In Eritrea, press freedom is almost non-existent. Since 2001, the government has shut down all private newspapers and arrested many journalists, writers, and poets without trial. At least 12 are still in prison, making them the longest-detained journalists in the world. The government, led by President Isaias Afwerki, controls all media and punishes those who [...]
In North Korea, most people lack access to the global internet. Less than 1% of the 25 million citizens are believed to go online. Instead, they utilize a local network called Kwangmyong, a closed system controlled by the government. It offers only selected websites, all approved by the state. The global internet is largely restricted [...]
In May 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), along with 31 other organizations, urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea. This call highlights ongoing human rights violations in the country, including the arbitrary detention of journalists, severe media restrictions, and enforced disappearances. Eritrea remains [...]
Earlier this month, four men were publicly executed in Afghanistan by order of the Taliban-run Supreme Court, accused of murder and robbery. Officials claimed the executions upheld Islamic justice, but human rights groups strongly condemned them, citing unclear trials and fear-driven governance. Public executions, nearly absent under the previous government, are making a troubling comeback [...]
Executions in Saudi Arabia doubled in 2024 to at least 345, the highest number Amnesty International has ever recorded for the kingdom. The surge, mostly for terrorism and drug offenses, places Saudi Arabia behind only Iran and China globally. Despite past pledges by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reduce capital punishment, rights groups say [...]
Vietnam’s government has increasingly cracked down on dissent, using Article 331 of its penal code to silence not only activists but also ordinary citizens who raise concerns about local officials, corruption, religious freedom, or poor public services. The law, vaguely defined as “infringing on state interests,” is being used to punish peaceful expression, particularly on [...]
In 1948, Kim Il-sung established a totalitarian regime in North Korea, prioritizing the "Juche" ideology of self-reliance and the cult of personality. After he died in 1994, his son Kim Jong-il took power, continuing the authoritarian control of the regime. After his death, Kim Jong-un, the present leader of the country, succeeded him in 2011, [...]