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Salam Gents and ladies
Please keep the good work, what's happening in the gulf region is unacceptable. The wealth of the arab world is going somewhere else. I hope the arab world will get rid of these sheiks one day and the abuse of the power they have over their population. These sheiks are here to obey and please their master the west, and May Allah will take them way from this Ummah.
Best Regards
Amine Mehablia, PhD
Elite Computer Solutions
Senior IT Security Consultant
Address : Al -Umam Commercial Center
Siteen Street Suite # 203
POBox 58915 Riyadh 11515 Saudi Arabia
Tel : (966 1) 4725240 Ext : 37
Fax : (966 1) 4725245
Mobile : (966) 53225608
Email : amehablia@elite.com.sa
There Is Always Light At The End Of The
TUNNEL
-----------------------------------------------
Subj: Tujan Faisal's case ,
Attn. Dr. Osama Fawzi
Date: 3/20/02 00:41:05 Central Standard Time
From: reversi_unlimited@yahoo.com
To: arabtimes@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Dr. Osama,
I happened to have been following up on Tujan Faisal's
case , and to be specific , on BBC arabic , I read a
news article mentioning that the reason behind
detaining Tujan was that she published an article in a
website in Houston,Texas , insulting the government.
It seems like the article INTENTIONALLY ommitted the
name and address of that website , namely
arabtimes.com.
Dr. Osama , the highly immature action that Mr. Ali
Abu Al Ragheb has taken is a very good opportunity for
all of us seeking the truth to escalate the issue.
Don't you think it is an excellent idea to contact
BBCarabic.com and request that the address of that
website in Houston be mentioned in the next news items
regarding Tujan's issue ?
The following link will take you to the news article
that I'm talking about :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/news/newsid_1882000/1882035.stm
Wishing your good self and Arabtimes long life and
prosperity .
Your's faithfully,
An Arab
---------------------------------------
Subj: Jordan: CPJ alarmed by
press crackdown
Date: 3/20/02 17:53:24 Central Standard Time
From: HSabra@cpj.org
Sent from the Internet (Details)
NEWS
Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 465-1004
Fax: (212) 465-9568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: media@cpj.org
http://www.cpj.org Contact: Joel Campagna
Telephone: (212) 465-1004 x103, jcampagna@cpj.org
Jordan: CPJ alarmed by press crackdown
New York, March 20, 2002-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is
alarmed by increasing state restrictions on the press in Jordan,
including the detention of some journalists and the harassment of others
by security agents.
On March 17, a State Security Court prosecutor imposed a 15-day
detention on Hashem Khalidi, editor of the weekly newspaper Al-Bilad.
Khalidi is being investigated on charges of publishing "false
information" and harming the "honor or reputation of the government and
its officials." The charges are based on an article that Khalidi
published under his own byline alleging that unnamed officials with
close personal connections to the insurance industry would benefit from
a recent government decision to increase mandatory insurance rates on
vehicles.
After the article appeared, Khalidi received a call from Prime Minister
Ali Abu al-Ragheb, who complained about the article and warned Khalidi
that he could expect to be the subject of a criminal investigation,
according to sources at Al-Bilad.
Sources at the paper told CPJ that authorities have agreed to accept
bail, and that they expect Khalidi to be released by tomorrow.
On March 18, Al-Bilad's owner, Tajeddin Hroub, was detained overnight
for questioning in connection with Khalidi's article.
Under harsh new Penal Code amendments adopted last fall, both men face
prison terms of three to six months and fines of 5,000 Jordanian dinars
(about US $7,000) if charged and convicted.
In a separate incident, former member of Parliament Toujan Faisal was
detained on March 16 on the charge of "publishing materials deemed
harmful to the country's reputation and that of its citizens," her
lawyer told CPJ.
The charge stemmed from an open letter to King Abdullah accusing
government officials of corruption that was published in the
Houston-based, Arabic-language online newspaper Arab Times.
Faisal had also criticized the Jordanian judiciary during appearances on
regional television stations, according to The Jordan Times. Faisal is
reportedly on a hunger strike to protest her detention.
"In order for a free press to thrive, all Jordanians must be free to
express
their opinions, even those that happen to embarrass government
officials,"
said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper. "We call on Jordanian
authorities to
release Khalidi and Faisal immediately."
These detentions follow several troubling incidents in which Jordanian
authorities have harassed working journalists in response to their
coverage of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and other local issues. CPJ
protested these incidents in a March 5 letter to King Abdullah.
