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Alerts - 2012 - Middle East

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United Arab Emirates / Comoros

Stateless blogger facing deportation after being tricked by immigration authorities

Ahmed Abdul Khaleq is currently being held in Abu Dhabi’s Al-Wathba prison, but is due to be deported to Comoros under a 2009 agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the Indian Ocean island nation.

Palestine / Israel

Israel arrests head of Palestinian prison news channel

Bahaa Khairi Moussa is the director of the Palestine Prisoner Channel, which airs reports and interviews with Palestinian prisoners on their status and condition in Israeli jails.

Iran

Two Azerbaijani writers missing

The journalists attended a presentation in Tehran and were arrested as they were on their way home.

Bahrain

Authorities arrest critical journalist

Ahmed Radhi, who criticised the country's proposed union with Saudi Arabia was seized from his home near Manama and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Yemen

Journalists face ongoing threats, assaults

Hissam Ashour survived an apparent murder attempt on 16 May, the third such incident he's faced after writing about corruption in the provincial pension fund.

Syria

Citizen journalist sentenced to death for Al-Jazeera interview

Mohammed Abdelmawla al-Hariri was subjected to horrific torture after his arrest, causing partial paralysis.

Kuwait

Blogger sentenced to ten years in prison

Lawrence al-Rashidi was found guilty of "insulting the Prince and his powers in poems uploaded on YouTube."

Iraq

Kurdish authorities arrest magazine editor

Hamin Ary has been held since 7 May for reprinting an allegedly blasphemous article by a controversial Kurdish writer living in self-exile in Norway. He faces a possible three-year sentence

Saudi Arabia

Activist detained for supporting religious freedom

The authorities haven't given a reason for Kamel Abbas al-Ahmed's detention, but ANHRI believes it's because he spoke out for rights for Shiites.

Yemen

Two journalists face trial for covering uprisings

The government of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh filed a case against the two journalists in June 2011, claiming they broke the law by broadcasting news of the uprising after the government pulled Al-Jazeera's accreditation. Despite the Ministry of Information having withdrawn the charges, the Press and Publications Court has chosen to revive the case.

Syria

Authorities detain journalists, release others

Eight people arrested during the raid on the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression were released, pending trial, while three others, including the centre's president Mazen Darwish remain in detention.

Syria

Two Turkish journalists released

Adem Özköse and Hamit Coşkun were captured while making a documentary in northwestern Syria two months ago.

Syria

Writer arrested, held incommunicado

Salama Kila was arrested on 23 April 2012 for his writings about the recent events taking place in the country, and is considered to be at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Iraq

Television news crew assaulted, equipment confiscated

A journalist was also wounded when a bomb attached to his car detonated. CPJ urges authorities to launch an investigation into the attack.

United Arab Emirates

Expanded crackdown on members of peaceful Islamist group

The new arrests, of Saleh al-Dhufairi and Salem Sahooh, bring to 11 the total number of detained members of the group, the Reform and Social Guidance Association (al-Islah), since late March 2012.

Iran

Harassment of journalists and media ongoing

Over the course of two weeks, two journalists were arrested to begin serving previously imposed jail sentences and a third was sentenced to 25 lashes, while a monthly was suspended for two months.

Syria

Another citizen journalist killed despite ceasefire plan

Abdul Ghani Kaakeh was deliberately targeted by the security forces, who had ordered him to stop filming moments before he was shot.

Bahrain

Prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab arrested

Rajab was arrested upon arrival at the Bahrain airport on charges of "participating in an illegal assembly and calling others to join".

Kuwait

Television station fined over 1.3 million euros

Scope TV was ordered to pay approximately 1,360,000 euros to the former information minister Sheikh Faisal Al-Malek Al-Sabah, a member of the ruling family, for having broadcast a programme last October that the court deemed offensive to the royal family.

Yemen

Journalists attacked; newspaper harassed

Anwar al-Bahri was beaten by unidentified men, reportedly belonging to the country's most influential tribal group,the al-Armar family, who stormed into his home in the capital, Sana'a.

Kuwait

Security forces arrest 16 Bidun protesters

On 1 May, between 200 and 300 Bidun gathered near al-Sha’bi mosque in Taima’a to demand government action on their citizenship claims and resolution of their stateless status only to be met with force and arrests.

Iraq

Editor held illegally for six days because of corruption coverage

Sherwan Sherwani was arrested following a complaint about a May 2011 article accusing the head of the municipality of embezzling public funds, a claim for which the article provide some evidence.

