ISSUE #33 CONTENTS:
- Journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani Released from Prison
- Art under Fire: Film Festival Spotlights Censorship
- Tech Company Pulls the Plug on Morocco
- Quiz: When do Iran’s translators remain silent?
- Become a Partner in CRIME
SPOTLIGHT CASES:
WANTED No Longer: Yemeni Journalist Abdul al-Khaiwani Released from Prison
Just a few days after his sudden release from prison, Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani (previously spotlighted in issues 22 and 25) gave an exclusive interview to The CRIME Report. Al-Khaiwani’s release came after over 1,500 supporters from around the world (including many CRIME Report readers) sent letters to the Yemeni government calling for his release.
What was your daily routine in prison? Did you know about the activism on your behalf happening around the world?
Jail imposes its own routine on those inside. A prisoner may only reschedule his priorities accordingly. I made some time at night for reading and writing, because these activities are banned in jail and I did not want to be caught. Otherwise, I listened to stories told by other prisoners and saw occasional visitors. I spent most of the time inside my cell. I was told by my friends and newspaper articles that activities are taking place to support me. This was of a great moral impact on me spirits.
A diverse coalition of activists mobilized for you – including Jane Novak, a mother in New Jersey who championed your cause. What would you like to say to your supporters?
I would like to thank you all for your great effort in supporting my cause, from the very beginning. Thanks to Zainab Al-Suwaij and Nasser Weddady from the American Islamic Congress! Thanks for all those who announced their solidarity with me! I owe a lot to Jane Novak, not only for what she did in this latest crisis, but also for her permanent support since 2004 when she first adopted my case. Jane is a model for those who believe in freedom and democracy, and she has become a respectable voice in Yemen. I appreciate all what she has done for me, and I think thanking her is hardly enough.
What are you fighting for? Why don't you give up?
I am simply calling for suitable citizenship conditions in a genuine homeland. I seek respect for human rights and freedoms, and I reject corruption. The law, in its language, stipulates all these values, and everyone pretends to comply with them! By submitting to corruption, you may be guaranteed to live longer - but this will be a useless and meaningless life. We are responsible for securing a better future for our children. I am just a man who sticks to his views and believes in power of his words and nonviolent actions. Fighting against tyranny and corruption - and securing peaceful transitions of political power - are at the top of the challenges facing in the region. These problems are the result of social stagnation, ignoring human rights, and suppressing civil freedoms.
What advice do you have for other activists in the Middle East?
I call upon civil rights activists to intensify their work and improve solidarity efforts to ensure faster and more effective reaction [to the arrest of activists] in the future, particularly since methods of persecution by regimes are rapidly evolving. The wave of change is striking Yemen now, yet is confronted by a brutal force represented by official state agencies. This requires persistence from human rights activists, journalists, and other civil forces looking forward for change.
Art under Fire: Film Festival Spotlights Censorship
Muslim cultures have produced legendary works of art, from the mosaics of Marrakesh to the Taj Mahal. Yet today censorship and radicalism constrain many Muslim artists around the world. Next Monday, the American Islamic Congress launches the fall 2008 edition of its Muslim Film Festival – with the theme "Art under Fire" – which explores how musicians, filmmakers, and even comedians are struggling to respond.
One highlight documentary being screened is Sounds of Silence, which profiles the underground Iranian music scene. A range of musicians, including rock bands, talk about how restrictions on public music performances hinder their art. They describe the torturous process of receiving government approval to perform and even record music, not to mention the restrictions on free speech. Prohibitions and crackdowns are part of the routine for non-conformist musicians in Iran.
Unable to beat the Ershad, Iran's Ministry of Islamic Guidance, artists go underground to avoid restrictions on lyrics, the type of music they can play, and even the movement of onstage performers. Bands record in basements and perform at house-parties, but many have a global audience due to their use of the Internet to distribute music. Websites such as Tehran360 allow bands to upload their music and users to download it for free. Watch a trailer for of Sounds of Silence (below) and come see the film at the festival!
Blogger Arrest Backlash: Tech Company Pulls the Plug on Morocco
SEO1 Services, a Dallas based company specializing in online marketing, was set to open an office in Tangiers when blogger Mohammed Erraji was arrested over writing on his website. Without a lawyer to defend him, Erraji was sentenced to two years in prison - before an international outcry led to his release. The backlash from his arrest not only led to bad publicity for Morocco, but also caused the loss of investment funds.
"We simply can’t do business in a country that limits free speech and demonstrates questionable human rights practices," said Rodney Brooks, a spokesman for SEO1 Services. The company was set to train thirty-two Moroccans in web design and marketing, but after Erraji’s arrest, the company decided to cancel its planned operations to protest the government's actions and demonstrate solidarity with Erraji.
"Morocco was the ideal location from which to serve our European and Middle Eastern clients," said Brooks, "but we definitely can't ask our employees to work in an environment in which expressing dissent against the government is a criminal offense." Hopefully SEO1’s behavior represents a new trend in corporate responsibility regarding online free-speech - as other American companies like Cisco and Sun Microsystems have actually helped set up filtering systems in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.
Quiz: When do Iran’s official translators prefer to remain silent?
Answer: When they are translating questions live on TV during a nationally-televised UN press conference held by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Two weeks ago, during his visit to New York, Ahmadinejad was asked by a reporter: "Who’s in power? It is believed that Ayatollah Khamenei is like a monarch and that the president acts like a prime minister. Please explain." Knowing that broadcasting live such a question – in which the Supreme Leader is compared to a king – could get him fired or worse, the translator preferred to remain silent. Watch the video to witness this moment of self-censorship imposed through fear.
BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here is a list of quick ways you contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement:
- Forward this update to friends & encourage them to subscribe
- Write a letter to imprisoned Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer
- Apply to participate in HAMSA’s civil rights fellowship program.