(2021-02-01). Triple shock of US sanctions, oil price collapse and the pandemic decimates Iranian living standards. wsws.org The "hardline" faction around the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is attacking the faction around President Hassan Rouhani who negotiated the nuclear agreement with the Obama administration, amid indications that the Biden administration intends to continue enforcing the "maximum pressure" campaign of draconian sanctions and military provocations against Iran.
(2021-02-01). Leading German columnist Heribert Prantl denounces coronavirus lockdown measures. wsws.org Prantl's current invocation of basic rights has degenerated into mendacious hollow phrases that serve to protect the privileges of a rich minority and are directed against the democratic rights of the working class.
(2021-01-31). On Contact: Radical As Reality Itself. popularresistance.org On the show this week, Chris Hedges talks to Michael Smith about civil rights attorney Michael Ratner's recently published memoir, "Moving the Bar — My Life as A Radical Lawyer". Smith was a close friend and collaborator of Ratner's for over three decades. | Michael Ratner was one of the most important civil rights attorneys in our era. He spent his life fighting on behalf of those who state and empire sought to crush, from the leaders of the prison uprising at Attica to Muslim prisoners held in Guantanamo, to Julian Assange.
(2021-01-31). Monday 2/1: Interfaith Vigil for Domestic Workers' Rights & Lives Lost During COVID w/ NDWA. indybay.org Online event…
(2021-01-31). UN Sex Crimes: Guterres' Draconian Cover-Ups Might Be Soon Over. strategic-culture.org The UN's answer to cover them up and punish journalists might be coming to an end as there are signs that member states have had enough. Will the British government lead a new cause? | It's practically impossible these days to google the word 'UN' without being hit with the wave of articles about its sexual harassment cases, which in recent years under Antonio Guterres, appears to have mushroomed into something of a pandemic. Even faithful supporters of the UN will ask themselves how can a global organisation which serenades itself on the world stage as an arbiter of human rights, be the worst offender? When does…
(2021-01-31). Not to back off any sanctions, cast new deal as a treaty. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (MNA) — The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative think tank in Washington, DC which has a significant influence on US public policymaking.
(2021-01-31). Thousands detained in Russia amid fresh pro-Navalny protests. laprensalatina.com (Update 1: Adds detail) Moscow, Jan 31 (efe-epa).- Russian police detained thousands of protesters across the country on Sunday amid demonstrations in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was detained after he returned to Russia earlier this month from Germany, where he had been recovering from a poisoning. OVD-Info, which specializes in tracking police …
(2021-01-31). Hundreds detained in Russia ahead of fresh pro-Navalny protests. laprensalatina.com Moscow, Jan 31 (efe-epa).- Russian police detained hundreds of protesters across the country on Sunday ahead of demonstrations in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was detained after he returned to Russia earlier this month from Germany, where he had been recovering from a poisoning. OVD-Info, which specializes in tracking police detentions in Russia, …
(2021-01-31). Italian workers and students stage countrywide protests. peoplesdispatch.org Trade unionists and students took part in a general strike demanding safety and rights at their workplaces and educational institutions. The protesting workers also sought an end to layoffs and dismissals and guaranteed wages for the unemployed…
(2021-01-30). George Floyd "narrated his death," says attorney at International Inquiry. mronline.org 
George Floyd, who was publicly tortured and lynched by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020, narrated his own death, legendary civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump told the International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States at its January 25 hearing.
(2021-01-30). Health workers, students and teachers rise up for their rights in Greece. peoplesdispatch.org Health workers demanded fresh investment in the sector to combat the pandemic while students and teachers opposed the deployment of security forces on university campuses…
(2021-01-30). Pentagon halts plan to give Covid-19 vaccination to Gitmo detainees after wave of outrage from conservatives. rt.com 
Following a recent report that the Biden administration planned on vaccinating detainees at Guantanamo Bay before millions of Americans caused outrage, the Pentagon has announced the plan has been "paused." | "No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated," Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby tweeted on Saturday. "We're pausing the plan to move forward, as we review force protection protocols. We remain committed to our obligations to keep our troops safe." | No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated. We're pausing the plan to move forward, as we review force protection protocols. We remain committ…
(2021-01-30). What is a continuing nuisance? ukhumanrightsblog.com 
Harrison Jalla and others v. (1) Shell International Trading and Shipping Company (2) Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited [2021[ EWCA Civ 63 — read judgment A traditional phrase in the common law, such as "continuing nuisance", may mean a number of things in different contexts, as we will see clearly from this oil …
(2021-01-30). Amnesty slams Houthi ban on Yemeni women. yenisafak.com Amnesty International has condemned a Houthi decision banning Yemeni women from working in restaurants, calling it "shameful and discriminatory".In a thread on its Twitter account, the human rights organization said it stands with all Yemeni women "in their fight for their rights"."Institutionalizing discrimination increases oppression on women and impedes the foundation for sustainable and gender-equitable recovery and reconstruction in Yemen," it said.Amnesty stressed that UN efforts to achieve a "peaceful reconciliation" in Yemen are impossible "without safeguarding and protecting women's rights".There was no…
(2021-01-30). Houthis hail Italy's block of arms sales to Saudi, UAE. yenisafak.com Yemen's Houthi rebels have welcomed an Italian decision to suspend the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)."Italy's announcement of halting arms sales to the countries that are engaged in an aggression on Yemen is a positive move," rebel spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Salam said on Twitter.He said the move would "contribute to protecting [Yemeni] civilians and support the peace process".On Friday, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced blocking exports of arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, following warnings by activists and lawmakers about the use of weapons in violation of human rights in Yemen…
(2021-01-30). Rohingya relocation: Bangladesh moves 4th group. yenisafak.com Amid constant opposition and concerns by international communities and rights defenders on safety grounds, Bangladesh on Saturday relocated the fourth batch of Rohingya refugees to a remote island in its southern sea, according to official sources.A total of 1,463 members of the persecuted community began the journey to the Bhasan Char island from the country's main port city Chattogram by naval ships."All concrete houses are fully prepared to house the new arrivals. Actually, we are ready to resettle all 100,000 Rohingya at the cluster houses on the island as per the government's initiatives," Commodore Abdullah…
(2021-01-30). Despite new Biden administration, US-China friction could remain high. yenisafak.com Chinese-US relations during the Donald Trump years went from bad to worse, but experts believe friction could climb even higher under new President Joe Biden.Besides an ongoing trade war, conflict of interests continue over a range of issues including human rights abuses against China's minority Uighurs, the status of Taiwan, national security legislation in Hong Kong, and military expansion in the South China Sea.Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a Pakistani senator for the capital Islamabad, said there would be no drastic change in the US perception of China as a competitor, but that the new president would like to engag…
(2021-01-30). Fears Grow that Efforts to Combat US Domestic Terrorism Can Hurt Minorities. zcomm.org Civil rights advocates worry that moves to fight far-right extremism will be used against communities of color and leftwing activists…
(2021-01-30). UN Independent Expert: 'This Is How The Human Rights Industry Works'. popularresistance.org Indeed, a "human rights industry" exists, and many officials of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner [for Human Rights], diplomats, activists from non-governmental organisations, human rights teachers, and, of course, also many "independent experts" and rapporteurs are more or less opportunistic. | These people consider themselves "better" than others, but do not necessarily feel solidarity with the victims of human rights violations. Some of my bosses were models of integrity and professionalism, such as Professor Theo van Boven, Professor Kurt Herndl, Judge Jakob Muller, or High Commissioners Bertrand Ramch…
