28 February 2013
Death of Mozambican man at hands of South Africa police 'shocking'
Amnesty International has repeatedly documented excessive use of force by South Africa's police
© Alexander Joe/AFP/GettyImages
Media reports and cell phone footage apparently showing members of the South African Police Service tying a Mozambican man to the back of a police vehicle and dragging him down the road are “shocking”, Amnesty International said today.
The man is reported to have died later in a police cell from head injuries.
“This appalling incident involving excessive force is the latest in an increasingly disturbing pattern of brutal police conduct in South Africa,” said Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International’s southern Africa director.
“The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) must be fully supported in conducting its investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
“Amnesty International urges the South African government to make a public commitment to ensure that the police stop the use of excessive force and deliberate targeted killings.”
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) received 720 new cases for investigation of suspicious deaths in custody or in other policing contexts from April 2011 to March 2012.
News
.jpg)
A draft law that includes new press-related crimes and exorbitant fines for journalists who violate them looks set to be signed off by Burundi's President.
Read more »
Forced evictions in Haiti are worsening the already desperate situation of thousands of people still living in displacement camps more than three years after the devastating... Read more »
In Sri Lanka, a climate of intolerance and fear continues to sweep the island as the government’s stranglehold on the population grows ever tighter.
Read more »
A Turkish reform bill passed into law today fails to meet the government’s stated aim of bringing Turkey's laws into line with international human rights standards.
Read more »
Four founding members of a nascent human rights group in Saudi Arabia have been interrogated and intimidated in their attempt to get their organization off the ground.
Read more »