http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/humanrights/ en-us Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:42:23 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411391/posts At the height of Iran's bloody civil unrest this year, a young doctor named Ramin Pourandarjani defied his superiors. He refused to sign death certificates at a Tehran prison that he said were falsified to cover up murder. He testified to a parliamentary committee that jailers were torturing and raping protesters, his family says. He told friends and family he feared for his life. And on Nov. 10, the 26-year-old doctor was found dead in the military clinic where he lived and worked. ........................................................................................................ Iranian officials first blamed the doctor's death on a car accident, then a heart attack, then... WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411391/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:42:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2408653/posts After side-stepping human rights concerns in China earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton firmly outlined the current U.S. diplomatic position on international human in her statement delivered at Georgetown University on Monday, December 14th. Confronting the issue head on, she underscored the State Department's commitment to human rights with a "pragmatic stance," asserting that U.S. human rights policy toward political and economic giants like Russia and China is often best conducted behind closed doors. TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2408653/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:49:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2407821/posts Here is video of an outstanding and courageous report from Sky News that shows the human rights abuses going on in Communist China. The report talks to Chinese citizens who have been arrested, imprisoned and tortured for protesting the abuses of the Chinese Government. Some of the video was shot secretly, even managing to talk with some Chinese being held in "mental hospitals" for their opposition to the human rights abuses in China. . . . (VIDEO) Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2407821/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:55:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406640/posts Left-wing human rights activists have drawn the ‘red line’ at the Green Line to ban a human rights newspaper of Judea and Samaria from a march on behalf of people’s’ rights. “It’s propaganda,” they claimed. Israel National News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406640/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:30:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404868/posts “In a startling disclosure from an exchange at an East London mosque, Imam Abdul Makin and a leading Muslim lawyer have supported the killing and raping of non-Muslims, declaring all non-Muslims as guilty and subject to lethal abuse.” TownHall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404868/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:25:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396605/posts People Not PlacardsThe real cost of Obama-style -diplomacy.by Elliott Abrams 12/07/2009, Volume 015, Issue 12 The Obama approach to world politics--engage, apologize, avoid friction, be humble, reach out to previously scorned tyrannical regimes--is being criticized nowadays on pragmatic grounds. A record of 10 months shows this modest approach has brought modest if any returns. Low costs, the president's defenders argue, and low risks, so it has been worth trying, even if the gains have been small.But the Obama approach has a moral cost that is usually overlooked and that is very high for our country and for embattled fighters for... The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396605/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:12:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2385726/posts A Reason to Rally Malcolm A. Kline, November 13, 2009 One piece of hope and change on the campuses that voted overwhelmingly for the party in power is that anti-war rallies centered on the American occupation of Iraq have virtually disappeared. Ironically, there are developments worth protesting in the nascent democracy. For example, the plight of Iraq’s Christian population should be of concern to anyone who claims to be energized by human rights concerns. By all accounts, Iraqi Christians account for less than 10 percent of the country’s population but a much greater proportion of its refugees and internally displaced... AIA- FL Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2385726/posts#comment Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:05:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2384629/posts China continues to operate a network of "black jails" to detain poor people who attempt to go to Beijing to complain about injustices at the hands of corrupt local officials, according to Human Rights Watch. The unofficial jails, which have been found in the basements of hotels, hospitals and even government ministries, are guarded by privately-hired thugs and "retrievers" who are paid to abduct complainants before they reach senior officials in Beijing. The New York-based rights group's 53-page report , "An Alleyway in Hell", is based on interviews with former black jail inmates, Chinese journalists, lawyers and academics, and has... Telegraph UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2384629/posts#comment Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:44:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374128/posts Looks like the notorious UN Human Rights Council has taken a break from its constant bashing of Israel and is focusing on (ready for this?) housing violations in US cities, including New York. You didn't know that "adequate housing" (whether you pay for it or not) was universal human birthright? Neither did we. Nonetheless, the panel sent its "special rapporteur on adequate housing," Raquel Rolnik, on a whirlwind tour to sniff out these "violations" -- not to say, crimes -- against humanity. Rolnik launched her US visit last week in the city and is also traveling to places like Chicago,... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374128/posts#comment Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373580/posts UNITED NATIONS — A Canadian-led bid to focus attention on Iran's human rights record says United Nations special investigators should turn their gaze on the Islamic republic, according to a draft resolution that's expected to be unveiled Thursday. The move by Canada and the measure's co-sponsoring governments comes amid criticism that many of UN human rights investigators spend a disproportionate amount of time probing alleged abuses in advanced democracies, while ignoring countries where the worst abuse takes place. The draft resolution calls on investigators of torture, extra-judicial executions, free speech suppression, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and persecution of human rights... CanWest http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373580/posts#comment Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:37:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372512/posts Sri Lanka is joining Israel as a country facing a war crimes investigation for effectively fighting back against terrorism. The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372512/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:26:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2370150/posts For those of you who have never even heard of a “Special Rapporteur,” you may be surprised to find out that one has been appointed by the United Nations (UN), under a special mandate from the UN Human Rights Council (the successor to the corrupt and anti-Israel UN Commission on Human Rights), to open a probe—for the first time ever— into human rights violations by the United States because of a perception that there isn’t enough affordable public housing in urban areas. NewsRealblog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2370150/posts#comment Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:37:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2368666/posts "...what is wrong with a continent of people who support the rape of 13 year old girls. Does that continent have something in common, morally, with Somalia where a 13 year old girl was recently stoned to death for being raped?" Next up: "...Black African women in 1800 had good enough sense to run from the slavers in West Africa who desired to take them in chains to the new world. But white women born today in Moscow, London or New York..." And, finally, "Freeing ourselves from Europeanism: How is it that the committers of the Holocaust are the ones... Terra Incognita Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2368666/posts#comment Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:56:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2366682/posts Peace has been an almost fleeting dream since the beginning of history, many died defending it, far more died pursuing it. Perhaps, it would be fitting for Obama to go Norway and accept the Nobel Prize in the name of the over one million American GIs who died during WWI, WWII and other conflicts throughout the world fighting tyranny. Yes, it would be most fitting for President Obama to accept the Nobel Prize in the name of those Americans who gave their lives so the world would enjoy freedom. But, he won't! Such emotions, such admiration, such pride, form no... Freedom's Cost http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2366682/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:26:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2366675/posts In Massachusetts not long ago, I found myself driving behind a car with "Free Tibet," "Save Darfur," and "Obama 08" bumper stickers. I wonder if it will ever dawn on the owner of that car that at least one of those stickers doesn't belong. WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2366675/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:19:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366556/posts The world thinks better of the United States, we are told, because Barack Obama is in the White House. Maybe the world is wrong. It’s fanciful, of course, to speak of what “the world” thinks about anything. It’s safe to say that among Norwegian prize-givers and Canadian avant-garde filmmakers, Obama is extremely popular. And certainly among bien pensant Americans, the advent of Obama is viewed as the moral pinnacle of American history. It has always been a particular vanity of the Left to believe itself morally superior to others. But the claims for this presidency have been beyond extravagant. Global... National Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366556/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:13:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2365883/posts President Barack Obama is putting the finishing touches on making a mockery out of the unsupportable claim that Democrats care about women's rights by his signal to the Afghan Taliban, warlords, strongmen, militias, and tribal leaders that he's ready to negotiate with anyone there in order to smooth his efforts in that troubled region. President Obama is letting it be known that he's prepared to cut deals with the Taliban in order for Afghan warlords to cut ties with al Qaeda. Obama thinks he can work with the supposedly "moderate" Taliban groups in Afghanistan in a bid to oust