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Ending the Abusive Treatment of Prisoners Libya Frees Political Prisoner Idris Boufayed Is Promised Travel for Medical Treatment Libya freed Dr. Idris Boufayed from detention on October 8, almost 20 months after security agents arrested him for planning a peaceful demonstration, Human Rights Watch said today. Boufayed, who suffers from advanced lung cancer, was released from detention in a hospital and promised that he would be allowed to travel abroad for medical care. October 10, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Jordan: Torture in Prisons Routine and Widespread Reforms Fail to Tackle Abuse, Impunity Persists Jordan should end routine and widespread torture in its prisons, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Human Rights Watch called on the government to overhaul mechanisms for investigating, disciplining and prosecuting abusers, and in particular to transfer prosecutor’s investigations into prison abuse from police to civilian prosecutors. October 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Torture and Impunity in Jordan’s Prisons Reforms Fail to Tackle Widespread Abuse
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-382-X October 8, 2008 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 368 KB, 95 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Letter to the Lebanese Government from Rights Groups Inquiring about Lebanese Prison Conditions We are a group of Lebanese and international organizations working on human rights issues in Lebanon. We welcome your decision on August 6, 2008 to ask the General Inspectorate to investigate allegations of abuses occurring inside Lebanese prisons following the serious allegations of corruption, and of ill-treatment of prisoners aired on al-Fasad, a program on New TV. October 7, 2008 Letter Also available in
Bangladesh: Stop Denying Killings and Torture Address Rights Abuses and Hold Security Forces to Account The Bangladesh interim government should use its last months in office to seriously address persistent rights abuses rather than deny that they are happening, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the government. Human Rights Watch remains deeply concerned about continuing reports of torture and extrajudicial killings by state security forces and the government’s failure to hold those responsible to account. October 6, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Saudi Arabia: Free Political Prisoners Many Criminals Granted Amnesty, but Activists Remain in Prison The Saudi government should free unlawfully detained political activists, including Professor Matrook al-Faleh, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading advocates of reform, Human Rights Watch said today. Although Saudi prison officials said that they had amnestied 1,000 convicted criminals during Ramadan in September, dozens of political activists remain behind bars or are subject to arbitrary travel bans. October 3, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to the Prime Minister of Guinea As leader of Guinea’s newly formed government, we are writing this open letter in order to express our deep concern about your government’s continuing inaction in the face of severe and ongoing human rights abuses in Guinea. August 14, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Guinea: New Leader Should Address Rights Abuses Urgent Need to End Impunity Guinea’s new leader should put the country’s chronic human rights problems at the top of his agenda, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré made public today. August 14, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Arkansas: Grant Clemency for Mentally Retarded Man Sentenced to Death Letter to the Arkansas Parole Board and Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment because of its inherent cruelty and finality. The death penalty is inevitably carried out in an arbitrary manner, inflicted primarily on the most vulnerable – the poor, the mentally ill, and persons of color. In the case of Frank Williams, Jr., whose execution is scheduled for September 9, 2008, the death penalty is particularly inappropriate because of the clear evidence that Mr. Williams is mentally retarded and received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial and in post-conviction proceedings. August 1, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Reforming Juvenile Injustice By Carol Chodroff, advocacy director, US Program Published in The Huffington Post Juvenile justice policies in the United States are replete with contradictions between practices proven to prevent crime, and punitive laws politicians promote to get elected. Juvenile and criminal justice principles, scientific research on prevention, intervention, and adolescent brain development, and US treaty obligations argue against the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" policies that harm children, increase recidivism and exacerbate crime. Next week, the US Senate should act on reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (JJDPA) and amendments to improve juvenile justice in this country. Improvement is long overdue. July 2, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Onward and Ever Upward – But Not in a Good Way By Jamie Fellner, senior counsel in the US Program Published in The Huffington Post The United States incarcerates the greatest number of people in the world (2.3 million), and at the highest rate (762 out of every 100,000 people). So why the never-ending prison growth? Three ill-considered policies drive it: the war on drugs, draconian sentencing laws, and punitive parole practices. The