Amnesty International: News
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong faces new national security charges
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been slapped with fresh national security charges.
Indonesia: TikToker gets prison sentence for joking about Jesus's hair
An Indonesian TikToker named Ratu Thalisa has received a sentence of two years and 10 months in prison for her controversial remark on Jesus.
NYT opposes calling Gaza bombing 'genocide'; peace group drops ad
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker peace organization, has canceled its planned advertisement in The New York Times.
US, UK, EU condemn Pakistan military courts sentencing civilians
The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and European Union (EU) have condemned Pakistan's military courts for sentencing 25 civilians.
Serbian authorities are using spyware to monitor journalists, activists: Report
Serbian police and intelligence services are reportedly using advanced mobile forensics products and spyware to illegally monitor journalists and activists.
Iranian women may face death for defying new morality laws
Women in Iran risk the death penalty or up to 15 years in prison under new morality laws, which will come into effect this week.
Why Syria's prisons were also known as 'human slaughterhouses'
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime has exposed the horrific conditions of Syria's infamous prison system.
What went on inside Syria's Saydnaya prison, dubbed 'human slaughterhouse'
Syrian rebel fighters belonging to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militant group, released hundreds of prisoners on Sunday from the Saydnaya military prison as they marched toward Damascus.
Israel Defense Forces's Spotify Wrapped meme sparks outrage
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has ignited a controversy with a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), imitating Spotify's annual "Wrapped" feature.
Why nearly 500 journalists are on strike at 'The Guardian'
Around 500 journalists from The Guardian and its sister publication, The Observer, have gone on strike.
Israel's war in Gaza amounts to genocide, says Amnesty International
Amnesty International has alleged that it has gathered "sufficient evidence to believe" that Israel's conduct during the conflict in Gaza constitutes genocide against the Palestinian people.
What's Iran 'treatment clinic' for women who defy hijab laws
Iran has announced plans to set up a "hijab removal treatment clinic" for women who violate the country's mandatory hijab laws.
South Korea Supreme Court upholds same-sex spousal benefits
In a historic verdict, South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to spousal benefits under the national health insurance program.
ISIS leader al-Baghdadi's widow given death sentence by Iraqi court
An Iraqi court has sentenced Asma Mohammed, widow of the late Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, to death.
Rights organization accuses Israel of using white phosphorus in Lebanon
Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, has accused Israel of deploying white phosphorus incendiary shells on residential buildings in southern Lebanon.
Hong Kong court convicts 14 democracy activists for subversion
A Hong Kong court has found 14 of 16 activists and politicians guilty of subversion in the largest trial under the Beijing-imposed national security law (NSL).
Chinese journalist imprisoned for Covid reporting to be released
Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer and independent journalist from China, is expected to be released on Monday after serving a four-year prison sentence.
Explained: Enforceability of UN Security Council's Gaza ceasefire resolution
After over five months of the Israel-Hamas war, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday demanded for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gets jail in Bangladesh: Here's why
A court in Bangladesh has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus to six months in jail.
27 passengers on France-grounded plane seek asylum: What it means
A Romanian charter plane heading for Nicaragua with 303 passengers—mostly Indians—remained grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking.
Pakistan: 2.5 lakh Afghans flee amid crackdown on 'illegal migrants'
More than 2.5 lakh Afghan nationals were reportedly forced to leave Pakistan over the past few weeks after the government intensified its crackdown on foreign nationals, including migrants allegedly lacking proper documentation.
Singapore to execute first woman in 20 years
Singapore is reportedly set to execute a woman on Friday for drug trafficking, the first female execution in nearly 20 years.
Iran executes 3 anti-government protesters despite international outrage
Iran has executed three men in connection with the anti-government protests that erupted in the country last year, reported Reuters.
UK announces 'illegal migration bill'; PM Rishi Sunak warns migrants
United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced bringing a strict and controversial law the "Illegal Migration Bill" against illegal migrants coming from different countries. It will likely block them from seeking asylum or citizenship.
Iran: Well-known actor Taraneh Alidoosti arrested after criticizing capital punishments
In a fresh crackdown on anti-government protesters, Iran arrested well-known actress Taraneh Alidoosti on Saturday for allegedly criticizing the death penalty against protesters who participated in a nationwide protest against Mahsa Amini's death, AFP reported.
Who's ex-Mumbai top cop arrested in NSE phone tapping case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey in an illegal phone tapping case.
#NewsBytesExplainer: Why ED penalized Amnesty India, ex-CEO Aakar Patel
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a show-cause notice to Amnesty International India and its former CEO Aakar Patel on Friday for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
CBI didn't revoke lookout circular despite court order: Aakar Patel
Former Amnesty International India chief, Aakar Patel, on Friday filed a contempt application in a Delhi court against Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials for refusing to revoke a lookout circular (LOC) issued against him despite court orders to do so.
Afghanistan crisis: US to donate $308 million, COVID-19 vaccines
The United States aims to provide an additional $308 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, said the White House in a statement on Tuesday.
Here's what Amnesty really said about the Pegasus controversy
Global human rights group Amnesty International said in an official statement that it fully stands by the findings of the Pegasus Project.
Pegasus: Amnesty says never claimed leaked numbers were actually hacked
Human rights group Amnesty International said in a fresh statement that it never claimed the controversial list of phone numbers leaked over the weekend were actually spied on using the Pegasus spyware.
Alleging witch-hunt by GoI, Amnesty halts India operations
Amnesty International has decided to stop its India operations, as it has been subjected to a witch-hunt by the government of India, the NGO working for human rights said in a press statement on Tuesday.
Indian women politicians face more online abuse than US/UK counterparts
A recent study on online abuse has revealed the shocking reality of how women politicians in India are targeted on Twitter.
