Rights groups warned this week that prisoners in Iran – thousands of whom were detained during recent anti-government protests – are being refused shelter during US and Israeli strikes and face…

Rights groups and experts say situation is unclear as ruling that quashed ban faces challenge from home secretary Human rights organisations, academics and writers have called on Ofcom to clarify what the high court ruling that the ban on Palestine Action was unlawful will mean for online platforms pending the home secretary’s appeal against the judgment. The Metropolitan police have said that officers will no longer arrest people at protests who express support for the direct action group. B...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) defended the arrest of two protesters following a clash with authorities during the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 17 other press freedom and human rights organizations have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to uphold constitutional and international obligations regarding media freedom in Pakistan.

Artist rights organizations, including the Music Artists Coalition and ECSA, are pushing back against the AI music company Suno, criticizing its training practices and raising concerns about 'walled gardens.'

Human rights organizations have issued a warning that Ethiopia is on the brink of a new conflict, raising alarms about the deteriorating security situation.

Iranian Starlink Black Market Prices Soar As War Risks Rise Iran's black market for Starlink terminals has rapidly repriced, with reported street quotes of $4,000 per terminal, up from $700 to $1,000 last summer, as war risks surge and renewed fears grow over stricter internet censorship and another blackout. Bloomberg spoke with Starlink terminal sellers and human rights groups that said satellite internet via Starlink terminals is one of the only ways to stay connected to the...

Eight Turkish human rights groups have urged the immediate release of a 70-year-old critically ill Kurdish prisoner, warning that Turkey's refusal to suspend his sentence despite severe health problems puts his life at risk.

A Rajasthan BJP MLA, Bahadur Singh Koli, has ignited controversy by comparing the BJP budget to a 'son' and the Congress budget to a 'daughter' in the Rajasthan Assembly, leading to demands for action from women's rights groups.

Russia's Justice Ministry has designated the Swiss and German successors of the Memorial Rights Group, along with an Arctic research organization, as 'undesirable.'

The NAACP and other civil rights groups have asked a federal judge to limit the FBI's use of sensitive voter information seized from an Atlanta election warehouse.

Seventy-five organizations warn that the EU's crackdown on undocumented people could lead to ICE-style enforcement, including home raids, surveillance, and racial profiling.

Singapore will ban the use of caged lorries to transport workers from next year.

Child rights organizations are calling for swift justice following the rape and murder of a 7-year-old in Sitakunda.

An Enugu scholar was arrested with the Sarikin Hausawa over an alleged N100m fraud. The 74-year-old’s detention has been called unlawful by rights groups. Read More: https://punchng.com/74-year-old-islamic-scholar-enugu-sarikin-hausawa-arrested-over-n100m-fraud/

Malaysia is weighing new legal measures to curb LGBTQ dating platforms, widening concern among rights groups that the country is pushing deeper into morality-driven internet regulation, even as its control of global app stores remains limited. Authorities have already blocked access to the websites of Grindr and Blued – two internationally used dating apps popular among gay, bisexual and queer men – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a written parliamentary reply. But while their...

A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to declare the Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary a regular nonworking holiday nationwide.

Senegal's prime minister has unveiled legislation that would double the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, making them punishable by up to 10 years in prison, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.

Human rights organizations are issuing warnings that Ethiopia is on the verge of renewed large-scale conflict, urging urgent international intervention.

Venezuela's parliament has passed a bill to grant amnesty to individuals detained under previous regimes, though human rights groups are calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, citing the bill's limited scope.

Eight Turkish human rights groups have called for the immediate release of a critically ill 70-year-old prisoner, warning that Turkey's refusal to suspend his sentence despite severe health problems puts his life at risk.

British and French human rights activists are calling on several airlines to stop their involvement in 'one in, one out' deportation flights, labeling them as cruel.

