2020-12-17: News Headlines

Umar A Farooq (2020-12-17). Coalition of groups criticise OIC for failing to condemn China's treatment of Uighurs. middleeasteye.net Coalition of groups criticise OIC for failing to condemn China's treatment of Uighurs | One hundred and forty rights and advocacy groups are calling on Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to demand accountability and transparency from Beijing | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 19: 55 | Despite protests from Uighurs outside of China, many Muslim-majority countries have remained silent on China's rights violations…

RT (2020-12-17). Putin says outrage over 'anti-Islam' cartoons & French street beheading is evidence that 'multiculturalism has failed' in West. rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin has weighed in on the debate around freedom of speech and the rights of religious believers, saying the clash of cultures is an existential problem in the West. | In response to a question from RT correspondent Igor Zhdanov as part of his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin said there was a fine balance between expressing yourself and insulting the feelings of entire groups of people. | "Where is the boundary between one freedom and another freedom," the president asked. "It is well known that where one man's freedom begins, another's must end." He added that…

MEE staff (2020-12-17). Saudi Arabia: British MPs urge UK to impose sanctions on Riyadh for detaining royals. middleeasteye.net Saudi Arabia: British MPs urge UK to impose sanctions on Riyadh for detaining royals | Cross-party probe concludes that Mohammed bin Nayef and Prince Ahmed are being mistreated in detention | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 13: 30 | Saudi Arabia did not accept the MPs request to see Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef (right) after he was detained in an unknown location since March 2020 (AFP) | British MPs have called on…

Ed Rampell (2020-12-17). Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iran's Courtroom Gladiator, for the Defense. progressive.org A stirring new documentary captures the fight for women's rights in the Islamic Republic.

Karen Dawn (2020-12-17). Why Kaepernick's Flavor Is Dairy-Free. progressive.org In the past 150 years or so we have made some progress in the field of basic human rights. That is barely the case for animal rights.

WSWS (2020-12-17). Rafer Johnson, once the "World's Greatest Athlete," dies at age 86. wsws.org The US gold medal winner of the decathlon at the 1960 Olympics, Rafer Johnson, was the first African American athlete to achieve world prominence during the period of the Cold War and civil rights movement.

_____ (2020-12-17). Gas Company Sues To Destroy Small Town's Rights Of Nature Law. popularresistance.org In a clear signal of how the fossil fuel industry feels about efforts to enact Rights of Nature protections that safeguard communities and the environment from the impacts of coal, gas, and oil development, an energy company has—yet again—filed a federal lawsuit challenging a local law in Grant Township, Pennsylvania. | This is the second time that Pennsylvania General Energy Company (PGE) has sued over the 2015 law, which aims to keep fracking waste injection wells out of the community of about 700 people. | Though the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also previously sued the…

Direct Action Everywhere (2020-12-17). Community Food Serve. indybay.org Join us on Sunday December 20th to hand out food, water, and blankets to our houseless neighbors in need. | Please message us for the exact address if you are planning to join us! | — | Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is a grassroots network of animal rights activists. Through open rescue, demonstration, and disruption, we are creating a world where every animal is safe, happy and free. | DxE cultivates a welcoming and supportive community. We ask that all those who attend our events (online and offline) respect our Code of Conduct which can be reviewed at dxe.io/conduct | To learn about our vision, goals, strat…

Eds. (2020-12-16). Lynchings by law. mronline.org The U.S. death penalty has always been a symbol of white supremacy and a violation of human rights law. Having already executed 11 people this year, the Trump administration plans to execute five people (four of them Black) during a lame-duck session.

Monica Moorehead (2020-12-16). Defend incarcerated workers! workers.org These comments were given at a Dec. 10 webinar of the Prisoners Solidarity Committee of Workers World Party. The theme of tonight's webinar is "Build class solidarity with incarcerated workers: No walls in the workers' struggle." The PSC wanted to sponsor this webinar on International Human Rights Day — the . . . |

MEE and agencies (2020-12-16). 'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions. middleeasteye.net 'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions | Turkey's president responds to sanctions levied on Monday, calling them unjust and 'open attack' on its sovereignty | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 18: 53 | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after chairing cabinet meeting in Ankara on 14 December (AFP/File photo) | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan respo…

Rayhan Uddin (2020-12-16). Qatar beats Saudi Arabia to host 2030 Asia Games. middleeasteye.net Qatar beats Saudi Arabia to host 2030 Asia Games | Doha will hold competition while Riyadh takes the 2034 event, Olympic Council of Asia announces | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 12: 37 | Doha was revealed as the host city of the 2030 Asia Games during the Olympic Council of Asia's general assembly in Muscat, Oman (AFP) | Qatar has beaten off competition from Saudi Arabia and won the rights to host the 2030 Asia…

Areeb Ullah (2020-12-16). Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life. middleeasteye.net Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life | Professor Lukman Thalib told relatives that his blood pressure and heart rate had become dangerously low | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 36 | Professor Lukman Thalib (right) received a teaching award at Qatar University in 2018. He is a public health expert and helped Qatar with its covid-19 response (Supplied) | The family of an Austr…

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-16). Civil Rights Groups Urge Biden to Nominate Attorney General Dedicated to 'Bedrock Principle of Equal Justice'. commondreams.org "We need an attorney general… committed to ending discrimination; addressing white supremacy and hate violence; and advancing racial, gender, disability, ethnic, religious, immigrant, and LGBTQ justice." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-16). VIDEO: SA holding migrants in inhuman conditions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 16 (MNA) — Human Rights Watch has released footage of a detention center for foreigners in Riyadh, proving that Saudi officials have detained and tortured hundreds of foreign workers. As reported, three have lost lives by the present.

