Human Rights

Smartphone vs virus: is privacy bound to always be violated?

Health officials eyeing possibility of using smartphones to ascertain with whom someone diagnosed with Covid-19 has been in contact.

India's internet curbs in disputed Kashmir hamper Covid-19 fight

New Delhi refuses to completely ease restrictions in India-administered Kashmir despite pleas from several rights group.

Privacy rights may become next victim of killer pandemic

Governments from China to Singapore to Israel, ordered electronic monitoring of their citizens' movements to tackle Covid-19 and even some digital privacy defenders say it may be prudent to use some of the available data to help control the outbreak.

Coronavirus pandemic reveals the demise of the US as a world leader

The US trails far behind other countries that prioritise humanity over politics.

Egypt's security forces ‘disappear, torture’ children

Human Rights Watch reported abuses against 20 children whose ages range between 12 and 17. The group said forces under President Sisi have arbitrarily arrested and tortured children while prosecutors and judges turned a blind eye.

US man accused of human rights violations freed in Lebanon

Lebanese officials alleged that Fakhoury, 57, of Dover, New Hampshire, who had been jailed since September, was responsible for the killings and abuse of prisoners in Lebanon as part of an Israeli-backed militia two decades ago.

Saudi Arabia accused of racism as ‘human sanitiser’ image goes viral

A picture of a South Asian man serving as a mobile hand sanitiser caused anger on social media. State-owned oil giant Aramco, which employs the man, has apologised for the incident.

Outspoken Hong Kong publisher held over pro-democracy march

Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper said Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Media, was picked up from his home by officers at around 7 am and taken to a police station in the Kowloon neighbourhood.

UN delivers a blow to Israel's settlement enterprise. But is it enough?

The UN database of companies cooperating with illegal settlement activities is not exhaustive or binding, but it is a crucial starting point.

Should India be concerned about upcoming internet measures?

Observers fear intermediary rules that include proactive monitoring, user verification and tight timelines that dictate how quickly a company should take down material authorities deem questionable.

UAE authorities target families of dissidents

Relatives of opposition members risk losing citizenship and the withdrawal of state services, tactics human rights groups describe as ‘collective punishment’.

No one should be surprised when Iraq kills its own people

More than 500 Iraqi protesters have been killed by security services and militias with little indication that those responsible will be brought to justice.