Ethiopia using anti-terror law to stifle peaceful dissent

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

© 2010 UN Photo

The Ethiopian government should cease using its overly broad anti-terrorism law against journalists and peaceful political activists, two major human rights groups say.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued a comment on the worsening situation on Monday 21 November 2011 - two days before the trial of 24 people charged on 10 November with terrorism offences continues.

Those charged include six journalists and two members of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party.

Sixteen of the 24 are being tried in absentia. Several other terrorism trials of journalists and opposition activists are ongoing.

“The Ethiopian government is exploiting its vaguely worded anti-terror law to crush peaceful dissent,” said Rona Peligal, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

The Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009 includes an overbroad and vague definition of terrorist acts and a definition of “encouragement of terrorism” that makes the publication of statements “likely to be understood as encouraging terrorist acts” punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.

These provisions mean that critics of government such as journalists and political opponents could be charged for encouraging terrorism, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said.

The organisations urged the Ethiopian government to facilitate systematic monitoring of the trials by the diplomatic community. The times and locations of hearings have been altered at the last minute at least twice during the ongoing trials. The government should ensure that key information, including location and time of hearings, is available to the public.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also urged diplomats stationed in Ethiopia to carry out systematic monitoring of the ongoing terrorism trials and the trials of members of the Oromo political opposition arrested during 2011.

This is particularly important in the absence of independent human rights organisations, which the Ethiopian government has effectively banned. While diplomatic representatives have attended several remand hearings and trial sessions of terrorism cases, none were apparently present at the November 10 confirmation of charges hearing, following a last-minute change of location, nor at the subsequent hearing on 15 November.

Ethiopia’s foreign partners closely followed a series of trials from 2005 to 2007, in which treason charges were brought following contested elections. The Council of the European Union appointed a full-time trial observer, although the findings of its report were never made public. EU embassy staff monitored these trials on a rotating basis, and a US embassy staff member was also present.

“Diplomats’ systematic monitoring of these trials is essential,” said Michelle Kagari, deputy director for Africa at Amnesty International. “Without the presence of local civil society, diplomats can play a vital role in witnessing whether or not the suspects’ right to a fair trial is respected.”

None of the defendants detained and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation during 2011 had access to a lawyer during the pre-trial period. Three of those charged have complained in court of mistreatment in detention.

Public comments by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the government spokesman, Shimeles Kemal, have undermined the defendants’ presumption of innocence, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said. Their comments might also exert political pressure on the courts in a country where the judiciary lacks independence.

Since June 2011, the Ethiopian government has charged at least 33 people under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009.

In addition, in 2011, at least 98 members of the two main Oromo political opposition parties, the Oromo Federal Democratic Movement (OFDM) and the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC), have been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code on the basis of alleged involvement with the Oromo Liberation Front, a banned rebel group.

Seven of the people charged on November 10 had previously been charged during the trials that followed the 2005 elections. All had been given a presidential pardon. Three of the seven are among the defendants who are now in custody, two others fled the country after their earlier release, and two were already living in exile when they were charged in the earlier cases.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have long called for the anti-terrorism law to be amended to bring it into line with Ethiopia’s domestic and international legal obligations.

“The anti-terror law itself is a huge problem,” Peligal said. “The international community, especially the European Union, United States, and United Kingdom, should ask the Ethiopian government hard questions about why it is using this law to crack down on peaceful independent voices.”

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Christian couple attacked soon after their release from prison in Iran

By Michael Ireland
Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

HAMEDAN, IRAN (ANS) -- An Iranian Christian were attacked soon after their release from prison, according to the FCNN (Farsi Christian News Network) news agency www.fcnn.com .

FCNN says they were one of two married couples who had been taken from their home by agents of the Ministry of State Security of the Islamic Regime in Sep. 2010, and held imprisoned for up to eight months without ever being formally charged.

This Christian couple, Arash Kermajani and his wife Arezoo Teymouri, who had been snatched and illegally-detained on their way to their homes and families, were attacked after their release from prison, and soon after this, fled the country for fear of their lives.

Twenty-nine-year-old Mr. Arash Kermajani, and his 26-year-old wife Mrs. Arezoo Teymouri, had to go into hiding and eventually leave their country for fear of their lives as a result of threats by elements of the Islamic Regime.

According to FCNN, this Christian couple were detained while guests of their friends Mr. and Mrs. Vahik and Sonia Abramian in Hamedan, in northwestern Iran.

