Lebanon: Threats against Palestinian Human Rights Foundation 'Monitor'

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports of threats received by members of the Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor), a human rights organisation based in Lebanon.

On 17 April 2008, Monitor issued a press release about the kidnapping of a disabled person from the Al Rashidiyah camp for Palestinian refugees. Ibrahim Mohammed Al Kateeb, head of security of the Fatah movement in Lebanon, reportedly telephoned Monitor to ask the organisation to issue another press release denying the kidnapping.

On 18 April 2008, staff members of Monitor were threatened after they had refused to do as Ibrahim Mohammed Al Kateeb asked. Director of Monitor, Abdulaziz Tarakji, temporarily closed the office and informed the Lebanese authorities of the threatening telephone calls and the telephone numbers from which they were made.

I believe that the threats against the members of Monitor are related to their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, especially their work to publicise and raise awareness with regard to human rights violations in Lebanon. I am concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Abdulaziz Tarakji and all members of Monitor.

I urge the Lebanese authorities to:

1. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats made against the members of Monitor, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice;

2. Take measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Abdulaziz Tarakji and all members of Monitor;

3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Lebanon, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to work without fear of restrictions or reprisals.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw attention to Article 6 (b): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms,” and Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.

Yours sincerely,