Best of Dispatches: Top News Posts This Week

Sexual assault masquerading as science in Afghanistan; Denmark uses a new tactic to deter asylum seekers; and Apple v. the US government - these were among the most popular posts to Dispatches, our daily forum for breaking human rights news and commentary.

Dispatches: Sexual Assault in the Name of Science in Afghanistan

Heather Barr
These so-called virginity exams are not just demeaning – they constitute sexual assault...

Dispatches: Denmark's Deterrence Tactics on Refugees

Gerry Simpson
Denmark’s recent decision to seize cash and valuables from refugees to help cover the costs of hosting them rightly sparked global outrage. But another underhanded deterrent scheme to limit the number of asylum seekers heading for Denmark has, so far, gone largely unnoticed...

Dispatches: Apple's Standoff and Security for All

Cynthia M. Wong
Contrary to the United States government line, Apple’s resistance to helping it hack the San Bernardino shooter’s phone isn’t about privacy for mass murderers, and isn’t about one phone...

Dispatches: Is Azerbaijan the Company the EU Wants to Keep?

Philippe Dam
After the Yunuses’ release, the EU had expressed hopes that “further steps will follow” from the Azerbaijani government to improve its abysmal human rights record. This hasn’t happened...

Dispatches: Regulating US Abortion Providers Off the Map

Meghan Rhoad
This week, the United States Supreme Court took up the most important abortion rights case in at least a decade...