Stories about Human Rights from February, 2022
Azerbaijani journalist and queer activist murdered
Hafizli's sparked a public outcry on social media platforms, with many activists criticizing Azerbaijan's history of inaction when addressing hate crimes, specifically those targeting marginalized groups in the country.
Malaysian artist Fahmi Reza faces police probe and two charges for satirical posters
"Gov leaders must learn to take public criticism and dissent in stride and stop going after critics like #FahmiReza for poking fun at them."
Court in Russia-occupied Crimea sentences freelance journalist to six years in prison
Vladyslav Yesypenko was detained in Crimea in March 2021 on suspicion of collecting information for Ukrainian intelligence, charges the journalist has denied. While in detention, has reportedly endured torture.
In Tajikistan's mountainous region of GBAO, the power struggle with the capital extends to internet shutdowns
A long-standing conflict between the Pamiri population and the central government of Tajikistan has suffocated both opposition and local politics. leading to further isolation of the region with internet shutdowns.
Will Taiwanese academics be targeted by the Hong Kong National Security Law?
Wu was targeted for publishing the article “For an Unfinished Revolution” which discussed activists' work during the 2019 anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong.
Does the state's failure to act enable online sexual violence in North Macedonia?
The absence of a separate crime in the Criminal Code is just an excuse for the authorities not to act effectively in cases of online sexual harassment, activists say.
Private abuse in Telegram’s ‘Public Rooms': Can North Macedonia fight online sexual harassment?
In February 2021, hundreds of feminists and other supporters took to the streets of Skopje in protest of the Macedonian institutions’ inaction and impunity for the perpetrators of online sexual violence.
Concerted attacks against Bangladeshi activists on Facebook
In a recent collaborative attack by unknown perpetrators, the Facebook profiles of several celebrities, journalists, media personalities and activists from Bangladesh were mysteriously turned into tribute profiles.
Vietnam's human rights situation off to an ominous start in 2022
Eight people were arrested for "anti-State propaganda" in the first two weeks of 2022 alone, with a few multi-year sentences tacked on for good measure.
