Burkina Faso's military government has intensified its crackdown on civil society by ordering the dissolution of 118 non-governmental organizations and associations, many of which are dedicated to human rights.

Chinese sculptor Gao Zhen has been arrested and is being retroactively punished for works created 15 years ago, a case that has raised alarms among human rights groups regarding censorship in China.

Human rights organizations are raising concerns about Salvadoran migrants deported from the U.S. who routinely disappear into prisons upon their return to El Salvador, often remaining incommunicado for years.

Iran is reportedly preparing to execute a woman in connection with January protests, a move that rights groups condemn as the use of the death penalty for repression amidst ongoing tensions.

Several human rights organizations have called on the European Union to intervene regarding Lithuania's proposed family referendum, expressing concerns about its implications.

Human rights groups report that Iran is increasing the pace of executions against political dissidents and anti-regime protesters who demonstrated in January. Activists are calling for an end to the killings as a condition for any peace negotiations.

Animal rights groups in Hong Kong are urging a public boycott of online retailer HKTVmall after its parent company revealed a life science project involving experiments on detached animal heads.

Proposed amendments to India's IT rules are facing criticism from industry and digital rights groups over censorship risks, prompting the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to consider extending the feedback deadline.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is facing intense criticism from media and rights groups after reportedly threatening to 'shoot' a Channels TV anchor during a live broadcast.

Malaysia has dropped its legal challenge and granted the family of missing pastor Raymond Koh access to a classified government report, but rights groups and lawyers state that questions surrounding his abduction remain unanswered.

A coalition of civil rights groups and Democrats have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, seeking to block parts of an executive order that restricts mail-in voting and federal election procedures, arguing it is unconstitutional.

Iran has initiated a recruitment drive, reportedly enlisting 'defenders of the homeland' as young as 12, a move condemned by human rights groups, amidst growing threats of a US invasion.

Senegal's president has enacted new legislation that introduces harsher penalties for individuals involved in same-sex acts, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

Rights groups in Bahrain are reporting an uproar following the death of a 32-year-old man in police custody, who had been arrested for opposing the war on Iran.

Legislation initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which seeks to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of certain offenses, has advanced to a final vote in Israel's parliament, drawing mounting criticism from opponents and rights groups.

Two Turkish rights groups have alleged that a disabled prisoner was beaten and denied adequate medical care during and after a hospital visit, leading to calls for an independent investigation.

Human rights groups outside Iran are facing chronic communication problems and a lack of official updates, making it difficult to ascertain the number of people killed during the ongoing war.

Iran has executed a 19-year-old star wrestler and two other young men, prompting alarm from human rights groups who fear a potential wave of further executions.

Animal rights groups are calling on Hong Kong authorities to review their culling strategy for wild boars and to implement measures like animal bridges to reduce human-wildlife conflict in urban areas, following recent incidents involving wild boars and a buffalo.

Human rights groups have criticized the 2016 EU-Turkey migration deal on its 10th anniversary, stating it has caused suffering for asylum seekers and weakened legal protections.

A fact-check addresses a post claiming Ephraim Escudero was a victim of 'riding in tandem' hitmen, not extrajudicial killings, while human rights groups identify this as a common tactic during the Duterte drug war.

The new law means Mandarin will become the official languages for purposes such as education and public affairs. According to human rights groups, the move could contribute to the marginaliation of minorities.

Senegal's parliament has approved a more stringent anti-gay law, drawing criticism from human rights groups who warn of increased violence and discrimination.

Activists question why the Bill is being brought about at a time when similar legislations have been challenged in the apex court

Rights groups have petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), demanding justice for activist Hassan Soweto, who was allegedly abducted, assaulted, and tortured during protests against forced evictions in Lagos.

Voting rights organizations are expressing concern about a case before the Supreme Court that could strike down a crucial provision of the Voting Rights Act, and are educating Southern voters on potential impacts.

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.

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.

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.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty and HRW, have criticized the conviction of Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham, warning it could have a chilling effect on activism.

Civil rights organizations have issued strong condemnations following the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center. They are now preparing to engage in legal battles in response to the charges.

Chinese sculptor Gao Zhen has been retroactively punished for 15-year-old works, in a case that has alarmed rights groups and highlights new extremes for censorship in China.

Sweden's government is facing increasing criticism from rights groups and legal experts over its proposed "honest living" criteria for migrants, which they argue is discriminatory.

Iran is reportedly preparing to execute its first female protester linked to the 2026 Tehran uprising, drawing warnings from human rights groups about an intensifying crackdown.

Three Palestinian human rights groups have initiated legal proceedings to subpoena permit documents from Australia's defense minister regarding arms exports to Israel.

Human rights organizations are asking a court in The Hague to compel Dutch prosecutors to bring criminal charges against Booking.com for its alleged involvement in Israeli settlement rentals.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling in favor of sex doll imports, the decision has sparked a significant dispute among the South Korean public and women's rights groups, who question whether the products can be considered 'obscene objects'.

Japan's intensified deportation efforts are causing alarm among asylum seekers and long-term foreign residents, with rights groups warning that the government's push to remove undocumented migrants conflicts with its duty to protect refugees.

Rights groups have raised concerns about Trump's efforts to change election administration before midterms.

Rights groups allege that the Iranian regime is using the ongoing conflict to hide a significant increase in executions, withholding information on hundreds of prisoners killed, as oil prices remain a key concern.

The families of dozens of imprisoned opposition figures in Tunisia are emerging as prominent voices demanding democratic freedoms and the release of their loved ones, amidst what rights groups describe as a government crackdown on dissent.

Rights groups are pushing for amendments to disciplinary provisions in sexual offenses law to strengthen survivor protections, though critics warn about the justice system's capacity.

