Newsroom

Report

Head of state: King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa Head of government: Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Death penalty: retentionist Population: 0.8 million Life expectancy: 76 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 13/13 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 90.8 per cent Scores of anti-government activists were arrested. Twenty-five leading opposition activists were on trial, two in their absence, accused of plotting to overthrow the government; the 23 were initially denied access to lawyers after their arrest and some said they were tortured. Other unfair trials took place. The authorities restricted freedom of expression, including by shutting down several websites and political newsletters.…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: Zine El ‘Abidine Ben ‘Ali Head of government: Mohamed Ghannouchi Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 10.4 million Life expectancy: 74.3 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 24/21 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 78 per cent The authorities maintained tight restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly, and government critics continued to be harassed, threatened and imprisoned. Former political prisoners were also harassed, intimidated and subject to restrictions. Torture and other ill-treatment in police stations and prisons were reported. People prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law were sentenced to long prison terms after unfair trials. Death sentences continued to be…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: ‘Ali Abdullah Saleh Head of government: Ali Mohammed Mujawar Death penalty: retentionist Population: 24.3 million Life expectancy: 63.9 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 84/73 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 60.9 per cent Human rights were subordinated to security challenges posed by al-Qa'ida as well as by armed conflict in the northern Sa'dah province and protests in the south. Thousands of people were detained. Most were released quickly, but many were held for prolonged periods. Some were held incommunicado for months and were victims of enforced disappearance. Some received unfair trials before the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) and were sentenced…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: al-Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Head of government: al-Shaikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah Death penalty: retentionist Population: 3.1 million Life expectancy: 77.9 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 11/9 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 94.5 per cent Critics of the Prime Minister were harassed and prosecuted. Foreign migrant workers were exploited and abused by employers. Thousands of Bidun resident in Kuwait remained stateless, impeding their access to health, education and other rights. At least three people were sentenced to death; no executions were reported. Background Kuwait's human rights record was assessed under the UN Universal Periodic Review in May. In…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Head of government: Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Death penalty: retentionist Population: 4.7 million Life expectancy: 77.7 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 10/12 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 90 per cent Foreign migrant workers were denied substantive rights and faced exploitation and abuse. Women continued to be discriminated against in both law and practice. At least 28 people were sentenced to death; no executions were reported. Background In March, following his visit to the UAE in October 2009, the UN Special Rapporteur on racism urged the government to allow long-term residents of…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: King Mohamed VI Head of government: Abbas El Fassi Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 32.4 million Life expectancy: 71.8 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 43/29 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 56.4 per cent Restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly continued, particularly on issues considered politically sensitive such as the status of Western Sahara. Human rights activists, journalists, members of the unauthorized political group Al-Adl wal-Ihsan, and Sahrawi activists continued to face harassment and politically motivated charges. Dozens of people were detained on suspicion of security-related offences; some were held incommunicado and allegedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated.…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state: Mahmoud Abbas Head of government: Salam Fayyad Death penalty: retentionist Population: 4.4 million Life expectancy: 73.9 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 23/18 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 94.1 per cent In the West Bank, the security forces of the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) arbitrarily detained people connected with Hamas, while in the Gaza Strip the Hamas de facto administration arbitrarily detained people connected with Fatah. In both areas, detainees were tortured and otherwise ill-treated with virtual impunity. Both the PA and Hamas restricted freedom of expression and association. In Gaza, at least 11 people were sentenced to death and…

July 13, 2011

Report

Head of state and government: Sultan Qaboos bin Said Death penalty: retentionist Population: 2.9 million Life expectancy: 76.1 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 14/13 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 86.7 per cent Several bloggers who criticized the government were assaulted or detained. The State Security Court was abolished and a new law against financing terrorism took effect. No death sentences or executions were reported. Background In January, the Sultan appointed the 14 members of the National Human Rights Committee, created by decree in 2008. The Committee is affiliated to the Majlis al-Dawla, the upper legislative house, but is mandated to function independently.…

July 13, 2011

Press Release

Amnesty International USA issued the following statement in response to news reports that the CIA has been involved in operating a secret prison in Somalia for terrorism suspects.

July 13, 2011

Update

As we celebrate the emergence of a new nation, we must commit ourselves to opening opportunities for all people, including women.

July 12, 2011

Update

All governments say they want to stop the flow of illicit arms, but listening to many of them at the UN today, it became clear that not many are willing to do anything about it.

July 12, 2011

Press Release

A law passed by the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) making it an offense to call for a boycott against the state of Israel or its West Bank settlements is a “blatant” effort to stifle dissent and will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said today.

July 12, 2011