Washington Center For Human Rights
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CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsSheikh Turki bin Al-Hamidi Al-Dawish, a prominent member of the Otaiba tribe in Saudi Arabia, has been under arbitrary arrest since 14 May 2019. The arrest came shortly after he posted a tweet on his official Twitter account in which he expressed his protest against the detention of Sheikh Issa bin Salman Al-Ajmi, another member […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country Profile StatementsThe Washington Center for Human Rights (WCHR) is gravely concerned about the state of freedom of expression in Nigeria. As an organization that is committed to promoting and protecting human rights globally, we believe that freedom of expression is a fundamental right that should be protected and promoted in all countries, including Nigeria. Freedom of […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country Profile StatementsThe Washington Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the ongoing violations of freedom of expression in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has consistently violated the right to freedom of expression by using laws and regulations to restrict the media, censor online content, and punish individuals who express their views. Journalists, human rights defenders, and […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country ProfileHuman Rights Abuses in Sudan: Addressing Ongoing Atrocities and the Road to Accountability Human rights violations continue to be a major concern in Sudan in 2023. Amnesty International’s latest report on Sudan highlights numerous abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings by security forces. The report also mentions the ongoing conflict in Darfur, which […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country ProfileIntroduction Morocco is a country located in North Africa, bordered by Algeria, Western Sahara, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The country has a population of approximately 36 million people, and its official languages are Arabic and Berber. While Morocco has made some progress in terms of human rights, the country still faces significant […]
CategoriesAdvocacyIntroduction: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal monarchy located in the Arabian Peninsula. Despite the UAE’s rapid economic development and modernization, it has come under heavy criticism for its human rights record. In recent years, the UAE has been accused of violating human rights through various means such as labor exploitation, discrimination, political […]
CategoriesAdvocacyOn February 13th, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between Turkey and Syria, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, it’s important to show solidarity with the affected communities and offer support in any way possible. The earthquake has had a particularly devastating impact on the Syrian […]
CategoriesAdvocacyIn a letter to Morocco’s prime minister dated February 13, 2023, the MENA Rights Group and more than 20 other human rights organizations expressed their outrage over the extradition of Saudi national Hassan al-Rabea to his home country, where he runs the risk of suffering severe human rights violations, including torture. “To the Prime Minister […]
CategoriesAdvocacySaad Djabelkhir is an expert in the study of Sufi Islam and an islamologist. Due to his religious stances, he has been the target of pressure and threats since May 2019. He complained to the prosecutor of the Boufarik court on May 22, 2019, but to no avail. Djabelkhir developed teleological arguments on the customs […]
CategoriesAdvocacyOn January 27, 2023, the petition of various NGOs requesting for the suspension of arms supplies to participants in the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen was denied by France’s highest administrative court. Regarding whether the government-issued licenses for exporting arms complied with France’s obligations under international law, the court stayed silent. Following the NGO Action […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsWashington Center For Human Rights strongly condemns the Emirati authorities’ refusal to release 40 prisoners of conscience and their intentional determination to keep them detained notwithstanding the completion of their sentences. Many of them are members of the UAE94, a group of detainees who were detained in 2012 and convicted to jail terms ranging from […]
CategoriesAdvocacyPeace activists denounced the Biden administration’s clearance of more than $5 billion in missile sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, a decision that came weeks after US President Joe Biden visited the leaders of both nations despite human rights advocates’ appeals. The US Department of Defense said that the US […]
CategoriesAdvocacyWhile President Joe Biden was in the Middle East this week, three senators submitted a bipartisan resolution to stop the US engagement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. “This conflict has resulted in the world’s biggest humanitarian disaster today, and it is past time to halt the United States’ role in these atrocities.” The resolution […]
CategoriesAdvocacyTrue to its word, the Biden administration is readjusting its ties with Saudi Arabia. Just not in the way we expected. According to press sources, Biden will visit the country in mid-July and will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, better known as MBS. Nothing has been formally confirmed, and there is still […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsOn June 21, 2017, Mohammed bin Salman became Crown Prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia on behalf of his father, King Salman. In contrast to his claims of liberal reform, his highly centralised and dictatorial reign has been distinguished by ruthless repression and significant human rights violations. Since King Salman took the throne […]
CategoriesAdvocacyThe United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which secured abortion rights in the United States, in a 6-3 vote today. Washington Center for Human Rights, an organization dedicated to the expansion and protection of human rights, sees the Supreme Court as not only limiting human rights that Americans have relied on for two […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsGreetings, Mr. President. Given recent media reports that you would be visiting Saudi Arabia and meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we write to voice our great concern. Attempts to repair the United States’ relationship with the Saudi government without a genuine commitment to prioritize human rights are not only a betrayal of your […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsThousands of protestors came to the streets of Tunis on Saturday to oppose President Kais Saied’s request for a vote on a new constitution, which would consolidate his hold on power. The rally was headed by Abir Moussi, the leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and mirrored rising resistance to Saied since he took executive […]
