Page 8 - Annual-Report-2016

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Annual
Repor t
2016
ODVV
Participation in the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council
The 31st Session of the Human Rights Council took place from 29 February to 25 March 2015 at
the UN European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
As in the past, the ODVV activities included, written and oral statements, holding sidelines panels,
meetings with thematic special rapporteurs, holding an exhibition, distribution of analytical reports
and etc. Below is a brief narrative of the activities in this Session:
- Written and Oral Statements
For the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council, the ODVV submitted 6 written and 8 oral
statements. Some of the subjects of the statements that were under Items 3, 4 5, 6 and 7 were
as follows:
1 – Middle East’s Children: Victims of endless armed conflicts
2 – Have the universal efforts for the elimination of the threat of ISIS been successful?
3 – Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran.
4 – The Shia minority in the justice system
5 – UPR: first and second rounds
It must be said that the written statements are documented and accessible in the Human Rights
Council website. The oral statements that were read on the Council floor too are available in video
format also in the Council website.
- Preparation of applicable thematic reports for publication at the Human Rights Council
This activity was limited to the ODVV in previous Sessions of the Council, but for the first time and
with the guidance of experts, 13 NGOs also participated in this activity and applicable thematic
reports, with consideration of respect to human rights priorities.
Middle East Developments:
What has become of human rights?
Part Two: Children, the biggest victims of the violence in Syria,
Iraq and Yemen
Introduction
Children are the most vulnerable groups in human crises such as war and natural
disasters. Aside from threats to lives of children in war torn countries, permanent stress,
depression, nightmares and many other problems that these children continually face,
seriously threaten all aspects of their health and their growth. During war and mass
migrations, children’s lives are negatively affected from four dimensions, including: the
physical, mental, cognitive and social aspects.
The volatile and war stricken Middle East and West Asia, has turned into a hell for
children. From Afghanistan whose children are living in war to Syria where there are
almost two million children displaced by war. As a result many children in Syria are left
without or and live in refugee camps. But displacement is not the only pain the children
are suffering from. The terrorists fighting the Syrian army kidnap the children and train
them to fight. Children aged 5 to 15 are being trained to fight in terrorist camps. What is
known about the children is that they are still benefitting from the gift of life. Thousands
of Syrian children have lost their lives in suicide attacks and battlefields over the last few
years.
The situation in Iraq is not much different. In the new school year, thousands of Iraqi
children have not been able to go to school, due to the ongoing conflicts in large parts of
the country. War is raging in the northern and central Iraq, in the territories under ISIS
occupation. On top of all this, the suicide attacks that have sharply increased over the
last few years, have endangered the lives of thousands of Iraqi children and many more
have lost their lives.
Yemeni children too have suffered the bitterness and insecurity of armed conflicts With
the continuation of the Saudi led coalition attacks, ten million Yemeni children and their
families are deprived of all their human rights suffering from diseases and violence.
ODVV
Impact of Armed Conflicts on children
The consequences of violent conflict are profound and far-reaching. Modern technologies of
war give armies the capacity to kill scores of people brutally. But the aftermaths of war extends
far beyond direct battlefield casualties. So far, several Asian countries have been ridden with
conflicts that lasted for decades, with no solution in sight. Civil wars cause the most serious
humanitarian crisis and the greatest flow of refugees in centuries, affecting the entire Middle
East region. Also, the wars lead to political instability of the region. The Middle East conflicts
do not merely have consequences on politics. The situations resulting from armed conflicts affect
many people primarily children because of their vulnerability. During the past 10 years, around
10 million children are estimated to have been killed as a result of armed conflict. Conflicts also
have disastrous effects on crucial issues which have been identified as grave violations against
children, such as, recruitment and use of children, killing or maiming, sexual violence, attacks
against schools or hospitals, abduction, and denial of humanitarian access.
Syria
Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a civil war which resulted in approximately 200,000
deaths including over 11,000 children. Also, catastrophic violations of children rights have been
witnessed. For instance, children’s right to healthcare is flouted and deteriorated considerably since
the beginning of the war, as many of them has been tortured, killed or maimed, few are taken to
hospitals. According to CommonArticle 3 of the Geneva Conventions and as stated in the article 3
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, their “right to life, liberty and security of person”
is violated. According to UNICEF’s report, there are more than two million children in Syria who
are deprived of education due to conflict. There are 5,000 schools across the country that cannot
be used because they have been destroyed, damaged, converted into shelters for displaced families
or have become bases for armed forces and groups.
