Briefs

The June 13-14, 2025 violence against Yelwata, a Christian majority farming community in Benue State, Nigeria, is one of the most lethal incidents in the recent spate of violence in the country. Armed to the hilt, Fulano militants invaded the village in the night, burned down houses, markets, and internally displaced persons who had earlier […]

The 2025 policy on counterterrorism in Iran is very much institutionalized and involves the combination of intelligence, judicial and a deterrence of the people. The use of state executions to fight ISIS terrorism has remained one of the most contentious aspects of this strategy. In June 2025, the Iranian judiciary declared it would execute nine […]

Australia has gone a long way in developing transgender equality by reforming the law in its recognition. These changes have resulted in federal and state policies that represent emerging conceptions of gender and human rights. By 2025, the majority of jurisdictions permit people to change the gender markers on birth certificates and identification documentation without […]

The transgenders in Algeria exist in a system that does not give them legal recognition and limited knowledge of the society. The legislation of the country makes same sex relations criminalized in the Penal Code, Article 338, whereas transgender is completely unaddressed in the legal system. Transgender Algerians are in an unstable legal gray area […]

The legal history of transgender rights in Japan has been slow and milestones have been made along the way to influence the discussion today. A way to gender recognition legally was opened with the 2004 Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status of Persons with Gender Identity Disorder. The law however came with a […]

The nexus between terror financing and human rights breaches has gained center stage of worldwide security and humanitarian issues. This nexus is frighteningly dominant in a number of warring regions in 2025. The armed groups still depend on illegal financial channels to support their operations which usually lead to devastating human suffering, forced displacement, and […]

In 2025, transgender rights movements across the world would represent the picture of victories gained with difficulty and the challenges increased. In the West democracies, as well as in the developing countries, transgender individuals and lobby groups encounter more complicated situations. As certain governments are developing gender recognition and legal safeguards, others are taking away […]

After more than a year of relentless conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civilians in Darfur remain trapped in an unending cycle of violence, hunger, and displacement. Despite international attention and repeated calls for action, the region’s people face daily threats to their lives and livelihoods. “Violence, insecurity […]

The recent Israeli airstrike that killed Ali Shadmani, a top Iranian general, in Tehran has profound human rights implications. While the strike is framed as a military necessity, the immediate and long-term suffering inflicted on civilians cannot be overlooked. Tehran, a densely populated city, experienced sudden bombings near critical civilian infrastructure, including state television and […]

Sudan is now on the verge of one of the world’s worst hunger emergencies in recent memory. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning: famine is dangerously close to breaking out in the southern suburbs of Khartoum. Jabal Awliya, located 40 kilometers from the capital, is among the hardest-hit. The […]

Sudan’s healthcare system is facing an unprecedented collapse amid a brutal civil conflict that began in April 2023. Now entering its third year, the war has devastated the country’s health infrastructure, displaced millions, and triggered widespread disease outbreaks and malnutrition. This crisis has escalated into a global emergency, with over half the population requiring urgent […]

In the first half of 2025, Syria’s coastal Alawite community has been subjected to a brutal resurgence of sectarian violence, marking one of the most severe humanitarian crises since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Recent clashes, massacres, and targeted killings have devastated Alawite-majority areas in Latakia, Tartous, and Hama governorates, causing […]

In early February 2025, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) conducted a series of airstrikes on residential and commercial neighborhoods in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. These strikes employed unguided air-dropped bombs characterized by wide-area effects and limited precision, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction of property. Reports indicate that scores of civilians, […]

The human rights crisis in Afghanistan has deepened significantly since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The regime has systematically entrenched repression through discriminatory laws, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of civil liberties, severely affecting women, minorities, journalists, and civil society. This analysis, grounded in recent UN reports and expert statements, examines the institutionalized […]

On June 1, 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) formally charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two senior officials with crimes against humanity related to the violent crackdown on the 2024 student-led uprising. The charges allege that Hasina directly ordered a coordinated and systematic assault involving state security forces, ruling party affiliates, and allied […]

Making ensuring that no more US foreign aid “be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States” was one of President Donald Trump‘s top concerns when he took office. As a result, several NGOs and other humanitarian organizations are now in limbo, and […]

To decrease irregular migration and expedite the return of individuals with rejected asylum applications, the European Commission has suggested a Common European System for Returns. Return rates are currently about 20%, a level considered inadequate by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The proposal suggests the potential creation of return hubs in third nations, […]

Egyptian journalist Mohamed Nasser, presenting his show on Mekameleen TV, unveiled a stunning buying deal in which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) bought Banque du Caire, one of the oldest and most respected banks of Egypt, at a mere $1 billion, much less than what was originally offered. Many have termed the deal “suspicious,” and […]

