World

Detention of Venezuelan human rights activist and attorney inspires protest

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Detention of Venezuelan human rights activist and attorney inspires protest

Human rights organizations in Venezuela on Wednesday demanded the release of a prominent attorney and activist whose detention last week has heightened concerns over the government’s use of repression against real and perceived adversaries.

The representatives of several rights groups expressed concern over Rocío San Miguel’s well-being and condemned her inability to access legal representation of her choice.

“The prolonged isolation and lack of communication to which the defender Rocío San Miguel and her family have been subjected represent forms of cruel and inhuman treatment, harmful to the psychological and moral freedom of the person,” Claudia Carrillo, coordinator of victims’ psychological care at the Venezuela-based organization Cofavic, said during a press conference in Caracas, the capital.

US PLEDGES URGENT MILITARY AID INCREASE FOR GUYANA AMID CONTINUED VENEZUELAN AGGRESSION

San Miguel was detained Friday at the airport near Caracas while she and her daughter awaited a flight to Miami. Her arrest set off a wave of criticism inside and outside the South American country.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab on Wednesday reiterated the accusations against San Miguel he announced earlier in the week, telling reporters that the activist was allegedly linked to an alleged plot to kill President Nicolás Maduro and other officials and attack military units.

Saab said members of the military arrested in connection with the foiled plot revealed her alleged role to authorities. He claimed to have evidence but did not reveal any.

San Miguel, 57, is specialized in researching Venezuela’s shadowy, often corrupt, armed forces. She is the head of the non-governmental organization Control Ciudadano, which focuses on human rights, security and the armed forces.

Following San Miguel’s detention, authorities also took into custody her daughter, Miranda Díaz, ex-husband, Victor Díaz, two brothers and former partner.

Sign reads from Spanish as “Release Rocio!,” referring to lawyer and activist Rocio San Miguel who was recently arrested, outside office of the UN Development Program in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Feb 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Authorities have not explicitly acknowledged the detention of Miranda and Victor Díaz. But Minnie Díaz, Victor’s sister, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that father and daughter have been released on conditions that they check in regularly with authorities, do not travel outside the country and do not speak to the media.

Minnie Díaz earlier told the AP that San Miguel and Miranda are dual citizens of Venezuela and Spain and that she hoped Spain’s consulate would intervene.

Saab said San Miguel and her former partner, Alejandro Jose Gonzales de Canales Plaza, had initial hearings Monday. She faces charges of treason, conspiracy and terrorism, while Gonzales’ charges include revealing state and military secrets and obstruction of justice.

One of San Miguel’s attorneys, Juan González, said he had been told she would be held at the Helicoide prison — the most infamous institution for political prisoners.

The groups who held Wednesday’s news conference were among more than 200 local non-governmental organizations that earlier this week demanded the release of San Miguel and her family, and urged the international community to condemn the actions against them.

BIDEN ADMIN SLAMS ‘POLITICAL TARGETING’ OF VENEZUELA OPPOSITION LEADER BANNED FROM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT

Carrillo said San Miguel’s detention is having an “intimidating effect” and seeks to “generate polarization” and mistrust among citizens.

A U.N.-backed panel investigating human rights violations in Venezuela in September reported that the government has intensified efforts to curtail democratic freedoms with use of threats, surveillance and harassment ahead of this year’s presidential election. The panel noted that Maduro’s government shifted tactics with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing its use of targeted repression against politicians, labor leaders, journalists, human rights defenders and other real or perceived opponents.

San Miguel’s detention came more than three months after the U.S. government rolled back some economic sanctions against Venezuela after Maduro committed to hold an election in the second half of 2024, lift bans preventing adversaries from holding office, and release political prisoners. Maduro’s promises were part of an agreement signed on the Caribbean island of Barbados between his representatives and those of a faction of the opposition.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the detentions and urged Maduro to follow through on his commitments. The office of human rights at the United Nations and the Canadian government have also expressed concern.

“We urge her immediate release & respect for her right to legal defense,” the U.N. tweeted Tuesday.

World

Investors brace for a bigger backlash from Middle East war

Published

1 hour ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Investors brace for a bigger backlash from Middle East war

From being just a fringe risk, conflict in the Middle East has become a top worry for investors unsettled by the prospect of a power struggle in Iran and a protracted regional war, with ramifications for everything from global trade to inflation.

World

Tel Aviv analyst shelters from 30 missile sirens in 48 hours, says Iran ‘won’t recover’

Published

2 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Tel Aviv analyst shelters from 30 missile sirens in 48 hours, says Iran ‘won’t recover’

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The past 48 hours in Tel Aviv have been unlike anything seen before, a leading security analyst has said, as sirens blared amid missile threats following Operation Epic Fury and U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.