Children’s rights are stated in international and regional legal instruments, including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (1966), which address the right of all persons to enjoy “the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health” and the right of every child to education. The targeting
and destruction of schools or hospitals obviously constitutes an obstacle to fulfilling these rights.
Furthermore, Children’s suffering from an increasing lack of food and lack of education which
directly affects their well-being and their fundamental rights, according to the article 24 of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, is a violation of human rights. Also, the obligation of
humane treatment under Common Article 3 implicitly prohibits rape or any other sexual violence
against adults or children which has happened to a thousand of Syrian children. In addition,
more than 1,100 child soldiers recruited by DAESH in Syria since the beginning of this year,
is distinguished as another children rights violation by article 77(2), Additional Protocol I to the
Geneva Conventions.
ODVV
The Impact of Sanctions on Iranian
Health Services
From 1979 Iran has faced diverse sanctions which found new dimensions through time. In
2006 a new set of sanctions severely imposed on Iran and affected not only the country but
its people’s lives. After 2012, the sanctions changed their dimensions, instead of aiming
at nuclear technology development process, led to a disastrous humanitarian crisis. The
economic situation in Iran has been damaged because of sanctions imposed on banking
system, petroleum industry, shipping insurance and cargo shipment. Especially, the
destructive effects decreased Iranian people’s access to commodities and major services,
including medicine and treatment.
In Iran, even without sanctions-induced shortages of pharmaceutical products and medical
devices, the cost of healthcare is prohibitively expensive for most of the people.
In this report, cancer is taken into consideration as a representative of high mortality
diseases. Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells
that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. In 2012, there were an estimated 8.2 million
deaths from cancer in the world. It is predicted that this number will increase up to 9 million
people in 2015. Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Iran following cardiovascular
diseases and unintentional accidents. According to World Health Organization, Iran has
the highest cancer prevalence in the Middle East (Mohammad Esmaeel Akbari, director of
cancer research center at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences).
In Iran, there are 61 cancer treatment centers but the disease damages the patients in some
aspects including psychological problems, financial problems and costs of medicine, and the
problems of treatment access. More than one third of patients around the world suffer from
depression and anxiety once they are diagnosed with cancer. But experiencing financial
problems may worsen the situation. Before 2006, nearly all of the treatment and medicine
costs were covered by the hospitals and Social work section of the cancer treatment centers
were focusing on the psychological problems of the patients, but after 2006 and especially
in 2012 sudden increase in medicine prices because of the sanctions, made many patients to
leave their cancer treatment and lose their lives.
One of the problems of treatment access was the accelerator devices which are used for
deep radiotherapies were practically under sanctions, or in some cases after purchase and
ODVV
Women’s life under ISIS
It has been three years now since ISIS rose to power in Iraq and Syria. According to
the statistics published by human rights organizations, almost eight million people
are currently living under their reign. The presence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria has
resulted in the advent of the most organized form of terrorism in human history. It
is an extremist model and criminal interpretation of religion causing a great deal
of damage to civilians including women and children. For instance, women are
raped in a structure supported ideologically and systematically. In other words, ISIS
members have justified their unbridled desires sacredly in a legal structure.
On the other hand, the experiences stated by the women and girls rescued from the
areas ruled by ISIS indicate that rapes are not committed to establish a republic
of horror; however, according to many reports, what is considered rape by law is
thought of as a divine and sacred action by ISIS members to become close to their
god. Referring to extremist ideologies expressed in no religion, they legalize their
desire and lust.
In this regard, there are no accurate statistics for the number of women raped and
tortured by ISIS members. What human rights organizations announce are just
estimations, which may be based on our limited information on the matter. Over
one and a half million women were displaced only in Iraq. According to the reports
published by human rights groups, five thousand Yazidis women were raped or
traded. Many of the victims were even minors. Nowadays the highest incidents of
women and children sexual rape crime reported in Syria and Iraq are committed by
ISIS.
Terrorists operating in these two countries do not believe in concepts such as
emotions, femininity, and family. Their mindsets are still rooted in traditional
slavery system and human trafficking in the slave market. ISIS has created a new
management system and set different types of contracts for buyers to facilitate the
sales of women. They apply marketing methods to attract their own customers.
