AUTHOR
BY LISA JUNG, AYÇA ZEHRA KARABABA, KAROLINA KISIEL, MAGDALENA SKUZA, HELENA PARISE SANVICENTE & ROBIN DIETEREN
THIS WEEKS BLOG ISSUE CONCERNS SEVERAL VERY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WRITTEN FOR YOU BY SEVERAL REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. THE BLOG CONCERNS BOTH SYSTEMIC ISSUES, LIKE HATE CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE OF ASIAN DESCENT AND THE DEFENDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN, AS WELL AS VERY SPECIFIC CONFLICTS IN TIGRAY. WE ALSO BRING YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE EVENTS IN TURKEY, SYRIAN WAR CRIMES AND THE DEMOLISHING OF HOUSES IN EGYPT.
THE ATLANTA ATTACKS AND HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN WOMEN
RECENTLY THE ATLANTA-AREA SPA SHOOTINGS HAVE RAISED THE DEBATE OVER HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS. A GUNMAN KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE AT THREE SPAS ON TUESDAY, AND MOST OF THE VICTIMS WERE WOMEN OF ASIAN DESCENT. MANY HAVE CALLED FOR SOLIDARITY AND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND RACIST VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN PEOPLE, WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THE ATTACKER’S MOTIVE HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN ESTABLISHED YET.
MANY WERE DISAPPOINTED BY THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION OF THE CHEROKEE COUNTY WHICH CITED ALCOHOL, SEX ADDICTION AND A "BAD DAY" AS POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE CRIME. MANY DECLARED NOT TO BELIEVE THIS WAS A CASE OF BEING ‘AT THE WRONG PLACE, AT THE WRONG TIME’. AISHA YAQOOB MAHMOOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND STATE THAT “PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE MASSAGE PARLOR INDUSTRY OR OTHER BEAUTY INDUSTRIES ARE OFTEN WORKING HIGHLY VULNERABLE OR LOW-WAGE JOBS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC. AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE IMPACTS AROUND STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE, WHITE SUPREMACY AND MISOGYNY IS ESPECIALLY IMPACTING THEM.”
IN THE PAST YEAR TRUMP HAS ALSO SCAPEGOATED PEOPLE OF ASIAN DESCENT FOR THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH HAS INCREASED THE ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE.
SEE THE FOLLOWING INSTAGRAM-ACCOUNTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE AND WHAT YOU CAN TO COURTER THIS DEVELOPMENT: @ZETJEIN (DUTCH), @SOYOUWANTTOTALKABOUT, @GEMMA-CHAN AND @ASIANSFORMENTALHEALTH
WHAT HAPPENED IN TURKEY THIS WEEK?
DEPUTY ÖMER FARUK GERGERLIOĞLU WAS DISMISSED DUE TO THE PRISON SENTENCE UPHELD BY THE 16TH CRIMINAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS. ÖMER FARUK GERGERLIOĞLU, WHO STARTED THE "JUSTICE WATCH" BY NOT LEAVING THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, STATED THAT THE SOLIDARITY AGAINST THIS LAWLESSNESS SHOULD GROW, “BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS A MATTER OF DEMOCRACY. WHAT IS DONE TO ME TODAY WILL BE DONE TO SOMEONE ELSE TOMORROW," HE SAID. ALSO, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REACTED TO THE REMOVAL OF ÖMER FARUK GERGERLIOĞLU, WHO WAS SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS IN PRISON FOR "MAKING TERRORIST PROPAGANDA", IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RAPPORTEUR ON TURKEY NACHO SANCHEZ AMOR AND THE EU-TURKEY JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (JPC) CO-CHAIRMAN SERGEY LAGODINSKY, EXPRESSED CONDEMNATION OF GERGERLIOĞLU'S DISMISSAL. IN THE MESSAGE, "THE DECISION IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF REPRESSION AGAINST THE OPPOSITION IN TURKEY" EXPRESSION WAS USED.
SUPREME COURT CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR BEKIR ŞAHIN FILED AN INDICTMENT AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT FOR HDP (PEOPLES' DEMOCRATIC PARTY) TO BE DISSOLVED.
SEZGIN TANRIKULU, CHP ISTANBUL DEPUTY AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HUMAN RIGHTS INQUIRY COMMISSION, ANNOUNCED THE FEBRUARY 2021 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS REPORT. IN THIS REPORT, TANRIKULU SHARED THE INFORMATION THAT THE RIGHT TO LIFE OF 176 PEOPLE WAS VIOLATED THIS MONTH (FEBRUARY), AND 434 PEOPLE WERE TORTURED AND ILL-TREATED.
19-MONTH-OLD NUREFŞAN BABY ARRESTED WITH HER MOTHER. RUKIYE GÜLER, WHOSE HUSBAND HAD BEEN IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS, WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE HIS SENTENCE WAS APPROVED BY THE SUPREME COURT. RUKIYE GÜLER, WHO WAS PLACED IN THE QUARANTINE CELL OF THE DIYARBAKIR WOMEN'S CLOSED PRISON WITH HER 19-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER, HAD A DAUGHTER AND A SON AT THE AGE OF 12 AND 13. RUKIYE GÜLER, WHO WAS DETAINED WITH HER HUSBAND ERHAN GÜLER WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, NUREFŞAN, WAS RELEASED ON PROBATION THAT DAY. SHE WAS GOING TO THE POLICE STATION ONCE A WEEK AND SIGNING. THE PENALTY GIVEN TO RUKIYE GÜLER, WHO WAS SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS IN PRISON WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CEMAAT INVESTIGATIONS, WAS APPROVED BY THE SUPREME COURT.
TWO BOĞAZIÇI STUDENTS DOĞU DEMIRTAŞ AND SELAHATTIN UĞUZEŞ, WHO WERE ARRESTED IN THE PROTESTS THAT STARTED AFTER PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOĞAN'S APPOINTMENT TO MELIH BULU AS THE RECTOR OF BOĞAZIÇI UNIVERSITY, APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE. THE POLICE DID NOT ALLOW THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE BEFORE THE HEARING AT THE ISTANBUL 21ST CRIMINAL COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE TO MAKE A PRESS STATEMENT. WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE DEPUTIES, THE STUDENTS MADE A PRESS RELEASE IN THE POLICE BLOCKADE. THE PROSECUTION DEMANDED THE CONTINUATION OF THE DETENTION OF BOĞAZIÇI STUDENTS SELAHATTIN CAN UĞUZEŞ AND DOĞU DEMIRTAŞ. THE COURT BOARD DECIDED TO RELEASE THE STUDENTS. DURING THE TRIAL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT ASKED BOGAZICI STUDENTS, 'DO YOU HAVE AN LGBT MEMBERSHIP?'.
THIS WEEK, 5 WOMEN WERE KILLED BY MEN IN TURKEY.
EGYPTIAN MILITARY DEMOLISHING HOUSES HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 12,350 HOUSES IN SINAI HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY THE EGYPTIAN MILITARY. THE DESTRUCTION OF TH E HOUSES BEGAN IN 2013 AND SINCE THEN IT ESCALATED EVERY YEAR. OFFICIALLY, THE DEMOLITIONS ARE CARRIED OUT TO FIGHT THE WILAYAT SINAI, A LOCAL ISLAMIC STATE GROUP. MOST RECENTLY THE DEMOLISHING HAS HAPPENED IN AL-ARISH, THE CAPITAL OF NORTHERN SINAI. FURTHERMORE, THE ARMY HAS DEMOLISHED 6,000 HECTARES OF FARMLAND. JOE STORK, DEPUTY MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA DIRECTOR AT HRW, SAID THE DEMOLITIONS REFLECTED AN "(…) ABUSIVE OFFICIAL MENTALITY THAT DISMISSES THE WELLBEING OF SINAI RESIDENTS". THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD END ABUSIVE EVICTIONS AND DEMOLITIONS, ACCELERATE FAIR, TRANSPARENT COMPENSATION FOR EVERYONE POSSIBLE, AND PROVIDE ASSURANCES THAT EVICTED RESIDENTS CAN RETURN HOME AS SOON AS AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE.” SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWED THAT THE EGYPT’S ACTIONS IN SINAI HAD DESTROYED NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THERE, WITH ARE BEING FLOODED WITH MILITARY BASES AND ARMY CHECK SPOTS. A PREVIOUS REPORT BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (2019) SHOWED EVIDENCE OF CIVILIANS WITNESSING "SERIOUS ABUSES" DONE BY THE EGYPTIAN IN NORTH SINAI. MOREOVER, DOZENS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN KILLED IN NORTH SINAI SINCE FEBRUARY 2018. IT IS HARD TO ESTIMATE THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THE DEMOLISHING OF THE EGYPTIAN HOMES AS THE AREA IS NOT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AND JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ADMITTED.
