A/HRC/36/31
for almost two years, far in excess of the 60-day pretrial period provided for in Morocco.
According to information received by the Committee, the prolongation of his detention was
reportedly related to the complaint made to the Committee on his behalf on 22 May 2015.
On 10 March 2017, in the light of the gravity of the complainant’s allegations, the
Committee’s rapporteurs on reprisals and follow-up requested the State party urgently to
provide the Committee with the necessary clarifications on the situation of the complainant
by 31 March 2017.
54.
On 8 March 2017, Mr. Abdul Rahman Alhaj Ali informed the Committee that, while
he was on a hunger-strike to protest against his detention for almost three years, he was
advised by officials that he was not going to be released from detention in Morocco, and that
he should rather accept to be extradited to Saudi Arabia. He therefore signed an extradition
agreement under duress, which he subsequently requested to withdraw. On 10 March 2017,
the Committee’s rapporteurs on reprisals and follow-up requested the Government to
urgently provide the necessary clarifications on the situation of Mr. Abdul Rahman Alhaj
Ali. In the absence of a response, the Chairperson of the Committee met with the Government
on 11 May 2017. On 22 May 2017, the Government responded that the complainant is being
regularly visited, due to the absence of his family in Morocco, by NGOs and the delegation
of UNHCR, that his rights as a detainee have been respected, and that he had ended his hunger
strike. The Government further informed that the judicial authority has accepted that Mr. Ali
had withdrawn his request for extradition allegedly signed under threat. Mr. Abdul Rahman
Alhaj Ali still remains in detention.
15.
Myanmar
55.
Special procedure mandate holders received allegations of intimidation and reprisals
against individuals who have engaged with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar during her visits to the country. They have been in contact with the
Government on the matter (see A/HRC/34/75, para. 10, MMR 2/2016). For example, it is
alleged that the arrest and detention of Khine Myo Htun, a political and environmental
activist, is linked to his cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar, with whom he met during her visit in June 2016, shortly before he was
detained. Mr. Htun, an official of the Arakan Liberation Party, had issued a written statement
criticizing the impact of State military action on civilians in Rakhine State in the ongoing
conflict in that region.
56.
Khine Myo Htun reportedly submitted to the authorities evidence substantiating his
allegations. On 5 May 2016 charges were filed against him for defamation and incitement
under the Myanmar Penal Code. On 22 June 2016, he met with the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights in Myanmar during her visit to the country. On 26 August 2016,
four mandate holders raised concerns regarding the alleged arbitrary detention and criminal
prosecution of Mr. Htun (see A/HRC/34/75, MMR 2/2016), also expressing concern that the
arrest and detention of Mr. Htun may carry an element of reprisal for his cooperation with
the United Nations on human rights, as these actions took place after he had met with the
Special Rapporteur.
57.
On 6 October 2016, the Government responded to the allegations of reprisals against
Mr. Htun, stating that on 5 May 2016 a case was filed against him for publishing a statement
with the intent to mislead the public, defame the Tatmyadaw, or Myanmar Armed Forces,
and intimidate the public by using false information. In its reply the Government did not
address the allegations relating to reprisals.
58.
On 24 January 2017, the Special Rapporteur issued a press release, e expressing her
deep concerns about reported reprisals against some of those with whom she met. She drew
attention to her alarm that security forces, after a brief lull in activity, had resumed military
counter operations in villages nearby to those she had visited in June 2016, with allegations
of arbitrary detention and arrest in relation to these raids. The Special Rapporteur further
e
OHCHR, “UN human rights expert concerned about reprisals during recent visit to Myanmar,” 24
January 2017.
25
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents