The C.R.I.M.E. Report

ISSUE #48 CONTENTS:


SPOTLIGHT CASES:

From the Virtual to the Real World: Taking Action for Religious Freedom

Bloggers have revolutionized public discussion of religious freedom in the Middle East. But virtual activism has its limits, as illustrated by the recent failure of the April 6 protest movement to translate Facebook enthusiasm into action on the streets. This week, a group of writers and cyberactivists from a dozen Middle Eastern countries gathered in Morocco to take up the challenge of transforming their online ideas into real world action.

"There is a new generation of Middle Easterners who are concerned about growing sectarian intolerance and religious repression," observed HAMSA's Nasser Weddady. "But many have found it hard to turn their beliefs into programs beyond cyberspace. So we brought together a dynamic group of young thinkers for strategic training in leadership, event planning, fundraising, and public relations."

Yemeni blogger Sami Noman noted: "We need to do something practical in our own societies to enhance equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religious beliefs." Added Algerian blogger Leila Bouressace: "There is a reluctance in our communities to address interfaith and intra-faith challenges, but we have to work on the ground to break the silence and build a better future."



Off the Record: First Ever Saudi Fashion Show

Saudi Arabia held its first fashion show a few weeks ago. The catch? No cameras. The Nafisat Shams Al Biqa' Academy organized and held the fashion show in Jeddah, where designers vied for a first place prize of 100,000 SAR (about $27,000). Yet to get authorization for the show, organizers had to agree to ban all photography and video recording, even though the event as in line with the country's official moral codes.

For starters, the event was only open to women: no male models and no male spectators. Moreover, the 120 participating models sported traditional designs, including abayas and hijabs. The competition's supervisor, Rola Basamad, praised the competitors for "harmonizing between the Islamic dress codes and the global fashion standards."

By bringing fashion out of traditional bazaar displays and into the public arena, the show generated both support and criticism. Censorship of the event was a particularly hot topic of discussion, as top Saudi clerics recently proposed a law to ban all images of women in Saudi media. Could the camera ban at the fashion show by a major salvo in this campaign of even greater censorship – or is the groundbreaking event a sign of real progress on women’s rights? The answer, it seems, is both.



Caught on Camera: UAE Sheikh's Torture Tapes

ABC News recently broadcasted a tape depicting reveals the Crown Prince's brother, Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, brutally beating and torturing an Afghani merchant accused of cheating the royal family on a grain delivery. A policeman assists the filming and aids Sheikh Issa by holding the man down. The nauseating list of abuses includes firing at the man's feet with a machine gun, burning and beating him, and running him over with a Mercedes.

Bassam Nabulsi, Sheikh Issa's American business partner, kept and recorded for him to enjoy later, including this tape filmed by his brother. After reportedly being torture and held in prison for refusing to return the tape, Nabulsi smuggled it out of the country. He claims that the US Embassy in the UAE was unresponsive when he reported police involvement in torture.

Sheikh Issa's torture binge is an embarrassment to the royal family, but the government claims the matter was later settled privately. The Interior Ministry contends the video is not a "pattern of behavior," although Nabulsi’s statements imply that there are other torture tapes. And despite the involvement of one uniformed officer in the video, the UAE government released a statement claiming, "All rules, policies and procedures were followed correctly by the police department." Torture, this statement would seem to imply, is official police policy in the UAE.

 

Quiz: Who is prosecuting journalists in foreign countries?
Answer: Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, via several of his foreign embassies, has prosecuted journalists in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Last week, the Libyan Embassy in Morocco issued a complaint to the King accusing three newspapers of "insulting and belittling" their President's dignity. Qaddafi has already effectively quashed freedom of expression and the press in his own country; now he is challenging those freedoms in the rest of the region.

BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here is a list of quick ways you contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement: