Hate Is Losing Ground in Europe: HRW Daily Brief
Plus: Hungary's crackdown against dissent; Death penalty in Lebanon & Egypt; Syria & Srebrenica 'safe zones'; World Day Against Child Labor; Kids harassed for protests in Russia; Release of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi & the ICC; a travesty of justice in Turkey; #EndChildMarriage in New York.
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Zehra Dogan is a Turkish journalist and artist. Today she was jailed for a painting depicting the war-torn town of Nusaybin, situated on the Turkish-Syrian border and home to intense fighting between Turkish forces and Kurdish fighters over the past few years. Curiously, the court that sentenced Zehra decided the painting constituted "terrorist propaganda." But it was based on a photo. It's not the first time Turkey has wielded broad powers against Zehra and other members of free media.
Another United States court has ruled against President Trump's travel ban that sought to bar entry to the US for individuals from six Muslim-majority countries. It is another significant move against a dangerous piece of of legislation that would do little more than help entrench prejudice in the US.
Corey Ladd was arrested in New Orleans in 2011 for possessing half an ounce of marijuana. Because of two prior convictions and Louisiana's overly harsh laws criminalizing personal drug use, he was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole. A court recently recognized the overly harsh nature of these laws, similar to others that tear apart families across the US, and now Corey is finally set to be released.
From earlier today: Three weeks after the election of the liberal and EU-friendly centrist Emmanuel Macron as President of France, voters went to the polling stations again on Sunday, this time for a new parliament. Next Sunday, a second round will be held, and it looks like Macron's party could get between 400-440 seats in the house of parliament that has 577 seats. Read HRW's comment on the latest political developments in France.
The government in Hungary is trying to silence its critics with a new law. This draft law targets nongovernmental organizations and would force some groups that receive funding from outside Hungary to register as “foreign funded” and subject them to excessive sanctions and obligations. Parliament will vote on the draft law on Tuesday.
The death penalty is in the news again in Egypt and Lebanon, for all the wrong reasons...
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