“We are facing a biblical event — nothing less,” Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital, speaking from his shelter in the city.

Like many Israelis, Michael said he had spent hours in reinforced rooms during the ongoing barrage, adding that he was “very experienced in this.”

“But this all requires time and determination, and I do hope that Trump will also have them both,” he said, speaking shortly after the president released a video message stating that the military operation would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”

Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system over Tel Aviv. (JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

“Trump is the only one who can make the change — and that change will impact the entire region and the international order for years to come,” Michael added.

As of Sunday, Tel Aviv remained under a state of emergency following Iranian missile attacks that caused casualties and widespread damage.

According to The Associated Press, Iranian missile and drone strikes have killed approximately 11 Israeli civilians and wounded dozens more in retaliation for the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.

Shrapnel from missile impacts damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, and authorities reported at least one death in the area from falling debris.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed the death of a Filipino national after a missile strike hit Tel Aviv on Saturday.

TOMAHAWKS, B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS AND ATTACK DRONES POUND OVER 1,000 IRANIAN TARGETS IN 24-HOUR BLITZ

People take shelter as Iran launched missiles and drones towards Israel following the US-Israeli attacks. ( Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“We enter our shelter once the siren is heard and stay there until the Home Front Command announces that we can leave,” Michael said.

“Usually, it is about 20 to 30 minutes — unless there are further sirens during our stay. Since yesterday morning, it has happened around 30 times.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also visited an impact site in Tel Aviv Sunday, delivering a message of resilience.

“The people of Israel and the people of Iran can live in peace. The region can live in peace. But what undermines peace time and again is terror instigated by this Iranian regime,” Herzog said.

EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE SAYS US STRIKES MARK ‘BEGINNING OF THE VERY END’ FOR REGIME

Israeli emergency service officer walks past building debris at the scene of a Iranian missile attack. (Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP via Getty Images)

Following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and roughly 40 senior Iranian officials, Iran formed a provisional leadership council.

Iran named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i to lead roles.

“The Supreme Leader did not complete the necessary groundwork regarding his own succession,” Michael added.

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“Pezeshkian will face very troubling challenges due to their heavy losses, severe disruptions to control and command systems, and the massive bombing and attacks across Iran, including Tehran,” he said.

“Even if this regime doesn’t collapse, it will never be able to reconstitute itself, recover or return to its previous position,” Michael added.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.

World

Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM

Published

3 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM

Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar said Europe “does not have unified position” on what role it should play in Iran as European ministers sought to establish a joint approach Sunday.

As Israel and the United States conducted a joint military strike on Iran, leading to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Europe was kept on the sidelines.

EU member states did not participate in the operation and, in some cases, they were not informed prior as it is customary among strategic allies.

Asked whether Israel sought to keep Europe on the margins, Sa’ar said internal divisions within EU member states had kept them out of critical exchanges of operational details, unlike the United States, which the minister described as his country’s greatest ally.

“In Europe, you have all kinds of approaches,” he told Euronews. “You have countries like the Czech Republic which is strongly supporting this operation and then you have Spain, which is standing with all the tyrants of the world.”

On Saturday, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez was among the most critical voices in Europe, suggesting the US-Israeli strikes on Iran risk plunging the region into total war.

“We reject the unilateral military action of the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order,” Sánchez said Saturday. The Spanish PM reiterated that message on Sunday.

“We urge for de-escalation and call to respect international law in all conflicts,” Sánchez added. “You can be against a heinous regime, like the Iranian regime, while also rejecting a military intervention that is unjustified, dangerous and outside of international law.”

Sa’aar said Israel considers the operation “fully justified” citing the right to self-defense from a regime that “has called for the destruction of Israel” and lashed at the Spanish prime minister for sending an “anti-Israeli, anti-American message.”

“Read the statement, they are standing with Iran!” he added.

When asked if any of his European counterparts had manifested an interest in joining the military operation or provide support on the ground, Sa’ar said he held multiple exchanges with European ministers over the weekend and suggested that “if others want to join, they will know have to convey the message.”

On Sunday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to back regime change in Iran in line with Israel and the US, saying that the “risk of further escalation is real. This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed” in comments on Sunday.

Sa’ar told Euronews said the strategic strikes and the elimination of Khamenei alongside top regime commanders could “create the conditions to weaken the regime enough to allow the Iranians to take their future into their own hands”.

“The future leadership of Iran should be determined by the Iranian people through free elections. Our only requirement is that whoever comes to power in Iran must not pursue the destruction of Israel,” he said.

Watch the full interview on Euronews from 8pm CET