ISSUE #25 CONTENTS:
- 6 Years Hard Labor for Yemeni Journalist al-Khaiwani
- Egypt Bans Book by Ex-Policeman on Police Brutality
- Syrians Skirt Web Blockade on Facebook
- QUIZ: What's keeping couples from hitting the beach in Iran this summer?
- Become a Partner in CRIME
SPOTLIGHT CASES:
6 Years Hard Labor for Yemeni Journalist al-Khaiwani
The charges against him - including “insulting the President” - carried the death penalty. In that respect, Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani enjoyed a small victory on June 9, when a Yemeni judge sentenced him to six years in prison with hard labor. But for hundreds of people around the world campaigning on behalf of the pioneering journalist, the ruling was a travesty of justice and a warning bell for Yemen’s independent media.
“Today is the worst day for freedom of press in Yemen,” said Sami Ghalib, head of the Rights and Freedoms in the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate. The American Islamic Congress immediately released a statement slamming the decision. Amnesty International, which had just named al-Khaiwani as a finalist for a prestigious human rights journalism award, condemned the verdict, as did the State Department. Jane Novak, the New Jersey blogger who has driven the campaign for al-Khaiwani’s freedom, discussed the case on Fox News, National Public Radio, and Al-Arabiya.
“The authorities are trying to silence me and they even appear to be prepared to lock me up to keep me quiet,” said al-Khaiwani, who announced he will appeal the verdict. “I don’t want to go to prison again just for doing my job as a journalist, but at the same time I’m not prepared to censor myself for an easy life.”
It is vital to maintain pressure on the Yemeni government to release al-Khaiwani. If you have not done so already, please join over 1,400 other people and send a letter to the Yemeni government on his behalf here.
Egypt Bans Book by Ex-Policeman on Police Brutality
Omar Afifi was once considered weak by his colleagues on the police force. The Egyptian worked in the state security department and refused to torture suspects. After he quit the force, he decided to inform the Egyptian public how to avoid getting abused by security forces. In March, his “how-to” expose hit bookstores - only to get banned.
“How Not to Get Smacked on Your Neck,” was declared a “disturbance to public order” by the Egyptian government. Yet all the book featured were questions and answers informing Egyptians of their rights and how to deal with abusive police officers accordingly. Abusive police officers often get away with intimidation and abuse of power, Afifi argues, simply because citizens do not know their own rights. (Watch an interview with Afifi.)
Shortly after the book was banned in Egypt, it was uploaded to the Internet where it can be viewed by anyone, anywhere, for free. Yet while the book became a minor sensation, Afifi found himself in the hot seat. He was forced to take his family and flee Egypt after some former colleagues warned that he and his family were being targeted. Evidently the author of the book on how to avoid police brutality cannot profit from his own advice.
Syrians Skirt Web Blockade on Facebook
Consider this curious fact: In November, when the Syrian regime blocked Internet access to Facebook, the popular online network had 28,000 registered Syrian members. Five months later, the number of Syrians with Facebook accounts had risen to 34,000.
Like many regimes in the region, the Syrian government blocked access to any news and social networking sites it considers threatening. Thousands of computer users, however, appear to be effectively using software that allows them to get around these blocks and continue surfing the web without Big Brother’s restrictions.
The rise in Syrian Facebook users despite censorship suggests a little breakthrough in the struggle for Internet access waged between repressive regimes and determined citizens. While some international tech companies provide dictatorships with Internet filtering technology, there is a counter rise in programs that help ordinary users circumvent the official filters. So take a moment to savor a small early-summer victory. Surf’s up!
QUIZ: What's keeping couples from hitting the beach in Iran this summer?
Physical barriers that separate men from women. By law, most beaches in Iran are segregated - not by race, but by gender. At Chalus’ luxury Hyatt Hotel on the Caspian Sea, for instance, two huge curtains on the beach separate men from women. Another curtain blocks the view so hotel guests can’t see onto these beaches and watch members of the opposite sex. The summer sun may be out, but couples and families in Iran can’t easily hit the waves together.
BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here is a list of four quick ways you contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement:
- Forward this newsletter to friends & encourage them to subscribe.
- Write a letter to help Yemeni writer Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani.
- Write a letter to imprisoned Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer.
- Apply to participate in HAMSA’s civil rights fellowship program.