Human Rights

Who starts it? Violence, protest and what the police are really for

Attempts to defend the police in Bristol ignore the essential role of policing in society and the hostility to protests and pickets, argues Chris Nineham
Five reasons why Israel is an apartheid state

Following a recent report by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem which called Israel an apartheid state, Sybil Cock explains why the label fits
Napier Barracks: Priti Patel’s human rights scandal

The horrific treatment of asylum seekers in Napier Barracks is a deliberate part of the Home Office's hostile environment, reports Shadia Edwards-Dashti
A step closer to freedom for Assange: Judge rules against extradition

The Old Bailey has found that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the US, reports Lucy Nichols
Workers fighting back: the new mood continues unabated - News from the Frontline

Counterfire's fortnightly digest rounding up the stories of working people getting organised and fighting back
French activists and journalists say ‘no’ to Macron’s ‘gag law’

In Paris, thousands take to the streets to protest against Macron’s new “comprehensive security” law, reports Susan Ram
Mary Wollstonecraft statue is a poor representation of her radical ideas

The new statue commemorating Mary Wollstonecraft will disappoint socialists and feminists as it fails to represent what she stood for, argues Lindsey German
The SpyCops bill is an attack on us all: it must be resisted

We shouldn’t imagine that we are powerless and have to accept this assault on our civil liberties lying down, argues Shabbir Lakha
Abortion ban in Poland: the government is waging war on women

The ruling against abortions in Poland is a monstrous assault on women which should be resisted as part of the wider fight against the populist right internationally, argues Reece Goscinski
Spy cops bill: Starmer helping the Tory assault on civil liberties

Starmer's tacit support for government legislation that will allow undercover police to commit crimes is a dangerous new low, argues Lucy Nichols
This is about all our rights: don't extradite Assange protest

Protesters assembled outside the Old Bailey to voice the opposition to extraditing Julian Assange, reports Shabbir Lakha
The Assange case: the people have the power

The tide is turning in the case to extradite Julian Assange - now opinion needs to be turned into power, argues John Rees
Wheelchair-bound Palestinian brutally attacked by Israeli Defence Forces

Adnan Hamarsheh and his family were severely beaten in the latest attack they've faced at the hands of the Israeli military, reports Ellen Graubart
Protect yourself: how to join a union

Unions have won us rights in our working place in the past, they can do so again, says Jane Clayton
When capitalism turns caring for the vulnerable into a burden

The resurgence of DNACPR should be challenged, the idea that one life is more worthy than another could lead to dangerous consequences, argues Elly Badcock
No Limits. The Disabled People's Movement: A Radical History - book review

A history of the disabled people’s movement highlights its historical successes, as well as showing how and why a new fightback is needed, finds Elaine Graham-Leigh
Time to take a stand: the crucial case of Julian Assange

The British State's sinister maneouvres around the extradition of Julian Assange are a flagrant injustice and are being rightly challenged, reports Alistair Cartwright
Rail blockade: indigenous resistance shakes the Canadian state

Indigenous groups resisting a destructive gas pipeline have blockaded one of Canada's busiest rail lines bringing business as usual to a grinding halt, reports John Clarke
Press freedom and the case of Julian Assange

On February 4^th a large crowd attended London’s Royal National Hotel for a public rally in support of Julian Assange, reports Peter Bird
The government's attacks on Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are an attack on us all

The government consultation aiming to criminalise the lives of some of Britain's most vulnerable and persecuted groups is disgraceful and must be resisted by us all, writes Norbert Lawrie
Huge numbers join Catalonia's general strike for freedom

Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona and around the territory today in defence of democracy and their right to independence, reports Chris Bambery
Nia Griffith has to go, say Labour members

Over 1,500 Labour Party members have signed an open letter calling for Nia Griffith’s resignation, reports Shabbir Lakha
Is Sajid Javid's deprivation of Shamima Begum's citizenship legal?

