Digital Phablet

Tag: detention

  • Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi Meets Red Cross Official, Govt Confirms

    Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi Meets Red Cross Official, Govt Confirms

    Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since 2021, recently met with a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The country’s government spokesperson confirmed the meeting took place on Monday in Naypyidaw. Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been serving a 27-year prison sentence following conviction on multiple charges, which her supporters argue are politically motivated. Her son has publicly expressed limited knowledge regarding her current health and living conditions.

    The meeting occurred amid ongoing international concern for her well-being. Photos released by the government show Suu Kyi dressed in traditional Burmese attire, meeting with Arnaud de Baecque of the ICRC in a modest, wood-paneled room with minimal furnishings. Another image depicts her celebrating her birthday, with a cake inscribed with her name and the date June 29, 2026, hinting at the rare inside look into her residence. However, these images’ exact location and date could not be independently verified, and no prior online postings of them exist.

    Following a military-led election in April, which resulted in the continuation of Myanmar’s military control and the presidency of Min Aung Hlaing, Suu Kyi was moved to house arrest. Her sentence was reduced by a sixth as part of an amnesty that also released her political ally, ex-president Win Myint. Despite this, access to her remains limited. The regional ASEAN group and other international bodies continue to seek meetings with her, but the military government has been reluctant to grant such requests.

    Last December, Myanmar’s ruling junta claimed Suu Kyi was in good health. Her son has voiced concern over his limited updates and fears she could pass away without him knowing, due to the lack of communication over the years.

  • Texas ICE Detention Center Detainees Subjected to Beatings and Abuse

    Texas ICE Detention Center Detainees Subjected to Beatings and Abuse

    Protesters opposed to mass deportations by ICE held signs during a demonstration at the Cassidy Gate on Fort Bliss, the U.S. Army base where a large new ICE detention center is under construction in El Paso, Texas, on August 17, 2025. — Reuters

    Rights organizations have criticized Trump’s immigration policies. Since January of last year, approximately 50 individuals have died while in ICE custody. The Trump administration denies allegations of abuse within ICE detention facilities.

    Detainees at a Texas ICE detention center told human rights groups they were assaulted by guards, refused medical treatment, and prevented from contacting family members or lawyers, according to a report released Wednesday. The report, compiled by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union, is extensive and based on interviews with 80 detainees focusing on conditions at Camp East Montana located at Fort Bliss in El Paso.

    “People detained at Camp East Montana reported frequent beatings and other signs of excessive force by guards, persistent malnutrition, and living conditions that are both unsanitary and degrading,” the report states. “These abuses violate basic protections under U.S. and international human rights laws.”

    This is part of a series of investigations highlighting ongoing abuses at the facility, which is the largest immigration detention center in the country. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, publicly refuted these findings, claiming reports of inhumane conditions are entirely false.

    “Detained individuals are not being beaten or mistreated,” DHS stated. “We take seriously the safety and health of everyone in our custody and ensure medical care is provided to all.”

    The department added that detainees are granted full due process, receive proper meals and water, and have access to medical services and communication with family and legal representatives.

    One detainee, identified as Ismael M., 28, from Honduras, shared that he experienced depression and suicidal thoughts during his five-plus months in detention. “Sometimes I look at my bed sheets and wonder if it might be easier to hang myself than survive this torture,” he said.

    Camp East Montana has repeatedly been criticized by immigration advocates; a recent government watchdog report criticized its failure to document use-of-force incidents, provide medication to seriously ill detainees, and criticized the expenditure of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on hasty contracts.

    ICE remains a symbol of an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign led by President Donald Trump, which human rights groups say infringes on free speech and due process rights. The crackdown has fostered an environment of danger, especially for ethnic minorities, who have expressed concerns about racial profiling.

    President Trump defends these measures as efforts to bolster national security. Since he assumed office in January last year, around 50 individuals have lost their lives in ICE custody nationwide.

  • UN Calls on Taliban to Cease Women’s Dress-Related Arrests

    UN Calls on Taliban to Cease Women’s Dress-Related Arrests

    The UN mission in Afghanistan has raised concerns over the recent arrests and detentions of women in a western province, believed to be linked to alleged violations of dress code enforcement. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) did not specify the number of women impacted, but local reports last week indicated at least 21 women and girls had been detained in Herat province. The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

    Unama issued a statement late Sunday on X (formerly Twitter), expressing worry about multiple women being detained in Herat for supposedly not adhering to dress standards, which it called a serious human rights issue. They emphasized that everyone has the right to move freely and that all people, regardless of gender, should be treated equally under the law.

