Irish president says sister 'kidnapped' by Israel on Gaza aid flotilla Ireland’s president has condemned the seizure of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla by Israeli forces, saying her sister was among those taken. Dr Margaret Connolly is one of six Irish citizens abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to organisers. Speaking in London, President Catherine Connolly said: “It’s quite upsetting, and I’m very worried about her, and I’m also very concerned about her colleagues on board.
English Premier League clubs accused of sportswashing Israel's atrocities Four English Premier League clubs have treated pro- Palestinian staff and supporters “in ways that may breach the right to freedom of expression and/ or amount to discrimination”, War on Want said on Monday. In a new report investigating English clubs’ complicity in Israe l’s atrocities, the campaign group named Arsenal, Brighton, Burnley and Everton as clubs who had singled out staff or supporters in this way. Following an investigation into clubs’ corporate ties and sponsorship deals, War on Want said that at least nine out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League are “directly sponsored by companies complicit in Israel’s atrocities”.
Responding to the Dominican Republic assuming the presidency of the 79th World Health Assembly, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said: “As it assumes the presidency of the world’s leading global health forum, President Luis Abinader’s government in the Dominican Republic has the responsibility to demonstrate that its international leadership translates into real guarantees […] The post Dominican Republic: Global leadership in health requires domestic consistency and an end to racial discrimination appeared first on Amnesty International .
English Premier League clubs accused of sportswashing Israel's atrocities Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 16:00 War on Want highlights discrimination against staff and corporate complicity of big sponsors in new report Manchester City players celebrate winning the English Premier League in 2024 (AFP) Off Four English Premier League clubs have treated pro- Palestinian staff and supporters “in ways that may breach the right to freedom of expression and/ or amount to discrimination”, War on Want said on Monday. In a new report investigating English clubs’ complicity in Israe l’s atrocities, the campaign group named Arsenal, Brighton, Burnley and Everton as clubs who had singled out staff or supporters in this way. Following an investigation into clubs’ corporate ties and sponsorship deals, War on Want said that at least nine out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League are “directly sponsored by companies complicit in Israel’s atrocities”.
MPs question lack of action on hate speech at Tommy Robinson's anti-Muslim rally Submitted by Imran Mulla on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 13:38 Robinson was filmed saying 'it's time for many Muslims to leave this country' at the Unite the Kingdom rally on Saturday In Parliament Square, supporters of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, let off flares beside the statue of Winston Churchill on 16 May (AFP) Off British Muslim civil society groups and politicians have criticised government ministers for not condemning anti-Muslim remarks made at the Unite the Kingdom rally over the weekend, and are calling on the Metropolitan Police to investigate some comments. An estimated 60,000 people attended the rally on Saturday in central London, organised by convicted criminal and far-right activist Tommy Robinson , whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. At the rally, speaking to a pro-Israel activist, Robinson was filmed saying he "would stop Islam" if he was in charge of the country.
Exclusive: ICC prosecutor's office seeks arrest warrant for Israel's Smotrich Submitted by Sondos Asem on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:11 Charges sought against Israeli finance minister over West Bank occupation include crime of apartheid against Palestinians Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich takes part in the annual Jerusalem Day march in the Old City of Jerusalem, 14 May 2026 (Reuters/Ammar Awad) Off The office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court last month filed a secret arrest warrant application for Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, sources briefed on the matter told Middle East Eye. Israeli media reports over the weekend claiming the prosecutor’s office had filed five applications for Israeli officials are inaccurate, MEE understands. An evidence review took place on Wednesday last week to examine the possibility of two more warrant applications, including one for national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, but they have yet to be filed.
'We have to remove Islam': Social media reacts to racist speeches at Unite the Kingdom rally Submitted by Hannah. Smith on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 12:39 Users criticised the government's lack of response to Islamophobic and racist comments made by speakers at Tommy Robinson's event in London Supporters of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, gather for a march organised by Unite The Kingdom, in central London on 16 May 2026 (Justin Tallis/AFP) Off The Unite the Kingdom rally organised by far-right British activist Tommy Robinson in central London on Saturday was characterised by a series of Islamophobic speeches, sparking widespread reactions on social media. Police estimates suggested a turnout of 60,000 for the march, significantly less than the 150,000 that turned out for Robinson’s previous march in September.
