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Egypt Court Sentences 183 To Death

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Picture showing Egypt Political Prisoners

An Egyptian court has issued death sentence to 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters accused of a role in the killing of police officers in August, 2013, during the upheaval that followed the army’s ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

This is coming a day after Egypt released Al Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste, accused of false reporting and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood,

183 out of 188 supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood Movement were convicted over the killing of at least 11 policemen in August 2013.

According to state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, presiding Judge Nagy Shehata, sentenced a minor to 10 years in prison, acquitted two defendants, and dropped charges against two others as they had passed away,

The sentences came after the verdicts were sent to Egypt’s top cleric, Grand Mufti, for approval — a process that typically follows each mass trial

Their charges include participating in and funding terrorism, forming an illegal group aimed at obstructing state institutions from performing their duties, assaulting citizens and spreading terrorism.

The incident occurred in the town of Kerdasa, near Cairo at the period of intense fight between pro-Muslim Brotherhood and security forces.

In a reaction, Amnesty International has kicked against the trial which it says was held in prison complex, rather than the conventional courtroom, and that some defendants were sentenced in absentia,

It described the process as “Egypt’s disregard for national and international law.”

In a statement, its Middle East and North Africa Program Deputy Director, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, said “These verdicts and sentences must be quashed and all of those convicted should be given a trial that meets international standards of fairness and excludes the death penalty,”

Al Jazeera Journalist Regains Freedom

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CAIRO, Egypt (1 February 2015) – Aljazeera’s Peter Greste, arrested and imprisoned by Egyptian Government has gained freedom after spending 400 days in jail.

A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry said it had been “decided to extradite Australian journalist Peter Greste… to his country today, 1 February (2015)… after the cabinet’s approval, in enforcement of the Presidential Decree no. 140 for the year 2014 regarding the rulings on extraditing defendants and deporting the convicts”

Fourty eight years old Greste was arrested alongside two Aljazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed in December 2013 on charges which included spreading false news.

Egyptian sources said Fahmy would be deported to his country Canada.

The journalists were also accused of siding the banned Muslim Brotherhood after the military overthrew the government of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

The three of them denied the charges against them and said they were only reporting the news.

In a statement, Acting Director-General of Aljazeera Media Network, Mostefa Souag, said “We’re pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity.”

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in November announced he was considering pardon to the two foreign al-Jazeera journalists.

In January, Egypt’s Supreme Court ordered the retrial of the Aljazeera journalists.

Sudan: Rebels Free UN Aid Workers

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KHARTOUM, Sudan (1 February 2015) – Six aid workers kidnapped by Sudan rebels in South Kordofan region of the country have been released by their captors.

Spokesperson of Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, Betina Zhoteva announced on Sunday.

“They are in good health and are in a safe place with a team of the United Nations Food Programme,” She said.

The aid workers, all Bulgarians, were kidnapped by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) on Jan 26, when their helicopter landed in the region on emergency.

Spokesperson of the rebel group, Mubarak Ardol said the six kidnapped persons were transferred from the rebel-held territories in Sudan to Yida refugee camp in South Sudan, where they were handed over to the United Nations.

Fight between Khartoum government and SPLM-N rebels increased in the region about two months ago when peace talks failed.

South African Apartheid-era Commander Gets Parole

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An apartheid-era commander in South Africa, Eugene De Kock has been granted parole having spent 20 years in prison.

De Kock, 66, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms in prison and a further 212 years for the crimes he committed.

He was nicknamed “Prime Evil” for his role in the killing and maiming of activists fighting white minority rule in the 1980s and early 1990s.

South Africa’s Minister of Justice Michael Masutha said De Kock announced that De Kock would be set free “in the interests of nation-building”.

The Minister however said the time and place of release would not be made public, stressing that his decision was guided by the country’s constitution.

De Kock, a former colonel was head of the notorious Vlakplaas police unit in the apartheid era.

He appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which was established a year after South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

De Kock confessed to more than 100 acts of murder, torture and fraud, taking full responsibility for the activities of his undercover unit.

Sandra Mama, widow of Glenack Mama who was killed by De Kock in 1992, sided the minister for granting parole.

She told BBC “I think it will actually close a chapter in our history because we’ve come a long way and I think his release will just once again help with the reconciliation process because there’s still a lot of things that we need to do as a country.”

Nigeria Loses Voter Cards to Thieves

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PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (31 January 2015) – Nigeria says over 14,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on distribution to eligible voters for use in the February general elections have been stolen in Rivers State, south-south of the country.

 
An official of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mrs Gesila Khan, told reporters in Port Harcourt that over 14,000 cards were stolen from collection centres where they were kept for eligible voters to collect them.

 
She however said the stolen cards would be useless to the thieves because INEC plans to use card reader system to authenticate and verify card ownership before the holders are allowed to vote.

