Human Right Commission Commends Nigerian Army On War Against Terrorism

The Nigerian Army has been commended for doing its best in containing the menace of Boko Haram terrorists.  This commendation was made today by Professor Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission at the office of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, when the former paid courtesy call on the latter.

Speaking further, Professor Angwe congratulated the COAS on his appointment, describing the visit as a family one. He commended the Nigerian Army’s efforts in the ongoing fight against the insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, reiterating the need for a good relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Commission at all times. He applauded the qualities exhibited by the Nigerian Army personnel by ensuring that they put up their best to have a secured Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary promised to support the Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional duties, commending the COAS for visiting the troops in the frontline fighting Boko Haram insurgents’ hours after officially taken over the mantle of leadership of the Nigerian Army.

Professor Angwe further expressed the Human Rights Commission’s determination to partner with the Nigerian Army to ensure that human rights are protected, adding that both organizations have the common mission to protect human rights, hoping that the partnership will benefit the Nigerian people.

Responding, the COAS, Major General Tukur Buratai thanked the Executive Secretary for the visit and promised that the Nigerian Army will continue to collaborate with the Commission, adding that all aspects of human rights will continue to be respected as enshrined in the Constitution.

He assured the Commission that the Nigerian Army will always discharge its duties professionally and responsively in line with his vision, affirming that no personnel will be involved in human rights abuses while carrying out assigned tasks under his watch. Present during the visit were senior officers of the Army Headquarters, as well as management staff of the commission.

Human Right Commission Commends Nigerian Army On War Against Terrorism

Dispatches: Saudi Arabia’s Unrelenting Assault on Free Expression

By Adam Coogle

The latest episode of Saudi Arabia’s unrelenting assault on freedom of expression is the Jeddah Criminal Court’s May 7, 2014 conviction of liberal activist Raif Badawi. The court sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment and 1000 lashes for setting up a liberal website and allegedly insulting Islam and religious authorities.

Badawi can appeal the verdict, but unfortunately he’ll have to do so without the help of his lawyer, human rights activist Waleed Abu al-Khair. Abu al-Khair is currently in Riyadh’s Malaz Prison awaiting the resumption of his own criminal trial before Saudi Arabia’s terrorism tribunal, the Specialized Criminal Court, on charges that include “breaking allegiance with the king,” “making international organizations hostile to the kingdom,” and “setting up an unlicensed organization.” A judge jailed Abu al-Khair on April 15 without allowing him to notify his family, and until now authorities have not disclosed the basis of his detention.

Saudi Arabia has a long history of suppressing free expression. What is different with these cases is the long prison terms imposed by the terrorism court on activists, sometimes ranging between 10 to 15 years.

Fadhil al-Manasif is a case in point. A human rights activist from the Eastern Province city of Qatif, al-Manasif received a harsh 15-year sentence from the Specialized Criminal Court on April 17, plus a 15-year travel ban after his prison sentence and a fine of 1 million Saudi Riyals (US$266,600) – for charges that included “breaking allegiance with the king” and “being in contact with foreign news agencies in order to exaggerate news and harm the reputation of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people.”

Making matters worse, new terrorism regulations promulgated by Saudi authorities in 2014 criminalize, as terrorism-related offenses, acts such as “contact or correspondence with any groups [that are] hostile to the kingdom,” “making countries, committees, or international organizations antagonistic to the kingdom,” and “calling, participating, promoting, or inciting sit-ins [or] protests.”

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia has pledged to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights,” but ongoing repression against peaceful dissidents and activists makes a mockery of this pledge and calls into question the willingness of Saudi Arabia to improve its record.

Dispatches: Saudi Arabia’s Unrelenting Assault on Free Expression