Articles by Human Rights Watch
Nikitin trial update
(HRW/IFEX) – On 20 October 1998, an estimated two hundred trial observers and representatives of the press were present as Judge Sergei Golets of the St. Petersburg City Court opened the Nikitin trial. Despite a request from the defence to open larger parts of the trial, the judge ordered the hearing closed after only an […]
Nikitin trial update: day two
(HRW/IFEX) – The Nikitin trial resumed on 21 October 1998 at 11:00 a.m. (local time) in a closed session. The judge questioned Nikitin until approximately 3:00 p.m. (local time), asking him in great detail to give his points of view on all sections of the indictment. According to Nikitin’s lawyers, Yurii Schmidt, Genrikh Reznik and […]
Call for release of Iranian journalists
(HRW/IFEX) – In an open letter sent on 7 October 1998 to the Head of the Judiciary in Iran, Ayatollah Yazdi, Human Rights Watch called for the immediate and unconditional release of four journalists from the daily newspaper “Tous”, who were arrested on the order of a Revolutionary Court on 16 September. **Updates IFEX alerts […]
China signs human rights treaty
(HRW/IFEX) – On 4 October 1998, Human Rights Watch welcomed China’s signing of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It urged Beijing to act quickly to ratify the treaty and fully implement its guarantees of freedom of expression, fair trial, protection against arbitrary detention, protection against torture, and freedom of association. “Since […]
Canadian cryptography policies announced; no breakthrough on international human rights
(HRW/IFEX) – On 4 October 1998, Human Rights Watch welcomed the Canadian government’s recent announcement affirming the freedom of Canadians to develop, import and use whatever cryptography products they choose. Minister of Industry John Manley announced the policy last week as pressure to expand controls on encryption technologies continues to build. “This move recognises Canadian […]
Trial of Aleksandr Nikitin due to start
(HRW/IFEX) – On 22 September 1998, Human Rights Watch-Moscow reported the start of the trial against Aleksandr Nikitin, writer, environmental activist and retired naval officer who is facing Russian Federation Security Bureau (FSB) inspired treason charges for his work for the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona Foundation on the dangers of nuclear contamination caused by Russia’s […]
Controls on encryption technology a threat to free expression, HRW warns Vienna conference
(HRW/IFEX) — Human Rights Watch on 18 September urged an international conference on technology, now meeting in Vienna, not to expand controls on encryption technologies. The organization said that cryptographic products are critical to the ability of human rights defenders around the world to transmit sensitive information without detection by repressive governments. The conference is […]
Human Rights Watch pushes for prisoner’s immediate release
(HRW/IFEX) – Human Rights Watch on 15 September 1998 called for urgent action to save the life of imprisoned Syrian dissident Nizar Nayouf, a 36-year-old writer and human rights activist suffering from Hodgkin’s disease in a Damascus military prison. **For background, see IFEX alert of 10 September 1998** “We are deeply concerned that Nizar Nayouf […]