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Shiva Nazarahari, Human Rights Activist

After the last session of Shiva Nazar Ahari’s trial was held in Tehran today, her mother told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that “her family is very hopeful about Shiva’s acquittal.” Shahrzad Kariman told the Campaign that she was only able to exchange greetings with her daughter outside the court as she was not allowed in the courtroom. “I saw Shiva. We could see her outside the court for a few minutes, just enough to hug her, but we couldn’t ask her how the court session went. We will wait to see about the ruling,” she said. “It’s impossible to say anything about the trial. We have to wait for the verdict which they have said will be made in a month,” she emphasized. She confirmed her daughter’s appearing at the court in handcuffs.

“We will have to wait for the ruling to see what we should do. We didn’t know what the charges were prior to the court session. We will have to wait for the ruling to see what it is. I ask all to please let the court ruling be issued and to refrain from presuming a verdict for my child,” Mrs. Kariman told the Campaign. “The lawyer read the case file. He said there is no evidence or documents [against her], and Shiva was able to defend herself well. God willing, Shiva will be exonerated in court,” she said, quoting Nazar Ahari’s lawyer, Mohammad Sharif.

One of Shiva Nazar Ahari’s charges is “relations with the Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization. “Our whole family expressed our contempt for this organization. This is how Shiva feels about the MEK, too. The Committee of Human Rights Reporters has also issued a statement on this subject. There has never been, nor there will ever be a connection with this organization. We believe this organization is a terrorist group who have shown that they don’t follow the Iranian people’s best interests,” said Mrs. Kariman.

ILNA News Agency reported today that Shiva Nazar Ahari’s last trial session was held today with Judge Pir Abbasi presiding. The report added that with the presentation of last defense, the trial was adjourned. “The presiding judge informed my client of the charges of “moharebeh” (enmity with God) according to Article 186; “assembly and collusion aiming to commit a crime” based on Article 610; “propagating against the regime,” according to Article 500; and “disrupting the public order,” based on Article 618 of Islamic Penal Code,” the article quoted Mohammad Sharif, this prisoner of conscience’s lawyer. Nazar Ahari’s lawyer stated that the defense bill was presented to the court along with his client’s and the lawyers’ verbal defense. “After the defense statements were completed, our last defense was received and the trial was announced adjourned. We are now waiting for the ruling and we are not pessimistic about the case outcome, either,” said Mohammad Sharif.

Photo: www.sahamnews.org

(3 September 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran holds Iran’s Supreme Leader responsible for the safety of presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi and his family following attacks on Karroubi’s home by dozens of armed plainclothes forces.

The attacks took place over three days and resulted in graffiti, vandalism, broken windows, and shootings inside Karroubi’s home. Photographs of the attack can be viewed on the website of Saham News.

“It is unacceptable that dozens of plainclothes agents, armed with guns, tear gas, and other weapons, had free reign to terrorize Karroubi’s family without any interruption from the police,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesman.

“The manner in which these attacks were conducted leaves no doubt that the Iranian government orchestrated them,” he added.

Mehdi Karroubi’s son, Hossein Karroubi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the assailants entered the house by using tear gas and live ammunition. “This morning, Friday, a crowd of between 70 and 80 people came along with 20 motorcyclists. They broke a lot of things which had survived last night’s attack. They chanted slogans and insults. They left at about 3:00 p.m., saying, ‘We will be back tonight.’ We are waiting for them to return tonight,” he said.

“My father believes the attackers were organized by the security forces and government. There is no point in filing a lawsuit against these actions, as we know it’s not going to go anywhere. The attackers have complete impunity,” he continued.

The attack on Karroubi’s residence comes after comments made by IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, alluded to support for such attacks. Jafari said that the people of Iran would judge the “heads of sedition,” instead of the regime, referring to opposition leaders. There was no attempt made by police forces to stop the attacks, a sign that confrontations with opposition leaders are being formally managed by pro-government and security forces.

“The police did not interfere at all. Only in the end, when the attackers were done and they were exhausted, the Special Police Force arrived and the attackers left. The only people defending the home were Karroubi guards,” said Hossein Karroubi regarding the lack of police presence during the attack.

The Campaign has previously expressed its concern regarding the role of police and Iranian intelligence in committing violence and orchestrating organized attacks against the government’s opposition. During the first round of attacks against Karroubi, in a letter to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Karroubi’s wife said that the attacks were being conducted in support for the Supreme Leader.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expresses its grave concern about government-led violence and the spread of an atmosphere of fear and intimidation through the use of thugs and plainclothes forces coordinated by security forces.

“The International community should strongly condemn these actions by the Iranian government and demand that the government refrain from sanctioning such criminal acts,” said Ghaemi. “The attacks on Karroubi’s family are another sign of the fast erosion of rule of law and the urgency of holding the Iranian government responsible for its human rights violations,” he added.

Chris Anderson, curator of TED Talks, writes about PAWS flood relief efforts on his blog:

80% of the flood affected population relies on agriculture and animals for their livelihoods. Around 1.2 million livestock and 6 million poultry have died throughout the country. The hundreds of thousands of animals that have survived are in urgent need of emergency fodder, shelter and veterinary support.

So it’s no trivial act that the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), in collaboration with the Karachi Animal Hospital, organized a relief mission to Thatta and Makli in Sindh to provide veterinary treatment to the flood’s animal victims.

More here.

Friday 3 September 2010

Three men who were tortured and jailed after their forced return from Australia, are at risk of further abuse when they are returned to prison from hospital.

Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure the safety of three men who have been tortured and jailed following their forced return from Australia in 2009.

Two of the men, Sumith Mendis and Lasantha Wijeratne, were transferred to a hospital to be examined by a judicial medical officer on 1 September amid claims that they were beaten and tortured following an alleged new attempt to migrate to Australia. It is not clear if they are still in hospital or have returned to prison.

All three are at risk of further abuse from guards and prisoners when they are returned to prison where Sumith's brother, Indika, is already being held.

"This is an appalling situation that calls into question the actions of both the Sri Lankan and Australian governments," said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Asia.

"Both governments are culpable in the forced return and mistreatment these men have endured, and both must bear responsibility for the results of their policies and procedures."

Sumith Mendis and Indika Mendis were detained in 2009 at the Christmas Island detention centre after the boat they were crew members on was stopped by Australian authorities and found to be carrying Sri Lankan asylum-seekers.

They were deported to Sri Lanka and promptly arrested and handed over to the Central Investigative Department (CID).

Sumith Mendis was released, but Indika Mendis was tortured in CID custody, sustaining severe ear injuries before being transferred to the notorious Negombo prison where he was held for eight months.

On 14 August 2010, the brothers were arrested again, apparently on suspicion that they were again planning to migrate to Australia. Sumith Mendis was then tortured by the CID for six days, experiencing beatings and psychological abuse.

On 22 August, the brothers were taken to Negombo prison, along with Lasantha Wijeratne, another Sri Lankan who had also been deported from Australia and tortured in custody.

Following examination by a judicial medical officer, Sumith Mendis and Lasantha Wijeratne were transferred to the hospital.

They now face the risk of abuse by both prisoners and guards when they are again taken to Negombo prison unless authorities take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.

"The Sri Lankan Authorities must ensure that all three men are not subject to any more torture or ill-treatment, either at the hands of the CID or prisoners or guards in Negombo prison," said Madhu Malhotra.

"The Australian government must re-examine its claims that asylum-seekers returned to countries they are fleeing from are not subjected to torture and mistreatment."

Australia asylum suspension could harm world's most vulnerable (News, 9 April 2010)

Two of the men were detained on Christmas Island before their forced return to Sri Lanka

Iran Human Rights, le 25 août : selon des rapports officieux de plusieurs sources en Iran, plusieurs centaines de prisonniers auraient été exécutés à la prison de Vakilabad à Mashhad dans le nord-est de l'Iran au cours de cette année. Les exécutions auraient eu lieu au secret et ni les prisonniers ni leurs familles n'ont été informé avant les exécutions. La plupart des exécutés auraient été condamnés pour des délits liés au trafic de drogues.

Iran Human Rights réclame à nouveau que les Nations Unies envoient un rapporteur spécial dès que possible en Iran.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, porte-parole d'Iran Human Rights, a déclaré : "Il y a des rapports concernant des exécutions en masse de dizaines, voire de centaines de prisonniers et nous pensons que des centaines de prisonniers risquent d'être exécutés incessamment". Amiry-Moghaddam a ajouté : "Nous implorons la communauté internationale de se mettre au travail maintenant. Un rapporteur spécial des Nations Unies doit se rendre Iran et enquêter sur ces rapports".

En avril, plusieurs sources afghanes ont rapporté que les corps de 45 citoyens afghans, qui avaient été exécutés dans une ville du nord-est de l'Iran, avaient été rapatriés en Afghanistan. Selon ces dépêches, les exécutions ont lieu à trois jours d'intervalle. Les autorités iraniennes ont nié ces dépêches, mais plusieurs sources afghanes liées à la société civile, avec lesquelles Iran Human Rights est en contact, ont confirmé que le nombre d'Afghans exécutés dont les corps ont été remis à leurs familles en Afghanistan est supérieur à 45.

Il y a deux semaines, le site Internet Green Voice of Freedom a annoncé que "ces derniers jours, 70 prisonniers ont été soudainement exécutés à la prison de Mashhad." Cette dépêche est basée sur l'information d'un prisonnier incarcéré à la prison de Vakilabad.

La campagne internationale pour les droits de l'homme en Iran a également déclaré qu'une source fiable les a informés que ces derniers mois plus de cent personnes ont été exécutées dans la ville de Mashhad dans le nord-est de l'Iran.

D'après ce rapport : "les autorités judiciaires de la prison de Vakilabad à Mashhad ont exécuté plus de cent prisonniers, la majorité d'entre deux condamnés pour des délits liés au trafic de drogues."

Ahmad Ghabel, un universitaire religieux proche de l'ancien président Khatami, qui a passé 170 jours à la prison de Vakilad à Mashhad et qui a été libéré en juin indique que 50 personnes ont été exécutées dans la partie de la prison où il était incarcéré. Il a également déclaré que le 10 avril, 35 personnes ont été pendues à la prison de Vakilabad à Mashhad alors que seulement 5 exécutions ont été annoncées par les sources gouvernementales.

Selon d'autres sources en Iran, les exécutions de masse à Mashhad ont augmenté en nombre et en fréquence ces dernières semaines.

Plusieurs sources ont également rapporté que M. Sadegh Larijani, responsable de l'autorité judiciaire, a demandé dans une lettre secrète, l'autorisation à l'Ayatollah Khamenei, le dirigeant suprême iranien, de mener à bien l'exécutions de 1120 prisonniers dont les sentences de mort ont été confirmées par la Cour Suprême.

