Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, the OIC should consider two amendments to the Convention to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.

Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to General Siham Harake highlighting a few areas of concern related to the protection of Iraqis in Lebanon.

On the occasion of the third meeting of the Association Council between the European Union (EU) and Lebanon, to be held on 19 February 2008, Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) are writing to express their concern about the human rights situation in Lebanon and to offer recommendations to address it. We hope that you will raise these points with the Lebanese authorities during the meeting of the Association Council.

I write to express Human Rights Watch’s concern about Israel’s reported request for the U.S. government to expedite transfer of cluster munitions. Human Rights Watch is firmly of the view that the United States should not ship cluster munitions to Israel at this time due to the likelihood that they would substantially increase the civilian toll in southern Lebanon.

We are aware that you have recently expressed great concern about the current fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, citing in particular the large numbers of Lebanese civilian victims of this conflict.

The national command of the Ba'ath Party in Syria, to which you belong, recently expressed your country's support for the Lebanese people.  

We understand that you plan to visit Israel in the coming days to address current fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and between Israel and Palestinian armed factions in Gaza. You have recently spoken out on the need for all parties to these conflicts to protect civilians and do their utmost to shield them from harm. Nevertheless, civilians – Lebanese, Israelis, and Palestinians – have been the primary victims.

Human Rights Watch regards the bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 other individuals as a grave affront to human rights. We therefore welcome the Security Council’s adoption on March 29, 2006 of Resolution 1664 (2006), calling on you to negotiate an agreement with the Government of Lebanon to establish a “tribunal of an international character” to try all those responsible for this crime (hereinafter, the “Hariri Tribunal”).