Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is concerned that Mohammed al-Tajer’s arrest is an effort on the part of authorities to intimidate and silence defense lawyers.

Unknown assailants lobbed teargas grenades at the home of leading Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab.

In one case, over 100 journalists and activists were arrested on November 28, 1980. Several were tortured and many were expelled from the country.

The Guggenheim, New York University and the French Museum Agency should urge the immediate release of the activists in what appears to be a politically motivated campaign of intimidation against political reformers, Human Rights Watch said.

Following the harassment of editor Mansoor al-Jamri, “Al Wasat” newspaper is no longer presenting critical reports.

The government refused to issue a permit to a group of Burundian organizations that requested authorization to hold a silent protest march on the anniversary of Ernest Manirumva’s killing.

Security forces in at least two towns prevented medical personnel and others from reaching wounded protesters and prevented injured protesters from accessing hospitals, Human Rights Watch said.

“With a steady stream of people being locked up for nothing more than asking for their rights, the situation is critical,” said Human Rights Watch.

The confrontations came during protests against the results of an environmental impact test of a potential mining project in the province of Islay.

New provisions that facilitate denial or delays of registration to those deemed critical of the government will allow an increasingly oppressive government to further restrict civil society activities, civil society groups stressed.

The decision to withhold media credentials appears to have been motivated by government displeasure with the news organisation’s coverage of the Western Sahara conflict.

Human Rights Watch calls on Palestinian authorities to hold their security forces to account for abuses and urges foreign donors to condition aid to security forces on concrete accountability measures.

While Ethiopia has valid security concerns related to sporadic bombings and other attacks, the government has routinely cited terrorism to justify suppressing nonviolent opposition and arbitrarily detaining peaceful government critics.

The government has repeatedly prevented protest rallies since it violently dispersed a peaceful demonstration on 18 February 2011 and arrested scores of demonstrators and bystanders.

“The government is using the flimsiest pretexts to silence critics. It is making a mockery of Azerbaijan’s justice system. These arrests should stop immediately,” said Human Rights Watch.

Igor Kalyapin has done groundbreaking work on police torture cases throughout Russia, according to Human rights Watch. He was arrested for peacefully asserting his right to free assembly.