Yemen: Urgent investigation needed into U.A.E. torture network and possible U.S. role

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its allied Yemeni security forces are alleged to be arbitrarily detaining and torturing detainees, who are also being interrogated by US forces in a network of secret prisons across Southern Yemen. Following these allegations arising from an Associated Press investigation, Lynn Maalouf, Director of Research at Amnesty International in the …

‘Give a Home’: Massive global concert series will show solidarity with refugees

Jessie Ware, Hot Chip, Kate Tempest, The Naked and Famous, The National, Oh Wonder and Zero 7 will be among a thousand musicians performing in people’s homes in more than 200 cities globally for a first-of-its-kind day of concerts to unite people in welcoming refugees, Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds announced today, marking World Refugee …

Syria: Analysis shows US-led coalition use of white phosphorus may be war crime

The US-led coalition’s use of white phosphorus munitions on the outskirts of al-Raqqa, Syria is unlawful and may amount to a war crime, Amnesty International can confirm after verifying five videos of the incident. The videos, published online on 8 and 9 June, showed the coalition’s artillery strike using the munitions over the civilian neighbourhoods …

Russia: Police mistreat hundreds of detained peaceful protesters

Hundreds of peaceful anti-corruption protesters in Russia’s two largest cities have been subjected to cruel and degrading treatment in police detention over the past 48 hours as authorities continue their crackdown on participants of mass rallies that took place across the country on 12 June. “The Russian authorities have used mass detentions as a tactic …

USA-Mexico: Trump’s border crackdown pushes refugees into dangerous limbo

An already dangerous journey for tens of thousands of refugees has become deadlier thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order on border control and immigration as well as entrenched reckless practices in Mexico, Amnesty International said in a new report based on intensive investigations on both sides of the border. Read the report Facing Walls: USA …

Myanmar: Ethnic minorities face war crimes in northern conflict

Civilians from minority ethnic groups suffer appalling violations and abuses, including war crimes, at the hands of Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed groups in the country’s Kachin and northern Shan states, Amnesty International said in a new report based on three recent visits to the conflict area. ‘All the Civilians Suffer’: Conflict, Displacement and Abuse …

Australia: Decryption and surveillance

Responding to the news that on the basis of counter-terrorism the Australian Government is seeking changes to the law to allow authorities to decrypt communications, Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said, “There are few more important rights to citizens than privacy and free speech. Any move by the Government to implement wide-net surveillance would …

Compensation deal must be turning point for a better solution for refugees

In response to the news that the Australian government and companies have come to a settlement agreement with the refugees and people seeking asylum forcibly sent to and detained on Manus Island, Kate Schuetze, Pacific Researcher at Amnesty International said: “The settlement marks a historic agreement by the Australian government and corporations to compensate refugees …

Egypt: Dozens of news sites blocked as digital censorship ramped up

The Egyptian authorities have shifted their onslaught against media freedom to the digital sphere, blocking access to more than 40 news sites without justification in recent weeks, in an attempt to eliminate the country’s last remaining spaces for criticism and free expression, said Amnesty International. At least 63 websites have been blocked in total since …

Turkey: Imprisonment of Amnesty Chair is a devastating injustice

The Turkish prosecution’s decision to charge Taner Kiliç, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, with “membership of a terrorist organisation” is a mockery of justice, and highlights the devastating impact of the Turkish authorities’ crackdown following the failed coup attempt in July last year. Taner Kiliç became the latest victim of the government’s sweeping purge after …