Stories about Human Rights from August, 2013
Moscow Police Round Up Migrants in “Concentration Camps”
After last week’s police raids on outdoor markets throughout Moscow, thousands of allegedly illegal migrants have been detained and placed in makeshift camps.
Congolese Teacher Pushed Out of Moving Police Van in Morocco, Dies
The death of Toussaint-Alex Mianzoukouta, a french teacher in Tanger is symptomatic of increasing brutality towards sub Saharan immigrants from the Moroccan police, Afrik Online reports [fr]. Mianzoukouta was not given the opportunity to present his immigration documents before he was taken into the van, the report says. He died from...
Russians Wary of Snowden Asylum
Snowden's decision to hitch his wagon to Putin's makes opposition and human rights activists uneasy, while his status as a defected "spy" alienates many of Putin's supporters.
Do FEMEN's Topless Protests Advance Women's Rights or Jeopardize Them?
When a man sets himself on fire in protest, no one accuses him of harming the movement he self-immolated for. Why does FEMEN face those accusations?
Iran: Bye, Bye President Ahmadinejad
Iranians using the hashtag #AhmadiByeBye are saying good riddance to a divisive and dysfunctional presidency.
Saudi Activist Released After Two Years in Prison
Charged with establishing an unlicensed association and possessing illegal books, Mohamed el-Bjadi was released from a Saudi prison today. The Saudi Twittersphere rejoices.
Spain: Catalan Water Polo Player Quits Twitter After Harassment
Roser Tarragó had displayed the Catalan separatist flag and a picture wearing the Catalan team suit instead of the Spanish one on her account.
Bangladesh Court Disqualifies Jamaat-e-Islami Party from Elections
The ruling comes as the party faced mounting criticism for its opposition to Bangladesh's independence and its top members implicated in war crimes.
Nuclear Opponents in Taiwan Work to Change ‘Unfair’ Referendum Law
Taiwan's referendum rules, which require 50 percent of voters to participate, favors the minority groups who boycott the vote.
Will Vietnam’s New Internet Decree Ban Sharing of Online News?
The government claims the decree is aimed only at protecting copyright but critics describe it as "the harshest offensive against freedom of information”
Bloodied Dolphin Prop Gets Activists Kicked Out of Hong Kong Aquarium Protest
The demonstration at Hong Kong Ocean Park was part of the "Empty the Tanks" global day of protest against marine mammal captivity.
Brazil Accused of Railroading Indigenous Rights in Proposed Land Bill
Complementary Bill 227, brought to an emergency vote in the senate, will give Brazil the power to economically exploit indigenous lands in the Amazon.
Senegalese Literacy Contest Winner Turns Down French Visa in Protest
Bousso Dramé describes the ill treatment she received when obtaining a French visa in a widely circulated open letter.
Brazilians Ask ‘Where is Amarildo?’, Favela Resident Missing After Arrest
The last time Amarildo was seen, military police were taking him from the Favela da Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro, known as the largest slum in the world.
Italian Appeals Court Upholds Guilty Verdict in Historic Eternit Asbestos Case
An appeals court in Turin, Italy has affirmed Swiss billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny, former owner of cement manufacturer Swiss Eternit Group, is responsible for nearly 3,000 asbestos-related deaths.