Jun 23, 2010 | News
The ICJ strongly condemns the decision of the Second Criminal Court of Damascus to convict Mr. Muhannad Al-Hasani, a prominent lawyer and human rights defender, and sentence him to three years imprisonment.
He was arrested on 28 July by officers of the Syrian General Intelligence Service and formally charged by an Investigating Judge on 12 October 2009 for“weakening national sentiments and encouraging racist and sectarian feelings”, and “transferring false and exaggerated news that weaken national sentiments” under Articles 285, 286 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Syria-Al-Hasani immediate release-press release-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
Syria-Al-Hasani persecution continues-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Syria-trial Al-Hasani Criminal Court-trial observation report-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Jun 4, 2009 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ and other human rights groups underscored the rejection by the international human rights bodies of the use of military prosecutors and courts in cases involving abuses against civilians in Mexico.
The organizations said that the jurisdiction of military courts should be limited to offenses that are strictly military in nature. It was pointed to the practices by the Mexican military prosecutors and courts that routinely investigate members of the military accused of committing human rights violations, which violate Mexico’s obligations under international law and appear to contravene Article 13 of Mexico’s Constitution.
Mexico-Joint Oral statement-non-legal submissions-2009 (full text, PDF)
Feb 28, 2008 | News
The European Court of Human Rights today reaffirmed that the ban on deporting people to countries where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment is absolute and unconditional.
Dec 12, 2005 | News
The Coalition of International NGOs Against Torture (CINAT), commends United High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour for making the fight against torture a central theme of this year’s Human Rights Day.
In this context, CINAT wishes to remind States that the prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (ill treatment) is absolute and is a peremptory norm under international law.
human rights day-press release-2005 (full text in English, PDF)
Jun 28, 2005 | News
The ICJ and other rights groups welcome the decision of the Syrian Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) on June 26, 2005, to drop all charges against Syrian human rights defender Aktham Naisse (photo).
