We decided to launch the AI Report 2007 in Beirut, part of a volatile region in which the human rights record is a challenging one.
A week prior to the event, with the help of Lebanese AI members, we had almost everything prepared. Then, four days before the launch, the country was rocked by an explosion of violence.
In the Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli in northern Lebanon, fighting broke out between the Lebanese army and members of an extremist armed group called Fatah al-Islam. As the clashes continued, more lives were claimed, including those of civilians caught between the opposing forces. There was great concern for the thousands of civilians marooned in the camp. In Beirut, meanwhile, a series of bombings targeting civilians left one woman dead and many injured.
Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead with the launch.
About 25 journalists from radio, TV, news agencies and the human rights community showed up (almost) on time at the launch location. They were eager to know what AI had to say. They gathered their press packs and waited… all eyes gazing intently at the speakers’ platform.
Ahmed Karaoud (head of AI’s Beirut office) and Charles Nasrallah (AI Lebanon members’ spokesman) discussed the key messages of the Report. While Charles focused on local issues, Ahmed took an international perspective. The globalization of fear was at the heart of his presentation.
A range of issues were discussed; positive steps towards women’s rights in Kuwait and Oman; violations of freedom of expression and unfair trials in Syria and Egypt; recent developments in “war on terror” detentions, secret CIA prisons and Guantánamo.
A major theme was targeting civilians in armed conflict: namely during the 34-day war between Hizbullah and Israel in July-August 2006. Ahmed spoke of the war crimes committed by both sides. What really touched the audience was a heartrending tale of a mother from the Ghaziyyi village in south Lebanon, whose husband had to tell her that all four of their children had been killed.
In closing, Ahmed reiterated AI’s position on the recent events in northern Lebanon: that the protection of civilians on both sides should be respected by the fighting parties.
Mazen Jaber works in the Beirut office of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa team.
When will the guns be silent and people learn to share and live with others? Have we not suffered enough? The key to Peace in the Middle East is the Israel/Palestine situation to stop the funding of abuses of basic human rights, theft of land, racism and apartheid. Is there no country brave enough to impose sanctions as we did with South Africa.