Global-Affair.net

Responding to reports of the deaths of at least nine people, including six protesters and three police officers, and injuries to hundreds of others during ongoing protests in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir which have taken place amid a communications blackout in the region, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, said: 

“The situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir was preventable and now the priority of the authorities must be to ensure that there are no further injuries or loss of life. There should also be an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into all incidents of deaths and injuries, including investigating the excessive use of force by law enforcement, and all those responsible must be held to account.  

“This is not the first time the authorities have cracked down on peaceful protests in the region. Pakistani authorities have a positive obligation under international human rights law to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to facilitate and protect peaceful protesters. Even in instances where some protesters turn violent, the peaceful participants should not be prevented from protesting peacefully. Law enforcement must assess the situation on a case-by-case basis and should attempt non-violent means first before resorting to the use of force, which must be necessary and strictly proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. 

The situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir was preventable and now the priority of the authorities must be to ensure that there are no further injuries or loss of life

Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia

“Regrettably, the total communication blackout in the region has further exacerbated the situation, creating panic, restricting mobility, impacting access to essential services, and increasing the possibility of misinformation. The Pakistani authorities must immediately lift the blanket communication ban to allow people to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and access to information.” 

Background

According to government officials, nearly 172 police personnel and 50 protesters were injured in the protests. Protest organizers have claimed that over 100 protesters have been injured following police use of lethal force. 

The protests have been organized by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), an alliance demanding civil liberties and political rights in the region, demanding an end to special privileges for government officials, restoration of student unions, access to free and quality healthcare and education, among others. The JKJAAC had engaged in talks with the government before calling for a region-wide strike on 29 September. In the lead up to the strike, the government shut down all mobile, landline and internet services in the region since 28 September. 

The post Pakistan: Authorities must protect the right to peaceful protest and lift communications blackout amid Jammu & Kashmir protests  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Responding to reports that Israeli forces have intercepted at least 39 vessels and detained dozens of crew members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to break Israel’s illegal blockade and deliver essential humanitarian aid to the occupied Gaza Strip, amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard said: 

“Israel’s forceful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels and detention of its crew off the coast of Gaza is a brazen assault against solidarity activists carrying out an entirely peaceful humanitarian mission. This seizure comes after weeks of threats and incitement by Israeli officials against the flotilla and its participants and after several attempts to sabotage some of its ships.  

“By continuing to actively block vital aid to a population against whom Israel is committing genocide, including by inflicting famine, Israel is once again demonstrating its utter contempt for the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice and its own obligations as the occupying power to ensure Palestinians in Gaza have access to sufficient food and lifesaving humanitarian assistance.  

“The crew of the intercepted vessels must be immediately and unconditionally released. Their detention is unlawful, and Israel must be held fully accountable for their safety and ensure they are protected against any form of ill-treatment pending their release. 

This interception is not just about blocking aid; it is a calculated act of intimidation intended to punish and silence critics of Israel’s genocide and its unlawful blockade on Gaza.

Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard

“This interception is not just about blocking aid; it is a calculated act of intimidation intended to punish and silence critics of Israel’s genocide and its unlawful blockade on Gaza. The incitement and threats that preceded it are also a shameless attempt to demonize peaceful solidarity initiatives seeking to end Israel’s genocide and the cruel blockade it has imposed on Gaza since 2007 and significantly tightened since October 2023. We are gravely concerned for the safety of all those who have been detained so far, particularly Arab delegates and solidarity activists who have been targeted by an inflammatory smear campaign.  

“The Global Sumud Flotilla, whose crew composed of human rights defenders, doctors, parliamentarians, activists and journalists from over 40 countries, and other previous peaceful initiatives that attempted to break Israel’s unlawful blockade, have emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The very fact that they had to set sail in the first place is a clear indictment of the international community’s persistent failure to end Israel’s ongoing genocide and to ensure the unhindered flow of aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.  

The decades-long impunity for Israel’s blatant violations of international law must end, nothing can justify genocide. 

Agnès Callamard

“The time for mere condemnation is over. States worldwide must act now and now make clear that they will no longer tolerate Israel’s systematic starvation of Palestinians in Gaza nor its targeting of unarmed civilian humanitarian efforts. The decades-long impunity for Israel’s blatant violations of international law must end, nothing can justify genocide.  

“States must demand the immediate and safe return of all those detained and allow unhindered access to Gaza for the other ships. They must also press Israel to lift its suffocating 18-year blockade and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered through all crossings into and throughout Gaza now.” 

The post Israel’s unlawful interception of Global Sumud Flotilla illustrates its determination to continue deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Reacting to the reported deaths of at least 22 people and injuries to more than 100 others, including children, in the ongoing Gen Z movement protests in Madagascar, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said:

“Every death on the streets of Madagascar is a painful reminder that the right to peaceful protest is under violent attack. The authorities must promptly launch thorough and effective investigations into these killings and hold perpetrators to account. All those arrested solely for exercising their right to protest must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“Amnesty International condemns the unlawful and excessive force used by state security officials and urges the exercise of restraint in the policing of these protests. Rather than use force, the authorities must listen to and address the protesters’ demands.

Every death on the streets of Madagascar is a painful reminder that the right to peaceful protest is under violent attack. The authorities must promptly launch thorough and effective investigations into these killings and hold perpetrators to account.

Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa

“Protest is not a crime – it is a right. Instead of respecting, facilitating and protecting the protesters, the authorities have resorted to an outdated 75-year-old repressive law to justify the use of unlawful force in response to protests. This law gives security forces sweeping powers to crack down on protests and criminalize participation, in blatant violation of Madagascar’s human rights obligations under international law.

“Amnesty International calls on the government to repeal this law and enact a new one in line with its international obligations, including the African Union’s Guidelines for the Policing of Assemblies by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa.”

Background
Since 25 September 2025, hundreds of young people – mainly university and high school students mobilized under the Gen Z movement – have been taking to the streets of the capital Antananarivo and other major cities to peacefully protest water and power shortages, seen as emblematic of corruption and bad governance. Civil society actors have also joined in the protests.

The post Madagascar: Authorities must launch investigations into deadly force used against Gen Z protesters appeared first on Amnesty International.