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Resources updated between Monday, October 20, 2014 and Sunday, October 26, 2014
October 25, 2014
"Iran executed Saturday a 26-year-old woman who had spent five years on death row for the murder of a former intelligence official, defying international pressure to spare her life. Reyhaneh Jabbari was hanged at dawn, the official IRNA news agency quoted the Tehran prosecutor's office as saying. A message posted on the homepage of a Facebook campaign that was set up to try to save her, but which now states "Rest in Peace," confirmed the report.
Amnesty International said in a statement issued late Friday that Jabbari, an interior designer, was due to be executed for the 2007 stabbing of Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi. A UN human rights monitor had said the killing of Sarbandi was an act of self-defence after he tried to sexually assault Jabbari, and that her trial in 2009 had been deeply flawed."
October 24, 2014
"Soheyla now speaks with difficulty, the acid burns across her face have collapsed her skin, tightening it so that she cannot open her mouth all the way. Her words come out broken and half-formed, but it is her eyes that trouble her the most. The acid gouged out one eye entirely, leading to full loss of sight, and the doctors say her other eye may retain 20 percent vision if surgery is successful. 'I am only thinking about my eyes,' she says. 'Nothing can replace my eyes.' "A victim of the recent spate of acid attacks on women in the city of Isfahan, Soheyela encountered her assailant on her way home from a local swimming pool. She had just dropped off her friends when she heard the sound of a motorcycle revving up from behind. An instant later, her whole face was burning. 'It was burning so bad that I jumped out of the car,' she says. 'I was moaning and taking off my clothes. People gathered around me, but nobody knew what to do. They all kept saying I must put my clothes back on. Some of them threw my clothes back at me, which made my body burn more.' "In early October reports began emerging in Isfahan that women were being attacked with acid in public places. All the accounts involved unknown assailants approaching women on the street, throwing liquid sulfuric acid on their faces and bodies, and then escaping. As the reports mounted, with unofficial counts finding at least 10, panic has set in across the city, with women fearful of moving freely in public, and local officials seeking to calm residents with news of purported arrests. "The Isfahan attacks have ignited national indignation and a political storm in the capital Tehran, with senior officials rushing to refute a connection with Islamist vigilantes. For the government of President Hassan Rouhani they may also preface an unwelcome showdown with hardline opponents, whose recent moves to re-introduce extremist street morality policing appears linked to the attacks..."
Panic in Isfahan, as Police Fail to Arrest Acid Attack Assailants Document
"Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry on Thursday issued a warning to women not to get behind the wheel in defiance of the kingdom's men-only road rules after a renewed social media campaign to challenge the law by driving in public.
"The announcement comes ahead of the anniversary on Oct. 26 of a demonstration last year in which dozens of Saudi women said they had taken to the road in protest at the ban on female drivers, leading to some arrests.
"In recent weeks, campaigners have been pushing on social media for women to drive themselves and post pictures or films online, as they did in the run-up to last year's protest.
"'The Interior Ministry emphasizes it will firmly apply the laws against anyone who participates (in a protest by female drivers),' the ministry said a statement carried by state media.
"Any such attempt by women to drive in public in breach of the law was 'an opportunity for predators to undermine social cohesion', the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia Warns Women Not to Join Protest Against Ban on Driving Document
October 23, 2014
"A three-month old girl, identified by her grandfather as Chaya Zissel, was killed and several US citizens and Israelis were wounded Wednesday evening when a convicted Palestinian terrorist from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan rammed his vehicle into a crowd of people in the capital.
"The attack, which was captured by a security camera, took place at the Ammunition Hill light-rail stop a few hundred meters from Israel's national police headquarters, situated across a densely traveled thoroughfare, shortly after 6 p.m., a senior police official said.
"The terrorist was shot by police and late Wednesday evening he died in hospital.
"'The vehicle ran over a number of people, including several Americans, as they exited the train, and the suspect was shot when he attempted to flee the scene by foot,' the official said, requesting anonymity until the US State Department confirms the American casualties.
"'Nine people were injured, three seriously, including an American infant who died after sustaining critical injuries,' he continued.
"The official described the suspect as a convicted terrorist who served a recent prison sentence in Israel, but did not indicate whether he was released during the 2011 Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange or last year's release of more than 70 convicted Palestinian terrorists during peace negotiations..."
Terrorist Kills Infant, Wounds Several, After Ramming Car into Crowd in Jerusalem Document
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper described the perpetrator of a 'brutal and violent' attack on the Parliament complex in Ottawa that left a soldier dead Wednesday as a 'terrorist' in an address to the nation.
"'We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated,' Harper said before vowing that the attack would 'lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts' to keep the country safe and work with Canada's allies to fight terrorists.
"The assault rocked Parliament over and over with the boom of gunfire, led MPs to barricade doors with chairs and sent people streaming from the building in fear. Harper was addressing a caucus when the attack began outside the door, but he safely escaped. He gave his address Wednesday evening from an undisclosed location.
"Earlier Wednesday, Canadian authorities identified the shooter as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32. A government official told Fox News that they have been advised that Zehaf-Bibeau, a Quebec native, was thought to be a recent convert to Islam who had changed his name from Michael Joseph Hall. Investigators offered little additional information about the gunman. However, Harper said in his address that 'in the days to come we will learn about the terrorist and any accomplices he may have had...'"
Canadian Prime Minister Calls 'Brutal and Violent' Parliament Attack Terrorism Document
October 22, 2014
On October 21, 2014 human rights abuser Paraguay was elected to serve a 3-year term on the UN "Human Rights" Council. Candidates must receive 97 votes of the 193 UN General Assembly members in order to be elected. Paraguay received 139 votes, more than the fully democratic state of Costa Rica which lost its bid for a second council term. Diplomats from other democratic states describe Costa Rica's loss as "shocking."