FCNN reported that plain-clothes agents of the Ministry of State Security of the Islamic Regime raided the house, arrested them all, and took them to Centre 113 of Hamedan. They were then taken to a secret prison which was later identified as the central prison of Ministry of State Security of the Islamic Regime in Hamedan.

FCNN says that throughout their detention in this secret prison, they were kept in solitary confinement. Mrs. Arezoo Teymouri for 11 days, and her husband Arash Kermajani for 43 days; then transferred to the general ward of yet another notorious prison in Hamedan.
Solitary confinement and general prison ward

After their escape from the Islamic Republic, Mrs. Arezoo Teymouri, in an interview with an FCNN reporter, spoke of the conditions under which she was held and the reasons for her transfer to the general ward so much sooner than her husband: “ We were staying as guests at Brother Vahik and Sister Sonia’s house. On that particular day we were watching a film when State Security agents stormed in, the shock and induced fear caused spasms of bleeding, which coupled with the hunger strike that I started soon after, reduced my blood pressure to such a dangerously low levels that they were forced to take me to the city’s main hospital, demanding that I should not communicate nor speak, with anyone. As soon as my conditions improved, I was led back to the secret prison and then to the general ward of Hamedan’s main female prison.”

Remembering the harsh treatment she made to suffer in prison, Arezoo told the FCNN reporter that, “Just to put an innocent woman in solitary is in itself a severe form of torture. They did not inflict any physical torture on my body, but did not for a second stop their psychological tortures.”

Arezoo went on to say: “They ridiculed and debased me at every opportunity. Whenever I spoke of my Christian beliefs they imitated, ridiculed, and laughed at me. Well aware of my past life, they used it to crush me psychologically and reduce me to confessing to what they demanded. But I had learnt that reminders of a sinful past is Satanic, and so their attacks did not have any effect on my resolve to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ and to reconcile myself to the fact that He Will protect His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who upon the Cross, took our sins unto Himself, is standing right by me -- Alive, Comforting, and Protective -- proving their falsehood.

She was asked if she was ever afraid?

Arezoo replied: “They tried very hard to frighten me, and I knew the situation was critical and felt my life in danger, so I naturally was terrified; but my belief in Jesus, and witnessing God’s work in my life helped me overcome their threats and not to allow fear overpowering me.”

Fear and Hope 

Remembering his imprisonment in the hands of the State Security agents of the Islamic Republic, Arash Kermajani told the FCNN: “The first few days were the most difficult, I was afraid of what may happen to Arezoo and prayed for her all the time, asking my Lord to protect and save her. Then He gave me His calm and assurance concerning her fate and I was able to accept His decision in humility; I realized that God’s power is far greater than my fears. From then on my mind was at peace and I could clearly see the hand of God protecting us.”

Talking about the prison guards, Arash said: “I was under constant pressure to confess to have been helping foreigners against my country; my Christian beliefs were questioned and it was denigrated to the level of childish thoughts and a passing trend. To tell you the truth, there was a full-scale war going on inside those prison walls. But their efforts were for naught, none of the guards nor were agents of the Ministry of State Security of the Islamic Republic of any consequence. I was dealing vital blows to the heart of the enemy and was battling Satan with the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Explaining the reasons for their release from prison, Arash said: “The fact is that they had no excuse to detain us in the first place, and we have done absolutely nothing to warrant any punishment, and they knew it well. While in prison we actually heard that we have been accused of being ‘ideological thieves and members of a Zionist group opposing the Islamic Regime.’

“There was no substance to these spurious claims, and in no way was it possible to connect us to anything as their claimed. My wife and I are both from dysfunctional families and background. We have been directly touched and saved by Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has turned our lives around. For this reason, and to thank God for his deliverance, we only spoke of our own personal experiences with Jesus Christ to people and especially other social victims. After eight months I guess they realized they were wrong about us, and caught on the fact that we are but simple witnesses to Christ.”

Threats and Escape from the Islamic Republic 
Speaking about their freedom and eventual escape from the Islamic Republic, Arash Kermajani stated: “Without any prior notice we were simply told to get out, nor were our families informed; nobody was aware of our sudden freedom.

“Coming out of the prison, which is some distance from the city of Hamedan, we were forced to move a long way before we reached the main road.”