    These detentions come shortly after a Taliban directive was issued, requiring women to wear what authorities describe as a “proper hijab” in public. Reports suggest that those who do not comply—such as women revealing their faces or using makeup—risk punitive measures, although these claims could not be independently confirmed. Since Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021, they have implemented extensive restrictions on women and girls, limiting their access to education, jobs, and sports, prompting widespread international criticism.

    A UNICEF report from April warned that restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment could lead to over 25,000 female teachers and health workers leaving Afghanistan by 2030. The Taliban maintain that they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law.

  • US Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Immigration Detention Policy

    A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration’s policy of detaining most individuals arrested during its immigration enforcement efforts without allowing them the chance to request bond release.

    A panel of three judges from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New York, determined that the administration had misinterpreted an immigration law that dates back decades. Instead of following established legal standards, the court found that the administration’s approach was a flawed and novel interpretation aimed at supporting widespread detention.

    This decision follows rulings from two other appellate courts, which previously sided with detainees by overturning decisions that denied them bond hearings before immigration judges. The conflicting decisions suggest the case may ultimately be escalated to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.

    Judge Joseph Bianco, writing for the panel, acknowledged the differing viewpoints but emphasized that the court was diverging from previous rulings. The panel aligned with over 370 lower-court judges nationwide who had rejected the administration’s legal stance, ruling that it was an incorrect application of the law.

    The case centered around the detention of Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha, a Brazilian national who had lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years. Last year, immigration officials detained him while he was driving to work, prompting the court to overturn his detention order and secure his release.

    Bianco, a judge appointed by former President Trump, warned that a ruling against the detainee would authorize what could become the broadest mass detention order in U.S. history—affecting millions of non-citizens.

    The Department of Homeland Security had recently taken the position that individuals already living in the U.S. are considered “applicants for admission” and thus subject to mandatory detention, not just new arrivals at the border. Under existing law, such applicants must be detained during their case proceedings and are not eligible for bond hearings.

    This interpretation was codified in September when the Board of Immigration Appeals, part of the Justice Department, endorsed this view. Consequently, immigration judges nationwide have ordered the detention of many individuals based on this new perspective.

    Advocates, including Michael Tan of the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the administration cannot arbitrarily re-write the law. The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the ruling.

  • Afghanistan Frees Detained American Citizen

    Afghanistan Frees Detained American Citizen

    The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan announced the release of a U.S. citizen who had been detained for over a year. The country’s foreign ministry stated that the family of Dennis Coyle, a linguist and researcher, had sent a letter to Afghanistan’s supreme leader, requesting his release in observance of Eid. The Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Court reviewed his case and deemed his detention period adequate, ordering his freedom.

    The decision followed a meeting involving Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, former U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, UAE ambassador Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, and a relative of Coyle. The UAE facilitated the process, and Coyle was brought back to Kabul on Tuesday to reunite with his family.

    According to the Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans detained abroad, Coyle, 64, was arrested in January 2025 by Afghan authorities. His family’s website, freedenniscoyle.com, explains that he was “legally working to support Afghan communities” as an academic researcher when taken into custody. They describe harsh conditions, including nearly solitary confinement, restrictions on bathroom access, and lacking proper medical care.

    Coyle first traveled to Afghanistan in the early 2000s to explore the country’s linguistic diversity and assist local communities in developing resources in their native languages. Throughout his years there, he maintained a residence in Kabul and built strong, personal bonds with the Afghan people. His acquaintances speak highly of his character and dedication, noting his genuine warmth for Afghan culture—sharing traditional green tea, dried fruits, and engaging in heartfelt conversations that foster cultural understanding. His connection to Afghanistan is characterized as deeply personal, not merely professional.

    Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. government officially classified Afghanistan as a country involved in “wrongful detentions.” Afghan officials responded to this label as “regrettable,” pointing out ongoing discussions and previous releases mediated through Qatar. In 2025, five American citizens were released as part of what the Taliban described as a “goodwill gesture.”