As part of its candidature for the Council, Paraguay submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
On October 21, 2014 human rights abuser Bolivia was elected to serve a 3-year term on the UN "Human Rights" Council. Candidates must receive 97 votes of the 193 UN General Assembly members in order to be elected. Bolivia received 144 votes, more than the fully democratic state of Costa Rica which lost its bid for a second council term. Diplomats from other democratic states describe Costa Rica's loss as "shocking."
As part of its candidature for the Council, Bolivia submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
Bolivia, where sexual violence, rape are "serious and widespread", is new UN "human rights" authority Development
On October 21, 2014 human rights abuser Albania was elected to serve a 3-year term on the UN "Human Rights" Council. Candidates must receive 97 votes of the 193 UN General Assembly members in order to be elected. Albania received 176 votes.
As part of its candidature for the Council, Albania submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
On October 21, 2014 human rights abuser and sponsor of terrorism Qatar was elected to serve a 3-year term on the UN "Human Rights" Council. Candidates must receive 97 votes of the 193 UN General Assembly members in order to be elected. Qatar received 142 votes.
As part of its candidature for the Council, Qatar submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
Qatar, major sponsor of terrorism, elected to serve on UN top human rights body Development
On October 21, 2014 human rights abuser Congo was elected to serve a 3-year term on the UN "Human Rights" Council. Candidates must receive 97 votes of the 193 UN General Assembly members in order to be elected. Congo received 185 votes.
As part of its candidature for the Council, Congo submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
Congo, where child abuse is "prevalent" and rape "common", re-elected to UN "Human Rights" Council Development
October 21, 2014
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) released its latest report on the identities of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge. The main intent of this report, the sixth in a series of publications, is to determine which of the fatalities are "terrorist operatives" and which are "non-involved civilians." A total of 2,157 Palestinians were killed and, to date, ITIC has examined 1,017 names, or 47% of the total. Of those names:
Ongoing meticulous examination of Palestinian Gaza death toll reveals 50% terrorists Article
"The U.K. alone is now treating 300 women and girls each month for the aftereffects of the brutal, unnecessary surgery. We need Obama to follow through on his promise to eradicate it.
"New figures from the U.K. are finally revealing the true extent of female genital mutilation: In just six months, nearly 2,000 women and girls have been treated by Britain's National Health Service after undergoing the brutal procedure.
"And with these statistics, which have been made available for the first time, hiding from the issue is no longer an option for Britain and the U.S.-and President Obama's pledge to eradicate this abuse has never been more pressing.
"While FGM-the process of removing either parts or the entirety of the external female genitalia-has been a federal offense in the U.S. since 1996, a dearth of tangible data has meant years of Western authorities theorizing on the extent of (and solution to) the problem-with few results. Though the past year has seen a number of legislative steps being taken toward both identifying victims and punishing perpetrators, these calls to action have largely occurred on paper, and convictions remain nonexistent..."
"Prominent Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab went on trial on Sunday over remarks published on his Twitter account that were critical of state institutions, his lawyer said, in a case that has drawn criticism from international civil society groups.
"Rajab is one of the most high-profile pro-democracy campaigners in the Arab world, and founder of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
"The hearing began on Sunday afternoon, where the court refused to release Rajab, according to his Twitter account. The hearing was adjourned until October 29.
"At the beginning of the month, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior said that Rajab had been summoned for questioning by the General Directorate of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security 'regarding tweets posted on his Twitter account that denigrated government institutions'.
"An associate of Rajab, writing on the activist's Twitter account, said on October 2 that Bahrain's Public Prosecution had ordered Rajab held for questioning for one week.
The Public Prosecution confirmed it had charged a person and had detained him for questioning, although it did not name the individual. The Public Prosecution also said, via its own Twitter account, that the detained person had confessed to publishing the offending comments after a complaint from the Interior Ministry."
Prominent Bahraini Rights Activist Nabeel Rajab Goes on Trial for Twitter Remarks Document
"The man police say deliberately drove a car into two soldiers in a 'despicable act' the government linked to terrorist ideology had been arrested by RCMP this summer, a spokeswoman for the federal police force said Tuesday. "Martine Fontaine said authorities met with Martin Rouleau-Couture as recently as Oct. 9 and that there was nothing to indicate any such violent behaviour was in the offing. One of the soldiers struck by the car died. "Authorities held a late-afternoon news conference Tuesday and publicly identified Rouleau for the first time. "The RCMP investigation into Rouleau began last June when they saw on his Facebook account he was 'radicalizing' himself. "The RCMP were tracking Rouleau, along with 89 others who had intensions to join militant groups. Officials seized Rouleau's passport as he was about to leave the country but didn't have grounds to charge him with anything. "'We couldn't arrest someone for having radical thoughts,' Fontaine said. 'It's not a crime in Canada. And unless we have clear indications of what he was doing, it was very difficult to prevent and stop him...'"
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Attack Was 'Clearly Linked to Terrorist Ideology' Document
October 20, 2014
"Roya Saberinejad Nobakht, an Iranian-born British citizen, is being held in the Women's Ward at Evin Prison for postings on Facebook. In October 2013, she travelled to Iran to visit relatives but was arrested upon her arrival at Shiraz airport. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moghisei. British newspaper the Independent reported that Nobakht and her husband Dariush Taghipoor 'have lived in the Stockport suburb of Heald Green for the past six years and have both been granted dual British-Iranian nationality. Mrs. Nobakht had previously been a student at Stockport College, but a spokeswoman said today she had left four years ago.' According to the Independent, her husband Dariush Taghipoor told a family friend in England that his wife was arrested for comments she made on a Facebook group about the government, in which she said it was 'too Islamic' and that she was only charged after a confession was extracted from her 'under duress...'"