They also take and publicize new religious commands based on the interpretations
issued by Research and Fatwa Department constantly in order to keep their theories
dynamic.
The highest rate of sex trafficking by force is observed in Iraq and Syria today.
Although many raped women and girls committed suicide due to the severity
ODVV IWII
Les conflits actuels et leur impact sur
l’Environnement de la Terre
Les impacts sur l’environnementsontmultiplesmais nous croyons queles conflits armés constituent
la plus forte source de pression exercée sur l’environnement à l’échelle mondiale. Les études ont
montré que les activités humains notamment les conflits armés, les pollutions industrielles et
les modes impropres de consommation ont entraîné la disparition des espèces, les changements
climatiques et la baisse des ressources naturelles; ce qui a augmenté de plus en plus le niveau de
la pauvreté dans le monde.
L’environnement est sans frontière ; les exemples du Darfour et du Moyen-Orient, où l'eau est
l'objet de toutes les convoitises, pourrait bientôt s'appliquer à l'Inde, le Pakistan et de nombreuses
régions d'Afrique. Les crises environnementales du Moyen Orient laisseront bientôt leursimpacts
sur d’autres continents et d’autres régions de la Terre même sur les plus éloignées.
Malheureusement, dans unmonde où la population croît exponentiellement, et où la désertification
menace certaines zones cultivables, les ressources naturelles ont motivé, exacerbé ou financé une
grande partie des conflits armés. Bien que la guerre du Golfe de 1990-1991, avec l’utilisation
des armes à l’uranium appauvri et l’incendie des puits de pétrole ait fait de la protection de
l’environnement lors des conflits armés une préoccupation internationale, on ne voit toujours
pas l’action sérieuse de la communauté internationale contre tel dommage. On ne pourra sauver
l’environnement par les paroles mais par les actionssérieusesde tous les états. Selon le principe 26
de la déclaration de RIO (1992), « les Etats doivent résoudre pacifiquement tous leurs différends
en matière d’environnement, en employant des moyens appropriés conformément à la Charte des
Nations Unies ».
Le résultat de différentes pressions sur l’environnement est que les populations sauvages de
vertébrés ont en moyenne chuté d’un tiers, c’est-à-dire 31 pour cent, à l’échelle mondiale entre
1970 et 2006, les déclins les plus sévères ont été constatés dans les écosystèmes tropicaux (59
pour cent) et les écosystèmes d’eau douce (41 pourcent) etc.Ces chiffres nous disent que nous
avons perdu une partie considérable des ressources vitales de la Terre.
De nos jours un mal comme le réchauffement climatique, modifiant la géographie de nombreuses
régions, en particulier les îles et les littoraux, pousse les populations à se déplacer massivement.
ODVV SIWASDE
Middle East Developments:
What Has Happened to Human Rights?
Part One: Violation of the Right to Life
Introduction
The wave of protests and changes that have taken place in the Middle East have
left huge repercussions on the dynamicity of human rights in the region. Today the
Middle East is grappling with the war in Syria which has been ongoing for a few
years. Furthermore, the advancement of ISIS and their fight in Syria and Iraq have
also added to the extreme situation in the region. It seems the initial expectations from
the Arab Spring, have turned into an unachievable dream and fantasy, in such a way
that 5 years after the start of the Arab Spring, the situation is completely ambiguous
and the innovative spirit of the Arab Spring has gone into winter hibernation.
The human rights situation in the Middle East is direr than any other period in history.
Extremist groups and the support of some of the region’s players, have strengthened
and facilitated the basis for disregard of human rights in the region. Some countries
such as Syria and Yemen are involved in catastrophic wars, the result of which, aside
from deep political differences, economic crises and military interventions, has been
the worsening of the human rights situation.
In the context of the ongoing conflicts, human rights, which is one of the most
important world issues, is violated in the Middle East region. A look at the casualties’
rate of the regions unrests within the last few years, indicates that the right to life has
been seriously breached.
Therefore, the present report intends to show the scale of the damages taken place in
the region by assessing the human casualties of the bloody incidents of the conflicts.
