran.  Human Rights Watch called for the release of seven leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran who, in February, were charged with spying for Israel, "insulting religious sanctities," and spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.  The leaders could face the death penalty if convicted. 

The arrests are the latest in a series of hundreds of arrests that have taken place in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom estimates at least thirty Baha'is are currently imprisoned in Iran.   There is also evidence that since 1979, hundreds of Baha'is in Iran have been killed.  Iran’s constitution recognizes only Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians as legitimate religious minorities in the Islamic Republic, though these groups have also been subject to persecution.

Baha'is constitute the largest religious minority in Iran, with 300,000 members inside the Islamic Republic and approximately five million worldwide.  Baha'i was founded in the mid-nineteenth century in Persia, present-day Iran, and believers hold that humanity is one race derived from a single God.  Officials in Iran have deemed Baha’i a heretical offshoot of Islam.  The center of the Baha’i faith is the city of Haifa, in present-day Israel, heightening tensions between members of the faith and the Islamic Republic, which refuses to recognize Israel as a state.

The Baha'i leaders' lawyer, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, has experienced intense pressure from the Iranian government while preparing for the case.  Ebadi reported that in December 2008, police closed her human rights center and her private office was raided, and client files seized.  In addition, Ebadi has been denied access to the Baha'i leaders and no trial date has been set.

For more information, please see:

Iran Press Watch - Imprisoned In Iran For Religious Belief - 20 May 2009

Human Rights Watch - Iran:  Free Baha'i Leaders - 14 May 2009

New York Times - Seven Iranians Charged With Spying for Israel - 23 February 2009

BBC News - Iran arrests Bahai 'leadership' - 19 May 2008

Nine Sentenced to Death in Absentia

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMANHUR, Egypt - On May 18th an Egyptian court in Damanhur sentenced twenty-four people to death. All twenty-four cases have been sent to the mufti to sign execution orders, in accordance with sharia law. Nine of those sentenced were not present for their trials and conviction, as they remain on the run. 

Each of twenty-four was sentenced on murder charges for their participation in a violent land dispute in March of 2008 in the northern province of Beheira. Two rival associations both claimed title to a 500 acre agricultural plot in the Nile delta. Both parties had hired security guards to protect their land, and the dispute arose when one group of guards tried to claim the plot by force from the other group of guards. Authorities believe that this was purely a financial conflict and had no sectarian aspects.

Eleven people were killed, and as many as twenty-seven were injured in the conflict. Land suitable for farming is scarce in the Nile delta and this shortage often leads to disputes. While land disputes are not uncommon in Egypt, the number of casualties in this instance is unusual. Many landlords in Egypt hire private armed security guards to protect their land interests, but the guards typically only keep out squatters, and do not incur casualties.

Both the Daily News Egypt and E- Taiwan News article attributed to the Associated Press allege that the “gun battle” was over 1,500 acres, not 500 acres. Both sources also maintain that no dates for execution have been set, and all of the sentences have been appealed.

The nine people convicted in absentia remain on the run. The due process rights of these individuals under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights may come into question if they are found. This covenant, signed by the United Nations, supports the right for all people to be present at their own trial and conviction.

For more information, please see:

APA – Egyptian Court Sentences 24 to Death – 19 May 2009

Daily News Egypt – 24 Sentenced to Death Over Deadly Land Dispute – 19 May 2009

E-Taiwan News – Egypt: 24 Get Death Sentence on Murder Charges - 19 May 2009

News 24 - 24 Sentenced to Death in Egypt – 18 May 2009

New York Times – Egypt: Death Sentences Over a Gunfight – 18 May 2009

Reuters – Egypt Court Sentences 24 to Die Over Land Clash – 18 May 2009

Human Rights Watch Releases Report Claiming Migrant Workers in UAE Are Mistreated

By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

NEW YORK, New York - On May 19, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled The Island of Happiness: Exploitation of Migrant Workers on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.  The report claims that migrant workers hired to help build Saadiyat Island of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being mistreated. 

Saadiyat Island is a 27 square kilometre island off the coast of Abu Dhabi.  In May 2009, the UAE intended to break ground on huge construction projects to take place on the island, including 27 hotels, outposts of the Guggenheim and the Louvre, and a campus of New York University.  Hundreds of migrants workers have been hired to work on these projects, as well as others, including the leveling of the island itself before construction can begin.  However, according to HRW, these workers are facing harsh, unreasonable work conditions, poor housing and health conditions, and have no legal remedies to address these problems.

Many migrant workers get to the UAE through employments agencies.  These agencies often charge outrageous fees, in some cases equaling as much as four times a year's wages.  Migrant works borrow money from family in some cases, but often they borrow money from high interest rate loan companies.  By the time the workers arrive in the country where they want to work, they are already in so much debt that they are forced to accept any work conditions in order to work a wage high enough to pay off their loans.  Although hiring workers through these agencies is illegal under UAE law, there is little enforcement. 

Because workers have no power to negotiate their contracts, they are forced to work twelve hours days in temperatures over 100 degrees Farenheit, with high humidity.  After a long day of work, a worker takes home an average of $8 US per day.  According to HRW, the average salary of a foreign worker is $2575 US; however the average per capita income is $30,000 US.  HRW states that many companies cut costs by keeping overtime wages below the legal requirements.

