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Arbitrary arrest and fear of torture for Kurdish human rights activist
On 4 October, members of the security forces arrested Negin Sheikholeslami, a human rights activist and journalist from the Kurdish minority in Islamic Republic of Iran, at her home in Tehran. Sheikholeslami is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, says the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HROK).
Breaking the silence: Kurdish newspaper speaks out on FGM
Hawlati, an independent Kurdish newspaper, recently published articles debating the practice of female circumcision, often referred to as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in Iraqi-Kurdistan. FGM is a major problem in most of Islamic societies, and the practice has a tremendous cost—many girls bleed to death or die of infection.
NHC representative refused entry into Kyrgyzstan
Ivar Dale, right, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s representative in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, was refused entry to the country when he returned there on Sunday after having attended a seminar in Norway. Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General of the NHC, believes the series of harassments the organisation has been subjected to is politically motivated.
Kurdish journalist assassinated in Kirkuk, Iraq
In the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, an unidentified gunman assassinated Diyar Abbas Ahmed, a twenty-eight-year-old Kurdish journalist, yesterday. Abbas Ahmed worked for Iraq Eye Media and several other media stations, including a television station sponsored by a Kurdish political party. The Committee to Protect Journalists says that violence against ethnic minorities, journalists and human rights defenders is escalating in the area.
Belarusian Elections Fall Foul of International Standards
On 28 September 2008 Belarusians elected members of the House of Representatives. These elections were internationally expected to bring further positive changes on the country´s political arena, but unfortunately the elections fell short of OSCE’s standards. National observers stated numerous violations of international standards. However EU still wants a dialogue with official Minsk (01-OCT-08).
HRHF congratulates Congolese pastor with the Rafto award
The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) has called Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, and congratulated him as the winner of this year´s Rafto Award. Pastor Bulambo expressed his gratitude for the award to the Rafto Foundation and confirmed that he will attend the seminar and award ceremony in Bergen early November. (25-SEP-08)
Renewed fighting displaces 100.000 more civilians in eastern Congo
Renewed combat in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has caused a drastic deterioration in the humanitarian situation and immense suffering for civilians, the Congo Advocacy Coalition, a group of 83 aid agencies and human rights groups, said today. The coalition called for urgent action to improve protection of civilians and an immediate increase in assistance to vulnerable populations. Right, militias in Ituri. (25-SEP-08)