Latest
Kurdish journalist has his death sentence overturned
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today welcomed with great relief the ruling by the Tehran Supreme Court overturning a death sentence against Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour, right, because of a procedural error. The court decided that the journalist, who had been convicted of “subversive activities against national security”, could not be considered as a “mohareb” (an enemy of God) and sent his case back to the lower court in Sanandaj, in Iranian Kurdistan. RSF calls for his release and dismissal of the case. (04-SEP-08)
NHC’s regional rep. to be tried in Administrative Court in Bishkek
Ivar Dale, right, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) regional representative to Central Asia will be tried in a local court in Bishkek on Thursday 4 September. Dale has been accused of illegal work in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The trial is the next step in a series of attacks by Kyrgyz authorities against the NHC office in Kyrgyz Republic, which started in June 2008 when the office was raided. (02-SEP-08)
NHC will lead documention of war crimes in Georgia
In collaboration with the Georgian organizations Caucasia and Georgian Human Rights Center and the Austrian Helsinki Committee,the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is planning to document war crimes and other violations that might have taken place in connection with the armed conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation. NHC’s Aage Borchgrevinck, right, wants to travel to Georgia in the beginning of September to start collecting data. (01-SEP-2008)
Bombardment of western Afghanistan village upsets the entire community
-The bombardment by international military forces of Aziz Abad village in Shindand district of Herat province, right, has upset the whole Afghan community. The bombardment caused the death of 91 civilians, injured a much larger number and put the residents of the village into very conditions, threatening their personal, social and economic security. Thus begins a statement issued by the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN). (28-AUG-08)
Tibetan writer, blogger and human rights activist arrested in Lhasa
Tibet´s most famous writer and blogger Tsering Woeser, right, was accused of taking photographs of military installations and arrested by police after she returned home briefly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, on Thursday last week, writes London-based newspaper the Times. To read the Times´s full article, click here . (26-AUG-08)
Tibet committee encourages people to join light protest
Tomorrow, the 7th of August, is the day before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. The Norwegian Tibet Committee joins a grassroots campaign called ‘Candle for Tibet’ and urges people to light a candle in solidarity with all oppressed people in Tibet. A collective candle protest will be held in the centre of Oslo. (06-AUG-08)
Non-registered NGO facing charges in Kyrgyzstan
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s (NHC) office in Bishkek have learnt today that they face charges for “illegal activity in a non-registered NGO”. In addition two distinguished Kyrgyz human rights defenders, Tolekan Ismailova and Aziza Abdirasulova, face charges for obstruction of justice after having protested during the raid against the Norwegian Helsinki Committee on 9 June. (4-JULY-08)
Euskal / Basque PEN awards two Kurdish journalists facing execution in Iran
Human rights defenders in many countries have expressed their appreciation over Euskal / Basque PEN´s selection of Mr. Hiwa Buimar and Mr. Adnan Hassanpour, right, for the Idazluma award for their efforts for freedom of speech in Islamic Republic of Iran and the “oppressed Kurdish language and culture”. (27-JUNE-08)
Conference: ‘Burma: The role of the international community’
In the wake of the the cyclone Nargis, right, that hit Burma on 2 May this year and, within a matter of days, caused enormous damage and suffering to millions of BUrmese, the Norwegian Burma Committee (NBK) invites to a conference addressing the role, both actual and potential, of the international community in pushing Burma´s current regime in the diretion of democratic reforms. (20-JUNE-08)