Human Rights

A former Iranian deputy defence minister, Alireza Akbari, who also was a British citizen, has been executed for allegedly spying on behalf of British intelligence. Calling the hanging a “callous and cowardly act . . . by a barbaric regime”, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak imposed sanctions on Iran’s Prosecutor General and temporarily withdrawn Britain's ambassador. At least two other British-Iranians remain in detention, one of whom also holds U.S. citizenship. [node:read-more:link]

A class-action lawsuit on behalf of 31,000 bank employees in 2007 has resulted in CIBC having to pay $153 million to cover unpaid overtime. Ontario Court of Appeal last year dismissed an attempt by the bank to overturn a lower-court ruling in favour of the plaintiffs and the bank explained January 5 that the settlement would avoid further legal costs [node:read-more:link]

Myanmar marked the 75th anniversary today of its independence from Britain as Burma, by releasing more than 7,000 prisoners as the leader of the junta which overthrew the government 23 months ago thanked China, India and other countries for their support. While the latest amnesty, announced by the state broadcaster, does not include those convicted of murder or rape as well as a range of other crimes such as corruption, the fate of political prisoners remained unclear. [node:read-more:link]

The UN General Assembly has asked the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. A December 31 resolution was backed by 87 countries but opposed by 26. [node:read-more:link]

Ignoring a UN Security Council resolution call for her release, a closed military court in Myanmar today extended an already lengthy prison term for former leader Aung San Suu Kyi whose government was toppled in a February 2021 coup. The latest of a series of trials widely derided as shams added seven years to the 26 years already imposed on the 77-year-old Nobel laureate. [node:read-more:link]

Nearly 1,200 Israeli military veterans, including several former senior officers, are pressing legal authorities to be “the final line of defence” in protecting their country against an alliance of religious and ultranationalist parties supporting Benjamin Netanyahu’s return as prime minister. “We come from all strata of society and from across the political spectrum,” they say in a December 26 letter. letter said. “What we have in common today is the fear that the democratic state of Israel is in danger.” [node:read-more:link]

Expanding Israel’s presence in the disputed West Bank is top priority for Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming coalition government, which needs the support of ultra-nationalists to hold on to power. To be sworn in December 29, the new administration said today it will legalize dozens of internationally-condemned settlements in the area and formally annex the occupied territory as part of its coalition deal. [node:read-more:link]

Treasury Board President Mona Fortier insists that the federal government’s return-to-office mandate, which begins taking effect January 16, is not to be decided in collective bargaining with public service unions. “It’s the right of the employer; it’s the management’s right,” she said December 27. At least two public service unions have called on the government to retract its directive. [node:read-more:link]

A Norway-based human rights group says that at least 100 people have been sentenced to death or charged with capital offences in connection with the protests in Iran. It also says that the actual total is believed to be higher because families are pressed by the regime into remaining silent and that at least 476 protesters have been killed so far. [node:read-more:link]

Three major foreign aid groups said on Christmas day that they would suspend operations in Afghanistan, a day after the Taliban forbade Afghan women from working at the NGOs. The Taliban, contradicting earlier statements, had earlier banned women from attending university, sparking widespread protests. [node:read-more:link]

The British government's plan to repatriate potentially thousands of Rwandan asylum seekers was declared legal today by the High Court in London. A deal struck with Rwanda’s government in April 2022 was immediately challenged but Judge Clive Lewis said it is lawful and that there are arrangements in place “to ensure that asylum claims of people relocated to Rwanda are properly determined there” and that repatriation ‘is consistent with the (UN) Refugee Convention and with the statutory and other legal obligations on the government.” [node:read-more:link]

Turkey’s request for the extradition of an exiled journalist was rejected today by Sweden’s highest court. Bulent Kenes had been accused of using his position as editor of a Turkish newspaper to support calls for the ouster of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has identified him as one of the expatriates he wants returned if he is to support Sweden’s application for NATO membership. [node:read-more:link]

The UN Economic & Social Council ousted Iran’s representative December 14 in response to Tehran’s violent crackdown on widespread protests over the death of a young woman. There were 29 votes in favour of a U.S. motion, eight against (including China and Russia) and 16 abstentions. Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the decision could be a “dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences,” a view shared by some other delegates. [node:read-more:link]

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confirmed today that Canada has imposed additional sanctions against Russia, Iran and Myanmar, citing human rights violations by their governments. “There is more work to be done, but Canada will never stop standing up for human rights,” Joly said. [node:read-more:link]

Amnesty International Canada disclosed December 4 that its English-language unit was targetted in October by hackers linked to China. “We are very aware that we may be the target of state-sponsored attempts to disrupt or surveil our work,” AIC Director General Ketty Nivyabandi said. “These will not intimidate us and the security and privacy of our activists, staff, donors, and stakeholders remain our utmost priority.” Secureworks, a U.S. cybersecurity company, said that forensics had established that “a threat group sponsored or tasked by the Chinese state” was the likely culprit. [node:read-more:link]