He added: “Mrs. Sonia Keshish Avanesian, Arezoo, and I got in a hired car and as it started to move, three motorcycles with pylon riders surrounded the car and rode some distance alongside the car screaming obscenities and throwing bricks at the car. All the way to Tehran we feared for our safety and lives.”

Talking about their flight from the Islamic Republic, Arash said: “To tell you the truth, from the moment we got out of the prison gates we never felt safe, actually quite the opposite. We feared attack by Islamic vigilantes and Agents of the Islamic Regime. All venues of work and employment were closed to us and we were constantly under surveillance; so we decided to leave the country for our own safety and seek refuge elsewhere.”

Arezoo and Arash are now in one of the neighboring countries awaiting relocation by the UNHCR. They wished not to have been forced to leave the country of their birth, but pray to be able to serve the Lord wherever they are being sent to.

FCNN has prepared an extensive interview with this young couple which will be broadcast soon.

“This interview promises to be a moving testimony to the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ in their lives and the lives of many others who have been saved by His Grace,” the news agency said.

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** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter

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** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution

By Mahruaii Sailo

 

Karnataka, India, November 21 (Compass Direct News) – State police on Nov. 13 arrested pastor H.S. Nagaraj of Immanuel Prarthanalaya in Arkalgud, Hassan district, after Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal disrupted his congregation’s Sunday worship service. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that at about 10 a.m. the extremists forcibly stopped the service, verbally abused the Christians for their faith, tore Bibles and called Arkalgud police. Officers arrived and arrested Pastor Nagaraj and Christians identified only as Shivanna, Ravi and Chandrashekar, presumably based on the common Hindu extremist charge of forced conversions. Police took the Christians to the Arkalgud police station for questioning, and after area Christian leaders’ intervention they were released on bail that evening at 11:30 p.m., according to the GCIC.

 

Karnataka – State police on Nov. 12 detained five Christians, along with a 4-year-old child, in Belur Krishnarajnagar after Hindu extremists from the Hindu extremist Bajrang Dal accused the Christians of forceful conversion and beat two of them. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported the 10 extremists stopped the Christians as they were returning from a prayer meeting. They beat two Christians, Varun Chakravarthy and another identified only as Raju, and then alerted Harehally police station. A sub-inspector of police identified only as Venkatesh and other officers arrived and took all parties to the police station for questioning. Police charged the Christians with deliberate acts intended to insult religious feelings under section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code. After holding them overnight, authorities brought them before a judge the next day. GCIC was able to secure bail for the women, including one identified only as Padmavathy, who was with her 4-year-old child. The two male Christians were sent to Hassan Jail, however, and were released on bail on Nov. 16, reported a GCIC representative.

 

Andhra Pradesh – A Christian in New Paloncha, Khamman district, was sentenced to three years of prison on Oct. 28 for accidentally pasting a poster over another religious announcement. The All India Christian Council (AICC) reported that Burgula Prasad had organized an evangelistic event for Oct. 3-5 and invited Dr. John Manga Charyulu to speak. While placing posters about the event, they accidentally posted one over another in Indranagar Colony in New Paloncha, AICC reported. Angry area residents started a protest, creating a road block. New Paloncha police summoned Prasad, and he apologized to officers and demonstrators. He was then released, but on Oct. 28 police again summoned him and informed him of a First Information Report filed against him. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

 

Uttar Pradesh – A mob of about 150 Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal stormed into a medical camp organized on Oct. 25 on the outskirts of Agra. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that the extremists shouted anti-Christian slogans and accused the medical team of forcefully converting people under the guise of medical treatment. A camp coordinator identified only as the Rev. Kashyap showed the local leaders of the Bajrang Dal a copy of the permission letter for the camp, but one of them, Digvijay Tiwari, demanded a copy for himself, according to EFI. Kashyap refused, and the angry Tiwari left only to return an hour later with a mob that broke the clinic tent, overturned chairs and tables and started manhandling people. Kashyap  and others retreated to the roof of an adjacent building, but the extremists captured him and brought him downstairs and made him a hostage of the mob, according to EFI. The extremists accused him of forceful conversion, striking and humiliating him in front of the crowd. Hearing that the extremists were planning to lock the medical team downstairs and burn the room, the volunteers fled, and one called police. EFI reported that the mob took Kashyap to the Shahganj police station, where extremists pressured police to put him in jail. As camp organizers had sought prior permission from the chief medical officer of Agra, however, Kashyap filed a complaint against members of the mob. Copies of the permission had also been duly provided to the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police. After police registered Kashyap’s complaint, Bajrang Dal leader Tiwari was arrested and incarcerated. He was later released on bail, according to EFI.

