Schlagwort: Amnesty International

Reacting to news that Russian prosecutors have requested the judicial liquidation of the prominent human rights group International Memorial, and its sister organization Human Rights Centre Memorial, Marie Struthers, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International, said:

“The Russian authorities’ move to extinguish one of the oldest and most influential human rights groups in the country demonstrates their relentless determination to end all ongoing human rights work in Russia. By targeting Memorial and its mission to preserve the memory of victims of human rights violations during the Soviet era, the authorities believe they can simply erase the state’s past crimes against its own people from the history books forever.”

The Russian authorities’ move to extinguish one of the oldest and most influential human rights groups in the country demonstrates their relentless determination to end all ongoing human rights work in Russia

Marie Struthers, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International

“The Prosecutor General’s Office is claiming that, by not marking its publications with the toxic and stigmatizing ‘foreign agent’ label, International Memorial is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, among others. This claim is absurd and unfounded as NGOs cannot actually violate international treaties, rather, states do. If the prosecutor’s office—and Russian authorities in general—indeed stood guard over these pillars of international human rights law, Russia would be a vastly different place today.

“The ‘foreign agents’ law is being weaponized to muzzle not only critics of the Kremlin but all independent voices entirely. By accusing Memorial of ‘glorifying terrorism and extremism’, the Prosecutor General’s Office betrays a level of cynicism that is beyond belief.

“The Russian authorities must immediately end the reprisals against Memorial and bring Russia’s legislation regulating associations in line with the international human rights law and standards, including by repealing the ‘foreign agents’ law.”

The Russian authorities must immediately end the reprisals against Memorial and bring Russia’s legislation regulating associations in line with the international human rights law and standards

Marie Struthers, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International

Background

On 11 November, it became known that three days earlier the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office had requested the Supreme Court to liquidate Memorial International. The next day, its sister organization, Memorial Human Rights Centre, announced that a similar move had been made against it by the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office.

The Supreme Court will consider the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office on 25 November. The date of the hearing in the Moscow City Court is not yet known.

Among the oldest and most respected human rights groups in Russia, the twin Memorial organizations started operating in 1988 during the wave of perestroika reforms. The Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov was the first chair of Memorial until his death in 1989.

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Responding to the sentencing of American journalist Danny Fenster to a combined 11 years in prison, Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns, said:

“This is a reprehensible outcome in a case that has been deeply flawed from the start. Danny should have never been arrested in the first place and to sentence him to a combined 11 years shows how far Myanmar authorities are willing to go to signal that they do not respect independent media in the country or the impact on family members of those wrongly imprisoned.” 

“Danny has done nothing wrong, but has somehow been charged with multiple alleged offences that are completely out of touch with reality and his work as an independent journalist. The court also ignored reams of evidence showing where he worked and records of his time in the country. He should be immediately and unconditionally freed and all charges dropped.”

“Danny is a prisoner of conscience. His liberty was taken away from him cruelly and unjustly, solely for doing his work as a journalist and exercising his right to freedom of speech.”

“His case has illustrated the enormous increase in risks and challenges faced by journalists in Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1. But despite internet blackouts, legal threats and detentions, they continue to courageously report on the dire situation in Myanmar.”

Background

A court in Yangon sentenced 37-year-old Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison on Friday, according to his employer Frontier Myanmar, where he is the managing editor.

He was arrested on 24 May as he tried to board a flight out of the country, which has been in turmoil since the military coup earlier this year.

The three charges for which he was sentenced on 12 November relate to an alleged immigration offence, incitement, and unlawful association with an illegal group. He was given the maximum sentence under each charge, according to his employer, which said there was no basis for the allegations.

Since the coup the military authorities have arrested, detained, prosecuted and imprisoned dozens of journalists, stripped media outlets of their licenses, and erased years of press freedom gains. 

Amnesty International calls on the authorities in Myanmar to release journalists imprisoned simply for their work and the peaceful exercise of their human rights.

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A ban on songs deemed to be critical of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has highlighted the need to urgently repeal censorship regulations that have been used to curb freedom of expression in the country, Amnesty International said today.

That the DRC authorities have resorted to censorship to clamp down on artistic freedom is a chilling reminder that artists continue to risk being silenced for their dissent

Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for East Africa, Horn and the Great Lakes

DRC’s National Censorship Commission banned the broadcasting of seven songs on 9 November only to lift the ban on the most popular among them, “Nini To Sali Te” (What Have We Not Done, in Lingala), a day later following public outcry. However, the ban on the six other songs remains in place.

“That the DRC authorities have resorted to censorship to clamp down on artistic freedom is a chilling reminder that artists continue to risk being silenced for their dissent,” said Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, Horn and the Great Lakes.

