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 unlikely to release women activists during pandemic The coronavirus outbreak is adding to the plight of imprisoned women’s rights defenders in Iran. Iran
How a German court is trying to bring Syrian war criminals to justice Because Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, victims of torture and abuse by the Syrian government are seeking justice in Germany and other countries. Syria
Saving Palestinian prisoners’ lives requires releasing the elderly and sick As Palestinians commemorate Prisoners' Day on April 17, the biggest demand appears to be how to safeguard prisoners from the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. Palestine
Migrants in detention center go on hunger strike in fear of coronavirus Migrants in a Tunis detention center went on a hunger strike to protest bad conditions that aren't improving amid the coronavirus outbreak despite calls by rights organizations that prisoners be released. Tunisia
Calls for release of prisoners grow in Egypt despite arrest campaign Egyptian security forces launched a campaign of arrests against human rights activists, politicians and left-wing activists who had been calling for the release of prisoners in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Egypt
Jordan to launch doorstep food deliveries during round-the-clock lockdown Jordan extends its round-the-clock curfew indefinitely in an effort to combat the novel coronavirus. Jordan
Members of popular Turkish folk collective approach death on hunger strike Turkey's iconic Grup Yorum has not been able to perform since 2016 and a number of its members have been jailed on dubious terror charges. Turkey
Bahrain pardons hundreds of prisoners as coronavirus fears spread While authorities have attributed the release to humanitarian reasons, human rights groups link the decision to efforts to contain the outbreak. Bahrain
Trial of detained Saudi women's activist postponed in Riyadh A court hearing for Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul is delayed for a week. Saudi Arabia
Some Syrian regime fighters defecting when forced to front lines With renewed fighting in northern Syria, regime officers are transferring conscripted young men from Daraa in the south to the front lines of the battles, leading to defections. Syria
Egypt faces calls for stricter laws after young girl dies from genital mutilation Public anger over the death of a girl after she underwent female genital mutilation has forced both the Egyptian government and top clerics to take a stand. Egypt
Egypt removes media mention from terrorism law The Egyptian parliament has reversed its decision to specifically include media outlets in its anti-terrorism law, but rights advocates say the action is mainly window dressing and won't help protect journalists. Egypt
