GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — Gaza militants fired rockets Tuesday after the death in Israeli custody of a leading Palestinian figure in the Islamic Jihad group, who had been on hunger strike for nearly three months. The cross-border fire followed the death of Khader Adnan, who had been on hunger strike since his detention by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank in February. Israel’s prison service announced the death of a detainee affiliated […]
Tag: prisoners
Zelensky blasts Russian ‘beasts’ over beheading video
Kyiv, Ukraine | AFP | Wednesday 4/12/2023 Graphic Content Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced Russian “beasts” after a video appeared to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner, prompting international outrage. The emergence of the footage, which AFP was unable to independently verify, sparked fury in Ukraine, with Kyiv saying Russia is “worse than ISIS” — a reference to the Islamic State group. The European Union pledged to hold war criminals to account, while a […]
Yemen warring parties agree prisoner swap as peace efforts accelerate
by Hashem Osseiran Agence France-Presse DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Yemen’s Huthi rebels and its internationally recognized government reached an agreement Monday to exchange more than 880 prisoners, the United Nations confirmed, while urging the two parties, at war since 2014, to continue talks. The agreed exchange comes after Saudi Arabia and Iran, who back opposing sides in the conflict, this month moved towards restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rupture. The parties “agreed […]
British, Australian and Japanese prisoners freed in Myanmar junta amnesty
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — A former British envoy, an Australian economic adviser and a Japanese journalist flew to Thailand late Thursday after being freed by Myanmar’s junta in an amnesty releasing almost 6,000 prisoners. Since a military coup last year, Myanmar has seen a bloody crackdown on dissent in which thousands of people have been jailed. Former British ambassador Vicky Bowman, Australian economic adviser Sean Turnell and Japanese journalist Toru Kubota touched down in Bangkok […]
Myanmar junta to release UK ex-ambassador, Australian and Japanese prisoners
Yangon, Myanmar (AFP) ADDS fresh quote, 200 gathered outside prison, Australian FM statement Myanmar’s military said Thursday it will release almost 6,000 prisoners, including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist and an Australian economics adviser, in a rare olive branch from the isolated junta. The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the military’s coup last year and a bloody crackdown on dissent during which thousands have been jailed. Former British envoy Vicky […]
Putin ally Medvedchuk, 55 servicemen freed in swap with Ukraine
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin’s ally Viktor Medvedchuk and 55 servicemen were handed over to Russia in a record-high prisoner swap with Kyiv, a leader of Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine confirmed Thursday. “Fifty-six people were released, 55 of them servicemen… Viktor Medvedchuk was also released from captivity,” Denis Pushilin told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, referring to the former Ukrainian lawmaker, who was accused of high treason. Medvedchuk, 68, is one […]
10 POWs from US, other countries transferred from Russia to Saudi: statement
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Ten prisoners of war from countries including the United States and Britain have been transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine, the Saudi foreign ministry said Wednesday. The prisoners, who also hail from Sweden, Morocco and Croatia, arrived in Saudi Arabia from Russia, and Saudi authorities “are facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries”, the statement said. The move came following […]
371 persons deprived of liberty released; DOJ, PAO say more qualified PDLs to be freed monthly
(Eagle News) – At least 371 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released as of Tuesday, September 13, 2022, according to the Department of Justice which vowed more releases in the coming months. The DOJ said that the 371 PDLs were released after the computation of time served in prison by the DOJ and the Bureau of Correction with the help of the lawyers of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). Majority or 240 of […]
US urges Russia ‘humane treatment’ of Americans captured in Ukraine
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday urged Russia to treat any American volunteers captured while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops as prisoners of war guaranteed humane treatment. The State Department also said that a third American was believed to be missing in Ukraine in addition to two military veterans who were reportedly seized by Russian forces in a pitched battle last week. “The Russians have certain obligations and members of the Ukrainian […]
British-Iranians reunited with family in UK after Tehran release
by Charles ONIANS Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Two British-Iranians imprisoned for years in Iran were reunited with their families in the early hours of Thursday, tears of joy and long hugs marking the culmination of years of campaigning and earlier false hopes. Their release on Wednesday came as the British government confirmed it had paid a longstanding debt over a cancelled defence contract, and as major powers inch closer to renewing the […]
Myanmar junta to free over 800 prisoners
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s junta on Saturday announced an amnesty for more than 800 prisoners to mark the country’s Union Day, as it held a parade and show of force in the capital. The country has been in turmoil since last year’s coup, with mass protests and a subsequent military crackdown that has killed more than 1,500 civilians, according to the UN’s human rights office. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing issued the “pardon […]
Myanmar junta frees 600 detainees including AP photographer
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar freed more than 600 coup detainees on Wednesday, including an Associated Press photographer arrested while covering rallies, following fresh outrage over brutal crackdowns on protesters. The regime has unleashed a deadly wave of violence as it struggles to quell nationwide protests against the February 1 ouster and arrest of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 75-year-old was due to have a court hearing on Wednesday in Myanmar’s capital […]





