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Alkarama expresses its deep concern over the Syrian authorities use of lethal force against peaceful protestors during on-going demonstrations across Syria. 58 people are confirmed dead. Syrians continue to demonstrate against government corruption and are demanding political and legal reforms, particularly the abolition of the Emergency Law.

Protests began in Syria on 15 March 2011 and as part of the wave of pro-democracy demonstrations across the Middle East.

On 21 March 2011, Saudi General Investigation forces in Buraydah arrested Mohammed Salih Al-Bjady, a co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), an NGO which has worked closely with Alkarama over the years. Though the exact reasons for Mr Al-Bjady's arrest are unknown, his family and colleagues believe that the main reason is his recent participation in a protest organised by the families of political detainees calling for the release of their relatives.
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Alkarama is extremely concerned at the continued degradation of the human rights situation in Yemen. Close to 50 people were killed and thousands injured in ongoing protests calling for political and legal reforms in Yemen.
Note from the Chairman

I write this introduction at a time marked by volatile extremes of optimism and uncertainty.

Three Al Jazeera journalists were abducted by armed pro-Gaddafi forces on 8 March 2011 in Az-Zintan, 160km southwest of Tripoli, while trying to cross the border into Tunisia. Alkarama fears they are at high risk of torture given the way other international and national journalists have been treated by pro-Gaddafi forces.

Dozens were arrested outside Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh, yesterday 20 March 2011, during protests by family members of arbitrary detainees in Saudi Arabian prisons. Mubarak Bin Zair, son of Said Bin Zair, is amongst those arrested.

Alkarama denounces the arrests and continues to bolster its condemnation of arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.

The families of abitrary detainees should be allowed to freely expresses their grievances against the Saudi regime's continued refusal to address the phenomenon of illegal detention without trial or charge.

Alkarama condemns the excessive use of force by Syrian security forces against peaceful demonstrators. Protesters have recently taken to the streets of Daraa, in southwestern Syria on the border with Jordan, demanding reforms. Calls are for an end to government corruption and the abolition of Syria's Emergency Law, in place since 1963. Protesters are also calling for the release of detainees arrested admits peaceful demonstrations or for having encouraged protests.

Forces loyal to Col. Gaddaffi's are carrying out attacks on hospital patients in Gadaffi-controlled areas, sources say. Injured rebel forces and innocent civilians are being kidnapped from hospitals, risking torture, even death.

As a consequence, the wounded are refusing to seek medical assistance for fear of being kidnapped or killed.

Ten Lebanese and international human rights NGOs sent an open letter to the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr. Najib Mikati regarding the on-going issue of torture in Lebanon. The letter request that Lebanon implement its obligations under the Convention against Torture (CAT) and the Optional Protocol (OPCAT) of the CAT. The letter is a lead-up to PM Mikati's statement during the Human Rights Council session regarding Lebanon, which he will make on Friday 18 March 2011 in Geneva.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the human rights parliamentary committee.

News agencies have confirmed that forces loyal to Col. Gaddafi killed Ali Hassan Al-Jaber, an Aljazeera cameraman. His life was taken in an ambush yesterday in the Hawwari area southwest of Benghazi. Alkarama will bring his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in due course.

Alkarama has already provided the ICC with evidence documenting crimes against humanity committed by the Gaddafi regime during the past weeks.

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