COI Update Vol. 215

215 14 April 2020

2

This document provides an update of UK Country Guidance case law, UK Home Office publications

and developments in refugee producing countries (focusing on those which generate the most

asylum seekers in the UK) between 31 March and 13 April 2020.

Ctrl + click the hyperlinked text to access the documents

Legal Update

No UK Country Guidance cases were promulgated in the reporting period.

UK Home Office Publications Update

Iran

UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note, Iran: Military service, 6 April 2020

Nigeria

UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note, Nigeria: Biafran separatists, 9 April 2020

Country News and Publications

Global

Amnesty International news, Africa: Armed conflicts and state repression fuel cocktail of human

rights violations, 7 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Asia: Reduce Prison Populations Facing COVID-19, 6 April 2020

Human Rights Watch interview, Waiting for the Storm: The Coronavirus in Africa, 3 April 2020

OHCHR press release, COVID-19: Economic sanctions should be lifted to prevent hunger crises – UN

expert, 31 March 2020

Afghanistan

Amnesty International news, Afghanistan: Government should prioritize the release of women

prisoners in efforts to tackle COVID-19, 10 April 2020

Radio Free Europe, Taliban Militants Kill Five Afghan Bank Employees, Police Say, 10 April 2020

The New Humanitarian, Food prices soar under coronavirus threat in Afghanistan, 7 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Afghanistan: Prosecute Head of ISIS-linked Group, 6 April 2020

International Crisis Group briefing note, What Will Peace Talks Bode for Afghan Women?, 6 April

2020

Reporters Without Borders, Information in Afghanistan, Covid-19 adds to problems from war, 2 April

2020

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Radio Free Europe, At Least Eight Afghan Civilians Killed By Roadside Bomb In Helmand, 1 April 2020

Algeria

Amnesty International campaigns, Algeria: Political Leader Imprisoned For Speech: Karim Tabbou, 3

April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Appeal by NGOs and associations for Khaled Drareni’s release, 2 April

2020

Bangladesh

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Still No Answers on Activist’s Disappearance in Bangladesh, 8 April

2020

Reporters Without Borders, Bangladesh: Surge in violence against reporters orchestrated by local

officials, 8 April 2020

Amnesty International news, Bangladesh: COVID-19 response flaws put older Rohingya refugees in

imminent danger, 5 April 2020

Amnesty International research, Bangladesh: Joint Letter On Covid19 And Communication

Restrictions In The Rohingya Camps, 2 April 2020

Amnesty International campaigns, Bangladesh: Further Information: Second Case Filed Against

Disappeared Editor: Shafiqul Islam Kajol, 1 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Bangladesh: End Wave of COVID-19 ‘Rumor’ Arrests, 31 March 2020

Cameroon

Human Rights Watch news, Cameroon: Allow Aid Access Amid Pandemic, 10 April 2020

China

Radio Free Asia, Chinese Lawyer Withdraws Appeal Against Disciplinary Sanction, 10 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Whistleblowing doctor missing after criticizing Beijing's coronavirus

censorship, 10 April 2020

Amnesty International news, China: Wang Quanzhang’s freedom an ‘illusion’ until government lifts

ruthless restrictions, 5 April 2020

China-Tibet

Radio Free Asia, Chinese Campaign in Tibet Rewards Tibetans for Reporting on Each Other,6 April

2020

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China-Xinjiang

Radio Free Asia, Lack of Answers Makes ‘Clear’ Missing Academics Are Detained in Xinjiang Camps:

Exile Group, 6 April 2020

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Convicted Congolese Warlord Escapes. Again., 7 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, DR Congo: Respecting Rights Key Amid COVID-19, 3 April 2020

Amnesty International action, Democratic Republic of Congo: Victims of brutal crackdowns deserve

justice now, 2 April 2020

UNICEF press release, Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at risk from killer measles,

cholera epidemics, 31 March 2020

Egypt

Amnesty International campaigns, Egypt: Further Information: Detained Researcher In Critical

