Human Rights Watch

Security forces have killed at least 418 people in the Daraa governorate alone, and more than 887 across Syria, according to local activists who have been maintaining a list of those killed.

Community-based gacaca courts have helped communities confront the country’s 1994 genocide but have failed to provide credible decisions and justice in a number of cases, Human Rights Watch said in a report.

The court’s decision to uphold Alan Shadrake’s contempt of court sentence for “scandalising the judiciary” is a major setback for free expression and the charges should be dropped, Human Rights Watch said.

The imprisonment of Cu Huy Ha Vu on anti-government propaganda charges has only raised the fervour of a remarkable outpouring of popular support for his release, Human Rights Watch says in a new report.

Yusuf Jumaev was arrested in the weeks before the December 2007 presidential election after he called for President Karimov’s resignation.

The Kurdistan Regional Government promised a new era of freedom for Iraqi Kurds, but it seems no more respectful of Kurdish rights to free speech than the government that preceded it, said Human Rights Watch.

The honours spotlight continued political repression in the country, where sham elections in November 2010 entrenched military rule under the facade of civilian government.

According to his lawyer, police severely beat Bakhtiar Hajiyev while he was in custody and the Prosecutor’s Office failed to investigate the abuse.

The arrest, conviction, and sentencing of Roger Jean-Claude Mbede to three years in prison for being homosexual is a gross violation of Mbede’s rights to freedom of expression and equality guaranteed by the Cameroonian constitution, Human Rights Watch said.

“Syria’s leaders talk about a war against terrorists, but what we see on the ground is a war against ordinary Syrians – lawyers, human rights activists, and university students – who are calling for democratic changes in their country,” said Human Rights Watch.

The Clara Gutteridge case fits a trend of silencing critics of counterterrorism abuses, Human Rights Watch said.

The proposed legislation would undercut both freedom of expression and information, and pose a severe threat to independent media, whistleblowers, and investigative journalism.

The UNESCO Executive Board declined to consider a request by the Obiang government to reverse its prior decision and award the prize without delay.

In the latest attacks, security forces, along with pro-government gunmen in civilian clothing, have shot dead at least 21 people and wounded hundreds.

The government continues its relentless persecution of human rights activists and others critical of the government.

Human Rights Watch expressed concern about the ill-treatment of 14 activists, most active with opposition political movements.