Human Rights Watch

On 3 June 2015, an aggressive mob smashed a car belonging to the Joint Mobile Group (JMG) of human rights organizations in Chechnya and broke into the group’s office in Grozny, destroying it and its contents.

The groups urged donors and others to press the government not to revive a 2011 draft law that was shelved under domestic and international pressure because it threatened freedom of association and expression.

“The Pakistani authorities need to find out why a police officer fired live ammunition into a group of protesting lawyers and bring those responsible to justice . . . Law enforcement officials may only use lethal force as a last resort to protect lives.”

Based on interviews with medical personnel and other sources, Human Rights Watch believes that since demonstrations began on April 26, 2015, at least 27 people have been killed during the demonstrations or died from wounds inflicted during the demonstrations.

The National Security Law criminalises positive comments about North Korea or the dissemination of North Korean propaganda. It has frequently been used against those with different views of North Korea or South Korean policy.

Free expression and human rights organisations have reacted to the government of Nauru’s decision to block certain services on the internet and to amend the criminal code to impose new penalties on expression.

“Quick to praise President Ilham Aliyev’s preparation for the inaugural European Games, the EOC leadership has so far maintained a public silence in the face of serious abuse and repression by Azerbaijan’s government against its critics.”

The draft law will enable the state to ban the activities of foreign or international nongovernmental organizations deemed to be undermining “state security,” “national defence,” or “constitutional order.”