Pretrial Rights International

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Innocent until proven guilty. Human rights for the accused. We focus on human rights. Our location in Washington, D.C. This problem is growing around the world.

Pretrial Rights International supports pretrial detainees and their families in promoting human rights and basic civil liberties afforded to persons arrested and accused of crimes. We work with non-government organizations (NGOs), governments, and other stakeholders around the world and advocate for the preservation of inalienable human rights. We provide a forum for exposing pretrial detainee hum

an rights abuses, advocate for state compliance with international human rights obligations for pretrial detainees, and educate the international community on human rights and basic civil liberties afforded to the persons in pretrial detention around the world. allows us to focus particular attention on supporting and advocating for Americans unjustly detained abroad, serving as a legal resource for them and their families. Pretrial Rights International is a non-profit, nonpartisan U.S.-based organization that is committed to the presumption of the innocence of detainees until proven guilty. The concept of “innocent until proven guilty” is good rhetoric, but it is often not put to practice. Far too often governments, societies, and even human rights NGOs overlook the human rights of pretrial detainees. They fear standing up for a person who may later be found guilty of crimes such as murder, r**e, theft, or money laundering. This fear has allowed the problem to get out of hand: Too many detainees’ rights are overlooked well beyond minimum standards, resulting in many clear human rights violations. Russia provides a startling example. The European Court of Human Rights alone has received hundreds of complaints of unnecessarily prolonged pretrial detention periods. Last year, Russia was responsible for the death of attorney Sergei Magnitsky, who died after spending 11 months in prison without trial. Many pretrial detention periods are far longer than 11 months, with some detainees held in Russia without trial for over four years. Prolonged pretrial detention often violates domestic laws, but the detainees are without knowledge or assistance to pursue their legal rights. Such pretrial detention also implicates international law that guarantees trial within a reasonable time after detention, freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, and innocence until proven guilty. Again, these guarantees often seem elusive to pretrial detainees. Included among the international law and guidelines that aim to prevent excessive pretrial detention are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the OSCE Copenhagen Document, and the draft European Prisons Charter. Even with these instruments, there seem to be few clear standards for assessing the human rights violations arising from excessive pretrial detention. How long is too long? What are the remedies for excessive pretrial detention? Must a state set a time limit on how long it can hold an accused without trial? NGOs are reluctant to advocate for pretrial detainees because those detainees are often charged with violent or shameful crimes. They are afraid to define standards and stand up for individuals who have not yet been tried, for fear they may be assisting the guilty. But human rights apply equally to those guilty or not. We wish to establish an NGO that stands up for pretrial detention rights and recognizes without regard to race, nationality, gender, or other characteristics the basic fundamental rights that are often glossed over when it comes to criminal detainees. How this will be accomplished is still in development. Ultimately, we aim to gather, streamline, and supply the legal information and tools that detainees and their advocates can turn to in asserting and preserving those rights. We see as especially important the development of clear standards for assessing human and civil rights abuses of pretrial detainees. These standards can then be taught to governments and NGOs who often skirt the problem of pretrial detention for lack of definition.

03/24/2023

After just three days, we're more than 1/2 way to our goal. Please consider supporting our GoFundMe for Bytyqi Justice!
gofund.me/5bdf1a67

Please support our GoFundMe for Bytyqi Justice!

Click here to help - https://gofund.me/38db26ba

The Bytyqi Brothers murders are not yet resolved, but we absolutely know who is primarily responsible. Their names are Goran "Guri" Radosavljevic and Vlastimir Dordevic, each a former high-ranking official within the Serbian government.

Your money will be used to implement a new and innovative legal and advocacy strategy - one that has never been tried in any case from the region. We've already hired a law firm to implement this strategy, which is the bulk of the costs that we are seeking to cover.

The war criminals responsible for these murders are responsible for hundreds more. They were also primarily responsible for the cover-up operations at the end of the war and therefore have information on the fates of over 1,000 missing persons. Justice for the Bytyqi family can lead to justice for many, many more!

Your donation will be fully tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

Please donate now!
https://gofund.me/38db26ba

Help Mustafa Kassem's Family, organized by Praveen Madhiraju

01/13/2021

One year ago today, American Mustafa Kassem died in an Egyptian prison with the mistaken belief that his innocence and the U.S. government would save him. From prison, he wrote President Trump, VP Pence, Secretary Pompeo & many others. This was after surviving 6+ years of unimaginable prison conditions, being denied proper medical treatment, an extended hunger strike, and a 700+ mass trial.

Mustafa's wife & two kids need our help. Please join my GoFundMe to support their transition to life in American without their beloved father and husband.

Help Mustafa Kassem's Family, organized by Praveen Madhiraju On January 13, 2020, American Mustafa Kassem died in an Egyptian prison, believing in … Praveen Madhiraju needs your support for Help Mustafa Kassem's Family

Photos from Pretrial Rights International's post

07/09/2019

20th Anniversary of Bytyqi Murders - New Film Release - https://mailchi.mp/930e2520bd20/bytyqi20th

04/24/2019

Kosovo’s Wartime Victims: The Quest for Justice Kosovo’s Wartime Victims: The Quest for Justice April 30, 2019 10:00 AM Location: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Witnesses Her Excellency Atifete JahjagaFormer President of the Republic of Kosovo Paul Wi...

04/11/2019

Zeldin Continues To Seek Justice For Bytyqi Brothers - Hampton Bays U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin is determined to secure justice for the death of three Hampton Bays residents who were murdered

Photos from Justice for the Bytyqi Brothers's post

04/03/2019

https://www.facebook.com/511042996043925/posts/573486589799565/

Kosovo-Serbia Deal Must Ensure War Suspects Face Trial | Balkan Insight

03/23/2019

Here is our latest oped on an important but ignored issue that needs to be addressed if victims of war crimes are going to get the closure they all need.

The Bytyqi Brothers case needs to be resolved, but so do many many other cases from that war. We stand in solidarity with all victims' and their families.

Kosovo-Serbia Deal Must Ensure War Suspects Face Trial | Balkan Insight Any deal between Kosovo and Serbia to normalise relations must include an extradition treaty and bilateral justice agreements so war crimes suspects cannot evade justice - but why is the EU avoiding this?

02/11/2019

On his 54th birthday, Mustafa Kassem is dying.

Prison officials denied American Mustafa's Kassem's family a visit on the even of his 54th birthday (today). His health has deteriorated & his life is very much at risk. Pence said "justice demands" his release over a year ago. He must follow up now. - https://mailchi.mp/23cfd6a9a712/kaseem54th

01/30/2019

New York!

The Albanian-American community and Councilman Mark Gjonaj have graciously decided to dedicate funds from their annual celebration of Kosovo's independence to the PRI's work on the Bytyqi Brothers case. Please come out on February 16th to help support our efforts!

12/24/2018

PRI in 2018 & 2019 - https://mailchi.mp/70b6af670935/yearend

12/10/2018

70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - https://mailchi.mp/80cdce1b876a/udhr70

Nearing his 53rd birthday, Egypt is slowly killing an unjustly jailed American

02/11/2018

Today is American citizen Moustafa Kassem's 53rd birthday. Just like the past 4, he'll spend it in an Egyptian jail on politicized charges & without any conviction. Here is our statement.

Nearing his 53rd birthday, Egypt is slowly killing an unjustly jailed American

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