Keywords: Human Rights


Former Syrian intelligence officer appears in UK court over crimes against humanity charges

A former member of Syria’s Air Force Intelligence has appeared before a British court facing serious accusations of crimes against humanity, including murder and torture linked to the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Damascus in 2011. The suspect, Salem Michel Al-Salem, 58, currently......

Trump urges Australia to grant asylum to Iranian Women’s soccer team

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Australia to provide asylum to members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team, warning that sending them back could pose serious dangers to their lives. The team recently competed in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup held in Australia but was eliminated......

Venezuela releases new group of political prisoners under amnesty law

Authorities in Venezuela have released a new group of political detainees as part of an amnesty process introduced in recent weeks, marking another step in the country’s evolving political transition. At least 17 prisoners were freed on Saturday from a detention facility in Caracas, according......

UN human rights chief urges restraint after strikes on Iran

The United Nations’ top human rights official has expressed deep concern following military strikes carried out in Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions, warning of grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,......

UN human rights chief urges China to improve conditions for Uyghurs

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on China to take stronger action to address concerns over the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region. Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Türk expressed regret......

UN chief warns global rights system is under full-scale attack

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that fundamental rights and the rule of law are facing an unprecedented global assault, telling the Human Rights Council in Geneva that human rights are now being openly challenged by those in positions of power. Opening what could be his final......

Azerbaijan sentences Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison

An Azerbaijani military court on Tuesday sentenced Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian born billionaire and former senior official in the separatist administration of Nagorno Karabakh, to 20 years in prison, according to state media and Reuters. The ruling was delivered by the Baku Military Court after prosecutors......

Protest in Tripoli calls for amnesty and rights of Lebanese islamist prisoners

Hundreds of residents gathered on al-Nour Square in Tripoli on February 15 to support Lebanese Islamist prisoners, according to local correspondent Michel Hallak. The sit-in featured portraits of the detainees and calls for their rights to be respected. Organized by the families of the prisoners, the......

Tens of thousands rally in Munich against Iran’s authorities during security summit

An estimated 200,000 demonstrators gathered in Munich on Saturday to protest against Iran’s authorities, according to local police, in one of the largest rallies held in the German city in recent years. The protest coincided with the Munich Security Conference, which has drawn world leaders and......