BACKGROUND
On March 10, security forces confiscated the camera equipment of
journalists working with APTN, Reuters TV, and Abu Dhabi TV after they
filmed a pro-Palestinian rally at Jordan University. The cameras were
returned without the tapes approximately 45 minutes later.
On March 5, Jordanian authorities confiscated Reuters footage of
pro-Palestinian students demonstrating at Jordan University from a
Reuters crew. Earlier that day, state-run Jordan TV (JTV) barred Reuters
TV, Associated Press Television News (APTN), and Al-Jazeera from using
its facilities to transmit footage of the demonstrations.
On March 3, the State Security Court banned the publication of the March
4 issue of the weekly Al-Majd unless the paper's management agreed to
remove two articles about alleged government corruption.
On January 13, a State Security Court prosecutor in Amman summoned Al-Majd
editor Fahd al-Rimawi and accused him of publishing "false information."
He was subsequently ordered detained for 15 days for questioning.
For more information about press freedom conditions in Jordan, visit
<www.cpj.org>. CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit
organization
that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
--------------------------------------------
Subj: Our Jordanian Icon
Date: 3/22/02 06:04:25 Central Standard Time
From: o_nabilsi@hotmail.com
To: arabtimes@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Dr. Osama Fawzi,
Dear Arab Times staff,
I have been following with admiration your fantastic support for Toujan
Faisal and your wide coverage of her story. You are proving once again
that you are always one step ahead of others, when it comes to national
issues.
I am full of dismay, anger and disbelief that the thugs who governed
Jordan, have done this to Toujan. Since I was a little kid, I used to
see Toujan on T.v running a weekly show about women, education, and
social problems. I grew up with her program.
I was a teenager, when ugly looking men with long white beards, turbans
and smelly clothes distributed rumors that Toujan is no longer a moslem.
They claimed that she called for women to marry more than one man. I
laughed at the idea, I really thought it was funny. Although, I did not
belief what "Moslem Brothers" said about Toujan I thought It was a good
idea.... Just to embarrass those "idiots" who normally have more than
one wife.
In protest against those so called "Moslem brothers" I boycotted my
local mosque !! and never entered a mosque since. I was a devoted moslem,
I became just statistics !!
Before I know it, I graduated from school and university and started to
work. Toujan was working too, for all of us. I gave her my vote when she
ran and win the elections. In fact I forged a "house rent contract"
indicating that I live in Amman's third electorate ares where Toujan ran
as an independent, just to give her my vote.
She won a seat and I felt ecstatic. I followed her performance in
Parliament, and how the same ugly men with white and red beards launched
a campaign against her. One stupid Bedouin who couldn't write his own
name "Mihjem Al-Khrisha"was MP with Toujan, he once threw a heavy ash
tray narrowly missing Toujan during a meeting at the parliament.All men
supported that Bedouin against Toujan, he was not disciplined..but said
sorry to her publicly under the dom of parliament.
I got married and Toujan ran for elections for the second time. This
time the government forged without shame the elections ensuring she is
not in the parliament again causing headache to men !!!
Once I was in the States and some American friends asked me about our
"Iron Woman" meaning Toujan. I told them she was strong, fair and
beautiful, unlike the English Version!!
Toujan is part of our modern history, she has always been the conscience
of our people, the voice for those who have no voice.Beautiful like a
model on a cat walk, roaring like a lion in the parliament. All wanted
her head in a rare display of national unity!! the same moslem-brothers,
communists, Bedouins, the government(s), the palace and most members of
parliaments, all wanted her head.
She embarrassed those in parliament when she once was described by a
local news paper as the "Only man In parliament".
I was having my morning coffee when I heard about her arrest and the
charges brought against her. They are accusing her of damaging the
reputation of the government !! Hang on.... This government does not
have a reputation at all. It has only a notorious reputation for being
corrupt and undemocratic.
I am sad, that we treat our best women like this.The government wants
Toujan to mind her own business, may be in the kitchen, and leave
politics to men.
Those men who destroyed the country and turned Jordan to one of the most
countries in the world. A country with huge national debt. A country
that accepts free oil from Iraq but supports an aggression against the
axe of evil. A country where one in two Jordanians have filed in the
intelligence department. A country that never won a war, but the first
to sign a peace treaty with Israel. A country run by a handful of
corrupt men in black suits sun glasses. A country that can replace it's
waiting crown prince with a rally- driver with no explanations. A
country that opens it's jails for honest people, opposition and
journalists and it's banks safes for thieves and thugs.
A country where a judge get his orders over the phone from a junior
intelligence officer to pass sentencing.
After all it's the country that jails it's icon. Instead of erecting a
monument for Toujan outside parliament house for being the first ever
women to enter parliament, they put her in jail !!!
Smile Toujan, you will win....
Smile Toujan one day the honest Jordanian people will erect your over
due statue.
Smile Toujan, you scare all the corrupts even when you are in jail.
Smile Toujan, jail in Jordan is not for criminals as the rest of the
world, it's only for honest citizens.
Smile Toujan, you are in "Jwaideh" school of all loyal Jordanians.
We wait for you to lead us, to teach us how to be men again !!
Eng: Osama Nabilsi
------------------------------------
To: Human rights watch-USA
Dear Sir, Madam,
As you might be aware, human rights violations in jordan are daily
occurrences. Few weeks ago, the regime detained Miss Toujan Faisal,a
former
MP and an outspoken opposition figure and the first woman to be elected
to
parliament, for her attempts to expose corruption within the government.
Miss Toujan was arrested and humiliated for writing an article on Arab
times
web site, urging the King to intervene.
Miss Toujan was released after her health was deteriorated rapidly as a
result of her hunger strike in detention. She was released for less than
48
hours before she was detained again for her attempt to organize a media
conference to explain the circumstances of her detention. She is now in
jail, and visits to her are forbidden.
The regime in Jordan did not stop there, last week Dr. Hisham Bustani a
human rights activist and Engineer Shadi Mdanat were detained by
preventive
security without a warrant for their role in monitoring and collecting
evidence about students demonstrations that were oppressed harshly by
riot
police.
Dr. Hisham Bustani was detained for another unknown reason. He was
campaigning loudly and with great courage for the release of miss Toujan.
His arrest is an attempt to intimidate him and in his person every
opposition to the government. The message was sent by detaining Dr.
Hisham
is "No body is out of reach, not even human rights activists".
I urge you to investigate these human rights violations in Jordan. These
are
just a sample of the widespread oppression by the security and
intelligence
apparatus.Please expose the regime and the government in your reports.
This
is one of the worst regimes in the middle east, if not in the world.
They
rectify one agreement on human right for propagandas purposes, only to
dishonest the same agreement the next day.
Down with oppression in Jordan,
Freedom to Toujan Faisal,
Freedom to Dr. Hisham Bustani
Freedom to all political prisoners in Jordan.
Kind regards,
Dr. Rami HASANAT
-------------------------------------------
To: Human Rights Watch- New York
Dear Sir, Madam
I admire your fantastic work in promoting human rights and exposing
undemocratic and inhumane treatments of people regardless of sex,
religion
or color.
However, I am disturbed for your organizations silence with regard to
the
mistreatment of Miss Toujan Faisal, an ex-MP and the first woman elected
to
parliament in Jordan.
Miss Faisal is an opposition figure. She has been detained, mistreated
and
humiliated for politically motivated reasons.She is on trial now in a
state
security court on silly charges of spreading rumors harming the
reputation
of the state. All of this because miss Toujan wrote a letter to the king
using a popular Internet site (www.arabtimes.com) urging his majesty to
intervene and stop corruption widely reported about the performance of
the
government.
Miss Toujan does not work neither for the Police nor the military and
she
was not charged of espionage to justify putting her on trial in a
military
court. State security court and its prosecution are well known tools
manipulated by the government to deal with opposition figures and
political
prisoners.
I call upon you to investigate her case and the widespread human rights
violations against journalists, opposition figures, citizens of
Palestinian
origins among others.
I have not heard yet, of your activity in trying to apply pressure on
the
Jordanian government to free Toujan. If you did campaigned for her
release,
please direct me to find the relevant material, as I could find nothing
on
your website regarding her case.
I trust you will give this matter your urgent attention.
Regards,
Osama Nabilsi
--------------------------------------
His Majesty King Abdullah Ibn
Hussein,King of Jordan
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists is and Arab non-governmental
institution concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights
activists and the mechanisms of civil society in the Arab world against
any violation. As we are fully aware of your majesty's respect for the
rights and dignity of your subjects, according to the Jordanian
constitution, as well as your respect to the fact that the development
of nations is the mirror of their citizens' margin of freedom protected
by the constitution and the international agreements, which your majesty
has ratified, the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, and all the
regional and international human rights and civil society institutions,
wish to express their concern about the final sentence against Ms.
Toujan Al-Faisal.
Ms. Toujan Al-Faisal was sentenced Eighteen months on the background of
her right to freely express herself. The sentence is final without a
right to appeal. The whole process has witnessed numerous legal and
administrative fallacies and violations, according to the international
reports and the feedback of the observers. That eventually led the
Defense team of Ms. Al-Faisal to withdraw, which weakened her position.
Thus, we appeal to your majesty for personal intervention against the
legislations and the procedures that affect the freedom of expression
and can be used against the activists, like what happened in the case of
Ms. Toujan Al-Faisal. Upon that, we call upon:
1- The release of Ms. Toujan Al-Faisal
2- The modification of the law of State Security Courts (Exceptional
Legislation).
3- The cancellation of the clause 150 at the Jordanian Penal Law, which
deactivated the Law of Publications, preventing harassment against
Journalists.
4- The cancellation of the Laws that affect the dynamics and mechanisms
of the civil society actors, such as: Associations, Parties, Syndicates,
and peaceful demonstrations.
4- The cancellation of the Law 45 for the year 2001, regarding public
meetings, which contradicts the Jordanian Constitution, and violates the
clause 21 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.
As, it has been clear within the regional and international legal
circles that the violations against human rights and fundamental
freedoms in Jordan has been increasing, the Arab Program for Human
Rights Activists appeals to your majesty for the cancellation and the
modification for all the non-democratic legislations, for the sake of
the Jordanian reputation at the international arena, and we are sure
that your majesty's wisdom will be always the asset of the Jordanian
population.
Respects to your Royal Highness
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
----------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 16/09/2002
UA 175/02 Prisoner of conscience/health concern/ill-treatment/ unfair
trial 14 June 2002
JORDAN Toujan al-Faisal (f), aged 53
Prisoner of conscience Toujan al-Faisal was hospitalised on 9 June. She
had been refusing prison food for around two weeks, after prison guards
reportedly threatened to contaminate her food with dirt and other
substances. She is protesting at her unfair trial and the conditions
which she is being held in, at a women's prison in the capital, Amman.
Toujan al-Faisal was taken to the King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman
reportedly suffering from high blood pressure, dehydration and
exhaustion. She is reported to have suffered significant weight loss.
She is continuing to refuse food but is reportedly being drip-fed.
According to reports received by Amnesty International Toujan al-Faisal
has been traumatized by her ill-treatment in the Jweideh Women's
Correctional and Rehabilitation
Centre. She is apparently being punished for protesting against the
loudspeaker calling people to the early morning prayer, which disrupted
her
sleep.
Toujan al-Faisal was detained on 16 March after she sent an email letter
to the King, which was also published on a website: it was deemed to be
defamatory to the state, since it accused the Prime Minister of
"benefiting financially" from a government decision to double car
insurance costs. She was released on bail on 27 March, but rearrested
three days later. She has been in prison ever since.
Toujan al-Faisal was put on trial in April before the State Security
Court in Amman. She was denied the right to call some key witnesses and
the Court refused to accept affidavits and other documents for the
defence.
Toujan al-Faisal was tried under laws introduced in October 2001,
designed to restrict freedom of speech, already limited in Jordan, still
further. On 16 May she was sentenced to one and a half years in prison,
on charges which included "publishing material deemed harmful to the
country's reputation and that of its citizens" and "tarnishing the
Jordanian state". She was also convicted on a charge brought by the
Governor of Jweideh Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre of
"uttering words" before another deemed to be "detrimental to his
religious feeling". Apparently this charge related to her protest
against the early morning call to prayer.
Amnesty International considers Toujan al-Faisal a prisoner of
conscience detained solely for the non-violent expression of her
political beliefs.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Toujan al-Faisal was sentenced under Article 150 of the Penal Code. In
October 2001 this was expanded to cover a number of new and vaguely
defined offences, and all offences under Article 150 were brought under
the jurisdiction of the State Security Court.
The new offences included: "harming national unity"; "harming the
prestige, integrity and reputation of the state"; "inciting
disturbances, sit-downs and unauthorized public meetings"; "causing harm
to the dignity, reputation or personal freedom of individuals";
"destabilizing society through the promotion of deviance and
immorality"; and "dissemination of false information and rumours".
Amnesty International has expressed its concern that the new laws
criminalize peaceful activities. They are also in breach of
international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Jordan is a State Party.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:
- calling for Toujan al-Faisal to be released immediately and
unconditionally, as she is a prisoner of conscience;
- expressing concern that Toujan al-Faisal has reportedly been
ill-treated in prison;
- asking that she be well-treated according to international human
rights treaties such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Jordan has ratified;
- urging the authorities to ensure that while she remains in detention,
Toujan al-Faisal is given adequate medical care;
- expressing concern that the new laws introduced in October 2001 breach
international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, to which
Jordan is a state party;
- urging the authorities to amend the Penal Code and to bring the law in
line with internationally recognized human rights standards.
