A shop worker convicted of a drugs-related charge was among 10 men put to death in Iran on Monday morning, despite calls on the country’s authorities by Amnesty International, UN human rights experts and others to halt their executions. Saeed Sedeghi was permitted a “final meeting” with his mother at Evin Prison on Sunday, when…
The perpetrators of a three day police rampage through the Sierra Leonean mining town of Bumbuna, during which a woman was shot dead, at least 11 people were injured and homes and businesses were destroyed must be held to account, Amnesty International said today. A demonstration over working conditions and pay by employees at the…
Amnesty International has accused the UK-registered mining company Vedanta of attempting to “gloss over” criticisms of its poor human rights record in the East Indian state of Orissa by publishing a “meaningless and hollow” report that puts forward the company’s own account of its operations there. With the company staging its annual general meeting today…
The Iranian authorities must urgently overturn the death sentence for a shop worker who was tried unfairly on drugs-related charges, Amnesty International said, amid fears his execution is imminent. On 1 August, Saeed Sedeghi was transferred from Tehran’s Kahrizak detention centre to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, 50 km west of the capital. The transfer…
Historic arms trade negotiations a chance to prevent future Syrian-style slaughter – Time to end ‘body bag’ approach to arms control and support a robust Arms Trade Treaty New York – Political leaders have a historic opportunity to place human rights and humanitarian aims above self-interest and profit when final negotiations to regulate the global arms…
Political leaders have a historic opportunity to place human rights and humanitarian aims above self-interest and profit when final negotiations to regulate the global arms trade begin today at the United Nations, campaigners from across the world said today. On average one person dies every minute as a result of armed violence, with thousands more…
Two men found guilty for the third time of consuming alcohol – forbidden under Iran’s Penal Code – must not be executed, Amnesty International said. The head of the judiciary in north-eastern Khorasan Razavi province, Seyed Hassan Shariati, announced that the authorities were preparing to carry out death sentences upheld by the Supreme Court in…
By Ann Harrison, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme I must admit that I had to blink and look away for a moment when I saw the Iranian news agency headline: ‘Execution of Iranian citizens in Saudi Arabia was a medieval act’. As Amnesty International has documented for many years, it is true…
When it launched its 50th annual report on the state of human rights worldwide, Amnesty International highlighted the courage shown by protesters and human rights defenders over the course of the past year. “Protesters have shown that change is possible. They have thrown down a gauntlet demanding that governments stand up for justice, equality and…
Joe Westby, Demand Dignity Corporate Campaigner, Amnesty International The slideshow requires JavaScript and the Flash Player. At the end of April, Amnesty International joined together with Nigerian activists and communities for a global week of action to highlight the catastrophic impact of oil pollution on human rights in the Niger Delta. We made sure that…
The Nigeria Police Force must immediately stop investigations into statements made by the head of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) accusing the police of extrajudicial executions, Amnesty International said. Police today summoned Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the Governing Board of the NHRC, to appear before their Criminal Investigation Department for questioning.According to the letter…
The Nigeria Police Force must immediately stop investigations into statements made by the head of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) accusing the police of extrajudicial executions, Amnesty International said. Police today summoned Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the Governing Board of the NHRC, to appear before their Criminal Investigation Department for questioning. According to the…