Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad, brother to death for war crimes Ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother Maher al-Assad were both sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes along with several other defendants. Syria
Iran hangs 2 over alleged Mossad ties as executions mount: What to know Rights groups have warned that Iran may step up executions with the resumption of the war in the region. Iran
'Obliterated entire families': Amnesty calls for investigating Israeli strikes in Lebanon as war crimes Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes in Lebanon by wiping out entire families and killing children. Lebanon
Iran’s hard-line judicial chief Mohseni Ejei gets second term: What to know The veteran judicial official, who has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union, has been accused of overseeing widespread human rights violations for decades. His reappointment by Mojtaba Khamenei signals continuity in Iran's hardline judicial policies and crackdown on dissent. Iran
Culture Lebanon: Backlash as MPs introduce bill to decriminalize LGBTQ+ relationships Some Lebanese leaders have intensified their campaign against the LGBTQ+ community after news emerged of a bill to repeal an anti-LGBTQ+ provision of the Penal Code. Lebanon
EU Commissioner: Turkey must take on democratic reforms to revive EU bid A senior EU official has said that revival of Turkey’s stalled membership negotiations with the EU can only be discussed once Ankara takes on democratic reforms. Turkey
Syria’s Assad abolishes notorious military field courts Thousands of civilians are believed to have been executed after being tried at these courts. Syria
Israel’s Netanyahu calls Eritrea immigrants 'tangible threat' to state’s future After the violent demonstration by Eritrean immigrants over the weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called to banish them from Israel "voluntarily or by other means." Israel
Culture Nobel Foundation rescinds Iran's invitation to 2023 Prize ceremony Iran was excluded from last year’s ceremonies following the government’s violent crackdown against protesters. Iran
Saudi forces have killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants at Yemen border: report Saudi Arabia's border security forces are accused of "widespread and systematic" killing of Ethiopian migrants crossing from Yemen in what Human Rights Watch says could constitute crimes against humanity. Legacy: Gulf
Protests in southern Syria as economy worsens Syria’s economy is in tatters, and the removal of subsidies has led to relatively rare protests in government territory. Syria
US sanctions Turkey-backed Syrian militias over rights abuses in Afrin Washington has accused the Suleiman Shah Brigade, the Hamza Division and their leadership of committing serious rights abuses in the Kurdish-majority enclave of Afrin. Turkey
House Democrats urge cuts to Egypt's military aid over rights abuses The Biden administration will soon decide whether to restrict part of the United States’ annual military assistance to Egypt for the third year in a row. Egypt
Iran executes five men for gang rape Drug-related executions are particularly on the rise in Iran, despite international criticism of Iran’s legal system. Iran
UK, Turkey to set up joint center to control illegal migration The British government's migration policy is under increasing scrutiny from the opposition Labour Party as well as international civic groups that accuse the state of mistreating irregular migrants. Turkey
Egypt’s power cuts persist amid heat, declining natural gas production Egypt wants to export more natural gas, including in cooperation with neighboring Israel, but domestic production is declining amid the government’s efforts to reduce consumption. Egypt