Bahrain

Re-trial ordered of jailed human rights defenders, writers and bloggers

An appeals court ordered a retrial in the case of all twenty-one opposition activists, writers and bloggers convicted by a special security court on 22 June 2011, including Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace and Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, but ruled that they should remain in jail pending a new verdict.

Iran

Elderly revolutionary icon sentenced to eight years in jail

Eighty-year-old Ebrahim Yazdi, who suffers from cancer and a heart condition, was convicted for exercising his right to freedom of speech.

Syria

Young activist faces possible death sentence

Yara Shammas is the daughter of Michel Shammas, a well-known human rights lawyer active on Facebook, and it is believed that “what is happening to [her] is clearly a way of putting pressure on [her father]”

Saudi Arabia

Human rights activist sentenced, on hunger strike

Mohamed El Bagadi has been detained since 21 March 2011 and was recently sentenced to four years imprisonment and banned from travelling for five additional years.

Palestine / Israel

Palestinian Authority blocks critical websites in West Bank

In separate developments, Israeli authorities have extended the administrative detention of at least three Palestinian journalists without charge.

Jordan

Publisher, journalist charged in State Security Court

The case is the fifth time in 2012 that peaceful critics have faced charges for speech offenses, a pattern that undermines the credibility of the authorities' reform efforts, Human Rights Watch said.

Iran

Journalist arrested, government decrees new media controls

Narges Mohammadi, whose health is deteriorating, was arrested and has begun to serve her six-year prison sentence.

United Arab Emirates

Reform activist arrested following publication of critical article

Sheikh Sultan Bin Kayed Al Qassimi was arrested following the publication of an article where he defended the "UAE 7", the seven citizens who had their citizenships revoked by the authorities following their call for reform.

Saudi Arabia

Egyptian lawyer sentenced to one year imprisonment, 20 lashes for criticising King

Upon his arrival in the Kingdom, Ahmed Algizawy found out that he had been sentenced in absentia for his criticism of the Saudi government, and for filing a case with the Egyptian judiciary against the Saudi King demanding the release of Egyptians illegally detained in Saudi Arabia.

Kuwait

Authorities urged to reconsider death penalty amendment

The National Assembly voted in favour of a legal amendment which could make insulting God and the Prophet Mohammed punishable by death.

Bahrain

Protester killed, activists arrested as F1 wraps up

The regime has escalated its crackdown during the events of the Grand Prix, resulting in the death of Salah Abbas Habib, who was arrested by riot police only to be found dead the next day with visible signs of torture.

Lebanon

Two activists arrested for graffiti art

Well-known activists Khodor Salameh and Ali Fakhri are being held at Damascus Road Station for expressing their support for the Arab revolutions through street art.

Israel / Palestine

Palestinian journalist sentenced to four months' imprisonment

Following Palestinian Prisoners’ Day on 17 April, RSF wishes to draw attention to the fate of Palestinian journalists who have been arrested and held in custody by the Israeli authorities.

Iran

Mounting concerns for translator Mohammad Soleimani Nia

The literary translator has been held without charge since 10 January 2012, and is said to be in a fragile condition after having started a hunger strike on 2 April.

Syria

Four citizen journalists killed despite ceasefire

Every day the violence in the country causes dozens of deaths and takes a heavy toll among journalists and citizen journalists, and information is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, says RSF.

Bahrain

Crackdown on rights activists escalates ahead of F1

On 15 April, Sayed Yousif Al Mahafdha from BCHR accompanied by Tom Malinowski and Nadim Houry from Human Rights Watch were attacked and held for a few hours while observing a peaceful protest in Duraz.

Iran

Regime continues to crack down on press

Reyhaneh Tabatabaie was sentenced to a one-year prison term on April 2 for alleged "propaganda against the state" and "weakening the pillars of the Islamic Republic," for her reporting on the arrest of political prisoners after the 2009 presidential election.

Lebanon

Writer, activist survives assassination attempt

The political activist and the coordinator of the "Lebanese Sovereignty Movement" Mustafa Geha came under fire in his car while driving on a highway south of the capital. Four bullets pierced through his car.

Iraq

Media freedom increasingly under threat

In recent weeks, journalists have been arrested, assaulted by authorities, and been the target of terrorist attacks by armed groups.

Yemen

Armed men attack journalist in Sana'a

Muhammad al-Maqaleh was assaulted by armed men affiliated with a tribal group while visiting the defense minister, who was unable to stop the assault as he had no authority over the men.

Saudi Arabia

Human rights activist subject to ten-year travel ban

Released and cleared of all charges in February 2012, Sheikh Mukhlif Shammari was informed of this decision while crossing the King Fahd bridge on his way to Bahrain.

