ELIF AKGUL is a journalist based in İstanbul, Turkey.

Saturday Mothers: A 1000-week-long quest for justice

24 May 2024  |  turkeyrecapturkce.substack.com  |  Turkish  |  Forced Disappearances

The article highlights the ongoing struggle of the Saturday Mothers, a group of families in Turkey seeking justice for their loved ones who disappeared while in custody. The movement, inspired by similar protests in Argentina, has been active for 1000 weeks, demanding accountability and the return of their missing relatives. Despite facing police repression and political challenges, the group continues to advocate for human rights and justice. The article also discusses the political dynamics surrounding the issue, including unfulfilled promises by government officials and the impact of changing political climates on the movement's progress.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Protests in Turkey

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Nawal Al-Maghafi is a journalist based in Sana'a, Yemen.

Yemen war: Tortured for supporting the 'wrong' side

01 Apr 2023  |  www.bbc.com  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

The article by Nawal Al-Maghafi for BBC Arabic covers the harrowing issue of forced disappearances, torture, and deaths in detention in Yemen, amidst the ongoing conflict since 2015. The Abductees' Mothers Association and the human rights group Mwatana have documented the plight of the victims and their families. The report by Mwatana reveals over 1,600 cases of arbitrary detention, 770 enforced disappearances, and 344 instances of torture since 2016, with at least 66 confirmed deaths in detention. Victims are often targeted for their perceived allegiance to opposing factions in the war, with various groups, including the Houthi rebels and UAE-backed forces, running unofficial detention centers. The article shares personal stories, such as that of Othman Abdo, who was abducted and tortured, and Saleh, who was killed in detention, to illustrate the human cost of the conflict in Yemen.

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Forced Disappearances War in Yemen Human Rights Violations Torture

A regional specialist, Jon Boone has been covering Pakistan for The Guardian and The Economist since 2012. Before moving to Islamabad he spent four years in Afghanistan reporting for The Financial Times, The Guardian and The Economist.

Disappearances spark fears of crackdown on leftwing dissent in Pakistan

10 Jan 2017  |  the Guardian  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

Four social media activists with secular and anti-military views have gone missing in Pakistan, raising fears of a crackdown on leftwing dissent. Pakistan's intelligence agencies, known for illegal detentions, are suspected of involvement. The missing activists include Asim Saeed, Ahmad Waqas Goraya, Salman Haider, and Ahmed Raza Naseer. Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups have called for urgent investigations. The disappearances have caused concern among social media activists, with some deactivating their accounts. Security sources deny involvement, while MPs describe the disappearances as a coordinated effort to silence critical voices.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Political Dissent

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Freelancer

Journalist/Producer @CNN @Vice @CBS @BusinessInsider @ajenglish @Guardian @TheDailyBeast @Proceso @El_universal_mx @efenoticias

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Debanhi Escobar Was Murdered Before Her Body Was Dumped

01 Oct 2023  |  www.vice.com  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

Debanhi Escobar, an 18-year-old girl, was found dead in a motel water tank in Monterrey, Mexico. An autopsy revealed she was murdered by a blow to the head and sexually assaulted, contradicting initial claims of accidental death. Her case has sparked outrage in Mexico, highlighting the country's ongoing issues with femicides and forced disappearances. Her father, Mario Escobar, criticized the authorities for mishandling the investigation and withholding information. The case is now being investigated as a homicide, with calls for a second autopsy to confirm the findings.

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Forced Disappearances Murder Femicide

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Borzou Daragahi is a longtime foreign correspondent now working full-time for The Independent. He covers Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and the Arabian Peninsula as well as the Balkans and global issues such as public health, international crime and security ...

