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
Iran lashes out at France as efforts to release French prisoners stall Tehran is blaming Paris' unhelpful attitude and 'interventionism' as efforts to release six French people detained in the country drag on. Iran
MidEast freedom rankings: Syria worst, Tunisia in decline, says Freedom House Syria remains to be the least and Israel the best performing country when it comes civil and political freedoms while the biggest one-year decline has been observed in Tunisia. Turkey
Protesters in Israel block roads, Haifa marine port on 'Day of Disruption' Thousands of people are protesting against the government’s judicial overhaul plan, blocking highways, Haifa port and entrances to airport terminals. Israel
EU, UK sanction Iran, Taliban entities on International Women's Day Marking International Women’s Day, the European Union and the British government each decided to sanction individuals and entities for violating human rights, particularly sexual and gender-based violence. Iran
Protests across Iran as schoolgirl poisonings spread nationwide The chain of suspected poisoning attacks on girls' schools continued unabated, prompting furious Iranians to chant against authorities who are scrambling for answers. Iran
US slaps visa sanction on Syrian military officer over Tadamon massacre The State Department hit Amjad Yousef and his family with visa bans for his alleged involvement in the 2013 killing of 41 unarmed Syrian civilians. Syria
Culture Lebanon's LGBTQ community faces digital exploitation, blackmail Lebanon's LGBTQ community is being targeted through social media platforms and dating apps, and the perpetrators are acting with impunity. Lebanon
Analysis As Germany's relations sour with Iran, pressure grows on Berlin to do more Activists in Germany are doubtful whether the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats will thwart the death sentence of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
US bolsters human rights criteria for arms sales The arms transfer policy takes into account how US weapons sales could be used to commit rights abuses. Washington Pulse
Turkish youth dies in police custody as impunity soars in wake of Turkey's killer quakes Vigilantes and members of the Turkish gendarmerie are brutalizing some survivors in the provinces struck by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Turkey
EU slaps fifth wave of sanctions on Iran, targeting 32 individuals The new list brings the total number of Iranian individuals under EU sanctions to 196 and the tally of sanctioned Iranian entities to 33. Iran
Honor killings in Iraq rekindle efforts to criminalize domestic violence There is once again outrage and calls for legal reforms in Iraq to protect women from being murdered at the hands of family members. Iraq
