March 2009

Amnesty International has expressed serious concern about the safety and welfare of a British woman who has apparently been apprehended by members of the Syrian security services more than two weeks ago and not seen since. Posted: 31 Mar 2009

A report published 30 March by Amnesty International reveals a pattern of serious human rights violations by Greek police and other law enforcement officials. The report highlights allegations of excessive use of force and firearms, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and denial of prompt access to lawyers. Posted: 30 Mar 2009

As Cambodia's most notorious suspected killer finally faces trial for crimes committed while he was a Khmer Rouge commander 30 years ago, Amnesty International urged the Court conducting the trial to increase its caseload. Posted: 30 Mar 2009

The Indonesian government has arrested at least 152 people for activities related to the raising of flags symbolising regional independence over the past two years as part of a crackdown in areas with a history of separatist movements, Amnesty International reveals in a new report. Posted: 30 Mar 2009

Tens of thousands of people, trapped in 'safe zones' in the north eastern Wanni region of Sri Lanka are at increased risk from an escalation in attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, said Amnesty International. Posted: 27 Mar 2009

On the eve of the League of Arab States summit in Qatar, Amnesty International is calling on member states to enforce the arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is expected in Qatar on Sunday (19 March). Posted: 27 Mar 2009

Responding to Sudan's President Omar El Bashir's recent visit to Egypt, Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan said: Posted: 26 Mar 2009

Amnesty International today welcomed the decision of the Attorney General Baroness Scotland to refer the case of Binyam Mohamed to the Metropolitan Police. Posted: 26 Mar 2009

The Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael is set to raise Japan's growing use of the death penalty with the country's justice officials later this week, as part of an Amnesty International-backed trip to the country. Posted: 25 Mar 2009

Amnesty International has called on the South Korean government to immediately release television journalist Roh Jong-myeon, who was arrested for 'interfering with business' along with three other colleagues on the eve of a strike over wage disputes and unfair dismissals. Posted: 25 Mar 2009

Amnesty International today (24 March) revealed that the number of executions in 2008 rose significantly compared to the previous year, while more countries in Asia made use of the death penalty than any other region of the world. Posted: 24 Mar 2009

The death of a 15-year-old boy in Michigan, USA after he was shocked with a Taser gun reinforces the need for greater caution to be applied in the roll out of Tasers to frontline police officers in the UK, said Amnesty International. Posted: 24 Mar 2009

Amnesty International welcomed the court decision today (24 March) to allow the extradition of Ilir Kumbaro, a former member of Albania's secret police, to face charges of abduction and torture in his home country Posted: 24 Mar 2009

Amnesty International warmly welcomes the NIO Minister Paul Goggins' announcement of new support for the victims of human trafficking. Posted: 24 Mar 2009

Amnesty International has called on Northern Ireland to help the United States in their stated aim of closing Guantanámo Bay by accepting prisoners who have been cleared for release. This would be following the lead of the Republic of Ireland, where the Taoiseach has told CNN in the United States that Ireland would take, 'a proportionate amount, a small number' of freed prisoners. Posted: 20 Mar 2009

As Pope Benedict XVI visited Angola today, Amnesty International urged him to use his influence with the country's authorities to end the threat of forced evictions and fully compensate those that have suffered such evictions. Posted: 20 Mar 2009

Amnesty International is urging Pope Benedict XVI to express the importance of eradicating discrimination based on sexual orientation, when he meets with members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at the Apostolic Nunciature of Yaoundé today (Thursday). Posted: 19 Mar 2009

Ten years after the war in Kosovo the majority of those responsible for the enforced disappearance and abduction of ethnic Albanians and Serbs have still not faced justice, Amnesty International said Posted: 19 Mar 2009

Amnesty International today reacted to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's written statement on the treatment of detainees. Posted: 18 Mar 2009

Amnesty International today revealed that up to 1,000 people in Gambia have been kidnapped from their villages by 'witch doctors', taken to secret detention centres and forced to drink hallucinogenic concoctions. Posted: 18 Mar 2009