Singapore: Halt imminent execution

The Singapore government must grant clemency to a Nigerian man set to be executed for drug trafficking next week. Chijioke Stephen Obioha will be hanged on 18 November unless President Tony Tan commutes his death sentence, which was imposed as the mandatory punishment for trafficking. “Singapore is a week away from brutally ending the life …

Australian Government takes extreme step in shirking responsibility

Today’s announcement by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on third country resettlement is an extreme step in shirking responsibility by the Australian Government. Prime Minister Turnbull today announced that the Australian Government is in discussions with the United States for some of the refugees warehoused on Nauru and Manus Island to be settled in the US …

Japan: Man hanged as secretive executions continue

Secretive executions can’t hide the fact that Japan is on the wrong side of history when it comes to the death penalty, Amnesty International said after a death row inmate was hanged on Friday. Kenichi Tajiri, 45, was executed at Fukuoka Detention Centre in the early hours of Friday. He was sentenced to death in …

Egypt: A cruel blow to human rights

The Egyptian authorities must immediately retract an order to freeze the bank account of the renowned El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence. The organization, a clinic which provides hundreds of torture victims with vital services including counselling and legal assistance, learned today that its financial assets were frozen according to an order by the Central Bank …

6 really practical ways to protect your privacy online

Here are some top tips and tools to protect your privacy and guard against identity theft, financial fraud and your personal pics and messages getting into the wrong hands. Before we start, a word of caution. If you’re a journalist or activist, or if you believe you might be personally targeted for electronic surveillance, you …

Amnesty activists around the world shine a light on Australia’s offshore policy

Amnesty activists from around the world will be gathering at Australian embassies and iconic locations to express outrage at Australia’s cruel approach to people seeking protection. Join us. When is the Action? The Global Week of Action for Refugees follows the release of our latest report from Nauru, taking place from 28 November to 1 December. …

Queensland Government commits to a Human Rights Act

Queensland human rights advocates have had many reasons to celebrate this year. The QLD Government has made progress on youth justice, LGBTI rights, reproductive rights and more. Most recently the QLD Government announced plans to introduce a Human Rights Act. Essentially, a Human Rights Act means that the government need to take human rights into …

Iraq: Investigate reports of torture and killings

The Iraqi authorities must urgently investigate reports that fighters wearing Iraqi Federal Police uniforms tortured and extrajudicially executed residents in villages they captured south of Mosul. Researchers from Amnesty International visited several villages in the al-Shura and al-Qayyara sub-districts of Ninewa governorate, south-west and south of Mosul, and gathered evidence indicating that up to six people …

Iran: Musicians campaign to free jailed artists

Amnesty International and renowned Iranian music band Kiosk are calling on artists and members of the public around the world to join a #FreeArtists campaign to demand that Iran immediately and unconditionally release jailed artists, including a musician and a filmmaker who are on hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin Prison. The brothers, musician Mehdi Rajabian and …

Afghanistan: A welcome step towards accountability

In response to the announcement by the United Nations that it will investigate last week’s US-led airstrikes in Kunduz province, in which more than 30 civilians were killed, Champa Patel, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director said: “The horrific events in Kunduz last week are the latest in a growing list of incidents which have resulted …