Ctrl.Alt.Shift writer Richard Lemmer scopes across this week's headlines from around the world: 10,000 activists gather in Tel Aviv, unrest continues in Tunisia, ‘execution binge’ in Iran and man sets himself on fire in Egypt...

Protest In Israel:

At least 10,000 activists have gathered in Tel Aviv to protest against the Israeli government’s recent attacks on civil and human rights organisations. Under the banner of the ’Democratic Camp’ - a coalitions of activists and activist organisations - the protest was against a recent bill to investigate the funding of human rights organisations and particularly singled out Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for criticism.

Protestors chanted ‘Human rights for everyone’ and carried placards reading “battling the regime of darkness”, “Jews and Arabs will not be enemies” and “investigate me too”. The protest ended with a rally outside the Tel Aviv Museum. 

Avraham Burg, a former Knesset speaker and an organiser for the Democratic Camp, told the Guardian: ‘Israel is not a democracy any more. Technically it is, but the foundations of democracy - liberty, equality - are under threat. The rabbinical fatwas and political harassment are red lights. If we don’t stand up now, tomorrow it will be too late.’

Unrest In Tunisia:
Protests that have swept across Tunisia have led to President fleeing the country after 23 years in power. Over 20 people have been killed in the protests during clashes with police, according to government officials. The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues claim the number is nearing 40.

The protests are seen as being largely fuelled by unemployment and Tunisia’s poor economic situation. On Monday (17 January 2011), Le Monde reported that Leila Trabelsi, Ben Ali’s wife, took over 1.5 tonnes of gold from the Central Bank of Tunisia before fleeing the country, although the bank denies the allegations.

Writing in the Guardian, Sam, a Tunisian activist, wrote: ‘For the first time, we see the opportunity to rebel, to take revenge on the “royal” family who has taken everything, to overturn the established order that has accompanied our youth. An educated youth, which is tired and ready to sacrifice all symbols of the former autocratic Tunisia with a new revolution.’

An interim national unity government has been appointed, but fears remain over the restoration of stability and whether the democratic aspirations of the Tunisian public will be met.

Photos from the Guardian

More from the Guardian

‘Execution Binge’ In Iran:

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has accused the Iranian government of conducting an ‘execution binge’, with one person being hanged every eight hours on average since the beginning of 2011. Two of these were political activists, while most of the others were executed for violent crimes such as murder

‘The execution of Kurdish activists, without fair trials and following torture, increasingly appears as a systematic, politically motivated process.'

At least 179 people were executed in Iran in 2010 and 388 in 2009. Among political prisoners of particular note was the number of Kurdish activists who have been or are about to be executed. HRANA, a human rights organisation, has reported that Fatemeh Salbehi, a 16-year-old high school student, is sentenced to death after being convicted of murder.

Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for ICHRI, said: ‘The execution of Kurdish activists, without fair trials and following torture, increasingly appears as a systematic, politically motivated process… when executions become the method of choice to solve political and practical problems, human life is being tragically devalued in Iran.’

Man Sets Himself On Fire in Cairo protest:

Abdu Abdel-Monaim Kamal, a 50-year-old restaurant owner and father of four, has set himself on fire in a protest against the Egyptian government. While shouting anti-government slogans, Kamal doused his clothes in fuel and set himself on fire in front of the parliament building in Cairo. The incident is similar to scenes in Algeria, where four have set themselves alight in the last week.

The wave of self-immolations across north Africa and the Middle East follows that of a man in Tunisia which sparked weeks of increasingly violent protests resulting in the resignation of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Unedited footage from the Associated Press:

Words: Richard Lemmer

Photo: Flickr user NotiZulia and Flickr user gwenflickr