“The authorities must immediately repeal the 1996 decree which allows banning of any artistic expression that is not to its liking. Authorities must immediately repeal this problematic piece of legislation and ensure that artists can exercise their right to freedom of expression without interference.”

Two of these songs – “Nini Tosali Te” by Kinshasa-based group Musique Populaire de la Révolution (MPR) and “Lettre à Ya Tshitshi” by musician Bob Masudi, aka Bob Elvis, criticized increasing social injustices in the DRC, including unemployment, hunger, killings of civilians, lack of clean water and access to healthcare. Tshitshi is the nickname of President Felix Tshisekedi’s late father Etienne Tshisekedi, a key opposition figure, and the song laments the current political system under his son.

The songs also denounced the government’s failure to ensure people can enjoy their human rights and blamed the political elite for incompetence and corruption. The decision to ban them is a violation of DRC’s international obligations under international and regional standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 

The authorities must immediately repeal the 1996 decree which allows banning of any artistic expression that is not to its liking

Flavia Mwangovya

Although the National Censorship Commission’s was ordered by the Minister of Justice to repeal the decision to ban one of the songs following a public backlash, Amnesty International believes that the 1996 decree will be used again unless it is done away with.

“Artistic freedom is not a crime. Authorities must stop silencing artists and allow free speech to thrive,” said Flavia Mwangovya.

Background

The National Censorship Commission banned the songs on 9 November. The decision was later reversed at the request of the Minister of Justice, Rose Mutombo, on 10 November.

The 1996 decree, which provides for content regulation by the commission before any song is released to the public, or any show is performed in public and imposes a financial burden on artists (of up to $500 per song), does not have a clear framework or clear standards, does not provide remedies and falls short of international standards.

While it is supposed to ensure that songs and shows do not violate the law, security, public order, and morals (with no clear definition), it has often been used to suppress dissenting voices.

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Reacting to the arbitrary detention of Lilia Chanysheva, the former coordinator of Aleksei Navalny’s political headquarters in the Russian city of Ufa, on charges of “establishing or leading an extremist association,” Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Moscow Office Director, said:

“Lilia Chanysheva is the first member of Navalny’s network to be arrested on charges of creating an “extremist” organization since the network was banned in June. Her arrest and detention set a dangerous precedent, which only highlights the disturbing lengths the authorities will go to bend laws and judicial processes to their will in order to further suppress the rights to freedom of expression and association.

The targeting of Lilia Chanysheva is a high-pitch alarm signaling the beginning of a new, large-scale crackdown on Aleksei Navalny’s associates and supporters

Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Moscow Office Director

“The targeting of Lilia Chanysheva is a high-pitch alarm signaling the beginning of a new, large-scale crackdown on Aleksei Navalny’s associates and supporters. Amnesty International estimates that hundreds of Navalny’s supporters across the country are at imminent risk of facing unfounded, politically motivated charges that can lead to years in prison.

“Now, more than ever, the international community must rally behind Lilia Chanysheva and secure her immediate release before the repression escalates. All charges against Lilia Chanysheva must be dropped, the fabricated ‘extremist association’ case must be closed, and Russia’s repressive ‘anti-extremism’ legislation must be fully revised and brought in compliance with Russia’s international human rights obligations.”

Amnesty International estimates that hundreds of Navalny’s supporters across the country are at imminent risk of facing unfounded, politically motivated charges that can lead to years in prison

Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Moscow Office Director

Background

On 10 November, the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa, Bashkortostan, put Lilia Chanysheva, former regional coordinator of “Navalny’s headquarters”, in pretrial detention for two months. The court took this decision despite Chanysheva’s plea that she could be at the early stages of pregnancy. She was accused of “establishing or leading an extremist association” (Art. 282.1(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) in connection with her past work with Aleksei Navalny. If convicted, Chanysheva could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Lilia Chanysheva was arrested on 9 November, following a search at her home. On the same day, the police searched the homes of other activists in Ufa and other Russian cities as part of a criminal case against Aleksei Navalny and his associates. 

On 9 June, the Moscow City Court arbitrarily banned as “extremist” three civil society organizations, namely the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the Citizens’ Rights Protection Foundation and “Navalny’s headquarters”, all of them linked to Aleksei Navalny. The court hearing was closed to the media and the general public, and the grounds for the designation have not been made public.

On 28 September, the Russian authorities announced a new criminal investigation against Navalny and his associates on unfounded charges of “establishment of an extremist association”. In October, it transpired that this investigation was joined with four other criminal cases against Aleksei Navalny, his colleagues and supporters. Lilia Chanysheva is the first of Navalny’s associates to be arrested under this criminal case.

