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The Rafto Foundation will at long last be able to welcome Rebyia Kadeer in Bergen. She is coming to Norway to thank for the support and increased awareness on the human rights situation for the Uyghur population in Northwestern the People´s Republic of China. Mrs Kadeer will also discuss the matter of fifteen inncocent Uyghurs imprisoned on Guantanamo (10-OCT-2006)

BBC News reported on September 29th that the People´s Republic of China will tighten their grip on the Uyghurs.

The Rafto Human Rights House is very pleased to be able to present a special human rights programme at the Nordic Panorama 2005 (23 – 28 September), in close co-operation with two of the leading international film festivals dedicated to human rights documentaries: One World in Prague, and Human Rights in Film in Warsaw.  (18-SEP-2005)

Two years ago, the Bush administration admitted that the 15 uigurs currently serving at Guantanamo were sent there by mistake. Now, however, the same administration does not want to release them out of fear that they might have been influenced by other prisoners or in other ways developed misleading ideas. (31-AUG-05)
  

Mr. Arne Lynngard, Chairman of the Rafto Foundation has organized a fundraising campaign to get medical treatment for 20 year old Sidi Elfakraoui. The young man was thrown out of a window in the 4th floor of a building by Moroccan police, and consequently broke his back, arm and both his legs. The police started to follow him for no obvious reason, and Mr. Elfakraoui ran from them, fearing what they might do to him. (16-AUG-2005)

For the second time the Rafto Foundation, in collaboration with Kurdish Human Rights Project (UK), medico international (Germany) and Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, will arrange a two-day conference, September 19 – 20, 2005, debating the Turkish accession process to the EU. The conference in Brussels will focus on the human rights situation in the Republic of Turkey, especially focusing on the conditions for the Kurdish people. (15-AUG-2005)

On July 6th, representatives of “Peace Boat”, a floating university for peace,  paid The Rafto Human Rights House a visit. “Peace Boat” is a Japanese organisation, but the crew changes from voyage to voyage, and represents different nations each time. People from Japan, Germany, Ireland, Palestine and Israel were among the 30 visitors to the Rafto House. They were interested in learning how the Rafto House Foundation works to spread knowledge about human rights. (07-JULY-2005)

Mr. Arne L. Lynngaard, leader of the Rafto Foundation was deported from Western Sahara last night. Together with four other Norwegians, he was escorted by Moroccan police  to Agadir. The Norwegian delegation is urging Norwegian authorities to respond to the deportation, and to the arrest of Saharawi human-rights activist. (6-JULY-2005)

On the Liberation Day, May 8th, the Rafto House was involved in arranging a special program at Espeland prison camp outside of Bergen, to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation in 1945. Hundreds of visitors showed up to see Minister of Justice, Odd Einar Dørum, unveiling a memorial over the camp’s prisoners. Other activities included an open air service, a classical concert and the Amalie Laksov prize award ceremony. Throughout the day, the focus was upon the appeal never to forget. (19-MAY-2005)