Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Malaysia: Syrian man stuck at airport must not be deported
Responding to the arrest of Hassan al-Kontar by Malaysian police, Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty International’s Malaysia Researcher, said: “Hassan al-Kontar’s arrest is the latest misstep in a series of mishandlings of his case. It would be abhorrent to see him deported to Syria, given the critical situation there and the clear risks to his own safety. Malaysian authorities should respect the international principle of non-refoulement and find a humane solution to his ordeal. “The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Malaysia should have access to him, which they have requested. They have recognized him as a ‘person of interest’…
October 3, 2018
Update
Turkey: Abuses Without Borders – Statement before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
On September 26, 2018, Amnesty International USA participated in a briefing hosted by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on human rights in Turkey. The briefing, titled Turkey: Post-Election Human Rights and Strategies for Accountability included presentations by Daniel Balson, Amnesty International USA’s Eurasia Advocacy Director, Alan Makovsky, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and Gönül Tol, founding director of The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies. The event was moderated by Philippe Nassif, Executive Director of In Defense of Christians. Lantos Commission Co-Chairs Rep. Hultgren (R-IL-14) and Rep. McGovern (D-MA-02) offered opening remarks. Since the failed…
October 2, 2018
Press Release
Iran: Victim of domestic and sexual violence, arrested as a child, is executed after unfair trial
Responding to the horrific news that 24-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Zeinab Sekaanvand was executed early this morning in Urumieh central prison, West Azerbaijan province, Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “The execution of Zeinab Sekaanvand is a sickening demonstration of the Iranian authorities’ disregard for the principles of juvenile justice and international human rights law. Zeinab was just 17 years old at the time of her arrest. Her execution is profoundly unjust and shows the Iranian authorities’ contempt for the right of children to life. The fact that her death…
October 2, 2018
Press Release
Yemen: Renewal of UN war crimes probe strikes blow against impunity
Responding to the United Nations Human Rights Council vote to renew the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts (GEE), which has been investigating violations and abuses of international law committed by all sides in Yemen, Amnesty International’s Senior Advocate Kevin Whelan said:
September 28, 2018
Press Release
Philippines: Duterte’s “playful” comment on killings should spur ICC probe
Responding to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that his “only sin is extrajudicial killings” made during a speech at the presidential palace, later dismissed as “playful” by his spokesperson, Minar Pimple, Senior Director for Global Operations at Amnesty International, said:
September 28, 2018
Press Release
Human Rights Council addresses unprecedented human rights crisis and sends a strong message of support to the people in Venezuela
Today, 27 September, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (HRC) passed a resolution to address the unprecedented human rights crisis unfolding in Venezuela. Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Kumi Naidoo, welcomed the resolution:
September 27, 2018
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Board Elects Becky Farrar for Chair, Fills Other Leadership Posts
Amnesty International USA announced today that Becky Farrar has been elected Chair of its Board of Directors. Most recently, Farrar served as Vice Chair of the board (2017-2018) and has been a board member for five years.
September 27, 2018
Press Release
UN: Major step towards accountability for atrocity crimes in Myanmar
Responding to the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of a resolution on Myanmar in Geneva today, Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Director, said:
September 27, 2018
Update
CHINA: HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE _ CONGRESSIONAL STATEMENT on XUAR Hearing
On September 26th, 2018, Amnesty International USA submitted a congressional statement for the record in anticipation of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on "China's Repression and Internment of Uyghurs: U.S. Policy Responses" Please find a link below to the statement for the record: AIUSA-Congressional-Statement-on-Human-Rights-Concerns-in-Xinjiang.pdf Date: September 26, 2018 RE: September 26 hearing on “China’s Repression and Internment of Uyghurs: U.S. Policy Responses” Statement by Francisco Bencosme, Asia Pacific Advocacy Manager at Amnesty International USA. Dear Chairman Yoho, Ranking Member Sherman, and Members of the Subcommittee: On behalf of Amnesty International USA and our more than two million supporters…
September 26, 2018
Report
Qatar: Migrant workers unpaid for months of work by company linked to World Cup host city
A new investigation by Amnesty International has exposed how an engineering company involved in building 2022 FIFA World Cup infrastructure took advantage of Qatar’s notorious sponsorship system to exploit scores of migrant workers. The company, Mercury MENA, failed to pay its workers thousands of dollars in wages and work benefits, leaving them stranded and penniless in Qatar.
September 25, 2018