The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, an independent regional NGO, released a grim report today on the state of human rights in the Arab world. After studying a dozen countries in the region, the institute found a dramatic rollback of civil liberties and human rights in the past year, with similar violations from the Levant to the Arabian Peninsula to North Africa.
Common threads were torture, persecution of human rights activists, deterioration of press freedoms and discrimination against religious or ethnic minorities, according to the 230-page report. The title is "Bastion of Impunity, Mirage of Reform."
Here are some highlights as they appear in the report's executive summary:
Palestine
The report observes the grave and ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, particularly the collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip through the ongoing blockade and the brutal invasion of Gaza at the beginning of 2009 which resulted in the killing of more than 1,400 Palestinians, 83 percent of them civilians not taking part in hostilities.
Yemen
The deterioration in Yemeni affairs may presage the collapse of what remains of the central state structure due to policies that give priority to the monopolization of power and wealth, corruption that runs rampant, and a regime that continues to deal with opponents using solely military and security means. As such, Yemen is now the site of a war in the northern region of Saada, a bloody crackdown in the south, and social and political unrest throughout the country.
Sudan
The Sudanese regime is the exemplar for impunity and the lack of accountability. President Bashir has refused to appear before the International Criminal Court in connection with war crimes in Darfur. Instead, his regime is hunting down anyone in the country who openly rejects impunity for war crimes, imprisoning and torturing them and shutting down rights organizations. Meanwhile the government’s policy of collective punishment against the population of Darfur continues,
Lebanon
In Lebanon, the threat of civil war that loomed last year has receded, but the country still suffers from an entrenched two-tier power structure in which Hizbullah’s superior military capabilities give the opposition an effective veto. As a result, the state’s constitutional institutions have been paralyzed.
Iraq
Although Iraq is still the largest arena of violence and civilian deaths, it witnessed a relative improvement in some areas, though these gains remain fragile. The death toll has dropped and threats against journalists are less frequent. In addition, some of the major warring factions have indicated they are prepared to renounce violence and engage in the political process.
Egypt
In Egypt, as the state of emergency approaches the end of its third decade, the broad immunity given to the security apparatus has resulted in the killing of dozens of undocumented migrants, the use of lethal force in the pursuit of criminal suspects, and routine torture. Other signs of deterioration were visible in 2009: the emergency law was applied broadly to repress freedom of expression, including detaining or abducting bloggers.
Tunisia
In Tunisia, the authoritarian police state continued its unrestrained attacks on political activists, journalists, human rights defenders, trade unionists, and others involved in social protest.
Algeria
In Algeria, the emergency law, the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, and the application of counterterrorism measures entrenched policies of impunity, grave police abuses, and the undermining of accountability and freedom of expression.
Morocco
Morocco, unfortunately, has seen a tangible erosion of the human rights gains achieved by Moroccans over the last decade. A fact most clearly seen in the failure if the government to adopt a set of institutional reforms within the security and judicial sectors intended to prevent impunity for crimes. Morocco’s relatively improved status was also undermined by the intolerance shown for freedom of expression, particularly for expression touching on the king or the royal family, or instances of institutional corruption.
Syria
As Syria entered its 47th year of emergency law, it continued to be distinguished by its readiness to destroy all manner of political opposition, even the most limited manifestations of independent expression. The Kurdish minority was kept in check by institutionalized discrimination, and human rights defenders were targets for successive attacks.
Bahrain
In Bahrain, the systematic discrimination against the Shiite majority was accompanied by more repression of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Human rights defenders increasingly became targets for arrest, trial, and smear campaigns. Some human rights defenders were even subjected by government agents to threats and intimidation while in Europe.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the report notes that the Monarch’s speeches urging religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue abroad have not been applied inside the Kingdom, where the religious police continue to clamp down on personal freedom. Indeed, repression of religious freedoms is endemic, and the Shiite minority continues to face systematic discrimination. Counterterrorism policies were used to justify long-term arbitrary detention, and political activists advocating reform were tortured.
