human rights
UN rights chief slams Egypt mass trials in maiden speech
In her first speech to the UN Human Right’s Council (OHCHR) on Monday, the body’s new head, Michelle Bachelet, said she was “shocked” by the death sentences handed down to 75…
Egyptian court sentences hundreds over 2013 protest
An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 75 people to death, including top leaders of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, for their involvement in a 2013 protest that was broken up…
Eye On Africa
UN inquiry finds Burundi is still committing crimes against humanity
UN human rights investigators accuse Burundi's government of keeping up a campaign of abuse against critics and opponents of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Also, Morocco is…
India ‘assassination’ plot reaches Paris, but credibility is lost in translation
The arrests of prominent Indian activists last week sparked condemnations across the world. But as details of police attempts to link them to an international assassination plot…
‘I miss her voice': Husband of jailed Iranian lawyer Sotoudeh talks to FRANCE 24
Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh began a second hunger strike in prison on Saturday. FRANCE 24's Reza Sayah spoke to her husband.
Mediawatch
The online memes that can land you in jail in Russia
Using a law against "extremism," Russia is ramping up prosecutions against people who post memes mocking religion on social media. It's believed to be part of a campaign to…
S. Arabia seeks death penalty for female rights activist
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has sought the death penalty against five human rights activists, including a prominent female rights defender, campaigners said Wednesday.
Filmmaker enters 100th day of hunger strike in Russian jail
Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov on Tuesday entered day 100 of his hunger strike, as he languishes in a Russian Arctic prison on terror charges with little hope of release.
''All the hallmarks of summary Russian justice'': the Oleg Sentsov case
FRANCE 24''s international affairs editor Douglas Herbert discusses the case of jailed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who entered day 100 of his hunger strike on Tuesday in…
Chile's first female president will rise to human rights mission
The United Nations General Assembly met on Friday and approved Michelle Bachelet’s appointment as the world body’s new human rights chief.
'Easy target' Canada weathers Saudi ire in diplomatic spat
Saudi-Canada relations further deteriorated this week after Canada raised the Gulf kingdom’s arrests of human rights advocates on social media. Riyadh has sought to punish…
Chile's Bachelet named new UN human rights chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday announced the appointment of Michelle Bachelet, Chile's twice-serving president who endured torture under the Pinochet regime,…