Egypt / Bahrain

Human rights defender Nabeel Rajab denied entry into Egypt

The human rights defender had entered Egypt in the last few months without any problems, leading CIHRS to believe that the denial of entry was politically motivated and in collaboration with the Bahraini authorities.

Palestine

Detained journalist transferred to hospital

Asmat Abd Al-Khaleq was denied bail and ordered to be held in solitary confinement without any possibility of receiving visits since her arrest on 28 March. She was transferred to a hospital six days after her arrest.

Syria

Journalist's home destroyed by tanks, family's passports seized

In a raid on Moussa Al-Omar’s family home in Idleb on 7 April, soldiers seized personal files, computers and the passports of members of his family, before driving tanks into the house and knocking it down.

United Arab Emirates

Activists arrested, face deportation

Six activists whose citizenship was revoked by the government have been asked to pledge to take on another nationality. They were arrested following their refusal to commit to such a pledge.

Kuwait

Writer sentenced to seven years' imprisonment

Mohamed al-Melify was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of 18 thousand dollars on charges of spreading false news about about sectarian divisions in the country as well as libeling MP Ahmed Lari.

Lebanon / Syria

Cameraman killed by cross-border gunfire

Ali Shaaban was struck in the chest while working in the northern Lebanese town of Wadi Khaled near the Syrian border.

Jordan / Oman

Omani blogger threatened with deportation

Ammar Ma’amari, a blogger known for his criticism of the Omani authorities, has been asked by the Jordanian intelligence service to pack his bags in anticipation of a deportation order.

Bahrain

Authorities prohibit distribution of books at international fair

Two days after the start of the Bahrain International Book Fair, officials banned and confiscated all copies of a book by journalist Abbas AlMurshid and activist Abdulhadi AlKhawaja.

Israel / Palestine

Escalating assault on free expression

The Palestinian Authority has arrested several journalists and Facebook users in recent weeks over critical remarks, while Israeli forces have raided Al Quds University.

Bahrain

Human rights activist in critical stage of hunger strike

Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has entered his 56th day of a hunger strike and is now in a critical phase where his life is at stake.

Jordan

Demonstrators beaten in custody

Thirteen people have been charged with speech crimes after police violently broke up a demonstration at a police station.

Iraq

Car bomb kills TV presenter in Tikrit

Kamiran Salaheddin was a news anchor and host of the current affairs programme Iraq and Events on Salahaddin TV, and also headed the local journalists' union.

Syria

Lives of citizen journalist and activist who helped resistance media in danger

Ali Mahmoud Othman, a Homs-based citizen journalist, was arrested in Aleppo and Noura Al-Jizawi, an activist working for opposition media, has gone missing in Damascus; a number of other journalists are also missing.

Israel

Hona Al-Quds network office raided, equipment seized

Director Haroun Abu Arra said Israeli forces raided the network's Jerusalem office, confiscated assorted equipment, and demanded the premises be evacuated.

Palestine

Journalist released on bail after one week in detention

Yousef Al-Shayeb is still charged with libel and slander following an investigative report he published in the Jordanian newspaper "Al-Ghad".

Bahrain

Armed civilians affiliated with security forces kill citizen journalist

Cameraman Ahmed Ismael Hassan AlSamadi was shot while covering a peaceful protest in Salmabad by an armed civilian accompanying the formal security forces.

United Arab Emirates

Authorities order closure of American, German pro-democracy organisations

The Dubai office of the National Democratic Institute and the Abu Dhabi office of The Konrad Adenauer Foundation were closed following government orders in what appears to be a growing crackdown on critical voices.

Iran

Reuters' accreditation suspended by Tehran over erroneous headline

Despite the agency's acknowledgement of the mistake and “tak[ing] appropriate steps to prevent a recurrence", the authorities revoked the press cards of all of its staff.

Iran

Another journalist arrested as crackdown on press continues

Security forces arrested Tahmineh Monzavi on 19 February from her workplace in Tehran but have yet to disclose her whereabouts, legal status, or health condition.

United Arab Emirates

Arrests, threats plague activists and bloggers

Ahmed Ghaith Al Suwaidi and Ahmed Yousef Buatabh Zaabi were arrested on 26 March, without a warrant, and are being held in detention.

Palestine

Journalist detained on charges of libel and slander

Yousef Al Shayeb was arrested following the publication of an article in which he claimed the Palestinian Representative Office in Paris was involved in corruption.

Saudi Arabia

Authorities urged to stop arbitrary arrests, travel bans on critics

On 20 March, Muhammad Fahd al-Qahtani responded to a summons from Riyadh prosecutors for interrogation about his human rights activities and a travel ban was imposed on him a few days later.

