excessive force

Police use excessive force against Chilean student protests

Protests by Chilean students against education reforms led to fierce clashes with police in the cities of Concepcion, Santiago and Valparaiso. Student leaders condemned authoritarian police practices during protests. Read more

Protests in Iran face repression

Iranian student groups are drawing attention to the climate of fear and intimidation in universities. Meanwhile dozens of human rights defenders and activists remain in detention, often in poor conditions, for carrying out legitimate activities in defence of human rights. Read more

Protests on electoral reform and refugee rights gain momentum in Lebanon

Citizens and civil society groups are protesting for proportional representation to be implemented in Lebanon to break the current political deadlock. After recent suicide bombings the Lebanese authorities have become increasingly hostile to Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. On 18 July, anti-racism demonstrations took place calling for the abolition of these measures. Read more

Protests against energy projects face repression

Police repression in Panama is commonly being used when people protest against large-scale hydroelectric projects.
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Nearly 50 dead as Indian forces open fire on Protesters in Kashmir

In recent weeks, Kashmir has seen one of the worst uprisings since 2010. Clashes between the police and protesters in Jammu were sparked by the death of a prominent Kashmiri militant at the hands of Indian security forces. Read more

Bolivian court upholds controversial civil society law

The right to freedom of association has been undermined by a recent decision of Bolivia's Constitutional Court, which validated provisions of the Law on Legal Entities. Read more

Security forces kill three protestors in Gao, northern Mali

On 12th July, Security forces opened fire on a crowd of protestors in the city of Gao, northern Mali, killing three and injuring 30. Read more

Protests disrupted in West Papua

Protests in West Papua continued to be met with heavy handed police tactics. On the 28th May, two activists were arrested and detained by security forces for distributing leaflets about an upcoming separatist rally and encouraging others to participate. Read more

High school students targetted as repression continues in Burundi

School children were suspended for defacing pictures of Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza as journalists and activists continued to be arrested and tortured during the continuing crackdown on dissent. Read more

Violence during public assemblies in Guinea

Although article 7 of Guinea's constitution guarantees the freedom of peaceful assembly, on 17th and 18th June the military violently suppressed a protest by residents of the city of Mali, who were calling for the departure of Army Colonel Issa Camara. Twenty-two citizens were injured, three of them seriously. Read more