  • US Labels Afghan Taliban Regime a ‘Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’

    US Labels Afghan Taliban Regime a ‘Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’

    • Rubio calls for the release of American citizens held in Afghanistan, including Habibi and Coyle.
    • The Taliban is accused of kidnapping individuals for ransom or political favors.
    • The U.S. warns it might impose restrictions on U.S. passports for travel to Afghanistan.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Afghanistan on Monday over the detention of American nationals, indicating that this could result in a ban on U.S. citizens traveling to the country. Rubio announced that the U.S. is designating Afghanistan’s Taliban government as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention” and demands the release of all detained Americans, such as Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.

    Rubio stated, “The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping people for ransom or policy swaps. These heinous actions need to stop.” He further explained that traveling to Afghanistan is now unsafe for Americans due to the risk of unjust detention.

    The U.S. also seeks the recovery of Paul Overby’s remains; Overby, an author, was last seen near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in 2014, according to sources familiar with the case.

    The sources suggest that if the Taliban does not meet U.S. demands, the U.S. might restrict the use of American passports for travel to Afghanistan—a measure currently only applied to North Korea.

    Previously, on February 27, Rubio had issued a similar designation against Iran, the first under an executive order signed by then-President Donald Trump in September. While warning that travel restrictions could be imposed over Iran’s detention of U.S. citizens, no such measures have been enacted, though the U.S. and Israel declared war against Iran shortly after the designation.

    Attempts to reach the Afghan government for comment were unsuccessful. Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has denied holding Habibi, who led the country’s civil aviation authority.

    CBS News was the first to report earlier on Monday that the U.S. was considering designating Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention.”

  • US Calls Taliban a ‘Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’

    US Calls Taliban a ‘Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’

    • Rubio calls for the release of Americans detained in Afghanistan, including Habibi and Coyle.
    • The Taliban faces accusations of kidnappings for ransom or policy leverage.
    • The U.S. threatens to restrict passports for travel to Afghanistan.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Afghanistan on Monday over its treatment of American citizens, hinting at potential restrictions on travel for U.S. passport holders to the country. Rubio announced that he was designating Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” demanding the immediate release of all detained Americans, such as Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.

    “The Taliban continues to adopt terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or policy demands. These heinous practices must cease,” Rubio stated, warning that traveling to Afghanistan may no longer be safe for Americans due to the risk of wrongful detention.

    The U.S. is also pursuing the return of the remains of author Paul Overby, last seen near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in 2014, according to two informed sources. The threat to restrict U.S. passports for travel to Afghanistan could materialize if Taliban authorities do not meet U.S. demands; currently, such restrictions are only in place for North Korea.

    Earlier, Rubio made a similar designation against Iran on February 27, marking the first country listed under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in September. While he warned of potential travel restrictions over Iran’s detention of U.S. citizens, no such restrictions have been enforced. Notably, the U.S. and Israel launched military actions against Iran the day after the designation.

    Attempts to reach Afghanistan’s government for comment were unsuccessful. The Taliban has previously denied holding Habibi, who was once Afghanistan’s civil aviation chief. CBS News first reported on Monday that the U.S. was considering designating Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention.

  • Lawmaker: 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE Has Returned to Minnesota

    Lawmaker: 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE Has Returned to Minnesota

    Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos has safely returned to a suburb of Minneapolis after being held at a detention center in Texas, according to a lawmaker. On Saturday, a federal judge ordered the release of Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who had been detained during a raid in Minnesota. Texas Democrat Joaquin Castro picked them up from the detention facility on Saturday night and accompanied them back to Minnesota on Sunday. Castro shared, “Liam is now home, with his hat and backpack. We won’t stop until all children and families are reunited.”

    A viral photo last month showed Liam sporting a blue bunny hat outside his house, with federal agents nearby. The boy, one of four students detained by immigration authorities in a Minneapolis suburb, had entered the U.S. legally seeking asylum. He and his father had been held at a detention center in Dilley, Texas.

    Judge Fred Biery, an appointee of former President Clinton, criticized the government’s deportation practices, calling them “ill-conceived and incompetently executed,” and highlighted the trauma inflicted on children. He pointed out that an arrest warrant should be based on probable cause determined by a judge, warning against the use of “administrative warrants” issued by immigration officials, which he described as “the fox guarding the henhouse.”

