Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
The Bangladesh authorities must halt the imminent execution of a senior political leader who has been sentenced to death following a deeply flawed trial. “The people of Bangladesh deserve justice for crimes committed during the War of Independence. The continued use of the death penalty will not achieve this. It only serves to inflame domestic …
Continue reading “Bangladesh: Halt imminent execution of Mir Quasem Ali after unfair trial”
The Egyptian authorities’ refusal to release Islam Khalil who was tortured and subjected to enforced disappearance for 122 days is another alarming setback for human rights in Egypt, said Amnesty International. Islam Khalil was transferred to the Second Raml Police Station in the coastal city of Alexandria in preparation for his release yesterday after a …
Failure to overturn the ban on the burkini would be a missed opportunity to end an assault on women’s freedoms of expression and religion as well as the right to non-discrimination, as France’s highest administrative court considers a challenge to the ban. “The case being considered today offers an opportunity for the French justice system …
Amnesty International has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of an independent review into Queensland youth detention centres, and called for the terms of reference to be defined in consultation with Indigenous communities and the youth justice sector. Attorney General Yvette D’ath today announced the review will focus on the practices, operation and oversight of Queensland’s …
Continue reading “Amnesty International welcomes Queensland youth detention review”
The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office Thursday designated two more US–based organizations as “undesirable” under a draconian law adopted last year, as it continued to turn the screw on Russian civil society and cut off potential avenues of foreign funding. The International Republican Institute (IRI), a Washington-based non-profit group funded by the US Congress, and the …
Continue reading “Russia declares two more non-profits as ‘undesirable’”
A ruling to release a woman sentenced to eight years in prison after having a miscarriage in Argentina is a step forward for human rights in the country, Amnesty International said. Last night the Supreme Court of Tucumán, a state in north Argentina, said there were not enough reasons to keep Belén, 27, in pre-trial …
Continue reading “Argentina: Woman jailed after miscarriage released”
Australia urgently needs an independent investigator for all places of detention, after over 1,000 pages of documents detailing abuse and mistreatment against children in detention in Queensland have been uncovered by Amnesty International today. Abuse and secrecy “We’ve shone a light into the dark corners of these detention centres, and found a culture of abuse …
Continue reading “Secret documents reveal culture of abuse in Queensland juvenile detention”
The horrifying experiences of detainees subjected to rampant torture and other ill-treatment in Syrian prisons are laid bare in a damning new report published by Amnesty International today which estimates that more than 17,723 people have died in custody in Syria since the crisis began in March 2011 – an average rate of more than …
Continue reading “Torture, inhuman conditions and mass deaths in Syria’s prisons”
The Huthi armed group in control of parts of Yemen must immediately ensure the release of all 27 members of the Bahá’í religion who have been detained in the capital, Sana’a, for a week without charge, in a blatant case of persecution of a minority faith. Armed officers in balaclavas from Yemen’s National Security Bureau …
Continue reading “Yemen: Huthi authorities must release Bahá’ís, end crackdown”
Responding to today’s reports that the Australian Government-run refugee detention centre on Manus Island will close Anna Neistat, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, said: “While welcoming the news that the centre will close Amnesty International urges the Australian Government to bring those currently held there to Australia. The Australian Government has for many years …