commondreams (2020-12-16). Immigrant Rights Attorneys Sue DHS and ICE for Information on Terror Tactics Used in Arrests. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-16). Abuse on the Mainland: Australia's Medevac Hotel Detentions. dissidentvoice.org Governments that issue press releases about the abuse of human rights tend to avoid close gazes at the mirror. Doing so would be telling. In the case of Australia, its record on dealing with refugees is both abysmal and cruel. It tends to be easier to point the finger at national security laws in Hong …

teleSUR (2020-12-16). Turkey Rejects US-Imposed Coercive Measures. telesurenglish.net Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday rejected the coercive measures imposed by the U.S. government on the country as an "attack" on sovereignty. | RELATED: | The president pointed out that "for the first time, sanctions are being imposed on our country, a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). What kind of alliance is this? This decision is an open attack on our sovereign rights." | The Tur…

Jessica Corbett (2020-12-16). 'The fossil fuel industry is terrified': Gas company sues to destroy small town's rights of nature law. nationofchange.org "The fossil fuel industry is terrified the tactics taken in Grant Township are spreading."

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-16). ICC's report on the Philippines alleges crimes against humanity committed by Duterte regime. peoplesdispatch.org The prosecutor's office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has found "reasonable basis to believe" that crimes against humanity have been committed by Rodrigo Duterte's government in the Philippines. The findings are part of the annual report issued by the office of ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensoda, on December 14, Monday, and announced on Tuesday. | The report found that the government of Rodrigo Duterte has committed crimes like murder, torture, and inflicted serious physical injury and mental harm on victims between July 2016 and March 2019. The report focused on allegations levelled by human right…

Pip Hinman (2020-12-16). Moreland council condemns secret immigration detention centre. greenleft.org.au The City of Moreland Council has condemned a secret immigration detention centre in Fawkner and has urged the Victorian government to change the planning laws to disallow such cruelty, reports Chloe de Silva.

news.un (2020-12-16). Cartoonist must be released on medical grounds, urge rights experts. news.un.org An ailing Bangladeshi cartoonist who has been detained for allegedly spreading fake news about the country's response to COVID-19, should be released immediately, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Wednesday.

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-15). US Sanctions Directed against Turkey For Its Acquisition of Russia's S-400 Air Defense System. globalresearch.ca The recently imposed targeted sanctions against Turkey and the impending National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2021 ones mandating similar measures against it for its acquisition of Russia's S-400 air defense systems, while illegal in terms of international law and a …

John Pilger (2020-12-15). The Most Lethal Virus is Not COVID. It is War. counterpunch.org In the midst of the greatest health emergency in modern times, with more than 4 million surgical procedures delayed by the National Health Service, Boris Johnson has announced a record increase of £16.5 billion in so-called defence spending — a figure that would restore the under-resourced NHS many times over.

Ragip Soylu (2020-12-15). How US sanctions will affect Turkey's defence industry. middleeasteye.net How US sanctions will affect Turkey's defence industry | Penalties over Ankara's S-400 purchase could hinder crucial projects for up to a year until Turkey finds replacements | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 14: 19 | Turkey's Hurjet light combat aircraft, which is produced by the Presidency for Defence Industries, will be affected by US sanctions (Turkish Aerospace) | US sanctions imposed on Turkey on Monday over the…

Madhuri Grewal (2020-12-15). Biden Can End the Mass Detention of Immigrants. aclu.org This piece was originally published in

Steven Sahiounie (2020-12-15). Western Sahara Is the "Reward" to Morocco for Recognizing Israel. globalresearch.ca President Donald Trump announced on December 10 that Morocco had joined UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan in recognizing Israel, with plans to reopen its liaison office in Tel Aviv, and joint overflight rights for airlines. The US, Israel, and Morocco triangle …

Fight Back (2020-12-15). Jacksonville rallies for justice for Devon Gregory and community control of the police. fightbacknews.org Jacksonville, FL – On December 11, activists both locally and nationally joined the family of Devon Gregory, an 18-year-old Black man shot 35 times by four Jacksonville Sheriff's officers, in a day of action for Devon. | Earlier that day at around 11 a.m., Gregory's family was joined by their attorney, Kevin O'Conner, and organizers from various groups for a press conference on the steps of city hall. | The demands were for a federal investigation of the case, as well as an end to protections for killer cops that are currently in the Florida Officers' Bill of Rights, so that evidence such as the remaining body ca…

Noriana Radwan (2020-12-14). A Middle Finger Cost Me My Livelihood as a Woman Athlete. aclu.org It took a split second for my whole world to come crashing down. , , My teammates on the University of Connecticut's women's soccer team were jumping and screaming and hugging each other. We had just won a championship game. It was one of the happiest moments of my life — my first championship win at the collegiate level. Without thinking, I flashed a middle finger in celebration as I embraced teammates on camera. I couldn't have known that split-second, mindless gesture of celebration would cause UConn to suspend me from the NCAA tournament, revoke my scholarship, and completely upend my life as I…

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-12-14). Imperialism 2.0: Notes from the Edge of the Narrative Matrix. globalresearch.ca The new imperialism doesn't look like old-school ground invasions, it looks like multi-front cold wars, economic warfare, blockades and starvation sanctions, drone strikes, arming proxy militias, CIA-backed coups, sprawling tech surveillance networks, mass psyops of unprecedented sophistication and narrative management …