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An international “people’s tribunal” which began hearings in London yesterday on the Iranian authorities’ killing and wounding of thousands of protesters and bystanders during nationwide protests in November 2019 is a powerful initiative against impunity and must serve as a wake-up call for all UN member states, Amnesty International said today.

During the four-day hearing, the International People’s Tribunal on Iran’s Atrocities of November 2019 will hear evidence from dozens of witnesses, including protesters, victims’ relatives, torture survivors, healthcare workers and former security officials. Several expert witnesses will also testify before the tribunal, which will be presided over by prominent lawyers and judges. Among the expert witnesses is Amnesty International’s Researcher on Iran, Raha Bahreini, scheduled to appear before the tribunal today at 10am (GMT).

“Despite repeated calls by Amnesty International and others, UN member states have yet to mandate an independent international inquiry into crimes under international law and serious human rights violations committed by the Iranian authorities during and in the aftermath of the November 2019 protests, including unlawful killings of protesters and bystanders, mass arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances and torture,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“There must be an end to this systematic impunity afforded to perpetrators of this state-sanctioned crackdown. The hearings at the International People’s Tribunal on Iran’s Atrocities of November 2019 are crucial for ensuring that these atrocities do not fade into memory. Crucially, the tribunal must spur UN member states into action, both at the current session of the UN General Assembly and the next session of the UN Human Rights Council, to pave the way for the accountability that is so desperately needed.”

Amnesty International is urging all UN member states to pay close attention to the testimonies and other evidence presented at the tribunal, and to fulfilltheir responsibility to tackle impunity by establishing through the UN Human Rights Council an independent mechanism to collect, preserve and analyze evidence of serious crimes under international law committed in Iran to facilitate fair criminal proceedings.

Remembering the victims of Iran’s killing spree  

Since May 2020, when Amnesty International released the details of 304 men, women and children killed by Iran’s security forces during the protests, which erupted following sudden overnight hikes in fuel prices, the organization has recorded the names and details of 24 more victims, bringing the total number of recorded deaths to 323*.

However, the organization believes the real number of deaths is higher, with many Iranians fearing reprisals from the authorities if they were to speak out or go public with information about those killed in the crackdown.

Today, Amnesty International is releasing an updated list of the names and details of protesters and bystanders identified as being killed during the protests of November 2019.

The organization is aware of scores of additional names reported online yet currently lacks sufficient verified details to include them in its list. The organization has published a list of these reported names in Persian on its Telegram, Instagram and Twitter accounts, and invites anyone with further information about them or other victims hitherto unknown to contact the organization.

“By uncovering and recording the names and details of those killed, we seek not only to reveal the horrifying scale of the Iranian authorities’ killing spree in November 2019, but also to honour the memory of every single human life lost in the protests,” said Heba Morayef.

“We hope the weight of evidence presented at the tribunal will compel states to recognize that when national avenues for justice are completely absent, it is their duty to step in and act through institutions like the UN Human Rights Council to mandate an impartial and independent investigation to ensure truth, justice and reparation for these heinous crimes.”  

Background

The hearings of the International People’s Tribunal on Iran’s Atrocities of November 2019 will run from 10-14 November 2021 at Church House, Westminster, London and are open to the public. They can also be watched live. The panel is due to deliver its judgement in early 2022.

Protests erupted in Iran on 15 November 2019 following a sudden government announcement about a fuel price hike. The focus of the protests quickly expanded from concerns about the price of fuel to broader grievances against the political establishment, including demands for constitutional reforms and an end to the Islamic Republic system.

During and following the protests between 15 and 19 November 2019, in addition to killing hundreds of protesters and bystanders including children, Iranian authorities arbitrarily detained thousands of protesters and bystanders and subjected hundreds to enforced disappearance, torture or other ill-treatment, and flagrantly unfair trials. The authorities carried out their lethal crackdown amid a near-total countrywide internet shutdown, which they deliberately imposed between 16 and 27 November 2019 to hide the true scale of the crimes and human rights violations they committed.

The Iranian authorities continue to cover up the death toll of people killed during the November 2019 protests. They announced the deaths of 230 people in June 2020, but blamed unknown attackers for most killings and praised security and intelligence forces for their role in suppressing the protests.

Amnesty International has found the security forces’ use of lethal force against the vast majority of those killed was unlawful.

*The total figure of recorded deaths currently stands at 323 as five entries previously recorded in the list issued in May 2020 have been removed. These entries concerned deaths in the cities of Shahriar, Malard and Kermanshah which were confirmed, but the identities of the victims remained unknown. To prevent double-counting, these entries have been replaced with five of the 24 newly identified victims.

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