    Democratic officials are calling for reforms, especially after recent ICE enforcement operations and two deadly shootings involving agents in Minneapolis. Proposed changes include requiring officers to wear body cameras, ending patrols that roam neighborhoods, and stopping the use of face masks during operations. Meanwhile, budget talks for the Department of Homeland Security are ongoing, with negotiations over funding stalling between Republicans and Democrats. President Trump indicated plans to discuss the matter soon at Mar-a-Lago.

    Some city mayors, including Oklahoma City’s, see the need for immigration reform too. Mayor David Holt expressed cautious optimism, noting that the city’s relationship with federal immigration authorities is strained. He explained that recent events in Minneapolis threaten trust built over time with local residents. Holt made his remarks after Trump ordered DHS to avoid engaging with protesters unless federal property is at risk or asked to intervene by local officials.

  • Dr. Kholod and Husband Released from Jail

    Dr. Kholod and Husband Released from Jail

    Digital Phablet – Dr. Kholod and her husband, Amin Ghabashi, have been released from custody after being detained since early January.

    Kuwaiti attorney Mariam Al-Bahr announced that her clients, fashion influencer Dr. Kholod and her husband, are now free following weeks of detention, with a bail set at 5,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

    Al-Bahr shared a video on her Instagram account explaining that the release formalities had been finalized and expressed her appreciation for the legal team’s collaboration throughout the case.

    On January 5, ET Arabic reported, citing various media outlets, that Dr. Kholod and her husband, Amin, are subject to investigations related to allegations of money laundering.

    (Instagram)

    For more updates, watch the full highlights of the week’s top news, covering politics, business, and entertainment, on our official channels.

  • Outrage Over 5-Year-Old’s Detention in US Immigration Crackdown

    Outrage Over 5-Year-Old’s Detention in US Immigration Crackdown

    Democrats and local officials in Minneapolis have voiced their outrage over the detention of a five-year-old boy amid a large-scale immigration crackdown, while Vice President JD Vance defended the actions of federal agents.

    A significant number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel have been sent to the city, which is governed by Democrats, as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants nationwide.

    Vance confirmed on Thursday that Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old boy, was among those detained. He claimed the agents were acting to protect the child after his father “fled” during an immigration operation.

    “What are they supposed to do? Allow a five-year-old to freeze in the cold?” Vance questioned.

    Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, pushed back on that rationale, calling Homeland Security officials “disgusting liars.” Castro said he had been unable to locate the boy, who is reportedly being held with his father in San Antonio, Texas.

    “My team and I are working to find out where he is, ensure he’s safe, and demand ICE release him,” Castro stated in a video on X. “But ICE hasn’t provided us with any information.”

    Former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her outrage at Ramos’s detention.

    “Liam is just a child. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and detained in Texas,” Harris wrote on X. She also shared a photo of the child wearing a blue knitted hat with white rabbit ears, while someone behind him appears to hold his backpack.

    Another image circulated online shows Ramos being escorted by a man dressed in black, covering his face.

    Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, accused law enforcement agencies of “terrorizing communities” and “using children as pawns.”

    Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the federal government for treating children “like criminals.” He said the deployment of approximately 3,000 federal agents felt more like an “occupation,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

    The Department of Homeland Security denied targeting the child, stating he was “abandoned” by his father during the operation to arrest him.

    “For the child’s safety, one ICE officer stayed with him while others apprehended his father, Conejo Arias,” the department posted on X. “Parents are given options—either they can be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person designated by the parent.”

    Ramos is among at least four children who have been detained within the Minneapolis school district this month, according to local officials, citing reports from U.S. media.

    Zena Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, said the kids were “taken away by masked, armed ICE agents with no identification badges.” She added that this influx of ICE activity is causing trauma and taking a toll on the children.

    The children’s detention comes amid new arrests announced by the U.S. Attorney General of three activists accused of protesting during a church service, accusing a pastor of working for ICE.

    Videos show dozens of protesters chanting “ICE out!” inside the church.

    Tensions in Minneapolis have escalated since federal agents shot and killed citizen Renee Good on January 7. The officer involved, Jonathan Ross, has not been suspended or charged, and officials from the Trump administration quickly defended his actions as justified self-defense.

    Ramos’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, said the boy and his father are not U.S. citizens and had been following legal procedures by applying for asylum in Minneapolis, a sanctuary city that does not cooperate with federal immigration raids.

