Culture In Syria, detention of Hassan Akkad raises alarm about free expression under Sharaa Akkad, a British-Syrian filmmaker, was detained Wednesday night after his campaign questioning the whereabouts of funds allegedly pledged for relief, reconstruction and community initiatives across Syria. Syria
Amnesty International accuses Israel of state-led ethnic cleansing in West Bank In a new report, Amnesty International said that the escalating forced displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is part of a state-led campaign to control the Palestinian territory. Palestine
Interview As Sudan war drags on, US-Iran conflict compounds humanitarian crisis in Darfur Save the Children US President and CEO Janti Soeripto said delivering aid in Sudan remains extremely difficult, with supply trucks often delayed for weeks or months even after entering the country. Janti Soeripto President and CEO of Save the Children US
Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel." United States
Interview Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable' Ehud Olmert Former Israeli prime minister
Iranian-Swedish scientist's execution on hold for 'next few days' Amnesty International said Ahmadreza Djalali's execution has been halted for now, but his fate is unclear. The rights group, Sweden and the UN are protesting Iran's treatment of him. Iran
Egypt releases human rights workers after international outcry Gasser Abdel-Razek, Mohamed Basheer and Karim Ennarah left Tora Prison on Thursday, their organization confirmed. Egypt
Egypt carried out ‘execution spree’ in past two months, Amnesty International says The rights group confirmed 57 executions in October and November alone, nearly double the number of prisoners killed in all of 2019. Egypt
Swedish-Iranian academic faces 'imminent' execution in Iran Rights groups are urging Iranian authorities to halt their planned execution of Ahmadreza Djalali. Iran
Iran to execute Iran-Swedish scientist Amnesty International said the charges against Ahmadreza Djalali are unfounded and Sweden spoke to Iran about his case. Originals
Women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to stand trial in Saudi Arabia Loujain al-Hathloul will appear in a Saudi court Wednesday more than two years after she was first detained in a crackdown on human rights defenders. Saudi Arabia
Egyptian rights group's director held in solitary confinement, lawyers say Gasser Abdel-Razek and two of his colleagues were arrested in what experts say is a renewed crackdown on human rights defenders. Egypt
Egypt criticized for arrests of human rights advocates The Trump administration, the Biden Campaign and the United Nations also expressed concern about the arrests. Egypt
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Erdogan seeks a way out Ankara has to improve Turkey’s international image with major reforms in order to attract much-needed foreign capital but the jury is out on whether President Erdogan can do it. Turkey
Saudi Arabia’s dire rights record looms over G-20 summit Riyadh’s hosting of the annual summit has drawn criticism from a broad coalition of human rights groups. Saudi Arabia
Egypt's secret police arrest second prominent human rights activist this week Karim Ennarah is the third member of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights to be detained this year. Egypt
Should Turkish justice minister's comments fuel hope for release of philanthropist Osman Kavala? Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul spoke out against the widespread practice of arbitrary detentions Friday, fueling speculation that Turkish philanthropist and civic activist Osman Kavala, who has been in jail for more than three years on a slew of outlandish charges, may be finally freed. Turkey
