The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) Thursday urged the international community to demand the release of Toomaj Salehi, a rapper and voice of Iran’s protest movement. Iran police arrested and detained Salehi for taking part in protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed while in custody for improper dressing. [...]

Investigators from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Friday formally charged Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage. Nevertheless, Gershkovich and WSJ continue to deny the charges and maintain the American reporter’s innocence. Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich on March 29 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Since then, Gershkovich has been kept in a Russian detention [...]

Lithuania’s Minister of Justice Ewelina Dobrowolska on Thursday announced that the Lithuanian government will be filing a complaint against Belarus for “non-compliance” with international law regarding exploitative migration. The compensatory amount of 120 million euros is to cover the violation of international law, the damage the migration has caused and legal remedies. Belarus has had several sanctions [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) Friday condemned Sri Lanka’s proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, arguing that it would allow authorities to systematically violate fundamental human rights. HRW recommended that the government withdraw the bill until it can properly uphold international human rights standards. The current format of the bill, intended to replace the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act, [...]

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki Thursday said that officals may fast-track Moldova’s application for accession to the European Union. This news comes as Moldova fears being drawn into Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference held with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Morawiecki stated, “I believe an accelerated path is possible.” He also [...]

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Thursday renewed calls for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine as 18 million civilians require assistance as Russia’s war continues into its second year. The call comes only a few weeks after a UN human rights commission discovered evidence of “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks” against civilians in violation of international humanitarian law. [...]

Police in the Russian city of Kazan Wednesday arrested a publicly out gay couple, Haoyang Xu and Gela Gogishvili, for their alleged breach of the country’s “gay propaganda” law. According to a statement from their lawyer, the two men are accused of violating the propaganda law because of videos uploaded to the couple’s YouTube and [...]

The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Wednesday appealed to the UN to support “one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.” Adam Abdelmoula urged Member States in Geneva to avoid the “real risk of complacency” and provide funding as a durable solution to support the country. Nearly half of the population, 8.25 [...]

An advisory body to the UK Parliament Wednesday warned of the risk of “hostile foreign actors” gaining “improper access and influence” to Members of Parliament. The Commons Standard Committee’s latest report warned that if All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are left unchecked, it could represent “the next great parliamentary scandal.” APPGs are vital to the function [...]

Israeli Police Wednesday raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and arrested 350 people inside. Police said in a statement that they forced entry into the compound in a bid to counter “masked agitators.” However, worshippers inside the mosque claimed that they were violently attacked and that police prevented medics from reaching Al-Aqsa amidst the clash. [...]