Postgraduate student Patrick Zaki held at Cairo airport and interrogated for 17 hours while blindfolded Tortured at secret location, including with electric shocks Zaki is detained ‘solely for his human rights work and opinions he has expressed on social media’ - Philip Luther Responding to the arrest of Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki, a graduate student working on gender studies and human rights at the University of Bologna who was detained on Friday (7 February) upon arrival at Cairo airport in relation to charges including “disseminating false news” and “inciting to protest”, Philip

Proactiva Open Arms rescue ship has 121 people onboard in sweltering heat and overcrowded conditions Some of those on the vessel have reportedly been tortured in detention in Libya ‘Politicians are shamelessly breaching their responsibilities under international law’ - Maria Serrano Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the wellbeing of 121 people - including 30 children and two babies - stranded at sea in sweltering heat and overcrowded conditions on an NGO rescue ship currently 30 nautical miles from Italy, between Malta and Lampedusa. Those onboard the Proactiva Open Arms ship

Ahead of the questioning of the Sea-Watch 3 captain, Carola Rackete, by prosecutors in Agrigento (Sicily) tomorrow on charges of abetting irregular migration and resisting the orders of a war ship, Elisa De Pieri, Amnesty International’s researcher on southern Europe said: “The baseless charges levelled against this courageous and principled young woman expose the determination of Italian authorities to intimidate and stigmatise people saving lives at sea. “Carola Rackete did nothing wrong. It is a requirement under international and Italian law to rescue lives at sea and seek a port of safe

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday should make pledge to rescue ‘mortally’ endangered migrants ‘EU governments should urgently set up safe routes out of Libya’ - Matteo de Bellis European Union foreign ministers meeting at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday (15 July) should issue a call on the Libyan authorities demanding that they close their migrant detention centres, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) have said. In the wake of a deadly attack on the Tajoura detention centre earlier this month, the

Following a decision by a preliminary investigations judge in Italy to release the Sea-Watch 3 captain, Carola Rackete, Elisa De Pieri, Amnesty International’s researcher on southern Europe said: “This decision brings welcome relief to people standing for human rights. Carola Rackete put her freedom on the line to ensure the safety of others. Her actions should be celebrated rather than criminalised and it is a bitter irony that she was the one in the dock. “By rescuing women, men, and children in the Mediterranean and taking them to a safe port after weeks stranded at sea, Carola Rackete was

Cambridge and London Amnesty groups to hold sombre event at Egyptian Embassy on Saturday 2 February, 12-1pm Letter demanding full investigation into Italian PhD researcher’s murder in Egypt three years ago to be delivered to embassy ‘The demand for truth for Giulio will not go away’ - Sue Woodsford A vigil for the Cambridge University student Giulio Regeni - who was murdered in Egypt three years ago - will take place on Saturday 2 February (12-1pm) outside the Egyptian Embassy in central London. At the vigil, Cambridge and London Amnesty group members and members of the University and College

The Panama Maritime Authority has revoked the registration of the search and rescue ship, Aquarius, operated by SOS Mediterranée and Médecins Sans Frontières, reportedly after pressure from the Italian government. Elisa di Pieri, Amnesty International’s Europe Researcher, said: “After closing its ports and seizing NGO ships, it now appears that Italian authorities have resorted to even more underhand tactics to curtail the life-saving work of NGO search and rescue ships in the central Mediterranean. “If it is confirmed that Panama’s decision to revoke the registration of the Aquarius was made

Responding to reports that the authorities in Italy and Malta have closed their ports to the Aquarius, with 141 people aboard - including 73 children - Maria Serrano, Amnesty International’s Senior Campaigner on Migration, said: “Italy and Malta’s disgraceful refusal to allow refugees and migrants to disembark in their ports is pure cruelty. “These individuals have braved dangerous journeys and inhumane conditions in Libya only to be stranded at sea as governments shamelessly abdicate their responsibility to protect. “We are calling on European leaders to urgently agree on a predictable and