Egypt: Schoolteacher among latest victims in chilling wave of extrajudicial executions

Information gathered by Amnesty International suggests that Egyptian security forces forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed a schoolteacher who went missing after his arrest on 9 April, in the latest evidence of a chilling pattern of unlawful killings in the country.

Testimony from eyewitnesses, colleagues and family members, as well as documentary evidence, indicates that Mohamed Abdelsatar was arrested by security forces at the school where he worked in Behira Governorate. This evidence contradicts a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Interior on 6 May which claims he was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces.

“The disappearance and death in custody of Mohamed Abdelsatar is the latest in a string of harrowing extrajudicial executions in Egypt. These unlawful killings are routinely celebrated as the successful ‘liquidation of terrorists’ by police, safe in the knowledge that they need not fear investigation for their crimes,” said Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns Director at Amnesty International.

“The Egyptian authorities must conduct a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the disappearance and death of Abdelsatar. They must bring those responsible to justice and signal an end to the green light they have given to security forces to commit horrific crimes without fear of punishment.”

Amnesty International interviewed two of Abdelsatar’s relatives and three work colleagues, and reviewed 10 documents including letters from his work place, the school attendance registry and complaints submitted by his relatives about his arrest and disappearance. The evidence gathered indicates that he was arrested from the al-Azhar affiliated Abdel Samie Saloma school on 9 April, before being forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed.

Abdelsatar’s brother, Ahmed, said the last time the family saw him was when he left for work the morning he was disappeared. They went to the local police station and the office of the public prosecution several times but received no further news of him until his death was announced by the interior ministry.

Despite the fact that the police had arrested Abdelsatar from his workplace, the ministry of interior claimed in its statement that Abdelsatar had been killed along with a second victim, Abdallah Ragab, in an exchange of fire with police in Tanta, Gharbia governorate, after resisting arrest.

The statement further claimed that the men belonged to the armed groups, “Hasm” and “Liwaa Al-Thawra” and were wanted on charges of assisting “terrorist groups”. Amnesty International is not aware of any evidence provided by the Ministry of Interior to support these claims.

Since 2015 the Egyptian authorities have made a series of similar announcements but have repeatedly failed to disclose the circumstances of these operations or the exact circumstances of the deaths.

Since 2015 the Egyptian authorities have made a series of similar announcements but have repeatedly failed to disclose the circumstances of these operations or the exact circumstances of the deaths.

One of Abdelsatar’s colleagues, who witnessed his arrest, told Amnesty International that he saw a red car stop in front of the school gates at 10:30am on 9 April. He saw several individuals in plainclothes inside the car. He said one man, who was wearing a suit, entered the school building and ordered Abdelsatar to get into the car. Officers from the National Security Agency regularly wear plain clothes and use civilian vehicles during their operations.  

Another colleague, who did not see Abdelsatar’s arrest, but was present at the school at the time, said several other employees and students told him they had also witnessed the arrest at around 10:30am.

Amnesty International also examined a series of documents, including letters sent by the director of the school to the Abu Elmatamer police station and the local al-Azhar  office, confirming his arrest from the school on that date and requesting further details.

Copies of the school’s attendance registry – which is signed by staff upon arrival and departure each day and was seen by Amnesty International – records Abdelsatar’s arrival at the school that day but not his departure. Instead, the comment “arrested from the school during working hours” was written beside his name.

The organisation also examined Abdelsatar’s teaching notebook, which is updated daily, and also confirms the last day he was present at the school was 9 April.

Ahmed Abdelsatar told Amnesty International that when he received his brother’s body from the morgue on 8 May, he saw large scratches on his right hand, and two gunshot wounds in his back.

“Abdelsatar was in police custody for at least 27 days while his family desperately searched for him only to find his bullet-ridden corpse in the morgue,” said Najia Bounaim.

“Such abhorrent crimes are clear evidence that Egypt’s security services currently have free rein to commit abuses with impunity. The authorities must put a halt to the recent surge in enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings immediately.”

Amnesty International also examined complaints submitted by the family to the public prosecutor on 9 April, and to the Behira office of Al-Azhar and the local public prosecution office on 24 April. Although Ahmed Abdelsatar said the public prosecutor summoned him for questioning on 11 April, he said he heard nothing further about the investigation.

