Freedom House

At the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council taking place from 28 February to 25 March 2011, groups urged their governments to support a resolution which omits “defamation” and “denigration” of religions and focuses on freedom of expression, freedom of religion and non-discrimination.

Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti may have been killed for his vocal opposition to the country’s harsh blasphemy laws.

The signing organisations are alarmed by the decreasing space for the voices of journalists and opposition parties during the run-up to the 18 February 2011 general elections.

The groups condemn the serious violations of human rights taking place at this critical moment in Egypt.

Salman Taseer was murdered because of his support for the repeal of the country’s archaic blasphemy law, Freedom House said.

If the government fails to take fully restorative action immediately, the European Union should renew sanctions against the Lukashenka regime, says the organisation.

Attempts by authorities to suppress voices of opposition during and after the election have extinguished any hope for a free and fair process, according to Freedom House.

Twenty-eight organisations meeting to discuss international partnerships joined colleagues in the Philippines in remembering victims of the Ampatuan Town Massacre.