Reports

Justice as a Weapon

Political Persecution in Bolivia

The 47-page report, “Justice as a Weapon: Political Persecution in Bolivia,” documents instances of baseless or disproportionate charges, due process violations, infringement of freedom of expression, and excessive and arbitrary use of pretrial detention in cases pursued by the interim government. Human Rights Watch also found examples of abuse of the justice system against Morales opponents during the Morales administration.

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  • A Wedding That Became a Funeral

    US Drone Attack on Marriage Procession in Yemen

    This 28-page report calls on the US government to investigate the strike, publish its findings, and act in the event of wrongdoing. The December 12 attack killed 12 men and wounded at least 15 other people, including the bride.

  • "Between a Drone and Al-Qaeda"

    The Civilian Cost of US Targeted Killings in Yemen

    The 97-page report examines six US targeted killings in Yemen, one from 2009 and the rest from 2012-2013.

  • “A Life-Threatening Career”

    Attacks on Journalists under Yemen’s New Government

    This 45-page report finds that while Yemenis generally enjoy greater freedom of expression since Hadi replaced Ali Abdullah Saleh as president in February 2012 after three decades of rule, this newfound freedom has been tempered by a rising incidence of threats and violence against the media.

  • Losing Humanity

    The Case against Killer Robots

    This 50-page report outlines concerns about these fully autonomous weapons, which would inherently lack human qualities that provide legal and non-legal checks on the killing of civilians.

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  • Spiraling Violence

    Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria

    This 98-page report catalogues atrocities for which Boko Haram has claimed responsibility. It also explores the role of Nigeria’s security forces, whose own alleged abuses contravene international human rights law and might also constitute crimes against humanity.

  • Delivered Into Enemy Hands

    US-Led Abuse and Rendition of Opponents to Gaddafi’s Libya

    This report is based on interviews conducted in Libya with 14 former detainees, most of whom belonged to an armed Islamist group that had worked to overthrow Gaddafi for 20 years. Many members of the group, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), joined the NATO-backed anti-Gaddafi rebels in the 2011 conflict.

  • In the Name of Security

    Counterterrorism Laws Worldwide since September 11

    The 112-page report says that while terrorist attacks have caused thousands of deaths and injuries, that is no justification for counterterrorism laws that violate the basic rights of suspects and that are also used for politically motivated purposes.

  • Ten Long Years

    A Briefing on Eritrea’s Missing Political Prisoners

    In September 2001, President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea ordered the detention of 21 senior government members and journalists who criticized him and his government.

  • Getting Away with Torture

    The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees

    This 107-page report presents substantial information warranting criminal investigations of Bush and senior administration officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and CIA Director George Tenet, for ordering practices such as “waterboarding,” the use of secret CIA prisons

  • The “Anti-Nationals”

    Arbitrary Detention and Torture of Terrorism Suspects in India

    This 106-page report documents consistent abuse by Indian security forces in their response to the scourge of terrorism attacks. State police, jail officials, and other authorities have committed a range of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and religious discrimination.

  • Protesting as a Terrorist Offense

    The Arbitrary Use of Terrorism Laws to Prosecute and Incarcerate Demonstrators in Turkey

    This report is based on a review of 50 cases. It describes 26 cases of individuals prosecuted for terrorism simply for taking part in protests deemed by the government to be sympathetic to the outlawed armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

  • Morocco: “Stop Looking for Your Son”

    Illegal Detentions under the Counterterrorism Law

    This report documents a pattern of abuse under Morocco's counterterrorism law, which was adopted 12 days after coordinated suicide bombings in Casablanca on May 16, 2003, took 45 lives.

  • Back to the Future

    India's 2008 Counterterrorism Laws

    This 20-page report is an analysis of the amendments to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), enacted after the November 26, 2008 attacks on Mumbai that killed 166 people and injured over 300.

  • Without Suspicion

    Stop and Search under the Terrorism Act 2000

    This 64-page report examines the use of the stop-and-search power under section 44 of the act. The power is intended to prevent terrorism.

  • “No Questions Asked”

    Intelligence Cooperation with Countries that Torture

    The 62-page report analyzes the ongoing cooperation by the governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom with foreign intelligence services in countries that routinely use torture. The three governments use the resulting foreign torture information for intelligence and policing purposes.