Iran Human Rights ne peut écarter la possibilité que des exécutions en masse aient lieu dans d'autres prisons iraniennes et enquête à l'heure actuelle sur les rapports concernant ces exécutions en masse.

A United Nations-backed conference aimed at advancing the rights of persons with disabilities concluded today with countries underscoring the need to continue building on recent momentum to ensure that the rights of the world's estimated 650 million people with disabilities are protected and strengthened.

حقوق بشر ایران ،۱۱ شهریور: بر اساس گزارشات غیر رسمی از منابع متعدد در ایران، احتمالا چند صد زندانی طی یک سال گذشته در زندان وکیل آباد مشهد در شمال شرق ایران اعدام شده اند. اعدام ها مخفیانه اتفاق افتاده است و نه زندانیان و نه خانواده هایشان قبل از اعدام از آن خبر نداشته اند. گمان می شود بیشتر افرادی که اعدام شده اند محکومین اتهامات مربوط به مواد مخدر بوده اند.

حقوق بشر ایران یک بار دیگر از سازمان ملل میخواهد که هر چه سریع تر گزارشگران ویژه ی خود را به ایران ارسال کند.

محمود امیری مقدم، سخنگوی حقوق بشر ایران در این باره گفت: “گزارش هایی از اعدام های دسته جمعی و ده ها و صد ها زندانی وجود دارد و ما باور داریم که صدها زندانی نیز در خطر قریب الوقوع اعدام هستند”. امیری مقدم افزود: “ما از جامعه ی جهانی میخواهیم که در این زمینه هرچه سریع تر اقدام کنند. گزارشگران ویژه ی سازمان ملل باید اکنون از ایران دیدن و این گزارشات را بررسی کنند.”

در آوریل چندین منبع افغان گزارش دادند که اجساد ۴۵ شهروند افغانستان که در شهری در شمال شرق ایران اعدام شده بودند به افغانستان منتقل شدند. بر اساس این گزارشات اعدام ها در طی سه روز صورت گرفته بود. مقامات ایرانی این گزارشات را رد کرده اند اما چندین منبع افغان متعلق به جامعه ی مدنی افغانستان که «حقوق بشر ایران» با آنها در ارتباط است گزارش داده اند که تعداد اعدامیانی که به صورت گروهی به خانواده هایشان در افغانستان منتقل شده اند بیشتر از ۴۵ مورد گزارش شده است.

دو هفته قبل، وبسایت «ندای سبز آزادی» گزارش کرد که “در چند روز اخیر، ۷۰ زندانی به طور ناگهانی در زندان مشهد اعدام شده اند.” گزارش بر اساس اطلاعات یک زندانی در زندان وکیل آباد بود. «کمپین بین المللی برای حقوق بشر در ایران» نیز گزارش داد که یک منبع آگاه به آنها اطلاع داده که در چند ماه گذشته بیش از یکصد نفر در شمال شرق ایران، شهر مشهد، اعدام شده اند.

بر اساس این گزارش: ” مقامات قضایی در زندان وکیل آباد مشهد بیش از یکصد زندانی را، که اکثرا محکومین جرایم مربوط به مواد مخدر بوده اند، را اعدام کرده اند.”

احمد قابل، اندیشمند دینی نزدیک به رییس جمهور سابق خاتمی، که ۱۷۰ روز را در زندان وکیل آباد مشهد گذرانده بود و در ژوئن آزاد شد، گفته است در بندی که او نیز در آن زندانی بود حداقل ۵۰ نفر اعدام شدند . علاوه بر این او می گوید در ۱۰ آوریل ٣۵ نفر در زندان وکیل آباد اعدام شدند، در حالیکه فقط ۵ اعدام توسط رسانه های رسمی ایران اعلام شد.

بر اساس منابع داخل ایران اعدام های دسته جمعی در مشهد در تعداد و فراوانی در طی هفته های گذشته افزایش یافته است.

چندین منبع نیز گزارش کرده اند که آقای صادق لاریجانی، رییس قوه قضاییه ایران، در نامه ای محرمانه از آیت الله خامنه ای رهبر ایران اجرای اعدام ۱۱۲۰ زندانی را که حکم اعدامشان توسط دادگاه عالی تایید شده را درخواست کرده است.

حقوق بشر ایران نمی تواند امکان اعدام های دسته جمعی مشابه در دیگر زندان های ایران را نامحتمل در نظر گیرد و در حال حاضر در جستجوی مدارکی پیرامون اعدام های دسته جمعی گزارش شده، می باشد.

The report documenting the most serious human rights violations committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1993 and 2003 will be made public on 1 October, the United Nations announced today.

