Free Republic

'Mother, they're going to kill me': Outrage as Iran executes woman, 23, for alleged murder when she was just 17 By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 02nd May 2009 An Amnesty International member protester demonstrates outside the Iranian Embassy in Kensington on Delara Darabi's behalf A 23-year-old woman made a frantic phonecall to her mother begging for help before Iran authorities held a rushed execution - disregarding a stay-of-execution and allegedly without informing her lawyer. 'Mother they are going to execute me, please save me,' Delara Darabi screamed, before a prison official grabbed the phone and told her mother: 'We are going...

More than 400,000 people a year are detained by immigration officials in the United States - including undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants who run afoul of the law and asylum seekers who come fleeing persecution - but according to a report released today by Amnesty International, conditions are often deplorable and detainees are routinely denied due process. It's the second major human rights report in a week to indict the nation's immigration detention system. The system is attracting increased attention in part because the number of people in detention has grown exponentially in recent years and in part because of dozens...

I’m glad to report that I’m all charged up as a result of my column on Amnesty International (also known as Anti-Semitism International) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). That column ran yesterday in The Bulletin. In it, I showed that Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union are on a lower moral plane than the mass murderers and genocidal maniacs that make up Hamas and al-Qaida. At least the latter two admit their purposes. In its charter, for example, Hamas advocates the slaughter of innocents. So at least they have the honesty lacking in Amnesty International and...

Here’s a quiz to determine if you are aware of America’s most immoral and dangerous enemies. Many are not aware of our enemies and, in fact, many Americans and other people around the world are not only unaware of the true nature of these enemies, but also lend their financial support to them. Question one: What do these four organizations have in common: The ACLU, Hamas, Amnesty International and al-Qaida? Question two: Of those four organizations named above, which two are the most immoral, depraved, and despicable? Answer to question one: All four work on behalf of terrorists and terrorism...

The human rights group said it found evidence that Israel and Hamas had both used weapons supplied from overseas to carry out attacks on civilians, accusing both sides of committing war crimes during the three-week conflict at the start of the year. It accused Israel of using white phosphorous and other weapons from the US and said Barack Obama had a "particular obligation" to suspend military aid over their use. Amnesty called for the UN Security Council to enact an arms embargo until mechanisms were put in place to ensure that equipment was not used to commit violations of international...

Amnesty International condemned the IDF's conduct during its military operation in Gaza in a report published Monday, and called for an arms embargo on both Israel and the terrorist Hamas group. "Amnesty International found that the Israeli army used white phosphorus, a weapon with a highly incendiary effect, in densely-populated civilian residential areas in and around Gaza City, and in the north and south of the Gaza Strip," the report says. "The organization’s delegates found white phosphorus still burning in residential areas throughout Gaza days after the ceasefire came into effect on 18 January - that is, up to three...

Thousands of Iraqis detained by US forces are at risk of torture or even execution, following the ratification of a security agreement between the US and Iraqi governments. Under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will take effect on 31 December, around 16,000 prisoners held by the US will be transferred to Iraqi custody. Those at particular risk include former Ba’ath party officials or those who held posts under Saddam Hussain's government. Ali Hassan al-Majid and two others sentenced to death for crimes committed under Saddam Hussain’s rule are likely to be executed if handed over to the Iraqi...

The execution of José Ernesto Medellín Rojas by the state of Texas is a violation of international law, said Amnesty International today. "It undermines the authority of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which had ruled in favour of a stay of execution."

NEW YORK — Amnesty International is currently touring the country with a life-sized replica of a maximum security prison cell at Guantánamo Bay. But critics say the cell, which is an attempt to call attention to alleged human rights abuses at the camp, is missing basic amenities provided to prisoners. The 7x10-foot cell, on display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., lacks amenities like bedding, toiletries and a copy of the Koran, and it has nothing to illustrate that regular meals are served to inmates three times a day.

Olympics 'worsening China rights' China's human rights record is getting worse, not better, because of the Beijing Olympics, a rights group says. According to Amnesty International, China is clamping down on dissent in a bid to portray a stable and harmonious image ahead of the Games in August. It urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and world leaders to speak out against abuses, including China's handling of protests in Tibet. US President George W Bush is facing calls to boycott the Games' opening. "It would be clearly inappropriate for you to attend the Olympic Games in China, given the increasingly...

Politicians and human rights groups want to go on board US-registered planes that are believed to be carrying terror suspects when they land in Norway for refueling. Planes believed to be chartered by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have landed at the Sola Airport outside Stavanger as many as 15 times since 2003, reports local newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad. It's also believed that the planes, officially owned by Aviation Specialties Inc of the US, have landed for refueling at airports in Bergen and Evenes as well. A report to the European Parliament in 2006 claimed that Aviation Specialties is a...

