Latest news with #extrajudicialkillings
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bogus Duterte report used to drive traffic to e-commerce site
A fabricated news graphic claiming the International Criminal Court (ICC) in July issued a lengthy jail sentence to former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte has circulated on Facebook. The 80-year-old Duterte is still awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing for alleged crimes against humanity; the false posts meanwhile direct users to a product sold on a popular e-commerce platform. "The ICC meted a 'reclusion perpetua' sentence on ex-Pres Duterte because of [extrajudicial killings]," reads the bogus graphic shared July 8, 2025 on Facebook. The post, which has been taken down, bears the logo of broadcaster ABS-CBN and its flagship news programme TV Patrol, and includes an old photo of Duterte (archived here, here and here). Reclusion perpetua, a term used in Philippine law, refers to imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years and one day to a maximum of 40 years (archived link). Duterte remains in detention at the ICC awaiting a court hearing scheduled in September to confirm his charges. He stands accused of crimes against humanity over his government's brutal "war on drugs" that rights groups say killed thousands (archived link). The former president is currently seeking an interim release to an unnamed country (archived link). The supposed news graphic, also shared on multiple Facebook groups, carried an identical caption and link that purports to show the complete news report. Comments show people appeared to believe it was a genuine image from ABS-CBN. "ABS-CBN is taking revenge because [Duterte] shut you down," one wrote, referring to when the former leader's government forced the broadcaster off air in 2020 (archived link). "ABS-CBN, I don't believe your news reports!" another said. Jonathan de Santos, deputy editor at ABS-CBN News, told AFP on July 11 the organisation did not release the circulating graphic. He also shared an article on ABS-CBN's website that debunked a similar post in June (archived link). A review of the link shared in the false posts found it is a masked URL that leads to a product sold over e-commerce platform Lazada (archived link). A spokesperson for Lazada said the company reviewed the post and found it "contains misleading content with affiliate links that direct users to Lazada". The company has an affiliate program where content creators can apply to earn commission through promoting a brand or product available at the online store (archived link). "We are taking appropriate action with this page/account given this activity directly violates the LazAffiliates Terms and Conditions," the spokesperson told AFP on July 15. AFP has repeatedly debunked misinformation around Duterte's arrest and detention here.
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Most Filipinos in favor of rejoining ICC, study shows
MANILA: The majority of Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court, the results of a new opinion poll showed on Monday. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, as the court's prosecutors began to look into his 'war on drugs' campaign in 2016-22, which they estimate has resulted in the extrajudicial killings of 30,000 Filipinos. Despite the Philippines' withdrawal, the court has issued an arrest warrant against Duterte, as it keeps jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while a country was a member. The current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. complied with the arrest warrant and Duterte has been in ICC custody since March, awaiting trial. The Marcos's spokesperson, Claire Castro, said earlier this month that he was also 'open to talking about' rejoining the ICC. The move would be supported by 57 percent of Filipinos, according to the latest survey by OCTA Research. 'A clear 57 percent of Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the ICC. In contrast, 37 percent are opposed, and 6 percent remain undecided, indicating broad, though not unanimous, public backing for renewed engagement,' the Quezon City-based polling and research firm said in its report. The study was conducted between April 20 and April 24, on 1,200 respondents in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In Mindanao, where Duterte traces his political roots and despite detention won the mayoral election last month, the support for rejoining the ICC was the lowest. 'In Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and the Visayas, at least 60 percent of respondents express support,' the OCTA Research report said. 'In Mindanao, however, is an exception — with only 30 percent supporting the move and 66 percent expressing opposition, the highest rate of opposition recorded across regions.' The highest rate of support for reengagement with the ICC was among people aged 25-34, with 62 percent of them in favor of the move, while the lowest support was among those aged 45-54, at 50 percent. Duterte's arrest has likely contributed to awareness about the ICC across the Philippines, with 85 percent of adult Filipinos claiming to have seen, read, or heard about the court and only 13 percent reporting being unaware of it. 'This widespread awareness sets the stage for significant national conversations on justice, accountability, and the Philippines' potential reengagement with the ICC,' OCTA Research said. 'Awareness levels are consistently high nationwide. In Metro Manila, 89 percent of respondents indicated familiarity with the ICC, followed closely by Balance Luzon (86 percent), Mindanao (85 percent), and the Visayas (77 percent).'
