Felicia McCaw
Social Work 112
Extra Credit Submission
Middle East/North Africa
Human Rights Watch
Lebanon: Investigate and Punish Army Attacks on Migrants
Soldiers Accused of Beating Dozens of Syrian, Egyptian, and Sudanese migrants
October 10, 2012
On October 7, 2012, 72 migrant workers were beaten and abused in the Beirut neighborhoods of Geitawi, Human Rights relayed. The total consisted of 45 Syrians, 20 Egyptians and 7 Sudanese migrant workers. They were accused of harassing women and all had valid paperwork. They were abused for approximately four hours. Another attack similar to this one happened in another part of Achrafieh. The Syrian migrants were interrogated and asked political questions regarding religion and affiliation and after that the army left.
Houry, Nadim. (2012, October 10). Lebanon: Investigate and Punish Army Attacks on Migrants. Human Rights Watch.
Retrieved from:
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/10/lebanon-investigate-and-punish-army-attacks-migrants
Middle East/North Africa
Human Rights Watch
Kazakhstan: Opposition Leader Jailed
Case Highlights Free Speech Crackdown
October 9, 2012
Opposition Leader Vladimir Kozlov, 52, was sentenced to a prison term of seven and a half years for a knock against freedom of expression and the pluralism of political voices in Kazakhstan. On October 8, 2012, the Aktau City Court in Western Kazakhstan found Kozlov leader and head of an unregistered political party Alga! was found guilty of “inciting social discord” and “calling for overthrowing the constitution order” and creating and organizing a group with the intent to commit one or more crimes. Relayed is that the investigation was shrouded in secrecy and an unfair trial was orchestrated.
The report alleges that Kozlov’s role indicated that he took part in violent clashes in the Western part of Kazakhstan in December 2011 following extended labor strikes. Kozlov’s publically criticize the Kazakh government and caused him to be incarcerated, his assets seized and fined $10,000.
Felicia McCaw
Social Work 112
Extra Credit Submission
Page 2
Two others were found guilty with Kozlov as follows:
#1 – Akzhanat Aminov, 55, from Zhanaozen was convicted of the same charges as Kozlov. He will serve a five year suspended sentence with required check in with law enforcement relaying his whereabouts and activities. Further he was given a one year suspended sentence for leading an illegal strike in August 2011.
#2 – Serik Sapargali, 60, civil society activist, was found guilty of “calling for the overthrowing of constitutional order” and will serve a four year suspended sentence. Aminov confessed to the charges and Sapargali confessed to be partially the blame.
From May 2011 until December 16, 2011 peaceful strikes were staged for higher wages – Kozlov and Sapargali were there with other political opposition activists to support the oil workers.
On January 23, 2012, Kozlov and Sapargali were arrested in Almaty and charged with inciting social discord for allegedly persuading fired oil workers to continue to strike and violently oppose the authorities. On February 17, Aminov, 55, was charged with and detained on charges of inciting social discord in Zhanaozen for his role in leading a strike in December that escalated to violence.
Leaving an explicit unwritten message that possible reciprocation and quick judgment will happen to anyone who does the same and will be judged and treated the same way.
Rittmann, Mihra. (2012, October 9). Kazakhstan: Opposition Leader Jailed. Human Rights Watch.
Retrieved from:
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/09/kazakhstan-opposition-leader-jailed
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