Stories about Human Rights from October, 2015
3 Mexicans Who Refuse to Stay Silent on Injustice
Father Solalinde, poet Javier Sicilia, and the families of 43 missing students in Ayotzinapa are all raising their voices against the problem of violence and impunity in the country.
Overturning Lower Court, Maldives Supreme Court Saves Convicted Adulteress From Being Stoned to Death
The Maldives' Supreme Court has acted swiftly to overturn an island court's decision to execute a woman for adultery. The woman had been sentenced to be stoned to death.
Trinidad and Tobago's Oddly Overlooked—and Totally Legal—Fix for Marijuana
With marijuana cases clogging up the courts, cannabis legalisation advocates in Trinidad and Tobago are looking to an overlooked section of the law to help their push for decriminalisation.
Bahrain Government Renews Crackdown on Religious Rituals
Security forces and youth clashed in Bahrain today as police attacked villages, forcefully removing banners placed on roadsides to commemorate Ashura. Several people were injured from buckshot fired at protesters.
Two Tanzanians Accused of Posting ‘False Information’ Face Charges Under New Cybercrime Law
According to the state, both men have violated Section 16 of Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits "publication of false information." Little more is currently known about their cases.
Sex Never Stops Selling. Even in Conservative Tajikistan
"To avoid arrest sex workers and their clients will look for remote places, which will in turn endanger these women."
Angolan Rapper Breathes New Life Into ‘Freedom Now’ Movement, As Hunger Strike Threatens His
Activists fight for their lives in Angolan jails. Thanks to a new online portal that collects and publishes photos showing solidarity with political prisoners, the movement is stronger than ever.
A Musical Project in Mexico Dedicates Their Latest Work to ‘The 43 From #Ayotzinapa'… and It's Free to Download!
Santiaguero Collective, from Mexico, focuses on Creative Commons-licensed music reflecting the current social issues of the region and the country. Their latest work is dedicated to the missing Ayotzinapa students.
ISIS Gunman Kills Five at Shia Mosque in Saudi Arabia
A Saudi gunman affiliated with ISIS opened fire at Shia worshippers in Saihat, killing five people. Netizens blame sectarian incitement against Shiites for the incident.
Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Acquitted of Terror Charges
Many supporters on Twitter put words like "acquittal", "court" and "judiciary" in quotation marks to emphasize the degree to which the case exposed Ethiopia's failed judicial system.
No Arrests One Year After Acid Attacks Against Iranian Women
"“Whenever we try to follow up on our daughter’s case, they say they are working on it but so far they have not given any information."
São Paulo Will Host the 2016 World Social Forum on Migrations
“The forum represents a recognition of the struggle over many years of social movements in the city, above all, that of immigrants, who are increasingly taking on more leadership roles"
What's Personal When You're Syrian?
"How to disentangle the personal from the public in your animosity towards those who want to kill you just because you attempted to assert your personal and public rights?"
Outrage After Ugandan Police Strip a Female Opposition Official Naked in Public
"A regime that loses respect for women deserves no respect either"
In Brazil, Where Abortion Is Illegal, a Domestic Worker Faces Public Scrutiny After Abandoning Her Child
A woman working as a maid in São Paulo, who abandoned her infant child "out of desperation," has received public condemnation, media criticism, and sparked a discussion of women's rights.
Refugees Take Over Danish Daily Newspaper For a Day to Tell Their Stories
The Danish daily newspaper Information invited 12 refugees, some newly arrived, all professional journalists, to take over the entire 48 pages of the newspaper on Friday, October 9.
Execution of Palestinian Fadi Alloun, 19, in Occupied East Jerusalem Causes Nationwide Outrage
The horrifying video, showing how Alloun was killed, is being widely shared online, prompting Mondoweiss to call it the video that 'shocked global audience'.
Political Cartoons Defy Censorship to Expose Thai-Style ‘Democracy’
A political cartoonist who criticized Thailand's military-backed government has become the latest journalist to be summoned by the army for "attitude-adjustment."
Angolan Activist's Health in Danger After Nearly Three Weeks of Hunger Strike in Prison
Luaty Beirao, reportedly in critical condition, was arrested in June with 14 others on accusations of plotting a coup. He and the others maintain they were merely discussing peaceful protest.
Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Tunisians are over the moon their democratic progress was recognised by awarding the National Dialogue Quartet the Nobel Peace Prize today.
Meet the Young Mexican Who's Taking On Transphobia, One Video at a Time
A year ago, a young Mexican started documenting on YouTube his sex reassignment process. His videos are a source of information and inspiration to the LGBTI community and beyond.