Google's censored Chinese search engine has officially been shuttered
After months of flak, Google has officially confirmed that it has shuttered Project Dragonfly, the secretive effort to mark an entry into China.
Boko Haram killed 'at least 60' in NE Nigeria: Amnesty
Boko Haram, an armed group, killed at least 60 civilians in an attack on the remote town of Rann in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, Amnesty International said yesterday.
PTM rally in Karachi: Scores held under anti-terrorism laws
Scores of leaders and workers of the Pashtoon Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) have been arrested by the Sindh police under anti-terrorism laws after they organized a rally on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, officials said today.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra walks out of Odisha jail after 43 days
Delhi-based defense analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra walked out of an Odisha jail on Thursday after he was arrested for hurting Odia sentiments.
Google is increasingly turning 'evil', and its employees aren't happy
More than a month after Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed that the tech giant was making a censored search engine for China, Google employees have gone public with their protest against the development of the engine.
Amnesty International strips Aung San Suu Kyi of highest honor
Amnesty International yesterday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honor over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the country's military against Rohingya Muslims.
Reveal fate of 1mn minority Muslims detained: Amnesty to China
China must come clean about the fate of an estimated 1mn minority Muslims swept up in a "massive crackdown" in Xinjiang, Amnesty International said in a new report yesterday.
Egypt: Court hands 5-year jail term to UNESCO award-winning photojournalist
An Egyptian court on Saturday handed a five-year jail sentence to a prominent photojournalist, Mahmoud Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, who had earlier this year received the UNESCO's World Freedom Prize.
IS claims responsibility for deadly Kabul attack on Shiite students
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the horrific suicide bombing yesterday that targeted a Shiite area of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, killing 34 students.
Turkish authorities sack 18,632 state employees in new decree
Turkish authorities ordered the dismissal of more than 18,632 state employees including 8,998 police officers, soldiers, and academics, in a decree published today over suspected links to terror organizations and groups that "act against national security".
Noida: Undertrial-prisoner wants to sell kidney to fight his case
It doesn't speak highly about the justice system when an undertrial has to sell body organs to fight their case.
India launches blistering attack on Pakistan at the UN
India launched a blistering attack on Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, reminding Pakistan that no amount of "empty rhetoric" would change the fact that Kashmir is, and will remain a part of India.
Taking another step towards liberalization, Saudi Arabia criminalizes sexual harassment
Saudi Arabia has passed a new law to criminalize sexual harassment, less than a month before the conservative Kingdom lifts its decades-long ban on women driving, state media said.
New report claims "sheer brutality" by Myanmar's Rohingyas on Hindus
In what could potentially change the narrative around Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims, a report by Amnesty International has made controversial allegations.
When a head priest carried a Dalit on his shoulder
In a major attack on India's deep-rooted caste system, the head priest of Hyderabad's Chilkur Balaji recently carried a Dalit man on his shoulder into the revered temple's inner sanctum.
SC clears man of rape-charges after Khap falsely implicates him
The Supreme Court has put an end to a three-year-long ordeal of Ravi, a Dalit from Baghpat district of UP, by clearing him of rape charges.
Bhopal: Locals beat up rapists as police parade them publicly
Taking a leaf out of Anil Kapoor starrer 'Nayak,' locals in Bhopal rained blows on four rapists as police paraded them publicly yesterday.
Chinese netizens debate controversial public death sentences over drugs
Chinese netizens are debating the practice by Guangdong province's Lufeng city to publicly hand out death sentences to inmates and parading them before their execution.
Facing criticism for pellet guns, CRPF looks at safer alternatives
After pellets usage in Kashmir faced heavy criticism for causing grievous injuries, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed for counter-insurgency and law and order operations in J&K has sent 21,000 rounds of less lethal, newly developed plastic bullets.
Rohingya crisis: What are China's interests in Rakhine?
Amid rampant violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine state, China and India have been backing its government.
Maldives army occupies parliament, roughs up opposition MPs
Opposition MPs in Maldives claim the military has locked down the country's parliament, in a bid to block a no-confidence motion impeaching the speaker of the house.
Bengaluru Metro gives realty sector a boost
With the launch of the Metro Green line in Bengaluru that connects the East-West and North-South corridors, the real estate around the routes have become hot properties.
How is life in a NKorean prison, former detainee recalls
In Dec'12, Korean-American Kenneth Bae was convicted by North Korea to 15-years of hard labor.
FIFA World-Cup 2022: Amnesty accuses Qatar of human rights violations
Amnesty International has stated that despite highlighting gross human rights abuses among workers building infrastructure for Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup, the country did little to improve the situation.
Assam wants AFSPA to be removed in some areas
The Assam government will review whether the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) could be withdrawn in a phased manner and present its recommendations to the Centre.
China most likely to hand death penalties to farmers, unemployed
China Judgements Online, after scrutinizing Supreme People's Court's official court verdict database found out that farmers and unemployed people were most often doled out death sentences in China.
End Repression of Shia Group in Nigeria: Human Rights Watch
International NGO, Human Rights Watch, called on the Nigerian Government to end the brutal crackdown on Shia Islamic movement.
Qatar abolishes the 'kafala' system
Qatar formally announced the end of its dreaded and controversial labour system - "kafala" - with immediate effect from December 13.
Global refugee crisis burden being shared unequally
International human rights group Amnesty International stated in a report the burden of global refugee crisis is being shared unfairly as only ten nations are hosting most of the refugees.
Iran sentences U.S. permanent resident to 10 years in prison
A U.S. permanent resident named Nizar Zakka, after being detained in Iran for over a year, was sentenced to a $4.2 million fine and 10 years in an Iranian prison.
Facebook, Twitter join the First Draft coalition
Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are now part of the 'First Draft news', a coalition of media and technology organizations aimed at improving social media news-gathering.