Joe Stork is an American political activist and Deputy Director for Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs/Middle East Studies from Columbia University... (wikipedia)
Given Bahrain's strategic value, Washington may be reluctant to criticize its ally, but a failure to do so could result in growing anti-U.S. sentiment in the kingdom.
Jordan's General Intelligence Department, prisons and ordinary police stations all have known records of abuse. By seeking Jordanian promises to treat these returned persons differently, the U.K. is confirming that the risk of torture continues.
Jordan, Egypt and Algeria all have a documented history of torture. Neither Britain nor any other country should consider returning people to such countries where they face the risk of torture.
Reform means not only changing laws but also holding abusers accountable.
The government is punishing judges just for doing their job. It should be investigating the widespread evidence of voter intimidation, not shooting the messengers who reported the fraud.
These crude attempts to intimidate judges underscore the urgent need for judicial reform in Egypt.
President Chirac should tell him that this persecution undermines Egypt's professed commitment to democratic reforms, and threatens improved relations with France.
A police force acting responsibly would never have allowed such a tragedy to occur.
They have been responsible for serious crimes like illegal detentions, torture, and killings, and they appear to be operating with complete impunity.
There is still torture in Jordan, especially with regard to security suspects. All the good reasons that prevented the U.K. from deporting people to Jordan before August 10 remain unchanged by this agreement.
There is still torture in Jordan, especially with regard to security suspects, ... All the good reasons that prevented the U.K. from deporting people to Jordan before August 10 remain unchanged by this agreement.
The blood is still on the sidewalks, and already the government is blaming the Sudanese refugees and migrants. Given Egypt's terrible record of police brutality, an independent investigation is absolutely necessary to assess responsibility and punish those responsible.
In the courtroom, as at the voting booths, there is little tolerance for challenges to the ruling party's hegemony.
The Iranian authorities marked International Women's Day by attacking hundreds of people who had peacefully assembled to honor women's rights. Once again, Iran's government has signaled that it is ready to use violence to suppress peaceful public assembly of any sort.
The high loss of life suggests the police acted with extreme brutality A police force acting responsibly would not have allowed such a tragedy to occur.