Looking at the law, it's clear that the Home Office decision to strip Shamima Begum of her citizenship is incorrect, argues Attiq Malik
Revoking Shamima Begum’s citizenship is unjustifiable

Removing Shamima Begum's citizenship is a violation of international and human rights law and would set a dangerous precedent, argues Shabbir Lakha
The UN has condemned Britain 16 times in the last decade and here’s why

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70, T.J. Coles documents recent examples of the UK falling short
Bloody Friday in Gaza: a great return massacre

An unarmed, civilian protest from a people who have been oppressed for decades, results in bloodshed and massacre.
Catalan Spring? Resistance fills the streets as ex-President arrested in Germany

Marching on the motorways and confronting police violence, the mass movement has returned with a new defiance, reports Jack Sherwood
Not One Step Back: Catalonia rises in protest as 5 ex-ministers imprisoned

Escalating repression by the Spanish state has sparked huge anger and an appetite for militant action, reports Mathew Barton from Tarragona
Morroco’s Makhzen: repression and resistance

Fallout from the Arab Spring continues to permeate North African struggles, writes Richard Greeman
Syria: a war without end?

As aid convoys to Syria are suspended, Jonathan Maunders takes a look at where we are, and where we are going to
The EU is no friend to refugees

The EU is has a terrible record on it's treatment of refugees, argues Shabbir Lakha
To stop the far right we must oppose the EU

Kevin Ovenden argues for an internationalist approach to the European crisis in the second half of a two-part series on the European question
Angola: students and political detainees must be freed

An unfinished post-conflict transition in Angola and the pursuit of oil wealth by a powerful elite has meant a crackdown on resistance
The establishment campaign against Cage - smeared for defending human rights

The attack on Cage is part of the more general assault on politically active Muslims and an attempt to push Muslim organisations to the margins of public life
David Cameron is making political capital out of carnage

David Cameron describes the threat of terrorism in Britain as an ‘existential threat’. This is preposterous, and he knows it
Counter-extremism or full spectrum idiocy?

The government’s ‘counter-extremism’ crackdown won't reduce the threat, and is more likely to increase marginalization of British Muslims and the alienation that groups like Isis attempt to feed on argues Matt Carr
Magna Carta: a tradition of rebellion

Foundation of British democracy or historical relic? Dominic Alexander looks at how the meaning of Magna Carta has always been shaped by class struggle and rebellion
The force may be with you

Theresa May’s proposed new anti-terror laws further demonise Muslims and threaten the rights of everyone who opposes the government argues Elly Badcock
Video: CAGE take on the Charity Commission

Human Rights advocacy group CAGE are to take the Charity Commission to court for unlawful use of powers against them. CAGE spokesperson, Cerie Bullivant joins presenter John Rees in the studio
Counterfire Freesheet May 2015

Counterfire's new free sheet edition 001, May 2015
3 police officers forcibly strip a vulnerable child without calling her mum. Is that acceptable?

A 14-year-old girl, who had been a victim of sexual abuse was arrested and forcibly stripped of all her clothes by police officers - It's not an isolated case write Shauneen Lambe and Paola Uccellari
Saving Sushil: Sheffield community campaigns against deportation of Buddhist monk

The planned deportation of asylum seeker Sushilananda Sraman exposes our government's disregard for human rights

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Human Rights

Human Rights

Attempts to defend the police in Bristol ignore the essential role of policing in society and the hostility to protests and pickets, argues Chris Nineham

Following a recent report by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem which called Israel an apartheid state, Sybil Cock explains why the label fits

The horrific treatment of asylum seekers in Napier Barracks is a deliberate part of the Home Office's hostile environment, reports Shadia Edwards-Dashti

The Old Bailey has found that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the US, reports Lucy Nichols

Counterfire's fortnightly digest rounding up the stories of working people getting organised and fighting back

In Paris, thousands take to the streets to protest against Macron’s new “comprehensive security” law, reports Susan Ram

The new statue commemorating Mary Wollstonecraft will disappoint socialists and feminists as it fails to represent what she stood for, argues Lindsey German

We shouldn’t imagine that we are powerless and have to accept this assault on our civil liberties lying down, argues Shabbir Lakha

The ruling against abortions in Poland is a monstrous assault on women which should be resisted as part of the wider fight against the populist right internationally, argues Reece Goscinski

