Iranian Protester To Be Executed

Mohammed Reza ali-Zamani, has been convicted of taking up arms against Iran’s Islamic system during the recent election protests and is to be sentenced to death. Ali-Zamani confessed to working for an organisation described as a terrorist cell by Iranian officials, although many have challenged his confession as part of a “show trial.” Hadi Ghaemi, a spokesperson for the International Committee for Human Rights in Iran, said, “It’s not a good omen…if this is the trend of sentencing then it spells really bad news that we should expect more political executions along these lines. That’s why this verdict has to be protested right now both inside and outside Iran.”

Zurich To Allow Threatening Islam Posters

Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest city, has allowed posters showing missile like minarets above a Swiss flag to be displayed ahead of a national vote on whether to ban the construction of towers at Islamic prayer houses. The posters are part of a campaign by the nationalist Swiss People’s party. Zurich’s approval has been confirmed despite other cities enforcing a ban on the poster, and Zurich city council admitted the posters portrayed Islam as “threatening, negative and dangerous”, but went on to say the poster had to be approved as part of political free speech.

Millions Of Children Lose Out On Human Right

A Unicef report has revealed that one in three of the world’s child brides are from India, and over 10% of children are forced into child labour in south east Asia. Nearly 25 million young women in India were married in the year 2007 - some girls being married or engaged at just 10 years old. 44 million 5-15 year olds work as forced labourers throughout south east Asia, according to the report. Unicef chief Ann Veneman said, “A society cannot thrive if it’s youngest members are forced into early marriage, abused as sex workers or denied their basic human rights.”

Peruvian Indian’s Set To Protest Sale Of The Amazon

Isolated indigenous groups are uniting to fight the Peruvian government’s plan to auction off 75% of the Amazon - nearly two thirds of the country’s territory - to oil, gas and mining companies. Peru’s president, Alan Garcia, has issued special decrees to enact free trade agreements with the US, allowing companies to bypass indigenous communities to obtain permits for exploration and extraction of natural resources, logging and the building of hydroelectric dams. The indigenous peoples of the Amazon say this would effect hundreds of thousands of people living in the Amazon. Jempe Wasum, a local leader, said, “If an oil company tries to come here, we will block it’s path and block the rivers. We will not let them in and we will take strong action…we are not scared, and we will fight to the death over this.”

Nigeria Amnesty Declared A Success

Nigerian authorities say as many as 15,000 oil militants in the Niger Delta surrendered under the two-month amnesty which expired on Sunday. The official in charge of the scheme said 5,000 weapons and 18 gunboats had also been handed in by the militants. One faction, Mend, continues to fight for what it sees as fair distribution of oil wealth to Nigeria’s residents.

Chinese Oil Pipeline To Violate Human Rights In Chad

Human rights activists in Chad say they fear a new Chinese backed oil pipeline will displace hundreds of people and will destroy at least 10 villages. Work has already begun on the 300km pipeline that will stretch from the Koudalwa oilfields in the south of the country to a new refinery north of the capital. Activists that the environmental damage will be considerable and that local people were not properly consulted about the pipeline. Naijirambaye Nelungar, spokesperson for the Research and Monitoring Group on the Cameroon-Chad pipeline, said, “Every day people are coming to their villages and starting work and then they leave, but they never tell the villagers exactly what they're doing, and what is being planned for them. So doubts and uncertainty are beginning to implant themselves.”