al... Publius Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2365883/posts#comment Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:48:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2365321/posts snip Also problematic is the resolution’s attempt to make the restriction of free speech a human right. In fact, it is free speech that constitutes a human right and not its restriction. Ideologies, ideas and religions do not, and should not be afforded “human rights." They should be fair game for criticism, analysis, open debate and discussion. Religions and ideologies cannot be “defamed." Once ideologies are afforded protection from criticism, it is in direct contradiction to individual human rights.snip Front Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2365321/posts#comment Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:20:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2361359/posts Islamic Groups Shut Down Worship of Church in Indonesia The Rev. Bedali Hulu (photo: Compass) Under pressure from Islamists, local officials order halt to services in home. JAKARTA, Indonesia, October 5 (CDN) — Several Islamic organizations have pressed officials in a sub-district near Indonesia’s capital city to forbid Jakarta Christian Baptist Church to worship in a house, resulting in an order to cease services. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the Betawi Forum Group, and political party Hizbut Tahrir have told officials in Sepatan sub-district, Tangerang district, near Jakarta that worship activities cannot be conducted in a residence. The house belongs... Compass Direct http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2361359/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:09:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2361345/posts Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt Protestant Copt, 61, illegally detained then released without charges after four days. ISTANBUL, October 6 (CDN) — An Egyptian Christian arrested in Cairo for handing out gospel leaflets and held in prison illegally for four days has been released, the freed Protestant Copt told Compass. Abdel Kamel, 61, was arrested on Sept. 23 in downtown Cairo for handing out copies of a Christian leaflet. As they arrested him, police told Kamel it was “unlawful” to hand out religious information on public roads. When Kamel countered that Muslims commonly hand out Islamic literature, police... Compass Direct http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2361345/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:59:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2359450/posts [There are no graphic images in the article proper. They are accessed through a slide show only.]The photographs are graphic and detailed, showing the fingers or toes of aborted fetuses whose entire frames are no bigger than a cellphone. Since the mid-1990s, they have appeared all over the country — carried as posters by protesters, handed out with pamphlets or, in some cases, mounted like billboards on the sides of trucks. Like many others, I often wondered about the source of these images. Who took the pictures? Where did the fetuses come from? I had a chance to find some... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2359450/posts#comment Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:57:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358297/posts President Barack Obama's adviser on Muslim affairs, Dalia Mogahed, has provoked controversy by appearing on a British television show hosted by a member of an extremist group to talk about Sharia Law. The White House adviser made the remarks on a London-based TV discussion programme hosted by Ibtihal Bsis, a member of the extremist Hizb ut Tahrir party. The group believes in the non-violent destruction of Western democracy and the creation of an Islamic state under Sharia Law across the world. The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358297/posts#comment Fri, 9 Oct 2009 13:09:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2357724/posts A plumber whose arm was left twisted grotesquely out of shape in an accident ten months ago has had an operation to correct it 'cancelled four times'. Torron Eeles, 50, has been left unable to work since falling down the stairs and now fears he may lose his home after being denied incapacity benefit. The father-of-three today hit out at the NHS for the 'unacceptable delays', but East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said Mr Eeles had his operation cancelled on 'only' two occasions on clinical safety grounds. His left arm has hung limply by his side since he fractured... dailymail.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2357724/posts#comment Thu, 8 Oct 2009 18:33:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356419/posts I've got to say, even for the Obama administration, this is a real shocker. The Clinton State Department has decided to cut off all funding for the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC), which was compiling lists of protestors imprisoned in this summer's unrest, as well as those who were killed in the crackdown. IHRDC is what human-rights advocates should be: methodical, precise, and apolitical in their work. And yet, the Obama administration has, without explanation, cut off all federal funding to the group which has consistently fulfilled its mandate. Anyone, across the political spectrum who has any interest in... National Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356419/posts#comment Wed, 7 Oct 2009 02:08:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356307/posts An important Boston Globe story by Farah Stockman on the State Department's defunding of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) has been noted at Hot Air, the Corner, and Instapundit. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356307/posts#comment Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:19:58 GMT