The trial of two Romanian nationals accused of carrying out a 2024 knife attack on Iran International TV presenter Pouria Zeraati began in London on Monday.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has reduced the scale of violence in the Gaza Strip but killings and destruction continue, while forced displacement in the occupied West Bank has reached a rate “unseen in decades”, a senior official with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Monday in Geneva.
French judge to probe complaints against Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 11:19 The opening of the investigation follows complaints filed by NGOs against Mohammed bin Salman, accused of ordering the assassination of the journalist in 2018 A protestor wears a mask depicting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman next to people holding posters of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, on 25 October 2018 (Yasin Akgul/AFP) Off A French judge will investigate the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi , following a complaint filed by NGOs against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sources told AFP on Saturday. The Middle East Eye and Washington Post journalist was murdered by Saudi Arabian agents at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. His body was dismembered and has never been found.
Global figures Global executions Violating international law Global death sentences Abolishing the death penalty Regional analysis Americas Asia-Pacific Europe and Central Asia Middle East and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa The post Death penalty in 2025 – Facts and figures appeared first on Amnesty International .
Israel advances plan to seize Palestinian property near Al-Aqsa Mosque Submitted by Samah Watad on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 11:16 New committee to implement historic confiscation orders in Jerusalem’s Old City as Palestinians warn of efforts to ‘Judaise’ the area A large Israeli flag at the Western Wall Plaza, Judaism's holiest prayer site, during the annual Jerusalem Day, in Jerusalem's Old City, 14 May 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters) Off The Israeli government has advanced plans to confiscate Palestinian-owned property near Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, in a move Palestinians say is aimed at “Judaising” the city. On Sunday, ministers approved the creation of an inter-ministerial team to examine the implementation of historic expropriation orders in the area around Chain Gate (Bab al-Silsila in Arabic), a main route leading directly to Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli officials and Hebrew media described the move as part of efforts to strengthen Israeli sovereignty in the Old City and secure routes linking Jaffa Gate, the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall.
Amnesty International said on Monday that executions worldwide rose to their highest recorded level in more than four decades in 2025, with the Islamic Republic responsible for the vast majority of the increase.
New posts Featured entry 02:27 Iran Executed 'Staggering' Number Of People In 2025, Amnesty Says Iran executed a "staggering" 2,159 people in 2025, Amnesty International reported on May 18, helping to push the global figure to the highest level since 1981.
New posts Featured entry 11:36 Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Sent Home From Hospital By RFE/RL Nobel Peace Prize Winner Narges Mohammadi has been discharged from a Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in Tehran and sent home, according to a statement by her foundation.
Responding to the resumption of the trial of activists who organized Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong, Amnesty International Hong Kong’s spokesperson Fernando Cheung said: “As closing arguments begin in this trial, the Hong Kong authorities must confront the basic injustice at its heart: commemorating victims of human rights abuses is compassionate, not criminal. Holding people […] The post Hong Kong: Activists’ unjust trial for peaceful Tiananmen commemoration resumes appeared first on Amnesty International .
Palestinian ministry condemns Israeli property seizure plan near Al-Aqsa The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned an Israeli plan to seize up to 20 properties near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, calling it “ethnic cleansing”. The properties are located in the Bab as-Silsila area adjacent to the mosque, considered Islam’s third-holiest site. The ministry said the move was part of a broader effort by Israel to gradually displace Palestinians from the area while expanding the number of Israeli residents.
The release of Global Sumud Flotilla activists must deepen pressure for Palestinian prisoners Submitted by Raouf Farrah on Sun, 05/17/2026 - 16:01 International solidarity helped secure the release of detained flotilla activists, but thousands of Palestinians remain imprisoned under torture, starvation and indefinite detention Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla, is greeted on arrival at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil on 11 May 2026 (Nelson Almeida/AFP) Off On 30 April, Israeli naval forces illegally intercepted vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in international waters near Greece, seizing nearly 180 peaceful activists participating in the mission. While most participants were eventually released after beatings and harassment, GSF members Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Avila were transferred to Shikma Prison in Ashkelon and later brought before Israeli courts. During their imprisonment, both men endured isolation, torture and the worsening of their physical condition, before growing international pressure finally secured their release on 10 May 2026.
Executions in 2025 soared to the highest figure recorded by Amnesty International since 1981, with 2,707 people executed across 17 countries, revealed the latest annual report from the human rights organization on the global use of the death penalty. The staggering rise recorded in the report Death Sentences and Executions 2025, was down to a […] The post GLOBAL: Executions surge to highest recorded figure in 44 years appeared first on Amnesty International .
