Latest news with #politicalprisoners
Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Kingdom hosts relatives of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs for Hajj pilgrimage
MAKKAH: Hundreds of relatives of Palestinian political prisoners and martyrs who have died in the conflict with Israel have arrived to perform Hajj as part of Saudi Arabia's Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday, bringing the number of those performing Hajj and arriving from Palestine to 1,000. Palestinian pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and were later hosted in the program's special accommodation in the holy city of Makkah. They praised Saudi Arabia and its leadership for serving Muslims and the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program has hosted thousands of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims since its establishment in 1996. The program this year is set to host 2,443 Hajj pilgrims from 100 countries. They started arriving in the Kingdom in May.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cannes 25 : Jafar Panahi's "It Was Just an Accident" – A Darkly Humorous Triumph of Resistance
In a year marked by cinematic brilliance, the 78th Cannes Film Festival crowned Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi with the prestigious Palme d'Or for his latest work, "It Was Just an Accident". This Iranian drama tackles the legacy of state-sponsored torture with emotional precision, weaving themes of trauma, memory, justice, and unexpected levity. A Haunting Tale The narrative follows a former political prisoner who, upon a chance encounter with a man, becomes convinced he's face-to-face with his past torturer. A seemingly ordinary moment—a simple incident—jolts his memory. He hears a voice and is suddenly transported back to the interrogation room. Could this man in front of him be the one who tortured him? He can't be certain—his eyes were always blindfolded during those harrowing sessions. Darkness with Humour From there, director Jafar Panahi leads us into a haunting yet deeply engaging detective story. The protagonist seeks out fellow survivors, hoping to piece together the truth. What follows is a journey of collective memory, trauma, and camaraderie, where each character contributes a piece of the puzzle—and reveals their own scars. Panahi's genius lies in his ability to infuse dark subject matter with moments of humour. In scenes that could easily become unbearably heavy, the filmmaker dares to insert levity—not for cheap relief, but as a testament to the survivors' resilience. The audience laughs not because the pain is lessened, but because it is deeply human to seek light in the darkest of places. The film's epic climax—a confrontation between the survivors and the suspected torturer—is masterfully executed. The tension is suffocating, the emotions raw. You feel everything: rage, confusion, fear, even a glimmer of compassion. It's a scene where emotions run high and the lines between victim and perpetrator blur. The audience, much like the characters, is left questioning the nature of justice and the reliability of memory. In a masterstroke, Panahi reveals how easily perceptions can be manipulated, leaving viewers both shocked and contemplative. Lens Through Memory Visually, "It Was Just an Accident" is a triumph. The director uses the camera like a memory—often uncertain, jittery, sometimes fading in and out of clarity. Tight close-ups force us into the characters' emotional spaces, while stark lighting and muted palettes reflect the trauma that never truly leaves them. The cinematography turns small moments—a flicker of recognition, a trembling hand—into profound beats of storytelling. "It Was Just an Accident" is more than just a film; it's a testament to the power of storytelling in challenging oppressive systems. Panahi's ability to weave a tale that's both harrowing and humorous showcases his mastery as a filmmaker.
