Schlagwort: Amnesty International

Reacting to the Council of the European Union’s activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which will grant immediate protection in EU countries to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s EU office said:

“Everybody fleeing conflict must be provided with protection and help to establish themselves and we welcome that Ukrainians will be swiftly protected. But by restricting that assistance principally to Ukrainians fleeing conflict, the Council has also exposed the limitations of Europe’s solidarity.

“Today’s decision means that Ukrainians seeking safety in the EU will quickly get residence permits, be able to work, and be provided with suitable accommodation, welfare assistance, medical assistance, and education. It is now up to member states to decide if they will extend that to others fleeing Ukraine. We call on them to treat everyone fleeing this conflict equally.”

“The Council’s decision today is a reminder that Europe has long had the tools to protect people fleeing war and help new arrivals, and the usual ‘Fortress Europe’ approach is a politically motivated choice. That this is happening for the first time but principally for displaced Ukrainian nationals shows that the EU’s approach is riddled with double standards.”

Background

The TPD was created in 2001, in the aftermath of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, when, for the first time since the Second World War, Europe was confronted with mass displacements of people resulting from a conflict in Europe. However, it has never been activated.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called for its activation, most recently in the framework of the EU response to the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:       

Alison Abrahams on alison.abrahams@amnesty.org or +32 483 680 812       

Out of hours contact details       

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3 March 2022 marks the first anniversary of spontaneous demonstrations in several cities around Senegal. One year on, the need for truth and justice remains urgent for the families of the 14 people who died, 12 of whom were shot by the defence and security forces, said Amnesty International, the Senegalese League for Human Rights (LSDH), and the African Meeting for the Defence of Human Rights (RADDHO) on the occasion of the launch of the campaign “Join us in demanding justice for the victims of Senegal’s violent repression of protests“.

There’s no more time to lose. The justice system must work quickly and independently […].

Seydi Gassama, Director of Amnesty International Senegal

The government had previously announced at a press conference in April 2021 that a commission of inquiry would be set up to establish the circumstances of these incidents and punish those responsible, if necessary. However, no further information was forthcoming in this regard and, in December 2021, the President of the Republic Macky Sall announced that a commission of inquiry was no longer on the agenda and that judicial proceedings were underway with investigations into these incidents.

“There’s no more time to lose. The justice system must work quickly and independently to establish the facts and responsibilities and bring those elements of the defence and security forces who are guilty of excessive use of force and unlawful killings to justice,” said Seydi Gassama, Director of Amnesty International Senegal.

“The Senegalese authorities must be transparent about progress in the ongoing investigation, follow up on the complaints filed by some of the victims’ families, and allow the victims and their families to participate in the judicial process. Impunity for the excessive use of force in Senegal, including the illegal use of firearms, must end,” said Sadikh Niass, Secretary-General of RADDHO.

One of the victims, Cheikh Wade, a 32-year-old tailor, was shot and killed in Parcelles Assainies, a Dakar neighbourhood, by the police. The video of his death was widely circulated on social networks and media in Senegal and around the world. In the video, authenticated by Amnesty International, a police officer can be seen aiming and shooting at Cheikh Wade. A police car then drives up to the body and passes it by, without helping him. Cheikh’s family filed a complaint with the Dakar Court of Appeal but the case has not been followed up to date. His family is still awaiting justice.

The Senegalese authorities must be transparent about progress in the ongoing investigation […].

Sadikh Niass, Secretary-General of RADDHO

“All we want are answers to the cause of my brother’s death. We want justice for him and the other victims, and to know why the police shot him,” said Abdoulaye Wade, brother of Cheikh Wade.

Cheikh Massiré Coly, whose son Cheikh Coly (20 years old) was the first person to be killed during these demonstrations, on 3 March 2021, in Bignona (Ziguinchor region) agrees: “The special investigations brigade [of the gendarmerie] came to my house following the death of my son; they spoke with me in March 2021 and since then there has been no follow-up. The political authorities brought us to Dakar in May 2021 to talk about these incidents with other victims’ families, but all I want is justice for my son’s death. That’s all.”

All we want are answers to the cause of my brother’s death […] AND TO KNOW WHY THE POLICE SHOT HIM.

Abdoulaye Wade, brother of Cheikh Wade who was killed on 8 March 2021

A trend of impunity

Judicial proceedings for excessive use of force or unlawful killings by the police force rarely reach a successful conclusion in Senegal. There has still been no explanation for the death of Fallou Sène, a student shot dead by the police on 15 May 2018 during a demonstration at the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, despite the opening of an investigation. Impunity for excessive use of force against demonstrators will continue to flourish if accountability for the March 2021 demonstrations is not established and reparations to victims and guarantees of non-repetition are not provided.

The security and defence forces must respect and facilitate the exercise of this right [Freedom of peaceful assembly] ON THE PART OF THE POPULATION.

Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's Director for West and Central Africa

The Senegalese authorities must ensure that the defence and security forces respect and protect the Senegalese people’s right to life and to peaceful assembly, in accordance with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Guidelines for the Policing of Meetings by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa. During demonstrations, they must only use force in an exceptional and proportionate manner and, in particular, must only resort to the use of firearms when there is imminent danger to their own lives or the lives of others. Any violation by a member of the defence or security forces must be investigated, prosecuted, and punished.

“Freedom of peaceful assembly is clearly guaranteed by the constitution and international law. The security and defence forces must respect and facilitate the exercise of this right on the part of the population,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Director for West and Central Africa.

