Torture

Amnesty slams French claims of being champion of free-speech

While the right to express views that may be perceived as offending religious beliefs is strenuously defended, Muslims’ freedoms of expression and religion usually receive scant attention in France, says Amnesty International.

UK government pushes bill to ‘decriminalise torture’ by troops overseas

The Overseas Operation Bill would introduce stronger legal protections for UK soldiers serving abroad. But critics believe it will make overseas operations worse for victims of war crimes and for the UK’s standing in the world.

After death by torture and call for protest, should Egypt brace for unrest?

Egyptians took to the streets following the death in police custody of Islam Al Ostraly. The rare display of discontent came as exiled whistleblower Mohamed Ali called for new protests on September 20.

The UK can’t keep track of how much it paid to Iraqis its soldiers abused

Thousands of Iraqis have been given payouts after suffering at the hands of British soldiers but the British Ministry of Defence says it cannot disclose how much it has paid out since 2017 because it requires too much work.

Years later, families of Assad regime prisoners still yearn for closure

Anguished relatives are poring over photos of torture victims from Syrian prisons, posted online by activists after the US imposed heavy new sanctions on the Syrian regime last month.

Pakistani police arrest couple for 'beating' child employee to death

Theoretically, it is illegal to employ anyone under the age of 15, but it remains common practice in Pakistan, where a large number of children are employed as undocumented domestic workers.

Refugees share ordeal of torture by Greek border forces

Asylum seekers speak from the no man's land between Turkey's Edirne and Greece's Kastanies, detailing the physical abuse and humiliation dealt by Greek border officials.

Greek security forces accused of inhumane treatment of migrants

Migrants bear bruises which they say were the result of beatings by Greek police officers and soldiers.

Germany prepares first trial over Syrian state-sponsored torture

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 60,000 people have died from torture or harsh conditions in regime custody since the conflict began.

Court calls US "enhanced interrogation techniques" torture

The Ninth US Court of Appeals in San Francisco described harsh interrogation methods used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) against Abu Zubaydah as torture.

Report alleges abuse of female detainees in Bahraini custody

A US-based rights group said political prisoners were subject to rape and death threats and a majority had experienced acts of abuse and torture.

Kashmiris allege beatings, abuse in raids by Indian troops

The people of Indian-administered Kashmir share the horrors of torture and pain at the hand of troops following India's decision to strip the Muslim-majority region of its autonomous status.