BHRC published its amicus brief to the Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal in the case of Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, also known as Ammar al Baluchi. Kirsty Brimelow QC, former Chair of BHRC (2012-2018) and co-writer of the amicus said: “Guantanamo Bay remains a stain in legal history. Currently prosecutions are attempting to secure a footing...
BHRC has joined a statement with 31 other organisations calling for the acquittal of Wang Quanzhang, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer arrested during the 709 Crackdown. On 28 January 2019, Mr Wang was found guilty of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and 5-year deprivation of political...
BHRC has issued a public statement raising concern over the continued detention, prosecution and treatment of Madhesi human rights activist, Dr Chandra Kant Raut, in Nepal. Dr Raut was arrested on 7 October 2018 on a charge of a crime against the state for his alleged involvement in a gathering that took place in support of...
BHRC has issued a public statement regarding the current and ongoing situation in Zimbabwe, following a national protest called for by trade union, civic and church leaders. In its statement, BHRC raises concern over reports of shootings and beatings of civilians and the detention of large numbers of people, including children. There is also concern for fair...
On 31 December 2018, the Court of Cassation in Bahrain upheld the 5 year sentence of human rights activist Nabeel Rajab for tweets critical of the Saudi Arabia attack on Yemen and accusing the Bahraini prison authorities of torture. BHRC Chair Kirsty Brimelow QC issued the following statement: “Bahrain’s Court of Cassation is in violation...
BHRC has issued a public statement expressing serious concern at the recent arrests by Turkish authorities of academics and activists. The arrests appear consistent with a sustained attack on dissent as a means of silencing critical voices within Turkey. On 16 November 2018 fourteen high-profile activists and academics were arrested in Turkey. Turkish authorities issued...
Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales and ARTICLE 19 will host a panel discussion highlighting urgent and continuing concerns about freedom of expression and the rule of law in Turkey, which has jailed more journalists than any other worldwide in the last two years. The panel event, chaired by Ms Ann Clwyd MP, is hosted...
The Bar Human Rights Committee will be hosting a panel discussion at the Annual Bar and Young Conference 2018 in London on 24 November 2018. The panel “A Global Mission: Championing Women in the Fight for Human Rights” will be a dynamic discussion on how women in the legal professions represent and champion women, including...
On the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty, BHRC has issued a statement raising awareness about conditions of confinement in Bahrain, Egypt, Jamaica and the United States–countries where BHRC has taken an active role in advocating against the death penalty. In its statement, BHRC reaffirms its condemnation of the death penalty in all circumstances and...
The Bar Human Rights Committee is the independent,
international human rights arm of the Bar of England
and Wales, dedicated to promoting justice and respect
for human rights through the rule of law.