August 2002

Seven years after the ending of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Amnesty International called on the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina to make a commitment to the introduction of new legislation to criminalise acts of "disappearances", recognising the severity of this human rights violation. Specifically, the organisation recommends that such provisions are added to the new State Criminal Code to enable prosecutions for violations of international humanitarian law by a special division of the new State Court. Posted: 30 Aug 2002

As the world observes the Day of the "Disappeared" 2002 today, Amnesty International is calling on the Moroccan authorities to finally end the suffering of hundreds of Moroccans and Sahrawis still awaiting news of relatives who "disappeared" at the hands of the Moroccan security services in previous decades. Posted: 30 Aug 2002

A woman, Fatima Usman (30) and a man Ahmadu Ibrahim (32) have been sentenced to death by stoning in Nigeria. Posted: 30 Aug 2002

Amnesty International wrote today to the government of Barbados to express concern at steps being taken towards the resumption of executions in the country. Posted: 29 Aug 2002

Amnesty International today condemned as grossly unfair the sentencing by the Supreme State Security Court of three prisoners of conscience for the peaceful exercise of their civil rights, including freedom of expression. Posted: 29 Aug 2002

As hundreds of Tunisian prisoners enter the third day of a collective four-day hunger strike to mark the tenth anniversary of the Bab Saadoun and Bouchoucha military trials, Amnesty International once more calls on the Tunisian authorities to end the practice of trying civilians before military courts where basic principles of fair trial are disregarded. Posted: 29 Aug 2002

Federal and local authorities must ensure that police actions in Prince George's County, Maryland, adhere to international standards on police use of force and on the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, Amnesty International said today in a new report. Posted: 29 Aug 2002

Although Australia has been automatically detaining asylum seekers who arrive without papers for ten years, the 'Tampa' boat incident a year ago showed just how desperate the government is to keep refugees out in the name of combatting people smuggling, Amnesty International said today releasing a new report on Australia's refugee policies. Posted: 27 Aug 2002

Amnesty International today urged President Arroyo of the Philippines to declare a moratorium on the death penalty and grant clemency to three men who are due to be executed in the next few months, one on 30 August. Posted: 23 Aug 2002

Amnesty International is gravely concerned that time is running out for 88 people, including two children, sentenced to death by hanging or crucifixion in Sudan, for their alleged role in ethnic clashes in Rizeigat, Southern Darfur. Posted: 22 Aug 2002

Amnesty International strongly condemned the sentencing today of human rights defender and lawyer Habib 'Isa to 5 years' imprisonment for his activities in defence of human rights. Habib 'Isa was charged among other things with "attempting to change the Constitution by illegal means". Posted: 20 Aug 2002

Amnesty International is gravely concerned at today's decision by a Sharia court of appeal in Funtua in Katsina State, Nigeria, to uphold the sentence of death by stoning imposed on Amina Lawal, a young Nigerian woman who is alleged to have had a child out of wedlock. Posted: 19 Aug 2002

Amnesty International welcomes the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Ayub Masih who was convicted of blasphemy and under sentence of death. The organisation appeals to the authorities to take urgent measures to ensure his safety upon release. Posted: 19 Aug 2002

A new Amnesty International report released today reveals that the government has allowed tribal councils or jirgas to abuse a whole range of human rights, often those of women. The report highlights cases which show that jirgas abuse the rights to life, liberty, security of the person, fair trial and freedom from torture, ill-treatment and discrimination. Posted: 19 Aug 2002

Amnesty International today released a new report exposing abuses of human rights and of humanitarian law that occurred in the Tetovo region of Macedonia, during the most active phase of the conflict there, from March to September 2001. The abuses are illustrative of patterns of abuse and concerns in other parts of the country, and a failure to bring the perpetrators to justice will perpetuate lack of respect for the rule of law. Posted: 15 Aug 2002

The trials of the first East Timor cases in Indonesia were seriously flawed, have not been performed in accordance with international standards, and have delivered neither truth nor justice, said Amnesty International and the Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) in a joint statement today. Posted: 15 Aug 2002

Amnesty International welcomed the release on 11 August of Haytham Na'al after over 27 years in prison in connection with his involvement with the Arab Communist Organization (ACO). Posted: 14 Aug 2002

Amnesty International yesterday called on authorities in the State of Texas, USA, to grant a reprieve to Javier Suárez Medina, a Mexican national scheduled for execution on 14 August. Posted: 14 Aug 2002

The Metropolitan Police response to the renewed outbreak of political violence which followed a controversial Supreme Court ruling in Venezuela may have breached international human rights standards and must be investigated promptly and independently, Amnesty International said. Posted: 12 Aug 2002

Following the first caning sentences imposed under the tough new anti-immigration law, Amnesty International urged the Malaysian government to rid the country of this cruel punishment. Posted: 12 Aug 2002