Day: February 2, 2015

A new international campaign was launched on Friday 30 January, aimed at abolishing “blasphemy laws” worldwide. The End Blasphemy Laws campaign is thought to be the first campaign focusing solely on the issue of laws against “blasphemy” including “ridicule” and “insult” to religion or “hurting religious sentiments”. The coalition behind the campaign, led by the…

Human Rights Watch has released its 644-page World Report 2015, reviewing human rights practices in more than 90 countries. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth says, “Human rights violations played a major role in spawning or aggravating many of today’s crises. Protecting human rights and ensuring democratic accountability are key to resolving them.” The rise of the…