Tag: human rights

In Turkey, two Facebook posts are enough to land you in jail. By Ömer Ongun & Umut Özsu

In October 2014, protesters in dozens of cities and towns throughout Turkey came together to pressure the government into providing assistance to the mostly Kurdish inhabitants of Kobanî, a Syrian town directly adjacent to the Turkish border that was then under heavy siege by Islamic State forces. Police and demonstrators clashed violently and repeatedly during these protests.… Read More In Turkey, two Facebook posts are enough to land you in jail. By Ömer Ongun & Umut Özsu

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London: crowd protests against policing of Sarah Everard vigil / Who's surprised that the suspected killer of Sarah Everard is a policeman?

More than a thousand people streamed into Parliament Square in London on Sunday evening to make their voices heard outside the seat of government following clashes at a vigil for Sarah Everard, with police this time taking a hands-off approach. Calling for the resignation of the Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, and the scrapping of the police, crime, sentencing… Read More London: crowd protests against policing of Sarah Everard vigil / Who's surprised that the suspected killer of Sarah Everard is a policeman?

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First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims there is evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people

The Chinese government’s alleged actions in Xinjiang have violated every single provision in the United Nations’ Genocide Convention, according to an independent report by more than 50 global experts in human rights, war crimes and international law. The report, released Tuesday by the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy think tank in Washington DC, claimed the Chinese government “bears state… Read More First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims there is evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people

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Sabah Maharaj, Snehashish Das on Sharjeel Imam: Cultivating Morality In A Broken Democracy

Sharjeel Imam, speaking from the grim trench-lines of the anti-CAA protests, was widely seen to have crossed a line in the sand. But what line? The only answers forthcoming were in the shape of the UAPA and sedition laws. The incident proved to be a pivotal moment for India for two contrary reasons. It was… Read More Sabah Maharaj, Snehashish Das on Sharjeel Imam: Cultivating Morality In A Broken Democracy

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'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention

On Sunday, 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over accusations they organised unofficial primary elections aiming to “paralyse” the government by winning a majority and blocking legislation. The election was ultimately postponed for a year, purportedly because of the pandemic. All face terms of up to life in prison if convicted.… Read More 'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention

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José Zepeda: Prison has not discouraged Cuba’s leading dissident

José Daniel Ferrer is a prominent Cuban dissident and human rights activist, who was one of 75 dissidents imprisoned during a 2003 government crackdown known as the Black Spring. After eight years in prison, he was released in 2011 and has been permanently harassed ever since, spending more than six months in jail in 2020. He… Read More José Zepeda: Prison has not discouraged Cuba’s leading dissident

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Juan Cole – Biden’s Double Standards: Iranian Civilians under severe US Sanctions but not accused Saudi Murderer Bin Salman

The Biden administration on Friday declassified and released a CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman bears responsibility for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 3, 2018. President Biden will not, however, impose sanctions on Bin Salman. Apparently the only punishment will be that Biden won’t talk to… Read More Juan Cole – Biden’s Double Standards: Iranian Civilians under severe US Sanctions but not accused Saudi Murderer Bin Salman

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Charlie Faulkner: 'Shot at by both sides': Families flee as Taliban battles for territory in Kandahar

Qayoom and his family were among 10,000 families pushed out of their homes as government and Taliban forces battled for territory in southern Afghanistan last month. Qayoom found his new home was to be a couple of large sheets propped up over cold, bare earth, a shelter among many others in a camp for internally displaced people… Read More Charlie Faulkner: 'Shot at by both sides': Families flee as Taliban battles for territory in Kandahar

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Books reviewed: Repression in Xi’s China

In Hong Kong in Revolt, labor organizer Au Loong-Yu analyzes the protests that rocked the city in 2019. The participants were pushing back against the politically motivated disqualification of pro-democracy legislators, the imprisonment of nonviolent activists on trumped-up charges, and other oppressive moves by the Hong Kong authorities, who represent local moneyed interests and take their… Read More Books reviewed: Repression in Xi’s China

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