For this reason efforts have been made to draw a picture of the human rights
violations (with a stress on the right to life) of the recent years, by using international
organizations human rights reports. What you will see, is a glancing look at the
subject in the three countries of Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Syrian Arab Republic
Syria’s internal armed conflict continued relentlessly through the year and saw both
government forces and non-state armed groups commit extensivewar crimes and gross
human rights abuses with impunity. Non-state armed groups, which controlled some
ODVV
The ISIS situation and the failure
of the International Criminal Court
Unimaginable atrocities have been constantly committed by Islamic State of Iraq
and al-Sham (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. These barbarities fall, beyond reasonable
doubt, within the scope of the most serious international crimes of concern to the
international community as a whole. ISIS as an “unprecedented threat to international
peace and security”1continues the commission of its evils in the context of a tough
culture of impunity. The International Criminal Court (the ICC) has been widely
called for taking an action to put an end to the impunity that has created a safe haven
for the Daesh culprits. Nonetheless, it sounds that the Office of the Prosecutor of
the ICC does not tend to meet the global expectation by spreading the jurisdiction
of the Court into the region suffering from ISIS. While the public opinion has been
shocked by the ISIS’s crimes, the ICC has merely witnessed these wrongdoings.
Upon high and wide demands, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,
Ms. Fatou Bensouda, on 8th March 2015, issued a clarifying statement on the
situation of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. According to the statement, the Prosecutor
assessed the jurisdiction of the Court in order to open the preliminary examination
into the situation of ISIS. Although the Prosecutor of the Court acknowledged that
“the atrocities allegedly committed by ISIS undoubtedly constitute serious crimes
of concern to the international community and threaten the peace, security and well-
being of the region, and the world”,2 thereby determining that the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Court is satisfied, she came to the conclusion that the Court
lacks jurisdictional basis to pursue with the situation at hand. Nonetheless, the
Prosecutor’s decision means that she buried the situation of ISIS alive, since it was
a would-be situation under the Rome Statute. The decision made by the Prosecutor
as to the ISIS situation is clearly inconsistent with the law, policy and practice of
the Court. Neither Iraq nor Syria is a member State to the ICC. Therefore, the Court
lacks the territorial jurisdiction. However, an alternative exists, namely the personal
jurisdiction. The Prosecutor admits that several thousand foreign fighters have joined
the ranks of ISIS, including significant numbers of State Party nationals from, inter
ODVV
The Effect of International Sanctions
on Economic Situation of Iranian Society
In recent years, especially since 2012 when sanctions became more severe on Iran, humanitarian and
social index were seriously affected in the country, and people and society were the main victims of
this international policy.
Considering its goals and outlook, Javad-Al-Aemeh Institute, feels the necessity of informing the
international community of the negative effects of sanctions, and be the voice of its society and people
on defending human and social rights, to play its role as a non-governmental organization.
According to World Bank Statistics, the rank of Iran in the Ease of Doing Business, during 2010
to 2015, experienced descending trend, and its sudden drop in 2012 is consistent with the increase
of sanctions in the same year. Again, in 2015 that negotiations between Iran and P5+1 improved,
and some sanctions lifted and their negative effect on the people reduced, the rank of Iran in Doing
Business significantly improved. Thementioned improvement, verifies the hypothesis that international
sanctions have strongly affected Ease of Doing Business in Iran.
Table.1
Islamic Parliament Research Center has assessed Doing Business in Iran since 2010, which is
accomplished by 281 economic unions all over the country. The unions did the assessment by 29
justified indicators ofNational DoingBusinessEnvironment, and thus clarified the rankofmost effective
indicators. According to this report, in addition to unfavorable outcome (5.87 of 10) which still existed
in spring 2015, international sanctions were determined to be the third unpleasant indicator. Since 2010
until now, the worst average income was reported in summer 2012, when the sanctions became more
severe. At the same time, 12% of the participating unions believed that nuclear agreement would not
affect their enterprise in short term, while almost 77% believed it would affect their business in short
term. The direct impact of worsening situation of Doing Business in Iran during these years was: 1.
Low and negative economic growth, 2. Ascending unemployment rate, 3. Increasing immigration of
university graduates to other countries and 4. Increasing the percentage of population living below the
poverty line. All these consequences imply that sanctions have disturbed the ordinary life of people in
Iran. In the following table, the data of economic growth, unemployment rate, immigration of graduates
and the population below the poverty line, have been classified, according to World Bank Reports.
