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Human Rights Defenders Persecuted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  Arab rights organizations and civil society                
organizations, signatories to the present statement, call upon the Saudi
authorities to put an end to their arbitrary practices targeting Saudi
activists who aspire to effect democratic reform in the Kingdom. The
organizations, moreover, demand that the Saudi authorities, in particular,
take the necessary measures to promptly and unconditionally release Dr.
Matruk Al-Falih, a Saudi activist, prominent in the area of human rights
and renowned for his involvement in the most significant events demanding
constitutional reform in the Kingdom

Media Women Forum strongly condemns the revenged judicial sentence

against the journalist Abdulkareem AL-khaiwani

9th June, 2008

Media Women Forum strongly condemns the judicial sentence of the state Security court against the journalist Abdul Kareem AL-khaiwani, putting him in the jail for 6 years today. He was the accused No.10 in the case of Sana'a terrorist cell  which helps Al-hawthis in their war in northern Yemen.

Steps on The Road
A new book issued by the Arabic network, tackles different experiences and mutual support methods
between Internet and human rights

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information issued a new book contains the arguments and discussions of 30 human rights, political and internet activists from 12 Arab Countries on how to expand the mutual support among human rights NGOs, internet activists and media men; that kind of support which would finally result in stronger support for freedom to expression causes in the Arab World.

In the book, the reader will find a presentation for the expanded discussions among activists, bloggers, journalists and media men. enclosed, there are also 10 work papers presented by some participants in the workshop. Those papers contains

Bahrain: the Establishment of a Youth Human Rights Organization is a Charge Punishable by Law

Maskati under Threat of Prosecution Once Again

 The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has, with regret, been following up on the Ministry of Justices decision, to inform, through an official notification, Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, university student, 21 years, President if the BYSHR and a member of the Norwegian Defense International, that he is to be present as a criminal suspect for a court hearing before the 4th Lower Criminal Court on the 6th of November 2008. The charges are related to the working in a Society before it has been officially registered. The Ministry of Social Affairs is behind these allegations and should Mr. Al-Maskati be found guilty, he may be imprisoned for a period of no more than 6 months and/or a fine of 500 Bahraini Dinars

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Yemen: Postponing the Prosecution of the Editor in Chief of Alnedaa Newspaper
Sami Ghalib is Under Prosecution for Practicing his Journalistic Duty

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information-anhri.net- expressed its displeasure today, for pursuance of the prosecution of Sami Ghalib, editor in chief of the Yemeni Independent Newspaper “Alnedaa”, upon a complaint from the undersecretary of the ministry of the Awkaf “Maqboul Al Ahdal”, on the background of an article, was published in Alnedaa newspaper on 29th November, 2006, about the malfunctioning of the Yemeni Awkaf Ministry, in arrangement of the Hajj and Omra (Pilgrimage). Where the Awkaf Ministry undersecretary is demanding the punishment of Ghalib according to the provision of the article (197) of the Penal Code. The article related to the slander and humiliation

The Egyptian Government is Heading to Close Down the Third Rights Association under the Pretext of “the Voluntary Activity

The Egyptian government presented in the Ministry of Social Solidarity is going to close down - one of the most important human rights association based out of Cairo- the Egyptian Awn (Aid) Association for Human Rights under a surprising and ironic excuse, alleging that the association’s budget is “small” and doesn’t have any huge financial resources, as if the government is punishing the association activists for their voluntary work, and not receiving any funds!”, said the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (anhri.net)today.
 

Journalist and writer Michel Kilo begins third year in prison

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release
of Syrian writer and journalist Michel Kilo, who is about to begin his
third year in Adra prison, in Damascus. Arrested on 14 May 2006, Kilo was
given a three-year jail term one year later for "weakening national
sentiment." The authorities have until now refused to shorten his sentence

Al-Dustour Newspaper is Online Today!
While the its Editor-in-Chief Appeal Session is Tomorrow

“ Tomorrow, Bolaq Misdemeanors Court will held the first appeal session on the case of Ibrahim Issa, editor-in-Chief of Al-Dustour independent daily newspaper, at the Cairo-North Abbassya Primary Court, appealing against the judgment issued on last 26th of March, which handed down 6 months in prison sentence in the so-called “President Health Case”.” , said the Arabic Network for Human Rights today.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said today, that the website of the Egyptian Movement for Change:Kefaya “http://Harakamasria.org” was blocked in Egypt and the Internet users who have access to Internet through the T-Data Company, the largest Internet Service Providers in Egypt, which is controlled by the Egyptian Government since 4th May.

The Series of Infomraiton Freedoms Violations continuity in the Arabic Araea
Rabat Probhibits the Gezaira Magaribi News Prodcasts
 

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information has condemned the resolution of the Moroccan auhtorities to terminate the broadcast of Al Gezaira spcae news was being brodacasted from the Moroccan capital, Rabat, considering this step as a balatant violation against the opinion and expresssion freedoms, it comes within the framework of the “Satellite Broadcast Regulations Document”, that was approved by the Arab information ministers, except Qatar

MINISTER OF INFORMATION DEFIES JUSTICE 

In compliance with the policy of violating the laws and in defiance to the court rulings, the ministry of information has ordered to prohibit the printing of Alwasat newspaper. This unlawful and illegal action confirms the intentions of the Minister of Information to disrupt the implementation of the existing laws and create impediments against the freedoms of speech and freedom the press.

