Washington, United States | AFP | The head of Amnesty International warned Monday that a US military intervention in response to the attack on Saudi oil facilities blamed on Iran would only aggravate suffering in the Middle East. The rights group’s secretary general, Kumi Naidoo, said the world instead should …
Read More »Why US sanctioned Uganda’s ex-police boss Kayihura
Washington, United States | AFP | The US government announced sanctions against Uganda’s once-powerful police chief on Friday, citing evidence of corruption and human rights abuses including torture. The agencies said there was credible information that Kale Kayihura was involved in “torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or …
Read More »US slaps sanctions over Russia rights despite revived ties
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Russians over abuses including the killing of a prominent opposition leader, days after top-level talks seemed to ease tensions between the powers. The State Department highlighted the actions against the five people, plus one …
Read More »British police arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
London, United Kingdom | AFP | WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s nearly seven-year stay at Ecuador’s embassy in London came to an abrupt end on Thursday when police entered the building and arrested him after Ecuador withdrew his asylum. Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge …
Read More »Kenyan activist’s family seek autopsy, fear ‘abortion’ cover-up
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The family of a Kenyan activist who went missing for a week before turning up dead, have questioned police claims she died of a botched abortion, and demanded an autopsy. Caroline Mwatha went missing last Wednesday, prompting Amnesty International to raise the alarm over her …
Read More »In gloomy times, rights body sees ‘striking’ pushback against abuses
Berlin, Germany | AFP | A growing pushback against human rights abusers and autocrats has emerged in the last year, Human Rights Watch said Thursday, with resistance coming from a number of new sources. Smaller countries and groups like the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation are stepping up and taking …
Read More »December clashes in west DR Congo killed almost 900: UN
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | At least 890 people were killed during three days of inter-communal clashes in western Democratic Republic of Congo last month, the United Nations said Wednesday. “It is crucial that this shocking violence be promptly, thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” UN …
Read More »Sudan rights body condemns fatal shooting of protesters
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s top human rights body on Friday condemned the killing “by bullets” of protesters during a wave of unrest and called on the authorities to bring those responsible to justice. The statement by Sudan’s National Human Rights Commission was the first acknowledgement by a state …
Read More »Thousands protest citizenship bill in India’s Assam
Guwahati, India | AFP | Thousands in northeastern India protested Monday against a proposal to grant citizenship to religious minorities in the region, except Muslims, with critics attacking the bill as prejudiced and a sop to Hindus before elections. Protesters burned copies of the legislation in angry marches across Assam …
Read More »China says UN observers welcome to Xinjiang, with conditions
Beijing, China | AFP | China said Monday it would welcome UN officials to the restive western region of Xinjiang with the condition that they stay out of the country’s internal affairs. This comes after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in December her office was seeking access to …
Read More »