Stop Crackdown on Protests in Nigeria: Daily Brief
Plus: Russia’s "gay propaganda" law harms children; free speech important for free elections in Thailand; Egypt targets people who spoke to UN expert; Bahraini footballer extradited; veteran Russian activist laid to rest; and Time magazine announces its person of the year.
On this day three years ago, the Nigeria army used disproportionate force against the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s street procession in Zaria, Kaduna State to clear a route for the army chief’s convoy. This led to a 3-day crackdown where over 300 members of the group were killed.
Russia ‘gay propaganda’ law is harmful to LGBT children. It stops mental health providers from counseling children who have questions about sexual orientation and gender identity.
Thailand should lift all restrictions ahead of the elections in February. For more than four years now, the Thai junta has routinely enforced media censorship and blocked public discussions about human rights and democracy.
Egyptian authorities have attacked people who engaged with the UN special rapporteur on adequate housing.
This week Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi was taken to Bangkok Criminal Court, where bail was denied and his detention was extended for 60 days so Thailand can prepare his extradition to Bahrain, a country where he has said he was tortured.
As Russia’s rights matriarch Lyudmila Alexeyeva is laid to rest, we should all be inspired to do our best to never give up, even in the face of populist politics as she often reminded us.
And, Time magazine person of the year edition speaks out on the state of freedom of the press and honors journalists killed, detained or threatened for their work.