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Egypt: State Security Prosecution operating as a ‘sinister tool of repression’

A new report published by Amnesty International exposes how Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) is routinely misusing counter-terror legislation to prosecute thousands of peaceful critics and suspend guarantees to fair trial. The report, Permanent State of Exception, reveals how the SSSP, a special branch of the Public Prosecution responsible for investigating national security threats, …

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Brazil: Halt illegal cattle farms fuelling Amazon rainforest destruction 

Cattle farming is the main driver of illegal land seizures on Reserves and Indigenous territories in Brazil’s Amazon, fuelling deforestation and trampling on the rights of Indigenous and traditional people living there, Amnesty International said in a new report today. Fence off and bring cattle: Illegal cattle farming in Brazil’s Amazon was released as Amnesty …

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China: End hollow denials and give answers to victims of horrific Xinjiang abuses

Responding to another leak of official Chinese government documents (labelled “The China Cables”) detailing the framework for facilities that led to abuses of hundreds of thousands of predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in detention camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), Amnesty International’s Campaigns Director for East Asia, Lisa Tassi, said: “China’s continued denial of …

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Chile: Deliberate policy to injure protesters points to responsibility of those in command

The security forces under the command of President Sebastián Piñera – mainly the army and Carabineros (the national police) – are carrying out widespread attacks using unnecessary and excessive force with the intention of injuring and punishing protesters. These attacks have so far resulted in the deaths of five people and the torture, ill-treatment and …

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Iran: More than 100 protesters believed to be killed as top officials give green light to crush protests

Verified video footage, eyewitness testimony from people on the ground and information gathered from human rights activists outside Iran reveal a harrowing pattern of unlawful killings by Iranian security forces, which have used excessive and lethal force to crush largely peaceful protests in more than 100 cities across Iran sparked by a hike in fuel prices on 15 November, said Amnesty …

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Malaysia: Caning of four men is a terrible warning to LGBTI people, while more await trial

Four men have been caned after being convicted of ‘attempt of sexual intercourse against the order of nature’, said Amnesty International Malaysia, in signs of an increasing crackdown on LGBTI people in the country. Another six individuals are due to face trial on the same charges. Amnesty International calls on authorities to drop the charges …

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Draconian anti-protest legislation would take Tasmania back to the dark ages

Amnesty International Australia strongly opposes Tasmania’s proposed severe anti-protest legislation which would penalise protestors to the same degree as murderers. The new Bill is more restrictive and punitive than the previous attempt by the Hodgman Government to stymie protest which was invalidated by the High Court four years ago. The 2015 Bill carried four years …

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Senator Hanson owes intersex people an apology

A motion moved by Senators Rachel Siewert, Janet Rice and Louise Pratt recognising Intersex Day of Solidarity was yesterday opposed by the Government, One Nation and Senator Cory Bernardi.  The motion called on parliamentarians to: commit to learning more about the lives and experiences of people with variations of sex characteristics, and agree to read …

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Behrouz Boochani arrives in New Zealand

Award-winning author, journalist and poet, Behrouz Boochani tonight arrived in New Zealand and is out of Australia’s brutal offshore detention regime. Dr Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Adviser said: We are delighted to see Behrouz able to travel outside of Papua New Guinea after years trapped in Australia’s offshore detention regime. We will keep campaigning for all those …

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Transphobic trio of Senators vote against basic human rights for transgender and gender diverse people

In recognition of Transgender Awareness Week, the Senate yesterday passed a non-controversial motion moved by Senators Rachel Siewert, Janet Rice and Patrick Dodson that called on parliamentarians to: commit to learning more about the lives and experiences of transgender and gender diverse people, elevate the voices of transgender and gender diverse people, especially during Transgender …

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