Human Rights Watch

Iran’s authorities should end mistreatment of the prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, say Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and six human rights organizations.

The guilty verdict in the case of Rwandan opposition party leader Victoire Ingabire is the culmination of a flawed trial that included politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said today.

Sri Lanka must be reminded of its international obligations to protect free expression and to stop intimidation of civil society and the media during its UPR at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, says Human Rights Watch.

The draft media law would be the first change to Qatar’s media laws since 2008. The provisions are loosely worded and would penalise any criticism of Qatar, its emir, and neighbouring governments.

For the first time the European Parliament has formally commented on the UAE’s human rights record, which has worsened significantly in recent months.

Police rounded up dozens of youth and political party activists in central Baku on October 20, 2012, roughing them up and forcing them into police cars and buses. More than 200 youth activists intended to call for parliament’s dismissal in light of a recent scandal in which a secretly recorded video was published on the Internet.

Russia’s parliament adopted a new law on treason that directly threatens the exercise of protected fundamental rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Under the new law, the definition of treason includes “providing financial, technical, advisory or other assistance to a foreign state or international organization . . . directed at harming Russia’s security.”

In a peaceful protest seeking the release of family members held for years without charge, 19 men were detained and charged by the Saudi Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution.

A researcher for a Palestinian prisoners’ rights group was arrested by Israeli forces and questioned about radio interviews he gave about prisoners, while the group’s chairman was also prohibited from traveling abroad.

The hardening of harsh measures recently taken against Chinese activist Hu Jia may be a sign of what lies ahead for other activists as the 18th Party Congress approaches, said Human Rights Watch.

A Tajik court has decided to close a leading human rights organization in Tajikistan. The Association of Young Lawyers investigates torture and serves as an advocate for the rights of army conscripts and other vulnerable groups. It was shut down on what appear to be minor charges.

A coalition of human rights organisations calls on President Bashar al-Assad to release all peaceful activists, media professionals, and humanitarian assistance providers as part of an amnesty announced on 23 October, and give independent monitors access to detention facilities.

Fabián Nsue Nguema has not been seen since he went to Black Beach prison in Malabo on the afternoon of October 22 to try to see a client.

The municipal authorities responsible for violating the rights of the prominent blind activist Chen Guangcheng are violating the rights of his nephew, by denying him an independent lawyer and access to his family.

Tunisian police have not arrested or initiated formal investigations or prosecutions against the alleged attackers in a series of attacks by religious extremists over the past 10 months.

The attack on a gay-friendly bar took place in the context of a legislative trend in which many Russian regions are passing laws to ban “homosexual propaganda”.