Are You Ready for Total (Ideological) War? So, welcome to 2021! If last week was any indication, it is going to be quite an exciting year.
Uzbekistan: Registration Barriers for Independent Groups (Berlin) – Uzbek authorities are severely hindering the work of independent nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with excessive and burdensome registration requirements, violating their right to freedom of association, Human Rights Watch said today. Uzbekistan has carried out some human rights reforms in recent years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. But the government has
“Careless Talk Costs Lives” – Fresh Calls To Silence Pandemic Skepticism Througout 2020, there has regularly been claimed to be a Left-biased pandemic zealotry in operation.
“Lockdowns Do Not Control Coronavirus” Evidenced by The US Institute For Economic Research The American Institute for Economic Research recently shared some information that calls into question the effectiveness of lockdown measures for combating COVID.
China: Free Journalists, Activists (New York) – The Chinese authorities have stepped-up arbitrary detentions of journalists and activists reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues, or criticizing the government, Human Rights Watch said today. Since the beginning of December 2020, the authorities have carried out new detentions of journalists and activists without providing any
How Zoom Violated its Own Terms of Service for Access to China's Market On Dec.18, prosecutors from the U.S.
China: Repression Threatens Winter Olympics (New York) –The Chinese government’s heightened repression from Xinjiang to Hong Kong threatens its hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. The Beijing Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 4, 2022.
Turkey: Crackdown on Independent TV Channels (Istanbul) – Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), is imposing punitive and disproportionate sanctions against independent television and radio channels that broadcast commentary and news coverage critical of the Turkish government, Human Rights Watch said today. In a context in which the vast majority of
Joint Letter: Re: Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển and other prisoners on hunger strike over prison conditions H.E.Mr.Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam 16 Le Hong Phong Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam December 7, 2020 Re: Mr.
In Yemen, journalism can be a capital offense October 15 was supposed to be a happy day for the families of imprisoned Yemeni journalists Abdul-Khaleq Amran, Akram al-Walidi, Hareth Humaid and Tawfiq al-Mansouri.
Iraq: End Impunity for Murders (Beirut) – Eight organizations released the following statement today calling on the Iraqi government to investigate the detention of activists and others since the start of the 2019 protests and to free all those held arbitrarily for peaceful protests: As we mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, the undersigned
Belarus Escalates Crackdown on Independent Journalism On December 3, a court in Minsk stripped TUT.BY of its media license over allegedly spreading “false information.” TUT.BY is one of the most popular online outlets in Belarus, reporting on a broad range of social and political issues, including police abuse against peaceful protesters. According to Belarusian
South Korea: Scrap Bill Shielding North Korean Government (New York) – The South Korean National Assembly should reject a proposed law that would criminalize sending leaflets, information, money, and other items to North Korea, Human Rights Watch said today. If enacted, the law would violate South Koreans’ rights to freedom of expression and would make engaging in humanitarianism and
Hong Kong: Drop Cases Against Democracy Activists (New York) – Hong Kong authorities should drop all criminal cases and release from custody those arrested or convicted for their peaceful participation in pro-democracy protests, Human Rights Watch said today. These include Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam, who were sentenced on December 2, 2020, to 13-and-a-half months, 10
Russia: New Move to Suffocate Civil Society Update (November 30, 2020): This news release was corrected to reflect additional grounds on which a person or organization can be designated a “foreign agent.” (Moscow) – A new bill introduced in Russia’s parliament on November 18, 2020 is a potentially very dangerous addition to a growing body of oppressive