Annual Report 2013
The state of the world's human rights

Regional News

from Middle east and north africa

04 December 2008
Tunisian trade union leader on trial for role in protests
A trade union leader and 37 others face trial in Tunisia on Thursday, accused of fomenting unrest during protests earlier this year in the Gafsa region.
02 December 2008
"Chemical Ali" sentenced to death a second time
Two senior former officials in Saddam Hussein's government were sentenced to death on Tuesday.
28 November 2008
Security agreement puts 16,000 Iraqi detainees at risk of torture
Under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will take effect on 31 December, around 16,000 prisoners held by the US will be transferred to Iraqi custody.
28 November 2008
China, Iran and Jamaica go against trend on executions
The execution of a Chinese scientist on Friday is the latest in a series of executions that are going against the global trend towards a moratorium on the death pena
26 November 2008
Algerian human rights lawyer convicted for denouncing violations
The Court of Appeals in Algiers upheld the conviction of a prominent human rights lawyer, Amine Sidhoum, on Wednesday.
17 November 2008
Israeli army relaxes restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza
The Israeli army allowed a limited number of trucks carrying humanitarian assistance into Gaza for the first time in two weeks on Monday.
14 November 2008
Israeli army blocks deliveries to Gaza
The Israeli army has completely blocked the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip for more than a week.
12 November 2008
Guilty verdict upheld for student who "offended" Moroccan king
The Marrakesh Court of Appeals in Morocco has upheld a lower court's guilty verdict against an 18-year-old student for insulting the King.
05 November 2008
Gaza ceasefire at risk
A spate of Israeli and Palestinian attacks and counter-attacks in the past 24 hours could spell the end of the five-and-a-half-month truce.
31 October 2008
Egyptian association for torture victims wins court case against closure
A Cairo Administrative Court has rescinded the government’s decision to dissolve the Association for Human rights and Legal Aid.
30 October 2008
Syrian court sentences activists to two and a half years
Twelve members of the opposition coalition the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change are convicted of "weakening national sentiment.
22 October 2008
UK's highest court to hear key test cases on deportations with assurances
The UK’s highest court will begin hearing two important test cases related to human rights and the UK government's counter-terrorism policies on Thursday.
20 October 2008
Juveniles still to face the noose in Iran
A senior judicial official in Iran has said that the judicial execution of juvenile offenders convicted of murder will continue in the country.
17 October 2008
Iran to end child executions
Iran has instructed all courts to stop issuing death sentences against juvenile offenders. However, it is not clear if the directive includes those convicted of murder
14 October 2008
Turkey expels refugees for second time
Turkish law enforcement officials have expelled the same group of Uzbekistani refugees into Iranian territory for the second time in one month.
10 October 2008
Libyan prisoner of conscience released
Arrested for trying to organize a peaceful demonstration critical of the Libyan government, Idriss Boufayed has been released on humanitarian grounds, after being diag
08 October 2008
Prominent Egyptian editor pardoned
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has pardoned Ibrahim Eissa, who was charged with publishing information considered "damaging to the public interest and Egypt's
08 October 2008
Pro-democracy activists in Syria face 15 years in prison
Twelve people are charged with "weakening national sentiment" for attending a meeting of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change.
06 October 2008
Human rights violations in cities around the world
As World Habitat Day focuses on the state of the housing rights situation across the globe, here are case studies from cities in Cambodia, Brazil, Italy, Israel and An
18 September 2008
Moroccan blogger freed
The Court of Appeal in Agadir, Morocco, has overturned the two-year sentence imposed on blogger Mohamed Erraji.

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