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over the deaths of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg
Azerbaijan has canceled all cultural events planned by Russian state and private institutions in protest over the deaths of two Azerbaijanis after police raids in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijani officials said Sunday. Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry wrote on X that concerts, exhibitions, festivals and performances were canceled on account of 'the demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds in Yekaterinburg.' According to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Russian law enforcement raided homes of Azerbaijani residents in the industrial city in Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday. Two Azerbaijanis were killed, it said, along with several others seriously injured and nine detained. The ministry on Saturday summoned the Russian Embassy's chargé d'affaires in Baku, Pyotr Volokovykh, demanding a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible. The victims were identified as Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both around 60 years old. Their brother, Sayfaddin Huseynli, told Azerbaijani public broadcaster ITV that the men were tortured to death 'without any trial or investigation, despite their innocence.' He described the raids as 'savagery,' claiming that others were beaten and subjected to electric shocks. 'The so-called Russian law enforcement agencies broke into houses in the middle of the night, beat and took people away like animals,' Huseynli said. The Azerbaijani government also announced the cancelation of a planned visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk. 'The government of Azerbaijan does not consider it appropriate under the current circumstances for Overchuk or any other official representative of Russia to visit the country,' state media reported. In a statement, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said it expected 'that the matter will be investigated and all perpetrators of violence brought to justice as soon as possible.' Without commenting on the reported deaths, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the raids formed part of an investigation into previously committed crimes. Zakharova said raids and detentions targeted Russian citizens of Azerbaijani descent. Ties between the two countries have been strained for months. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declined an invitation to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow in May. In contrast, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Baku later that month, signaling closer ties between Baku and Kyiv. Relations between Moscow and Baku cooled after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan in December, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Aliyev said it was shot down over Russia, albeit unintentionally, and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to 'hush up' the incident for several days. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a 'tragic incident' but stopped short of acknowledging responsibility.
Washington Post
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over the killings of 2 citizens in Yekaterinburg
Azerbaijan has canceled all cultural events planned by Russian state and private institutions in protest over the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens during police raids in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijani officials said Sunday. Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry wrote on X that concerts, exhibitions, festivals and performances were canceled on account of 'the demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds in Yekaterinburg.'
Associated Press
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over the killings of 2 citizens in Yekaterinburg
Azerbaijan has canceled all cultural events planned by Russian state and private institutions in protest over the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens during police raids in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijani officials said Sunday. Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry wrote on X that concerts, exhibitions, festivals and performances were canceled on account of 'the demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds in Yekaterinburg.' According to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Russian law enforcement raided homes of Azerbaijani residents in the industrial city in Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday. Two Azerbaijani citizens were killed, it said, along with several others seriously injured and nine detained. The ministry on Saturday summoned the Russian Embassy's chargé d'affaires in Baku, Pyotr Volokovykh, demanding a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible. The victims were identified as Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both around 60 years old. Their brother, Sayfaddin Huseynli, told Azerbaijani public broadcaster ITV that the men were tortured to death 'without any trial or investigation, despite their innocence.' He described the raids as 'savagery,' claiming that others were beaten and subjected to electric shocks. 'The so-called Russian law enforcement agencies broke into houses in the middle of the night, beat and took people away like animals,' Huseynli said. The Azerbaijani government also announced the cancellation of a planned visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk. 'The government of Azerbaijan does not consider it appropriate under the current circumstances for Overchuk or any other official representative of Russia to visit the country,' state media reported. In a statement, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said it expected 'that the matter will be investigated and all perpetrators of violence brought to justice as soon as possible.' Without commenting on the reported deaths, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the raids formed part of an investigation into previously committed crimes. Tensions between the two countries have been strained for months. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declined an invitation to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow in May. In contrast, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga visited Baku later that month, signaling closer ties between Baku and Kyiv. Relations between Moscow and Baku cooled after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan in December, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Aliyev said it was shot down over Russia, albeit unintentionally, and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to 'hush up' the incident for several days. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a 'tragic incident' but stopped short of acknowledging responsibility.