"Palestine
The report observes the grave and ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, particularly the collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip through the ongoing blockade and the brutal invasion of Gaza at the beginning of 2009 which resulted in the killing of more than 1,400 Palestinians, 83 percent of them civilians not taking part in hostilities. "
You are careful to point out "as they appear in the report's executive summary:", however I am sure it was McClatchy's intention to put the Palestine B.ll Sh.t first. First off in case those at your worthless liberal rag don't know there is NO SUCH country as Palestine, and "Palestinian" is NOT a race, as all those ethnic races living in Palestine (when it was called that) were Palestinians. The use of the term to refer to the present day people was the result of a racist Pan Arab hate group started by the Egyptians under Nasir, and brought to Palestine by the Racist full fledged Nazi the Haj Amin Al Husseni. The numbers of deaths cited in the GAZA response have NEVER been verified as fact by a reputable source(and NO the UN is not reputable, remember their involvment in verrifying the false claims of the so called Jenin Massacre!!!). Please refrain from posting such falsehoods as fact. When the actual facts are that EVERY Palestinian is a member of a terrorist hate organization by virtue of calling themselves Palestinian!!!
Posted by: Moses | December 08, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Also keep in mind that when confronted (during the GAZA response) with the hard fact that MOST of the UNWRA's employees were Hamas terrorists and actively using UN sponsered (or should I say US paid for) ambulances, and other vehicles to engage in acts of terrorism, the UNWRA spokerperson stated: "yes about 70-80 percent of our staff are members of Hamas, however that refelects the number of Palestinians that are members of Hamas, that's no more signifigant than being a member of the Democrats vs. the Republicans in the US". If the UNWRA's assessment of the Palestinian population percent membership in the Hamas terror group is accurate, then if 83 percent of those killed in Gaza were in fact civillians, then 66 percent of those civilians (at least) had to be terrorists!!! By the unverrified claims of 1400 deaths alleging that 1100 were civilians, 929 of those by the UNWRA estimates of civilian HAMAS membership, then only 171 of those alleged deaths could have really been innocent civilians!!! Remeber a terrorist is still a terrorist even if they are not officially part of the Militant wing!
Posted by: Moses | December 08, 2009 at 07:09 PM
I thought I would write a long response rebutting your falsehoods, but then realised I really don't need to. Given the way you write, no sane person would believe you.
I would also suggest you read the Goldstone report but I am sure you are not interested in facts. They will distort your prejudices.
I will point out that Hamas was the elected government of Gaza (and the West Bank) just as that other terrorist organization Likkud (formed by the former leader of Irgun - Menahim Begin) is the elected government of Israel.
Posted by: mingr1 | December 09, 2009 at 05:11 AM
The people of Gaza voted for a terrorist group to be their government. That government then destroyed all of the infrastructure left by the departing Israelis and started bombing Israel Therefore, as far as I am concerned, the people are all terrorists as they back these actions.
Begin did not attack civilians. He attacked the British soldiers. That is not terrorism.
Posted by: Jackson | December 12, 2009 at 03:04 PM
The Goldstone report is full of false information. Israel weighed carefully each and every place that a missile had been launched from and targeted those sites. Hamas continues to put their people into places where they themselves are located knowing that Israel will not willingly kill the civilians. These civilians are more than willing to put themselves in harms way to protect these terrorists. These civilians were the ones who were out in the streets celebrating with joy when the towers and the Pentagon were attacked. Israel is having to take measures to protect their people. According to a UN mandate, Israel is required to ensure the safety of all 'Palestinian' children but are not allowed to have the same mandate for Israel's children. Seems like the world is working with a double standard that is very anti-Israel. I support Israel in everything they need to do to protect its right to exist.
Posted by: Kathie Mott | December 14, 2009 at 09:41 AM
So...in the rest of the "Arab world" human rights abuses are 'endemic' for internal reasons. How can anyone in their right mind tell people that, only in Palestine, those abuses are solely attributable to Israel?!?