Interim Syrian President Ahmad Shara is set to visit Berlin for talks on refugee returns and Syria's post-war reconstruction, a visit that has drawn criticism from Kurdish and human rights groups.

Eighteen Turkish and international media and rights groups have jointly called on the EU to implement a swifter and easier visa regime for Turkish journalists, aiming to alleviate their 'professional isolation'.

Legislation initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which seeks to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of certain offenses, has advanced to a final vote in Israel's parliament, drawing mounting criticism from opponents and rights groups.

Three rights groups informed the European Court of Human Rights that the case of imprisoned Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala demonstrates the Turkish government's political influence over the judiciary.

Human rights groups in Pakistan express fear over the use of arrests to suppress free speech, citing the case of Mavra Bari, who was detained for 12 hours after planning to participate in an International Women's Day march.

Human rights groups express alarm over a potential wave of executions in Iran following the hanging of a 19-year-old star wrestler and two other young men this week.

Nine rights groups urge Bangladesh PM to urgently address concerns over press freedom  Dhaka Tribune

Tunisian rights groups are demanding the release of activists involved in a Gaza flotilla, highlighting concerns over freedom of movement and humanitarian aid.

Rights groups admit reports on Tanzania unrest lacked full perspectives  thecitizen.co.tz

Senegal's parliament has approved a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the "promotion" of homosexuality.

China is set to approve a new 'ethnic unity' law, which human rights advocates warn could further marginalize minority groups such as the Uyghurs by formalizing existing policies.

Teens and rights groups are challenging a blanket ban on sex.

Conservative and far-right MEPs voted in favor of stricter immigration policies, including measures for deportation centers in third countries, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups.

Rabat – Rights groups warned this week that prisoners in Iran are facing increasing risks during the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, as air strikes and a nationwide internet blackout…

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.

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.

Human rights organizations in the Philippines are demanding an investigation into the deaths of 19 individuals on Negros Island.

Voting rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, seeking to prevent the agency from collecting state voter lists.

The European Left Alliance and various rights groups are urging EU ministers to suspend agreements with Israel, citing concerns over its actions in Gaza and Lebanon ahead of a ministerial meeting.

Human rights groups and investigative journalists have documented horrific practices by Greek security authorities against migrants, raising concerns about their treatment.

Rights groups and Jamaat-e-Islami have united to protest the culling of stray dogs in Punjab, Pakistan, citing inhumane practices and a high number of bite cases.

Arab Barghouti, son of Marwan Barghouti, is calling on human rights organizations to intensify their efforts to address and stop the abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

Human rights organizations report a significant increase in executions in Iran, stating that the regime uses the death penalty to instill fear and suppress protests, and have presented new figures with an appeal.

Dozens of US and international human rights organizations are protesting the Trump administration’s plan to establish a camp at Guantánamo Bay for Cuban migrants fleeing any humanitarian crisis on the island.

A coalition of rights groups in Fiji has expressed concern and raised an alarm regarding new constitutional proposals put forth by the nation's chiefs.

Iran executed 23-year-old Ali Fahim, convicted in connection with January's nationwide protests, marking the latest in a series of politically charged hangings. Rights groups claim Fahim and others faced torture and unfair trials.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps has launched a campaign aimed at recruiting children as young as 12 for the “defence of the homeland,” raising concerns from rights groups about life-threatening risks.

Rights groups and Milwaukee leaders have criticized the arrest of Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while he was driving on March 30.

Rights groups are calling for the immediate release of political figures Besigye and Lissu, whose detention has drawn international attention.

A mother has made a rare plea for her son who is facing a death sentence, as legal experts note that parental intervention in mitigation introduces a grey area, coinciding with rights groups pushing for a review of disciplinary provisions in sexual offences law to strengthen survivor protections.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has definitively approved a controversial law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, a measure that has drawn sharp criticism and deep concern from European nations, human rights groups, and Germany, with the Israeli parliament ignoring this criticism.

A new report sheds light on the decades-long issue of child recruitment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where children are forced to serve as soldiers in the protracted and bloody conflicts in the country's east, prompting warnings from rights groups about a severe recruitment crisis.

Human rights groups and the Bar of Ireland have expressed serious concerns regarding the Irish government's proposed changes to the judicial review process.

Fifty years after the military dictatorship, Argentina’s government is defunding human rights groups and promoting a revisionist account of the junta’s crimes.

Human rights organizations are raising fears that arrests and national security laws are increasingly being used to stifle free speech and dissent in Pakistan, drawing international scrutiny to the country's civil liberties.

Hungarian rights groups have expressed concerns regarding the appointment of Daria Boyarskaya, Vladimir Putin’s former interpreter, to a key role in the OSCE mission monitoring Hungary's upcoming parliamentary vote.

Nine rights groups have urged the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to urgently address concerns regarding press freedom in the country.

Milorad Dodik, the veteran Bosnian Serb nationalist leader, has been convicted of discriminating against LGBTQ+ people in statements made in 2023, a ruling welcomed by rights groups as a reminder that no one is above the law.

The Israeli military has dropped charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee, a decision hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticized by human rights groups.

International human rights groups are urging Bangladesh to release Shahriar Kabir.

Senegal's government has approved a more stringent anti-gay law, a move that has prompted significant concerns from various human rights organizations.

China has approved a new 'ethnic unity' law, which human rights advocates warn could further marginalize minority groups, including the Uyghurs.

Besides statements by the Iran, reports by rights groups, investigations by media houses point towards US-made Tomahawk missile being involved in the school hit

Opposition parties and rights groups in Montenegro are criticizing recent amendments to security laws, arguing that they expand government control over the security sector under the guise of European integration.

Experts highlight the significant influence of social media in promoting traditional viewpoints, raising concerns among women's rights groups about the potential consequences of these shifting attitudes.

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.

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.

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.