Iran

Authorities attempt to silence international broadcasts

International broadcasters including the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America have all recently highlighted deliberate electronic interference by the authorities that is affecting their broadcasts.

Syria

Two independent journalists killed

Naseem Intriri and Walid Bledi were in the country filming a documentary about Syrians escaping the conflict and fleeing to Turkey.

Syria

Kurdish citizen journalist kidnapped and murdered

Jawan Mohammed Qatna was active in the Kurdish youth movement and covered demonstrations in the mainly Kurdish region, supplying photographs to various media organisations.

Saudi Arabia

Human rights activist and lawyer prevented from travelling

Walid Abu El Kheir received a notice stating that he was forbidden from leaving the country for security reasons, two days prior to a scheduled trip to the United States.

United Arab Emirates

Activist arrested for criticising governor of Sharjah

Mohammed Abdul Razzaq Al-Siddiq, one of seven activists who has had his nationality revoked, was arrested after he published a statement on his Twitter page criticizing the latest statements by the Governor of Sharjah, Sultan Al Qassimi.

Saudi Arabia

Authorities confiscate book on Arab Spring uprisings

After the authorities seized all copies of his book Questions of the Revolution, author Sheikh Salman Ben-Fahd al-Odah released the book on his website and via Twitter.

Jordan

Royal Court orders newspaper to remove critical article from website

The article, which was published in the al-Arab al-Yawm newspaper, was critical of unemployment, corruption, and the government's handling of recent protests in the city of al-Tafila.

Syria

Poet and blogger arrested; fears for safety

Dia'a Al-Abdullah was arrested on 13 February from his home in Asswaida by the Air Forces secret services after writing an open letter to the President, and remains detained incommunicado at an unknown location.

Kuwait

News website blocked

Kuwait is not the first state that has blocked "al-Watan"'s website: it is blocked within Saudi Arabia and Syria, and was blocked in both Egypt and Tunisia during their revolutions.

United Arab Emirates

Activist released on bail, still facing charges

Saleh al-Dhafeery was released on bail after being arrested in March on charges of sedition, and harming national unity and social peace.

Palestine / Israel

Journalist assaulted while covering protest

Israeli forces attacked Musa Al Shaer, and broke his camera and equipment while he was covering the weekly march organised by the People’s Campaign against the Wall and settlement in Al Ma’sara village, to the west of Bethlehem.

Syria

Journalists arrested in run-up to anniversary of uprising

Blogger Mohamed Abu Hajar was arrested on 14 March 2012 in the city of Tartus due to his writings on his blog entitled “Mazaj”.

Saudi Arabia

Photographer and web manager arrested

Jalal Mohamed al-Jamal was arrested by security forces in the city of Al-Qatif, reportedly accursed of opposing the state and inciting its downfall.

Yemen

Threats and arson attacks on media in the south of the country

Police and anti-terrorism personnel threatened AFP stringer Fawaz Mansour Al-Haidari in Mansoura, in the southern governorate of Aden, while conducting a raid on his home.

Saudi Arabia

Critical poet detained; website blocked

Habib Ali al-Maatiq, who has been detained for three years in the past for his reformist political opinions, has been detained since 22 February without charges, and authorities have not provided any information on his case.

Syria

Two Turkish journalists and Syrian assistants kidnapped

Adem Özköse, Hamit Coşkun and the Syrians who were accompanying them were abducted by Shabiha militiamen in the pay of the Assad government at a checkpoint northeast of Idlib.

Kuwait

Newspaper editor sentenced to six months' imprisonment

This harsh sentence given to Abdul Hussein Al-Sultan could have serious consequences for press freedom in a country which up to now had been a model of freedom of expression in the Persian Gulf region, says RSF.

Jordan

Four activists detained for criticising the king

Security services detained Saed al-Awran, Yasser al-Sabalyeh, Fady al-Ubaideen, and Majdy al-Kabaylee following their participation in a sit-in in al-Tafila district to demand job opportunities for the unemployed residents of the district.

Syria

Authorities urged to reveal the fate of Mazen Darwish and SCM staff

According to a trustworthy source within the country, Darwish has been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during his interrogation and imprisonment in the same premises, and there are reasons to believe that his life is in danger.

Syria

Authorities threaten foreign media, continue to arrest local journalists and bloggers

The information ministry threatened to take measures against Arab and foreign journalists who have entered the country “illegally” and against anyone cooperating with them.

Saudi Arabia

Student and demonstrator killed as protests spread

The city of al-Qatif witnessed violent confrontations between the police and some protesters calling for social justice, resulting in the death of one citizen and the injury of many others.