（イラン・ヒューマンライツ 8月25日）

イラン国内の複数の非公式な情報源は，イラン東北部の都市マシャドのヴァキラバード拘置所で，2009年に数百人の死刑執行が行われたという情報を伝えている。刑の執行は秘密裏に行われ，死刑囚本人にも家族にも事前の通告はなかったとされている。また，罪状はほとんどの場合が麻薬関係の犯罪であったと伝えられている。

本サイトは，国連に対し，早期にイラン国内に特別視察団を派遣するよう要請している。

本サイトには，数十人から数百人の死刑が執行されたという情報が入っており，またこれとは別に数百人が死刑執行の危機にあるとも伝えられている。国連にはイランへの特別報告官の派遣と自体の査察を求めるものである。

今年4月には，アフガニスタンで，45人のアフガニスタン国民がイラン東北部の都市で処刑され，痛いが本国に移送されたというニュースが報じられた。この45人の処刑は3日間で執行されたという情報もある。イラン政府はこの報道を否定しているが，本サイトと連絡のあるアフガニスタン国内の情報源によると，処刑され本国に移送された人数は45人を上回るという。

また，ウェブサイトGreen Voice of Freedomは，「マシャドの拘置所で，数日間のうちに70人が処刑された」というニュースを伝えている。この情報はヴァキラバード拘置所の囚人からもたらされたものだという。

同様に，International Campaign for Human Rights in Iranでも，情報筋からの情報として，マシャド島北部で100人を超える死刑囚が処刑されたと伝えている。それによると，ヴァキラバード拘置所を担当する法務関係者が100人以上に死刑を執行した。大半は麻薬取引にかかわった囚人であった」とされている。

ハタミ前首相の側近で，イスラム法学者のアマド・ガーベル師はヴァキラバード拘置所に170日間拘留されたのち，今年6月に釈放されている。師によれば，師が拘留されている間に同じ舎房の囚人少なくとも50人が処刑された。特に，4月10日には35人が絞首刑に処されたが，公式発表では5人の刑が執行されたことになっている。

マシャドにおける大量処刑はここ数週間で急激に増加していると伝えられている。

また，複数の情報源が，イラン司法府代表が最高指導者ハメネイ師に私信を送り，最高裁から死刑判決が裁可されている1120人について執行の許可を求めたとも報じている。

本サイトでは，ヴァキラバード拘置所以外のイラン国内の拘置所においても大量処刑が行われたか否か，現段階では確認できていないが，今後も大量処刑の問題について情報収集を続けてゆく。

In this week’s “Weekly Rights Podcast”: the mother of Neda Agha Soltan, Hajar Rostami, seeks help from the international community to find the murderer of her daughter; Massoud Shafiee, lawyer for the three American hikers, tells the Campaign that his clients should have been released months ago under Iranian law; according to confidential sources, hundreds of prisoners in Mashad’s Vakil Abad Prison have been sentenced to death by hanging; Mourning Mothers, a group for women who have lost a family member to post-election violence, urges families to take seriously the lingering psychological effects of torture; thirty-three year old Moharram Chegini was murdered on June 15, 2009 during post-election violence, now his wife Massoumeh Chegini is being offered blood money to drop a lawsuit over his death; and the United Nations Anti-Racism Committee has called on Iran to end its discriminatory policies against ethnic and religious minorities.

Iran Human Rights, August 25: According to unofficial reports from several sources in Iran several hundred prisoners might have been executed in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, north east of Iran, in the past one year. The executions have taken place secretly and neither the prisoners nor their families were informed prior to their execution. Most of those executed are thought to be convicted of drug related charges.

Iran Human Rights once again urges the United Nations to send their Special Rapporteur as soon as possible to Iran.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights said:" There are reports of mass executions and tens or perhaps hundreds of prisoners and we believe hundreds of prisoners are in danger of imminent execution". Amiry-Moghaddam added: "We urge the world community to act now. The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations must visit Iran now and investigate these reports".

In April several Afghan sources reported that bodies of 45 Afghan citizens who had been executed in a city in northeast of Iran were transferred to Afghanistan. According to these reports the executions had taken place within three days. The Iranian authorities denied these reports but several Afghan sources belonging to Afghanistan's civil society that Iran Human Rights have been in contact with have reported that the actual number of the executed Afghans who were delivered in groups to their families in Afghanistan were higher than the 45 reported cases.

Two weeks ago, the website Green Voice of Freedom reported that " in the past few days, 70 prisoners were suddenly executed in Mashhad Prison.” The report was based on information from a prisoner who was in the Vakilabad prison.

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran also reported that a knowledgeable source has informed them that in the past few months over one hundred people have been executed in northeastern city of Mashhad.

According to this report: “Judicial authorities at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad have executed over one hundred prisoners, a majority of which were convicted of drug-related charges.”

Ahmad Ghabel, a religious scholar close to former president Khatami, who had spent 170 days in the Vakilabad prison of Mashad and who was released in June, at least 50 people were executed in the section were he was imprisoned. He also said that on 10th of April 35 people were hanged in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad while only five of the executions were reported by the official Iranian media.

According to sources in Iran the mass executions in Mashhad have increased in number and frequency during the past weeks.

Several sources have also reported that Mr. Sadegh Larijani, head of the Iranian judiciary, in a secret letter has asked the permission of Ayatollah Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, to implement the executions of 1120 prisoners whose death sentences have been approved by the Supreme Court.

Iran Human Rights can not rule out the possibility of similar mass executions in other Iranian prisons and is currently investigating the facts regarding the reported mass executions.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Up to six people, including two children, were reportedly killed in the capital Maputo on Wednesday during clashes between police and demonstrators.

Amnesty International has urged Mozambique’s police not to use live ammunition to disperse violent demonstrations in the capital Maputo unless lives are at risk.

According to media reports up to six people, including two children, were killed on Wednesday during clashes between police and demonstrators protesting the rising price of commodities in the country. The protests are continuing across the city.

“While we recognize that the police are trying to contain a violent protest, live ammunition - which amounts to lethal force - should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life,” said Muluka-Anne Miti, Amnesty International’s Mozambique researcher.

Amnesty International calls on the Mozambique police authorities to ensure that police have non-lethal means of force at their disposal to control the situation and disperse the demonstrators.

