|
hunger strike
A group of journalists and human rights defenders launched a hunger strike on 20 October in protest “against the government’s undeclared war on the free press”, since 9 November representatives of all the leading independent media in Azerbaijan are taking part.
“This hunger strike is drastic method of protest that shows how difficult the situation has become for Azerbiajan's independent media,” the press freedom organization said. “We are worried that the state of health of several of the hunger strikers, including Sakit Zahidov's brother Ganimat, the editor of the opposition daily Azadlig, who was adamant in his refusal when asked to stop by the Union of Journalists.”
Sakit Zahidov is a recent victim of the governments crackdown on press freedoms, a prominent independent journalist, he was sentenced on 4 October to three years in prison for “possession of drugs for personal consumption” ensuing a trail described as 'chaotic'. Zahidov has insisted that the police planted the heroin and that the charges are politically motivated. A court will hear his appeal on 1 December. Sakit joined in solidarity with the hunger strikers on 23 November. 
Shehenaz Abdulla, a senior Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist and the coordinator of a demonstration aimed at speeding up democratic reforms in the Maldives, was arrested on 6 November. Since her detention she has been on hunger strike, as she believes she is being held in detention unlawfully. Reports claim she is at risk of torture and ill treatment, a routine measure used against political dissidents in the Maldives.
The Maldivian Democratic Party had planned a week of demonstrations to express opposition to the incumbent President Maymoon Abdul Gayoom, who has been in power for 28 years. Their hopes of a peaceful resolution were quashed. More than 100 people were arrested in connection with the demonstration and according to reports many have been subjected to ill treatment and torture. The demonstration has been cancelled due to concerns for the safety of protesters.
1 September 2005
A Sahrawi (Western Saharan) human rights defender, due to attend the bi-annual Front Line platform for human rights defenders in October, is unlikely to appear as he is on hunger strike in a Moroccan prison.
Ali Salem Tamek (31), a founding member of the Saharan branch of the human rights organization Forum for Truth and Justice, is being held without charge in Ait Meloul prison, Morocco.
Mr. Tamek was arrested on July 18th at D’el Ayoun airport after returning from Europe where he had been campaigning for Western Saharan independence from Morocco and raising awareness of human rights violations in the region. According to The Sahara Presse Service, Tamek, along with four other imprisoned Sahrawi human rights defenders, Mohamed Elmoutaoikil, El Hussein Lidri, Brahim Noumria and Laarbi Massoud, has been on hunger strike for three weeks.
Front Line is seriously concerned about the health of Ali Salem Talek and calls on the Moroccan authorities for his immediate and unconditional release
18 May 2006
A group of women lawyers observed a 24-hour hunger strike on Wednesday 17 May in the Bar association building (Maison du Barreau) opposite the Palais de la Justice in the Tunisian capital of Tunis
The women were taking part in a sit in since 9 May, protesting against the Tunisian governments decision to create a law to take the control of the training of barristers away from the independent national Bar association – the Conseil national de l'ordre des avocats (CNOA).
The 32 women went on hunger strike because of police aggression perpetrated against them during the sit in protest.
Tunisian police verbally and physically attacked well-known lawyer, Leila Ben Dabba on the steps of Maison du Barreau as she was attempting to bring food to the protestors on Monday 15 May
The women have demanded a judicial enquiry into the attacks and the CNOA have condemned Government efforts to undermine the independence of the legal profession.
Tunisian lawyer Mohammed Abbou was imprisoned for three and a half years in April 2005 because of his criticisms of the human rights situation in Tunisia
17 November 2005 A press conference, on 16 November attended by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, at the Tunis headquarters of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), in effect, became the first unofficial meeting of the Citizens Summit on Information Technology (CSIS) The Tunisian government has systematically blocked the alternative summit’s preparatory meetings and planned workshops and events in flagrant breach of the right to freedom of expression and association. In doing so, the Tunisian Government has demonstrated contempt for the Geneva Principles* and for their obligations under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and international human rights law.