 

www.compassdirect.org

 

END

 

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Copyright 2011 Compass Direct News

 

End discrimination against Roma, new Italian government told

As prejudice and racism against travelling and gypsy people deepens disturbingly across Europe, a leading human rights NGO has spoken out on behalf of Roma in Italy.

Amnesty International has called on the Italian authorities to end discriminatory measures against Roma after the country’s 'Nomad Emergency' decrees were declared unlawful by the country's highest administrative court.

The Italian Council of State has ruled to end the 'Nomad Emergency', which has exposed Roma communities to serious human rights violations since it was introduced three years ago.

"Ending the 'Nomad Emergency' is a step in the right direction - it was unlawful and should have never been declared,” said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty’s Director for Europe and Central Asia.

“The Italian government now has a responsibility to provide effective remedies to all the Roma families who suffered forced evictions and other human rights violations during the 'Nomad Emergency'.”

In May 2008, the Italian government declared a state of emergency around settlements of nomad communities in the regions of Lombardy, Campania and Lazio.

This was supposedly to address a “situation of grave social alarm, with possible repercussions for the local population in terms of public order and security".

The emergency was later extended to the regions of Piedmont and Veneto.

Under the 'Nomad Emergency', government representatives in the regions were given authority to deviate from legislation that protects human rights and forced evictions of Roma communities became more frequent and were carried out with greater impunity.

"The 'Nomad Emergency' has exposed thousands of Roma to human rights abuses and aggravated discrimination against them," declared Nicola Duckworth.

“The new Italian government must now end discriminatory policies and practices that have targeted Roma for years. This is certainly not the end of the story, but may well be a new beginning.”

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Egyptian protesters reoccupy Tahir Square as repression continues

Thousands of Egyptian protesters have re-occupied Tahrir Square in Cairo following violent attempts by the authorities to remove them.

The move follows growing local and international concern about repression and manipulation under the aegis of the country's interim military council.

The demonstrators returned to the site of protest that helped remove dictator Hosni Mubarak less than an hour after the assault by troops and police.

Protesters had fled earlier as the Egyptian security forces used tear gas on them and beat people with rods and truncheons.

Reports from the BBC and other agencies say that there have been similar clashes in other cities, including Alexandria, Suez and Aswan. Some thirteen people have died over the weekend and many more have been injured.

Protesters and human rights groups believe that Egypt's supposedly temporary military rulers are trying to maintain their hold on power ahead of forthcoming elections next week.

Health officials say that up to 900 have been injured in recent clashes, the vast majority of them civilians.

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Refugees at risk in South Sudan

Sudan (MNN) ― While South Sudan is a new country, it hasn't taken very long for tensions to rise between the North and South. According to reports, Sudan has been attacking the new nation in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The conflict appears to be over how the two nations will share the South's sizable crude oil reserve.

President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller describes the problem. "We have seen and documented bombs falling on refugee camps in critical areas. Christians are indeed caught in the crossfire here. This is a very complex problem."

Moeller says the situation is bad. Will it get worse? "If there's a full-scale war going on, eventually it'll come to the world's attention. But unfortunately, at that point it may be too late to do anything about it."

The situation already is not good. Moeller says, "We have 300,000 displaced in that area. We've got people being killed on a regular basis and literally bombs being dropped, and it's as if nothing is taking place."

International news organizations aren't talking about it. "Why doesn't the world stand up and recognize that Sudan is attacking its neighbor to the south, South Sudan, and do something more officially in the U.N. to condemn this and to provide some troops on the ground to help prevent additional violence?"

Thankfully, the years of civil war and most-recent violence have not destroyed the church. Moeller says, "It is a church that has literally come through the Refiner's fire of persecution. After such horrible persecution, they can't take anything else away from these people."

In the meantime, Open Doors USA is asking Christians to get actively involved in the plight of these brothers and sisters in Christ. "We are praying for the church in Sudan. We are comforting those who have lost [loved ones] and homes; we are providing the material resources they need, and we're alerting the world to what's going on."

Your financial support can help not only the persecuted church in Sudan, but around the world.