Daily News Brief - 05/10/2022
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Please find below today’s daily news brief.
Bahrain | UN: Bahrain withdraws its candidacy to UN human rights body after criticism
According to a UN website, Bahrain withdrew its candidacy on September 26 to run for a three-year seat at the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. While a Bahraini government spokesperson stated that the move is the result of “ongoing consultations with [Bahrain’s] geographical group,” according to a UN report from last month, a memo circulated among council members by the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy drew allegations of arbitrary detentions and reprisals against individuals in the Gulf country. Bahrain has been replaced by Afghanistan in its geographical group.
Iran: At least 63 people were killed during protests in southeastern Iranian province last week
According to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) group, at least 63 people were killed last week in the southeastern city of Zahedan, located in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, when the Iranian security forces “bloodily suppressed” a protest. Crowds of residents gathered on September 30 after the Friday prayer to demonstrate against the rape of a Baluch 15-year-old girl by the police chief.
Iran | EU: The EU mulls sanctions on Iran as protests entered their 19th consecutive day and the crackdown becomes more violent
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated on Tuesday that the European Union is considering sanctions on Iran over the killing of Mahsa Amini and the crackdown on protests across the country. Borrell told the European Parliament that the regime’s repression of the protests is “disproportionate” and “unjustifiable.” According to France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, the EU is looking to impose asset freezes and travel bans on a number of Iranian officials.
Iran | Oman: US citizen freed by Iran arrives in Oman
US citizen of Iranian origins Baquer Namazi was allowed by Iranian authorities to leave the country after being freed from jail where he spent more than six years on espionage charges. Namazi, a former UN official, arrived on Wednesday in Oman from where he will be transferred to the UAE and will undergo surgery in Abu Dhabi. His son, Siamak Namazi is also detained in Iran.
Iran | UK: Tehran summons the British envoy over comments related to protests
Iran summoned the British ambassador to Tehran Simon Shercliff on Tuesday for the second time since the beginning of the nationwide protests, alleging Western meddling in the ongoing unrest. Britain’s foreign ministry stated on Monday that it had summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires over the crackdown during which rights groups say thousands have been arrested and hundreds injured.
Iraq: Army increases its presence in southern provinces following demonstrations
The Iraqi army will send reinforcements to the southern provinces of Dhi Qar and Basra, according to a statement by the military’s Chief of Staff Abdel Emir Yarallah who visited the region on Tuesday. It comes one day after demonstrators set on fire a government building in Dhi Qar’s central district of Nasiriyah, while in Basra local clans clashed with armed factions affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). While some are saying that the events in Nasiriyah are part of anti-corruption protests, other sources believe that the Coordination Framework, a Shia, pro-Iran political alliance, is behind what happened, motivated by the desire to take over the position of governor in Dhi Qar.
Israel | Palestine: One Palestinian killed and two injured in Israeli operation east of Nablus
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces during a military operation in the town of Deir al-Hatab, east of the occupied West Bank’s city of Nablus. According to local sources, the soldiers surrounded a building where a wanted individual identified as Salman Omran was residing. An exchange of gunfire ensued between the Israeli army and Palestinian fighters.
Kuwait: Crown prince reappoints Sheikh Ahmad as prime minister
Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah reappointed Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as the country’s prime minister and instructed him to nominate a cabinet for approval. Kuwait held early parliamentary elections on September 29 after the crown prince dissolved the legislature in a bid to end a standoff between the parliament and the government.
Qatar | Czech Republic: The Qatari emir starts a two-day official visit to the Czech Republic
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in the Czech capital of Prague on Wednesday to begin a two-day official visit. He was formally greeted by Czech President Milos Zeman at Prague Castle. The emir will hold meetings will several officials, including the finance minister and the industry and trade minister to discuss issues such as deliveries of liquified natural gas from Qatar. Other topics include cooperation in the arms industry, space technology, and transport.
Syria: The security situation deteriorates in Dara’a as various militias and unidentified gunmen step up their activities
The security situation in Syria’s southwestern province of Dara’a significantly deteriorated since the beginning of this month, with at least 17 attacks taking place in the last 96 hours, leaving 14 people dead. Most of the attacks were perpetrated by unidentified individuals. Since early 2022, 421 incidents took place in Dara’a which left 355 people dead, including 168 civilians.
Syria: The death toll increases in Syria’s cholera outbreak as it is “evolving alarmingly”
The Syrian health ministry said on Tuesday that it has recorded 39 deaths from cholera and 594 cases across 11 of its 14 provinces since late last month. Most of those who died are in the northern province of Aleppo and it was not immediately clear if they were included in the overall case tally. It is the first major outbreak of cholera in over a decade. The disease is generally contracted from contaminated food or water.
Turkey | Sweden: Technical talks kick off on extradition of terrorists
Turkish and Swedish delegations began talks in Ankara on the extradition of terrorists under an agreement between Turkey, Sweden, and Finland which stipulates that Ankara will not voice opposition to the nordic countries’ NATO membership bid in exchange for them not providing support to Kurdish groups labeled as “terrorist” by Turkey. It comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated days ago that he will not ratify the NATO membership bids until the two countries “kept” their promises.
Turkey | EU | Libya: Turkey rejects EU’s criticism of energy deal with the Libyan government
The European Union criticized Tuesday the deal concluded between Ankara and Tripoli saying that it infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states and does not comply with the UN Law of the Sea. In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic stated that “objecting to an agreement signed between the two states is not only against international law but also contradictory to the basic principles of the UN.” Turkey and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding on the exploration of hydrocarbons in Libya’s territorial waters and on Libyan soil by mixed Turkish-Libyan companies.