Condition: Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, 9 April 2020

OHCHR press release, Egypt’s updated terrorism law opens the door to more rights abuses, says UN

expert, 9 April 2020

Amnesty International news, Egypt: Private-sector garment workers forced to choose between health

and livelihoods, 8 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Egypt blocks online “fake news” about coronavirus, 3 April 2020

Eritrea

Amnesty International news, Eritrea: Show humanity and release prisoners of conscience amid

COVID-19, 3 April 2020

Ethiopia

Amnesty International news, Ethiopia: Release detained journalists and opposition politicians

immediately, 7 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Ethiopia: Justice Needed for Deadly October Violence, 1 April 2020

The New Humanitarian, In the news: Ethiopia postpones election amid coronavirus concerns, 1 April

2020

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Ghana

Reporters Without Borders, Ghana urged to ensure safety of reporters covering Covid-19, 9 April

2020

India

Reporters Without Borders, How India’s government tries to suppress all Covid-19 reporting, 12 April

2020

Human Rights Watch news, India: Protests, Attacks Over New Citizenship Law, 9 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Indian newspaper accused of “fake news” about lockdown’s impact on

poor, 7 April 2020

OHCHR press release, COVID-19: UN human rights chief “distressed” over plight of India’s internal

migrants, welcomes measures to limit impact, 2 April 2020

The New Humanitarian, In Kashmir, slow internet throttles doctors’ coronavirus response, 1 April

2020

Iran

Amnesty International news, Iran: Prisoners killed by security forces during COVID-19 pandemic

protests, 9 April 2020

Iraq

Reporters Without Borders, Iraqi regulator wants to suspend Reuters over coronavirus reporting, 3

April 2020

Kenya

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Tackling Kenya’s Domestic Violence Amid COVID-19 Crisis, 8 April

2020

The New Humanitarian, Briefing: Five ideas on how to ease the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns in

Kenya, 6 April 2020

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Kenya Police Abuses Could Undermine Coronavirus Fight, 31 March

2020

Lebanon

Human Rights Watch news, Lebanon: Refugees at Risk in COVID-19 Response, 2 April 2020

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Libya

UNHCR briefing note, Libya: humanitarian crisis worsening amid deepening conflict and COVID-19

threat, 3 April 2020

Malaysia

Amnesty International article, Malaysia: Hundreds of Rohingya seeking safety by boat at acute risk

from coronavirus, 8 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Malaysia: Release Inquiry Into Indigenous People’s Deaths, 1 April 2020

Morocco

Amnesty International news, Morocco/Western Sahara: Detained journalists, peaceful protesters at

risk of Covid-19, must be urgently released, 7 April 2020

Myanmar/Burma

Amnesty International news, Myanmar: Release jailed rights defenders and activists, 13 April 2020

OHCHR press release, Myanmar must allow free flow of information and aid to protect right to

health in COVID-19 crisis – UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee, 9 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Myanmar: 3 Charged for COVID-19 Street Art, 8 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Myanmar: Reduce Prison Populations to Limit COVID-19, 3 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, In mid-coronavirus crisis, Myanmar blocks 221 sites for “fake news”, 3

April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Myanmar: Editor Wrongfully Charged, 2 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Myanmar editor could be jailed for life over rebel interview, 31 March

2020

Nepal

Amnesty International article, Migrant workers must not be left behind, 5 April 2020

Nigeria

Amnesty International news, Nigeria: Authorities must uphold human rights in fight to curb COVID-

19, 1 April 2020

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North Korea

Radio Free Asia, Smugglers Beaten as North Korea Applies Military Law in COVID-19 Response, 3

April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, As doubt persists on North Korea’s “zero” coronavirus cases, RSF urges

for transparency, 1 April 2020

Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs)

Human Rights Watch news, Joint Statement on Israel's Obligation vis-a-vis West Bank and Gaza in

Face of Coronavirus Pandemic, 7 April 2020

International Crisis Group briefing note, The Gaza Strip and COVID-19: Preparing for the Worst, 1

