Police Brutality

Congolese opposition figure Moise Katumbi was hospitalised on Friday after police fired tear gas at him and his supporters outside the prosecutor's office in the southern mining hub of Lubumbashi, his lawyer said.

"He is sick. He was attacked. So it's normal that the doctor would want to keep him under observation," said his lawyer, Georges Kapiamba.

He told Reuters Katumbi had inhaled tear gas and was manhandled by police upon his arrival.

The former governor of Democratic Republic of Congo's main copper-mining region had been summoned for allegedly hiring mercenaries, including former U.S. soldiers, as part of a plot against the republic.

Katumbi denies the accusations, which he says are aimed at derailing his campaign to succeed President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila has ruled since 2001 but is barred from standing for a third term in an election set for November.

Shortly after Katumbi's arrival, police fired tear gas at thousands of his backers, who had gathered outside the prosecutor's office to show their support, and the two sides pelted each other with stones.

Kapiamba said that the hearing was almost immediately suspended after Katumbi said he felt unwell.

Friday's violence was the third time in five days that police have dispersed Katumbi's supporters amid questioning by the prosecutor that began on Monday.

"It's sad that there is not a state of law - police officers who throw stones and wound my older brother," Katumbi said before finally entering the building.

Political tensions are high in Congo, where dozens were killed in January 2015 in protests over a proposed revision of the electoral law.

Critics had said that proposed revision of the electoral law was a ploy to keep Kabila in power beyond the end of his mandate.

Kabila's critics accuse him of trying to delay the November election to cling to power.

The government has said that it is unlikely to be able to organise the poll in time due to budgetary and logistical constraints.

The country's highest court ruled on Wednesday that Kabila would stay in power beyond the end of his mandate this year if the election does not take place.

In a statement on Friday, leading opposition parties accused the court of supporting a "constitutional coup d'etat" and called for marches across the country on May 26 to demand that Kabila step down this year. 

http://www.aitonline.tv/post congo_opposition_leader_in_hospital_after_police_fires_tear_gas

Saudi Arabia gives women the right to a copy of their marriage contract

Saudi Arabia gives women the right to a copy of their marriage contract

In a 'protect the rights of women & facilitate procedures for her', Saudi Arabia's Justice ministry has announced that Saudi brides will now get a copy of their marriage contracts, a privilege that was previously exclusive to just men.

According to a directorate issued by the justice minister, Walid al-Samaani, clerics who register marriage contracts, must now hand over a copy to all brides in order for women to be fully aware of her rights and the terms of the marriage. 

This decision according to the minister, also took into consideration that a woman would need a copy of her marriage contract in case a dispute with her husband brings them to court.

Source: theguardian.com

UN on Boko Haram

UN plans to rehabilitate escapees from Boko Haram

A team of United Nations (UN) Human Rights experts would be paying a five-day visit to Nigeria from Monday to assist in the rehabilitation of women and children that escaped from Boko Haram’s captivity.

The UN Human Rights office of the High Commissioner said this in a statement released in Geneva, Switzerland and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

The statement said that the experts had been mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies to prevent and protect the rights of women and children.

“ Some United Nations human rights experts will visit Nigeria to assist in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the women and children who escaped or were liberated from Boko Haram captivity.

“During their five-day visit, the experts will gather information on the various initiatives adopted by governmental, international and non-governmental actors to support these women and children,’’ it said.

The statement said that such information would assist the women and children in coping with their suffering, trauma, and stigma and possibly return them to their normal lives.

It also said that the UN Special Rapporteurs, who were invited by the Federal Government, would meet with representatives of ministries, civil society and relevant UN agencies.

The Special Rapporteurs, who would present a report of their visit to the UN Human Rights Council later in the year, would also be visiting some detention centres.

According to the rapporteuers, all measures will be taken to ensure that the right care, recovery and reintegration of these women and children are carried out in line with international human rights standards.

“In that regard, we look forward to engaging all parties and put our expertise at their disposal,” the Special Rapporteurs said

Moral standards ii

Morality is not about trying to be perfectly right, it is about trying to do right.
Destine.

Martin Luther

Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr.
Born: 15 January 1929, Atlanta, GA, USA
Died: 4 April 1968, Memphis, TN, USA

“I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.” – King’s desire for his legacy.

On 10/12/1964 Dr King received a Nobel Peace Prize Award for his non-violent campaign against racism.

Martin Luther King dreamt that all inhabitants of the United States would be judged by their personal qualities and not by the color of their skin. Dr. King adhere to Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. In 1955 he began his struggle to persuade the Government to declare the policy of racial discrimination in the southern states unlawful. In April 1968 he was murdered by a white racist.