(2021-01-30). At least 3,000 civilians were killed in 2020, says Afghan human rights commission. peoplesdispatch.org According to the 2020 annual report of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), over 5,000 civilians were injured. Among those killed in various attacks were 2,958 children and 847 women…
(2021-01-29). B'Tselem's Historic Declaration: Israel's Open War on Its Own Civil Society. dissidentvoice.org 
"A Regime of Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is Apartheid," was the title of a January 12 report by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem. No matter how one is to interpret B'Tselem's findings, the report is earth-shattering. The official Israeli response merely confirmed what B'Tselem has stated in no uncertain …
(2021-01-29). My Name is Pauli Murray: New Film on Black Queer Legal Pioneer Who Inspired RBG & Thurgood Marshall. democracynow.org 
We spend the hour looking at the life of one of the most pivotal figures in the history of struggle for gender equality and racial justice, Pauli Murray, whose story is told in the new documentary "My Name Is Pauli Murray," premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Murray was a trailblazing Black, nonbinary, queer, feminist poet, lawyer, legal scholar and priest who influenced the likes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall, and is viewed as a hero to many in the trans rights movement. We feature excerpts from "My Name is Pauli Murray," which features new footage and audio recordings of Murray in their own…
(2021-01-29). Philippines: International pressure to investigate Duterte crimes against humanity. mronline.org 
If a United Nations report wouldn't suffice, an international commission wants to prove there is a practical way justice will be assured and perpetrators of human rights violations in the Philippines be held accountable. The Independent International Commission of Investigation into Human Rights Violations in the Philippines or INVESTIGATE PH had a global launch Thursday, …
(2021-01-29). UN Independent expert Alfred de Zayas: 'This is how the human rights industry works'. mronline.org 
Italian journalist Geraldina Colotti asks de Zayas about corporate media manipulation of Venezuela's human rights situation.
(2021-01-29). Militarized police attacked him on his own front porch. PAR helped him fight back. therealnews.com 
Nick Pettit was assaulted by Columbus, Ohio, police for filming a botched raid. We investigated on his behalf, and now evidence gathered by PAR is part of an ACLU lawsuit against the police department that violated his constitutional rights.
(2021-01-29). U.S. empire wages 30-year war against Iraq. workers.org 
From the perspective of the world's youth, U.S. imperialism has been waging war on Iraq their entire lives. Iraqi children born the same year as the start of the Gulf War, who should be approaching their 31st birthdays, were killed by U.S.-imposed sanctions or bombs. This 30-year war shaped the . . . |
(2021-01-29). Sri Lanka online public meeting: Build workers' action committees to win health workers' rights! wsws.org All health workers are invited to participate in this vital online meeting on February 7 to discuss how to protect ourselves and other workers from the danger of COVID-19 infections and to defend our rights.
(2021-01-29). Iran's foreign minister condemns US sanctions on Turkey. middleeasteye.net 
Iran's foreign minister condemns US sanctions on Turkey | Javad Zarif calls for lifting of sanctions in Iran and Turkey at press conference in Istanbul | Fri, 01/29/2021 – 09: 12 | Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu welcomes his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif before their meeting at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul (AFP) | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has condemne…
(2021-01-29). "No case to answer" — Stansted 15 convictions quashed by Court of Appeal. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
Thacker & Ors v R. [2021] EWCA Crim 97 (29 January 2021), judgment here The Court of Appeal held today that a group of activists who broke into Stansted Airport in an act of protest should "never have been prosecuted" for an "extremely serious" terror-related offence under s.1(2)(b) of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act …
(2021-01-29). How to Do 'Regime Change' Correctly: a Blueprint for the Biden Administration. strategic-culture.org By Sasan FAYAZMANESH | In my college years, as a member of the Iranian Students Association, one of my political tasks was to dispatch progressive American attorneys to Iran to investigate human rights abuses by the Shah, including torture and murder of political prisoners. These trips and the subsequent reports submitted by the attorneys were often successful in reducing the pain and suffering of prisoners of conscience, since the Shah was cognizant of his image abroad. Afterall, he was a creature of the West and dependent on it. He owed his throne to the 1953 American-British backed coup and was nurtured by the…
(2021-01-29). Turkish speaker rejects 'paranoid' Neo-Ottoman claims. yenisafak.com Turkey's parliament speaker on Friday said his country was resolute in protecting its legitimate rights based on international law.Speaking at an Istanbul-based commemoration program dedicated to the Turkish independence struggle, Mustafa Sentop commented on his country's goals and political stance.We are determined to protect and defend Turkey's legitimate rights arising from international law, Sentop said, adding the threats his country faced over a century ago were still existing.Stressing that the Turkish administration worked hard to make Turkey stronger, safer and more peaceful, he noted that Ankara was see…