Saudi Arabia

Student sit-in violently dispersed

The crackdown on the sit-in resulted in the injuring of 53 female students, including one who suffered a miscarriage, and the detention of a male student who supported the protest.

Kuwait

Art exhibit raided, gallery closed down

Shorouk Amin's exhibit "World of a man" at the al-Mashreq gallery in the city of al-Salhiya was raided two hours after its opening by police forces, who seized all the paintings and closed down the gallery.

United Arab Emirates

Activist arrested following criticism of authorities

Saleh al-Dhafeery was arrested on 5 March 2011 after expressing critical opinions of the regime in general and the State Security in particular during a talk show on al-Hiwar TV channel.

Iran

Human rights lawyer sentenced to 18 years in jail

One of the founders of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders, Abdolfattah Soltani was arrested on 10 September 2011 during a raid by plain-clothes officials from the intelligence ministry.

Kuwait

Daily suspended for "creating sectarian strife"

Authorities are urged to lift their suspension of "Al-Dar" and drop antistate charges lodged in connection with articles that sought to defend the country's Shiite minority, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Kuwait

Writer detained on libel charges

Mohamed al-Melify has been detained on charges of “spreading false news that would divide the society”, “offending the Shiite Twelver doctrine”, and “libeling the MP Ahmed Lari.”

Qatar

Twelve Egyptian citizens detained

During a football match, the Egyptian citizens held banners condemning the Port Said massacre, which took place a few weeks prior in the stadium of the Egyptian city of Port Said.

Yemen

New president urged to guarantee media freedom

Among other concerns, RSF highlights the need to abolish the special tribunal for media offences, which serves to gag journalists.

United Arab Emirates

Authorities urged to stop expelling Syrian protesters

The government revoked the residency permits of about 50 Syrians who participated in a peaceful protest on 10 February, giving them 10 days to leave the country.

Syria

Two French journalists escape to Lebanon

Edith Bouvier and William Daniels had been trapped in Homs since 22 February 2012, crossed the border into Lebanon safely on 1 March 2012 and were taken to Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Beirut.

Israel / Palestine

Human rights defender given one-time permit to travel

Israeli authorities had never produced any evidence to justify banning Shawan Jabarin from travelling, and should follow this belated “exception” by lifting the arbitrary ban entirely, say Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Iran

Authorities clamp down on press coverage as election day looms

Amidst an all-out censorship on the media, the weekly "Hadiss Ghazvin" was charged with "publishing false information with the aim of upsetting public opinion."

Iraq

Security forces clamp down on demonstrations in Sulaimaniya and Baghdad

Rahman Gharib, coordinator for the local press freedom group Metro Center to Defend Journalists, was beaten on the head and leg, and arrested by security forces after he took some photographs during protests in Sulaimaniya.

Palestine / Israel

Palestinian TV channels raided by Israeli forces

On 29 February 2012, Israeli forces raided the headquarters of both Watan and Educational Quds, confiscating computers, documents and radio equipment and leading to the suspension of their broadcasts.

Iran

Journalist sentenced to six years' imprisonment amidst press crackdown

Kouhyar Goudarzi, who writes for the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, was given a six-year prison term on charges of "propagating against the regime" and "assembly and collusion against the regime."

Syria

Wounded journalist safely evacuated to Lebanon

Paul Conroy has reportedly been safely evacuated to Lebanon, while the whereabouts of French correspondent Edith Bouvier remain unconfirmed, nearly a week after the journalists were injured in an assault that killed Sunday Times correspondent Marie Colvin and photojournalist Remi Ochlik.

United Arab Emirates

Authorities deport Syrian activists after peaceful demonstration against al-Assad regime

Two hundred activists were stripped of their residency visas after they protested in front of the Syrian consulate in Dubai.

Jordan

Activist charged, jailed after advocating for a republican state

In a media interview, Dr. Ahmad al-Oweidi al-‘Abbadi said that “[t]he republican system is coming here to Jordan, and I do not believe it will take more than two years, at most” to establish.

Syria

Citizen journalist killed; reporters still trapped in Homs

Anas al-Tarsha, who reported the violations of al-Assad's regime through live broadcasting of protests and violations perpetrated by the authorities, was killed following a mortar shell attack in the al-Karabeed district of Homs.

Jordan

Blogger stabbed after criticising royal family member

A man reportedly stabbed Enass Musallam in the stomach and threatened to kill her if she did not stop blogging about political reform in the country.

Bahrain

Human rights defender renews hunger strike, calls on EU states to take more action

Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has entered the fifteenth day of his hunger strike and has written a letter to the Danish Foreign Minister calling on him to take more action on the basis of the EU Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders around the world.