APPEALS TO:
His Majesty King 'Abdallah bin Hussein
Office of H.M. the King
Royal Palace
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Telegrams: King 'Abdallah bin Hussein, Amman, Jordan
Faxes: + 962 6 462 7421
Salutation: Your Majesty
Faris Nabulsi
Minister of Justice
PO Box 6040
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Amman, Jordan
Fax: + 962 6 568 0238 or 962 6 464 3197
Salutation: Your Excellency
Quftan al-Majali
Minister of Interior
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 100
Amman
Jordan
Fax: + 962 6 560 6908
Salutation: Your Excellency
Dr Fayez Tarawneh
Chief of the Royal Court
PO Box 80
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Telegrams: Chief of the Royal Court, Amman, Jordan
Fax: + 962 6 463 1452
Salutation: Dear Dr Tarawneh
COPIES TO:
Her Majesty Queen Rania
President of the Royal Commission on Human Rights
Office of her Majesty the Queen
Royal Palace
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Salutation: Your Majesty
and to diplomatic representatives of Jordan accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
----------------------------------------
Amman- JordaCommittee to Protect
Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 465-1004 Fax:
(212) 465-9568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: info@cpj.org
May 17, 2002
His Majesty King Abdullah bin Hussein
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Palace
Amman, Jordan
Via facsimile: 962-6-463-4755
Your Majesty:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to protest the
18-month prison sentence handed down yesterday against Toujan al-Faisal,
a
writer and former member of Jordan's Parliament.
A State Security Court in Amman convicted al-Faisal of publishing "false
information abroad," "harming the dignity of the state and undermining
the
reputation of the state and its individuals," and "incitement to
unrest," a
source at the hearing told CPJ.
The case against al-Faisal came after she penned an open letter to Your
Majesty in the Houston-based
online publication Arab Times in March accusing
Prime Minister Ali Aboul Ragheb of corruption.
In the letter, al-Faisal alleged that the prime minister owns several
insurance firms and stood to gain financially from a new mandatory
increase
in insurance premiums for automobiles.
She had also recently criticized the Jordanian government on a number of
satellite television stations, including the Qatar-based satellite
channel
Al-Jazeera.
Zayd al-Radaydeh, one of al-Faisal's lawyers, told CPJ that her entire
defense team refused to appear in court during last week's final two
sessions to protest what they saw as unfair proceedings.
Al-Radaydeh said that the team was prevented from mounting a proper
defense
when the judges refused their requests to call Prime Minister Aboul
Ragheb
as a witness.
Although Security Court decisions are considered final, al-Faisal's
lawyers
told CPJ that they plan to submit an appeal to the Court of Cassation to
challenge the constitutionality of the laws under which al-Faisal was
charged.
Al-Faisal has been in detention since March 16.
Your Majesty has repeatedly stated that "the sky is the limit" for
freedom
of expression and the press in Jordan. Yet in October 2001, the
government
adopted harsh new Penal Code amendments to stifle the press.
Since then, a number of journalists have been arrested in connection
with
their writing, and reporters and newspapers have been censored.
The use of criminal statutes to prosecute journalists for what they
write
violates the right to free expression guaranteed under international
law. We
remind Your Majesty that Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human
Rights guarantees the right to "seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
As a nonpartisan organization of journalists dedicated to defending
press
freedom worldwide, CPJ calls on Your Majesty to do everything within
your
power to ensure that Toujan al-Faisal is freed immediately.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters. We look forward
to
a reply.
Sincerely,
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
Ann Cooper
Executive Director
CC:
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Amnesty International
Article 19 (United Kingdom)
Artikel 19 (The Netherlands)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Freedom Forum
Freedom House
Human Rights Watch
Index on Censorship
International Center for Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International PEN
International Press Institute
Lorne W. Craner, United States Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor
The Newspaper Guild
The North American Broadcasters Association
Overseas Press Club
Reporters Sans Frontières
Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Society of Professional Journalists
World Association of Newspapers
Arab Times Newspaper -Houston
*************************
Hani Sabra
Researcher
Middle East and North Africa
Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue
12th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Tel: (212) 465-1004, x-104
Fax: (212) 465-9568
Jordan Punishes Net Critic
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,52631,00.html
By Julia Scheeres
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