Keeping power in check: This week in Human Rights

The epitome of hatred

The burning alive of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh was shocking not just for the pure brutality of the act but also for the perpetrators' pride in their savagery.

The roots for such inhumanity though run deep and many hands have shared in spreading the seeds of hatred and fear throughout the region.

'Secular' dictators and their cabinets of generals disappear, torture and silence their people; preachers of hatred buoyed by endless vaults of petro-dollars spread ignorance, guns and intolerance; the Iranian theocracy funds and arms whatever sectarian militia or tinpot dictator will further their influence; Israel continues to trample over Palestinian people.

And last, but by no means least, the US and UK with their ragtag coalitions, pillage and plunder countries they have smashed into rubble while repeatedly supporting the very forces in the region who undermine their rallying calls of democracy and freedom.

The complete disregard for fundamental human rights by those vying for control of the Arab World has quashed the dreams and ambitions of a generation. What hope for the destitute, indoctrinated and war ravaged?

Kasasbeh's murder was the epitome of this brutalised and hopeless reality.

Coming clean on torture

The recent report into the CIA's use of torture in "black sites" around the globe highlighted once again the hypocrisy and double standards of the US over its rhetoric and reality on human rights.

Now, the UK government is also under pressure to come clean on its involvement in abductions and torture alongside the Americans.

In a letter to the human rights group Reprieve, the UK's prime minister, David Cameron, has raised the prospect of a second investigation by an independent inquiry.

The Intelligence Security Committee is already investigating whether British officials were complicit in torture overseas but critics argue it is too close to the establishment to conduct a credible and thorough investigation.

Human rights groups and lawyers are pushing for an independent inquiry that could force leading figures from spy agencies giving evidence in front of a judge.

The tiny island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, which is under British control, is at the forefront of the issue.

The former chief of staff for Colin Powell, the then-secretary of state, told Vice News that the CIA had indicated the island was used for abductions and interrogations despite previous UK assurances that "no US detainees have ever been held on Diego Garcia".

Home no more

The Bahraini authorities stripped 72 citizens of their nationality this week, in a move widely condemned by human rights groups.

Some of the reasons cited for the revocations included defaming the image of the regime, defaming brotherly nations and advocating regime change through illegal means.

Petty and harsh in equal measure.

At least four journalists were among those stripped of their passports. Amnesty International said that journalists, bloggers and peaceful activists had been lumped together with preachers and fighters who have gone to join the ranks of IS.

"Bahraini journalists who dare to express critical views already face serious risks, including legal action and imprisonment. Now Bahrain is punishing them by taking away what they value most," said Sherif Mansour, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator.

Among the 72 were members of prominent Shia and Sunni families, illustrating the insecurity of a monarchy and government facing challenges to their legitimacy from various sides.

Time to deliver

See the full HRW 2012 photo gallery on the condition of migrant workers in Qatar here

Under mounting international pressure Qatar promised to implement labour reforms by early 2015 to protect migrant workers in the construction sector.

Human Rights Watch has welcomed the move but says the proposals do not go far enough and lack detail.

The reforms would "not adequately protect migrant workers from human trafficking, forced labor, and other rights violations, or ensure their right to leave the country," it warned.

Some of Qatar's detractors are still trying to have the 2022 World Cup relocated to another country due to allegations of corruption and widespread human rights abuses of migrant labourers.

Few things can capture global attention like 22 men chasing a ball around a field.

That is why HRW is hoping the intense scrutiny that comes with hosting a World Cup may force Qatar to "take the lead on migrant workers changes", in a region where abuse of workers from poorer Asian and African countries is notoriously commonplace.

One down, thousands to go

The images of a jubilant Peter Greste reunited with his parents were cause for relief, but also a reminder of those still languishing in Egyptian jails on trumped up charges.

Greste and his colleagues Mohammad Fahmy and Baher Mohammad had previously been sentenced to seven years in prison for association with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and reporting "false news".

What constitutes "true news" in Egypt these days though is anyone's guess.

Mohammad Fahmy looks set for freedom in a deal that will see him revoke his Egyptian nationality and then be deported on his Canadian passport.

Baher Mohammad, on the other hand doesn't enjoy the luxury of a foreign passport and his fate remains a lot more precarious. He faces the same capricious justice system jailed at least 16,000 people over the last 18 months in a sweeping crackdown on dissent.

Human rights workers, peaceful activists and journalists are prevalent among the imprisoned hoards.

This week alone 183 people were sentenced en masse to death bringing the the total number of death sentences passed under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to 415. All in just four trials.

Within two days, another 230 people were given life behind bars for taking part in protests that led to clashes with the security services near Tahrir Square in 2011.

In case anyone was still under any impression it's just the Muslim Brotherhood in these trials, it's worth mentioning that the prominent liberal activist Ahmed Douma was among those sent down for life this week.

He was fined $2m as well.

Children and journalists in jail

The recent jailing of a 14-year-old girl by the Israeli occupation forces is drawing attention to the wider issue of Palestinian children being tried in military courts and then imprisoned.

Malak al-Khatib was sentenced in late January to two months in jail and a $1,500 fine, on allegations of stone throwing and possession of a knife.

She is one of 1,000 children arrested every year in the Israeli occupied West Bank for throwing stones, according to Defence for Children International, Palestine.

It's clearly far from a seldom phenomenon but the fact that she is a such a young girl means her case is capturing widespread attention in Palestine and beyond.

An Israeli spokewomen said, "rock throwing is an extremely dangerous crime".

What's that saying about people in glass houses?

And as if Palestinians living under occupation didn't have enough problems to contend with their own authorities are also cracking down on freedom of expression.

Palestinian journalists in the occupied territories are experiencing an unprecedented level of infringements on their work according to the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms.

Summons, interrogations and beatings are regularly reported.

We'll be keeping our eye on human rights transgressions across the region and bringing you another weekly digest next Friday. If you want to share any information or bring our attention to any campaigns please Tweet us at @alaraby_en.