Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region face systematic state-organized mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said as it launched a new report and campaign today. In the 160-page report, ‘Like We Were Enemies in a War’: China’s Mass Internment, Torture, and …
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Pakistan: Acquittal of couple on death row for sending ‘blasphemous’ texts delivers long-awaited justice
In addition to this release, Pakistani activist M Aman Ullah who now resides in Australia, is available for comment. Aman has worked closely with lawyers for Shagufta and Shafqat and to bring attention to their case on a global stage.“In Pakistan blasphemy is a criminal offence which carries with it the death penalty. However, often, before that death penalty can even …
Hong Kong: People must not be punished for peacefully marking Tiananmen anniversary
The Hong Kong authorities must allow people to peacefully pay their respects to those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown, Amnesty International said ahead of Friday’s anniversary of the 1989 atrocity. Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil on 4 June has been banned on Covid-19 grounds for the second year running, but thousands are still expected to …
Amnesty calls on Australia to work to ensure the UN Committee Against Torture is independent and diverse
In October 2021, the states parties to the UN Committee against Torture will elect five new members. Amnesty International Australia has written to the Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, calling on the government to nominate and vote in the elections to to take into consideration the following ‘checklist’ for key criteria for membership of the …
China: ‘Three-child policy’ still a violation of sexual and reproductive rights
Responding to reports that the Chinese government is set to allow married couples to have up to three children, raising it from the current limit of two, the head of Amnesty International’s China Team, Joshua Rosenzweig, said: “Governments have no business regulating how many children people have. Rather than ‘optimizing’ its birth policy, China should …
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Targeted moves against Platoshkin and Open Russia Movement underscore threat to human rights in Russia
The recent suspended conviction of Russian prisoner of conscience, Nikolai Platoshkin, and the forced dissolution of Otkrytaya Rossiya (Open Russia Movement), underscore the threats to the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in Russia. Prisoner of conscience, Nikolai Platoshkin joins the ranks of peaceful activists convicted on politically-motivated charges meant to silence …
USA: Texas man executed based on faulty theory
Quintin Jones, a black man, was executed on 19 May 2021. He was on death row in Texas, USA in connection with a murder in 1999 when he was just 20 years old. His execution is a reminder that we must all stand strong against the death penalty, an ultimate violation of human rights. The …
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On Amnesty International’s 60th birthday, new poll finds 76% of Australians want a Federal Human Rights Act
As Amnesty International marks 60 years relentlessly challenging injustice and defending human rights, a poll of 1,600 Australians has found 76% of people support the introduction of a National Human Rights Act. With many expressing surprise that Australia is the only liberal democracy without such an Act, there is also confusion over what rights are …
Myanmar: Cease persecution of journalists
The Myanmar military authorities should immediately drop charges against journalists, said Amnesty International today. This includes those in pre-trial detention, on bail, or those with warrants outstanding on them solely for carrying out their work and the peaceful exercise of their human rights. “Journalists are at the frontline of the struggle to expose the truth on what …
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Saudi Arabia: Google must halt plans to establish Cloud Region
Amnesty International has today joined with 38 other human rights groups and individuals to call on Google to halt plans to establish a Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia until the company can publicly demonstrate how it will mitigate risks of adverse human rights impacts. “Saudi Arabia has a dismal human rights record, including digital surveillance of dissidents, …
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