Latest Human rights and civil liberties News
Prayer for kidnappers deeply rooted in mission group's faith
When Amish gather for worship each week, they regularly sing the solemn, German-dialect hymns that their spiritual forebears composed nearly five centuries ago in a condition akin to that of 17 missionaries recently kidnapped in Haiti — captivity. Those hymns emerged...
Families of 9 killed in SC church settle with feds over gun
WASHINGTON (AP) — Families of nine victims killed in a racist attack at a Black South Carolina church have reached a settlement with the Justice Department over a faulty background check that allowed Dylann Roof to purchase the gun he used in the 2015 massacre. The $88...
Police make arrests 18 months after boy, 7, killed in home
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Police charged two men with murder Wednesday after a 7-year-old boy was killed 18 months ago when shots were fired into his South Carolina home. Investigators received almost no tips to solve Knowledge Sims' death and police used dozens of...
Ex-Gary officer indicted for allegedly using excessive force
HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a former Gary police officer for allegedly using excessive force against a man he had handcuffed and placed under arrest during a traffic stop. Terry Peck, 46, is accused of deprivation of rights under color of law...
Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by UK lawmakers
LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers grilled Facebook on Thursday over how it handles online safety as European countries move to rein in the power of social media companies, with the tech giant's head of safety saying the company supports regulation and has no business interest in providing...
Polish parliament to examine anti-LGBT legislative proposal
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's parliament is expected to give a first reading on Thursday to proposed legislation dubbed “Stop LGBT," which aims to prohibit the “promotion" of same-sex relationships and would ban pride parades. It is not clear, however, how...
Myanmar military uses systematic torture across country
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The soldiers in rural Myanmar twisted the young man’s skin with pliers and kicked him in the chest until he couldn’t breathe. Then they taunted him about his family until his heart ached, too: “Your mom,” they jeered, “cannot save you anymore.” ...
UN, US officials urge action to avert climate disaster
BERLIN (AP) — The U.N.'s top human rights official and U.S. President Joe Biden's climate envoy called Thursday for countries to step up the fight against global warming, describing it as an issue of sheer survival for humankind. In a statement ahead of the U.N....
Vatican cancels live broadcast of Biden greeting pope
ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday abruptly canceled the planned live broadcast of U.S. President Joe Biden meeting Pope Francis, the latest restriction to media coverage of the Holy See. The Vatican press office provided no explanation for why the live broadcast of...
Garland defends school violence memo against GOP criticism
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland defended a Justice Department memo aimed at combating threats and violence against teachers, administrators and other school officials while Republicans insisted that he rescind the directive. He signaled no plans to do so despite their...
