Amnesty International of the USA

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS DREAM ACT DURING LAME-DUCK SESSI...

11/29/2010 4:15 PM EST

‘The Country is Shooting Itself in the Foot,’ Asserts Human Rights Organization
(Washington D.C.) -- Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) today urged the U.S. Congress to pass The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act during the lame-duck session, calling its passage critical to upholding the human rights of undocumented youth who have lived in the United States most of their lives and...

Amnesty International Urges Azerbaijan to End Harassment of Activists

11/19/2010 2:44 PM EST

(Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop harassing civil society activists, after a youth activist and parliamentary candidate who revealed election violations was detained at the country’s border.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was detained November 18 on the Azerbaijani-Georgia border and held overnight at a military drafting centre before being released.

“Bakhtiyar...

Amnesty International Calls for Speedy Resolution in Case of Pregnant Colombian...

11/19/2010 11:02 AM EST

(London) – Amnesty International is calling on authorities in Colombia to take fast action on the case of a pregnant human rights defender who was arrested in the north-eastern city of Bucaramanga, Colombia on November 16, on charges of having links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Carolina Rubio last month returned from Brussels where she represented Colombian human rights and social...

Indian Authorities Must Release 14-year-old Held in Kashmir Without Charge, Says...

11/18/2010 12:11 PM EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Amnesty International has urged authorities in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to release a 14-year-old child who has been detained without charge or trial for seven months, for allegedly taking part in anti-government protests.

"Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh must either be charged with a recognizable criminal offence or released immediately," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s...

Amnesty International Urges NATO Leaders to Protect Human Rights in Afghanistan

11/18/2010 12:07 PM EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Amnesty International is urging NATO leaders to protect human rights and ensure security for the people of Afghanistan as they prepare for the 2010 NATO Lisbon Summit.
“As NATO begins to discuss its withdrawal from Afghanistan, it’s crucial to explain to the Afghan people exactly how the international community will follow through on its promise to protect and promote their human rights,” said...

Amnesty International Urges China to Release Woman Sentenced to a Year in Labor ...

11/17/2010 2:28 PM EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Amnesty International today urged the Chinese authorities to release a woman sentenced to a year in a labor camp for retweeting a supposedly anti-Japanese message.
Chinese online activist Cheng Jianping was sentenced to one year of ‘Re-education Through Labor’ on Monday for “disturbing social order”, having retweeted a satirical suggestion on October 17 that the Japanese Pavilion at the...

Amnesty International Criticizes Latest TV "Confession" in Iran by Sakineh Moham...

11/16/2010 3:06 PM EST

(London) -- Amnesty International today criticized the latest TV broadcast of a “confession” by Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who is awaiting execution by stoning for adultery in Iran.
Self-incriminating statements by her son Sajjad Qaderzadeh and two German journalists were also broadcast on the program, which aired on Iranian state TV on Monday night. A voiceover also said that the 43-year-old mother's lawyer,...

Amnesty International Demands Full Investigation of Egyptian Man's Death Alleged...

11/16/2010 11:23 AM EST

Human Rights Organizations Says Family Found Body Covered in Bruises After Man was Detained
(London) – Egyptian authorities must investigate without delay allegations that a young man was tortured to death at a police station in Alexandria, and guarantee the safety of another young man still in custody there, Amnesty International said today.
The family of Ahmed Shaaban, 19, alleged that he died after being...

Amnesty International Urges the United Kingdom to Establish the Truth about Righ...

11/16/2010 11:10 AM EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Amnesty International is calling on the United Kingdom to make the full truth known about alleged human rights violations against people held overseas during counter-terrorism operations after it was reported a dozen men are to receive a financial settlement following legal action.
The move to pay compensation follows legal action brought by six former detainees alleging U.K. responsibility...

Singapore Deals Sharp Blow to Freedom of Expression by Sentencing British Author...

11/16/2010 11:00 AM EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Singapore dealt a sharp blow to freedom of expression by sentencing 76-year-old British author Alan Shadrake to jail for publishing a book which criticizes the Singaporean judiciary, Amnesty International said today.
Shadrake was sentenced to six weeks in jail and a fine of 50,000 Singapore dollars (US$15,400). He was convicted of contempt of court for ‘scandalizing the judiciary’ over...

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