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Kuwait
Urgent appeals
870. On 18 December 2003, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Chairperson- Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, regarding Yasser al-Habib, a 30- year-old writer, journalist and researcher. According to the allegations received, he is detained at al-Niyabah al-Ammah criminal investigation building. Mr. al-Habib collapsed during one of his interrogation sessions due to ill-health. Mr. al-Habib who has worked for several Arabic-language newspapers, including the monthly al-Menbar ("The Pulpit") was abducted by unknown individuals on a street in Kuwait City on the afternoon of 30 November and taken away in an unmarked vehicle. His family was not informed that he had been detained by security forces until the following day, and details of the charges against him have not been made known. According to reports, he is hospitalized but not allowed visitors.
871. On 11 February 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special
Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression regarding Yasser al-Habib,
cited in a previously transmitted communication (see above). According to the allegations
received, he has been sentenced to a one-year prison term on 20 January 2004, convicted of
"questioning the conduct and integrity of some of the companions of the prophet Muhammad"
in a lecture he had delivered. Reports indicate that Mr. al-Habib suffers from asthma and
stomach problems and is in frail health, and that he has reportedly been subject to several
orchestrated violent attacks in prison. It is reported that Mr. al-Habib is appealing his
sentence, and it is believed that his case may be considered for an amnesty on 25 February,
Kuwaiti National Day, when the emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah, will declare
clemency for some prisoners.
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Kyrgyzstan
This report has been published by Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights on July 27, 2005.