“The judicial authorities must expedite the investigation into violations committed by the defence or security forces during the demonstrations so that it can be completed as quickly as possible, responsibilities can be clearly established, and reparations envisaged for the grieving families,” said Alassane Seck, President of the LSDH.

Further information:

The March 2021 protests followed the gendarmerie’s arrest of political opponent Ousmane Sonko on his way to a court summons in connection with a rape complaint. The arrest took place after a month of tensions, in the context of the removal of his parliamentary immunity and the arbitrary arrest of several members of his party, Pastef-Les Patriotes, and civil society.

Fourteen people were killed during the five days of demonstrations and nearly 600 more were injured, according to the Senegalese Red Cross. Individuals in civilian clothes armed with sticks, clubs, and firearms were also observed at several sites, beating demonstrators while the security forces looked on, and even using firearms in some locations around the capital.

Internet access was also restricted and the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) cut off the signals of WALF TV and SEN TV for 72 hours, having previously issued a statement warning these two local channels and another, 2STV, that they had seen “repeated calls for the popular uprising” in their programming “via the broadcasting of images of the insurgency on a loop”, and calling on them to “stop this irresponsible coverage”.

In a speech on 5 March 2021, the Minister of the Interior described the demonstrations as “acts of terrorism and banditry” and denounced the presence of “hidden forces” behind them.

On 8 March 2021, Ousmane Sonko was provisionally released by the Senegalese justice system and placed under judicial supervision.

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A Moroccan court is today expected to hold the final appeal hearing of journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi, who was sentenced by a lower court to six years in jail on charges of rape and espionage following a grossly unfair trial, with similar flaws replicated on appeal, as documented by the organization in this detailed summary. Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Amna Guellali said:

“The Moroccan government has subjected Omar Radi to years of harassment, 19 months of detention in solitary confinement and an espionage prosecution over his journalistic work. Omar’s trial last year was marred with grave violations of due process from start to finish.  The same arbitrary denial of defense rights remained on appeal.

“All espionage convictions against Omar Radi should be quashed as these are politically motivated convictions that violate his right to freedom of expression. Only a fair trial can ensure justice for both Omar and the complainant making allegations of rape against him.  

“The Moroccan courts must ensure that fair trial violations, such as those documented by Amnesty International in Omar Radi’s case, are immediately rectified and cease to take place within the Moroccan justice system.”

Background

On 19 July 2021, the Casablanca Court of First Instance convicted Omar Radi of espionage and rape and sentenced him to six years in prison. His appeal trial started on November 2021 at the Appeals Court in Casablanca, and he has been in pretrial detention and in solitary confinement since July 2020.

Throughout Omar Radi’s first instance and appeal trial, Amnesty International has documented several breaches of fair trial guarantees, including limited access to his lawyers, denying the defence team the right to cross examine prosecution witnesses, excluding defence witnesses and refusal to admit pieces of evidence showing inconsistencies in the complainant’s statement.

Before his arrest Omar Radi had been repeatedly harassed by the Moroccan authorities because of his journalistic work criticizing human rights violations and exposing corruption. In June 2020, an Amnesty International report revealed that Omar Radi was targeted by the Moroccan authorities using spyware produced by NSO Group, an Israeli company.

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A diverse array of human rights organisations have come together to establish an alliance to collectively monitor the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan and advocate for the protection of human rights and accountability for all violations and abuses.

The Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan members include Amnesty International, Front Line Defenders, Freedom House, Freedom Now, Human Rights Watch (HRW), MADRE, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

The situation of human rights in Afghanistan has dramatically worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power on 15 August 2021. The fighting in the country has ended but serious human rights violations continue unabated. The Taliban have committed and continue to commit widespread human rights violations including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, a massive rollback of the rights of women and girls, censorship of and attacks against the media, and reprisals against human rights defenders including women’s rights activists, women in high- profile roles, journalists, religious minorities, LGBTI people and members and allies of the former government. People in Afghanistan are also facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis which is being driven by decisions and positions taken by the international community, especially the US, that have blocked Afghanistan from aid funding and access to the global financial system. 

“There has never been a greater need for human rights organisations across the world to unite and demand accountability and justice for the people of Afghanistan. People in Afghanistan are caught between the Taliban abuses and a humanitarian disaster, and the international community can and should do more to protect them”, said Samira Hamidi, Regional Campaigner, Amnesty International.

The members of the alliance aim to work jointly to seek accountability for all human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. The purpose of the alliance is to collectively advocate and put pressure on the Taliban to respect human rights, and on the international community to make good on their commitments to hold the Taliban accountable and to not abandon the Afghan people.

“As the world’s focus is rapidly shifting from one crisis to another, the human catastrophe continues in Afghanistan. People in Afghanistan, especially women and girls, are once again deprived of their fundamental human rights. It is urgently important to keep the world informed about the violations committed daily in Afghanistan and to hold the international community to account for the commitments they have made to Afghanistan over the last 20 years,” said Juliette Rousselot, Program Officer for West and South Asia, FIDH.

Through this alliance, the member organisations will collaborate on joint advocacy, research, awareness raising, and mobilisation, as well as on documentation and reporting of human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. The alliance will also engage with the international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council, UN experts such as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and other actors to push for systematic and intensive monitoring of the human rights situation, accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses, and to seek an end to impunity.

“With the establishment of the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan, we send a strong message of solidarity to people in Afghanistan. We also wish to convey to the Taliban and the international community that as international civil society organisations we will be closely monitoring the situation and will continue our efforts to advocate for a violence-free Afghanistan for all Afghans” said Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.

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