The London-based human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned Israel's attacks on Gaza, claiming they are "being carried out with reckless disregard for civilian life." "Israeli military attacks over the past few days have killed more than 75 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 10 children, and other unarmed civilian bystanders not involved in the confrontations" Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa program, said Sunday. "Israel has a legal obligation to protect the civilian population of Gaza. Such attacks are disproportionate and go beyond lawful measures which Israeli forces may take in response to rocket attacks...

Amnesty International today issued an urgent action calling for the protection of several Kenyan human rights defenders and activists who have received serious death threats. The group, which includes six men and three women -- some of whom are prominent members of human rights organizations -- have received a number of anonymous threats in the form of SMS messages, phone calls and emails. They are now taking precautions for their safety, such as moving house and not making any public statements. The threats include accusations that they are ”traitors” to their ethnicity. All but one of the activists are of...

Australian Archdiocese Directs 328 Catholic Schools to Withdraw Support from Amnesty International By Meg Jalsevac MELBOURNE, September 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Amnesty International is facing yet another national backlash after its recent policy decision to promote the decriminalization of abortion world-wide.  All 328 Catholic schools in the Australia archdiocese of Melbourne have been counseled to withdraw all aid to Amnesty and close their school sponsored Amnesty support groups. Mr. Stephen Elders, director of the Catholic Education Office in Melbourne, sent a letter to all the schools encouraging them to "convey their disappointment" to Amnesty regarding the new pro-abortion policy.  Elders...

Amnesty International Organizes Worldwide Gay Protest Against Nicaragua By Peter J. Smith MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 19, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - After enshrining abortion as a human right in its humanitarian mission, Amnesty International has now stepped up its campaign to target nations that criminalize sodomy as grave violators of human rights, beginning with Nicaragua. Last week Amnesty International through its affiliates orchestrated international protests outside Nicaraguan embassies and consulates in Germany, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Mexico, Paraguay, Sweden and Taiwan, demanding the repeal of Nicaragua's sodomy ban. "Article 204 contradicts numerous provisions in international human rights law," said an Amnesty press release....

Irish Diocese Advises Catholic School to Suspend Amnesty Chapter Irish Bishops scheduled next month to address issue of now pro-abortion AI in Catholic schools By Meg Jalsevac BELFAST, Ireland, September 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - According to the Irish newspaper, The Guardian, Ireland's bishops have begun to advise Catholic schools to terminate their Amnesty International support groups due to the organization's new pro-abortion policy. Amnesty International (AI), known as the world's most extensive human rights organization, has recently faced a worldwide backlash resulting from a recent policy decision to promote the decriminalization of the killing of unborn children. Much of the...

Despite Pleas, Ontario Bishop Refuses to Direct Catholic School on Amnesty International Local branch of AI still meets regularly in St. Sault Marie Catholic High School Hilary White SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario, September 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Despite ratifying its parent organization's decision to support abortion as a human right, the local branch of Amnesty International in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario still meets regularly at St. Basil Secondary Catholic school.  Since the AI decision was announced this spring, two Catholic bishops in the UK have joined the Vatican in condemning the move. Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council...

Sault Ste. Marie Bishop Leaves Decision to Support Amnesty to School Trustees In comments to local media Bishop used strong words to advise against support By Hilary White SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario, September 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic school trustees of Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario have been all but instructed by their bishop, Jean-Louis Plouffe, to drop support for Amnesty International because of the human rights group's recent adoption of abortion as a "human right". In comments to local media, while leaving the decision whether to support Amnesty up to trustees, Bishop Plouffe...

by Steven ErteltLifeNews.com EditorAugust 30, 2007London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The London Guardian caused an international sensation last week when it reported that a leading pro-life advocate who monitors music group and artists indicated singers Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne were pro-life. However, LifeNews.com has learned the activist never told the newspaper that.The singers were in the news because Erik Whittington, director of Rock for Life, was upset that Amnesty International put out a CD featuring them and other artists.The album's purpose was purportedly to raise funds for the victims of Darfur but money going to Amnesty International would now fund...

Rock for Life Corrects Times of London: Christina Aguilera Actually Supports Abortion By Hilary White LONDON, August 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Times of London has been corrected by US pro-life group Rock for Life after it claimed that a US pop singer is pro-life. On August 25, the Times newspaper ran the headline "Pro-life Rockers Clash with Amnesty," and claimed that the decision of the international rights organisation to support abortion as a "human right" was clashing with some well-known rock and pop stars who opposed abortion. The pop singers, Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne, the Times claimed, had...