Amnesty International has documented several suspected cases of extrajudicial executions by security forces in 2017. Most recently it called for an investigation into the killing of four men on 20 and 23 June, who according to their families, were forcibly disappeared and tortured for up to four weeks. In another incident in April 2017, a leaked video analysed by Amnesty International showed military forces in North Sinai extrajudicially executing seven unarmed individuals, including a 17-year old child. On 13 January police extrajudicially executed six men in Sinai who had been held in incommunicado detention for up to three months.

Israel: Plans to shut down Al Jazeera an attack on media freedom

In response to the announcement by Israel’s communications minister, Ayoub Kara, that the Israeli government has decided to close Al Jazeera’ s office in Jerusalem and take the channel off air, Amnesty International’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director, Magdalena Mughrabi said:

“This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The move sends a chilling message that the Israeli authorities will not tolerate critical coverage.

“By acting to suppress Al Jazeera, the Israeli government joins a host of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, which have demanded the channel’s closure in the wake of the dispute between Gulf countries and Qatar.

“All journalists should be free to carry out their work without facing harassment or intimidation. Instead of initiating a repressive clampdown on freedom of expression the Israeli authorities must halt any attempt to silence critical media.”

Any plebiscite a pointless exercise that denies human rights

Responding to the news that the Coalition has decided to move forward with a second attempt at a plebiscite on marriage equality, Lizzi Price, LGBTQI NSW Network Convenor at Amnesty International, said:

“Allowing a person access to all of their human rights is not something that should be up for public vote. On top of this, any plebiscite would subject the LGBTQI community to a harmful public debate, which will have an impact on health and wellbeing. What’s more, politicians won’t even be bound to the outcome.

“Everyone should have equal access to express their love and commitment through marriage if they choose. After many months of politicians’ internal bickering on this issue, it’s disgusting that politicians aren’t just getting on with the job of removing discrimination from the Marriage Act.

“Amnesty International is calling on the Australian Government to scrap a plebiscite in any form and to allow a free vote in parliament.”

Tragic death of refugee on Manus Island should have been prevented

Responding to the news of the tragic death of an Iranian refugee on Manus Island, Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia, said:

“This is extremely sad and heartbreaking news. Amnesty International is extending our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends.”

“It is not yet clear if his death was a result of self-harm or violence. Irrespective of the cause, Australia must accept liability for the damage its cruel policies are causing refugees.

“This was a man who came seeking Australia’s protection, Amnesty International is gravely concerned that he was provided inadequate health care and that his safety was not the paramount consideration.”

“This was a man who came seeking Australia’s protection, Amnesty International is gravely concerned that he was provided inadequate health care and that his safety was not the paramount consideration.

“This death is yet another bleak tragedy to arise out of the ongoing suffering and tensions on Manus Island. There must be an independent, impartial, prompt and effective investigation into his death.

“It is absolutely heartless of the Australian Government to be playing politics with people’s lives – this must end now. Prime Minister Turnbull and Minister Dutton must immediately evacuate the offshore camps on Nauru and Manus, they must bring the people to safety in Australia now.”

Manus Island/Australia: Authorities must respect right to protest, refrain from violence

Responding to reports of protests on Manus Island, where Papua New Guinea (PNG) immigration officials, implementing a policy set by the government of Australia, are attempting to force refugees and asylum seekers out of an immigration detention centre, Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Campaigns Director for Southeast Asia & Pacific, said:

“Until there is a safe place for them to go, forcing refugees and asylum seekers out of the detention centre will cause even more suffering. Reports that police are attempting to forcefully clear the compound by cutting off water and electricity are alarming, but sadly typical of the policies of the Australian department of immigration, whose conduct on Manus Island has been marked by human rights abuses and deliberate cruelty.

“Australia’s offshore refugee processing system is illegal and abusive, but forcing refugees and asylum seekers out of the centre is not the answer, and risks making their already desperate situation even worse. Repeated attacks and threats from some members of the local community have left refugees terrified of leaving the compound.

“The refugees have – understandably – protested the attempts to drive them into an even worse situation on Manus, and there is now a serious risk that peaceful protests will be met with excessive force by the PNG police. The police must respect their right to peacefully protest the closure of the centre, and refrain from using violence as they have in the past.