 
Rivers State have received 2,990,056 cards, out of which 1,869,379 had been given out to their owners.

 
This action will further highlight the concern raised in some quarters that many more Nigerians may not vote because they are yet to collect their permanent cards.

 
The Permanent Voter Cards replaces the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) issued Nigerians when they registered for voting in 2011 – the temporary cards were used in 2011 general elections, but INEC says only holders of the PVCs will be allowed to vote in 2015 general elections.

Activists Promote Freedom of Information in Nigeria

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KADUNA, Nigeria (30 January 2015) – Amidst low understanding of the provisions of Freedom of Information Act among Nigerians, a Civil Rights activist, Abel Adejor is urging Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country to take the lead in using the Act to challenge corruption and promote transparency.

Nigeria has signed into law the FOI Act in 2011, but very few citizens know of its existence, talk less of understanding how to put it to use.

At the onset, majority of the Nigerians thought the law was for journalists to force public officials to provide them with information whenever they need them – this might be associated with the role played by journalists in spearheading passage and subsequent signing of the Bill into Law.

Addressing CSOs on the FOI Act in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Adejor, said the objective of the FOI Act include provision of key information to citizens by public establishments and other corporate bodies who undertake projects on behalf of government.

He said when such information and records were not made available to them on request within the stipulated period, the people have a right to go to court for redress.

“Every person has a legally enforceable right of access to records, documents, and information held by public institutions but subject to certain exemption stated in the act”, he said.

Adejor however said, the law has exempted certain documents termed “classified” which citizens may not access. This restriction according to him is because of national interest.

Kilanko Adeolu of State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI), urged Nigerians to exploit the opportunities offered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to task elected leaders to meet their aspirations.

He said that such pressure would promote accountability, development and inclusive governance.

“The FOI law is a tool for fighting corruption and it can be used by citizens in enhancing accountability and transparency”.

But Emmanuel Bonet of Aid Foundation warn Nigerians to first study the provisions of the law before embarking on any legal action.

 

 

4 Killed in Nigerian Village Attack

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map of Nigeria showing Kaduna

From Mohammad Ibrahim

KADUNA, Nigeria (29/01/2015) – Police in Nigeria have confirmed the killing of 4 persons in Zangon Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria in a cow rustling incidence.

Police spokesman in Kaduna, Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the incident, but an eyewitness however said the figure were as high as 9.

Reports say the incident occurred Tuesday night when attackers stormed the village to steal cows, but they were resisted by the villagers – seven of the villagers who came out to challenge the rustlers got killed alongside two of the cow owners.

A leader in the community who does not want his name mentioned told reporters on phone that the attackers escaped.

“They escaped before the arrival of the security agents. So far we lost 9 people 7 villagers who came to dare the rustlers and 2 owners of the cows,” he said.

The informant however said, solders have been deployed in the area to bring back law and other.

Government Media Aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the attack was an attempt to cause confusion in the state and to heighten tension among the peaceful people of the state.

“It is rather sad that some people will stop at nothing in achieving their selfish goals including shedding the blood of innocent citizens of the state,” he said.

Government has directed its Emergency Management Agency to provide support to victims of the attack.

Election Stakeholders Task Nigerian Media on Responsible Journalism

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KADUNA, Nigeria (28/01/2015) – Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked the country’s media to employ professionalism in its coverage and reporting on the 2015 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Haliru Tambuwal who made the plea at a one-day media training on Election Coverage, tasked the media not to compromise on their code of professional practice and principles of social responsibility.

Represented by Hajiya Fatima Bande of the Corporate Affairs Unit of INEC, the Commissioner stressed that the media was expected to exercise good sense of judgement in election coverage, adding that “fairness, accuracy and balance are key as the media strives to report only fact-based electoral information”.

He also called on the media to accommodate views and perspectives of marginalised groups, especially the youths, women and people leaving with disability.

In the key paper, a media expert, Joseph Edegbo stressed the need for truthful reportage based on factual and verifiable information – tasking the journalists to be objective while reporting electoral issues. This according to him is the role of the media which will ensure that results from the process is termed Credible.

Edegbo stressed the need for journalist to always work toward de-escalation of violence and conflicts during the elections, adding that the media must show equity by providing opportunities to all contesting parties to ensure a level playing field.

“As the watchdog of the society, we must ensure that reports are devoid of elements capable of inciting the public…. Journalists should be conscious in reporting figures and identities of casualties of violent conflicts and desist from the use of offensive images capable of raising tension and conflicts.”

Also speaking, Amina Kazaure of Vision Trust Foundation, an NGO, asked journalists to adhere to professionalism, saying journalists should not be obligated to deliver an artificial report.

She tasked journalists to be conscious of their environment while on coverage to avoid any form of harassment. she cautioned them against unguided utterances and keeping wrong company, adding that, “as journalists, your information and views are held with high esteem.”

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