Some one needs to learn some basic logic...
Posted by: Yigal Kahana, Esq. | December 15, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Moses and Yigal: I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. The Palestinians have been used as pawns for years to gin up animosity towards Israel, and it is the stated goal of Hamas to destroy the Kuffar state of Israel, the "land of apes and pigs", according to the Islamists. Hamas and its minions are master propagandists; they would make Joesph Goebbels proud. They intentionally put palestinian women and children in the line of fore and then make propaganda hay from the collateral damage caused by Israeli troops. And who can forget the hateful Hamas childrens TV shows starring Nahoul the Jew-hating bee, and Farfour the vicious Mickey-Mouse look-alike who teach Palestinian kids to hate Jews, and the little 3-year-old girl coached to say that the Qu'ran states that Jews are "Apes and Pigs." Until the basic tenets of Islam are modified (fat chance) there will never be permanent peace between Israel and the Muslim states.
God bless Israel!
Posted by: Euskalherria | December 16, 2009 at 06:40 PM
it is a joke to even talk about 'human rights' from a western perspective in the arab world. they have their own standards therefore i believe the question should be how far shot they fall from international standards(and only if these states are signatories to international law)
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Posted by: nick matyas | January 09, 2010 at 06:08 AM
This is the first time I read this blog, and although the article was decent, the comments show that this seems to be the arm pit of the ZioNAZISM. Those JudeoNAZIS are alive and well around the web but never seen it with this kind of unanswered venom. Every day that goes by and the more JudeoSatanism that I witness when it comes to the world's most brutalized and victimized people namely the PALESTINIANS PEOPLE the proud OWNERS of the LAND OF PALESTINE from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan, and every grain of sand in between is PALESTINIAN. The latest Book by Professor Shlomo Sand "The invention of the Jewish people" is a proof that JudeoNAZI Khazari jews do not beling in the land of the PALESTINAINS. This link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EmvANgw9Mk is a Youtube video lecture by Mr. Sand.
So for Moses above, get your clothes ready Moses, because no peace can every be accomplished in PALESTINE with the ZioNAZI invaders staying in the land. Look at what happened to South Africa, and know no matter how brutal you are (true to your satanic nature) YOU WILL BE KICKED OUT OF THE LAND OF PALESTINE!
There is no such thing as the Jewish people. nor it is today a religion it is more like a CULT and a 5th column in every country they happen to be in. TODAY, I understand WHY Hitler (May he rest in peace) tried to CLEAN Germany. Those who fail to clean their lands, will end up like the PALESTINIANS completely occupied, or at least like the Americans who are enslaved, used and abused by the Judaic CULT.
WAKE UP WORLD! and defeat the Zionist army of Satan.
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Censorship is not dead, but thank you "not" very much
Posted by: wl brock | January 12, 2010 at 11:42 AM
"Balls" cried the Queen, the King laughted because he had to.
Posted by: wl brock | January 12, 2010 at 11:53 AM
http://arabism-islamism.webs.com
Arabism & Islamism = twin fascisms!
Arabism = racism !
Against: Persian, Assyrian, Maronite, Copt, Kurd ( in Iraq, Syria), Berber, On Caucasians, on "al-akhdam", anti-Jewish (not just on Israelis...), anti-Asians, Anti-Africans... (not just in Arabs' genocide in Sudan...)
Islamism = bigotry!
Radical ISLAM has been waging a vicious bloody global WAR on non-Muslims or on those "not Muslim enough...", As in:
Thailand, India, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, E. Timor, Moluccas islands, UK, US, France, Israel, Germany, Russia, China, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt...
Anti Israelism's intolerance is only PART of the above "twin-fascism"!
Posted by: Liliya | March 25, 2010 at 08:39 PM
more like a CULT and a 5th column in every country they happen to be in. TODAY, I understand WHY Hitler (May he rest in peace) tried to
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