• Pakistan asks international community to reject provocative decision allowing takeover of occupied land as state property • EU calls annexation illegal, Arab nations denounce ‘threat to peace efforts’ • Israel imposes restrictions, deploys police around Al-Aqsa JERUSALEM / ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan denounced the latest Israeli move to convert areas of the West Bank into “state property”, the UN chief called upon Tel Aviv to reverse its new, “unlawful” policy allowing registration of the occupied land in the occupied territory as state property. Israel’s foreign ministry claimed the measure, approved late on Sunday, would enable “transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes” but the move drew strong condemnations from across the globe for its violation of international law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this new measure was destabilising and unlawful, according to a statement by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Pakistan also denounced the step as a clear violation of international law as well as relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. Islamabad urged the international community to reject the decision, said a statement issued by the For­eign Office spokesperson. It added that the occupying power continued to disregard international law and its provocative actions undermined the prospects for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region. “Pakistan calls on the international community to take concrete measures to end Israeli impunity, and ensure respect for international law,” the spokesperson added. ‘Undermine peace efforts’ Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan also criticised the move as illegal. The measure is “aimed at impo­sing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank” that would undermine peace efforts in the region, Saudi Arabia’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the actions “undermine efforts to restore calm and thr­e­aten to exacerbate the conflict,” according to a statement released by the royal court. The European Union called on Israel to reverse the move. “This constitutes a new escalation after recent measures already aimed at extending Israeli control,” EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said. “We reiterate that annexation is illegal under international law.” The Ramallah-based Palest­inian Authority called for inte­r­national intervention to prevent the “de facto beginning of the annexation process and the undermining of the foundations of the Palestinian state”. Israeli anti-settlement watc­­h­dog Peace Now called the measure a “mega land grab”. Jonathan Mizrachi, the NGO’s co-director, told AFP that the move would attribute new resources for land registration. “There was a lot of ambiguity regarding the land, and Israel decided now to deal with it,” Mizrachi said, adding that the grey area over Area C land ownership was likely to be used against Palestinians. “A lot of land that Palestinians consider theirs, they will find out it’s not theirs under this new registration process,” he said, believing the move would further the Israeli right’s annexation agenda. Changing demography Palestinians see the West Bank as foundational to any future Palesti­nian state, but many on Israel’s religious right want to take over the land. The latest Israeli initiatives come in the wider context of increasing attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to rights groups. “We are witnessing rapid steps to change permanently the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory, stripping its people of their lands and forcing them to leave,” UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a recent statement. US President Donald Trump has opposed Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, saying stability in the territory helps keep Israel secure. However, he has held off from dire­ctly criticising the new Israeli measures, despite the international outrage. Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law. Around three million Palestinians live in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Al-Aqsa restrictions Israeli police said Monday that they would deploy in force around the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramazan, as Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing restrictions at the compound. Over the course of the month of fasting and prayer, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians traditionally attend prayers at Islam’s third-holiest site. Arad Braverman, a senior Jerusalem police officer, said forces would be deployed “day and night” across the compound, adding that thousands of police would also be on duty for Friday prayers. Braverman said police had recommended issuing 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who require special permission to enter Jerusalem. The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said it had been informed that permits would again be restricted to men over 55. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

January saw the deadliest month on record for migrants, with 699 deaths, largely driven by fatalities on the Central Mediterranean route. Rights groups highlight that many of these deaths were preventable.

Over 70 rights organizations are cautioning that the European Union's proposed deportation plan for undocumented individuals risks leading to ICE-style enforcement tactics. Concerns include potential home raids, surveillance, and racial profiling.

Iran cut off internet access on Saturday after Israel and the United States launched air strikes on the country which continued Thursday for a sixth day. The post Iran warns people who dare defy internet blackout appeared first on Vanguard News.

Government, opposition and rights groups called on Israel to free two CNN Turkish journalists detained while doing a live broadcast from Tel Aviv.

A directive from Rajshahi police regarding re-arrests has drawn concerns from human rights groups.

Global rights organizations have sent a joint letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling on him to take action to protect press freedom and journalists, citing issues like the 27th Amendment and misuse of PECA.

A mysterious illness has killed 72 tigers at popular tourist parks in Thailand, prompting an investigation into the cause and criticism from animal rights groups regarding the living conditions of captive tigers.

Reform UK's 'shadow home secretary' Zia Yusuf outlines proposals for an ICE-style deportation plan, condemning migration as an 'invasion' and drawing criticism from rights groups.

Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over an increase in political violence, urging a stop to the unrest ahead of next year's upcoming elections.

Deutsche Welle and media rights groups are calling for the release of journalist Alican Uludag, who was arrested in Turkey for 'insulting the President' and 'disseminating disinformation' in an X post.

Venezuela legislature passes limited amnesty bill critiqued by rights groups  Reuters

Dozens of rights groups are raising alarms over proposed EU immigration legislation, warning it could lead to US-style ICE immigration enforcement in Europe.

UN staff and human rights groups defend Francesca Albanese against disinformation  Tehran Times

Several nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, have condemned Israel's decision to register occupied West Bank lands as 'state property,' calling it a dangerous escalation.