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Morocco: Rachid Niny, editor of Al Massae daily, was released after serving his full sentence

Rachid Niny, editor of Al Massae, one of the most important Moroccan Arabic newspapers, left the prison of Akkacha (Casablanca) on 28 April 2012 around three in the morning, after serving his sentence of one year's imprisonment.

On 9 June 2011 he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 dirhams for "harming constitutional bodies and public figures."

01 May 2012
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Yemen: The right to life of 73 soldiers held by armed group safeguarded

The Alkarama Foundation, in cooperation with the Yemeni NGO HOOD, intervened to ensure the release of 73 imprisoned soldiers held since March by the "Ansar al-Shariah" armed group in the Abyan province in the south of Yemen.
01 May 2012
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Syria: Yacoub Shamoun released after 26 years of arbitrary detention

Today, Alkarama informed the United Nations Special Procedures that Mr Yacoub Shamoun, a Syrian national aged 48, was finally released on 14 March 2012, after almost 27 years of arbitrary detention.

Alkarama has been working on Mr Shamoun's case since July 2011, when we informed the United Nations Special Procedures of his arbitrary detention. In follow-up to the initial communication, we were pleased to share with the UN bodies the information of his release today, while reiterating our previous concerns about the unlawfulness of his long detention.

30 Apr 2012
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Yemen: Abbad Ahmed Sameer suspected of terrorism but no trial to prove it

Today, Alkarama submitted the case of a young Yemeni citizen, Mr Abbad Ahmed Sameer, to the United Nations Special Procedures. Abbad Ahmed Sameer was arbitrarily arrested on 11 November 2010 and is currently detained at Sana'a Political Security Prison. He has been held without having been officially charged nor presented to a judge, which makes his detention unlawful under international and domestic law.

In the night of 11 November 2010, a group of agents from the Aden branch of Political Security broke into Mr Sameer's house and arrested him.

27 Apr 2012
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Emirates (UAE): Arrest of Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi, president of the "Call for Reform" (Islah) association.

Alkarama today submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, informing them of the arbitrary arrest of Mr Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi.

UAE security forces arrested Mr al-Qasimi, the president of the Islah association, on Friday 20 April 2012, without showing an arrest warrant or informing him of any charges against him. He was transferred to the ruler's house in Ras al-Khaimah, and was held in isolation from the outside world.

26 Apr 2012
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Yemen: A call to save the life of the Yemeni soldiers held by Ansar al Sharia

The Ansar Al Sharia group ("Followers of Islamic Law") in Yemen informed the human rights NGOs Alkarama and HOOD that the group plans in the coming days to execute a number of the Yemeni army soldiers who are held by the group since battles on the outskirts of Zinjibar in Abyan province in the south of the country in early March.

HOOD and Alkarama sent a delegation of lawyers to the city of Jaar, in Abyan province, which is currently ruled by Ansar al Sharia and was renamed the Emirate of Waqar on Thursday 22 March 2012.

25 Apr 2012
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Lebanon: Arbitrarily detained Mahmoud Al Adawi at high risk of torture

Mahmoud Al Adawi was arbitrarily arrested on the orders of a judge at the Beirut military court on Monday, 23 April 2012. He is currently held at Al Qubba prison in Northern Lebanon, where he was brought the day following his arrest. Alkarama fears that he is at high risk of torture.

On Friday, 20 April 2012, 32-yaer-old Mr Al Adawi received summons ordering him to appear at the military court in Beirut on Monday, 23 April 2012, as a witness on a case. It was not specified what kind of case he was to be questioned about.

24 Apr 2012
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Mourad Dhina : 100 days of detention - enough!

#FREEMOURAD
Dr Mourad Dhina was arrested on 16 January 2012 following a politically motivated extradition request by Algiers. Today, he has been held in the La Santé prison in Paris for 100 days.
24 Apr 2012
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Update - Saudi Arabia: Human rights defender Mohamed Al Bjady's arbitrary detention approaches one-year anniversary

Update: Sentence against Mohamed Al Bjady for human rights activities

After 33 days of hunger strike, Saudi human rights defender Mohamed Salih Al Bjady was again brought before the Special Criminal Tribunal in Riyadh on 10 April 2012. This special court sentenced the 33-year-old businessman and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) to 4 years of imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year travel ban.

22 Apr 2012
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Saudi Arabia: Release of Ahmed Helal; Colleagues Qadoma and Ali remain in Prison

Alkarama is pleased to learn of the release of Egyptian citizen Mr Ahmed Helal on 31 March 2012 from Alzahban prison in Saudi Arabia. However, we remain concerned that Mr Ali Abdelqader Qadoma and Mr Mohamed Said Ali, arrested alongside Mr Helal, are still arbitrarily detained in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ahmed Helal is a 62-year old Egyptian citizen, and father of five children. He worked as an executive manager of a printing company in Saudi Arabia. His colleagues, 42-year old Mr Qadoma and Mr Ali, aged 41, are also Egyptians.

22 Apr 2012
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