Furthermore, HRW claims that companies are also preventing workers from getting better jobs by illegally confiscating their passports.  These companies threaten workers with deportation should they look for a better job.  Although this practice is illegal, HRW says that the workers they interviewed explained that the practice is universal on Saadiyat Island.  Migrant workers are also unable to get representation from outside groups because the UAE does not recognize non-governmental organizations that may aid the workers.

HRW has asked the UAE to reconsider its labor laws and to improve enforcement.  They also ask the UAE to implement programs to improve workers' awareness; they explain that, as long as workers are unaware of their rights, workers will be taken advantage of by companies.

For more information, please see:

Financial Times - Plight of Abu Dhabi Workers - 20 May 2009

Human Rights Watch - The Island of Happiness - 19 May 2009

Human Rights Watch - UAE:  Exploited Workers Building 'Island of Happiness' - 19 May 2009

Telegraph - Workers on Luxury Island 'Exploited and Abused' - 19 May 2009

United Press International - Rights Group Blasts Abu Dhabi Project - 19 May 2009

Yemen Bans Eight Newspapers for Covering Violent Clashes in Southern Yemen

By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen  - On May 7, 2009 dozens of journalists gathered in front of the press syndicate in Sana’a in a staged sit-in to protest the Yemeni governments decision to suspend more than eight newspapers for their coverage of unrest in southern Yemen.  An additional protest was held in the city of Aden.

On May 4, the Ministry of Information ordered the suspension of several privately owned newspapers including Al-Masdar, Al-Wattani, Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqila, Al-Nida, Al-Ayyam and Al-Share, due to their recent coverage of clashes between residents and government security forces in southern Yemen.  The government has followed its decree by taking active measures to forcibly halt the sale of these publications, including seizing the production plant of one of the newspapers in order to prevent distribution.  Security forces were directed to confiscate these publications from kiosks and stores throughout Sana’a.

Yemeni Ministor of Information Hassan Ahmed al-Luzi claimed that the decision to ban the sale of these publications was necessary as the journalists had violated Yemen’s press law “by publishing articles against national unity and the country’s highest interests and they incited to violate law and order and spread hatred and enmity among the united people of Yemen.”

Following the government’s order to ban the publication and distribution of these newspapers, security forces arrested Fuad Rashif, the Editor-in-Chief of the Mukalla Press Web site.  The Web site had been covering the recent violence between residents and security forces in the south, as well as the government’s marginalization of southern Yemen.  Rashid has been held incommunicado since his arrest on May 8.

According to Joel Simon, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, “we are concerned about the ongoing ban on independent newspapers and call on authorities to immediately end this censorship…Covering the ongoing conflict in the south is an essential journalistic function, and for authorities to ban this coverage is to criminalize journalism itself.”

Saeed Thabit, spokesman for the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate has organized the recent demonstrations of journalists in Sana’a and Aden, claiming that the government’s recent crackdown on the media is tantamount to restricting free speech, which according to Thabit is “one of the pillars of national unity and democracy.”  Thabit is seeking to unite Yemeni journalists to oppose the recent government ban.  The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling on the Yemeni government to end its ban on the media and to disclose the location of a Rashid.

For more information, please see:

Committee to Protect Journalists - Yemeni Editor Held Incommunicado, Critical Newspaper Sued - 8 May 2009

AFP - Yemen Reporters Protest at Closure of Papers - 7 May 2009

Arab Monitor - Yemeni Government Confiscates Seven Newspapers - 7 May 2009

Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ Alarmed by Yemen Government's Newspaper Censorship - 7 May 2009

Yemen Times - Ministry of Information Prevents Seven Newspapers from Distribution - 6 May 2009

UN to seek reparations from Israel after Investigations

By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations (UN) concluded an inquiry into parts of the Gaza offensive and found that Israel is responsible for damage to seven UN facilities.  The inquiry covered damage to nine facilities total.  Of the other two, Hamas was determined to be responsible for the damage to one, and it is unsure who is responsible for the damage to the last facility. 

The investigation was led by Ian Martin, former head of Amnesty International.  The damage was done to UN clinics, schools and offices.  UN staff and other civilians were also injured or killed in the incidents.  The investigation's scope was limited only to damage to UN property and injury or death of staff; however, the investigatory staff stated that the other injuries should be investigated under international humanitarian law.

The investigatory committee found that Israel's conduct was negligent or reckless. It further found that the Israeli military failed to take adequate precautions to protect the UN premises.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that he would seek damages from Israel for the damage.  The damage rendered by Israel has been estimated at approximately $11 Million.  Damage by Hamas has been estimated at $29, 000. 

Israeli has responded to the investigations by claiming that they were "patently biased."  Israeli Defense Force officials claim that the UN fails to consider the fact that they were fighting against a terrorist organization.  Furthermore, they claim that many of the UN facilities were hit after Hamas used them as bases and fired rockets at Israel.  The UN investigatory committee has rejected this argument in several cases.

For more information, please see:

Haaretz - UN Demand For IDF Compensation in Gaza Could Reach $11 Million - 6 May 2009

Times - UN Report Condemns Israel over Gaza War - 6 May 2009

The Washington Times - U.N. seeks Israeli 'reparations' - 6 May 2009

Guardian - UN accuses Israel of Gaza 'Negligence or Recklessness' - 5 May 2009

Reuters - UN Report Accuses Israel of Recklessness in Gaza - 5 May 2009

Voice of America - UN Report Slams Israel for Damages During Gaza Offensive - 5 May 2009