Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Amnesty International USA Calls on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Investigate Chicago “Black Site”
Amnesty International USA called on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to investigate allegations published in The Guardian newspaper of a Chicago Police Department facility in Homan Square, including beatings and disappearances of people detained there.
February 25, 2015
Press Release
Iran: Juvenile offender set to be hanged on Thursday brutally beaten to confess
On 15 February, Saman Naseem, a young Iranian man set to be executed on Thursday, was once again brutally beaten up by men believed to be intelligence officials in a bid to make him “confess” again in front of a camera, which he refused to do, Amnesty International said.
February 17, 2015
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Expresses Concern Ahead of White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism
Today the Obama administration will begin its three-day summit on “Countering Violent Extremism.” Tomorrow will consist of meetings with civil society focusing on domestic, international and private companies’ roles and on Thursday the State Department is scheduled to meet with both civil society groups and government representatives, with government representatives from as many as 67 countries expected.
February 17, 2015
Press Release
Amnesty International: Bill Banning Guantanamo Transfers is a Step Toward Keeping Guantanamo Open Forever
As the Senate Armed Services Committee concluded its markup of the Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act, which seeks to impose new restrictions on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees, Amnesty International USA Security & Human Rights Program Director Naureen Shah issued the following statement.
February 12, 2015
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Reacts to Death of ISIS Hostage Kayla Mueller
Amnesty International USA's sympathy is with the family of Kayla Mueller, who was involved with Amnesty in college. The abduction and execution of hostages is a war crime and all those responsible for Kayla's abduction and the abduction of other aid workers, journalists and civilians must be brought to justice.
February 12, 2015
Report
Open for Business? Corporate Crime and Abuses at Myanmar Copper Mine
Canadian and Chinese mining interests have profited from, and in some cases colluded with the Myanmar authorities in serious human rights abuses and illegal activity around the Monywa copper mine complex, which includes the notorious Letpadaung mine.
February 9, 2015
Press Release
Killing of Jordanian pilot ‘Abhorrent’ but ‘Revenge Executions’ Not the Answer
The vicious summary killing of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the armed group that calls itself the Islamic State (IS) is an atrocious attack against humanity, said Amnesty International, but responding with executions is not the answer.
February 4, 2015
Report
Untold Stories of Syria’s Most Vulnerable Refugees in New Amnesty Report
This report throws the spotlight on the human face of Syria’s refugee crisis, through the stories of eight people and families who have fled the conflict and are struggling to survive in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
February 3, 2015
Report
Benghazi’s Descent into Chaos: Abductions, Summary Killings and Other Abuses
Targeted UN sanctions and accountability, including through the International Criminal Court (ICC), are urgently needed to end rampant abductions, torture, summary killings and other abuses by rival forces in Libya, some of which amount to war crimes.
January 27, 2015
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Response to the State of the Union Address
During tonight’s State of the Union address, President Obama touched on issues of national security, criminal justice reform, immigration policy and women’s health, all of which involve human rights. Steven W. Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty International USA, had the following response:
January 21, 2015
Press Release
Nigeria: Massacre Possibly Deadliest in Boko Haram’s history
Following reports of the massacre of large numbers of civilians by armed group Boko Haram in north east Nigeria, Amnesty International has expert spokespeople available to comment.
January 9, 2015
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Reaction to Latest Guantanamo Detainee Transfers
In response to reports that five detainees were released from the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and resettled in Kazakhstan, Naureen Shah, director of Amnesty International USA’s Security and Human Rights Program, issued the following statement.
December 31, 2014