The Palestinian Authority (PA) officially attacked in a wide scope Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative. The criticism came after he made statements unveiling the complicity of the UAE regime with the Israeli occupation during its war against Gaza. The official statement came from Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency. […]

Saudi authorities have freed many individuals serving long prison sentences for exercising their rights peacefully, but they still imprison and arbitrarily detain numerous others, Human Rights Watch reported.  Accounts from families and human rights groups show that between December 2024 and February 2025, at least 44 prisoners were released by Saudi authorities. Some of those […]

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is caught up in yet another espionage controversy following international news coverage of how his hands are reportedly involved in plotting with Israeli officials to tap the phones of royal members such as Mohammed bin Nayef and Mutaib bin Abdullah. His intention was no secret: keeping an eye on […]

Oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) has sponsored an investment conference in Miami and contributed to whitewashing the country’s heinous human rights record. The information comes from Human Rights Watch and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The PIF’s Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII Institute) Priority Summit was convened in Miami […]

A Muslim advocacy group said that discrimination and attacks against American Muslims and Arabs grew by 7.4% in 2024 due to elevated Islamophobia generated by U.S. partner Israel’s war in Gaza and the resulting college campus demonstrations. The Council on American Islamic Relations stated it registered the highest number of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab claims, 8,658, […]

Under the Trump administration, McMahon’s first week as Secretary of Education, had a dual agenda that was brought into stark contrast. They intend to degrade the federal government’s ability to defend vulnerable pupils while simultaneously utilizing education law against the regime’s ideological opponents. Secretary McMahon continues to be so ignorant regarding the basic operations of […]

On March 10, 2025, Iranian intelligence arrested 4 Kurdish women activists. They were taken into custody in Kurdistan Province, with the claim of their involvement in international Women’s Day events.  According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), Leyla Pashaei and Sohyla Motaei were arrested in the cities of Iran, Saqqez and Dehgolan without any […]

The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses profound concern about Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The Centre condemns the country’s current human rights practices, particularly in relation to migrant workers, freedom of speech, and the treatment of women and marginalized communities. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record raises significant alarms, and […]

The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concern over the alarming rise in executions carried out by Saudi Arabia since the beginning of 2024. According to official reports, more than 300 executions have taken place, an unprecedented number when compared to the kingdom’s usual annual totals of around 100 to 150. This sharp increase […]

One of the main topics of the yearly forum on digital public policy is improving human rights in the digital age. The event will be held on December 15–19, 2024. The groups pointed out that Saudi Arabia was lying by hosting the event while still doing things like locking people up, disappearing by force, and […]

The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concerns regarding the growing misuse of cybercrime laws in the Arab region to restrict fundamental freedoms and suppress free expression. These laws, while intended to combat cybercrime, have increasingly been leveraged by authoritarian governments to stifle dissent and silence critics under the guise of national security and […]

The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concerns regarding the ongoing process to select Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. It condemns the lack of adequate human rights protections in the current bidding process and urges FIFA to halt the approval of Saudi Arabia’s bid unless major reforms are […]

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In a moment of sporting glamour, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals kicked off in Riyadh on Saturday night, marking the latest in Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push to redefine its image through high-profile sports events. The prestigious event, which featured top tennis players like Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen, was broadcast […]

Human rights organizations are urging FIFA to halt its decision to award Saudi Arabia the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup, citing significant concerns over the country’s human rights record. The call comes as FIFA prepares for an extraordinary Congress on December 11, where national football associations will vote on the sole bid submitted […]

The Washington Center for Human Rights hosted an event on human rights violations in Sudan and war crimes supported by the UAE. The event was organized in the U.S. Congress. The focus of the event was to discuss the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, along with their allied […]

All those who speak against the government face a serious type of punishment from UAE officials. Citizenship revocation is a famous tool to punish those who freely speak or criticize the government. This tactic is mainly aimed at individuals involved in the “UAE84” trial, where 43 people were sentenced to life imprisonment on questionable terrorism […]

It is very concerning to know that WTA players could face jail or torture just because of speaking against human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. Recently Saudi Arabia made a deal to host the WTA Finals for the next three years. The worth of this deal is £40 million. This decision of the Saudi government […]

Back in 2015, when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died. At that time his half-brother Salman was about to become king. Salman’s son, Mohammed Bin Salman was 29 years old at that time and ready to take charge. Mohammed Bin Salman has a great mind that contains big ideas. But he worried that people in […]

Venezuela has been in a state of political and economic crisis for several years, with serious human rights violations taking place on a regular basis. The Washington Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the situation in Venezuela and urges the international community to take action to address the human rights abuses taking place […]

Human rights standards, frameworks, and discourses are always changing. It is critical that they adapt in order to respond to new and emerging concerns and dangers, as well as to confront entrenched but sometimes invisible power, discrimination, and privilege. This progress may be seen in how human rights norms and processes are being utilized and […]