CategoriesStatements AdvocacyUS Secretary of State Anthony Blinken blasted efforts to stifle press freedom in numerous Latin American countries on Tuesday, saying the US wants to strengthen media safety in the area with the highest number of journalist deaths. Speaking at a press freedom event before of the Summit of the Americas, a regional conference aimed at […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country ProfileOn Wednesday, Tunisia’s president fired 57 judges, accusing them of corruption and harboring terrorists in a purge of the court that comes as he strives to rebuild the political system after solidifying one-man rule. President Kais Saied stated in a televised address that he has “offered opportunity after opportunity and warning after warning to the […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsA mass shooter indoctrinated into bigotry and antisemitism on the internet committed another act of domestic terrorism yesterday at a Buffalo market. This brutal hate crime, which left 10 people dead and three injured, is just another illustration of how networks of racial fanatics influence one other, encouraging murder and domestic terrorism. Hate-based communities on […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsIsraeli and Palestinian authorities must undertake an early, thorough, and open inquiry into the assassination of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank today. According to an Al-Jazeera report, a video of the aftermath of the shooting posted on Twitter by Al-Jazeera, and multiple news outlets, Abu Akleh, a prominent Palestinian-American correspondent for […]
CategoriesAdvocacyWestern governments are implicated in supporting, and thereby strengthening, autocracies across the Arab World in a variety of legal and illegal ways. Over the last three decades, similar strategies have been pursued toward Russia, increasing President Vladimir Putin’s riches and power, culminating in his megalomaniacal invasion of Ukraine. Complicity policies toward authoritarian countries in the […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAfter weeks of speculation, the Chinese government named John Lee, a former top police officer, as Hong Kong’s future leader on April 8. Hong Kong was once the sole Chinese-controlled region holding semi-democratic elections. They are no longer in use in Beijing. Instead of a genuine election, Hong Kong residents are instead treated to a […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsAt a time when democracy is under attack all across the world, American politicians should be concerned about the assault on Tunisia’s democratic institutions. The Biden administration should do a lot more to send a message to President Saied that international recognition and help would be conditional on democratic conduct. The United States and its […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country Profile StatementsThe situation in Saudi Arabia has deteriorated since the previous UN Human Rights Council joint statement on human rights in September 2020. Although a number of prominent women human rights campaigners and political prisoners were conditionally freed, they remain subject to harsh restrictions, implying that they are not yet free. According to ALQST for Human […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsIn March 2021, the Human Rights Council voted Resolution 46/2, which strengthened the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s monitoring mandate on the human rights situation in Nicaragua. On March 7, Bachelet delivered to the Council her Office’s (the OHCHR) written report, in which she concludes to a ‘pattern of egregious abuses of civil […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsThe General Assembly has required that members of the Human Rights Council respect human rights and has created criteria and a mechanism to protect the Council. The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 member states chosen by the UN General Assembly’s 193 members. Members of the HRC are obligated by UN General Assembly […]
CategoriesAdvocacy Country Profile StatementsIn addition to focusing on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the 49th session of the Human Rights Council began with severe concerns raised about China’s human rights problems. High-level officials from France, New Zealand, and the United States have encouraged UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to disclose her Office’s report on the Uyghur […]
CategoriesAdvocacyWashington Center for Human Rights applauds the Biden Administration’s designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainian nationals and reiterates requests for TPS for people of Cameroon, Mauritania, and other non-European nations. Human rights and immigrant rights organizations have frequently sought for TPS designations for various African, Central American, and Asian countries that fit the […]
The Washington Center for Human Rights firmly condemns Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked military invasion into Ukraine.We strongly condemn Russian violence in Ukraine, as well as Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Many intelligence officers have been predicting this scenario for months, and it is now unfolding in real time. While Russia has a history of aggression […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsIn view of the current humanitarian crises and violent conflicts in Cameroon, Washington Center for Human Rights encourages President Biden and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to grant Cameroon Temporary Protected Status (TPS). If compelled to return to their home country, an estimated 40,000 Cameroonians living in the United States face horrific violence, displacement, and death. […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsThe House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 10576, known as the Human Rights Defenders Act, on its third and final reading on January 17, 2022. The proposed legislation was passed by 200 members of the House, with no abstentions or votes against it. The House had previously accepted the Bill in 2019, but the […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsThe Biden administration is contemplating an extended home detention and curfew pilot program for immigrants seeking asylum or other protection in U.S. immigration courts, according to Axios. National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), Detention Watch Network, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Black Alliance […]