Starmer's tacit support for government legislation that will allow undercover police to commit crimes is a dangerous new low, argues Lucy Nichols

Protesters assembled outside the Old Bailey to voice the opposition to extraditing Julian Assange, reports Shabbir Lakha

The tide is turning in the case to extradite Julian Assange - now opinion needs to be turned into power, argues John Rees

Adnan Hamarsheh and his family were severely beaten in the latest attack they've faced at the hands of the Israeli military, reports Ellen Graubart

Unions have won us rights in our working place in the past, they can do so again, says Jane Clayton

The resurgence of DNACPR should be challenged, the idea that one life is more worthy than another could lead to dangerous consequences, argues Elly Badcock

A history of the disabled people’s movement highlights its historical successes, as well as showing how and why a new fightback is needed, finds Elaine Graham-Leigh

The British State's sinister maneouvres around the extradition of Julian Assange are a flagrant injustice and are being rightly challenged, reports Alistair Cartwright

Indigenous groups resisting a destructive gas pipeline have blockaded one of Canada's busiest rail lines bringing business as usual to a grinding halt, reports John Clarke

On February 4th a large crowd attended London’s Royal National Hotel for a public rally in support of Julian Assange, reports Peter Bird

The government consultation aiming to criminalise the lives of some of Britain's most vulnerable and persecuted groups is disgraceful and must be resisted by us all, writes Norbert Lawrie

Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona and around the territory today in defence of democracy and their right to independence, reports Chris Bambery

Over 1,500 Labour Party members have signed an open letter calling for Nia Griffith’s resignation, reports Shabbir Lakha

Looking at the law, it's clear that the Home Office decision to strip Shamima Begum of her citizenship is incorrect, argues Attiq Malik

Removing Shamima Begum's citizenship is a violation of international and human rights law and would set a dangerous precedent, argues Shabbir Lakha

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70, T.J. Coles documents recent examples of the UK falling short

An unarmed, civilian protest from a people who have been oppressed for decades, results in bloodshed and massacre.

Marching on the motorways and confronting police violence, the mass movement has returned with a new defiance, reports Jack Sherwood

Escalating repression by the Spanish state has sparked huge anger and an appetite for militant action, reports Mathew Barton from Tarragona

Fallout from the Arab Spring continues to permeate North African struggles, writes Richard Greeman

As aid convoys to Syria are suspended, Jonathan Maunders takes a look at where we are, and where we are going to

The EU is has a terrible record on it's treatment of refugees, argues Shabbir Lakha

Kevin Ovenden argues for an internationalist approach to the European crisis in the second half of a two-part series on the European question

An unfinished post-conflict transition in Angola and the pursuit of oil wealth by a powerful elite has meant a crackdown on resistance

The attack on Cage is part of the more general assault on politically active Muslims and an attempt to push Muslim organisations to the margins of public life

David Cameron describes the threat of terrorism in Britain as an ‘existential threat’. This is preposterous, and he knows it

The government’s ‘counter-extremism’ crackdown won't reduce the threat, and is more likely to increase marginalization of British Muslims and the alienation that groups like Isis attempt to feed on argues Matt Carr

Foundation of British democracy or historical relic? Dominic Alexander looks at how the meaning of Magna Carta has always been shaped by class struggle and rebellion

Theresa May’s proposed new anti-terror laws further demonise Muslims and threaten the rights of everyone who opposes the government argues Elly Badcock

Human Rights advocacy group CAGE are to take the Charity Commission to court for unlawful use of powers against them. CAGE spokesperson, Cerie Bullivant joins presenter John Rees in the studio

Counterfire's new free sheet edition 001, May 2015

A 14-year-old girl, who had been a victim of sexual abuse was arrested and forcibly stripped of all her clothes by police officers - It's not an isolated case write Shauneen Lambe and Paola Uccellari

The planned deportation of asylum seeker Sushilananda Sraman exposes our government's disregard for human rights

On February 4^th a large crowd attended London’s Royal National Hotel for a public rally in support of Julian Assange, reports Peter Bird