A text message has been circulating in Maputo encouraging demonstrators to continue their protests till Friday, according to information obtained by Amnesty International.

According to a recent Amnesty International report at least 46 people were unlawfully killed by the police in Mozambique between January 2006 and the end of 2009.

“The government must conduct an impartial and independent investigation in the circumstances surrounding today’s deaths and if people were killed unlawfully prosecute those responsible,” said Muluka-Anne Miti.

Despite repeated requests, the authorities have provided Amnesty International with very little information into investigations into police killings in Mozambique, including during visits to the country.

In some cases, Amnesty International was told that investigations were not carried out because the killing was presumed to be lawful.

International standards require an effective investigation be carried out into all cases of death or serious injury as a result of use of force or firearms by the police.

Women’s Rights Campaigners Convicted, Lawyers Under Increased Persecution

Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh

(1 September 2010) Authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran are continuing to arrest and jail civil society activists while persecuting and prosecuting independent lawyers, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today.

“With a majority of Iranian human rights activists and lawyers already imprisoned or forced into exile, their remaining colleagues are systematically being taken down by the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,” Aaron Rhodes, a Campaign spokesperson said.

Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, told the Campaign, “The Judiciary’s lack of independence is resulting in persecution of lawyers. If we look at the Judiciary’s approach during the past year, we see that lawyers defending political prisoners have all been targeted,” said Ebadi.

Ebadi noted that prominent lawyers Mohammad Ali Dadkhah and Abdolfattah Soltani have both been imprisoned during the past year and released on large bails, Mohammad Seifzadeh is awaiting his trial, Mohammad Oliaeifar is serving a one year prison sentence, and Shadi Sadr and Mohammad Mostafaie have been forced into exile.

Two members of the One Million Signatures Campaign advocating for gender equality, Fatemeh Masjedi and Maryam Bidgoli, have been sentenced to one year in prison. On 22 August, security forces arbitrarily detained human rights activists Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi and Ali Jamali. Prominent human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been summoned and her assets frozen.

In an interview with the Campaign, Sotoudeh said that a new method of persecuting human rights lawyers by the authorities is to make unfounded financial allegations on tax grounds.

“I was referred to the taxation bureau and while there I noticed in addition to my name, they are conducting special investigations into thirty human rights lawyers,” Sotoudeh told the Campaign. She noted that while human rights lawyers take on cases on pro-bono bases, authorities are using bogus tax charges to prosecute them.

Sotoudeh said she believes these developments are aimed at putting an end to any legal defense by the human rights community. “The only institution capable of defending lawyers is the Bar Association, but the authorities are putting it under tremendous pressure and attempting to incorporate it into the Judiciary and take away its independence,” she said.

With the arrests of Ali Jamali and Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi, almost all members of the Central Council of ADVAR, a student alumni organization devoted to human rights and social enhancement, have been arbitrarily imprisoned. ADVAR is a group of young Iranian citizens committed to improving the welfare of the people of Iran, and committed to peaceful methods and nonviolence to promote and protect Iranian citizens’ human rights. The Campaign is aware of no evidence that justifies prosecuting members of this group, and indeed, no such evidence has been presented in trials in which its members have been convicted and sentenced. The arrests and prosecution of ADVAR members have thus been politically motivated and at variance with Iranian and international law.

The Change for Equality website reported that two women’s rights activists and members of the One Million Signatures Campaign, Maryam Bidgoli and Fatemeh Masjedi, were sentenced to prison terms of one year following their conviction on charges of “spreading propaganda against the state, through the collection of signatures for changing discriminatory laws and publication of materials in support of a feminist group (Campaign) which works in opposition to the Regime.” Both women denied the charges in their trial in the Second Branch of the Revolutionary Courts in Qom, explaining that the activities of the One Million Signatures Campaign are not in violation of any Iranian laws. Mina Jafari and Mahnaz Parakand, lawyers representing the women’s human rights defenders, plan to appeal the verdict.

The Campaign expressed its serious concern over the abuse of judicial powers by Iranian authorities to target members of the human rights community and civil society activists.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have urged the Cambodian government to immediately release a human rights worker who was sentenced to two years in prison for giving out anti-government leaflets.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have urged the Cambodian government to immediately release a human rights worker who was sentenced to two years in prison for giving out anti-government leaflets.

Leang Sokchouen, who works for the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), was convicted on charges of "disinformation" on Monday after a trial marked by numerous procedural flaws.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) have called or Sokchoeun’s release in a joint statement. 

“This conviction once again highlights the lack of independence and impartiality of the courts, which are all too often used as a tool against the less powerful, rather than to uphold their rights,” said Donna Guest, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific deputy director.
 
Cambodian police arrested Sokchouen on 29 May on charges of involvement in the production and distribution of anti-government leaflets in Takeo province in January.

He was held incommunicado for over 33 hours, despite numerous requests by his family and lawyer to visit him. Sokchouen was given a US$500 fine, plus a two-year prison sentence.

“Unfounded charges of disinformation or defamation are well-worn tactics used by the Cambodian government to create a climate of fear,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
 
Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President, added: “We reiterate our call to the Cambodian authorities to abolish the crimes of defamation and disinformation in Cambodian criminal law and ensure that the Criminal Code is not used to abusively restrict the right to freedom of expression.”

Eric Sottas, Secretary General of OMCT, urged the Cambodian authorities to free the activist.

