Human Rights Watch
African Al Qaeda Should Stop Targeting Civilians
(Dakar) - Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has in recent months stepped up targeting tourists and aid workers for murder and kidnapping in Mali, Niger, and Mauritania, Human Rights Watch said today. AQIM should immediately and unconditionally free hostages in its custody and end attacks on civilians, Human Rights Watch said.
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Iran: Indict or Free Filmmakers
(New York) - Iran's Judiciary should immediately clarify the reasons behind a raid on the home of film director Jafar Panahi as well as the legal basis for detaining him and two of his colleagues, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Uzbekistan: Reverse Rights Defender’s Prison Sentence
(New York, March 12, 2010) - The Uzbek government should immediately release a human rights defender convicted on fabricated religious extremism charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
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China: Accountability Overdue on Tibet Protests
(New York) - On the second anniversary of the March 2008 protests in Tibetan areas, the Chinese government should release those detained without charge, Human Rights Watch said today. The Chinese government should also respect rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in responding to protests in Lhasa and other Tibetan areas during the anniversary.
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US: Groups Urge End to Military Commissions Case Against Child Soldier
(Washington, DC) - Three leading civil liberties, human rights, and juvenile justice organizations today issued a letter urging Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to end military commission proceedings against Omar Khadr, the Canadian national apprehended
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Indonesia: US Should Justify Training Counterterrorism Unit
(New York) - The US government should train members of Indonesia's elite special forces only if Indonesia takes sufficient steps toward accountability and reform to deter future abuses, Human Rights Watch said in two letters released today.
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Hamas: Journalist's Detention Violated Due Process
(New York) - The 25-day detention by Hamas authorities of the journalist Paul Martin seriously violated his due process rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Martin was arrested on February 14, 2010, and was released today.
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Syria: Repression Grows as Europe, US Avoid Discussing Rights
(New York) – Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign relations chief, should raise human rights concerns with Syrian officials during her visit next week and seek specific commitments to improve their record, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Azerbaijan: Appeal Court Leaves Bloggers in Jail
(New York) - The Azerbaijani government should release two bloggers who have been detained since July 2009 as the result of a staged fight designed to frame them, Human Rights Watch said today. The bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, lost their appeal against their conviction today.
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Burma: Election Laws May Shut Down Opposition Parties
(New York) - Newly issued laws in preparation for 2010 elections in Burma are designed to exclude the main opposition party and ensure a victory for the ruling military, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Sri Lanka: End Witch Hunt Against the Media and NGOs
(New York) - The Sri Lankan government should end its harassment of journalists and activists and take steps against those making threats, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement today.
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Saudi Arabia: Drop Charges for Publicizing Bureaucratic Failures
(New York) - Saudi Arabia's Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecutions should immediately drop "cybercrimes" charges against Nasir al-Subai'i for writing about his bureaucratic ordeal as he tried to get the government to pay for his brother's medical care, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Uzbekistan: UN Review Should Highlight Atrocious Record
(New York) - A UN review of Uzbekistan's human rights record on March 11 and 12, 2010, is a rare opportunity to highlight the government's abysmal record and to urge specific steps to end abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The government's persecution of human rights defenders, rampant torture and ill-treatment, and religious persecution top the list of concerns, Human Rights Watch said.
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Afghanistan: Repeal Amnesty Law
(New York) - The Afghan government should urgently act to repeal a law that provides an amnesty to perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today.
The law was published unannounced in the official gazette, bringing it into force, despite repeated promises by President Hamid Karzai that he would not allow the law to go into effect.
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China: Scholars, Writers Press for Liu Xiaobo’s Release
(New York) - More than one hundred leading China scholars, writers, and human rights advocates from around the world are today releasing a letter to China's National People's Congress that calls for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo.
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Decisive Moment for Global Transparency Effort
(Washington, DC) - An international initiative that seeks to promote more openness about how countries profit from their oil, gas, and mining resources should not weaken its modest membership standards because governments are unable or unwilling to meet them, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Nigeria: Investigate Massacre, Step Up Patrols
(Dakar) - Nigeria's acting president should make sure that the massacre of at least 200 Christian villagers in central Nigeria on March 7, 2010, is thoroughly and promptly investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Lebanon: Investigate Seizure of Human Rights Lawyer's Passport
(Beirut) - The Lebanese government should investigate the seizure of a human rights lawyer's passport by General Security, a group of 16 Lebanese and international human rights organizations said today.
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Yemen/US: Take Steps to Avoid Airstrike Tragedies
(New York) - The Yemeni government's acknowledgment that an airstrike killed more than 42 civilians in December 2009 is a stark reminder of the need for careful targeting when using such counterterrorism measures, Human Rights Watch said today.
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