Amnesty International

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In the Netherlands, 'a Stunning Lurch to the Far Right'

Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom won big, while 'human rights lost,' per Amnesty International

(Newser) - The party of anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders won a huge general election victory in the Netherlands, according to a nearly complete vote count early Thursday that showed a stunning lurch to the far right for a nation once famed as a beacon of tolerance, per the AP . With nearly all...

After Latest Airstrike, Calls for End to Israeli 'War Crimes'

Arab nations condemn Israeli strike on refugee camp as groups claim use of white phosphorus

(Newser) - Dozens of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday in what appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago, the AP reports. Egyptian state-run media...

Ukraine Puts Civilians in Harm's Way, Report Says

Zelensky angrily denounces Amnesty International's assessment

(Newser) - Ukrainian forces have exposed civilians to Russian attacks at times by basing themselves in schools, residential buildings, and other places in populated areas, Amnesty International says in a report published Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky angrily denounced the report, saying Amnesty International "tries to amnesty the terrorist state and...

Amnesty Accuses Russia of War Crimes in Mariupol

'That is the reality of Ukraine right now'

(Newser) - Amnesty International is accusing Russia of committing war crimes in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. The human rights organization will soon release an in-depth report on the devastation caused by Russia's assault on the city on the Sea of Azov, Amnesty's Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said at a...

'With a Heavy Heart,' Amnesty International Is Leaving Hong Kong

Group says draconian security law has made it impossible to operate freely

(Newser) - The human rights group Amnesty International says it will close its two offices in Hong Kong this year, becoming the latest non-governmental organization to cease operations amid a crackdown on political dissent in the city. The group said its local office in Hong Kong will close this month and its...

Navalny May Be in a 'Situation of a Slow Death'

So says Amnesty International

(Newser) - Amnesty International is weighing in on Alexei Navalny's prison conditions, and it isn't pulling punches. "We have to do more," said Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard on Wednesday. "[They] have already attempted to kill him, they are now detaining him, and imposing prison conditions,...

Saudi Activist's Release Seen as a Nod to Biden

Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be trying to play nice by freeing Loujain al-Hathloul

(Newser) - US and Canadian authorities are celebrating the release of a Saudi women's rights activist after 1,001 days in prison, though allies say she is not yet "free." Loujain al-Hathloul, a 31-year-old activist who attended university in Canada, was arrested in 2014 as she defied a ban...

'Soldiers Had One Intention: to Kill Without Consequences'

Nigerian forces killed 12 peaceful protesters, Amnesty says

(Newser) - Amnesty International said in a report Wednesday that Nigeria's security forces fired upon two large gatherings of peaceful protesters Tuesday night, killing 12 people calling for an end to police brutality. At least 56 people have died during two weeks of widespread demonstrations against police violence, including 38 on...

Report: 2 Dead, Hundreds Detained in Egyptian Protests

Rare demonstrations on economical grievances have erupted over the last few weeks

(Newser) - Egyptian authorities have arrested hundreds of people in their effort to clamp down on a spate of small but exceptionally rare protests across the country, a global watchdog and human rights lawyers said Friday. Riot police forcibly dispersed the limited demonstrations over economic grievances that erupted across several impoverished, rural...

Gunmen Open Fire on Afghan Film Director

Saba Sahar, also an activist for women's rights, is hospitalized

(Newser) - One of Afghanistan's first female film directors was reportedly shot Tuesday when three gunmen opened fire on her car in Kabul. Saba Sahar, also a popular actress and advocate for women's rights, was taken to a hospital, where she underwent a successful operation, her husband tells the BBC...

Amnesty International Issues US Travel Warning

Organization cites 'rampant gun violence'

(Newser) - The US is now among the countries covered by an Amnesty International travel warning. The international human rights organization issued the warning Wednesday, tweeting that visitors to the United States should "exercise extreme caution & have a contingency plan when travelling throughout the country" because of ongoing "rampant...

This Poster Could Trigger 2 Years in Prison

Polish woman is arrested for putting up images

(Newser) - Polish authorities have arrested a woman for putting up posters of the Virgin Mary and Jesus surrounded by LGBT-colored flag halos, CNN reports. Elzbieta Podlesna, 51, was collared after coming home from a trip abroad with Amnesty International on Monday, at which point authorities confiscated her cellphone and laptop and...

Saudi Arabia Executes Man, Then Crucifies Him

Kingdom accused of using 'political tool' to 'crush dissent'

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia crucified a man on Tuesday, but he didn't suffer on the cross: The punishment, reserved for what the kingdom sees as the most serious crimes, took place after the man had already been executed, the BBC reports. Saudi authorities said a total of 37 people were executed...

Amnesty: US Is Killing Civilians in Somalia

Pentagon disputes report

(Newser) - There is credible evidence that US military airstrikes in Somalia have killed or wounded nearly two dozen civilians, an international human rights group said Tuesday, charging that the Pentagon is not adequately investigating potential casualties. US Africa Command officials immediately disputed the allegations laid out in a report by Amnesty...

US No Longer Among World's Top 5 Executioners

Amnesty International releases new rankings, hails death penalty's decline

(Newser) - The US is no longer one of the top five executioners in the world, AFP reports. In 2016, both death sentences and executions dropped in the US; only 20 people were put to death, which dropped the US to the No. 7 spot globally, per US News & World Report...

Amnesty: Horrors at Syrian Prison Include Weekly Mass Hangings

Report details up to 13K executions at Saydnaya Prison

(Newser) - Every week, sometimes twice a week, a military facility in Syria executes more people than the United States executes in a year, according to a hard-hitting Amnesty International report on the "human slaughterhouse" that is Saydnaya Prison. Syria has been secretly killing up to 50 people at a time,...

North Korea Still Expanding Its Labor Camps: Reports

Satellite images show 'abuse on an industrial scale'

(Newser) - A 2014 UN report accusing Kim Jong Un of crimes against humanity through forced labor camps apparently did nothing to deter him. In fact, North Korea has increased and expanded its camps in the years since, according to satellite images included in a Committee for Human Rights in North Korea...

At Australia's Refugee Camp, Chilling Abuse, Rape
At Australia's Refugee Camp, Chilling Abuse, Rape
INVESTIGATION
Aug 10, 2016 10:51 AM CDT

At Australia's Refugee Camp, Chilling Abuse, Rape

Guardian reports on rape, child abuse at Nauru

(Newser) - More than 2,000 leaked incident reports from Australia’s detention camp for asylum seekers on the Pacific island of Nauru reveal what the Guardian describes as "routine dysfunction and cruelty," including assaults, rape, and incidents of self-harm. About half of the incident reports from May 2013 to...

Despite Promises, Iran Still Executes Kids
 Despite Promises, 
 Iran Still Executes Kids 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Jan 26, 2016 11:35 AM CST

Despite Promises, Iran Still Executes Kids

Girls as young as 9 are sentenced to death: Amnesty International report

(Newser) - More than 20 years ago, Iran promised it would stop executing convicts under the age of 18. But a new report by Amnesty International shows that not only has the practice continued into the present day—it's given Iran the dubious distinction of being "one of the leading...

Report: Apple, Microsoft Use Cobalt Mined by Kids
Report: Apple, Microsoft Use Cobalt Mined by Kids
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Jan 19, 2016 6:32 AM CST

Report: Apple, Microsoft Use Cobalt Mined by Kids

16 brands named in report couldn't verify source of cobalt

(Newser) - Kids in the Democratic Republic of Congo risk their lives to supply the batteries used in your smartphone and other gadgets, according to a new Amnesty International report. Amnesty and NGO Afrewatch note children as young as 7 mine cobalt for lithium batteries found in products made by Apple, Microsoft,...

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