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Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 26 May 2015

Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Ireland, abortion, Philippines, EU migrants, Rohingya plight, North Korea, Safe Schools

Jordan's police and security forces operate with near-total impunity, conducting raids on civilians and mistreating prisoners. With protests against the police ongoing, the Jordanian government should seize this opportunity to curb police abuse.
Saudi Arabia has carried out its 88th execution of 2015, officially surpassing its 2014 total. This dubious milestone is a grim reminder of the continuing rollback of rights in Saudi Arabia.
From earlier today: As fighting in the Libyan city of Benghazi intensifies, civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire and becoming trapped between warring factions. Many civilians remain cut off in dire conditions, and in some cases militants are stopping people from leaving areas under their control.
The trial of a Washington Post journalist with dual US-Iranian nationality is set to begin in Iran today. Jason Rezaian faces 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him, which include 'espionage'. His case has been plagued by serious violations of due process that are neither unique nor untypical in Iran.
Ireland has overwhelmingly voted "yes" in a referendum on gay marriage, a historic move which will also help tackle discrimination against the country's LGBT community. But amid the celebrations, it's worth remembering that no group should have to beg for their rights.
The Irish 'yes' vote rightly sparked celebrations around the world. But not all rights are created equal, it seems, with some battles - notably women's rights to abortion - seemingly a much harder nut to crack.
An astonishing story from the Philippines, where the mayor of a large city has admitted having links to a brutal "death squad" which is accused of carrying out a wave of summary executions.
The EU's plan to deal with Europe's migrant crisis partly by taking military action against the boats used by smugglers in Libya is increasingly coming under fire - and ridicule.

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