Nineteen detainees at the Louisiana Lockup, a former prison camp within Angola prison, entered their fifth day of a hunger strike, demanding access to medical and mental health care, including prescription medications, as well as basic necessities. According to advocacy groups, detainees also seek visitation with ICE officers to address concerning conditions, including the denial of essential medications for those with chronic health conditions. The facility, which has a history of problematic conditions, has drawn criticism for allegedly unsafe and degrading practices, with advocates warning of a culture of abuse and violence. The strike highlights serious concerns about the facility’s ability to provide adequate care, despite the reopening of the facility and the expansion of immigrant detention in Louisiana.
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A court has sentenced a former Iranian cultural official to 100 lashes after convicting him of having sexual relations with another man. Well, that’s quite a headline, isn’t it? It immediately conjures up images of a harsh reality, a world away from the freedoms many of us take for granted. The fact that this individual was a former cultural official, someone who presumably had a hand in shaping the very values of the society, adds another layer of complexity to the story. It’s a stark reminder of the hypocrisy that can exist within any system, regardless of its ideological foundation.
The sentence itself – 100 lashes and two years of exile – is brutal.… Continue reading
Reports indicate that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s former leader, is imprisoned and suffering from a serious heart condition, raising concerns about her health. Her son, Kim Aris, has expressed fears for his mother’s life, especially given her solitary confinement and lack of communication. Suu Kyi, imprisoned since the 2021 coup, faces a 27-year sentence on charges she denies. Experts are skeptical of the upcoming elections, considering them a potential manipulation, particularly with Suu Kyi and other political prisoners still held.
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In a recent incident, over 300 South Korean workers, primarily engineers involved in building an electric car battery plant in Georgia, were detained by US immigration officials. The workers, some of whom were in the US on short-term visas, reported being handcuffed, shackled, and held in freezing detention centers where they were denied basic necessities. Despite initial claims of visa violations, a deal was struck allowing the workers to leave voluntarily. The South Korean government is now investigating potential human rights violations, and US officials have expressed regret over the incident, which has strained relations between the two countries.
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Following complaints regarding dynamite explosions from a Moroccan construction company, residents of Equatorial Guinea’s Annobón island have faced an internet shutdown and subsequent repression. This resulted in the imprisonment of signatories, the collapse of essential services, and the exacerbation of existing marginalization. Despite denials from the company, Somagec, the government has continued the internet outage, impacting the island’s population of approximately 5,000 people. The move marks a significant escalation of repression by the government, which has a history of silencing criticism.
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Following a raid at a US electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, the South Korean government is investigating potential human rights violations against its citizens. More than 300 South Korean workers, detained for a week, have returned home, prompting South Korea to express “strong regret” to the US. The South Korean government is working with relevant companies to investigate the matter, as the incident strains relations between the two countries. President Lee Jae-myung warned that this raid may discourage foreign investment in the US and called for an official apology.
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According to a recent intergovernmental report, El Salvador is experiencing the most rapid decline in democratic indicators within Latin America and the Caribbean. This deterioration is largely attributed to President Nayib Bukele’s policies, including a state of emergency that has led to arrests without court orders and a controversial move to allow indefinite reelection. The report highlights a sharp decline in freedoms, a weakening of the rule of law and judicial independence, and notes that El Salvador now has the world’s highest incarceration rate. The Bukele model, while popular, is associated with serious human rights concerns, including torture and abuse, and the country is now ranked with Afghanistan, Chad, Myanmar, and Tunisia.
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The unexpected occurred when an individual was suddenly chained and detained while working in Georgia. After eight days, the person was released, despite not being charged with any crime, but was forced to pledge they would never commit a crime. The detainee shared that their work in America resembled the concept of the workplace in South Korea.
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A recent UN report indicates that North Korea is intensifying its use of the death penalty, particularly for those caught consuming or sharing foreign media. This crackdown is part of a broader trend of increased governmental control over all aspects of citizens’ lives, with surveillance aided by technological advancements becoming more pervasive. The report also highlights the government’s expanded use of forced labor and restrictions on freedoms, leading to widespread suffering and fear among the population. Interviews with defectors reveal that living conditions have deteriorated since Kim Jong Un’s focus shifted to weapons development, with many facing food shortages and a daily struggle for survival. The UN report also details the continued operation of political prison camps and instances of torture and abuse of detainees.
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A new lawsuit alleges that West Africans deported from the U.S. to Ghana were subjected to inhumane treatment, including being held in restraints for 16 hours and provided only bread and water during the flight. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of five migrants, details their detention in “squalid conditions” in Ghana and the threat of being sent to countries deemed unsafe by U.S. immigration judges. The plaintiffs, who are not Ghanaian citizens, seek to halt deportations and challenge the Trump administration’s practice of sending individuals to countries other than their own, which is in violation of rulings by U.S. immigration judges. The lawsuit highlights the legal challenges surrounding the deportation of migrants to nations that were not their country of origin.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood