The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in two cases. In First American Financial Corp v. Edwards , the court heard arguments on whether a plaintiff has standing to sue, on behalf of a nationwide class, claiming a real estate company violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 without claiming that the [...]

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria reported Monday that the Syrian Arab Republic has committed numerous human rights violations including torture, sexual violence, use of excessive force and violations of the right to peaceful assembly. The investigation on which the report is based on was initiated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) [...]

A private investigative report issued on Monday detailed the denial of medical treatment to and severe physical abuse of former Russian lawyer and purported whistle-blower Sergei Magnitsky , who died in a Moscow prison in November 2009. In addition to details of Magnitsky’s treatment and death, the report alleges corruption by Russian officials in the [...]

Human rights group Partners Relief and Development said Monday that Myanmar soldiers may be committing war crimes in the form of torture and forced labor against ethnic communities in Kachin State. The group issued a report documenting the war crimes which allegedly began on June 9 after a 17-year ceasefire agreement was broken to begin [...]

The US Supreme Court granted certiorari Monday in five cases. In Southern Union Co v. United States , the court will determine whether the Fifth and Sixth Amendment principles that the Supreme Court established in Apprendi v. New Jersey and its progeny apply to the imposition of criminal fines. Apprendi requires that “any fact” other [...]

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has ordered a special commission to look into recommendations made following an independent investigation into the alleged crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in the country, the official state media reported Saturday. The announcement follows a report released last week by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) that Bahrain [...]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi on Sunday sentenced five pro-democracy activists to prison for participating in a campaign seeking political liberties. One activist was sentenced to three years in prison while the others were sentenced to two years in prison by the three-judge panel. The activists will not be [...]

Mexican activists on Friday filed a complaint in the International Criminal Court asking the court to investigate alleged human rights violations by the army and police resulting from the attack on drug cartels initiated by Mexican President Felipe Calderon . The activists claim that, in addition to the nearly 470 cases of human rights abuses [...]

The US Commission on Civil Rights announced on Tuesday that it will examine the impact that state-enacted immigration enforcement laws have on individual civil rights. The announcement stems from a unanimous vote taken at the Commission’s most recent business meeting. Following the vote, Martin Castro, Commission Chairman, stated, “I believe that the enactment of these [...]

The UN Committee Against Torture expressed concern Friday over allegations of human rights violations in Syria, including the torture of children, and requested a report addressing these matters. Claudio Grossman, who currently heads the committee, said : “Of particular concern are reports referring to children who have suffered torture and mutilation while detained; as well [...]