Amnesty International called on the Government of Namibia to ensure the safety of LGBTQ persons Wednesday ahead of a major decision by the country’s High Court. The High Court is expected to make a verdict on June 21 in a case involving sodomy and unnatural offenses laws dating back to the colonial era that criminalize [...]
![Madagascar president’s former chief of staff sentenced to jail for bribery](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/jail_1699078063.jpg)
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina’s former chief of staff was sentenced to three years and six months in jail by a London court on Friday for requesting substantial sums of money in exchange for exclusive mining rights from Gemfields, a UK-based company that specializes in mining rubies and emeralds. Romy Andrianarisoa, 47, was arrested and charged [...]
![Nigeria investigative journalist released after spending more than a week in police custody](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/journalist_1674667238.jpg)
Nigerian investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu on Friday was released after 10 days in police custody. Ojukwu was released after intense criticism and protests from media rights groups demanding his release. The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) released a statement on Ojukwu’s release thanking both local and international media organizations, civil society organizations, activists, lawyers, and [...]
![Canada police arrest three men from India over murder of Sikh separatist](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/01/canada_police_1578495218.jpg)
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Friday announced the arrest of 3 Indian men suspected of murdering prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The arrested individuals have been identified as Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22), all of whom were residing in Edmonton, Alberta at the time of the arrest. [...]
![Colombia president suspends ceasefire with armed rebel group following attack on indigenous community](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/06/Colombia-Army.jpg)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Sunday that his government suspended the ceasefire with the EMC group of rebels in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca. The announcement comes a day after the rebel group attacked an indigenous community in the country. An armed group on Saturday shot an indigenous guard in Toribío, [...]
![El Salvador legislature approves request to extend state of emergency](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/XIII_Legislative_Assembly_of_El_Salvador.jpg)
The El Salvador legislature approved President Nayib Bukele’s request to extend the state of emergency, which has been ongoing for two years, for 30 days. The approval by the 147th plenary session marks an extension number 24 since the decree was declared. Speaking after the approval, Ernesto Castro, president of the assembly, said, “Defending the [...]
![DRC prosecutor requests 20 year jail sentence for journalist](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/A_view_of_Congo_River_from_Kinshasa_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo_DRC.jpg)
A prosecutor in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requested on Friday a 20-year sentence in prison for Stanis Bujakera, a journalist on trial for an article implicating military intelligence in the death of an opposition politician, Chérubin Okende. Bujakera was arrested last year on September 8 and is facing charges including spreading false information. Bujakera [...]
The Constitutional Court of Senegal confirmed on Wednesday that the country’s presidential election will be held on March 24. The court ruled that the date proposed by the National Dialogue Commission, June 2, was not in conformity with the Constitution and its earlier decision in February. Last month, the parliament voted to postpone the election [...]
![HRW urges Ghana president to reject anti-LGBTQ+ bill](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-28-183156.png)
Human Rights Watch urged President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday to “unequivocally reject” The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 and refuse to sign it. The bill was passed last month by the parliament making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ+ in Ghana. Under the passed bill, anyone identifying as LGBTQ+ [...]
![Russia court rejects appeal by Russian-American woman accused of treason](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/russia_1709337043.jpg)
A Russian court on Thursday rejected an appeal by a Russian-American woman against her detention on a treason charge, according to Reuters and ABC News reporters in the room. The 33-year-old Ksenia Karelina was arrested on January 27 and detained in a jail in Yekaterinburg for treason. According to Reuters, the Russian Federal Security Service [...]