    Vance argued that such local policies hinder ICE’s efforts.

    “Non-cooperation from state and local authorities makes our job harder and raises the stakes,” Vance remarked.

    Minnesota has filed for a temporary restraining order against the ICE operations, which, if approved by a federal judge, could halt the sweeps. A hearing is scheduled for Monday.

  • Iran detains Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi

    Iran detains Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi

    Iranian security forces detained 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi on Friday, along with at least eight other activists during an event that the Norwegian Nobel Committee strongly condemned as “brutal.” Mohammadi, who had been granted a temporary leave from prison in December 2024, was taken into custody alongside eight other activists at a memorial service for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, whose body was discovered in his office last week, according to her foundation’s statement on X.

    Among those arrested was prominent activist Sepideh Gholian, a former prisoner who had previously been jailed with Mohammadi in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Her foundation emphasized that these individuals attended solely to honor Alikordi and show solidarity, condemning the arrests as a gross violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights. Hamid Mohammadi, Narges’s brother, recounted to AFP in Oslo that she was physically assaulted—beaten on her legs, grabbed by her hair, and dragged away.

    The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern over the “brutal” detention, calling on Iran to promptly disclose Mohammadi’s whereabouts. This arrest occurred just two days after the Nobel ceremony in Oslo honoring Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a vocal critic of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is allied with Iran. The Nobel committee noted the timing suggests a connection, given the close cooperation between Iran and Venezuela.

    Iran’s Mehr news agency cited Mashhad governor Hassan Hosseini, stating the detainees were arrested for chanting slogans deemed incompatible with public norms during the ceremony, though no specific names were provided. The event in Mashhad marked the seven-day anniversary of Alikordi’s death, which rights groups suspect may have been a state killing, given his role defending activists involved in protests that erupted across Iran in 2022.

    Footage posted by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) shows Mohammadi participating in the memorial, visibly not wearing the obligatory headscarf, amid the crowd. Protesters at the event chanted slogans such as “Long live Iran,” “We fight, we die, we accept no humiliation,” and “Death to the dictator.” Outside Iran, televised footage depicted Mohammadi standing atop a vehicle with a microphone, urging others to chant along.

    Hadi Ghaemi, director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, condemned the suppression, emphasizing that peaceful mourning is met with violence, showcasing the government’s fear of truth and accountability. Mohammadi, 53, who was last incarcerated in November 2021, has spent much of the last decade behind bars. Her two twin children, who were awarded the Nobel in her stead in 2023, have not seen her in over 11 years. Her brief release was granted on health grounds, citing lung and other health issues.

    Her brother Hamid expressed concern that constant detention and physical stress threaten her health and noted her ongoing criticism of Iran’s clerical regime, which has been in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In a recent message on her twins’ 19th birthday, Mohammadi suggested that the government lives day-to-day in fear of the people’s eventual uprising.

  • Two Afghan teens jailed for assault in England

    Two Afghan teens jailed for assault in England

    Two teenage Afghan asylum seekers, who arrived in Britain alone within the past year, received lengthy detention sentences Monday for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in central England.

    The suspects, Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both 17, assaulted the girl in a Leamington Spa park in May after removing her from her friends while she was heavily intoxicated, prosecutors told Warwick Crown Court.

    A video the distressed girl managed to record during the assault was played at the trial, showing her crying loudly and pleading, “Please help me… let me go… I want to go home.”

    In a victim impact statement, the girl said, “The day I was raped changed me as a person,” describing it as her first sexual experience.

    This incident has became part of a broader political debate in Britain, where concerns over crimes, particularly sexual offenses committed by asylum seekers, are rising amid efforts to curb the surge of migrants crossing the English Channel by small boats.

    Recent cases include an Afghan national admitting to raping a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, and an Ethiopian man serving time after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and an adult woman in Epping, north of London. These incidents sparked protests, some turning violent, and demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Immigration issues have also boosted the popularity of the nationalist Reform UK party in opinion polls.

    Recognizing the public concern, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano ordered that the two 17-year-olds be named, citing the public interest, despite their age.

    Jahanzeb, who will turn 18 at the beginning of next year, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, while Niazal received a sentence of nine years and 10 months.

