Richard Assheton has half a decade's experience reporting from across Europe, Africa and Asia for news brands including The Times, the Financial Times and the Guardian, covering global events and producing exclusive news and features. His subjects are not always easy interviews: he has sought out ...

Bahraini activist barred from Conservative conference on police advice

02 Oct 2023  |  Middle East Eye  |  English  |  UK-Bahrain Relations

Sayed Alwadaei, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist, was denied entry to the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester on police advice, raising concerns about the UK's relationship with Bahrain. Alwadaei, who has no criminal record in the UK, was invited by the charity Freedom From Torture to speak on a panel about global human rights. The decision to bar him has been speculated to be influenced by Bahrain, a country accused of suppressing political dissidents. The incident has sparked criticism from various human rights organizations and highlighted the UK's controversial ties with Bahrain, including arms sales and military cooperation.

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Reprieve Conservative Party Greater Manchester Police Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy Freedom From Torture Royal Navy Campaign Against Arms Trade Gulf Cooperation Council Bright Blue

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Alessandra Bajec is a journalist based in Cairo since 2013. From 2010 to 2011, she lived Palestine where she made her first steps as a freelance journalist. She has experience in writing for print, online media along with some radio experience. Her work has appeared in UN's IRIN, Russia Today's rt....

The Saudi government wants to build a ‘city of the future’ – is it really prepared to execute those that stand in its way?

02 Oct 2022  |  Equal Times  |  English  |  Middle East Politics

A Saudi court has sentenced three members of the Huwaitat tribe to death for opposing eviction to enable the construction of Neom, a $500 billion futuristic development. Human rights groups have condemned the verdict, highlighting the Saudi government's harsh measures against dissent. The project, strongly supported by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to transform the economy but has faced criticism for displacing local populations and violating human rights. Activists and organizations like ALQST and ESOHR have called for the release of the convicted men and criticized the use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress opposition.

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Reprieve Saudi Government ALQST European Saudi Organization for Human Rights Neom

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British freelance journalist based in Taipei, Taiwan and MPhil Candidate in Modern Chinese Studies at Oxford University. My reporting from Taipei has been featured in The Guardian, New Statesman, The Spectator, The Taipei Times and Los Angeles Review of Books.

The Chilcot report left many questions concerning the UK’s role in torture unanswered

06 Jul 2016  |  www.newstatesman.com  |  English  |  Iraq War

The Chilcot Inquiry report, published on 6 July 2016, highlighted significant failures in the UK's decision to invade Iraq in 2003 but largely ignored allegations of torture by British forces. The report's release was overshadowed by political turmoil in the UK, including the Conservative leadership election and Labour party disarray. Despite the damning findings, media attention quickly shifted away. Human rights organizations and legal experts criticized the report for not addressing torture allegations, citing cases like Baha Mousa's death and the al-Sweady Inquiry. Calls for an independent judicial inquiry persist, with concerns that Brexit may further complicate human rights protections.

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Reprieve British Government Ministry of Defence Iraq Historical Allegations Team Intelligence and Security Committee Crown Prosecution Service European Convention on Human Rights

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Jonathan Gilbert is a journalist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Why did Uruguay agree to take in Guantánamo Bay detainees?

08 May 2014  |  The Christian Science Monitor  |  English  |  Social Reforms

Uruguayan President José Mujica, known for his austere lifestyle and progressive social reforms, has offered to take in five detainees from Guantánamo Bay, which would make Uruguay the first South American country to do so. This move is seen by some as a continuation of Uruguay's strategy to align with the US to counterbalance the influence of its larger neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. However, the offer has been met with mixed reactions within Uruguay, with a significant portion of the public disapproving. The article discusses the challenges of closing Guantánamo, as highlighted by the case of a Syrian prisoner, Ali Al Shaaban. Mujica's personal history as a former political prisoner may also influence his decision. The article touches on Uruguay's liberal policies and history of offering asylum, as well as the geopolitical implications of Mujica's offer.

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Reprieve White House Guantánamo Bay State Department Inter-American Dialogue

I am a freelance journalist based in London, specialising in foreign reportage. I have reported from Bangladesh, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Kosovo, and elsewhere. I have worked with the Financial Times, the Observer, Haaretz, the New York Times, and UNHCR, Standpoint Magazine as well as others. I ...

Children of British ISIS brides are being returned to UK in secret and put up for adoption

04 Dec 2023  |  expressdigest.com  |  English  |  International Relations

British children of ISIS brides are being secretly returned to the UK and placed for adoption. At least ten children, mainly orphans or unaccompanied minors, have been repatriated from Syrian detention camps. Two siblings are living with foster carers in south-east England, set to be adopted despite their grandparents' willingness to care for them. Campaigners criticize the local authority's rejection of the grandparents' offer. Seven other children have been returned, with one accompanied by his mother. They are receiving counselling, and older children may be referred to the Prevent deradicalisation programme. The UK has been reluctant to repatriate families that joined ISIS, with 38 children and 21 women still in Syria. The US advocates repatriation as the 'only durable solution'. Human rights charity Reprieve accuses the UK of 'abdicating responsibility', warning of the dangers and radicalization risks for children in Syrian camps.

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Reprieve The Sunday Times Home Office Foreign Office

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Journalist,producer, fixer, searcher based in Islamabad/Peshawar with experience in both print and broadcast media. My roles include writing, editorial and reporting.  Utilising my established position within the local media infrastructure, I also contribute regionally and nationally with stories I ...

Pakistan hangs Shafqat Hussain despite claims of 'underage' murder conviction

04 Aug 2015  |  The Telegraph  |  English  |  Criminal Justice

Clive Stafford Smith, the founder of Reprieve, shared his personal experiences with the Telegraph regarding capital punishment. Having witnessed six executions, Stafford Smith expressed his belief that these acts of capital punishment do not contribute to making the world a better place. His statement reflects a critical view of the death penalty and suggests a perspective shaped by firsthand experiences.

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Reprieve The Telegraph

Independent journalist currently based in Berlin. Previously a reporter at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in London. Published in the Guardian, Independent, VICE News, Observer, HuffPost UK, EU Observer and more.

Naming the Dead: visualised

26 Oct 2014  |  The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (en-GB)  |  English  |  Naming the Dead Project

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism's project, Naming the Dead, visualizes data on individuals killed in CIA drone strikes in Pakistan, revealing that only a small fraction of victims have been identified as al Qaeda members. The project, based on extensive research and collaboration with organizations like Amnesty International, highlights the significant number of civilian casualties, including children, and underscores the lack of transparency in the US drone program.

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Reprieve CIA Bureau of Investigative Journalism Amnesty International Centre for Civilians in Conflict

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Jack Shenker is an award-winning journalist who has reported from around the world, and whose work has been translated into several languages.

Formerly Cairo correspondent for the UK's Guardian newspaper, where he led coverage of Egypt's revolution and counter-revolution, his writing has also ...

Egypt’s Dystopia Is a Lesson for the World

25 Jan 2021  |  www.vice.com  |  English  |  Human Rights

A decade after the Arab Spring, Egypt's political landscape has darkened under the repressive regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The article highlights the government's negligence, particularly in healthcare, and the broader socio-economic inequalities exacerbated by international financial institutions. Despite the revolution's initial promise, the state has intensified its control, suppressing dissent and erasing revolutionary memories. The narrative underscores the enduring struggle for human dignity and social justice, resonating beyond Egypt's borders.

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Reprieve Egyptian Government Muslim Brotherhood Mada Masr World Health Organisation International Monetary Fund World Bank Carnegie Endowment Human Rights Watch Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

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