UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights Ben Emmerson expressed concern Monday over the rising use of counter-terrorism measures around the world. Many nations have used counter-terrorism as an excuse to restrict public assembly and stop the activities of public interest groups, Emmerson said. He urged UN states to recognize the positive activities performed [...]

The government of Malaysia is abusing broad, vaguely worded laws to jail its critics, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday. Before reelection, Prime Minister Najib Razak promised to support political rights by repealing the Sedition Act, which, according to HRW, began to be used frequently after Razak’s reelection in 2013 to harass and arrest opposing [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Monday that he has deployed a mission to South Sudan after reports surfaced of human rights abuses by both sides. The 10-member team began its work last week and “will examine violations of international human rights law and of international humanitarian law committed by [...]

The International Criminal Court is urging India to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he visits the country this week. The office of Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that even though India is not an ICC signatory, the UN Security Council has lifted Bashir’s immunity and urged all states comply . Bashir is accused of a [...]

The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to adopt an agreement reached in June to end roaming charges by 2017 and to set net neutrality rules in the EU for the first time. Four proposed amendments, which supporters argued would have closed loopholes in existing net neutrality regulations, were voted down. The amendments had been openly [...]

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Monday blocked an abortion law that was set to go into effect on November 1. The law, Senate Bill 642, covered four subjects related to abortions: parental consent for minors, tissue preservation, the inspection of clinics and legal liability for abortion providers. The stay is for 30 days but may [...]

The Republic of the Congo’s electoral commission announced Tuesday that voters have approved an amendment to the constitution that would allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to extend his term in office. The amendment, approved by the citizens of the Congo in a referendum Sunday, allows presidents to renew their term twice and removes the age [...]

Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported Monday that government security forces have arrested the secretary general of the Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice Party and another top ranked member of the party. A source from the Egyptian security forces revealed that secretary general Hussein Ibrahim and El-Refei Hassan were arrested in the Mediterranean city of [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent Moroccan officials a letter Monday claiming that a draft framework law before the country’s parliament is in conflict with obligations to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities . Although the draft framework law seeks to protect the rights of disabled persons, HRW identified four areas for improvement [...]

A judge for the US District Court for the District of Maryland on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other human rights organizations challenging surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) . Judge TS Ellis III granted the government’s motion to dismiss, finding, “any alleged burdensome measures taken [...]