NETHERLANDS AND CANADA MAKE JOINED EFFORT TO BRING JUSTICE TO SYRIA WAR CRIMES
LAST MONDAY, THERE WAS A TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACEFUL AGAINST THE ASSAD REGIME, WHICH TURNED OUT TO ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE WAR SINCE 1945. EVEN THOUGH FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAR IS OVER AND ASSAD HAS WON, THE FACT IS THAT THE GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING IN SYRIA.
THE ASSAD REGIME HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF COMMITTING TORTURE, MURDERS AND USING A CHEMICAL WEAPON ON OWN CIVILIANS. MOREOVER, THE WAR CAUSED MORE THAN 11 MILLION SYRIAN WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND BECOME REFUGEES.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY STRUGGLES TO BRING ASSAD AND HIS PEOPLE, AS WELL AS NON- STATE ACTORS SUCH AS ISIS OR NUSRA FRONT, LIABLE FOR WAR CRIMES, AS SYRIA IS A NOT PARTY TO ROME STATUTE. MOREOVER, THE PRESENT OF RUSSIA IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, ASSAD’S ALLY, AND CHINA BLOCKS EVERY POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING JUSTICE, AS BOTH CONSISTENTLY USE THE VETO.
HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME BRIGHT SPOT IN THE DARK AND LONG TUNNEL, AS CANADA DECIDED TO JOIN THE NETHERLANDS TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF THE WAR IN SYRIA, AS THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. AS WE CAN READ IN THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT, BOTH COUNTRIES DECLARE TO HOLD THE ASSAD REGIME ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS VIOLATIONS OF THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE.
AS A RESPONSE, SYRIA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE THE INTENTIONS TO ENTER INTO TALKS ABOUT THE LIABILITY CLAIMS. THE COMMITMENT OF DUTCH AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS CLAIMS THAT IF THE NEGOTIATIONS DO NOT LEAD TO JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS, THE ASSAD REGIME WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT.
CONFLICT IN THE TIGRAY REGION CONTINUES AMID PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR DE-ESCALATION SINCE NOVEMBER 2020, THE NORTHERNMOST REGION OF ETHIOPIA (TIGRAY) HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY A CONFLICT THAT HAS ALREADY COST THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND DESTABILIZED COUNTLESS MORE. SEVERAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ISSUED REPORTS ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF DISPLACED PEOPLE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND AND UP TO TWO MILLION. A GROWING NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS INDICATES THE TRANSPIRING OF WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN THE REGION. TIGRAY IS HOME TO MOST OF ETHIOPIA'S POPULATION OF ETHNIC TIGRAYANS. EVEN THOUGH THIS ETHNIC GROUP MAKES UP A MERE 6% OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION, IT HAS PLAYED A CENTRAL POLITICAL ROLE THROUGH ITS LEADING POLITICAL PARTY, THE TIGRAY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT (TPLF). THIS PARTY WAS CREATED IN THE 1970S TO FIGHT FOR TIGRAYAN SELF-DETERMINATION AND, ALTHOUGH IT MOVED AWAY FROM ITS INITIAL OBJECTIVES, IT WAS PART OF THE COALITION THAT RULED THE COUNTRY FOR ALMOST THIRTY YEARS, THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE'S REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRATIC FRONT (EPRDF). PRIME MINISTER ABIY AHMED DISSOLVED THE EPRDF IN 2019, WHICH CAUSED THE TPLF TO RETURN TO ITS HEADQUARTERS IN TIGRAY. NEW DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WERE SCHEDULED IN 2020. WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THE DELAY OF THE ELECTION DUE TO COVID-19, TIGRAY HELD ITS OWN ELECTIONS NONETHELESS, DECLARING AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY FOR THE TPLF AND INSTATING A REGIONAL GOVERNMENT AFTER REJECTING ABIY AHMED'S POSITION AND DECLARING IT ILLEGITIMATE. FIGHTING IN TIGRAY STARTED WHEN PM ABIY AHMED ORDERED A FEDERAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REGION IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGED TPLF ATTACKS ON ETHIOPIAN MILITARY BASES. IT HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED THAT TROOPS OF ERITREAN MILITARY HAVE COOPERATED WITH THE ETHIOPIAN ARMY IN OPERATIONS AGAINST TIGRAYANS. THE MILITARY FORCES HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND MASSACRES. BOTH THE ERITREAN AND ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE DENIED SUCH ALLEGATIONS. SINCE THE START OF THE CONFLICT, REPORTS OF ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES HAVE CALLED SEVERAL RIGHTS GROUPS' ATTENTION. THE UN HAS STARTED SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE HAPPENINGS IN TIGRAY, AND IT WAS ALREADY ABLE TO VERIFY SEVERAL WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, INCLUDING A MASSACRE IN THE TOWN OF AXUM PERPETRATED BY ERITREAN TROOPS. THE CONFLICT IN THIS REGION DEEPENS AN ALREADY EXISTING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS BY EXACERBATING SHORTAGES OF FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICINE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE A BROADER CONFLICT IN THE AREA. THE UN, MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIERES, AMNESTY, AND MANY OTHER GROUPS HAVE CALLED ON PRIME MINISTER ABIY AHMED TO DE-ESCALATE VIOLENCE IN THE REGION AND COOPERATE WITH THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. ABIY AHMED, WHO WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 2019, HAS SIGNALLED HIS "WILLINGNESS" TO COOPERATE BUT STILL REJECTS ALL ACCUSATIONS OF ACTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
AFGHANISTAN’S HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS "ALREADY BY AUGUST, AFGHANISTAN HAS FAR EXCEEDED LAST YEAR'S FIGURES", SAID MARY LAWLOR, SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN AFGHANISTAN. SHE ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT WITH THREE OTHER SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS, SAYING THAT "IMPUNITY ALLOWS THE PERPETUATION OF SUCH CRIMES AND IMPLIES A LACK OF RECOGNITION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS' ROLE IN SOCIETY". IN DOHA, QATAR, NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND THE TALIBAN SINCE SEPTEMBER 12, 2020. THE GOAL IS TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION FOR AFGHANISTAN’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FAST. 11 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND MEDIA WORKERS WHERE KILLED IN TARGETED ATTACKS IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE START OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE END OF JANUARY 2021. THESE FIGURES WHERE PRESENTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN (UNAMA) IN A REPORT PUBLISHED LAST FEBRUARY. IN ADDITION, TWO FEMALE SUPREME COURT JUDGES WERE FATALLY SHOT WHEN THEIR CAR WAS AMBUSHED ON THEIR WAY TO WORK IN THE CAPITAL CITY ON JANUARY 17. THESE EVENTS HAVE HAD THEIR BACKLASH ON ACTIVISTS AND THE MEDIA. FOR SAFETY, MANY JOURNALISTS NOW EXERCISE SELF-CENSORSHIP IN THEIR WORK. MANY QUIT THEIR JOBS OR LEFT THEIR HOMETOWN. ON TOP OF THAT, HIGH PROFILE PERSONALITIES FLED THE COUNTRY. THE ATTACKS HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR IMPACT ON THE AFGHAN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, WITH MANY PEOPLE LOSING FAITH IN THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THESE ACCIDENTS ARE NOT A NEW PHENOMENON. HOWEVER, AS THE UNAMA REPORT DOCUMENTS, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE CHARACTER OF THE EVENTS. RECENTLY, THE ATTACKS ARE METICULOUSLY PLANNED. THEY ARE INTENTIONAL AND CALCULATED, TARGETING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, WITH THE PERPETRATORS ACTING ANONYMOUS. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, INDIVIDUALS GOT HARMED IN ATTACKS WHEN THEY, UNFORTUNATELY, HAPPENED TO BE IN PROXIMATE DISTANCE TO THE PLACE OF THE EVENT. THESE ATTACKS WHERE MOSTLY ORGANIZED BY COORDINATED ARMED GROUPS, LIKE THE ISLAMIC STATE IN THE LEVANT-KHORASAN-PROVINCE, WITH THE USE OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. TOGETHER WITH 32 HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ISSUED THE “AFGHANISTAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROTECTION STRATEGY” IN JANUARY 2020. BUT SINCE THEN, THE SITUATION HAS HARDLY IMPROVED.
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