Brutality and censorship in Saudi Arabia is legendary. This news is therefore unsurprising: A Saudi Arabian princess who had an illegitimate child with a British man has secretly been granted asylum in this country after she claimed she would face the death penalty if she were forced to return home. The young woman, who has…
Showing all posts tagged human rights
When fascists came to play
How to manage politically with the rise of the far right, an increasingly mainstream force in Britain and Europe?
Putin’s brutal, little war
An extract from a 2,600-word article by recently murdered Russian human rights activist Natalya Estemirova on the situation in Chechnya written in August 2008 but never published: The abductions in Chechnya started nearly a decade ago. In 2000, Russian forces took control of practically the entire territory of the republic, and started extensive mop-up operations…
Not everything democratic revolves around Washington
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) reminds us that writers of the US corporate media like people to know the uniqueness of the US: In a News Analysis piece (7/11/09), New York Times reporter Adam Nossiter attempts to illustrate the difference between some African countries and more enlightened nations, writing: The gulf separating the West…
The targeting of Israeli support
Controversy strikes the heart at one of Australia’s leading film festivals: Director Ken Loach has pulled out of the Melbourne International Film festival in protest against Israeli funding. British-based Loach pulled his film Looking For Eric after organisers refused to bow to his demands they reject Israeli government sponsorship. The festival’s executive director Richard Moore…
How to survive prison in Iran
Greek journalist Iason Athanasiadis was recently imprisoned and released from Iranian prison. He provides some advice: Jail cells — alongside yoga studios — are the last bastions of true inner peace. When I became the first foreign journalist in decades to be thrown into Iran’s notorious Evin Prison I was exposed to a mixture of…
Russia is a seemingly lawless nation
With the murder of yet another Russian human rights worker, Natalya Estemirova, Human Rights Watch has re-released its 2007 video of this remarkable woman after she won a major award.
Being out and proud in the Arab world
The issue of homosexuality in the Arab world is a touchy one, often ignored, shunned or ridiculed. There is progress, but it’s slow and painful: The first gay book to have been ever translated into Arabic after being originally printed in English has run into problems straight off the press.… The book,… Gay Travels in the Muslim…
How to kill citizens silently
Iran, nation of secrets: Hundreds more people may have died in Iran‘s post-election unrest than the authorities have admitted, amid allegations that the death toll has been obscured by hiding victims’ bodies in secret morgues.
The Nazis and resistance confused
Slovenian philosopher and intellectual Slavoj Zizek on the real agenda behind the Sound of Music: