Human Rights | WPN World People News

This week, Nigeria’s senators moved a bill designed to muzzle free speech on social media one step closer to becoming law. The proposed law could affect an estimated 15 million plus Nigerians who use social media, not to mention the doubtless high numbers of Nigerians who send text messages.

The 29 November EU-Turkey summit, aimed at reinvigorating the partnership and finding common responses to refugee crisis and Syrian war was very timely, said most MEPs in Wednesday’s debate with Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Nicolas Schmit for the Council Presidency. However, in view of Turkey’s human rights and democracy record, many argued that EU funding for Turkey must be thoroughly scrutinised and questioned the decision to restart EU accession talks with it.

Thai authorities should promptly and impartially investigate the alleged torture of suspects in military detention, Human Rights Watch said on December 3. To prevent further abuses, the government should immediately transfer all civilians detained at military facilities to officially recognized civilian places of detention.

Trade unions from across the country are banding together in a call for peaceful mass demonstrations after the government cracked down on a labour law protest rally in November, resulting in major arrests and injuries.

The United States Senate should reject a bill that would place unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the US, Human Rights Watch said on November 30.

Chinese courts handed down three sentences and one appeals verdict in recent days that reflect the government’s pervasive manipulation of the justice system and its violations of the right to freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said on November 30.

The world had hardly come to terms with the shock and horror of the burning down of a chipboard factory by an enraged mob led by misanthropic mullahs when news has emerged of another attack. This time an Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Kala Gujram, not far from the chipboard factory, has been targeted.

Parliament urges Cambodia to drop all charges brought against opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) members; calls on the Bangladesh authorities to restore the full independence of the media; and appeals to the government of Afghanistan to intensify cooperation with the government of Pakistan, in three resolutions passed on Thursday.