News
Ethiopia
Internet and Social Media
The Ethiopian authorities must conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, independent and effective investigations into the killing of popular Oromo singer Hachalu Hundesa on 29 June, and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible, Amnesty International said today as protests broke out over his...
June 30, 2020
Campaigns
Egypt
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
On 13 May 2019, 33-year-old musician Rami Sidky was released on probation after 374 days of pre-trial detention. Rami was detained on 5 May 2018 in connection with a song criticizing president Abdelfatah al-Sisi. According to his lawyer, he neither wrote, nor produced, nor performed the satirical...
March 27, 2020
News
Ethiopia
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Police in Ethiopia launched an attack on opposition party supporters in the Oromia Region on Saturday, killing one person and arresting and injuring scores more. Just hours after the date for Ethiopia’s parliamentary elections was announced, the Oromia Liyu police raided the inauguration of an...
February 17, 2020
News
Amnesty International released a music video today on the occasion of International Day of Education to make an appeal to the people in Bangladesh and around the world to support education for all children in the Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi hip-hop lyricist and musician...
January 24, 2020
Campaigns
Egypt
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
On 5 May 2018, Egyptian authorities arrested 33-year-old musician Rami Sidky at Cairo International Airport. He was detained in connection with a satirical music video, “Balaha,” which had gone viral ahead of the March 2018 presidential elections, and appeared to poke fun at President El-Sisi....
March 5, 2019
News
Europe and Central Asia
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
The film-maker Jean Cocteau once said that he loved cats because he loved his home and “little by little, cats become its visible soul.” As a cat-lover, İdil Eser, Amnesty International director in Turkey, would understand this sentiment. Having been in jail for than 100 days she lists her cats...
October 12, 2017
News
Refugees
On 20 September, across more than 200 cities in 60 countries, musicians, artists, activists and local communities came together in a statement of support for the world’s refugees. Give a Home, a collaboration between Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds, saw living rooms across the globe play...
September 21, 2017
Campaigns
Iran
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian was forced to return to Tehran’s Evin Prison on 4 December. He had been on medical leave following his month-long hunger strike. He was hospitalized during his leave and Amnesty International fears for his health. His brother Hossein Rabajian, a filmmaker, is on...
December 6, 2016
News
Iran
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Amnesty International and renowned Iranian music band Kiosk are calling on artists and members of the public around the world to join a #FreeArtists campaign to demand that Iran immediately and unconditionally release jailed artists, including a musician and a filmmaker who are on hunger strike in...
November 8, 2016
Press Release
Iran
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Amnesty International and renowned Iranian music band Kiosk are calling on artists and members of the public around the world to join a #FreeArtists campaign to demand that Iran immediately and unconditionally release jailed artists, including a musician and a filmmaker who are on hunger strike in...
November 8, 2016
Research
Iran
Impunity
Amnesty International and renowned Iranian music band Kiosk are calling on artists and members of the public around the world to join a #FreeArtists campaign to raise awareness about the crackdown on artists, including musicians and filmmakers, in Iran. The crackdown, which has led to harsh prison...
November 8, 2016
Campaigns
Iran
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Iranian brothers Mehdi Rajabian and Hossein Rajabian began a hunger strike on 8 September in protest at the authorities’ refusal to allow them medical leave, as well as the decision to separate the brothers into different sections of Tehran’s Evin Prison. The health of both prisoners of conscience...
September 23, 2016