Bahrain, Afghanistan, Uganda.

Today's three stories you should know.

Aug 28, 2023

Bahrain

This story hasn’t been much covered in international media but Al Jazeera has published a report today that says a staggering 800 prisoners are on hunger strike in Bahrain. Many of those on strike are considered political prisoners by respected human rights groups and are being held at the country’s largest prison, the Jau Reformation and Rehabilitation Centre. The prisoners say they are kept in inhumane conditions, denied medical treatment and locked in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day. Some of the inmates have been held since pro-democracy protests in 2011.

Afghanistan

Another day, another act of cruelty towards women and girls in Afghanistan. Not content with banning them from university at home, the Taliban is now reported to have stopped at least 60 female students from boarding a flight to the United Arab Emirates where they were due to study at university after being awarded scholarships. The brother of one of the young women spoke to the BBC, saying: "The scholarship gave new hope to my sister after the universities were closed here. She left home with hope and returned in tears. All her rights have been taken away."

Uganda

A 20-year-old man has become the first person to be charged with “aggravated homosexuality” - an offence that carries the death penalty - since Uganda enacted a new anti-gay law in May. Under the law, which has been widely condemned around the world, a case is considered “aggravated” if it is a repeat offence, sex that transmits a terminal illness, or same-sex intercourse with a minor, an elderly person or a person with disabilities. The charge sheet said the defendant had sex with a 41-year-old man without elaborating on why it was considered aggravated. Justine Balya, the defendant’s attorney, told Reuters she believed the law was unconstitutional.