Leading representatives of International and Tunisian Civil Society committed themselves to continuing the struggle for the basic rights to freedom of expression and association in Tunisia in front of the audience of over 200 journalists, diplomats and NGO members. The Mayor of Geneva, echoing the statements of the President of Switzerland’s comment at the official World Summit, said that rights freedom of expression and assembly were universal and not the domain of one culture
Front Line is saddened by reports of the death of Tunisian human rights defender Zouheir Yahyaoui, who died on 13th March 2005 following a heart attack. Zouheir Yahyaoui died at the age of 36, having formerly spent 18 months in prison, during which time he was tortured and detained in degrading conditions. As a result of these conditions, Zouheir Yahyaoui underwent 3 hunger strikes to protest against his imprisonment. In his capacity as a human rights defender Zouheir Yahyaoui ran a website known as ‘Tunezine’ www.tunezine.com which is censored in Tunisia as a result of its reporting of human rights abuses and its provision of forums for open discussion. Zouhair Yahyaoui was sentenced to 2 years in prison on 20 June 2002 following his publication of a letter that his uncle, the judge Mokthar Yahyaoui, had sent to the president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, denouncing the functioning of the legal-justice system in Tunisia. Zouhair Yahyaoui was granted a conditional release in November 2003. In June 2003 he was awarded the ‘CyberLiberty’ award by the Reporters Sans Frontières, who commended his ‘contribution to the freedom of information on the internet’.
Front Line is delighted to report that all the charges against the Sudanese human rights defender Dr Mudawi were dropped following the last hearing of his trial on 7 August 2004. The Sudanese Minister of Justice withdrew the case by using article 58 of the Sudan Penal Code Procedures on 9 August 2004. Dr Mudawi is no longer in custody.
Human rights activist and Director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was arrested at his home in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on 28 December 2003. He was first held under Article 31 of the National Security Forces Act in the National Security Centre and in the political section of Kober prison.
Dr Mudawi went on hunger strike demanding to be released or charged in February 2004, and ended the hunger strike after two days, when he was brought before the Attorney General. On 8 February he was charged with offences against the state under Articles 50, 51 and 56 of the Penal Code, which carry the death penalty and do not allow release on bail. He was also charged with provoking hatred against or among sects under Articles 63 and 64.
Front Line has received reports that June 20, the family of Aktham Naisse, president of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), were allowed to visit him in the Saidnaya prison where has been imprisoned since April 22, 2004.
According to Mr. Naisse's family, the interview was very short. Aktham Naisse has been paralysed since the beginning of his detention. He was “dragged” along by his guards out of his cell and brought to a place where his family only saw him briefly. He only had time to tell his relatives that he was detained in very bad conditions and informed them that he had begun a hunger strike. Front Line is worried about Mr. Naisse health as he is a diabetic and strictly requires daily medical treatment.
Radhia Nasraoui, Human Rights Defender and lawyer from Tunisia ended her hunger strike on 10th December, after 56 days. As a result of her action, there has been some movement on the investigation into the incident in July where she was assaulted. Equipment, books and files that were taken from her office have been returned and the telephone line to her sister, her daughter and her aunt in Paris has been reconnected. Radhia is recovering well and expects to be back working in defence of human rights again as soon as possible.
She went on hunger strike on Wednesday, 15th October. Ms Nasraoui is a prominent member of the Tunisian bar who has represented many political clients. As a result she has been under constant pressure from the Tunisian authorities. The purpose of her hunger strike was to protest the harassment she faces as she tries to carry out her work, which she says has become intolerable.
19th April 2004 According to reports Ms. Ma Yalian was arrested as a result of an article she posted on several websites entitled "A True Record of Being Turned Away from the National Petitions and Letters Office and the Petitions Bureau of the National People's Congress." This article provides detailed eyewitness accounts of alleged physical abuse endured by petitioners, including herself, from police and officials outside of Beijing's main petitions offices, and accounts of petitioners who allegedly committed suicide outside of the petitions offices.
|