    Jahanzeb’s attorney, Robert Holt, stated his client traveled solo through Europe, attempting four times to cross the Channel on a small boat before successfully reaching Britain in January. He is expected to be deported after serving his sentence.

    Niazal’s lawyer, Joshua Radcliffe, explained that his client arrived alone in November to escape the Taliban, who had murdered his father, a former Afghan army member. He awaits a decision on his asylum application, though the judge indicated she would recommend his deportation once he completes his sentence.

    Judge de Bertodano emphasized that the teenagers had acted against the interests of those seeking refuge in Britain.

  • Brazil Court Detains Bolsonaro Over Flight Risk Concerns

    Brazil Court Detains Bolsonaro Over Flight Risk Concerns

    Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro was moved from house arrest into police custody on Saturday to prevent him from escaping while he appeals a conviction related to a failed coup attempt, according to the Supreme Court. The right-wing leader was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections.

    Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial, stated that his arrest was a preventative step because he is considered a “high flight risk,” and not a formal part of his sentence enforcement.

    Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s leader from 2019 to 2022, had been placed under house arrest in August. He was confined to a luxury condo in Brasília and monitored electronically. Moraes explained that a planned demonstration outside Bolsonaro’s residence, organized by his son Flavio Bolsonaro, could incite unrest and possibly facilitate his escape.

    Moraes also noted that there was a failed attempt to remove Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor just after midnight Saturday, indicating plans to escape amid the confusion of the rally. The judge pointed out the close proximity of Bolsonaro’s home to the U.S. embassy and mentioned that Bolsonaro had previously considered fleeing to the Argentine embassy to seek political asylum.

    Bolsonaro’s allies include former U.S. President Donald Trump, who labeled the trial a “witch hunt” and retaliated with tariffs and sanctions against Brazil.

    He was taken to a federal police facility in Brasília, where inmates undergo medical checks before transfer to prison. Bolsonaro was convicted in September for leading a criminal organization aiming to maintain authoritarian control, which included alleged plots to assassinate Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and judge Moraes.

    His incarceration is nearing a deadline, as an appeal last week was denied. His lawyers have announced plans to file additional appeals by Monday and requested that Bolsonaro serve his sentence under house arrest, citing health concerns and risks to his safety. They argued his health, already compromised by a stabbing in 2018 and multiple surgeries, deteriorates further with each hospital visit—Bolsonaro has been hospitalized three times since his house arrest, suffering from conditions such as gastritis, severe sleep apnea requiring a CPAP, and persistent hiccups that cause shortness of breath and fainting.

    In a comparison, Bolsonaro’s lawyers referenced that former President Fernando Collor de Mello was allowed to serve his nearly nine-year corruption sentence at home due to health issues.

    As the possibility of imprisonment approaches, Bolsonaro’s family has expressed concern over his health publicly. His son Flavio called supporters to rally for the country, while Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle, wrote on Instagram, “I trust in God’s justice. Human justice, as we have seen, no longer holds. But I know the Lord will provide a way out.”

    A court hearing on Bolsonaro’s custody is scheduled to happen via video on Sunday, and Moraes ordered a doctor to be present with Bolsonaro at all times.

  • Greta Thunberg Shares Her Experience in Israeli Custody During Gaza Flotilla Raid

    Greta Thunberg Shares Her Experience in Israeli Custody During Gaza Flotilla Raid

    Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg described experiencing physical abuse, humiliation, and threats of being “gassed in a cage” while detained by Israeli forces following the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla last month.

    She was among 450 activists on the flotilla, a humanitarian mission consisting of over 40 vessels aiming to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver vital supplies such as food, water, and medicine.

    Thunberg’s interview was published by Aftonbladet, a Swedish tabloid, where she stated she prefers not to have headlines about herself or the alleged torture she endured.

    Thunberg and other flotilla members shared details about their five-day detention in Israel, criticizing the Swedish foreign ministry for not providing assistance. “This isn’t about me or the others on the flotilla. Thousands of Palestinians, including many children, are detained without trial right now, and most are probably being tortured,” she told Aftonbladet.

    She emphasized that their story is about showing international solidarity—people coming together to do what governments aren’t effectively doing. “If Israel, with the entire world watching, treats a well-known, white person with a Swedish passport this way, just imagine what they do to Palestinians behind closed doors.”

    A screenshot from a video shows Thunberg sitting next to someone in tactical gear as Israeli security forces intercepted the flotilla vessels near Crete on September 25, 2025.

    After Israeli forces seized her boat, she was taken below deck, where she and others sat in a circle in intense heat. Witnesses describe weapons being pointed at their faces. “It was extremely hot below deck. We just sat there, while guards moved around, tearing things apart and tossing everything around,” Thunberg recounted.

    She wasn’t aware of what happened to the aid supplies—food, water, diapers, and infant formula—destined for Gaza.

    After roughly 20 hours, they arrived in Ashdod, Israel’s major port south of Tel Aviv. Thunberg recalls being ordered to change out of her “Free Palestine” T-shirt into an orange one with the word “Decolonize.”

    She was then taken to a fenced area where she was detained for more than six hours. During this time, she was separated from others and repeatedly assaulted while wrapped in a flag. Guards tore off her frog-shaped hat, stomped on it, and were visibly angry.

    Thunberg was eventually moved to a corner, facing the wall, where an officer mockingly said, “A special place for a special lady.” Guards repeatedly forced her down when she tried to lift her head. Her hands were tied with cable ties, and guards took selfies with her.

    She was subjected to multiple interrogations, during which officials pressured her to sign documents falsely claiming she entered Israel illegally. She refused, and her hands were again bound, eyes blindfolded, before being placed in a small, cold cell overnight.

    At the detention facility, she was forced to undress in front of officials who mocked her. Her essential medications, including treatments for heart disease, cancer, and insulin, were discarded before her eyes.

    Inside, a mural depicted a scene of Gaza after bombing, civilians fleeing, and the words “The new Gaza” next to a large Israeli flag.

    During detention, about 60 people were put into a confined cage outside under the brutal sun, with most unable to sit comfortably. Witnesses say guards threatened to gas them, waving a gas cylinder and making explicit threats.

    The detainees were only briefly allowed to consult a lawyer before being denied further access. Eventually, Swedish embassy officials were permitted to meet them outdoors. When the detainees demanded water, the embassy staff wanted to leave, despite efforts by activists to prevent that.

    A female activist, enraged, kicked a trash can where guards had thrown water bottles, spilling them on the floor. Thunberg and others then hurriedly drank what was left behind.

    Once the five-day detention ended, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the trip to Gaza “very foolish,” despite earlier warnings. However, Aftonbladet’s review shows the Swedish Foreign Ministry minimized the severity of the situation in official communications, describing Thunberg’s harsh treatment as simply “sitting on a hard surface for a long time.”

    Other detainees confirmed Thunberg’s account of physical abuse and humiliation, with their families also criticizing how the embassy responded to the crisis.

  • Taliban Frees Elderly British Couple Detained in Afghanistan

    Taliban Frees Elderly British Couple Detained in Afghanistan

    An elderly British couple, detained in Afghanistan for nearly eight months, was released on Friday, according to Taliban authorities, following mounting pressure due to concerns over their health.

    Taliban officials have not disclosed the specific reasons for Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbara, 76, being taken into custody in February during their return to their home.

    “We’ve been treated very well. We’re eager to see our children,” Barbara, standing alongside her husband on the Kabul airport tarmac, shared.

    She added, “We look forward to returning to Afghanistan if possible. We are Afghan citizens.”

    The couple married in Kabul in 1970 and spent almost twenty years living there, where they ran educational programs after relocating. They also became official Afghan citizens.

    Their family had repeatedly appealed, citing their declining health since their detention.

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi announced on social media that the couple was handed over to the UK’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay.

    “Peter and Barbara Reynolds, two British nationals who violated Afghan laws, were released today after the judicial process,” Balkhi stated.

    Photos aired on Sky News showed the couple with Lindsay at Kabul airport before their departure to Doha, Qatar.

    “They are very relieved to be going home,” Lindsay told the broadcaster.

    In late July, UN human rights experts urged the Taliban government to free the pair, warning that their health was rapidly deteriorating and risking irreversible harm or death.

    Foreign ministry spokesman Balkhi emphasized that the government does not see the issue of its citizens from a political or transactional perspective.

    A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, told AFP that mediation led by Qatar successfully resulted in their release.

    “The Qataris engaged with Afghan authorities for many months, working closely with the British government,” the official added.