Torture

Iran

Tehran accused of mass arrests, torture and executions after protests

Iran arrests 50,000 in nationwide protests, with rights groups reporting tens of thousands killed, death sentences, torture, and widespread asset seizures.

20 February 2026

France

First woman in France sentenced to life without parole for murder

The case sent shockwaves through France and reignited a heated debate over the country's immigration policies.

24 October 2025

Russia

Russia plans to withdraw from Europe's anti-torture treaty

Moscow's decision will likely be seen as inconsequential given growing condemnation of widespread human rights abuses committed in Ukraine.

27 August 2025

Europe News

Report: Late Ukrainian journalist's organs removed in Russia captivity

The body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who underwent torture and died in Russian captivity, was missing some internal organs, according to an investigation by the Forbidden Stories journalism network.

30 April 2025

Culture news

Europe's best crime museums for mafia, medieval torture and misdeeds

Europe's crime museums delve into the fight against the mafia in Palermo, medieval torture devices in Rothenburg and forensic specimens in Athens.

14 November 2024

World News

Kosovo court sentences war criminal to 18 years imprisonment

Pjetër Shala has been given an 18-year prison sentence for crimes committed during his country's 1999 war of independence.

17 July 2024

Ukraine

Human rights experts decry new evidence of torture of Ukrainian POWs

An investigation has found indications of brutal mistreatment that point to possible war crimes.

15 March 2024

Italy

Italian priest to be extradited to Argentina on charges of murder

Argentina's military junta ruled with notorious brutality from 1976 to 1983, killing, torturing and disappearing thousands of people.

16 October 2023

Netherlands

Netherlands: Syria tried in absentia in ICJ's watershed torture case

The war in Syria has so far killed half a million people, wounded hundreds of thousands and destroyed many parts of the country. It has displaced half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees outside the country.

11 October 2023

Ukraine

UN reports 4,621 Ukrainian civilian casualties in six months

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also reveals testimony of torture and abuse of detainees by their Russian captors.

9 October 2023

Vietnam

Man executed in Vietnam despite appeals from Europe and Canada

Le Van Manh was put to death for the theft and the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl - but maintained his confession was coerced via torture by police.

23 September 2023

Luxembourg

Stop putting children in Luxembourg prison, anti-torture group says

The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has urged the authorities in the country to stop detaining children in Luxembourg Prison - an adult prison - under dangerous circumstances.

8 September 2023

Europe

Asylum seekers alleging torture in Latvia take their claims to court

Some of the people looking to take the Latvian state to court have alleged ill-treatment including beatings, electric shocks and cigarette burns.

1 August 2023

Ukraine

Bucha: City hit by Russian atrocities opens doors to other war victims

The city near Kyiv that was the scene of mass torture and murder committed by Russian soldiers is now helping those afflicted by war from other parts of Ukraine

28 February 2023

Ukraine

Ukraine war: The key developments you need to know for Monday

Ukraine war: 'Torture' sites discovered in Kherson, nuclear plant faces 'close call'

21 November 2022

Ukraine

Russia launches new wave of missile strikes on Ukraine, say officials

Russia pounded gas production facilities and a major missile factory in new strikes on critical infrastructure, officials said.

17 November 2022