Tag: Human rights

3alaa beaten up in 3omraniya police station

I received an SMS saying 3alaa was beaten up inside the notorious 3omraniya police station in Giza, where he’s currently locked up, pending release, following an order by the State Security prosecutor two days ago.
I spoke with his wife Manal. She says 3alaa was moved from Luman Tora prison to State Security’s premise in Giza (Gaber Ibn Hayyan), then to the 3omraniya police station last night, for the ever-lasting bureaucratic paper work. 3alaa was locked up in a tiny cell, full of criminals, some of whom were high on drugs and others were armed with knives and sharp objects, Manal said. Scuffles have broken out inside the cell between the criminals, who reportedly hit 3alaa several times. 3alaa spent the night standing on his feet, coz there was no room for him to sleep in that filthy cell. According to Manal, he managed to call her on the mobile phone, and he sounded in a very bad state, desperate to get out.
I called Ahmad Seif al-Islam, 3alaa’s father. He is still hopeful his son will be released in few hours.
Some activists and 3alaa’s family are standing at the moment in front of the police station awaiting the blogger’s release. On hearing the news 3alaa was beaten up, other activists are now on their way to the police station to protest 3alaa’s maltreatement.
This is bloody unbelievable! Let’s hope 3alaa gets out soon!

UPDATE: I just received breaking news….. 3alaa released!!!!!!!!
I called his wife on the mobile, but his sister Mona replied instead. She said 3alaa was beside her, talking on two cellular phones.. but she said he’s out… yes, finally out!!!! hohohohohoh!! MABROUK YA SHABAB! MABROUK YA TENNIN YA BAMBY!

UPDATE: Finally spoke with 3alaa. He’s in great spirit. I asked him, “Shall we meet up soon?” He answered quickly, “Of course, next demo!” followed by a long laughter…

UPDATE: Nora Younis posted a photo of 3alaa with Manal at home following his release.

All detainees to be released, except Sharqawi and Sha3er

I was just on the phone with Ahmad Seif al-Islam, director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and father of detained blogger 3alaa. He said all remaining non-Muslim Brothers detainees, around 20 Kefaya activists are to be released– including Kamal Khalil, Gamal 3abdel Fattah, Wael Khalil, Ibrahim el-Sahary–by a unexpected order from the State Security Prosecutor today.
Karim el-Sha3er and Mohamed el-Sharqawi were given another 15 days in prison, however. They, together with 3alaa el-Kashef (an activist from 3arish), had been the only activists referred today to the State Security Prosecutor, who decided only to release the latter, and renew the detention of the first two. The rest of the activists are to be released directly, sometime tomorrow from Luman Tora and Mazra3et Tora prisons.

MABROUK YA SHABAB!

3alaa Seif al-Islam, whose release was ordered yesterday, is still in Tora Prison as of the moment. His friends have expressed concern his release could be further stalled, but hoped he would be freed tomorrow. 3alaa has been blogging from his prison cell. His last posting was about “Kambuzz,” a “criminal” who was moved to their cell, as part of the “punishment” to the political detainees for hunger-striking. 3alaa wrote it seems the prison authorities’ policy has been bringing opposite results, with the “criminals” getting politicized and joining the dissidents’ cause.
And, we should not forget there are around 700 detainees from the Muslim Brotherhood still in prison, after being picked up in pro-democracy demos, from their homes, or summer camps. We all hope their release will follow soon. Continue reading All detainees to be released, except Sharqawi and Sha3er

3alaa to be released!!

State security prosecutor ordered today the release of detained leftist blogger 3alaa Seif al-Islam, who’s been locked up in Tora Prison since 7 May. 3alaa’s actual release, however, isn’t expected to happen before sometime tomorrow or Thursday, because of the notorious red-tape and paper-work his lawyers have to go through.

Mabrouk ya 3alaa! Mabrouk ya Manal!! Continue reading 3alaa to be released!!

Sacked activist finally gets his pay cheque

Ahmad el-Droubi woke up in the morning to a postman knocking on his door. When he opened the letter, it was nothing but a sweet cheque from his former employer that had his unpaid salary and consultancy fees.The cheque Droubi received this morning signifies two things: First, it is an implicit acknowledgement from his company that he was unjustly dismissed. Second, it shows campaigning does work! Yes, Droubi wouldn’t have gotten back part of his rights, if it was not for you dear readers.
On behalf of Droubi, I want to thank everyone who expressed their solidarity and support, and for all those who took the time to write the company management protesting the activist’s dismissal. The fight is NOT over though, as there are still unsettled issues here. One: The dismissal is still unjust, and our friend is still unemployed. Two: We still need a financial compensation for this unjust dismissal. So please dear readers, keep those emails to the management coming, till they do the right thing.

Mabrouk ya Droubster.. We hope we’ll hear more good news soon.

“Free trade” and human trafficking in Jordan

Modern slavery in Jordan:

Tens of Thousands of Foreign Guest workers Stripped of their passports, trapped in involuntary servitude, sewing clothing for Wal-Mart, Gloria Vanderbilt, Target, Kohl’s, Thalia Sodi for Kmart, Victoria’s Secret, L.L.Bean and others.

In the Western factory, which was producing for Wal-Mart, four young women, including a 16-year old girl, were raped by plant managers. Despite being forced to work 109 hours a week, including 20-hour shifts, the workers received no wages for six months. Workers who fell asleep from exhaustion were struck with a ruler to wake them up.

At the Al Shahaed factory, also producing for Wal-Mart, there were 24, 38 and even 72-hour shifts. The workers were paid an average wage of two cents an hour. Workers were slapped, kicked, punched and hit with sticks and belts.

In a factory called Al Safa, which was sewing garments for Gloria Vanderbilt, a young woman hung herself after being raped by a manager.

All across Jordan, tens of thousands of foreign guest workers, mostly from Bangladesh, China, India and Sri Lanka, are routinely forced to work 100-plus hours a week while being cheated of upwards of half the wages legally owed them. Any worker asking for their proper wages can be imprisoned.

Factory bathrooms lack toilet paper, soap and towels. Dorm conditions are primitive, often lacking running water three or four days a week. Any worker speaking one word of truth about the abusive factory conditions will be attacked and forcibly deported without any of the back wages due them.

Jordan’s apparel exports to the U.S. are up 2000 percent between 2000 and 2005, reaching $1.1 billion, and these garments enter the U.S. duty-free. (Garments from Jordan go to Europe as well as the U.S.)

It’s incredible how this sweatshop model of manufacturing is spreading into new countries. Clearly the US companies commissioning this need to be held accountable, especially as I doubt the Jordanian legal system would be of any use. Prison terms for senior management and key shareholders come to mind.

And this of course in Jordan, which is meant to be a “model” for economic development and to have benefited so much from the Israeli-Jordanian-US QIZ agreement. But of course King Abdullah is “wise” and “moderate” — not a short, fat Quisling.

Three detainees released

State Security prosecutor ordered today the release of three pro-democracy detainees: Ahmad Maher, 3adel Fawzi Tawfeeq el-Gazzar, and Yasser Isma3il Zakki.
Also, following a protest by activists in front of the Public Prosecutor’s office last Thursday, General Isma3il el-Sha3er, the Cairo Security Director, reportedly sent an enquiry to the prison authorities about Mohamed el-Sharqawi‘s critical health condition. Sharqawi was transferred today to the Luman Tora Prison hospital at 9am, where he was told that his X-rays, taken on May 28, were “lost” (sic). The doctor took new X-rays of him, and sent Sharqawi, still complaining from chest pains, back to his cell, without treatment or medication.