YEMEN ( Abdulelah Shaea freed after three years in Yemeni jail ) Journalist

 

Abdulelah Hider Shaea smiles after being released from jail. (Reuters/Farouq al-Sharani)

New York, July 24, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release on Tuesday of Yemeni freelance journalist Abdulelah Hider Shaea, who had been imprisoned for almost three years on anti-state charges.
Shaea was released yesterday after President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi issued a pardon, which also stipulated that the journalist could not leave Sana'a, the capital, for two years, state news agency Saba and other news sources reported.

Shaea, who was arrested in August 2010, was sentenced in January 2011 to five years in prison for "belonging to an illegal armed organization" and "recruiting young people, including foreigners, to the organization by communicating with them via the Internet," according to news reports. CPJ and others said the charges appeared to have been lodged in retaliation for his coverage of extremist groups and the Yemeni government's security practices.
Shaea had been critical of Yemen's counterterrorism policies, according to CPJ research. Using his tribal affiliation to gain access, he conducted several interviews with senior members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In December 2009, Shaea interviewed the U.S.-born militant Anwar Awlaki for ABC News, according to news reports. Awlaki was killed in a September 2011 U.S. drone attack.
"We are relieved that Abdulelah Hider Shaea has been released, but it comes after three years of imprisonment," said CPJ's Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Sherif Mansour. "His reporting on Al-Qaeda was unjustly conflated with working for Al-Qaeda. Shaea should be allowed to continue working as a journalist without fear of harassment or imprisonment."
Hadi told U.N. officials in May that he planned to release Shaea, but it was unclear until Tuesday whether he would uphold that promise. In February 2011, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pardoned Shaea, but withdrew the pardon after U.S. President Barack Obama expressed concern over his release, news reports said. The United States, through the National Security Council spokesman, expressed disappointment about Shaea's release on Tuesday.
CPJ had repeatedly called for the immediate release of Shaea, the only Yemeni journalist included in CPJ's annual prison census last year.

Iran ( Hassan Rouhani: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing ) By Majid Rafizadeh

Hassan Rouhani: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

July 24, 2013 By Majid Rafizadeh

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In the Western world, the media and political leaders have created a narrative averring that Iran’s seventh president, Hassan Rouhani, will introduce a new chapter to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s history of nuclear defiance. Meanwhile, under Ahmadinejad’s rule, Tehran will continue to spin its centrifuges in attempt to obtain nuclear weapons and arsenals until Rouhani assumes presidency. While the West and other regional countries have suspended all diplomatic initiatives, talks and pressures until Rouhani comes to power, Iranian leaders have taken advantage of this opportunity to speed up their enrichment of uranium so as to sooner reach the critical point of obtaining nuclear weapons.
The “logic” that the Obama administration and other liberal leaders are utilizing to uphold the argument that diplomatic initiatives have to wait until Rouhani comes to power is that Rouhani is a centrist, moderate, realist, and rational Iranian politician who comprehends the concerns and rules of the international community, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations, and P5+1. They argue that Rouhani will comply with rules and halt Iran’s nuclear program in several cities including Bushehr, Qum, Esfahan, Arak and Natanz.
Nevertheless, these arguments do not take into account the ideological nuances, political agenda and structure of the Iranian centrists. In addition, and more fundamentally, these arguments can easily be repudiated not only by the career, personal, ideological, and political background of Hassan Rouhani, but also by the most recent statements that Rouhani has made in Persian media and the state’s outlets.
In a recent interview, Hassan Abedini, the host of one of Iran’s state media channels, IRIB, criticized Rouhani by stating that Iran’s nuclear work had been halted as a result of the negotiations that Rouhani took part in when he was chief nuclear negotiator. Rouhani then immediately interrupted Abedini by exclaiming, “What you said is a lie. You know it’s a lie. This statement is what ignorant people say; you are taught in this….Maybe the person speaking to you in your earpiece doesn’t know, but you know.” After the television host pressured Rouhani further, Rouhani said “We suspended the [nuclear] program? We completed the [nuclear] program. This is unethical act of the IRIB [channel] that has permeated into you. And the person who is talking with you into your earpiece, this unethical act has permeated into him, as well.”
In this interview, Rouhani supported the position that although the West and international community believe that Iran was halting its nuclear program, Rouhani – as the chief nuclear negotiator – was in fact completing it. In addition, at the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, Rouhani further clarified, “While we were talking with the Europeans in Tehran, we were [simultaneously] installing equipment in parts of the [nuclear] facility in Isfahan, but we still had a long way to go to accomplish the project. In fact, by creating a tranquil environment, we were able to finish the work in Isfahan.”
Furthermore, after Rouhani was elected as the Iran’s seventh president, he publicly declared that the United States must recognize Iran’s nuclear rights and pledge not to interfere in its internal and domestic affairs. Additionally, in his press conference, the president-elect clearly stated, “The era of [enrichment] suspension is gone.”
The critical fact remains that although on one hand the Iranian centrists support using softer and more diplomatic tones on regional and international platforms, on the other hand, they also strongly insist on preserving Tehran’s current political status quo, foreign policy objectives, and continued assistance towards the survival of the Shiite cleric-ruled regime. While Rouhani is nicknamed the diplomatic sheikh and while he calls for employing less hostile language when dealing with the West, it is nevertheless unrealistic to argue that Rouhani will alter Tehran’s nuclear program and foreign policies or challenge the Supreme Leader.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country would be the most affected if Iran obtained nuclear weapons, responded to Rouhani’s remarks about the era of nuclear suspension being gone. In an interview with CBS News, Netanyahu accurately characterized the political ideology of Rouhani and Iran’s centrist political spectrum by stating, “He [Rouhani] is criticizing his predecessor for being a wolf in wolf’s clothing. His strategy is to be a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. Smile and build a bomb.” Netanyahu also stated previously, “Let us   not delude ourselves. The international community must not become caught up in wishful thinking and be tempted to relax the pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program.”
Hassan Rouhani and the centrist party are the founders and beneficiaries of the theocratic political system of Iran’s Ayatollahs. It would be irrational to argue that Rouhani will stand against the current system, which he assisted in creating, and it is illogical to believe that he will risk his power and accumulated wealth by halting the centrifuges from spinning. Rouhani was the chief advisor of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as the head of Iran’s National Security Council. It is thus inevitable that Rouhani will avoid challenging the Supreme Leader so as to preserve all the benefits and powers he has accumulated.