Statement of HEWAR Forum Concerning the Burning 18 Yemeni in Saudi Arabia

HEWAR Forum has followed with deep concern the exposure of 18 Yemeni citizens to burning by the Saudi security personnel in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia, according to testimonies of the victims

Protect Media Freedom in Yemen

Renowned journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani is one of Yemen's most prominent democracy advocates - for which he has paid a steep price. His paper has been closed, his website blocked, and his children threatened. He is now due to be sentenced on May 21 for "insulting the president" and "demoralizing the military."

Imprisoned journalist goes on hunger strike to mark World Press Freedom Day
 
Journalist goes on hunger strike in Morocco jail
New York, May 2, 2008 - To mark World Press Freedom Day, Moroccan
journalist Mustafa Hormatallah began a three-day hunger strike today to
protest his imprisonment in Casablanca, while journalists led by the
National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press planned to stage a sit-in on
Saturday.

Health and Population minister: I will not allow any amendment of safe motherhood law draft that we submit to Parliament.

Dr.Abdulkareem Rassea'a,  the minister of health and population , declares that Yemen soon will get a certificate from World Health Organization for  eradicating  children palsy .The  ministry had hold comprehensive campaign against children palsy targeted (1.356.500) children under the age of 5 in 121 districts .

The hostages endure terrible conditions

Sana’a, 23 March — The kidnapper of two Yemeni teenagers and another five Yemeni engineers has threatened to kill the hostages if the Ministry of the Interior use military force to secure their release. The kidnappings took place in Bani Dhabian, Khawlan, 50km east of Sana’a. Abdrabu Alttam, the principal captor, warned the Yemen Times in a telephone conversation: “We lay all responsibility on the Ministry for anything that happens to them”.

( ninety refugees from Al-Gashine are combining in Media Women Forum (MWF

Their main demand is to impose the governmental mastery and limit the sheikh's master

About 90 refugees from Al_Gashine/Ibb governorate are combining in MWF since last Thursday29/2/2008 in Sana'a. They had run from their region because of the oppression and unfair mastery of Al-Sheikh/ Mohammed Ahmed Mansour (head of the trip)On Wednesday they hold a sit-in on front of the parliament gate but received no serious response to their demands to be treated as other Yemeni citizens and under the Yemeni government not Al-Sheikh. .

RSF asks Justice Ministry to improve prison conditions of dissident
journalist Slim Boukhdir

RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on Tunisian justice andhuman rights minister Beshir Tekkari to improve the prison conditions of jailed journalist Slim Boukhdir and to review his trial and year-longprison sentence

News channel director fired after airing critical comments; Information
minister bans live programmes on state television

Information minister Iyad Madani announced a nationwide ban onall live broadcasts on Saudi public TV channels on 30 January 2008, two days after angry viewers made unflattering comments about senior officials,including King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, during a phone-in programmeon the news channel Al-Ikhbariya. The station's director, MohammedAl-Tunsi, was fired.

Authorities block access to yet another independent news website

"President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government has to deal with growing socialunrest and a Zaidi uprising but that is no reason to target the media and websites," the press freedom organisation said. "As it is unable toinfluence what they post, the government has decided to block independent    news websites in order to suppress their criticisms.

Novel banned for allegedly defaming historic religious figure

BCHR has recently learned that the Ministry of IslamicAffairs (MIA) has once again refused to approve distribution of the novel
Omar A Martyr" by Bahraini novelist Abdulla Khalifa. Omar IbnAl-Khattab was the second Islamic Caliph after the prophet Mohammed and is
regarded by Muslims as one of the "four righteously guided Caliphs".

Egypt: Government Shuts Down Protest Following Bush Visit
Egypt Detains Democracy Activists While Rejecting EU Criticism of Rights
Abuses

(New York, January 21, 2008) - Egyptian security forces prevented
demonstrators from holding a peaceful protest in Cairo's Saida Zeinab
Square on January 17, arbitrarily detaining 30 demonstrators, Human Rights
Watch said today. The protest against cuts in government subsidies was
scheduled to take place the day after a visit by US President George W.
Bush, who praised Egypt's "vibrant civil society."

Before the detention renewal of the writer and activist Mos’ad Abu Fagr
The security forces capture his car without a legal cause

The Arabic network for human rights information condemns the procedure taken yesterday by the security forces, in Ismailia, who captured the car of the blogger Mos’ad Abu Fagr. This came few days before the renewal of the Sinai activist detention.
Abu Fagr’s family was chocked when they saw some policemen smashing the window shields of Abu Fagr’s car parking in front of the house since December 26, 2007, the day of arresting Abu Fagr. The policemen drove the car to an unknown place without showing any legal permission, if any, to do so.

Four students arrested, face criminal charges for slander over comments
made on Facebook

the prosecutor general of Bekaa arrested four students at Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Zahleh (easternLebanon) on charges of slander, libel and public insult following conversations between them on a Facebook webpage that were deemed inappropriate by one of their colleagues who pressed charges against them