Human Rights

Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza

25 Aug 2021; MEMO: Israeli warplanes last night carried out airstrikes in several sites across the Gaza Strip, local security sources said.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported no casualties, but farmers said the strikes caused much damage to their farms, particularly those in the eastern area of the Strip.

According to Israeli media, the occupation army claimed the strikes came in response to incendiary balloons being released from Gaza.

Tunisia: suspension of parliament extended indefinitely

25 Aug 2021; MEMO: The suspension of parliament in Tunisia has been extended indefinitely by President Kais Saied, Anadolu has reported. Saied announced the initial 30-day suspension on 25 July.

The president also extended the suspension of MPs' immunity, his office added. He will deliver a speech to the nation about this in the coming days.

India: Allahabad HC rejects Muslim constable's plea to keep beard

Lucknow, Aug 23 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has refused to allow a suspended Muslim policeman keep a beard while in service, saying it violates official orders and he can't seek protection under Article 25 of the Constitution.

The Lucknow Bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan passed the order on a writ petition filed by police constable Mohd Farman, who was suspended in November last year for maintaining a beard despite being told to shave it.

Tunisia president says 'there is no turning back'

23 Aug 2021; MEMO: Tunisian President Kais Saied yesterday stressed that "there is no turning back", in reference to the exceptional measures he took nearly one month ago.

In a statement, the Tunisian Presidency stated that "exceptional measures have been taken to protect the Tunisian state from collapsing in light of the unprecedented crisis and to put an end to choices that have increased the people's misery and poverty and robbed their strength and resources."

"There is no turning back," it added.

Palestine: Settler set fire to Palestine olive grove near Nablus

23 Aug 2021; MEMO: Jewish settlers this morning set fire to an olive grove in Burin town, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

Local official Ghassan Daghlas said settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar stormed an agricultural area in the south of Burin and set ablaze dozens of olive trees in a grove belonging to a local resident.

India: Dalit woman raped in UP village

Shahjahanpur (UP), Aug 22 (PTI) An 18-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by a man in a village here, police said on Sunday.

SHO of Tilhar Police Station Sanjay Kumar said the incident occurred when the young woman was taking her cattle for grazing.

According to police, the accused is a middle aged man and hails from the same village as the victim, police said.

The woman narrated her ordeal to her family members after returning home following which the police registered a case on Sunday and she was sent for a medical examination, they said.

3m Yemen children unable to access education: Red Cross

21 Aug 2021; MEMO: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed on Friday that three million Yemeni children are unable to enrol in education this year due to the ongoing conflict in the country.

Katharina Ritz, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, posted on Twitter: "With the start of the school year in Yemen, let us not forget that the conflict has destroyed hundreds of schools and made nearly three million children unable to enrol in education this year. Yemeni children, like all children, need to go back to school."

Tunisia: Former anti-corruption chief under house arrest

21 Aug 2021; MEMO: Chawki Tabib, former head of the Tunisian Anti-Corruption Authority (INLUCC), has confirmed via his Facebook page that he has been played under house arrest.

"The chief of a security unit that has been stationed since 10 PM Tunis time (9.30 GMT) in front of the door of my apartment, and informed me that the official in charge of running the Ministry of the Interior issued an order to place me under house arrest," Tabib wrote.

Lebanon joins opposition to Israel's AU membership

20 Aug 2021; MEMO: The Lebanese Foreign Ministry yesterday welcomed a recent announcement by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) opposing the unilateral decision of the African Union to grant Israel observer status.

In an official statement, the ministry said that the SADC stance was "in line with the provisions of international law and historical solidarity."

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