Greece Downplays Toxic Lead Levels in Refugee Camp: Daily Brief
Justice needed for dead Rwandan singer; global calls to end Myanmar coup amid mass protests; Dubai princess says she’s being held hostage; Jimmy Lai arrested while in custody; torrential rains displace thousands in Mozambique; Belarus authorities intimidate journalists and activists; Sri Lanka’s forced cremation rule denies Muslims their rights.
The Greek government continues to downplay the toxic levels of lead in Lesbos where thousands of refugee reside. Exposure to lead can cause lifelong harm, and the government should listen to environmental health experts who are advising immediate action to assess and address the full risk for residents and employees in the camp, and mitigate the harm.
The Rwandan government, while painting a progressive and stable image of the country, systematically purges its critics and targets who, like singer Kizito Mihigo, stray from the country’s official narrative.
More civil society groups and leaders are calling for global unity against the military coup in Myanmar as protests continue in the country.
Princess Latifa al-Maktoum, daughter of Dubai ruler Mohammed al-Maktoum, has accused her father of holding her hostage. A British court has previously upheld allegations on the abusive conduct of the people acting for the Dubai’s ruler.
Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai has reportedly been arrested while awaiting a bail hearing. Lai is the first prominent person detained under China’s new security law.
Tens of thousands in Mozambique have been displaced due to heavy rains and marooned in Boane district in Maputo.
The nationwide wave of raids human rights defenders and journalists by Belarusian law enforcement officials is an intimidation tactic targeting people who have documented or reported on the ongoing mass protests following the disputed January elections.
And finally, Sri Lanka had pledged to stop forced cremations of people who died from Covid-19. But the cremations continue and deny Muslims their right to bury their loved ones.