Shocking verdict in the Munir murder trial comes after possible witness tampering, but prosecutors will appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.

Read joint press release on the trial

See article on the verdict in the International Herald Tribune

Despite three court rulings ordering his release, Mosaad Abu Fajr remains behind bars one year after his arrest. For his activism on behalf of the Bedouin minority, he has become yet another victim of Egypt’s Emergency Law.

The office of one of Iran’s most prominent human rights defenders has been closed and raided in recent weeks.

Update: On January 1 a mob vandalized Ebadi’s home as well as police stood by.

Read Human Rights First letter to the Iranian government

Human Rights First filed a friend-of-the-court brief yesterday, requesting an indefinite stay of proceedings in the military commission case of the alleged 9/11 conspirators, United States v. Khalid Sheikh Muhammed, et al.

Read HRF Amicus Brief

Read press release

Human Rights First calls on President-elect Obama to fulfill his campaign's commitment to confront the Iraqi refugee crisis. In a new blueprint - How to Confront the Iraqi Refugee Crisis - Human Rights First provides a detailed and comprehensive strategy for the incoming administration. Addressing the crisis is not only a moral imperative for the United States; it is also in the country's strategic interest, and will help rehabilitate the U.S. reputation in the region.

Read blueprint

Read press release

HRF released a detailed strategy for President-elect Obama to lead an international effort to stem the flow of arms into the region during the first year of his administration. The blueprint - "How to Stop Arms to Sudan" - sets out a three-stage strategy for the incoming administration to lead an effort to ensure that arms-supplying states halt their sales, as well as to use its voice and vote at the U.N. Security Council to enforce and strengthen the U.N. imposed Darfur arms embargo.

Read blueprint here

Read press release here

Nasrin Sotoudeh should have been in Italy accepting a human rights award. Instead she is the latest human rights defender to face a travel ban.

Julia Fromholz, Interim Director of the Crimes Against Humanity program, met with the U.N. Security Council’s Sudan Sanctions Committee in a rare NGO briefing to discuss violations of the Darfur arms embargo.

Read the full written submission.

Read the press release.

Fighting Discrimination Program Director Paul LeGendre participates in a Seminar at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

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HRF Advocacy Counsel Devon Chaffee is in Guantanamo to observe pretrial hearings for the five September 11 defendants. Read Devon's observations on the Guantanamo blog.