“We are calling on the Australian authorities to immediately bring all refugees and people seeking asylum to Australia, and ensure that all those who were granted refugee status have the right to settle in Australia.”

Leaked transcripts of Trump call shows Australia’s disregard for those on Nauru and Manus

In response to the leaked transcripts of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s call with US President Trump in January 2017, Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Coordinator Graham Thom said:

“The conversation makes it clear that Prime Minister Turnbull is rolling the dice with people’s lives and mental health.

“Even more shameful is Turnbull’s admission that the US need not take these innocent people, only that the US is obliged to ‘go through the process’ of vetting them. This shows a complete disregard for these people, and begs the question of what exactly does the Australian Government plan to do with them? And when will they be finally allowed to rebuild their lives in safety?

“The people on Nauru and Manus Island have already suffered enough at the hands of the Australian Government’s abusive policies. It’s even clearer now that our government has no plan at all for them and it is simply whittling away people’s lives and mental health.

“Amnesty International welcomed the news of the US resettling these vulnerable refugees as part of its refugee admissions program and, for the sake of those still living in horrid conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, we are urging the US to take as many refugees as possible.

“But regardless of this, the US refugees intake is closed until October, and it is unclear how long it will take until people could be resettled there from the camps. What needs to happen now is for the camps to be evacuated immediately and people be brought here to safety in Australia.”

Indonesia: Government should immediately establish moratorium after maladministration surrounding execution

The undersigned organisations urge the government of Indonesia to establish an official moratorium on all executions and review all death penalty cases with a view to the commutation of their sentences as immediate first steps towards abolition of the death penalty. The call follows the publication of the findings by the Ombudsman of Indonesia, confirming violations of legal procedures in the case of a prisoner executed in July 2016.

On 28 July 2017 the Indonesian Ombudsman concluded that the Attorney General had conducted the execution of Nigerian national Humphrey “Jeff” Jefferson Ejike in violation of Indonesia’s legal procedure. The Ombudsman’s decision was announced almost a year after Humphrey was executed on 29 July 2016 in Nusakambangan Island, Central Java, along with other three prisoners. All men had been convicted of and sentenced to death for drug-related offenses, which do not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes” to which the ultimate punishment must be restricted to, pending abolition, under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party.

Amnesty International, ICJR (Institute for Criminal Justice Reform), KontraS (Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) and LBH Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute) believe that the Ombudsman’s decision echoes the organisations’ findings documented in  many other death penalty cases, which point to  systemic flaws in the administration of justice in Indonesia. These include serious violations of the right to a fair trial and of other international safeguards that must be observed in all death penalty cases. We regret that the findings come a year too late, as the irrevocable punishment of the death penalty has already been implemented on Humphrey “Jeff” Jefferson Ejike.

The Ombudsman declared that the Attorney General should have not executed Humphrey “Jeff” Jefferson Ejike because his clemency request was still pending.

The Ombudsman declared that the Attorney General should have not executed Humphrey “Jeff” Jefferson Ejike because his clemency request was still pending. The Attorney General should have followed the Constitutional Court decision delivered on 15 June 2016 that allowed any convicted person to request clemency beyond up to a year after the final decision being made by the Indonesia’s court. Further, the Ombudsman also declared that regarding the Central Jakarta District Court, there was an element of “discrimination” by not submitting Jeff’s case review request – the last available appeal in criminal cases − to the Supreme Court, while they submitted the appeals for case review by other death row prisoners to the Court.

Research findings by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia, Komnas HAM) and additional research carried out by Amnesty International, ICJR (Institute for Criminal Justice Reform) showed that defendants facing the death penalty did not have access to legal counsel at crucial stages of the process, whether from the time of arrest or at different stages of their trial and appeals. In some cases the police ill-treated them to make them “confess” to the crimes or countersign police investigation dossiers used as evidence in court. Several prisoners were brought before a judge for the first time only when their trials began, months after their arrest. Some of them did not receive legal assistance when appealing against their conviction or sentence, or did not even submit an appeal application because they were not informed by their lawyers of their right to do so.

In some cases in 2015 and 2016, executions went ahead despite the courts having accepted prisoners’ applications to submit appeals, which had not yet been heard by the courts. Despite the clear prohibition under international law on the use of the death penalty against persons who were below 18 years of age at the time of the offence, or who have a mental or intellectual disability, our organisations documented that claims which two prisoners made in relation to being under 18 and mental disability were not adequately investigated, resulting in the unlawful imposition of the death penalty and, in one of these cases, execution. The death penalty also continues to be used extensively for drug-related offences.

As of today, 105 countries have fully abolished capital punishment from their legislation and 141 in total — more than two-thirds of the world’s countries — have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. In the Asia-Pacific region, 20 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes and a further seven are abolitionist in practice, following the abolition of the death penalty in Fiji and Nauru in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and in Mongolia last July. By continuing to resort to the death penalty, the government of Indonesia is setting the country against the global and regional trend towards abolition of the ultimate, cruel and degrading punishment.

The organisations above renew their calls on the country’s highest authorities to immediately review all death sentences with a view to their commutation, and to establish a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty, as essential first steps towards its abolition.

“Even when she was beaten in protests, she would join the next day”

By Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Campaigns Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

There is nothing left of Boeung Kak lake in the centre of Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. What used to be the largest body of water in the city has over the past years been completely filled with sand, as part of a development project to build new condominiums and office buildings. Since construction started in 2007 thousands of families have been illegally evicted, and the Boeung Kak area has become a focal point for human rights defenders in Cambodia.

One of these defenders is Tep Vanny, a housing and land rights activist who has spent the past decade leading a peaceful resistance in defence of her community around the lake. She has been harassed and beaten, and targeted by the authorities with politically motivated criminal charges. She has been arrested at least five times just since the last general election in 2013. Most recently, she was picked up in August 2016 and eventually handed a two and a half year prison sentence. The “crime” for which she was arrested was her peaceful involvement in the “Black Monday” advocacy campaign, which highlights the imprisonment of five other rights defenders in Cambodia.

“She has been harassed and beaten, and targeted by the authorities with politically motivated criminal charges. She has been arrested at least five times just since the last general election in 2013.”

Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Campaigns Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Amnesty International considers Vanny a prisoner of conscience, and has demanded her immediate and unconditional release. She is also one of the focus cases of our global BRAVE campaign, which works to ensure governments strengthen recognition and protection of human rights defenders.

Last week, my colleague and I travelled to Cambodia to find out more about the situation of Vanny and the community she has been fighting for.

First we went to meet her fellow human rights defenders from Boeung Kak. Bov Sophea, Song Srey Leap, Bo Chhorvy, Phan Chhunreth and Sie Sophal are five brave women who have all faced a sustained campaign of intimidation and harassment, including trumped up criminal charges. We met in front of a small house near the former lake, which looks even smaller when compared to the luxury developments being built close to it. We gave them our recent report on the plight of human rights defenders and peaceful political activists in Cambodia, which highlighted their cases, and told them how thousands of people around the world had taken action to demand Vanny’s release.

The women told me how sad they felt that Vanny was imprisoned, how much they missed her, and even wished they could be with her in jail. They take turns in visiting Vanny in prison every two weeks, despite it being an expensive trip. They told me they were not afraid to go to jail, and that our visit and the fact that individuals and organisations from outside Cambodia are supporting them gave them hope. I was incredibly inspired by their cheerful attitude despite everything they had been through.

The following day we were given a stark reminder of how Vanny’s imprisonment has affected those closest to her, when we visited her mother and sister. They told us how Vanny’s two children, a 12-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, badly miss their mother. While Vanny’s sister and children are able to visit her a few times a month, gaining access involves making various “payments” to prison guards.

Vanny’s mother is deeply proud of her daughter’s activism: “Even when she was beaten in protests, she would join the next day. If anyone is in trouble my daughter will support them for justice. She is so brave. My daughter cannot be bought. She stands firm and would not give up.” She urged Amnesty international to push the government to set Vanny free and thanked us for our campaign.

“Even when she was beaten in protests, she would join the next day. If anyone is in trouble my daughter will support them for justice. She is so brave. My daughter cannot be bought. She stands firm and would not give up.”

