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Algeria: Authorities must not allow another preventable death in detention

NGOs raise serious concerns for physical and psychological integrity of prisoner of conscience Abdallah Benaoum subjected to long-term judicial harassment.

Global legal community calls on Egypt to release human rights lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer

The undersigned members of the global legal community stand in solidarity with Egyptian lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer as he awaits his verdict on baseless criminal charges on December 20, 2021, following years of reprisal by the Egyptian state. The signatories call on the Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against el-Baqer, to promptly release him unconditionally, and to lift the restrictive measures imposed on him for his work as an attorney. They further call on the Egyptian authorities to halt the targeting of Egyptian lawyers for their legal defense work and exercise of fundamental freedoms.

Joint NGO letter urges EU targeted sanctions against NSO Group

In a joint letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, a coalition of 86 NGOs and independent experts call on the EU to place targeted sanctions against the Israeli NSO Group.

Don’t sportswash human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the UAE: NGOs write to Formula One CEO ahead of Grand Prix

In a joint letter, 16 human rights organisations call on the CEO of Formula One Group to end sportswashing ahead of the Grand Prix that will take place in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in December 2021 and, instead, to use this event as a platform to highlight human rights violations perpetrated by these regimes.

Civil society groups demand urgent UN action against impunity for Yemen crimes

A coalition of 64 organisations call on the United Nations General Assembly to act swiftly to establish an investigative mechanism to gather and preserve evidence of serious human rights abuses and violations of the laws of war in Yemen. Failure to act would not only be a vote for impunity in Yemen, but it would also be a green light to commit further abuses and war crimes.

New law on the protection of national symbols: a threat to freedom of expression on social networks in Mauritania

Joint letter on the the adoption, by the Mauritanian parliament, of the Law on the protection of national symbols and criminalisation of offenses against the authority of the state and the honour of the citizen on November 9, 2021. The signatory organisations fear that this law will negatively impact the exercise of freedom of expression in Mauritania.

US Congress: Block the Biden administration’s $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia

In a joint-letter signed by 46 organisations, MENA Rights Group joins a coalition of NGOs calling on the US Congress to oppose the Biden administration's plan to sell air-to-air missiles and hundreds of missile launders to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the undersigned NGOs, the sale of such weapons to Saudi Arabia would violate existing laws that prohibit the United States from providing arms and security assistance to gross human rights violators and those restricting access to humanitarian assistance.

Rights-based organisations express their “deepest concern” over the election of the UAE’s Ahmed Al Raisi as president of INTERPOL

On Monday November 29, 2021, a coalition of 15 rights-based organisations sent a joint-letter to INTERPOL's Secretary General, Mr Jürgen Stock, expressing their "deepest concern over the election of Mr Ahmed Al Raisi, the General Inspector of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Interior, to the presidency of INTERPOL" during the INTERPOL's 89th General Assembly last week.

45 Members of the European Parliament express concerns over UAE candidate for presidency of INTERPOL

On November 19, 2021, a group of 45 MEPs signed a joint letter to EU High Representative Josep Borrell, sponsored by MEP Ernest Urtasun under the joint initiative of two NGOs, the European Centre for Human Rights (ECDHR) and MENA Rights Group, expressing concern over the potential appointment of Emirati General Major Ahmed Nasser Al […]

Human rights organisations call on Libyan authorities to rescind the new cybercrime law

The undersigned organisations call upon Libyan authorities to rescind the cybercrime law recently adopted by the Libyan House of Representatives. The law would severely restrict freedom of expression, curtail press freedom, and legalise mass surveillance of speech online. Additionally, the law allows for warrantless blocking of websites and content.

African Commission holds workshop to validate Guidelines on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances in Africa

On November 5-6, 2021, MENA Rights Group took part in a workshop organised by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia, to validate new guidelines on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances in Africa.

NGOs condemn Israel’s designation of six Palestinian human rights organisations as “terrorists”

Coalition composed of 242 regional and international NGOs calls upon the international community to publicly condemn and reject Israel’s designation of six Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist organisations”.
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