CategoriesAdvocacyOn the eve of the six-month anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, a coalition of military veterans and Afghan friends urged Congress to act immediately to help refugees by approving the Afghan Adjustment Act. The gathering, organized by the Evacuate Our Allies alliance, gathered on Capitol Hill to urge the Biden administration to guarantee […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAmnesty International said today, on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the massacre, that the Egyptian authorities have failed to hold a single member of security forces accountable for the deaths of at least 900 people during the violent dispersal of sit-ins in Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares. Twelve individuals are facing execution, and […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsAfghans who are at risk of being persecuted by advancing Taliban troops require immediate evacuation and international protection. Foreign countries should make obtaining visas and assisting in the safe transit of civilians who may be targeted for abuse by the Taliban due to their former employment or status, as well as their close family members, […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAuthorities in Russia have degraded the right to freedom of peaceful assembly by employing increasingly restrictive regulations, heavy-handed police methods, and criminal prosecutions to stifle peaceful opposition, Amnesty International said today in a new briefing. The group examines how the crackdown on peaceful protests, which began with the Federal Law on Assemblies in 2004, has […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsIn a case generally perceived as retaliation for Canada’s detention of a senior Huawei executive wanted by the US, a Chinese court sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in jail on Wednesday. Spavor was sentenced to prison for espionage and exporting state secrets overseas, according to the Dandong City Intermediate People’s Court. The […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsI n a case generally perceived as retaliation for Canada’s detention of a senior Huawei executive wanted by the US, a Chinese court sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in jail on Wednesday. Spavor was sentenced to prison for espionage and exporting state secrets overseas, according to the Dandong City Intermediate People’s Court. […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsIn response to the spiralling violence in Southeast Nigeria, security forces have committed a slew of human rights violations and crimes under international law, waging a repressive campaign that has included sweeping mass arrests, excessive and unlawful force, torture, and other ill-treatment since January. The armed group known as the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAmnesty International has uncovered that Iranian authorities secretly executed a young guy who was a minor at the time of his detention and had spent nearly a decade on death row. On the morning of August 2, Sajad Sanjari was hanged in Dizelabad jail in Kermanshah province, but his family was not informed until a […]
CategoriesAdvocacy StatementsOn Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, repeating a plea for human rights progress. Blinken and the Saudi minister discussed regional security, the attack last month on the tanker Mercer Street in the Arabian Sea, which Washington blames on Iran, and other regional matters, […]
CategoriesAdvocacyKrystsina Tsimanouskaya, who was kicked off the Belarusian team after criticizing her coaches in the Tokyo Olympics, is auctioning a medal from the 2019 European Games to support athletes who claim they have been targeted by authorities. On Aug. 1, Belarusian team officials took the 24-year-old to Tokyo’s Haneda airport against her will, a day […]
CategoriesStatements AdvocacyWith the parliamentary elections in Russia scheduled for September 19, every day brings new stories of arbitrary arrests, interrogations, and other attacks on critical voices. The Kremlin’s war on free expression claimed three fresh lives lately. After Roskomnadzor, the government’s communications regulatory organization, suspended their websites, independent news groups MBKh-Media, Open Media, and Open Rights […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAfter authorities arrested another opposing lawmaker ahead of elections later this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega of pursuing additional undemocratic, dictatorial acts. Blinken claimed in a statement on Saturday that Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, were trying to keep power “at all costs” by disqualifying […]
CategoriesAdvocacyAs the presidential election in November approaches, President Daniel Ortega’s regime has increased harassment and indictments against government critics. The legislature passed a bill in October mandating businesses and individuals who accept financing from outside the country to register as foreign agents. The law prohibits such foreign agents from meddling in internal or external political […]
CategoriesAdvocacyIn the six months following the February 1, 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military junta has committed various atrocities against the civilians that amount to crimes against humanity, according to Human Rights Watch. Millions of people have come to the streets all around the country to peacefully protest the military coup, calling for a restoration to a […]
CategoriesAdvocacyFollowing Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s controversial re-election on August 9, Belarusian security forces unjustly imprisoned thousands of people and subjected hundreds to torture and other forms of ill-treatment in an attempt to thwart the demonstrations. The abuse, on the other hand, simply helped to inflame public resentment as thousands of people continued to march peacefully in support […]
CategoriesAdvocacyThe use of torture and forced confessions is widespread in Iraq’s criminal justice system, and authorities carry out countless judicial executions despite major due process abuses. Authorities employed a variety of defamation and incitement provisions in Iraqi legislation to silence dissidents, including journalists, activists, and protestors. Students who were kept out of school for months […]