Ahmed Al-Masraba, a 66 year-old Yemeni from Wusab, Dhamar governorate, was arrested and disappeared on 17 December 1981 in the midst of the Cold War, but his family was never given any official reason or explanation.

Hussam Youssef, a 21 year-old Syrian high school student from Harasta was arrested on 24 September 2012 by General Intelligence agents in Al Muhajireen District, Damascus. Since then, his family has not been able to get official information regarding his fate and whereabouts.

Yesterday afternoon, on 23 July 2013, around 5 pm local time, Yemeni investigative journalist Abdulillah Haydar Shaye was released from the Political Security Prison in Sanaa following a presidential amnesty. Detained arbitrarily for 3 years, he was subjected to torture, mistreatments and an unfair trial.

Muhammad Anbari was arrested by Air Force Intelligence agents in Al Oqaiba District, Damascus, on 22 March 2012. The following day, security forces brought him to his home and searched the whole house. This was the last time that Mr Anbari's family saw him.

Despite significant undertakings by several ministries in Yemen, a number of serious human rights violations continue in the country, Alkarama's most recent report on Yemen said.

On 10 July, Alkarama presented the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention with the case of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi 'Isa al-'Ayat, arrested and arbitrarily detained since his overthrow by the Army on 3 July 2013.

At least one hundred and nine protestors have been shot dead by the Egyptian military and police during demonstrations between 3 and 8 July 2013.

Following the military coup that ousted President Morsi on 2 July 2013, Alkarama is deeply concerned by early reports of deaths of protestors, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and a crackdown on freedom of expression by Egyptian military and police forces.

Following the outbreak of clashes in Saida on 23 and 24 June, which lead to numerous casualties, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) conducted searches in the city and its surroundings. During these operations, at least 140 individuals were arrested and at least 27 remain currently in detention.

 

Today, Alkarama provided the Human Rights Committee with follow up information [link to report] about Kuwait's implementation of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This was in view of the Committee's 108th session,scheduled for 8-26 July 2013.