Iraq: Tribal militia tortured detainees

Militia fighters from the Sab’awi tribe have unlawfully detained, publicly humiliated and tortured or otherwise ill-treated men and boys in villages south-east of Mosul that were recaptured from the armed group calling itself the Islamic State (IS) in recent days. The organization’s researchers on the ground in Iraq interviewed local officials and eyewitnesses including villagers who described …

Italy: Beatings and unlawful expulsions of refugees and migrants

The European Union’s pressure on Italy to “get tough” on refugees and migrants has led to unlawful expulsions and ill-treatment which in some cases may amount to torture, a new report from Amnesty International revealed today. Beatings, electric shocks and sexual humiliation are among the numerous allegations of abuse documented in Hotspot Italy: How EU’s flagship approach leads …

Russia: Amnesty International’s Moscow Office sealed

  Staff at Amnesty International’s Moscow Office arrived at work this morning to find their office unexpectedly sealed with a notice from municipal authorities warning people not to enter. In response to this development, John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe Director, said: “We do not know what prompted Moscow authorities to prevent our staff from accessing …

Russia: Torture allegations must be investigated

Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Ildar Dadin, a peaceful street protester convicted for participation in “unauthorized” assemblies, and investigate his allegations of torture, Amnesty International said today. Ildar Dadin’s letter from prison was published by Meduza online newspaper on Tuesday. “Ildar Dadin’s allegations of beatings, humiliation and rape threats are shocking, but unfortunately …

Pakistan: End crackdown on opposition protests

Pakistan’s authorities must immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of opposition activists, lift restrictions on their movement and take all appropriate measures to ensure that people are allowed to exercise their right to peaceful assembly. Amnesty International’s calls come as Pakistan’s authorities have intensified their crackdown on supporters of Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party, including by using unnecessary …

Syria: End unlawful attacks by armed opposition groups

The fierce offensive on western Aleppo city launched by armed opposition groups on 28 October has been marked by indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas that cannot be justified as a way to break the relentless siege that has sparked a humanitarian crisis in eastern Aleppo. Up to 48 people including 17 children have been killed …

Australian Government’s lifetime ban proposal callous and cruel

The Australian Government continues to punish and discriminate against how people seeking asylum travel to Australia, with its proposed lifetime ban on people entering the country if they arrive by boat. In an announcement yesterday Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that the Government would seek to rush through new laws that would prevent anyone who …

Myanmar: reports mount of security forces’ abuse of Rakhine

We are calling for a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the conduct of Myanmar’s security forces in the restive Rakhine state for human rights violations committed during ongoing security operations in the region. Amnesty International has received numerous reports that Myanmar’s security forces operating in the state – home to most of the country’s oppressed Rohingya …

Iraq: White phosphorus puts civilians at grave risk

The use of white phosphorus around the city of Mosul could pose a deadly risk to civilians fleeing the fighting in the coming days and weeks.   Amnesty International has received credible witness and photographic evidence of white phosphorus projectiles exploding in the air over an area north of the village of Karemlesh, about 20 …

Iraq: Fears for safety of civilians

Military operations to retake Mosul and the surrounding areas from the armed group calling itself Islamic State (IS) are endangering civilians who are being caught in the crossfire or in some cases being used as human shields by IS fighters. The organization’s research team met with civilians displaced from their homes in villages north of …