April 1991, Page 70

Human Rights

By Sally Clark Nyhan

Palestinian Reporter Indicted on Charges of Aiding Hamas

A Palestinian journalist held in detention for five weeks by Israeli authorities was indicted on March 10 on charges of aiding an illegal Arab group through his work as a reporter.

Taher Shriteh, a part-time reporter for Reuters, the New York Times, the BBC, and other news organizations, was arrested Jan. 28 for possessing an unregistered fax machine and using it to transmit to Reuters a leaflet issued by the underground Islamic organization Hamas. He was charged with "failing to prevent a crime" by not reporting to authorities a news source suspected of leading Hamas, and with aiding the group by faxing one of their leaflets to Reuters.

The case attracted international attention from news organizations and human rights groups, many of whom suspect that Shriteh was arrested simply because he is a Palestinian and a journalist. A recent report from Middle East Watch contends that "scores" of Palestinian journalists have been detained since the start of the intifada, and that more than 15 are still being held without trial.

Middle East Watch reported that Shriteh's interrogation focused on these issues: "the accusation that he knowingly accepted a fax machine from a Hamas activist and used it to transmit a Hamas leaflet to Reuters; and the desire of authorities to obtain information about Shriteh's contacts." Under Israeli law in the occupied territories, it is illegal to possess or distribute any leaflets issued by outlawed organizations such as Hamas. Shriteh admitted faxing the information to Reuters for journalistic purposes only, and Israeli authorities have not charged him with distributing the material to anyone outside the media. At a bail hearing in February, prosecutors argued that "Shriteh's detention should be extended partly to find out more about who his sources and contacts are," Middle East Watch reported. Shriteh was denied bail.

At that hearing, Shriteh told reporters that he had been abused while in detention, being kept in solitary confinement for 11 days in a 60-inch by 30-inch cell. For four days he was given no food or water and wasn't allowed to use the bathroom. He was also held with his hands tied behind his back to a chair with a hood over his head for 10-12 hour periods. Shriteh's charges are similar to past accusations made by detainees.

Egypt Cracks Down on Dissent

Middle East Watch, in a letter to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, expressed concern about a recent crackdown on domestic dissent, especially against anti-war protesters. Egyptian human rights organizations estimated that as many as 200 political activists and students were detained in a single week in February.

Middle East Watch has documented several cases of people arrested, including physicians active in the Palestine Red Crescent, leaders of opposition groups and newspapers, and students involved in anti-war activities. The organization, in its letter, accused Egyptian authorities of "using detention powers under the emergency law to curtail the freedom of expression of those who are raising their voices in dissent against prevailing government policy."

Middle East Watch vowed to monitor arrests and reports of abuse in Egypt, and asked President Mubarak to "reaffirm the commitment of your government to international human rights norms .... Foremost among these are the right to be free from arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture; the right to be tried by an independent and impartial tribunal; the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association; and the right to peaceful assembly."

Kuwaiti Soldiers Abusing Suspected Collaborators

Kuwaiti military officials confirmed to international human rights and relief organizations that their soldiers are violating human rights, and claim that they are unable to stop the abuses.

North Africans, Iraqis and Palestinians suspected of backing the Iraqi war effort are being arbitrarily deported, beaten, arrested, and tortured. Kuwaiti military officers have been observed deporting suspected collaborators to a barren area just over the Kuwait-Iraq border, despite protests from allied officials and international human rights organizations.

Senators Condemn Human Rights Violations in Iran

Fifty-four senators signed a letter urging Enrique Bernales-Ballesteros, chairman of the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, to condemn Iran for continued human rights violations.

The letter, sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Dave Durenberger (R-MN), asked the UN Human Rights Commission to issue a resolution strongly condemning Iran for abuses in that country. A copy of the letter was also sent to US Secretary of State James Baker.

The letter, in part, read: "We are concerned about the dangers faced abroad by Iranian exiles. . . In April 1990, for example, a leading defender of Iranian human rights, Professor Kazem Rajavi, was assassinated near Geneva ... The Swiss police have implicated the Iranian government in the killing.

"We are now hearing of incredible violations of human rights coming out of the Persian Gulf. As horrendous as these stories are, we must not let them overshadow the fact that Iran has been mistreating its citizens for years. The international community has repeatedly condemned Iran for its human rights abuses, and it is important for the people of Iran to realize that we know these abuses continue today. We have not forgotten the thousands of political executions which have taken place in Iran in the last three years."

The letter coincides with the convening of the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission. "By sending this letter today, we hope to have an impact on the Commission as it investigates this issue," said Lieberman.

Sally Clark Nyhan is the human rights editor for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.