Syria opens trial of Wassim al-Assad, cousin of ousted president: What we know The trial follows another session in the case against Atef Najib, also a cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad, as Syrian authorities continue prosecuting figures linked to the former regime and its remnants. Syria
Turkey detains 233 ahead of NATO summit, including LGBTQ+ activist Yildiz Tar The operation included alleged militant suspects as well as LGBTQ+ and leftist activists, raising concerns over the scope of the crackdown. Turkey
Culture In Syria, detention of Hassan Akkad raises alarm about free expression under Sharaa Akkad, a British-Syrian filmmaker, was detained Wednesday night after his campaign questioning the whereabouts of funds allegedly pledged for relief, reconstruction and community initiatives across Syria. Syria
Amnesty International accuses Israel of state-led ethnic cleansing in West Bank In a new report, Amnesty International said that the escalating forced displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is part of a state-led campaign to control the Palestinian territory. Palestine
Interview As Sudan war drags on, US-Iran conflict compounds humanitarian crisis in Darfur Janti Soeripto President and CEO of Save the Children US
Egypt clears police officers of Giulio Regeni murder Italian authorities charged four Egyptian police personnel and gave them until today to present evidence in their defense. Egypt
UN condemns Trump's pardon of contractors involved in killing of Iraqis A UN Human Rights Office expert said that the pardon of the men involved in the 2007 Nisour Square massacre undermines the obligation of states to hold war criminals accountable. Iraq
Biden’s national security adviser criticizes Saudi Arabia for jailing women’s rights activist Jake Sullivan called the sentencing of activist Loujain al-Hathloul "troubling." Saudi Arabia
Erdogan blasts European court's ruling on jailed Kurdish leader The European Court of Human Rights said the imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtas had violated his basic rights. Turkey
Europe human rights court calls on Turkey to release Demirtas Europe’s top human rights court ruled Wednesday for the "immediate release" of Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who has been imprisoned for more than four years in Turkey on terror-related charges. Turkey
Turkish court extends detention of philanthropist Osman Kavala Kavala is charged with espionage and "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” in connection with the failed 2016 coup. Turkey
Iran to execute man arrested as teenager, Amnesty says Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee, who was arrested at the age of 16, has spent more than a decade on death row. Iran
Saudi Arabia seeking 20-year sentence for jailed women’s activist Loujain al-Hathloul's sister said the state prosecutor is seeking the maximum sentence in a trial rights groups say is grossly unfair. Saudi Arabia
Migrants allege abuse, degrading conditions in Saudi deportation center A new report from Human Rights Watch describes squalid conditions at a facility detaining mostly Ethiopian migrants in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia
Iran’s Rouhani dismisses outcry over journalist’s execution Iran hanged journalist and blogger Ruhollah Zam on Saturday after a court found him guilty of "corruption on earth." Iran
Egypt's Sisi readies for chillier reception in Washington Experts say mixed signals on the part of President Sisi suggest nervousness about the incoming Biden administration. Egypt
Amnesty blasts Airbnb for settlement listings as company goes public The London-based rights group called on Airbnb to unlist around 200 rental properties in the West Bank. Israel