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Tunisia row over ‘repressive' transfers of political detainees
TUNIS: Several jailed Tunisian opposition figures have been transferred without prior notice to prisons far from their families in a move their lawyers and relatives on Friday denounced as 'repressive.' At least seven political figures were moved on Thursday from Mornaguia prison near Tunis to remote facilities, lawyer Dalila Msaddek told AFP. Prominent figure Issam Chebbi was taken to a jail in Tunisia's northernmost city of Bizerte, while Ridha BelHajj was moved to Siliana some two hours south of Tunis. 'They were moved without any warning to their families or lawyers,' said Msaddek. She called the transfers 'a form of harassment' aimed at making it harder for their Tunis-based families and lawyers to visit. Weekly prison visits in Tunisia allow families to bring prisoners baskets of food to last them through the week. Msaddek said some prison inmates resisted the move but were forcibly transferred. In a letter from prison posted on social media, BelHajj denounced what he called a forced transfer 'far from my family, my children, and my lawyers, in yet another attempt to break my will.' He said he, Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi were 'prisoners or conscience, not criminals.' 'What is happening today is a desperate attempt to silence free voices and intimidate anyone who dares to say 'no' to injustice and tyranny,' he wrote. Since President Kais Saied's power grab in July 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree, rights groups have warned of a sharp decline in civil liberties in the North African country. In a video statement, Chebbi's wife denounced the authorities' move as 'an injustice' and 'abuse.' She said she learned of the transfer during her scheduled weekly visit, and that her husband was informed just an hour before being moved. Once a French military bunker built in 1932, Bizerte prison — Borj Erroumi — became infamous for its harsh conditions under Tunisia's former longtime rulers Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. All of the transferred prisoners were defendants in a mass trial last month that saw around 40 public figures, some staunch Saied critics, sentenced to long terms on charges including plotting against the state. The trial drew international criticism, from France, Germany and the United Nations, which Saied dismissed as 'blatant interference in Tunisia's internal affairs.' During a protest in Tunis demanding the release of jailed lawyer Ahmed Souab, public figures also condemned the prison transfers. Souab had been a member of the defense team during the mass trial. He was detained on terrorism-related charges after claiming that judges were under political pressure to hand the defendants hefty sentences. 'We're seeing a return to the old practices of the Ben Ali dictatorship which aimed at breaking the morale of political prisoners by moving them from one prison to another,' opposition figure Chaima Issa told AFP during the protest. Also attending the rally, Chebbi's wife said he was now detained in 'inhumane' conditions after visiting him. She said he was being held in the same room as 60 other inmates, deprived of even 'basic standards of detention.'
Washington Post
4 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Mother of jailed Egyptian democracy activist hospitalized after resuming hunger strike
LONDON — The mother of a pro-democracy activist imprisoned in Egypt is seriously ill in a London hospital after resuming a hunger strike aimed at pressing for her son's release, her family said Friday. Laila Soueif was admitted to St Thomas's Hospital on Thursday night with dangerously low blood sugar levels.
The National
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Eight million Syrians were wanted by Assad regime for 'political reasons', new authorities say
About a third of Syria's population was wanted by the country's intelligence and security apparatus for 'political reasons' under former president Bashar Al Assad, an interior ministry spokesman for the new government has said. Noureddine Al Baba was speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Saturday at which he announced a restructuring of the interior ministry that includes renewed efforts to fight cross-border drug and people smuggling. Mr Al Baba said 'the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million'. After Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, millions of Syrians found themselves caught in the dragnet of the security services, facing prosecution, abuse or rights violations. Many were accused of taking part in or promoting demonstrations, 'undermining the prestige of the state', communicating with foreign parties or financing and supporting 'terrorism'. Hundreds of thousands were thrown into prison, where many faced torture and tens of thousands are still missing. A coalition of rebels toppled Mr Al Assad in December after five decades of his family's rule. Mr Al Baba on Saturday said the restructuring of the interior ministry included a number of new departments aimed at creating 'a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards'. They include a complaints department and a border security body in charge of Syria's land and sea frontiers that will be tasked with 'combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks'. The reforms will 'strengthen the role of the anti-drug department and further develop its importance within Syria and abroad', Mr Al Baba said. Syria has been a major exporter of the illicit stimulant Captagon, with millions of pills produced under the Assad regime and shipped to neighbouring countries. With foreign missions reopening in Syria following Mr Al Assad's ouster, another department in the reformed ministry will handle security for government facilities and embassies, Mr Al Baba added. A tourism police department will be tasked with securing tourist sites and visitors. Syria is home to important archaeological and Unesco World Heritage sites including the ancient city of Palmyra. Since taking power, the new government under President Ahmad Al Shara has been seeking to revitalise crumbling public administration. The latest move comes as Damascus aims to improve ties with western powers that have or are considering lifting sanctions, including the US. Washington formalised a decision to remove sanctions on Friday after it was announced by US President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he briefly met Mr Al Shara. The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday welcomed Washington's move, calling it 'a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country'.
