Focus on Rights in France: Daily Brief

Can persecuted dissidents such as China's Liu Xia and countless others count on France to defend them? It seems not, after French president Emmanuel Macron's visit of China last week. France's human rights record is scrutinized today at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and on Thursday, when Human Rights Watch publishes its World Report 2018 at a press conference in Paris. A military court in Israel will decide today whether to release 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi on bail or keep her in jail until the end of her trial. Tamimi has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance, and some Israeli politicians have called for her to be harshly punished. After the latest racist remarks by United States President Donald Trump, the big question is: will other political leaders speak out and act against his xenophobic views and policies? The Islamist armed group Al-Shabab has threatened and abducted civilians in Somalia’s Bay region to force communities to hand over their children for indoctrination and military training in recent months, according to new research that HRW published today. Vietnam should drop charges of violating probation against the veteran human rights activist Nguyen Van Oai and allow him to go home, says HRW. The People’s Court of Nghe An province will hear Nguyen Van Oai's appeal today. Rare positive news from Saudi Arabia, where women are finally allowed inside football stadiums... In the Czech Republic, xenophobic President Miloš Zeman may be on his way out. And if you're in Amsterdam early February, don't miss the Human Rights Weekend, organized by De Balie and HRW. Buy your tickets here before they sell out.