UN Says Iran Crackdown Amounted To Crimes Against Humanity
By Iran International September 17, 2026 Iranian security forces committed crimes against humanity in their crackdown on nationwide protests, a UN fact-finding mission said on Thursday, citing mass killings, torture and arbitrary detention. A masked protester raises both hands in victory signs as crowds gather on a smoke-filled road during protests in Mashhad, Iran, on January 9, 2026. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said its report examined the 202
#a Iran International
2 days ago
Satire Can Be A Crime In Kazakhstan
By Mihra Rittmann September 17, 2026 Another Critic Prosecuted into Silence Amid Crackdown on Freedom of Expression Downtown Astana, Kazakhstan, February 28, 2023. © 2023 Olivier Douliery/AP Photo Satirist and political commentator Azamat Omarov, who had been in pre-trial detention in Kazakhstan since mid-April on “inciting discord” charges, struck a plea bargain with the prosecution, under the terms of which he pled guilty, and on September 15, was released. While Omarov avo
Human Rights Watch
7 days ago
Tajikistan and the Weaponization of Trauma Narratives
By: Genocide Watch A protest in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe before the country's civil war. (Source: RFE/RL) Located in Central Asia, Tajikistan continues to navigate the aftermath of Civil War (1992-1997), which resulted in the loss and displacement of thousands of civilians. The Civil War’s widespread devastation, along with other internal issues (poverty, economic stagnation, internal division, and longstanding corruption), continues to plague the State today—particularl
Genocide Watch
Aug 24
Pakistan's army chief turns on hardline Islamist groups
By: Asif Shahzad, Ariba Shahid, Mubasher Bukhari and Rick Noack August 6 2026 Police officers in riot gear stand guard as supporters of various religious and political parties attend a protest rally against Geo News over content aired during a program marking the holy month of Muharram, in Karachi, Pakistan, July 3, 2026. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro/File Photo ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - When blasphemy allegations against a Christian family prompted a mob of hundreds to as
AFP, AP and Reuters
Aug 7
Repression of Minorities in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
By Sophia Khan and Kristie Moore Protests in Karakalpakstan in 2022. Peaceful protestors had only flags in their hands, but were met with violence (Source: RFE/RL) Central Asia has seen conflict break out frequently, in the form of interethnic violence within divided communities, border conflict over disputed territory, and skirmishes over shared resources. However, in the post-independence period, authoritarian governments and leaders have protected their own interests by us
Genocide Watch
Aug 5
Kazakhstan’s New Constitution
By the Ukraine, Russia, and Post-Soviet Space Area Task Force Picture of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev voting in Kazakhstan’s 2026 Constitutional Reform, from the Astana Times Photo credit: Akorda On April 15, 2026, Kazakhstan held a referendum on a new constitution. This constitution was promoted as a means for Kazakhstan to move away from its presidential model of governance, ostensibly giving greater powers to its parliament. These measures should have enab
Genocide Watch
Jul 17
US launches new airstrikes on Iran, Tehran Retaliates
By Jon Gambrell, Seung Min Kim, and Konstantin Toropin July 8 2026 Credit: AP News / Video by Nathan Ellgren DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by hitting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Persian Gulf. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strai
Associated Press
Jul 9
Demolition of Uzbek Properties in Kyrgyzstan
By: Kristie Moore The Mothers’ Tears Monument located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The inscription is written in Kyrgyz, English, and Russian, but not Uzbek. Source: Kristie Moore (author) Kyrgyzstan has navigated a difficult path since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. While working to develop an economically and politically robust society, Kyrgyzstan has attempted to construct a Kyrgyz identity. A significant remnant of the Soviet Union is the presence of non-dem
Genocide Watch
Jul 5
Uncertain Futures and Restricted Movement: Afghan Refugees in Tajikistan
By Kristie Moore Photo showing migrants at the Tajik Border. Border signage states foreigners must follow migration rules. Source: TCA After the return of Taliban government to Afghanistan in 2021, former government employees and Afghan civilians fled the country, seeking safety in countries like Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Like in Iran and Pakistan, where governments have initiated mass deportations of Afghan refugees, the government of Tajikistan is making a similar mov
Genocide Watch
Jun 21
Russia Uses Education to Sustain Influence in Central Asia
By Farangis Najibullah June 2, 2026 Students attend the Russian school in the southern Tajik city of Bokhtar (Facebook). When a new Russian-language school opened its doors in Tajikistan's southern city of Bokhtar in 2022, thousands of locals flocked to enroll. Named after the 18th-century Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, it was one of five Russia-funded schools that popped up across the impoverished Central Asia country that year. Part of a $150 million Russian state pro
Afghan Deportations by Pakistan and Iran
The Human Rights Implications of Afghan Deportations by Pakistan and Iran By Juliana Girotto Afghans pictured on 1 November at the Chaman camp on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, on their enforced journey back to their homeland. Photograph: Habibullah Achakzai/AP The mass deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 has created a significant human rights crisis, raising concerns about violations of international protection standards and the safety of people r
Genocide Watch
May 27
Genocide Warning: Trump’s Threats Against Iran
April 2026 By Grace Harris US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the White House in Washington on April 6, 2026.Kevin Lamarque/Reuters On April 7, 2026, United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump shared a threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” in a post on Truth Social. This rhetoric goes far beyond threats of traditional warfare and denotes an explicit threat of civilizational devastation. In writing t
Genocide Watch
Apr 28
