Thailand: Prominent Activists Held in Pre-Trial Detention
(New York) – The Bangkok Criminal Court has denied bail requests and ordered four prominent democracy activists into pretrial detention on lese majeste charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
Topic
Censorship
A collection of 819 articles
Human Rights Council: Countries Should Take Bold Action on Egypt
(Geneva) – Egypt’s human rights community is facing “annihilation” by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, more than 100 leading human rights organizations from around the world have warned today in a letter to foreign ministers.
The groups called on governments to lead and support the creation of a monitoring
A tale of three old men symptomatic of the world today
Three senior gentlemen have been in the news this month, each in their way speaking for the tragi-farce that is the New Normal.
Tunisia: Police Use Violent Tactics to Quash Protests
(Tunis) – Police in several Tunisian governorates appear to have responded to social justice protests in recent weeks with excessive force at times, leaving one man dead and arresting hundreds, including many minors, Human Rights Watch said today.
The authorities should conduct an urgent and transparent investigation into the death of
India: Journalists Covering Farmer Protests Charged
(New York) – Eight journalists who covered the farmer protests in India and violence in Delhi on January 26, 2021 are facing baseless criminal charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
Oversight Board reverses Facebook removal of post touting hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment
The board found the social media giant's misinformation and imminent harm rule is too vague and recommended the platform consolidate and clarify its standards on health misinformation in one place.
Bill Gates Surprised Over “Crazy Conspiracy Theories” About Him and Dr. Fauci
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates told Reuters on Wednesday how surprised he was with the “crazy conspiracy theories” that have been circulating on social media about him and Anthony Fauci in regard to the coronavirus.
Proposed Pakistan Law Seeks Greater Control of Media
As part of its crackdown on freedom of expression, the Pakistani government is seeking sweeping new powers to control the media.
Media Blackout: Italian Bars & Restaurants Disobey Rules & Open Together In Civil Disobedience
Thousands of restaurants appear to have opened in Italy in defiance of the country’s strict coronavirus lockdown regulations.
Vietnam: Crackdown Ahead of Party Congress
(Bangkok) – The Vietnamese government’s crackdown on dissidents has been unrelenting prior to the major Communist Party Congress set to begin on January 25, 2021, Human Rights Watch said today.
Malaysia: Urgently Revise Emergency Ordinance
(Bangkok) – Malaysia’s recently announced Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance is overly broad and should urgently be revised to meet international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said today.
The ordinance, announced on January 14, 2021, provides Malaysia’s military with police powers, allows the forced confiscation of property with no
Raskolnikov’s Dream Come True
Marian Marsh & Peter Lorre in “Crime and Punishment” (Columbia, 1935)
Something is happening here,
But you don’t know what it is,
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Bob Dylan, Ballad of A Thin Man
Something is happening here,
But you don’t know what it is,
Do you, Mr. Jones?
It’
Vietnam: Rights Violations Intensify
(New York, January 13, 2021) – Vietnamese authorities increased restrictions on basic political and civil rights in 2020, especially freedom of expression and association, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2021.
The tightening of restrictions on free expression appears to be linked to the National Congress of the
Thailand: Rights Crisis Rapidly Worsens
(New York, January 13, 2021) – Thailand’s government in 2020 escalated its repression of basic rights in the face of a growing, youth-led democracy movement demanding political and constitutional reforms, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2021.
Protests that started on July 18 soon spread across the
Philippines: ‘Drug War’ Killings Rise During Pandemic
(Manila, January 13, 2021) – The Philippine government’s “drug war” killings intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, as did unnecessary arrests during lockdowns, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2021. Attacks by the police, military, and unidentified gunmen on leftist activists, community and Indigenous leaders, human