“Leang Sokchouen should be immediately and unconditionally released as his detention is arbitrary and due process was blatantly violated throughout investigation and trial,” he said.

Publication Date:  Thursday 2 September 2010

A new Amnesty International briefing points to serious gaps in the enforcement and monitoring of the ban on discrimination and segregation in the Slovak educational system.

Teaser image:  Amnesty International Index Number:  EUR 72/009/2010 EUR 72/004/2010

Amnesty International has urged the Slovak government to immediately end the segregation of Romani children in the country's education system.

This practice leaves thousands of Romani pupils in substandard education in schools and classes for pupils with "mild mental disabilities" or ethnically segregated mainstream schools and classes.

In a briefing to the Slovak government, Steps to end segregation in education, Amnesty International points to serious gaps in the enforcement and monitoring of the ban on discrimination and segregation in the Slovak educational system.

"Romani children across Slovakia remain trapped in a school system that keeps failing them as a result of widespread discrimination. It deprives Romani children of equal opportunities and sentences them to a life of poverty and marginalization," said David Diaz-Jogeix, Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director.

"The Slovak government has much to do to end the segregation that has an impact on a large part of the country's population. Segregation in education means a life-long stigma for children whose future chances are brutally limited. It is a practice that does not belong to 21st century Europe and must be eliminated."

Segregation of Romani children takes various forms: special schools or special classes within mainstream schools designed for pupils with "mild mental disabilities" and mainstream Roma-only schools and classes.

While Roma are estimated to comprise less than 10 per cent of Slovakia's total population, they make up 60 per cent of the pupils in special schools, according to a 2009 survey.

In regions with high Romani populations three out of every four pupils in special schools are Roma. Eighty five per cent of the children in special classes in mainstream schools across the country are Roma.

The causes of segregation are complex and include entrenched anti-Roma attitudes as well as policy failures in the education system such as early and flawed child assessment and insufficient support for Romani children within mainstream education.

Widespread anti-Romani sentiment across the country expressed by non-Roma parents and educational professionals, has also led to segregation of Romani children even in mainstream schools and classes.

This has led to a situation in which Romani children are sometimes literally locked into separate classrooms, corridors or buildings to prevent them from mixing with non-Roma pupils.

The coalition government's programme adopted in August 2010, included the commitment to eliminate segregated schooling of Roma.

Amnesty International said it is concerned that this has not been followed by a clear and unequivocal statement by the head of government that ethnic discrimination and segregation of Roma is unacceptable and will be combated as a matter of priority.  

"The idea that separate can be equal has been discredited. Slovakia cannot continue to deny its Romani children their right to education without discrimination," David Diaz-Jogeix said.
 
"The choices that the government makes now will affect the lives of thousands of Romani children. The government holds the key to allow the Roma in Slovakia full participation in Slovak and European society."  

Amnesty International called on the Slovak authorities to:

• Provide the State School Inspectorate with adequate resources, including robust, detailed guidelines and procedures on how to identify, monitor and combat segregation in practice;
• Begin the systematic collection of data on education, disaggregated on the basis of gender and ethnicity;
• Introduce a clear duty on all schools to desegregate education and provide them with effective support;
• Introduce adequate support measures for Roma and non-Roma children who need extra assistance, so that they may achieve their fullest potential within mainstream schools.

This work is part of Amnesty International’s Demand Dignity campaign which aims to end the human rights violations that drive and deepen global poverty. The campaign will mobilise people all over the world to demand that governments, corporations and others who have power listen to the voices of those living in poverty and recognise and protect their rights. For more information visit the Demand Dignity pages

Read more:
Campaigning to end segregation of Romani children Slovak schools (Blog, 3 September 2010)
Take part in Amnesty International's photo petition for Roma children in Slovakia
Call on the Prime Minister of Slovakia to end the segregation of Romani children in schools

Files:  How Romani children are discriminated against in the Slovak education system Thousands of Romani children in Slovakia receive a substandard education They are deprived of equal opportunities and face a life of poverty and marginalization

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Amnesty International urges the country's parliament to reject a draft law, set to be debated this week, prohibiting the wearing in public of clothes which prevent identification.

Amnesty International has urged the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reject a draft law, set to be debated on Wednesday, prohibiting the wearing in public of clothes which prevent identification.

"If adopted, such a law would violate the human rights of women who choose to wear a full-face veil as an expression of their religious, cultural political or personal identity or beliefs. It would violate their right to freedom of expression and religion," said Marek Marczynski, Amnesty International's researcher on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"At the same time, a general ban on wearing full-face veils in public could result in some women being confined to their homes and unable to participate in public life."
 
The draft law envisages imposing penalties such as a fine of 100 KM (50 euro) or imprisonment between one and seven days.  

The advocates of the law have been arguing that its adoption is needed in order to address security concerns, however they have failed to identify them.

However, Amnesty International said it believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina already has a legal framework which is able to address this issue.

Under international human rights law the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and to manifest religious belief can only be restricted when necessary and proportionate.

This may include certain clearly defined restrictions on the wearing of full-face veils if that is shown to be necessary for a legitimate purpose such as protecting public safety.

"Any such measures must be the least restrictive to achieve that purpose. For example, a requirement to show one's face in demonstrably high-risk locations or to lift a veil when requested by a police officer for a necessary identity check," said Marek Marczynski.

The draft law was proposed by the Serbian Alliance of Independent Social Democrats. It comes before the parliamentary elections scheduled for 3 October.

