News stories - 2013
Gaza: Hamas' threat to publicly execute prisoners after Eid is 'deeply disturbing'
The Hamas authorities in Gaza must halt several executions they say they plan to carry out after this weeks Muslim religious festival of Eid al-Fitr, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 8 Aug 2013
Northern Ireland: Amnesty calls for public inquiry into Omagh - 15 years after deadly bomb
Amnesty International today (Thursday 8 August) joined bereaved families in calling for an independent public inquiry to be established into the circumstances leading to the Omagh bomb and the investigative failures that followed. Posted: 8 Aug 2013
Egyptian foreign minister misquotes Amnesty over Morsi supporters' weapons
Amnesty International has categorically rejected a claim made by Nabil Fahmy, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, that Amnesty has said it has evidence that heavy weapons are present inside a sit-in by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi near Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo. Posted: 7 Aug 2013
Bahrain: new decrees from King Hamad banning dissent are 'outrageous'
Two new emergency decrees issued by the King of Bahrain last night - which include the banning of all protests - are a further shameful attempt to completely ban any form of dissent and freedom of expression in the country, said Amnesty International. Posted: 7 Aug 2013
Syria: new satellite images show devastation in Aleppo
New satellite images of Aleppo provide the most recent evidence of how the protracted conflict in Syria is resulting in massive human rights violations against the civilian population, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 7 Aug 2013
Zimbabwe: Women forced to flee their homes for refusing to reveal their vote
Women political activists in rural Zimbabwe have told Amnesty International they have been threatened with violence and forced to flee with their children for refusing to reveal their vote to supporters of Robert Mugabe's party during harmonized elections. Posted: 6 Aug 2013
Sandi Toksvig; Mark Thomas; Lucy Porter and Nish Kumar join Amnesty at Underbelly this week
Amnesty International today announced the guests due to appear on the Secret Comedy Podcasts: Live from the Underbelly this coming week including; Sandi Toksvig; Mark Thomas; Lucy Porter and Nish Kumar. Posted: 6 Aug 2013
Cameron should tell Bahraini King UK is not prepared to hold its tongue over crack down on critics
As the UK Prime Minister David Cameron prepares to meet Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at Downing Street today, Allan Hogarth, Head of Policy and Government Affairs at Amnesty International UK, said reform in Bahrain was a 'faade'. Posted: 6 Aug 2013
Investigative journalism under attack but key to human rights worldwide
Local journalists to take part in Amnesty International's Human Rights and Investigative Journalism event as part of Feile An Phobail. Posted: 2 Aug 2013
Media briefing: the human rights reality of Britain's favourite holiday destinations
A short briefing on some of the key human rights issues affecting the most popular holiday destinations for UK holidaymakers. Posted: 1 Aug 2013
Bradley Manning: severity of possible sentence stands in 'stunning contrast' to Abu Ghraib impunity
The US authorities have failed to deliver justice for serious human rights violations committed during counter-terror operations dating back more than a decade, Amnesty International said as the sentencing phase opened today in the military trial of the US Army Private Bradley Manning. Posted: 31 Jul 2013
Israel must not use excessive force against 'Day of Rage' Negev protesters tomorrow
The Israeli authorities must avoid using excessive force on demonstrators planning to protest against a plan to forcibly evict tens of thousands of Arab Bedouins from their homes in southern Israel, said Amnesty International. Posted: 31 Jul 2013
Bradley Manning case shows that US government's priorities are 'upside down'
Despite an acquittal on the most serious aiding the enemy charge against him, todays verdict against the US Private Bradley Manning reveals the US governments misplaced priorities on national security, said Amnesty International this evening. Posted: 30 Jul 2013
Egypt: call for police to be reined in to prevent further bloodshed
Evidence that the security forces have once again used unwarranted live fire and other excessive force underlines the crucial need for police reform, said Amnesty International today after a weekend of violence left 90 people dead. Posted: 29 Jul 2013
Tunisia: FEMEN activist Amina is victim of 'politically-motivated' attack by authorities
Todays decision by a Tunisian court to dismiss a defamation case against the 18-year-old FEMEN activist Amina Sboui is only a partial victory and the overall case against her is politically-motivated, said Amnesty International today as it called for her immediate release. Posted: 29 Jul 2013
India: Vedanta holds AGM as indigenous community rejects mine plans
As FTSE 100 mining company Vedanta gears up for its AGM this week (Thursday 1 August), indigenous communities in India have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by one of the company's subsidiaries to mine their sacred lands. Posted: 29 Jul 2013
Ivory Coast: Wells thought to be mass graves must be excavated - New report
The government of Ivory Coast must excavate wells thought to be mass graves containing victims of an attack on a displaced persons camp last year, Amnesty International said in a report published today. Posted: 29 Jul 2013
Pussy Riot: today's refusal of parole for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova condemned
A Russian appeal courts decision earlier today to keep a second Pussy Riot punk band member behind bars for performing a protest song is further confirmation of the countrys dangerous slide towards greater suppression of free speech, Amnesty International said. Posted: 26 Jul 2013
Syria: All civilians at risk of summary killings after massacres in al-Baydah and Banias - new briefing
Eyewitnesses described seeing bodies piled up in the streets and civilians rounded up by pro-government forces. Posted: 26 Jul 2013
Egypt: warning that security forces must not use excessive force tomorrow
The security forces in Egypt must do more to protect protesters from violent attack and avoid the use of excessive force against peaceful gatherings, Amnesty International said as Egypt braces for major rival political rallies tomorrow. Posted: 25 Jul 2013

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