Rights watch
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A round-up of human rights stories from around the world.
UN rights boss slams ‘structural racism’ in US | Al Jazeera
The UN rights chief has criticised “structural racism” in the United States, urging the country’s leaders to address the “deep-seated” grievances at the heart of the protests that have broken out in hundreds of cities.
UK: Human rights watchdog to probe racial inequalities exposed by coronavirus | ITV News
The official human rights watchdog is to mount a statutory inquiry into the racial inequalities exposed by the coronavirus crisis in the UK.
Iran: Revolutionary Guards block clemency for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe | The Guardian
The dual British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is the victim of “psychological torture” at the hands of the Iranian regime, her husband has said, as her hopes of being granted clemency were dashed for the second time in a week.
Philippines: Duterte’s anti-terror push amid economic woes draws backlash | Nikkei Asian Review
A proposed law giving President Rodrigo Duterte sweeping powers to go after terrorists has provoked a backlash in the Philippines, with critics saying the move is meant to shut down dissent amid deepening economic woes.
The Israeli military on Wednesday tore down the homes of 65 Palestinians in the West Bank, marking the largest number of housing demolitions in one day since the coronavirus crisis began.
US rivals seize on protest crackdowns to turn tables on human rights criticism | The Washington Post
As US authorities use tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to crack down on protesters against racism and police brutality, China and other US rivals have seized the opportunity to accuse Washington of hewing to double standards.
The head of London’s Metropolitan Police wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel in December saying that the Extinction Rebellion protests provided a “much-needed opportunity” to give police greater powers to curb protests in the UK.
US: Two lawyers arrested in Molotov cocktail attack on police in Brooklyn | The New York Times
Two lawyers were charged with taking part in a Molotov cocktail attack on a police patrol car over the weekend — a human rights lawyer and a Princeton-educated associate at a Manhattan law firm.
Sri Lanka: Female human rights lawyer facing continuous death threats | JDS
A supreme court lawyer in Sri Lanka representing victims in several cases of grave human rights violations including murder, allegedly committed by members of the security forces, fears for her life due to police inaction.
Brazil: Official recorded calling black rights movement ‘scum’ | The Guardian
The man tasked with promoting black culture by Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been recorded describing the country’s black rights movement as “scum”.
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