Amnesty International said it is also concerned that the law may have a negative impact on inter-ethnic relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as it may be perceived by some Muslim citizens of the country as an attack on their identity.

"The authorities and politicians representing all nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina must work together to resolve all political issues in ways which are consistent with human rights standards," said Marek Marczynski.

It has also been asserted that some women may be wearing a full-face veil under pressure from their families or communities.

States are obliged under international law to protect women against pressure or coercion in their homes or communities to wear full-face veils.

However, they should do this by taking steps to combat gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and, where appropriate, by intervening in individual cases through criminal or family law.

"Imposing bans on what people choose to wear is neither going to address the stated security concerns, nor will it help to combat gender discrimination in the country," said Marek Marczynski

Amnesty International has also opposed similar legislation in France, Belgium and other European countries.

France votes to ban full-face veils (News, 13 July 2010)
Spanish politicians urged to reject bans on full-face veils (News, 29 June 2010)
French politicians urged to reject ban on full face veils (News, 19 May 2010)
Belgium votes to ban full-face veils (News, 30 April 2010)

The new law would would violate women's rights to freedom of expression and religion

A senior United Nations official today called on all UN Member States to become party to the world body's landmark convention protecting the rights of the estimated 650 million people with disabilities, which has already acquired 146 signatories and 90 ratifications.

Report in DAWN:

THATTA, Aug 30: Man and the beast are equally hit by the floods but man being more intelligent and resourceful managed to shift to safety leaving cattle, dogs and cats to fend for themselves.

More here.

Tuesday 31 August 2010

Amnesty International has welcomed the release of a Mexican indigenous human rights activist who was imprisoned for over two years on a fabricated murder charge.

Amnesty International has welcomed the release of a Mexican indigenous human rights activist who was imprisoned for over two years on a fabricated murder charge.

Raúl Hernández was acquitted by a judge in Guerrero State on Friday 27 August and immediately released.

“The release of Raúl Hernández is a very welcome step. The Mexican authorities must now investigate his unfounded prosecution and compensate him fully for his unfair imprisonment," said Rupert Knox of Amnesty International.

"The prolonged detention and prosecution of Raúl Hernández is part of a systematic campaign by the Mexican authorities against members of the Me'phaa Indigenous People’s Organization (Organización del Pueblo Indígena Me’phaa, OPIM) for standing up in defence of their people’s human rights."

Speaking after his release to Alberto Herrera, Executive Director of Amnesty International Mexico, Raúl Hernández said: "I want to thank Amnesty International and the people of many countries who worked for my freedom."

Amnesty International has been campaigning for Raúl Hernández’s release since November 2008 when he was adopted as a prisoner of conscience.

It believes that the case against him was a reprisal by local authorities for his legitimate activities promoting indigenous rights with the Me'phaa Indigenous People's Organization (Organización del Pueblo Indígena Me’phaa, OPIM).
 
On 17 April 2008, Raúl Hernández was one of five OPIM members wrongfully arrested and charged for the murder of Alejandro Feliciano Garcia on 1 January in the village of El Camalote, Guerrero State.

The other four; Manuel Cruz, Orlando Manzanarez, Natalio Ortega, Romualdo Santiago were later released after a federal judicial review.

The federal review judge refused to release Raúl Hernández arguing that two witnesses had testified to his presence during the time of the murder.

The judge ignored other eyewitness testimonies saying that Raúl Hernández was not present.

The case was returned to the state courts where Raúl Hernández's defence lawyers’ secured further evidential hearings, one of which confirmed that the prosecution’s eyewitnesses had provided unreliable testimony.

"The case of Raúl Hernández illustrates the vulnerability of human rights activists in Mexico. Not only are they victims of unlawful detentions and imprisonment on unfounded charges, but they also face harassment, intimidation, threats and even killings," said Rupert Knox

The southern state of Guerrero is home to about 116,000 Me’ phaa Indigenous People. It has one of the highest levels of marginalisation and some of the lowest indicators of human development in Mexico, according to local human rights organization Tlachinollan Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña.
 
OPIM was founded in 2002 to defend and promote the rights of the Me’ phaa Indigenous People.

Amnesty International has documented a pattern of harassment and intimidation against members of Indigenous rights organizations in Guerrero state, such as the OPIM over a number of years.

Raúl Hernández was wrongfully arrested and charged with murder in January 2008 Footage of Raúl Hernández and his struggle since being imprisoned

August 29, 2010: The Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), in collaboration with the Karachi Animal Hospital, organized a relief mission to Thatta and Makli in Sindh to provide veterinary treatment to the flood’s animal victims.

We left Karachi at 9am for the 100km drive to Thatta on the National Highway. Our team included veterinarians Dr. Zulfiqar Haider Otho and Dr. Shalla Hayat of the Karachi Animal Hospital, Baqai veterinary students Mashood Ahmed, Mohammad Saifullah and Suroop Chand, volunteers Francis Liaquat Khushi, Emmanual Liaquat Khushi, Benjamin Khushi and Viyay Arif Massieh, and PAWS co-founders Maheen Zia and Mahera Omar.

The massive devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan has affected over 17 million individuals, killed 1,536 people and destroyed 1.2 million houses. In the last couple of days, hundreds of thousands of people and their animals have fled their drowning villages and taken refuge around Makli, an ancient necropolis on the outskirts of Thatta. The situation was pretty tense once we got to the Shell fuel pump just before Makli. While waiting at the pump for the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) team to escort us to Makli, we noticed people thronging the highway desperately trying to get their share of food and water from any relief truck entering the city.

