For me helping is normal. I didn’t know that helping was forbidden. Helping is my duty, as a human being.

Across Europe people are being prosecuted and harassed for acts of solidarity towards refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, including handing out warm clothes, offering shelter, and saving lives at sea, Amnesty International said today. 

Reacting to today’s European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Ismayilova v. Azerbaijan, in favour of journalist Khadia Ismayilova, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, said:

President MichelEuropean CouncilHigh Representative BorrellEuropean External Action ServiceCommissionner VárhelyiEuropean Commission

This briefing is submitted in accordance with Rule 9(2) of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments, in advance of the 1369th (Human Rights) meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on the execution of judgments.

The decision to detain Osman Kavala on new charges merely hours after a court ordered his release must be immediately reversed and he must immediately set free, said Amnesty International.

Following the acquittal of Osman Kavala and eight other defendants in the so-called ‘Gezi trial’, Amnesty International’s Turkey Campaigner, Milena Buyum said:

Reacting to the European Court of Human Rights’ finding that Spain did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights when it summarily expelled two men from the Melilla enclave to Morocco, Anna Shea, Researcher on Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International, said:

TO: Ms Tonje MeinichChairperson

This briefing is submitted in accordance with Rule 9(2) of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments and of the terms of friendly settlements adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 10 May 2006.

Reacting to the news that the European Commission has requested that the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) issue interim measures to stop the draconian disciplinary regime which threatens the independence of Poland’s judiciary, Eve Geddie, Director of the Amnesty International, European Institutions Office, said:

On Saturday judges and lawyers from at least 14 countries will march in Warsaw in defence of human rights and the rule of law in Poland, as the Polish Senate considers a law which would further erode judicial independence.  Ahead of the protest, Draginja Nadaždin, Director of Amnesty International Poland, said: