Articles by Freedom House
Kyrgyz authorities launch criminal investigation into survey on rights of ethnic minorities
On 26 September, the State Committee on National Security of Osh city opened a criminal investigation concerning a pilot survey on respect for the rights of ethnic minorities, which was conducted in the Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts by a local organization that Freedom House supports.
Mauritania anti-slavery activists arrested
“Freedom House calls on the Mauritanian authorities to release Biram Dah Abeid and all other activists who were arrested during their peaceful anti-slavery advocacy,” said Jenai Cox, program manager for Africa programs at Freedom House.
During visit to China, Obama should publicly call for individuals’ releases
Nine leading human rights organisations urged President Obama to take up the Chinese government’s crackdown on civil society as a barrier to bilateral relations on his upcoming visit to China.
Azerbaijani journalist sentenced to 25 days in detention, just one day after arrest for “hooliganism”
On 30 October a Baku court sentenced opposition journalist Khalid Garayev to 25 days in detention on trumped-up charges of hooliganism and disobeying the police.
Kyrgyzstan should reject bill criminalising expression about LGBTI rights and people
The draft law “…would block LGBTI organizations and others working on sexual and reproductive rights from operating legally, and restrict the media and people who seek to express their views publicly and peacefully.”
Azerbaijan: Stop harassment and legal action against leading investigative journalist
Against the backdrop of the unprecedented crackdown on civil society, Khadija Ismayilova’s arrest on criminal defamation charges seems imminent and would confirm the authorities’ intent to silence all critical voices in the country.
Under pressure: A timeline of civil society repression during Azerbaijan’s Council of Europe chairmanship
Cases of detention, sentencing and imprisonment of dissidents have been taking place during the period that Azerbaijan is meant to be leading the rest of Europe towards a greater respect for human rights.
On Right to Know Day, calls for UN to include free expression rights in development goals
More than 100 civil society organisations ask the UN Secretary General to recognise the importance of free expression rights in the sustainable development goals.