We’d barely got on the road to Makli when our driver made an abrupt u-turn to avoid an angry mob looting a truck full of relief goods up ahead. We got onto the main Thatta road instead, and headed towards the EDO Agriculture and Livestock’s office. A handful of 4×4 vehicles of non-government organizations, ambulances, private cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, donkey carts, Suzuki pick-ups and the odd armed forces truck could be seen in the city. Hundreds of displaced families were camped in makeshift shelters with their animals on the main roads alone. Many more were squatting on the outskirts with barely any access to food, water or shelter for either themselves or their animals.

A couple of our team members had visited Thatta a few days earlier where they witnessed the heart-breaking scenes of the mass exodus of people and their animals from the surrounding villages to the city. It reminded them of scenes from the 1947 partition of Pakistan from India. The same kind of bullock carts, the same sea of humanity on foot mile after mile, the same worried looks on peoples’ faces, not knowing where exactly they would end up and when they’d be able to go back home. Most had sent their women and children ahead on trucks, and were now on foot with all their animals. Some were trying to help their baby buffaloes back on their feet, but the young animals simply couldn’t keep up with the rest of the herd. Again and again our team members spotted one or two men huddled on the side of the road over their collapsed animals, eventually having to leave them behind. There were even reports of people flinging their collapsed cows and buffaloes over the bridge on the Thatta – Sujawal road and into the river water.

Once at the EDO’s office, Zahid Hussain Jalbani, Site Manager WWF Makli, introduced us to Vickio Chohan, EDO Agriculture, Thatta, and Dr. Qaisar Jatoi, District Officer Livestock, Thatta. They inform us there are approximately 300,000 small and large animals around Makli for which there is an extreme shortage of fodder. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture estimates 3.6 million hectares of standing crops have been damaged or destroyed, and fodder for the animals has been either washed away or damaged by silt. With so much of farmland inundated by floodwaters, both people and animals have lost a vital source of food.

After the updates by the local officials, we spent the rest of the day providing veterinary treatment to injured or sick buffaloes, cows, goats and other animals in the Thatta – Makli area. WWF arranged for two volunteers who led the way on a motorbike. People seemed pleased to see us and eagerly pointed out the injured or sick animals in their vicinity. They were extremely grateful to us for providing much needed veterinary relief to their animals, as they cannot afford to lose even one of them. A few even brought their dogs over for a checkup.

It was a hot day, with temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius. Women, children and small animals huddled under every inch of available shade. A baby buffalo and an old woman were taking refuge in the shade of a small thorny devi bush. The smaller animals like goats and chickens were generally under the shade of charpais (beds). There was even a duck under one! We spotted pet pigeons perched on top of their cage, free to fly around as they pleased.

Most of the men had taken their livestock out to graze in nearby fields and would return later in the evening. Women would walk far to the nearest watering hole to fetch murky water for their families and the smaller animals that were too young to walk to the water themselves. We saw a woman by the roadside pouring water on her buffalo’s head to keep it cool.

The care and concern of the people for their animals was evident wherever we went, whether it was at a well-run camp in the city, by the roadside on the outskirts, or in makeshift shelters amidst cactus and tombs on the hills of Makli. Some hadn’t received any relief goods from the government authorities themselves, yet were busy making sure their remaining animals survive.

A total of 28 cases were treated by our two volunteer veterinarians assisted by the veterinary students.

Veterinary Treatment of the Flood’s Animal Victims in Thatta and Makli

Due to the increasing chaos in the city, WWF advised us to head back to Karachi well before sunset. As we left Thatta, a slow moving Rangers truck full of relief goods was being mobbed near the National Highway. Even the armed personnel were helpless once surrounded by hundreds of desperate people, angry at the authorities about inadequate arrangements for the displaced families.

80% of the flood affected population relies on agriculture and animals for their livelihoods. According to the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development, around 1.2 million livestock and 6 million poultry have died throughout the country. The hundreds of thousands of animals that have survived are in urgent need of emergency fodder, shelter and veterinary support.

At least 7 trucks of fodder (wheat straw) are required to be sent in daily to feed the animal population around Thatta and Makli. Each truck will cost around Rs. 80,000 (934 USD). A supply chain of food has to be set up on war footing to prevent starvation amongst the remaining livestock, which are a valuable source of income and draught power for the people. For many poor refugees from small farming communities, their livestock is their only remaining capital.

Please donate generously to PAWS so that we can continue to help the voiceless victims of the tragic floods in Pakistan.

PAWS is a non profit organization registered as a Company limited by guarantee under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984. It is run totally by volunteers and does not have a shelter, business venue or paid staff. All the funds raised go directly towards rescuing and treating animals as well as awareness raising and advocacy work.

You can donate to PAWS by cheques, bank drafts and deposits or direct bank transfers.

Make cheques payable to: Pakistan Animal Welfare Society

Mailing Address: Office No. 8, Hamilton Court, Complex G-1, Main Clifton Road, Karachi 6, Pakistan

Title of Account: Pakistan Animal Welfare Society
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank
Bank Address: WTC – Clifton Branch, Karachi, Pakistan
Branch Code: 072
Account Number: 01-1508933-01
Swift Code: SCBLPKKXXX

Donations to PAWS are tax exempt under section U/S 2(36)(c) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

PAWS accounts are audited annually by chartered accountants Salman & Co.