Saudi Regime 'Sportswashing' Rights Record: Daily Brief

Saudi regime tries to sportswash its awful human rights record with Dakar rally; high-tech police weapons do more harm than good in the United States; the year ahead for human rights in China; arrest of Ugandan opposition leader spells trouble for 2021 election; Sri Lanka should repeal abusive counterterrorism law; our World Report is going out next week; and news from the upcoming Human Rights Weekend in Amsterdam. 

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Saudi Arabia is in the spotlight again for trying to sportswash its awful human rights record, this time with the Dakar Rally, which will be concluded on January 17. Human Rights Watch and 12 other organizations have asked the organizer of the rally in a letter to denounce the persecution of women’s rights advocates in the country.

Last month, the Los Angeles Police Department rolled out the BolaWrap, a hand-held weapon that shoots a Kevlar cord with hooks on it that wraps tightly around the targeted person.

This new weapon raises serious concerns, says HRW's John Raphling.

What will 2020 bring for human rights in China? HRW's China-director Sophie Richardson has some ideas.

Authorities in Uganda have stepped up their repression recently by blocking all “political” meetings – even those held in private homes – and arresting opposition figures and journalists.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and senior appointees linked to wartime abuses are wasting no time dismantling the human rights gains of recent years. The EU, which offers Sri Lanka preferential trading terms in return for human rights guarantees, should demand the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.”

Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW's South Asia director. 

On Wednesday, HRW will publish its annual World Report, with events in several countries, such as Sweden.

And if you're in Amsterdam in February, don't miss the Human Rights Weekend in De Balie!