How should the United States relate to a solid ally whose human rights record is better than the norm in its region and better than its own record of 20 years ago - but is now heading in the wrong direction?

Morocco is taking another regressive step on human rights by blocking "unauthorized" visits by foreigners to the homes of Sahrawi activists in Western Sahara.

The Damascus Bar Association should reverse this week's decision to permanently disbar the lawyer and rights activist Muhanad al-Hasani.

Iran's Judiciary should block the execution of Ehsan Fattahian, scheduled for November 11, 2009, and revoke his death sentence.

Iraq's central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should protect besieged minorities in the disputed territories of Nineveh province.

Four Iranians are among 37 writers from 18 countries who are receiving the prestigious Hellman/Hammett award.

Two months ago in this column I raised the issue of accountability for war crimes committed in the Gaza conflict. I wrote that the findings and recommendations of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, and its reception by Israel, Hamas, the United States, and others, would be the key to achieving justice.  

The Lebanese government should investigate the deaths of eight migrant domestic workers during October, 2009, as well as the reasons for the disproportionately high death rate among this group of workers.