The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) was a non-governmental organization devoted to promoting freedom of expression across the Middle East and North Africa.[1] It was founded in the year 2004.[2] Based in Cairo, Egypt, the organization was founded by prominent Egyptian attorney and human rights activist Gamal Eid, who also served as the ANHRI's executive director.[3] The ANHRI collected publications, campaigns, reports, and statements from almost 140 Arab human rights organizations across the region and republished them in a daily digest on its website.[4][5] The group focused on supporting free expression, especially via the internet and mass media, and worked on behalf of persons regarded as having been detained on political grounds.[6][7][8][9][10][11] It also advocated against censorship by Arab governments.[12][13]

The ANHRI described its mission as follows:

Today, there are countless millions of internet users in the Middle East, but it remains difficult for users to find information about human rights. ANHRI provides a central site where Arabic readers can easily find links to and information about all human rights groups and their work in the region. The Network also focuses on and seeks the expansion of freedom of expression on the internet in the Middle East.

Above all, there are critical areas that are not only taboo intellectually in the Islamic world and culture, but for which there are also no groups in the region today to even work on, such as, the death penalty, and rights of Christian minorities. Our objective is to create a space where these issues and other vital information about human rights can be discussed freely, and where people who share an interest in these areas can create a community.[14]

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information was a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange.[15]

In February 2008, the network opened Katib Blogs, which made it possible for those in the Arab world to obtain an Arabic-language blog that was uncensored.[16][17]

In March 2008, a legal service website, Qadaya,[18] was launched to provide a resource for journalists, researchers, and activists. The website provided information on court verdicts, important judicial cases, constitutions from various nations, and legal acts pertinent to the Arab world.[19]

In April 2008, a website devoted to providing information on Darfur for Arab journalists and decision-makers was launched, called Ifhamdarfur. The website provides a twice-weekly newsletter and gathers Arab news reports about the Darfur crisis.[20][citation needed]

Currently, its website and reports are blocked in Saudi Arabia.[21]

In November 2011, the ANHRI was awarded with the 2011 Human Dignity Award of the German Roland Berger Foundation [nl].[22]

The Associated Press reported that in January 2022, the ANHRI announced that it was closing down, blaming perceived intimidation from the Egyptian government.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Anhri.net. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  2. ^ a b "Egyptian rights group closes, cites government persecution". ABC News. Associated Press. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  3. ^ Granger, William. Gamal Eid: Executive Director, Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. 2011-12-13.
  4. ^ "Arabic Network for Human Rights Information Homepage". Anhri.net. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  5. ^ "ANRI Creates Arabic Version Of Blogspot To Promote Freedom Of Speech Archived 2008-03-21 at the Wayback Machine," AHN-All Headline News, February 14, 2008.
  6. ^ "Rights Group Condemn Extension of Egyptian Activists' Detainment Archived 2011-05-25 at the Wayback Machine," AHN-All Headline News, February 8, 2008.
  7. ^ "We need to keep Kareem in our thoughts Archived 2016-03-30 at the Wayback Machine," MENASSAT, Feb. 22, 2008.
  8. ^ "Saudi Arabia - Government urged to let detained blogger receive visits from lawyer," CNW-Canadian News Group, February 8, 2008.
  9. ^ "Arab Ministers Propose Satellite Channel Restrictions". All Headline News. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2008-03-06. Rights groups and press freedom advocacy organizations across the region have said the restrictions are based on "empty claims & irrational reasons," a statement from the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said.
  10. ^ "Saudi Arabia - Government urged to let detained blogger receive visits from lawyer". Canadian Newswire. February 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-06. There has been no answer to the letter which Reporters Without Borders and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) sent to King Abdallah ben Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud on 10 January asking why Farhan was being held.
  11. ^ "ARAB SATELLITE CHARTER MAJOR SETBACK TO PRESS FREEDOM IN REGION, SAY IFEX MEMBERS". 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 2008-03-06. A new Arab "charter" for satellite TV will restrict independent news and information for people across the Middle East and North Africa, say the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), ARTICLE 19 and other IFEX members and partners.
  12. ^ "ANHRI Condemns Kuwait Parliament Over Proposed Censorship Bill Archived 2011-05-25 at the Wayback Machine," AHN-All Headline News, February 7, 2008
  13. ^ "Arab Information Ministers Resolve to Censor Satellite Channels Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine," Arabisto.com, February 14, 2008.
  14. ^ "The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information". Anhri.net. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  15. ^ "The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information". Server.egypt.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "ANHRI Creates Arabic Version Of Blogspot To Promote Freedom Of Speech". All Headline News. February 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-06. A new opportunity for Arabic bloggers has been developed by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) as a means for uncensored content to be published in Arabic. The freedom of speech advocacy organization hopes the Katib blog space will give young Arabs an opportunity to write about their experiences in a mode that has often been cracked down upon by governments in the region.
  17. ^ "Rights societies against the new law". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  18. ^ "Qadaya Home Page". Qadaya.net. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  19. ^ "Legal service Web site launched for Arab journalists,"[permanent dead link] International Journalists' Network, March 27, 2008
  20. ^ "Press release announcing launch". Anhri.net. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  21. ^ "KSA rights group seeks to unblock websites," AME Info, Dubai, April 1, 2008
  22. ^ "2011 Roland Berger Human Dignity Award goes to Rhadia Nasraoui, The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and Mazen Darwish", Roland Berger Foundation, November 22, 2011

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