AMNESTY WEEKLY HEADLINES ON 14-20 OCTOBER 2023
23 October 2023
Amnesty International Thailand
Ban on protests supporting Palestinians is disproportionate attack on the right to protest in France
16 October 2023
Following the request from the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin asking the prefects in France to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Jean-Claude Samouiller, President of Amnesty International France said:
“The ban on all demonstrations in support of the Palestinians in France constitutes a serious and disproportionate attack on the right to demonstrate.
Faced with the atrocities committed by Hamas in southern Israel, and also the blockade and very heavy bombings in the Gaza Strip, it is important that civil society actors can mobilize peacefully and publicly, in particular those calling on those engaged in the conflict to respect the rights of civilian populations. This is why there cannot be a systematic ban on the right to peacefully demonstrate support for the rights of the Palestinian populations.
Under international law, a ban on demonstrations can only be considered as a last resort. Authorities should always seek to protect and facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the first place.
Jean-Claude Samouiller, President of Amnesty International France
A ban can only be legal if it is motivated by a specific threat and if it is demonstrated that no other less restrictive measure could guarantee public order.”
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India: Failure to legalise same-sex marriage a ‘setback’ for human rights
17 October 2023
In response to today’s Supreme Court of India verdict which refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage in the country leaving it for the Parliament to formulate necessary legislation, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said:
“This was indeed a historic missed opportunity for the Supreme Court of India to herald in a new era in what has been a long fight for equal rights of LGBTI people. All people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, including the right to marry.
“At the same time, the ruling on ending all discrimination against same-sex couples and expanding their rights is a positive step that sends a clear message to the Indian government that its laws on same-sex marriage are in urgent need of reform. Today’s verdict must be the springboard for the government to initiate a thorough review and overhaul of all laws, policies and practices that discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.
“It is imperative that the government does not delay in implementing this through the Committee proposed by the Supreme Court and accepted by the Solicitor General and ensure opportunities for meaningful public consultation on this important issue.
“The right to family life is a human right, and it must be protected for everyone without discrimination.”
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Sudan: Civilians still being killed and displaced after six months of conflict.
15 October 2023
In response to today’s Supreme Court of India verdict which refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage in the country leaving it for the Parliament to formulate necessary legislation, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said:
“This was indeed a historic missed opportunity for the Supreme Court of India to herald in a new era in what has been a long fight for equal rights of LGBTI people. All people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, including the right to marry.
“At the same time, the ruling on ending all discrimination against same-sex couples and expanding their rights is a positive step that sends a clear message to the Indian government that its laws on same-sex marriage are in urgent need of reform. Today’s verdict must be the springboard for the government to initiate a thorough review and overhaul of all laws, policies and practices that discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.
“It is imperative that the government does not delay in implementing this through the Committee proposed by the Supreme Court and accepted by the Solicitor General and ensure opportunities for meaningful public consultation on this important issue.
“The right to family life is a human right, and it must be protected for everyone without discrimination.”
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Americas: States must commit to guarantee migrants’ rights during summit in Mexico
20 October 2023
States in the Americas must seize the opportunity to address the situation of hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees in the region from a human rights perspective during the summit to be held in Chiapas, Mexico, on October 22, Amnesty International said today in an open letter to the presidents and ministers attending the event.
“This summit must be the first step towards a future where all states in the Americas guarantee the rights of all the people forced to flee their countries. Solidarity and international cooperation will be key factors in finding comprehensive answers at a time when more and more people are seeking a safe place to rebuild their lives,” said Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International.
Among its recommendations, the organization calls on states in the region to guarantee the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement; comply with their obligations of international cooperation and shared responsibility for the protection of people in need of protection; refrain from deploying public security forces and military personnel in immigration enforcement and guarantee access to justice for victims of human rights violations; and refrain from stigmatizing and discriminating against refugees and migrants.
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Russia: Arbitrary detention of RFE/RL editor signals new level of war-time censorship
19 October 2023
In response to the news that Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Tatar-Bashkir Service, has been arrested and arbitrarily detained on remand under criminal charges of failing to register as a ‘foreign agent,’ Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:
“The persecution of Alsu Kurmasheva is an example of the relentless crackdown on journalism and the right to freedom of expression in Russia. It also marks an alarming escalation in the harassment of media professionals, as it’s the first time this offence has been used to directly target a journalist for their professional activities, putting her at risk of a five-year imprisonment.
“Further to ‘discrediting the army’ and other absurd charges used to lock up anyone accused of harbouring and expressing anti-war sentiments, the Russian authorities have now decided that the mere fact of being employed by a foreign media outlet is enough to warrant arrest and prosecution. Alsu Kurmasheva’s case is a stark warning to all Russian journalists working for foreign media and covering the war in Ukraine.
“Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Alsu Kurmasheva and the repeal of all legislation related to so-called ‘foreign agents,’ as well as the provisions introduced with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in violation of the right to freedom of expression, including the legislation on ‘fake news’ about the Army and ‘discrediting the Armed Forces’.”