Families left to suffer in uncertainty over Syria deaths, report says

01 Oct 2023  |  The Independent  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has published a report revealing that the deaths of hundreds of Syrians, previously abducted by the Syrian regime, have been registered without informing their families. The report highlights the systemic efforts to suppress information about the fate of approximately 112,000 disappeared individuals during the Syrian conflict. The SNHR has obtained 1,600 death certificates over the past five years, many of which were discovered by families during unrelated civil registry visits. The report underscores the regime's contempt for its citizens' lives and the psychological trauma inflicted on the families of the missing. The article details specific cases, including Ahmad Hassan al-Dghiem and the Hijazi family, whose members were confirmed dead years after their abductions.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Syria Conflict

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Ann is an Australian freelance journalist in Mexico City. She reports for international media outlets on social, political and economic issues in Mexico including migration, the 'war on drugs', and feminist and indigenous social movements. 

Contributor to Foreign Policy, BBC New Economy, The New ...

AMLO Has Broken His Promise to Families of the Disappeared

26 Sept 2023  |  www.thenation.com  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

The families of the 43 disappeared students from Ayotzinapa protested in Mexico City, accusing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of betraying their trust by protecting the Mexican Army, which is believed to have information about the students' fate. Despite promises to prioritize the case, AMLO's government has not secured convictions or released crucial information. The families, supported by thousands, continue to demand justice and truth, highlighting the broader crisis of forced disappearances in Mexico.

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Forced Disappearances Ayotzinapa Case Mexican Politics

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Miguel Gallego is a journalist based in Madrid, Spain.

Pain Knows No Borders

30 Aug 2019  |  elDiario.es  |  Spanish  |  Forced Disappearances

The article discusses the issue of forced disappearances, highlighting cases in Iran following the 1988 repression and in Spain during the Civil War and Francoist period. It criticizes the lack of justice and investigation by authorities in both countries, emphasizing the ongoing struggle of families to find and honor their disappeared loved ones. The text calls for truth, justice, and reparation for victims, and an end to forced disappearances globally.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Historical Memory

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ROBERT KIBET is an award winning freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. His has appeared at DW, The Guardian UK, IPS, Equal Times, Thomson Reuters Foundation, News Deeply, Barzawire, Zenger News, IDN, Ubuntu Times, Climate Tracker and The New Humanitarian.

The Unanswered Questions of Kenya on Forced Disappearances

01 Nov 2024  |  rebelion.org  |  Spanish  |  Forced Disappearances

Kenya faces a persistent crisis of forced disappearances, a severe human rights violation leaving families in distress. Despite international conventions, Kenya lacks specific legislation, exacerbating the issue. The government and security forces are criticized for their role in extrajudicial killings and disappearances, with activists and organizations like Amnesty International calling for accountability. The article highlights systemic failures, including inadequate forensic capabilities and a culture of impunity, while emphasizing the need for legislative reforms and independent oversight to address these violations.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Violations Kenya

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Faisal Mahmud is a journalist with over a decade of experience in working with three national English daily newspapers of Bangladesh—The Independent, Dhaka Tribune and The Business Standard.  Before switching his career to professional journalism, Faisal worked in the IT industry for two years. He ...

Long wait for families of Bangladesh forced disappearance victims

26 May 2019  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

Families of victims of forced disappearances in Bangladesh, primarily opposition members and activists, continue to seek answers and justice. Organized by Mayer Daak, these families gather to share their grief and press authorities for information. Reports by human rights organizations accuse state actors, including the Rapid Action Battalion, of involvement in these disappearances, suggesting they are used as political tools by the ruling Awami League to silence dissent. Despite denials from law enforcement, the families remain hopeful for the return of their loved ones.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Violations

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Lilian Martínez is a journalist with 24 year of expirience. Firts at El Faro and after that at El Diario de Hoy, where in the last years she was data journalist and editor. She have written about enviroment, human right, migration and security.

She had been working at the Cuéllar's house for a month and a half... when the State disappeared her

14 May 2022  |  Noticias de El Salvador - Noticias de El Salvador, noticias internacionales, salvadoreños por el mundo, economia, negocios, politica, deportes, entretenimiento, tecnologia, turismo, tendencias, fotos, videos, redes sociales  |  Spanish  |  Forced Disappearances

In July 1982, Julia Orbelina Pérez, along with Mauricio Cuéllar and his daughter Patricia Emilie Cuéllar Sandoval, were forcibly disappeared by the Salvadoran state. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) has brought the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, demanding the Salvadoran state to answer for the disappearances. The CIDH's investigation revealed minimal efforts by the state to locate the victims and no post-conflict investigations. The CIDH recommends reparations, health support for families, diligent investigation, and legislative measures to prevent recurrence.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Violations

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Agus Morales is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain.

