‘Spies on every street’: ISIL executes Libyans for spying, practicing Christianity

‘Spies on every street’: ISIL executes Libyans for spying, practicing Christianity

by WorldTribune Staff, May 18, 2016 Residents of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) Libyan stronghold say they live in constant fear as the terror group routinely executes those who practice Christianity, beheads accused “spies” and flogs men for smoking or listening to music. “There are spies on every street,” a resident of Sirte […]

UN pressing Turkey to investigate ‘alarming reports’ of rights abuses

UN pressing Turkey to investigate ‘alarming reports’ of rights abuses

Special to WorldTribune.com The UN is calling for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Turkey’s southeast region, citing instances of unarmed civilians being shot and rescue personnel being prevented from attending to those injured by Turkish troops. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on May 10 said […]

Report: Turkey’s Erdogan has stifled all criticism in media, military andjudiciary

Report: Turkey’s Erdogan has stifled all criticism in media, military andjudiciary

Special to WorldTribune.com from WASHINGTON — Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has silenced critics, a report said. Human Rights Watch said Erdogan has led a government campaign to crack down on critics and protesters. In a 38-page report, the New York-based group cited efforts to muzzle the media and Internet. “Over the past year, […]

Rights groups: Egypt’s military torturing civilians in secrets prisons

Rights groups: Egypt’s military torturing civilians in secrets prisons

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Egypt’s military has been torturing civilians, human rights groups said. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said that the Egyptian military was concealing civilians in secret prisons as part of its stepped up war on terrorism. In evidence collected from former detainees, the two Western human rights groups said at […]

Report: Iraq used barrel bombs in Anbar province attack

Report: Iraq used barrel bombs in Anbar province attack

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Iraq has become the second Middle East state to employ barrel bombs, a human rights group said. Human Rights Watch has determined that Iraq was deploying barrel bombs in its effort to quell the Sunni revolt in the Anbar province. The New York-based organization said Iraq’s U.S.-equipped military has been […]

Rights group hits Palestinian Authority abuses

Rights group hits Palestinian Authority abuses

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Palestinian Authority, despite signing international human rights conventions, has failed to hold its security forces accountable for alleged abuses, a leading human rights group said. New York-based Human Rights Watch said the PA was refusing to investigate complaints of abuse by security forces in the West Bank. The report […]

UN debates ‘pre-emptive ban’ on killer robots

UN debates ‘pre-emptive ban’ on killer robots

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United Nations has been examining a ban on lethal robots, including combat unmanned aerial vehicles. On May 16, the UN concluded a four-day convention on lethal autonomous weapons systems used by such countries as Israel and the United States. The parley in Geneva, Switzerland marked the first formal effort […]

Report: Syrian forces believed using chlorine bombs

Report: Syrian forces believed using chlorine bombs

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — President Bashar Assad was believed to have ordered chlorine bomb attacks on rebels and civilians in northern Syria. The U.S. group Human Rights Watch (HRW) collected evidence that suggested that the Syrian Air Force dropped chlorine gas bombs on three towns in April 2014. HRW said the gas was embedded […]

Report IDs financiers in Gulf states sponsoring Islamist militias in Syria

Report IDs financiers in Gulf states sponsoring Islamist militias in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Gulf Arabs and their governments have been financing the Sunni revolt in Syria, a report said. Human Rights Watch asserted that leading clerics in several Gulf Cooperation Council states were raising money to fund Islamist militias in the war against Syrian President Bashar Assad. The New York-based group issued a […]

Report: U.S. Hellfire missile blew away Al Qaida commander in Yemen

Report: U.S. Hellfire missile blew away Al Qaida commander in Yemen

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has been using an advanced air-to-ground missile to kill Al Qaida operatives in Yemen, a report said. Human Rights Watch said the U.S. Special Forces Command was firing the Hellfire missile in operations against Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. In a report, the New York-based group […]