(2021-01-29). Turkey 'hopes' US returns to Iran nuclear deal. yenisafak.com Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that he hopes the Biden administration would return to the nuclear deal and lift sanctions on Iran.Speaking at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Istanbul, Cavusoglu said that Turkey has always supported the nuclear deal that was reached by the US, EU and Iran. "I hope the Biden administration will return to the agreement and so the sanctions on brotherly Iran will be lifted."Touching on the Karabakh deal, he said that they want a permanent cease-fire.In this regard, we are planning to establish a mechanism with Azerbaijan,…
(2021-01-29). Being denied care for wife, Chinese activist starts hunger strike. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- A Chinese activist started a hunger strike Friday to protest the country's authorities for barring him from travel to the United States, where his wife is receiving chemotherapy. The China Human Rights Lawyers Support Group (CHRLCG) told EFE that security agents prevented Yang Maodong, or Guo Feixiong, from boarding a Thursday …
(2021-01-29). EU must place social justice 'at its core' to lift people out of poverty. news.un.org The European Union's failure to lift 20 million people out of poverty by 2020, is "a defeat for social rights", an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday, urging the bloc to boldly rethink its whole socio-economic approach.
(2021-01-29). 'Imminent' Iran execution must be halted, urges UN human rights office. news.un.org The imminent execution in Iran of a man who was allegedly tortured into confessing that he belonged to a jihadist group must be stopped, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday.
(2021-01-29). Scheer Intelligence: The FBI's Crusade Against MLK Was Darker Than You Think. popularresistance.org "You are done. There is only one way out for you. You better take it before your filthy, abnormal fraudulent self is bared to the nation." That's the shocking ending to the infamous letter Civil Rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received in 1964 essentially urging him to commit suicide. The letter and accompanying package containing blackmail were sent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as King quickly caught on. While the full, unredacted letter was finally published by the New York Times in 2014, the audio recordings of an extensive FBI wiretapping operation targeting King have been sealed until 2027…
(2021-01-29). President Biden To Reassess US Policies Towards Cuba. telesurenglish.net White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Thursday announced that President Joe Biden will analyze whether or not measures against Cuba taken during President Donald Trump's administration (2017-2021) should be eliminated. | RELATED: | "Our Cuba policy is governed by two principles. First, support for democracy and human rights – that will be at the core of our efforts. Second is Americans, especially Cuban Americans, are…
(2021-01-29). Sam Pollard: The FBI's Crusade Against MLK Was Darker Than You Think. scheerpost.com Click to subscribe on: Apple / Spotify / Google Play "You are done. There is only one way out for you. You better take it before your filthy, abnormal fraudulent self is bared to the nation." That's the shocking ending to the infamous letter Civil Rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received in 1964 essentially urging him to commit suicide. The letter and accompanying package containing… |
(2021-01-29). Fiji wins presidency of UN Human Rights Council. wsws.org The diplomatic maneuvering around Fiji's appointment underscores the tensions produced by the escalating US-led offensive against China, which is set to deepen under the Biden administration.
(2021-01-29). Paraguay: Opposition Leader Efrain Alegre Faces Jail. telesurenglish.net A Paraguayan judge Thursday ordered pre-trial detention for the former presidential candidate Efrain Alegre, who is under investigation for an alleged corruption scandal related to his 2018 election campaign. | RELATED: | According to Guarantees Judge Cynthia Lovera, the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) leader failed to comply with the alternative measures to prison imposed on him 20 days ago. | "Alegre syste…
(2021-01-28). The Biden Administration: Hardening of US Stance on Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org Joe Biden has been sworn in as the President of USA. For Venezuela, nothing has changed. The same belligerence, the same sanctions, and the same imperialism — the American empire continues to be cruelly hostile to the UN-recognized government of Nicolas Maduro. Inviting an Anti-Chavista Criminal Auguries of an ever-intensifying imperialist attack against Venezuela have …
(2021-01-28). Venezuela: Oil Corporations Lobby Biden Administration for Sanctions Reversal. venezuelanalysis.com A removal of the ban on swap deals could boost Venezuela's oil production and ease fuel shortages.
(2021-01-28). 'Shameful': Amnesty condemns use of French weapons against protesters in Lebanon. middleeasteye.net 
'Shameful': Amnesty condemns use of French weapons against protesters in Lebanon | Rights group identifies French-made weapons including tear gas, rubber bullets, and grenade launchers used to quell protests | Thu, 01/28/2021 – 19: 56 | "> | Amnesty International urged France to halt weapons sales to Lebanon, saying French-manufactured rubber bullets, tear gas grenades and launcher…
(2021-01-28). El Salvador: 42 Elderly Died from COVID-19 in Nursing Home. telesurenglish.net El Salvador's Human Rights Ombudsman (PDDH) Apolonio Tobar on Wednesday denounced before Congress' Health Commission the death of 42 elderly from COVID-19 in a state-run nursing home. | RELATED: | The deaths were registered in the Sara Zaldivar nursing home, in the Costa Rica neighborhood of the San Salvador Department, from March to September 2020. | "The elderly died from COVID-19 because they did not receive the r…
(2021-01-28). Saudi companies file lawsuit against Saad al-Jabri over embezzlement allegations. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi companies file lawsuit against Saad al-Jabri over embezzlement allegations | A campaign for Jabri's family said lawsuit was part of Saudi crown prince's 'desperate attempt' to distract world from Riyadh's human rights abuses | Thu, 01/28/2021 – 16: 15 | Mohammed bin Salman has centralised power and targeted any and all perceived foes and potential opponents since he outmanoeuvred more senior rivals in 20…
(2021-01-28). Saudi companies file Canadian lawsuit against Saad al-Jabri in embezzlement allegations. middleeasteye.net Saudi companies file Canadian lawsuit against Saad al-Jabri in embezzlement allegations | Campaign for Jabri's family says lawsuit is part of Saudi crown prince's 'desperate attempt' to distract world from Riyadh's human rights abuses | Thu, 01/28/2021 – 16: 15 | Mohammed bin Salman has centralised power and targeted any and all perceived foes since he outmanoeuvred more senior rivals in 2017 to become crown p…
(2021-01-28). 'Palestinian teen's health in danger in Israeli prison'. yenisafak.com Amal Nahla, 17, was taken into custody by Israeli forces on Jan. 21 and has been placed in administrative detention without any charge for six months, with the possibility of the duration being extended, according to Defense for Children International — Palestine.The teenager is suffering "shortness of breath" and a medical checkup showed that he has "chest and respiratory system" issues, the group said in a statement.Nahla has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a long-term neuromuscular and autoimmune disease, it added.The statement also referred to a report by an Israeli hospital, Shaare Zedek Medical…
(2021-01-28). The Illusion of Democracy 2: Power and Secrecy. zcomm.org If Britain and the US had genuine democracies, where the views of ordinary people matter, the invasion, slaughter and torture in Iraq would not have happened…
(2021-01-28). Iranian Foreign Minister Explains Why US Should Make First Step in Returning to Nuclear Deal. sputniknews.com The new US administration earlier indicated its interest in returning to the Iran nuclear deal, but newly sworn-in Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the Islamic Republic, which had been suffering from US sanctions over the past three years, should be the party to make the first step in reaching the agreement.
(2021-01-28). UK: Corbyn and Owen Jones line-up with anti-China campaign. wsws.org The Labour left's stance has nothing to do with defending the rights of Uighur Muslims, much less the super-exploited Chinese working class. It articulates the interests of a layer of the upper middle class, represented by the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, which advocate economic protectionism to defend British capitalism…