April 2020

Pakistan

Amnesty International campaigns, Pakistan: Further Information: Prisoners Across Pakistan At Risk

Of Covid-19, 3 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Pakistan: Workers Face Health, Economic Risks, 1 April 2020

Somalia

Reporters Without Borders, Somali officials cannot claim Covid-19 information monopoly, RSF and

NUSOJ say, 7 April 2020

Amnesty International news, US military pledges to report publicly on civilian casualties in Somalia, 1

April 2020

South Africa

Human Rights Watch news, South Africa: Set Rights-Centered COVID-19 Measures, 7 April 2020

Sri Lanka

Amnesty International campaigns, Demand Justice for Sri Lanka's Mirusuvil Massacre Victims, 4 April

2020

Amnesty International news, Sri Lanka: Religious minorities must have their final rites respected, 3

April 2020

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Sri Lanka Uses Pandemic to Curtail Free Expression, 3 April 2020

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Sudan

Human Rights Watch news, Sudan: A Year On, Justice Needed for Crackdowns, 10 April 2020

Reporters Without Borders, Sudan : Press freedom still in transition a year after Omar al-Bashir’s

removal, 10 April 2020

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Sudan Should Not Let COVID-19 Scuttle Transition, 1 April 2020

Syria

International Crisis Group commentary, Virus Fears Spread at Camps for ISIS Families in Syria’s North

East, 7 April 2020

EASO COI Report, Syria: Internally Displaced Persons, Returnees and Internal Mobility, 1 April 2020

Amnesty International news, Syria: Vulnerable prisoners should be released to prevent spread of

COVID-19, 31 March 2020

Turkey

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Turkey Seeks Power to Control Social Media, 13 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Turkey: COVID-19 Puts Sick Prisoners at Grave Risk, 3 April 2020

Amnesty International news, Turkey: Release unfairly imprisoned people and most at risk from

COVID-19, 1 April 2020

Uganda

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Uganda LGBT Shelter Residents Arrested on COVID-19 Pretext, 3

April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Uganda: Respect Rights in COVID-19 Response, 2 April 2020

Ukraine

Reporters Without Borders, Wave of attacks on reporters covering coronavirus lockdown in Ukraine,

10 April 2020

Amnesty International campaigns, Russia/Ukraine: Further Information: Detained Rights Defender

Must Be Released: Server Mustafayev, 9 April 2020

Human Rights Watch news, Ukraine: Dozens Stranded in a War Zone, 2 April 2020

Yemen

The New Humanitarian, In the news: Saudi Arabia announces Yemen ceasefire, 9 April 2020

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OHCHR press release, Yemen / shelling of prison: comment by UN High Commissioner for Human

Rights Michelle Bachelet, 6 April 2020

Zimbabwe

Reporters Without Borders, Five Zimbabwean reporters arrested while covering coronavirus

lockdown, 10 April 2020

Human Rights Watch dispatches, Zimbabwe Doctors Sue Government over COVID-19, 9 April 2020

The New Humanitarian, Zimbabwe’s triple threat: Coronavirus, food shortages, and an economy in

meltdown, 9 April 2020

Amnesty International, Zimbabwe: Protecting The Right To Health In The Covid-19 Response In

Zimbabwe, 4 April 2020

Sources consulted: Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; Institute for War and Peace

Reporting; Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC); International Crisis Group; International

Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR); The New

Humanitarian; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Reporters Without Borders; UN

Agencies, Committees, Special Rapporteurs and news.

Sources consulted for annual reports: Amnesty International; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch;

U.S. Department of State

Additional useful COI databases for case-specific country research (non-exhaustive):

o Asylos’s research notes [Subscription only] o COI Forum [Subscription only] o EASO COI Portal [European Asylum Support Office’s portal] o Electronic Immigration Network [Subscription only] o ECOI.net [European Country of Origin Information Network] o Refworld [UNHCR’s portal] o ReliefWeb

For useful sources arranged by theme consult ARC Foundation’s free Thematic COI Sources toolkit.