HRW among Targets of Pegasus Spyware: Daily Brief
- HRW staff member targeted by spyware;
- LGBT people face increased threats in Afghanistan;
- Poland's "year of fear" under abortion ban;
- Violent crackdowns in Kazakhstan;
- Namibia fails to recognize same-sex marriages;
- Tunisia silencing critics.
Lama Fakih, Crisis and Conflict director and head of the Beirut office at Human Rights Watch, was targeted with Pegasus spyware five times between April and August 2021. Pegasus is secretly introduced on people’s mobile phones without even a single click from users. Once on the device, it can be a powerful surveillance tool that gains complete access to its camera, calls, media, microphone, email, text messages, enabling surveillance of the person targeted and their contacts. Governments should ban the sale, and use of surveillance technology until human rights safeguards are in place.
LGBT Afghans have increasingly faced mob attacks, or being hunted by family members who joined the Taliban. There is no hope that state institutions will offer them justice or protection. It is difficult to overstate how devastating – and terrifying – the return of Taliban rule has been for LGBT Afghans.
A year after a ruling in Poland banned access to abortion in almost all circumstances took effect, it has had a devastating impact on the lives of women and all those in need of abortion care. But women are pushing for change. Over 1,000 women have turned to the European Court of Human Rights challenging this ban.
On at least four occasions, Kazakh security forces have used extreme force on protestors, including shooting at them during recent demonstrations in Almaty. The worst of the incidents led to 10 apparent killings, with 19 people injured. The full toll is likely higher.
In a ruling last week, a Namibian court cited immigration laws as it refused to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages conducted outside the country. The case was brought by two couples, legally married in Germany and South Africa, who sought to secure residency and work permits for their spouses.
And finally, Miriam Bibri, a Tunisian activist, was fined and sentenced to four months in prison for a Facebook post. Bibri joins scores of other Tunisians, including bloggers, activists, and social media commentators who have been prosecuted for their peaceful criticism of state officials and institutions, even if that criticism is no more than a sarcastic or profane exclamation.