The recent UN report highlights Israel’s “de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture” over the past two years, citing severe beatings, sexual violence, and other inhumane treatment of Palestinian detainees. The report also addresses the excessive use of administrative detention and notes a “marked deterioration” in detention conditions during the Gaza war, with an abnormally high death toll among Palestinian detainees. The UN committee expressed concern over the lack of accountability for these actions, despite evidence presented and Israel’s persistent denial of torture practices. Furthermore, the report pointed out a lack of criminal prosecutions for such actions, and notes the conviction of one soldier for repeatedly attacking detainees.
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A Utah father, initially lauded as a hero for surviving a winter hike with his three children, is now facing charges of child abuse and torture. After the family was rescued following a harrowing ordeal, it was discovered that the children described Smith as ill-prepared and selfish. Prosecutors allege that Smith chose to summit a mountain despite the children’s expressed discomfort and that he displayed odd behavior. The children’s accounts and video evidence from the hike suggest that Smith was unaware of the trail and ill-equipped for the challenging conditions.
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According to Gaza health officials, over 135 mutilated bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel originated from the Sde Teiman detention center, a site already under scrutiny for alleged torture and unlawful deaths. Documentation found with the bodies, including Hebrew tags, indicated they were held at Sde Teiman, with some having undergone DNA testing. Examinations of the bodies revealed signs of executions and systematic torture, including gunshot wounds and injuries from tank tracks. Human rights activists are demanding an investigation into the deaths, as evidence suggests the victims may have been tortured before being killed.
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Upon the return of 90 Palestinian bodies from Israeli authorities as part of a ceasefire agreement, doctors reported evidence of torture and execution. The bodies, transferred via the International Committee of the Red Cross, exhibited signs of severe beatings, blindfolds, bound hands, and gunshot wounds. Doctors at Nasser Hospital in Gaza stated that the bodies arrived without identification, preventing proper identification. The Israel Defense Forces referred inquiries about these allegations to the Israel Prison Service, as the International Criminal Court investigates war crime allegations by both sides.
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In a move further distancing Russia from Western institutions, President Putin signed a law withdrawing the country from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. The Kremlin’s decision, which follows Russia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe, cites alleged “discrimination” by the organization. While the Russian foreign ministry claims this withdrawal won’t negatively impact citizens, UN special rapporteurs have expressed concern, viewing the move as a red flag regarding human rights in Russian detention facilities. This action comes amid international condemnation of Russia’s human rights record, particularly allegations of abuses against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
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A recent report released by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) details the widespread torture inflicted by Russian forces on Ukrainian civilians held in occupied territories. The OHCHR documented 508 cases of civilian detainees between June 1, 2023, and September 10, 2025, revealing a pattern of brutal physical and psychological torture, sexual violence, and inhumane conditions. Detainees reported severe beatings, electric shocks, mock executions, and other forms of ill-treatment, with over 92% of released civilians interviewed reporting torture. This systemic abuse, a violation of international humanitarian law, is part of a broader Russian policy aimed at suppressing Ukrainian resistance in occupied territories.
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Russia’s withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture has been condemned by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry as an attempt to evade accountability and an admission of guilt regarding human rights violations. The ministry highlighted the broad documentation of Russian war crimes and the torture of Ukrainian civilians and troops, despite Moscow’s prior adherence to the convention. The decision follows Russia’s consistent obstruction of the convention’s mechanism, including barring access to detention facilities for monitoring bodies like the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ukraine has called for the immediate activation of international mechanisms to hold Russia accountable for its actions.
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A Sudanese human rights group has reported the army is torturing people to death in Khartoum, where the army recently regained control. The Emergency Lawyers group documented hundreds of arrests, with some detainees later found dead with evidence of torture. The group observed a dangerous escalation in violations, with detainees facing inhumane conditions, unfair trials, or release in poor health. Both the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of atrocities during the ongoing civil war, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis and a cholera outbreak.
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Investigative journalists have identified Dr. Ilya Sorokin as the alleged perpetrator of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war at Penal Colony No. 10 in Mordovia, Russia. Sorokin, nicknamed “Dr. Evil,” reportedly subjected detainees to beatings, stun gun use, humiliation, and denied medical care. These prisoners endured grueling conditions, including forced standing for extended periods, constant exposure to Russian patriotic songs, and coerced recitations of the Russian national anthem, with at least 177 soldiers experiencing severe physical and psychological abuse. Sadly, at least four prisoners died during this period.
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In a recently resurfaced 2003 video, a 17-year-old Stephen Miller, now a White House official, described torture as a “celebration of human life” while discussing Saddam Hussein and Iraqi civilians. The clip shows Miller advocating for the torture of Hussein and his associates while expressing the need to “respect” other cultures. During his time in high school, Miller was accused of making inflammatory and discriminatory remarks against minority students, with former classmates recalling insensitive comments. Further, he organized controversial events in college, displaying a consistent pattern of cultural insensitivity and drawing criticism for his viewpoints.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Stephen Miller: Resurfaced Teen Clip Shows Torture as “Celebration of Human Life”
In a recently resurfaced 2003 video, a 17-year-old Stephen Miller, now a White House official, described torture as a “celebration of human life” while discussing Saddam Hussein and Iraqi civilians. The clip shows Miller advocating for the torture of Hussein and his associates while expressing the need to “respect” other cultures. During his time in high school, Miller was accused of making inflammatory and discriminatory remarks against minority students, with former classmates recalling insensitive comments. Further, he organized controversial events in college, displaying a consistent pattern of cultural insensitivity and drawing criticism for his viewpoints.
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