extraordinary rate of incarceration in the US is not necessary to protect the public – community-based sanctions and treatment for addiction would be even more effective at reducing most kinds of nonviolent crime and at far less cost. Meanwhile, the unnecessary incarceration of Americans damages individuals, families and communities. June 20, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister to Abolish the Death Penalty Charges carrying the death penalty have significantly increased in recent years in Pakistan, resulting in a much higher number of death sentences and executions. Pakistan has over 95,000 people in custody for criminal offenses, of which approximately 67 percent (about 63,600) are pre-trial detainees. Out of the more than 31,400 convicts, nearly a quarter—over 7,000 individuals, including almost 40 women—have been sentenced to death, and are either involved in lengthy appeals processes or awaiting execution after all appeals have been exhausted. June 16, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Burma: Free Celebrity Activist Critical of Aid Response Concerned Governments Should Press for Zargana's Release Burma’s military government should immediately free detained activist Zargana and permit him to continue distributing aid unhindered to communities affected by Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today. June 13, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Ethiopia: Army Commits Executions, Torture, and Rape in Ogaden Donors Should Act to Stop Crimes Against Humanity In its battle against rebels in eastern Ethiopia's Somali Region, Ethiopia's army has subjected civilians to executions, torture, and rape, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The widespread violence, part of a vicious counterinsurgency campaign that amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, has contributed to a looming humanitarian crisis, threatening the survival of thousands of ethnic Somali nomads. June 12, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version US: Improve Prison Conditions at Guantanamo New Report Finds Treatment of Detainees Unnecessarily Harsh More than two-thirds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including many cleared for release or transfer, are being housed in inhumane conditions that are reportedly having a damaging effect on their mental health, Human Rights Watch said in a new report. June 10, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version The insanity inside Guantánamo A new report reveals that a number of prisoners – even some long ago cleared to leave – are spiraling into hallucinations, despair and suicide. By Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel, and Stacy Sullivan, counterterrorism advisor Published in salon.com Approximately 185 of the roughly 270 men still being held at Guantanamo – including many who have been cleared for release or transfer – are being housed in facilities akin to US “supermax” prisons. Such detainees spend 22 hours a day alone in small cells with little or no natural light or fresh air, extremely limited contact with other human beings, and little more than a book and the Koran to occupy their time. Several are reportedly suffering from depression and anxiety disorder, and some have reported having visions and hearing voices. June 10, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Spain: Improve Care for Migrant Children Ombudsman Confirms Human Rights Watch Abuse Findings (Brussels, June 9, 2008) - An investigation by the Spanish Ombudsman has revealed serious shortcomings in two Canary Islands emergency care centers housing up to 200 unaccompanied migrant children, Human Rights Watch said today. The Spanish Ombudsman’s office launched an independent investigation in September 2007, triggered by the Human Rights Watch report “Unwelcome Responsibilities: Spain’s Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands.” This report documents serious human rights violations against several hundred unaccompanied migrant children housed in emergency care centers on the islands. The conclusions of the Ombudsman’s investigation have now been made public. June 9, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to Prince Khaled bin Faisal on the Detention of Tariq Yunis H.R.H. Prince Khaled bin Faisal bin Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa’ud Governor Mekka Region Your Royal Highness, We write to you to request that you order the immediate release of Tariq Yunis Akram Mashharawi, currently imprisoned in Buraiman prison, Jeddah. June 9, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version US: Prison Numbers Hit New High Blacks Hardest Hit by Incarceration Policy New figures showing that US incarceration rates are climbing even higher, with racial minorities greatly overrepresented in prisons and jails, highlight the need to adopt alternative criminal justice policies, Human Rights Watch said today. June 6, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Jordan: Prison Burning Deaths Need Independent Investigation Police Investigation Ignores Evidence, Intimidates Witnesses King Abdullah should order an independent investigation into the events surrounding the deaths on April 14 of three prisoners at al-Muwaqqar prison east of Amman, Human Rights Watch said today. Despite ample evidence of misconduct, and potentially criminal acts by prison officials, police authorities told Human Rights Watch that their investigation into the incident will vindicate the prison officials, setting out that they acted correctly. May 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in
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