ODVV
Women and Sustainable
Development in Iran
In the culture and tradition of our country, special attention to the environment and nature,
is considered as the high characteristics of humanism. Reducing waste production is one of
the main goals of Iran which leads to the proper usage of natural resources and contributes to
protection of the living environment.
The Iranian women especially those living in rural areas and villages, as the users and consumers
of natural resources, have had a great role in maintaining the environment. Their methods in
recycling garbage, reduction of polluting substances, providing food and nutrition, upgrading
the living style and non-official perseverance of environment, shows their key role in fostering
environmental culture and management of Ecosystem.
The activities and efforts of women in governmental level, civil society and shows the
development of women and their attempts to to maintain the living environment.
Background of Environmental women NGOs
Establishment of environmental Non-Governmental organizations essentially dates back to the
Rio conference1992. These group’s agenda were designed with the objectives of promoting
environmental protection, educational activities and enhancement of environmental culture.
TheWomen’s Society for Combating Environmental Pollution, Women’s Society for sustainable
development, and Women’s Society for better living are the most prominent examples.
Environment NGOs have passed through three specific phases in Iran .The first stage concluded
in 1994. The number of groups were very limited .Their activities were non-commercial and
solely environmentally oriented.
The second period continued until 1997. At that time, the number extended to 15 association,
most of them were organized as societies. From 1997 till present, women’s NGO activities
have increased in terms of quality and quantity. Some 450 organizations and some Regional
Environment Networks have come in to existence in these years.
The national report of the women’s NGOs, in the Beijing +15 Conference 1995 is not only a
report but is a mutual dialogue and understanding with the women all over the world. Focusing
on twelve concerns, it builds the basis of this mutual dialogue according to agreements made in
the Beijing Platform of Action.
Conclusion:
In Iran as many societies, environmental problems caused by air pollution, noise pollution, water
pollution, waste management, manufacturing crisis and uncontrolled urbanization. However the
use of agricultural pesticides, destruction of forests, waterways redirect and plus even natural
disasters is due to lack of knowledge of individuals, groups and organizations non-participation
in social and economic activities.
Women are one of the major groups who are affected by the Environment and also one of the
groups which affect climate change .Their activities will affect social life and family life at the
same time.
Fortunately, Iranian women today are active to protect the environment and sustainable
development through organizations such as, environmental NGOs.
Agriculture plays the main role in the economy of our country, which provides 1/3 of jobs
occupation , and supports 4/5 nutrition need of the country. Agriculture as ½ non-oil export of
SIWASDE
Women empowerment in Iran
Empowerment of women is one of the critical debates of the recent years. It has been accepted
that without progression and movement towards empowerment of women, any kind of attempt
toward development cannot be well fulfilled. A key factor in IRI government's strategy
is empowering women and girls in cultural, economic, and political fields, in planning,
lawmaking and policymaking. Strengthening their position obviously encompasses a great
impact in sustainable development. Based on the United Nations Human Development Index,
Iranian women and girls have had an outstanding progress in education, research, science,
entrepreneurship, employment, and sanitation. They have moved towards excellence, progress
and predetermined goals.
Achievements of eradication of illiteracy among women and girls are a key factor in Iran's
progress. The ratio of literate women to men aged 15-24 (Literacy Gender Parity Index) has
increased to 99.30 in 2012. It is hoped that in case of stable conditions, the youth literacy rate can
reach approximately to 100 percent. This index that was 94.27% in primary education in 2009-
2010 school year, reached 94.46% in 2011-2012.It must be emphasized that the Organization
of Literacy Movement, that most of its teachers are women work to eradicate illiteracy in Iran.
It is noteworthy to mention that very far away villages are benefitted from this movement that
is aimed to eradicate illiteracy in Iran. That's why UNESCO has called Iran one of the most
successful countries in battle against illiteracy.
Education is a key part of strategies to improve individuals' well-being and societies' economic
and social development and there have been a number of encouraging trends in girls' and
women's education. In the past few years, one of the positive indicators in Iran's socioeconomic
developments has been the growing presence of female students in higher education. In fact,
over the past five years, averages of 66% of university students were women. In other words, the
government has been successful in removing the educational obstacles to women's participation
in the workforce. Interestingly the rate of medical and arts students is 70% at universities.
