Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
U.S. Hits Refugee Cap Set by Executive Order, Underscoring Cruelty of Muslim and Refugee Ban
Today, after resettling 50,000 refugees this year, the United States hit the cap in refugee admissions set by President Trump’s March 6 executive order. This is the lowest number of refugee admissions ever set by the executive branch. Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns at Amnesty International USA, released the following statement.
July 12, 2017
Press Release
Iraq: Investigations, not denials needed over appalling civilian death toll in west Mosul
Responding to statements made by spokespeople for the US-led coalition and the Iraqi forces, Lynn Maalouf Head of Research for Amnesty International in the Middle-East said:
July 12, 2017
Report
Justice Under Trial: A study of pre-trial detention in India
Around 2.8 lakh Indians are being held in prison during their trials or awaiting trial, without having been convicted of a crime. Many have been awaiting trial for years, some for a longer period than their maximum formal sentence. These prisoners who are known as ‘undertrials’ account for two out of three prisoners in India’s prisons – a percentage far higher than other democracies around the world. India has the third highest undertrial population in Asia. Undertrial detention is India’s most ignored problem. On 12 July, 2017, Amnesty International India hosted a discussion: Bail not Jail - A discussion on…
July 12, 2017
Press Release
Secretary Tillerson Visit to Gulf Must Not Greenlight More Abuses Against Human Rights Defenders
Today, Secretary Tillerson is meeting with senior foreign officials in Saudi Arabia. This is the latest leg of a week-long tour of the Gulf, and the meeting will include officials from Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Tillerson is expected to discuss counterterrorism and security efforts. Amnesty International USA senior director of campaigns, Naureen Shah, issued this statement:
July 12, 2017
Press Release
Turkey: Detention of rights activists, including Amnesty Director, extended
Turkish authorities must immediately and unconditionally release 10 human rights defenders, Amnesty International said today after their week-long police detention was extended by up to a further seven days.
July 11, 2017
Report
At any cost: The civilian catastrophe in West Mosul, Iraq
A new report by Amnesty International uncovers the horrifying scale of death, injury and suffering of civilians trapped in the battle for west Mosul. The report documents how the group calling itself the Islamic State (IS) moved civilians from neighboring villages into the zones of the battle in west Mosul, trapped them in their homes and prevented them from escaping, using them as human shields. Meanwhile Iraqi and coalition forces failed to take adequate measures to protect civilians, instead subjecting them to a terrifying barrage of fire from weapons that should never be used in densely populated civilian areas.
July 10, 2017
Press Release
Bahrain: Jail term for human rights defender Nabeel Rajab exposes authorities’ relentless campaign to wipe out dissent
The sentencing of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, in his absence, to two years in prison for TV interviews is the latest shocking display of zero tolerance for freedom of expression by the Bahraini authorities, Amnesty International said today.
July 10, 2017
Press Release
Venezuela using lethal violence as a state policy to strangle dissent
Recurrent attacks against the Venezuelan population and speeches inciting violence by the authorities indicate a premeditated policy of violent repression of any form of dissent, Amnesty International said today after a further increase in deaths during demonstrations, with at least 91 cases registered in only three months.
July 10, 2017
Press Release
Amnesty International USA: Hawaii Ban Decision Underlines Need for Congressional Intervention
Following a federal judge’s decision denying a motion to narrow President Trump’s implementation of his Muslim ban, Amnesty International USA senior director of campaigns, released the following statement:
July 6, 2017
Press Release
El Salvador rape survivor sentenced to 30 years in jail under extreme anti-abortion law
The sentence against a 19-year-old rape survivor of 30 years in prison on charges of “aggravated homicide” after she suffered pregnancy-related complications, is a terrifying example of the need for El Salvador to urgently repeal its retrograde anti-abortion law, Amnesty International said.
July 6, 2017
Press Release
Man with Serious Mental Disability to Be Executed in Virginia
Following the announcement that Gov. McAuliffe will not halt tonight’s execution of William Morva — a death row prisoner diagnosed with delusional disorder, a serious mental disability, — James Clark, campaigner with Amnesty International USA, had the following reaction:
July 6, 2017
Press Release
Absurd ‘terrorism’ investigation launched into Amnesty International’s Turkey Director and nine others
Responding to news that Idil Eser, Director of Amnesty International Turkey, seven other human rights activists and two IT trainers, are being investigated for membership of an armed terrorist organization, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:
July 6, 2017