Human Rights Watch

Two new laws affecting Palestinian Arab residents would promote discrimination and stifle free expression, Human Rights Watch said today.

Human Rights Watch urges the government to abolish the emergency law and introduce new laws to broaden political and civil society participation and guarantee freedom of expression.

The investigation should include the security forces’ failure to prevent violence by government supporters against protesters demanding reform, Human Rights Watch said.

Security forces were implicated in at least 18 killings since the protests began on 14 February 2011, according to Human Rights Watch.

The new law’s attempt to criminalise speech calling for demonstrations is an unlawful restriction on the internationally protected right to free expression, says Human Rights Watch.

More than 160 protesters and critics are being held without charge, in violation of their rights to peaceful expression and assembly.

Security forces have detained journalists and online activists who have reported on the protests or called for further protests.

According to Reuters, security forces fired on and killed Wissam Ayyash, Mahmoud al-Jawabra, and Ayham al-Hariri; a fourth protester, Adnan Akrad, died from wounds also sustained by live ammunition used by security forces.

“The state is now unabashedly terrorising anyone, including doctors, who dared to support pro-democracy protesters during the past several weeks,” says Human Rights Watch.

“The government is depriving them of their liberty in a completely arbitrary manner, apparently for their leading roles in peaceful protests demanding democracy,” said Human Rights Watch.

“Andrei Yurov is being punished for doing nothing more than monitoring human rights in Belarus,” said Human Rights Watch. “His expulsion is part and parcel of the government’s post-election crackdown on civil society.”

For years the government has obstructed the organisation’s work by denying visas and work accreditation to staff, and has now moved to liquidate its office registration, forcing Human Rights Watch to end its presence in Tashkent after 15 years.

The government should respect the right of people to assemble peacefully and release all prisoners detained for peaceful political activity or for exercising their right to free expression, Human Rights Watch said.

Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, Do Thi Minh Hanh, and Doan Huy Chuong were arrested in February 2010 for distributing leaflets and helping to organise a strike at a shoe factory.

Courts have sentenced at least 30 people who took part in peaceful protests to between 5 and 8 days in prison in late night trials that were closed to the public.

“Shattering Hopes: Post-Election Crackdown in Belarus” documents the human rights violations that have occurred since the re-election of President Lukashenka.