Violence and Security

UK Suspends Aid Program to Syrian Islamist Moderates

December 14, 2017

The UK government has suspended a foreign assistance project to support the Free Syrian Police (FSP) associated with Islamist moderates after charges were leveled that the funds were being diverted to protection and extortion schemes run by jihadi groups related to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
British Foil Islamist Terror Attack Against Prime Minister

December 14, 2017

British security service MI5 revealed that it had foiled a plot by Islamist extremist supporters of the Islamic State to stage an attack on the government headquarters at Downing Street and kill Prime Minister Theresa May.
Pakistan's Poor Counterterror Record Creates Risks for US

December 14, 2017

Pakistan's poor record when it comes to active and passive support for Islamist terrorists and violent Islamist groups across the spectrum of al-Qaeda, Taliban, and Islamic State affiliates, is creating serious risks to US homeland security and strategic interests and has led the US Defense Department to indefinitely suspend reimbursements to Pakistan for counterterrorism operations.
EU Official Threatens Rules for Online "Extremism"

December 13, 2017

At this week's EU Internet Forum, European Commissioner for Security Julian King announced that, while they have made some progress in removing "extremist content," the EU will subject internet platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to regulations next year if they do not delete such content at a quick enough speed to satisfy the Commission.
UN Rights Chief Criticizes Trump Tweets, Border Policy

December 08, 2017

CNN reports that, at a recent roundtable session in Washington, DC, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein condemned US President Donald Trump's retweeting of videos from anti-Islam group Britain First and decried the "mean-spiritedness" of strict border control and refugee admissions policies in the West.
Experts Warn UNSC of Continued IS Threat

December 07, 2017

In testimony before the UN Security Council (UNSC), security and terrorism experts warned of the "enormous challenge" posed in all countries by returning foreign fighters and "lone terrorists" inspired by the Islamic State (IS), as well as the "entrenchment" of IS's online presence in the wake of its territorial losses in Iraq and Syria.
OSCE Seeks Monitoring of Prison Anti-Radicalization Efforts

December 07, 2017

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights recently held a workshop in Warsaw pushing for the establishment of "independent detention monitoring bodies" in OSCE countries to evaluate whether efforts to prevent radicalization leading to terrorism in prisons are compliant with international human rights standards.
OSCE Plans Reporting Tool on "Hate Incidents"

December 06, 2017

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has introduced to Polish and Hungarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) a pilot version of an online platform permitting people to report "hate incidents" that will allow local NGOs "to advocate for better prevention and response measures."
UN Agents Seek to Infuse Rights Agenda in Migration Compact

December 06, 2017

A group of UN human rights mandate holders has issued a statement seeking, in the context of the development of a UN Global Compact on migration issues, to "commit to a global compact which reflects their human rights obligations," including by combating "hate speech" against migrants, limiting detention, and recognizing migrants' due process rights.
EU Rights Official Calls for "Balancing" Freedom of Speech

December 06, 2017

In a recent speech to the human rights committee of the Polish national council of attorneys at law, the Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights Michael O'Flaherty called for governments to balance the freedom of expression against "the legal requirement to prohibit and penalise certain forms of extreme hate speech."