Syria

Authorities urged to allow aid, evacuation for wounded, dead

Media reports suggest that Paul Conroy, Edith Bouvier, and William Daniels are in need of proper medical care, and that the families and friends of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik have been prevented from receiving the bodies.

Syria

Trapped journalists killed in Homs bombardment

Marie Colvin, Rémi Ochlik, and Ramy al-Sayed were killed in two separate incidents in the the Baba Amr district of the city of Homs.

Azerbaijan / Iran

Journalist for Iranian TV station imprisoned on drug charges

IRFS suspects that Anar Bayramli, an Azerbaijani citizen, is a casualty of recent tensions between Tehran and Baku.

Yemen

BBC correspondent attacked three times in past year

Abdullah Ghorab was covering a protest in Sana'a when he and his two brothers were attacked by a group of men carrying knives and batons, the BBC reported.

Syria

Authorities block website used to disseminate live videos

Bambuser has been used by activists to stream videos of violence and crimes committed by the regime.

Iran

Concern about treatment of detained journalists and netizens

The journalist Mahssa Amrabadi has just been sentenced by a Tehran revolutionary court to five years in prison for writing articles in support of her imprisoned husband, fellow journalist Masoud Bastani.

Bahrain

Two human rights activists detained

Naji Fateel and Hasan Al-Jaber were arrested while participating in a march towards the Pearl Roundabout in Manama city on 14 February.

Yemen

Release imprisoned journalist, says CPJ

Abdulelah Hider Shaea has started a hunger strike to protest his continued detention and his relatives are concerned about his deteriorating health.

Syria

Artist killed, activists detained, journalists' houses targeted

Artist Mathna al-Ma'sarany, who had been supportive of the revolution since its outbreak, died after being shot by a sniper's bullet.

Syria

Authorities arrest 14 in attempt to block news

Mazen Darwish, the director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, was arrested along with 13 others, when security forces raided the organisation's office in Damascus.

Oman

Union activist detained

ANHRI demands the release of Mohamed al-Salty, an advocate for labour rights and democratic reforms who was recently abducted by the security services.

Bahrain

Blogger and activist Zainab Al-Khawaja detained

This is the second time in the last two months that Zainab Al-Khawaja, who uses the Twitter handle @angryarabiya, has been arrested by security forces.

Saudi Arabia

Protester killed in peaceful demonstration

Mounir al-Midany, 21, was killed when authorities attacked peaceful demonstrations held in the city of Qatif and calling for democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners.

Palestine / Israel

Journalists targeted with tear gas canisters, rubber bullets

Four journalists suffered tear gas inhalation while covering confrontations between the Israeli forces and protesters near Ofer prison, west of Ramallah.

Saudi Arabia / Malaysia

Writer faces apostasy trial after Malaysia deports him back to Saudi Arabia

Hamza Kashgari was preparing to seek political asylum in New Zealand in light of the likely death sentence he faces in Saudi Arabia for expressing his religious views.

Oman

Blogger detained following blog entry critical of Sultan Qaboos' reign

Muawiya al-Rawahy was arrested after he published his blog entry "Finally, I am free," where he expressed disappointment in the situation in his country and his lack of confidence in the reign of Sultan Qaboos.

Bahrain

Two American activists arrested, deported; news website blocked

Radhika Sainath et Huwaida Arraf, who were responsible for providing video footage for the site http://witnessbahrain.org, were arrested on as they were filming a peaceful demonstration in the capital and deported to the United States.

Morocco / Iran

French magazine censored for publishing images from "Persepolis"

Morocco withstood pressure from Iranian authorities to ban the film in May 2008 and it was shown in the Meknes International Festival of Animated Film as well as the Casablance Film Festival in 2007.

Syria

Rights activist and lawyer charged for providing legal aid to detained protesters

Abdullah al-Khalil was ordered to appear before the criminal court in al-Rakka for providing legal and financial aid to protesters.

Syria

Authorities urged to respond to rumours of writer's death in detention

According to rumours circulating since 10 February, writer and opposition activist Hussein Issou reportedly died in detention.

Iran

Translator and poet arrested, whereabouts unknown

According to a source close to his family, Mohammad Soleimani Nia has been under pressure since November 2011, when he was questioned by security officers.

Bahrain

Authorities urged to grant entry to journalists

Authorities have rejected at least six journalists' applications for entry visas ahead of the anniversary of antigovernment protests that swept the country in February 2011.

Saudi Arabia / Malaysia

Journalist flees country following detention order over tweets

Hamza Kashgari posted several tweets about the birth of prophet Mohamed, and was surprised to find severe attacks on him by clergymen and some Saudi citizens who were angered by what he had written.

Syria

Journalist killed in Homs

Mazhar Tayyara, a stringer for Agence France-Presse and other international outlets, sustained multiple severe injuries when government forces fired on the city of Homs and died hours later at the hospital.

Kuwait

Electoral campaign marred by attacks, prosecutions against media

Three daily papers and a television station are under threat of judicial proceedings launched by the information minister, Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah.

Yemen

Journalists receive death threats; news media attacked

Four journalists and activist bloggers are currently under threat from a fatwa issued at the start of February by senior clerics which explicitly calls for their deaths and for the closure of the newspapers and websites that carried their articles.

Palestine

MADA condemns escalating campaign against journalists

Israeli forces raided the house of Suhaib Al-A’sa, arrested him and confiscated his mobile phones, recorder and his camera’s memory cards.

Iran

Blogger sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, newspaper suspended

The Tehran revolutionary court sentenced Mehdi Khazali to 14 years’ imprisonment, 10 years’ internal exile in the south-western city of Borazjan and 70 lashes.

Iran

Arrest sweeps target Arab minority

At least some of the arrests in Khuzestan province were reportedly in response to anti-government slogans and graffiti expressing sympathy for the Arab Spring and calling for a boycott of the parliamentary elections.

Yemen

IFJ warns press freedom remains under siege after threats against editor

Supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh surrounded the offices of "Althawra" newspaper after editor Yassine Al Massoud removed the photo of the former head of state from the front page.

United Arab Emirates / Kuwait

"UAE 5" activist denied entry into Kuwait

Travelling with human rights lawyer Abdel Hameed AlKameety, Ahmed Mansoor was prevented from entering the country "on the instructions of the Emirati security service," and was threatened with detention.

Iran

Ahead of elections, crackdown on press continues

Authorities arrested journalist Saeed Razavi Faghih, who wrote for reformist publications, as he arrived at Tehran airport from Paris.

Iran

Journalists' families targeted in campaign against the media

Iranian authorities have been particularly sensitive to the role of BBC Persian television, which launched operations in January 2009, because of its extensive coverage of the disputed 2009 presidential election.

Syria

Human Rights Watch report documents security forces' use of torture on child detainees

According to a new Human Rights Watch report, "Syrian security forces have killed, arrested, and tortured children in their homes, their schools, or on the streets. In many cases, security forces have targeted children just as they have targeted adults."

Palestine

MADA condemns arrest of journalist in Ramallah

Rami Samara was arrested and held for over three hours after writing critical comments about a PLO meeting on his Facebook page.

Palestine

Journalist injured by Israeli forces

On 27 January 2012, Israeli forces attacked the weekly Bi’lin village march protesting the separation wall, fired tear gas canisters on the journalists covering it, and one soldier shot rubber bullets at the photojournalist Moheeb al-Barghouty, injuring both his legs.

Bahrain

Activist's sentence upheld; others await trial

An appeals court upheld the 18-month sentence against Fadeelah Mubarak, who was convicted of participating in peaceful protests and listening to revolutionary songs in her car.

Iran

New arrests of labour activists

Labour activists have been at the forefront of the struggle for freedom of association and assembly in the country and they have paid a heavy price, says Human Rights Watch.

Bahrain

Jailed activists begin hunger strike

Several of the activists who will participate in the hunger strike are in poor health and it is expected that essential medical treatment will be withheld.

Saudi Arabia

Authorities reject application to establish rights organisation

The authorities rejected an application submitted by rights activists to establish the Justice Center for Human Rights, claiming that their objectives are incompatible with the statute of associations and charities.

Iraq

Journalist protection law falls short, should be repealed, says CPJ

The law, which took effect in November, fails to offer any meaningful protection to journalists and imposes restrictions on who can be defined as a journalist and how one can practice and access information.

Bahrain

Freedom House delegation denied entry

Freedom House had planned to send three staff members to the country to help implement a women's empowerment program funded by the US Government but they were denied entry into the country after having received their visas.

Iran

Targeting of journalists ongoing

Security forces arrested Sahamoddin Boureghani, searched his home and took him to an unknown location.

Iraq

Journalist illegally detained, while another is attacked

Guards at a Baghdad hospital detained Alfayad for publishing news about the firing of 36 policemen in the area, information that was broadcast by multiple news agencies.

Jordan

Authorities urged to drop charges for "undermining royal dignity"

The military prosecutor has charged 18-year old activist 'Uday Abu 'Isa with "undermining his majesty’s dignity" for burning the king’s image on 11 January.

Israel

Attacks, arrests, legislation restrict press freedom

In a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, CPJ expressed alarm over ongoing attacks on and detention of journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as well as over a recent series of developments that restrict freedom of the press in Israel.

