The plight of Oqba, an Egyptian university student, highlights the growing concern over the human rights situation in Egypt, particularly the treatment of individuals targeted due to their family connections or political beliefs. Oqba, the brother of Amr, a legal researcher and human rights activist, has been unlawfully detained since May 2019. Despite being held […]
Continue Reading
On December 5, 2024, Atefeh Rangriz, a prominent Iranian human rights defender, was sentenced to an additional two years in prison for the charge of “spreading disinformation.” This new sentence was handed down by Branch 102 of the Damghan Criminal Court II, further compounding her already lengthy sentence for various charges related to her activism. […]
Continue Reading
Samat Matsakov, a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Kyrgyzstan, was arrested on November 29, 2024, after law enforcement raided his home in Bishkek. Matsakov, who has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations in the country, particularly cases of alleged torture by state security forces, is facing serious criminal charges, including large-scale […]
Continue Reading
“Syria is now at a crossroads with great opportunities for us, but also with grave risks. And we need really to look at both,” said Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria. “We know that, of course, HTS is now the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it’s important also to remember that they […]
Continue Reading
December 10, 2024 The Department of State is establishing two new visa restriction policies to promote accountability for wrongful, abusive, and unjust detention practices around the world, a critical step to address the growing trend of foreign governments unjustly detaining individuals worldwide. With these policies, the State Department can impose visa restrictions on individuals who […]
Continue Reading
For those forced to flee the country’s 13-year war, “they are considering how safe Syria is to return to, and how far their rights will be respected before they can make an informed, voluntary decision to return home; they must be given the space to do so without any pressure”, said Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson from the […]
Continue Reading
Today, on International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day, the United States is announcing additional measures against those connected to corruption and human rights abuses. The Department of State is today designating 14 individuals, including immediate family members, from countries around the world for significant corruption and one individual for gross […]
Continue Reading
December 6, 2024 – Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, has raised serious concerns over the U.S. government’s response to the criminal charges filed against climate activists Alex Connon and John Mark Rozendaal. The two activists were among hundreds arrested during peaceful protests against fossil fuel financing in New York […]
Continue Reading
Baku, Azerbaijan / Washington — Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned the recent detention of Rufat Safarov, a prominent Azerbaijani human rights advocate, calling for his immediate release. Safarov, the head of the Defense Line human rights organization, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of fraud and hooliganism. He was placed in pretrial […]
Continue Reading
Ankara, Turkey – December 6, 2024 – Nimet Tanrıkulu, a prominent woman human rights defender and feminist, was arrested on November 30, 2024, following a prolonged detention. Tanrıkulu, a founding member of the Human Rights Association (HRA) and Women for Peace Initiative, has been a vocal advocate for human rights in Turkey for decades. Her […]
Continue Reading