Majid Rafizadeh

In a very Machiavellian-like approach, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue spinning its centrifuges under the rule of Rouhani, but in the meanwhile will use a much softer tone when interacting with the international community. This shrewdness will allow Iran to buy time, manipulate the international community, take advantage of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s loopholes, delude the rest of world and ultimately reach their nuclear and hegemonic ambitions

Iran NEWS ( 3 Christians arrested for praying - two months ago " vanish " no charge no anything ? )

 

Thursday, 11 July 2013

One month after the arrest of three Christian converts in Isfahan, their conditions remain unknown and there is no news about their fate.

Mohabat News -- According to reports from the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran's sources, since the May 29 arrests of Mohammad Reza Farid, Saeed Safi, and Hamid Reza Ghadiri, their families have been unable to obtain any information about their conditions, and the judicial and police authorities have not provided them with any information about the reasons for their arrests, their detention conditions, or their charges.

Plainclothes forces raided the home of Hamidreza Ghanbari during a worship session by Christian converts, and arrested Mohammad Reza Farid, Saeed Safi, and Hamid Reza Ghadiri. They were then transferred to an unknown location.

According to reports, the forces treated those present at the worship session violently, and confiscated identification cards and information about the group before arresting the three men. During recent weeks, security forces have contacted a number of those present and asked them questions about the three detained men, threatening them with arrest if they refuse to answer questions.

(Three Arrested Christians, Mohammad-Reza Farid, Saeed Safi, and Hamid-Reza Ghadiri)

A local source told the Campaign that the families' efforts to pursue the cases at judicial, security, and police centers have been fruitless. Mohammad Reza Farid and Saeed Safi are Afghan Christian converts and managed the "Our Salvation" website, which was blocked by the Iranian cyber police.

Pressure on Christian converts and Evangelical Christians has increased over the recent months again, and in addition to arrests, Persian-language churches have also been closed down under pressure from the Intelligence Ministry.

Today, the Islamic Republic regime that spends millions of dollars from the country's budget to promote Islamic governments, is facing a new phenomenon called "growth of Christianity among Iranian youth". The regime considers its security force the only way to remove obstacles from their path. The closure of churches, the arrests and the increasing pressures on Christians are associated with the same strategy.

Pursuit, persecution, intimidation, arrests, and heavy judicial sentences for Christians, especially for Persian-speaking Christian converts, have been ongoing activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran for many years, carried out by official and unofficial forces of the regime, repeatedly criticized by religious and human rights organizations.

Religious minorities and religious dissidents, especially Persian-speaking Christians are under ever increasing persecution from the Islamic regime of Iran. These persecutions have reached their peak during the past three years. Numerous Christian converts have been arrested during the period. The reason for these persecutions is to stop growth of Christianity in Iran and its result has been pressure on churches, especially Farsi-speaking churches and house churches.

Nigeria lagos ( 35 year old man arrested for torturing his 13 yr old son to death )

The Ebute Meta Magistrate's Court has remanded a 35-year old man, Arogundade Hammed, for allegedly torturing his 13-year old son, Qudus, to death.
Punch Metro had reported how Arogundade tortured Qudus to death for breaking into a neighbour's house. He allegedly tied him up and hit him with sticks and other objects for hours before Qudus gave up.    The charge sheet read in part, "That you, Arogundade Hammed,m, on the 27th day of June, 2013 at about 2215hrs, at New Site, Alagba Estate, Ikorodu Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Qudus Hammed,m, aged 13 years, by beating him to death." The prosecutor, Cpl Iyobosa Onaiwu, said the offence contravened section 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011. The accused plea was not taken. Onaiwu applied that Arogundade be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution. The magistrate, Mr. F.J Adefioye agreed to remand him in prison to await the DPP's advice.

TUCSON Az ( Double Homicide - murder suspects wanted - for killing an 87 yr old and 84 yr old couple )

UPDATE: Police say that the elderly couple who were found dead Monday night had trauma consistent with homicide and that their vehicle was missing from the scene.
The victims are identitfied as 84-year-old Mary Fulgham and 87-year-old Erskin Fulgham. The couple had a 2004 white Buick sedan with a Arizona Veteran's license plate, Tucson Police spokeswoman Sgt. Maria Hawke said in a release.


TUCSON - A Tucson family is dealing with the violent deaths of two loved ones.
Their bodies were discovered Monday evening by a family member in the 46 hundred block of East North Street.
Homicide detectives are on-scene trying to piece together what happened.
The victims are a husband and wife in their eighties.
Police aren't being specific on how they were killed, but say the couple suffered obvious signs of trauma.
Neighbors describe North as a peaceful street. The red brick house, with the awning is now a crime scene.
Neighbor Malory McGurk says, "Well I'm shocked, and frankly scared."
"It's too close to home, I have two kids and a wife," said neighbor Eddie Cordova.
Those who live nearby were visibly upset.
"I could come home and walk into that," said Ken Kasborg, "It's sad, it's disturbing."
Police say for now, it's unclear when the violence occurred.
Sgt. Maria Hawke with the Tucson Police Department says, "It's very early. That is part of the investigation that's one of the things the detectives will be looking into, to determine who was the last person that saw this couple and how long they potentially would have been in the residence."
As for a possible suspect and motive, police are working to narrow down time frames.
"Anybody who may have had access to the home, anybody they may have had contact with and start narrowing down the list of possibilities from there," said Hawke.
Neighbors have a thoughtful message for the family of the deceased.
McGurk says, "I just wish their family the best, and our thoughts and prayers are with them."
Anyone with information, that could help police should call 911 or 88-crime

MEXICO Guerrero ( 2 killed in Gun battle with the Citizen police group ) Drug wars

 

Guerrero. - Two men who attempted to assassinate IDPs living outside the community of La Union died after gun battle with the citizen police, or Union of Peoples and Organizations of the State of Guerrero (UPOEG).
Depending on the version of the displaced, around 10:00 pm, they heard male voices near their homes.


The two displaced, who were also armed, fell to the ground and began firing
The shooting attracted the attention of the elements of the Citizen Police who immediately went to the site to help members of the community.
In the firefight two of the attackers were killed and one was detained by police while trying to flee by Citizen Mt. Two other attackers managed to escape.
The detainee was referred to the House of Justice Cahuatache community.
The van in which the criminals used was held by the Citizen Police.
One of the assailants fell next to an AK-47 and a can of beer. He wore black pants and gray shirt, and had a bullet hole in the chest.Families who have fled drug violence in their community live in Tepango, La Union and Ayutla, the county seat.
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EGYPT protest ( 14 yr old girl killed and 11 others and dozens injured )

CAIRO – New violence erupted in Egypt on Tuesday, leaving a total of 12 people dead and dozens injured, according to the latest tally, amid huge street protests and often devolved into clashes with police and between supporters and opponents of deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Islamists called for renewed demonstrations to take place Tuesday night after the breaking of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, although during the day it was calm on the streets of Cairo.

Thousands of Morsi supporters gathered on Rabea al Adauiya Square in the capital, where one of Morsi’s aides gave a speech asking the crowd not to forget those who had died in the disturbances.

The main clashes occurred on Monday and early Tuesday morning in Cairo on Rebirth and Tahrir squares, in the city’s northern Qalioub district and near a police station in Nasr City.

Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Khalid Khatib said on Tuesday that at least nine people died and 86 were injured in the disturbances near Cairo University’s main campus on Rebirth Square.

The Muslim Brotherhood had announced earlier that five supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi died during a police attack, when allegedly police dressed in civilian clothes and snipers fired on people camped out in Rebirth Square.

However, a source with the Egyptian security services told Efe that the only violence there occurred between Islamist demonstrators and local residents.

Among the dead is a 14-year-old girl, the spokesman for the mobile hospital on Rebirth Square, Ashraf Abdel Gafar, told Efe, adding that 17 vehicles had been set ablaze by the protesters.

Another witness, Mohammed Said, told reporters that on Rabea al Adauiya square, the epicenter of the Islamist protests, police used shotguns and automatic weapons, as well as tear gas, in their efforts to subdue the crowd.

Three more fatalities were registered in clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi clashed in Qalioub and on Tahrir Square, where at least 44 people were injured. Each side accused the other of starting the violence.

Meanwhile, in Nasr City clashes broke out between Morsi supporters and police after the Islamists passed by a police station after a march to the city’s airport.

One of the men wounded in that incident, Islam Amin, who was hit in the head by at least one shotgun pellet, said that the demonstrators had shouted that the police were “thugs” and the latter responded with tear gas and gunfire.

A total of 66 people have been arrested in the protests, the Interior Ministry said, adding that some of the people arrested were carrying firearms and bladed weapons.

Egypt finds itself divided into supporters and opponents of Morsi, who was deposed on July 3 by the army after huge street protests in previous days calling for a presidential election. EFE