Tep Vanny’s mother

In our other meetings with Cambodian activists and civil society groups, we heard how the government is using its courts to silence human rights defenders. Thanks to its tight grip on the criminal justice system, authorities have brought a series of fabricated charges against members of the political opposition, trade union activists, human rights activists, and political commentators.

There are currently 20 human rights defenders and political activists behind bars in the country. Hundreds of others are facing criminal charges as part of a concerted attempt to crush any public criticism, however peaceful. Activists often find themselves in limbo with charges hanging over them for months or even years on end, with no indication of when they will face trial. It’s an effective form of harassment in a country where the process itself is often the punishment.

On the final day of the visit, one of the Boeung Kak activists passed us a slip of paper that she had smuggled out of prison – it was a message from Vanny to me and my colleague:

“I am a clean person. Even though they make me dress up in a prisoner’s uniform and handcuff me like a criminal, my innocence should not be smeared with colour painted by the Cambodian courts and government. Therefore as a human being living on this earth I should deserve the right to justice, because justice for me is like justice for any other person in the world. ‘’

This simple and inspiring message from a BRAVE, honest and indeed innocent woman will spur Amnesty International to continue to fight for her release. We who enjoy freedom cannot stay silent in the face of this injustice.

Show your solidarity with Tep Vanny – take action! Call on the Cambodian government to stop the crackdown on human rights defenders and release Tep Vanny immediately and unconditionally, and drop all charges against her.

Syria: Extrajudicial execution of Bassel Khartabil a grim reminder of Syrian prison horrors

Responding to news of the execution of Syrian-Palestinian human rights activist Bassel Khartabil overnight, Anna Neistat, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research said:

“We are deeply saddened and outraged at this awful news. Bassel Khartabil will always be remembered as a symbol of courage, who peacefully fought for freedom to the very end. Our thoughts are with his family.

“Bassel Khartabil’s death is a grim reminder of the horrors that take place in Syrian prisons every day. The tens of thousands of people currently locked away inside Syrian government detention facilities face torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial executions. These cruel acts undoubtedly amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Bassel Khartabil’s family announced his death on 1 August 2017 after receiving information that he was killed in 2015 after allegedly being “tried” and “sentenced to death” by the military field court in Al-Qaboun, Damascus in a secret hearing. These courts are notorious for conducting closed-door proceedings that do not meet the minimum international standards for a fair trial.

Bassel was arrested on 15 March 2012 by the Syrian Military Intelligence and held in incommunicado detention for eight months before being moved to ‘Adra prison in December 2012. He remained in ‘Adra until 3 October 2015, when he managed to inform his family that he was being transferred to an undisclosed location. Since then his whereabouts remained unknown.

“We urge the Russian government to use its influence on the Syrian authorities to help end this madness. It must allow for independent monitors inside detention sites across Syria and for an investigation to be conducted. Thousands of lives are on the line,” Anna Neistat said.

Background

Bassel Khartabil, was born and raised in Syria to a Palestinian family. He worked as a software developer and was a prominent free speech activist. Before his arrest, Bassel Khartabil used his technical expertise to help advance freedom of speech and access to information via the internet. He has won many awards, including the 2013 Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award for using technology to promote an open and free internet, and was named one of Foreign Policy magazine’s Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2012 “for insisting, against all odds, on a peaceful Syrian revolution.”

Amnesty International has previously documented ill treatment, torture and extra judicial executions in Syrian prisons.

Thailand: Drop sedition charges against prominent journalist for Facebook posts

Responding to the Thai authorities summoning of prominent journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk to answer accusations of sedition for some of his Facebook posts, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, James Gomez, said:

“The authorities must immediately stop using the criminal justice system to harass Pravit Rojanaphruk. It is outrageous to think that he could face decades in prison for a totally peaceful action like putting up a few critical Facebook posts. Pravit is a brave journalist who has already been arbitrarily detained by the military government twice since it seized power in 2014. All criminal proceedings against him must be dropped.

“There appears to be no end to the Thai authorities’ determination to stamp out any form of criticism, whether online or on the streets. In the past few years, dozens of people have faced sedition charges for peacefully criticising the junta, including for their use of Facebook and other social media.

“The government uses a range of draconian laws and executive orders to silence critical voices, not least in the media. Journalists like Pravit should be able both to to do their jobs and express their opinions – however critical – without fear of harassment or imprisonment.”