The growing presence of women in higher education is gradually having a positive impact
on perceptions in the average Iranian family. No one can argue anymore that women are less
capable than men-the competition for university places proves the opposite. Furthermore the
actual performance of women in the workplace is transforming the misperceptions about their
capabilities. Another positive parameter is the economic need of young urban families for two
incomes which compels the younger generation to look more favorable at women working
outside the household.
Life expectancy is an important indicator of human development because it includes all possible
factors in a person's lifetime. The life expectancy of women in Iran has improved dramatically.
According to indicators it has increased from 36 years in 1991 to more than 74 years in 2012.
The advancement of this indicator can be the result of certain factors such as improvement
in knowledge and awareness of a society especially among women. According to statistics
maternal death has been reduced dramatically in Iran. The result of DHS study (demographic
and health survey) , inter alia, a research done in 2010 in all provinces in Iran shows that the
important indicators of health among mothers and babies have improved, including the coverage
of prenatal care, births attended by skill trained staff and infant mortality in children less than 5
ODVV
The Adverse Consequences
of Economic Sanctions
Economic Sanctions in practice have been proved to be a complex way
of politics, which they are claimed to be the “the alternative to war”. This
alternative, however, had caused great damage to those targeted by them. It
is proven that the use of sanctions lead to significant humanitarian difficulties
and to the breach of human rights. Iran is among those States who suffered the
damages of sanctions imposed by the Western States during the past decade.
In the past few weeks, following the long comprehensive talks by the state
authorities of Iran, the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), the
world has witnessed the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPOA) agreement between the P5+1+EU and Iran . As a result, after
almost 10 years, nuclear related sanctions against Iran have been lifted.
It is, however, crucial not to overlook the damages caused and the human rights
violations done by the imposed sanctions on the civilian population of Iran.
All along, the West claimed that, in theory, the sanction regime imposed on
Iran with respect to international law and international humanitarian law was
supposed to allow humanitarian trade and the import of vital goods. However,
in reality sanctions have impaired the delivery of drugs and medical equipment
to Iran along with other vital goods.1 Any kind of bank and money transactions
with Iranian Banks (i.e. the Central Bank of Iran, Mellat Bank, Bank Tejaratetc)
were sanctioned. The aforementioned banks were disconnected, for instance,
from the Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), the
world's hub of electronic financial transactions. Hence, in many cases, once
the transfer of money was not an option, no medicine or vital goods could have
been bought. That simply made it impossible to implement the exceptions
applicable to humanitarian aid and vital goods.
ODVV
Saudi Arabia Shameful Continues of
Unlawful Execution
Saudi Arabia keeps up with its weak reputation on Human Rights. As in past years,
authorities subjected hundreds of people to unfair trails and arbitrary detention, and
following a year of the highest execution rates in its history, the monarchy of Saudi took
one step even further and committed the largest mass execution since 1980, in January
20161.
In demonstrating their disregard for human rights and the right to life, Saudi executed 47
people in a single day2 four of whom being Shia Muslims, including a Shia cleric Sheikh
Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. Sheikh Nimr unlike the others, was convicted following a political
and an unfair trial at the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) far from international human
rights standards. 3The charges against al-Nimr included “breaking allegiance with the
ruler,” “inciting sectarian strife,” and supporting rioting and destruction of public property
during 2011-2012 protests in Shia-majority towns and cities. The proceedings of Saudi
Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court, which conducted his trial in 13 sessions over a year
and a half, raised serious fair trial concerns, including vague charges that do not resemble
recognizable crimes.4 Throughout his two-year detention, Nimr experienced ill-treatment
most of which he spent in solitary confinement in military hospitals
5. Moreover, despite the statement made by the Minister of Justice Sheikh Dr. Waleed bin Mohammed which
claimed that “that suspects who appear before specialized criminal courts receive, as is
the case in all courts in the country, all kinds of rights that guarantee fair litigation before
independent judges who have no instructor by the Islamic rules and instructions as any
suspect will have the right to have a lawyer to defend him…”.6 It is stated in various reports and investigations done by researchers in the field, that Nimr was represented by
legal council for some processing due to the lack of informant of his lawyer on dates of
hearings and thus, trial sessions held without informing al-Nimr’s legal advocate.
7
ODVV