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Human rights activists were shocked to discover that imans at some of Cairo?s leading mosques  were preaching against two of their most prominent colleagues ? and that the driving force behind these organised sermons of hate appeared to be an Egyptian government ministry. Leading  human rights campaigners say imans? attacks incite murder. Index on Censorship?s  Rohan Jayasekera reports (25-MAR-05)

Almost 40 people take part in the hunger-strike in the town of Vaukavysk. The health condition of some hunger-strikers has deteriorated. Yesterday one more person joined – Anatol Dzeshka, former worker of tax inspection. (12-APR-2005)
 

Through a vast array of international programs and publications, Freedom House is working to advance the remarkable worldwide expansion of political and economic freedom. The Freedom House organization has published its “Freedom in the World” index using a 7-point scale. Countries rated between 1 and 2.5 points were rated as ‘free’, 3 and 5 points ‘partly free’, and 5.5-7 points as ‘not free’, based on the criteria of political rights and civil liberties. (12-April-2005)

Widespread religious freedom violations by the Burmese government continue, with Christians from the ethnic Karen, Karenni, Chin and Kachin nationalities and Muslim Rohingyas suffering particularly badly. It remains difficult to gather reliable information from inside Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), but it is estimated that about 300 Buddhist monks and novices are in jail for protesting against the ruling military regime. (11-APR-05)
  

The Norwegian Burma Committee, working out of the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo, launched an email campaign this week to force Per-Kristian Foss, the Norwegian Minister of Finance, to address the controversial issue reported previously on this site, re. the state-owned Norwegian Petroleum Fund?s investment in the French Oil giant Total Oil, who in turn make big money while exploiting and violating the rights of Burmese civilians. (6-APR-05)

The Norwegian Burma Committee, working out of the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo, launched an email campaign this week to force Per-Kristian Foss, the Norwegian Minister of Finance, to address the controversial issue reported previously on this site, re. the state-owned Norwegian Petroleum Fund?s investment in the French Oil giant Total Oil, who in turn make big money while exploiting and violating the rights of Burmese civilians. (6-APR-05)

Last Friday, the cabinet bowed to growing pressure against the Constitution Amendment Bill and instructed the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs to withdraw it from Parliament. -This is no doubt a victory for the opposition, not the least the human rights sector of it, says Martin Masiga of HURINET, but one we should perhaps have waited to inflict upon Parliament. (6-APR-05)
 

 
Pope John Paul II
1920 – 2005
 

“Government officials and police are the worst violators of citizens’ rights. Chairmen of courts and mayors turn a blind eye to complaining people coming to see them. Moreover, there are problems with state registration of legal entities, including NGOs in the country. My appeals to the Justice Ministry over such complaints remain unattended for months”, said Ombudsman (Human Rights Commissioner) Elmira Suleymanova (photo) while presenting her annual report to the parliament.  (4-APR-2005)

The Debating Film Club „Human Rights in Film” is about to begin. The inaugural meeting will take place on 5 April at 6 p.m. at the head office of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. (02-APR-05)

A Parliamentary Assembly Round Table of the European Council took place in Strasburg on 23 of March. The list of the Council members was compiled by Andreas Gross, a member of the European Council from Switzerland and representatives of the Russian State Duma. They made the decision not to include any representatives of Aslan Maskhadov (Chechen separatist leader, who was killed earlier this month), who didn’t recognize the integrity of Russian Federation. Mr. Gross invited Akhmed Zakaev, (rebel envoy) to participate on the side of the separatists, but he refused. (02-APR-05)
 

Hundreds of people were brutally beaten by the riot squad in the Russian town Blagoveschensk in December. On Sunday, more than 10.000 demonstrators demanded retirement of the responsible and compensations for damages. The Moscow Helsinki Group and other NGOs support the demands and ask for the responsible to be brought to trial. (29-MAR-05)