ICAI to Legally Follow Unsolved HR Arab Lawsuits at ICC
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Freedom of "everything" has become a major factor of the current global awareness, especially among those vulnerable nations who finally woke up to rebuff the distortion of their rights.
In presence of lawyers and prominent law figures, Head of ICAI, Lawyer May al-Khansa called for the meeting in good faith to shed the light on the disregarded human rights violations and negligence.
"We should struggle to free and defend the Arab lands. The struggle should be set against Zionism, which aims to divide the Arab countries, as it succeeded in Sudan," he added.
"Among the human rights violations are the practices against Iraqi, Afghan, and Palestinian prisoners, in addition to the unsolved cases of thousands of injured and missing people as a result of the occupations in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan," Atallah Hamoud said.
He indicated that ICAI has filed lawsuits in international courts, to help boost human rights, especially after Lebanon's July 2006 war and the current crisis in Bahrain.
"We hope that the International Criminal Court prosecutes the criminals; which is not a political role, it is only a legal role to implement laws," the Spanish lawyer added.
While lawyers and tribunals aim at defending those rights and setting policies straight, some turn a blind eye on the actual violations taking place in the world; precisely in the Middle East.
Among the oppression-worn countries, Bahrain stands as the most vulnerable, without even the proper media coverage to show the world the truth about its crisis.
ICAI Members Call for Arab Awakening Against Regional Oppression
On this level, the International Coalition Against Impunity (ICAI), also known as the legal organization "Hokok" (Arabic for Rights), held a press conference on Friday to cover this issue, along with other unsolved cases.
On his part, Head of the Arab Bar Union Lawyer, Omar Zein, asserted that the time has come where the international community should stand against the injustice witnessed in the world.
He further urged unity between the Arab and International communities, to confirm a united stance in favor of the Arab world.
Moreover, Head of the Lebanese Association for the Detainees and Freed Detainees Atallah Hammoud, praised the conference held in Lebanon, and noted the daily "Israeli" human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He urged that these issues be directly followed up in international courts so that the truth would be revealed.
On his part, Spanish Lawyer Gracia, also member of the ICAI, asserted that Lebanon respects international legitimacy, hoping that the rest of the world would be as such committed to implementing human rights laws.
Among the figures present at the conference were Iraqi activist Montazar al-Zaidi, who highlighted the devastating human rights violations which had occurred in his country.
On another hand, representative of the UN Human Rights Commission Ambassador Haitham abou Saeed was also present at the conference, and stressed the importance of taking all human rights violations' file to international courts.
He furthermore added that human rights organizations of all countries should file recommendations to their parliaments so that lawsuits should be taken more seriously.
Al-Khansa: ICAI to Follow up Unsolved Lawsuits at ICC
Lawyer May al-Khansa on the lawsuit filed against the "Israeli" aggressions, revealed that there is a decision to prosecute all those responsible for the massacres occurred by the "Israeli" enemy in Palestine and Lebanon. "However, [José Luis Moreno] Ocampo [Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)] wouldn't sign the decision for it to be implemented," al-Khansa added.
"Now, Ocompo promised he will be announcing the start of investigations," she added.
"Next month, an ICAI delegation will visit the ICC to directly look into the fate of our lawsuits, as no response has been delivered to us," al-Khansa further regarded.
The conference ended with hopes that it would be a "new start" to effective moves towards respecting human rights against the US-Zionist hegemony.
Sayyed al-Alawi: Sufferings in Bahrain are Covered Up
A significant presence at the conference was Bahraini opposition leader Sayyed Jaafar al-Alawi, who illustrated the true happenings of the Bahraini crisis.
In an interview with moqawama.org, Sayyed al-Alawi noted the status of human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, describing him as the symbol and role model who is praised by the people of Bahrain.
"We believe that if Abdulhadi al-Khawaja dies, the situation in Bahrain would be completely different. If he dies, events would be organized locally and globally, where there are revolutionaries mobilized to put pressure on the regime and threaten with revenge," the Bahraini leader noted.
"Al-Khawaja's health status is very difficult, yet he is very strong on the moral level. According to his wife, he has become a skeleton; this is an icon of the suffering of the Bahraini people," he further confirmed.
Regarding the Formula1 Grand Prix, Sayyed al-Alawi said that the purpose of holding the Grand Prix is to cover the reality of the sufferings and deteriorating circumstances of the Bahrainis.
On this level, he noted, "Humanitarian organizations are prohibited from entering Bahrain, especially after reports were published on the violence against citizens, by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International."
Chinese Diplomat: Each Country Should Respect Bahrainis' Legitimate Rights
From the Far East, Director of Political Section in the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon Pang Jianhao, was also present at the conference to show solidarity with the human rights movements.
"In my personal opinion, while participating in this conference, I heard many speeches regarding what has happened in Bahrain, and I discovered that there are a lot of people who don't know what is taking place in that country," the Chinese diplomat stated.
"I believe that each person and each country should respect the legitimate rights of the Bahraini people, because they only aim at gaining freedom and living in dignity," he told moqawama.org.
In addition, Jianhao said, "All nations in the world have the right to seek a better future, and I express sympathy with the Bahraini people."
"Although it is not my field of expertise, but there are some organizations in China, mainly non-governmental organizations, that are concerned with human rights affairs, especially in the Middle East," he went on to say.
Regarding the Syrian crisis, Director of Political Section in the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon affirmed, "We [China] have a fixed policy, which is not to interfere in the internal affairs of any country, including Syria. China has exerted its efforts to pave the way for a peaceful solution for the Syrian crisis, especially through dialogue."
He indicated that according to what was agreed upon between Syria and the UN Security Council, Syria accepted the new UN observers to enter, and China stands supportive to the efforts and plan of the UN-AL envoy Kofi Annan.
Furthermore, he emphasized, "Our main concern at the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon is to enhance the bilateral relations between both countries [China and Lebanon]."
"As the political director in the Embassy, I believe that the bilateral relations are improving, especially last year, where there was great development on many levels including the political, cultural, economic, and the trade levels," the Chinese diplomat added.
It is not a matter of concern as much as it is a matter of acknowledging the situation and solving it. The people of Bahrain, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, and other Arab countries are suffering the misfortune of having West-backed governments.
The international community should wake up and realize the truth; people are suffering by the hands of the world's silence.
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