Palestine

ANHRI condemns assault on human rights defender

Mahmoud Abu Rahma was attacked by three masked men following the publication of an article in which he criticised the priorities and role of the authorities in Gaza, as well as the PA in the West Bank.

Iran

Arrests of netizens ongoing

Simien Nematollahi, a contributer to the pro-Sufi website Majzooban, was arrested at her Tehran home by intelligence ministry officials on 11 January on a charge of anti-government propaganda.

Saudi Arabia

Demonstrator killed, others injured as security forces crack down on peaceful protest

This is not the first incident of its kind as the authorities have for months been using excessive violence against protesters, says ANHRI.

Bahrain

BCHR concerned over "show trial" of police officers accused of torturing two detainees to death

The five policemen are accused of having beaten to death online journalist Zakariya Rashid Hassan AlAsheri and Ali Isa Saqer.

Palestine

MADA responds to Government Media Office accusations

The accusations came in response to MADA’s report documenting the media freedoms violations in the region during December 2011, which found that the number of Palestinian violations in Gaza exceeded those of the West Bank.

Syria

Authorities detain blogger

The whereabouts of Mohammad Ghazy Kanas are still unknown; he was arrested by security forces on 3 January.

Kuwait

Authorities urged not to deny the Bidun's right to freedom of expression

The Interior Ministry issued a statement on January 11, 2012, saying that it will not allow the Bidun "to organize any rallies, gatherings, sit-ins or demonstrations regardless of their nature, objective and mission."

Bahrain

BCHR fears for life of imprisoned minor

Ameer AbdulSamad Fathi, who was arrested on 2 January, suffers from severe obstructive sleep apnea and guards have refused medication provided by his family.

Palestine

MADA welcomes lifting of ban on newspapers

The Gaza Strip’s Freedoms Committee spokesperson Khaled Al-Batsh stated that previously banned newspapers in the West Bank and Gaza will be distributed without restrictions as of 15 January 2012.

United Arab Emirates

"UAE 5" still face restrictions after pardon

After eight months in prison, and a trial riddled with inconsistencies, the group still face challenges from authorities such as travel restrictions and a refusal to expunge their records.

Syria

Army shoots protesters attempting to reach observers

When protesters approached a checkpoint on the way to the Baath party square to meet with Arab League observers, army personnel barred them from proceeding and, after the protesters refused to disperse, opened fire on the crowd, injuring at least nine protesters.

Syria

French TV reporter killed in Homs

Gilles Jacquier was killed by a shell or rocket that landed on a group of journalists, killing Jacquier on the spot and wounding many others.

Iran

Bloggers' death sentences confirmed; more journalists arrested

Death sentences issued in January 2011 against Saeed Malekpour and Vahid Asghari were confirmed by the revolutionary courts.

Yemen

Witnesses in "Al-Ayyam" case turn against prosecution

One of the witnesses testified that the Central Security Forces were headed by outgoing President Ali Abdallah Saleh's nephew, while additional prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court.

Bahrain

Human rights defender Nabeel Rajab attacked, hospitalised

Rajab was severely beaten by security forces in Bahrain and was taken to Salmaniya hospital after participating in a peaceful protest in Manama on 6 January.

Yemen

IFJ calls for an end to the harassment of journalists

Journalists at the "26 September" newspaper have recently faced arbitrary dismissals and threats of punishment, including jail, for opposing financial and administrative corruption at the newspaper, and went on strike, demanding major changes to the newspaper's future status.

Syria

Arab League observers urged to visit jailed bloggers and journalists, demand their release

While blogger Jehad Jamal, also known as "Milan", and others have been released, many journalists and bloggers are still being held.

Syria

Journalist succumbs to injuries

Gunmen deliberately shot Shukri Ahmed Ratib Abu Burghul in the face on 30 December, after he hosted his weekly programme on Radio Damascus.

Oman

Five-month jail terms for two journalists and their source confirmed on appeal

The case against Yousef Al-Haj, Ibrahim Al-Mo’amari and Haroun Saeed was prompted by a 14 May article that quoted Saeed's allegations of growing corruption within the ministry and favouritism in appointments and promotions.

Saudi Arabia

Renewed protests defy ban; reform advocates arrested

In Riyadh, Buraida, and Qatif, security forces arrested those who were peacefully protesting the detention without trial of hundreds of people held for long periods in intelligence prisons.

Syria

Citizen journalist killed in Homs

Basil Al-Sayed, a 24-year-old citizen journalist, was shot in the head by security forces while filming in the Homs district of Bab Amr and died while being taken to hospital.