Human Rights Foundation

Ahead of today's UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) election, UN Watch, The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, and HRF published a joint report evaluating the candidacies of countries seeking election to the UNHRC for the 2025-27 term. We call on the UNHRC to oppose the candidacies of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia, who the report has determined “unqualified” due to their poor records on respecting human rights at home, and in voting on UN resolutions concerning human rights. To learn more, read the report here:

Chinese officials reportedly detained four Tibetan students after they resisted being transferred to regime-controlled schools. These students had previously attended a recently closed Buddhist monastery school in Sichuan province. In July, Chinese officials shut down the Lhamo Kirti Monastery school. Almost 600 students were instructed to attend regime-run schools, where the curriculum promotes Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology. According to an investigation by @RadioFreeAsia, the four students were reportedly detained and subjected to several days of “political reeducation.” They were later released and forced to enroll in regime-run schools. HRF strongly condemns the CCP's continued effort to eliminate the culture, language, and identity of the Tibetan people by indoctrinating youth with CCP political ideology. https://buff.ly/3ZSb5ZD

Today, we honor the legacy of Filipino community organizer, lawyer, and Chair of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascón, a lifelong advocate for justice and human rights. From organizing against the Marcos dictatorship during the People Power Revolution to holding the Duterte regime accountable for its human rights abuses, Chito dedicated his life to the struggle for democracy and justice.

On Monday, a 52-year-old woman connected with the Islamic State went on trial in Sweden on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against Yazidi women and children in Syria. Lina Laina Ishaq, who is a Swedish citizen, is accused of committing the crimes between August 2014 and December 2016 in the Syrian city of Raqqa. Linked to Yazidi abductions in 2014, she fled as IS collapsed, was arrested in Turkey, and was extradited. The trial marks the first time that IS attacks against the Yazidis, one of Iraq’s oldest religious minorities, have been tried in Sweden. Ishaq’s hearings are expected to last about two months. HRF condemns the atrocities committed against the Yazidi people and welcomes the legal action taken to hold those responsible for committing such crimes.

Last week, an arrest warrant for former Bolivian President Evo Morales was inexplicably dropped and the prosecutor sacked. Morales, who tried to hold onto power by ignoring a referendum barring him from running in 2016 and is currently vying for control of the ruling MAS party, severely politicized the judiciary during his nearly 15 years in power. In another recent example of the politicization of the judiciary, former Justice Minister Iván Lima, who served under the current MAS administration, confirmed that Morales urged the courts to persecute former President Jeanine A?ez using politically motivated charges that resulted in an unreasonable delay of her trial. Judicial persecution of critics of the regime has increased since MAS' return to power in 2020. This month, and after several due process violations and years of arbitrary detention, the trial against opposition leaders Jeanine A?ez and Luis Fernando Camacho is set to begin. HRF condemns MAS’ weaponization of the judiciary and its sustained undermining of the democratic rule of law. Judicial independence and due process are key pillars of democracy. The MAS regime must put an end to all politically motivated prosecutions. https://buff.ly/3zScGnF

Supporters of imprisoned Pakistani former Prime Minister Imran Khan continued their protest to call for Khan’s release on Oct. 5, despite police road blockades, tear gas, and a mobile Internet shutdown. On Saturday, Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said one of its party leaders, Ali Amin Gandapur, was abducted and detained. On Friday, Gandapur led thousands of protesters in an overnight camp on the Islamabad-Peshwar highway. In February’s election, the PTI-backed candidates won the most seats but failed to reach the majority required to form the government. Since then, PTI supporters have continued to protest and face crackdowns. HRF remains deeply concerned about the Pakistani regime's restrictions on access to information and a crackdown on protesters. HRF calls on the regime to respect people's rights to peaceful assembly.

Zaw Myint Maung, deputy leader of Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD) and a key figure in the pro-democracy movement, has died of cancer at 73 while in detention. His death marks yet another tragic loss for Burma's democracy movement under the military junta. He was arrested during the 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected NLD government, serving a 29-year sentence since, on politically motivated charges, including corruption and violation of COVID-19 rules. Maung is the latest NLD member to die in detention, following the deaths of Nyan Win and Phyo Zayar Taw. Rights groups accuse the junta of systematic mistreatment, including the denial of medical care to prisoners of conscience. HRF expresses grave concern over the continuous detention and mistreatment of prisoners of conscience, which has led to the death of many leaders of the political opposition in Burma. https://buff.ly/3NeJpGC

New York ranks high on the list of cities targeted by foreign governments and regimes. HRF’s Combatting Kleptocracy program director, Casey Michel, shares insights on foreign lobbying and the potential targeting of NYC Mayor Adams. Read more in Rolling Stone: https://buff.ly/4dEyEs2

The Pakistani capital of Islamabad is locked down with a heavy police presence, shipping containers blocking entrances, cell phone services blocked, and schools shut down after police clashed with and fired tear gas at supporters of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Supporters of Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have hosted a series of protest rallies demanding Khan's release. But with high-level diplomatic events slated to take place, the interior minister warned against attempting to storm the capital and urged Khan’s party to postpone the rallies. Despite the warnings, Imran Khan called on his supporters to gather outside parliament for a peaceful protest on social media. Imprisoned since August 2023, Khan remains a popular figure in Pakistan's politics while his party continues to face a military-backed crackdown. HRF raises concern over the police's use of teargas and violence when dealing with PTI supporters and urges Pakistani officials to respect citizens' right to peaceful assembly. https://buff.ly/3BuNUdI

On Thursday, Torpad, a Thai pro-democracy activist and artist, received a three-year suspended prison sentence on charges of royal defamation for posting a drawing of King Vajiralongkorn on social media. In June 2022, Torpad was arrested after being charged under royal defamation law, Article 112, and the Computer Crimes Act. TLHR reported that she never received a summons, despite the police claim that the arrest warrant was issued in April 2022. During her arrest, police seized her artwork, computer, and mobile phone. According to TLHR, at least 1,956 people have been charged for participating in public gatherings or expressing political views. Of these, at least 273 were charged under the royal defamation law. HRF remains deeply concerned about Thailand’s misuse of the royal defamation law, or Article 112, to suppress freedom of expression. It urges the Thai regime to amend the law to allow people to freely exercise their right to free speech. https://buff.ly/4gLw6vb