Abuses in Syria’s Kurdish-run Enclaves
 Photo © 2013 Mani for Human Rights Watch
The Kurdish-run areas of Syria are quieter than war-torn parts of the country, but serious abuses are still taking place.
Kurdish authorities running three enclaves in northern Syria have committed arbitrary arrests, due process violations, and failed to address unsolved killings and disappearances.
The Democratic Union Party (PYD) has effectively ruled the three predominantly-Kurdish enclaves since Syrian government forces withdrew from the areas in 2012, running a local administration with courts, prisons, and police. A new Human Rights Watch report documents the arbitrary arrests of the PYD’s political opponents, abuse in detention, and unsolved abductions and murders. It also documents the use of children in the PYD’s police force and armed wing.  | China Should Free Lawyer, Drop Charges
The Chinese government should immediately release the prominent human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, whose “crime” appears to be nothing more than peacefully pushing the legal system to follow its own laws.
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A Soccer Fan with a Conscience By Iain LevineForeign Policy
After weeks of anticipation, the World Cup finally kicks off in São Paulo. And while most sports fans are gleefully anticipating the chance to watch Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, and many of the other great players, we human rights activists are more than a little nervous. After all, given the presence in the competition of any number of rights-abusing countries, how can we balance our love of the game with our commitment to human rights? |
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