Marcela Turati on a Career Spent Investigating Mexico’s Crisis of Missing People

01 Oct 2023  |  gijn.org  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

Marcela Turati, a Mexican journalist, has dedicated her career to investigating the crisis of missing people in Mexico, focusing on the victims of drug violence and their families. Her work combines investigative journalism with a collaborative spirit, aiming to heal wounds and bring justice. Turati has faced numerous threats and espionage, highlighting the dangers journalists face in Mexico, where impunity and collusion between criminal groups and government officials are rampant. Despite the challenges, she continues to advocate for better conditions and safety for journalists, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts and memory in journalism.

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Forced Disappearances Journalism Drug Violence Human Rights

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I'm a freelance journalist, based in Bogotá, Colombia. I cover human rights, gender equality, social movements, culture and the environment. My work has appeared in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Vice, NACLA, Women's Media Center, Remezcla and more. 

As a Texas-born Colombian-American, I strive to ...

‘Hope never dies’: Venezuelan migrants disappear in Colombia

29 May 2023  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances

Since 2015, 288 Venezuelans have been reported as victims of forced disappearances in Colombia, with the real number likely much higher. Migrants face significant risks from gangs and armed groups, including forced recruitment and exploitation. Despite a 2016 peace deal, violence persists in some areas, exacerbating the vulnerability of migrants. Human rights groups highlight the challenges migrants face in advocating for themselves and accessing justice. Impunity remains a significant issue, with most cases unresolved. Recommendations include better integration of migrants into peace-building efforts and improved access to justice.

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Forced Disappearances Migration Crisis Human Rights

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Jack Shenker is an award-winning journalist who has reported from around the world, and whose work has been translated into several languages.

Formerly Cairo correspondent for the UK's Guardian newspaper, where he led coverage of Egypt's revolution and counter-revolution, his writing has also ...

Thousands of academics demand inquiry into Cairo death of Giulio Regeni

08 Feb 2016  |  the Guardian  |  English  |  Forced Disappearances in Egypt

Over 4,600 academics worldwide have signed an open letter demanding an investigation into the death of Giulio Regeni, a Cambridge PhD student found tortured in Cairo. The letter, published by The Guardian, pressures Egyptian and Italian authorities to uncover the truth behind Regeni's death and address the rising number of forced disappearances in Egypt. Italian officials demand justice, while Egyptian authorities deny involvement. The letter highlights human rights abuses in Egypt and calls for accountability. Key signatories include prominent academics, and the initiative has gained significant traction.

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Forced Disappearances in Egypt Death of Giulio Regeni Human Rights Violations

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Hello, my name is Fathiyah Wardah.

I am a freelance journalist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. I graduated  from Institute of Social and Political Science, Jakarta with a degree in communication in 2001.

My Work experience in journalism began in 2022 when I worked for Ms Tri Radio in Jakarta  ...

Hope of Families of Forced Disappearance Victims

05 Oct 2023  |  www.voaindonesia.com  |  Indonesian  |  Forced Disappearances

Paian Siahaan, whose son Ucok Munandar Siahaan was forcibly disappeared in 1997-1998, expresses shock and sadness over Prabowo Subianto's victory in the 2024 presidential election. Despite the emotional toll, Paian remains committed to seeking justice and accountability for the disappearances, as outlined in the 2009 recommendations by the Indonesian parliament. Hardingga, son of another victim, Yani Afri, shares similar sentiments and continues to seek answers about his father's fate. Komnas HAM emphasizes the importance of forming an ad hoc human rights court to address these cases, while Partai Gerindra defends Prabowo, stating there is no legal ruling against him. The article highlights the ongoing struggle of the victims' families for justice and the political implications of Prabowo's election victory.

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Forced Disappearances Human Rights Indonesian Politics

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