Freedom House is disappointed with the decision of Egypt's Judicial High Committee, which is supervising this Saturday's referendum on constitutional amendments, to limit the access of domestic and international monitoring groups to the polls.

A new survey of public opinion in Zimbabwe has revealed that despite the risk of higher levels of violence and intimidation associated with an election campaign, the majority of Zimbabweans would prefer to hold elections in 2011 rather than maintain the current government of national unity.

Freedom House strongly condemns the use of force against protesters by authorities in Bahrain and Yemen and urges both governments to use restraint and to respect the rights of citizens.

The ongoing harassment and detention of journalists in Turkey, including a number who have been held for two years without trial, represents an alarming threat to press freedom.

Freedom House strongly condemns the intimidation and arrest of activists and journalists by Azeri authorities over the weekend and calls for the immediate release of all detained.

Freedom House welcomes reports that the Cuban government has released well-known political prisoner Oscar Elias Biscet, but renews its criticism of the long delay in the political prisoner release process.

Freedom House today joins Uzbek human rights organizations in condemning the government of Uzbekistan's expulsion of Human Rights Watch (HRW) from the country, calling the move an unequivocal strike against transparency and accountability in the Central Asian state.

Freedom House strongly condemns police violence against protesters in Syria and urges the government to end human rights violations and release its political prisoners.

Freedom House strongly condemns the refusal of Côte d'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo to accept an African Union panel's recommendation that he turn over power to Alassane Ouattara, the legitimate winner of last November's election.

Freedom House is deeply concerned about the well-being of eight political and civil society activists who have been arbitrarily arrested in Cameroon and urges authorities to release them immediately without harm.

In advance of potential protests announced for March 11, Freedom House calls on Azerbaijani authorities to demonstrate tolerance and respect for freedom of assembly and freedom of association.

Freedom House supports recent demands by local journalists and freedom of expression advocates in the Middle East and North African region for reform of state media organizations as well as the repeal of restrictive media laws and condemns increased crackdowns on journalists during the current political turmoil.

Freedom House welcomes the release Monday of well-known Syrian lawyer and human rights activist Haitham Maleh from prison and joins him in calling on the Syrian government to release all remaining political prisoners and bring to an end the 48-year emergency law.

On the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day, Freedom House recognizes the equal rights of women globally and particularly calls upon governments in the Middle East and North Africa, where women experience the lowest levels of fundamental rights, to fulfill their commitments to gender equality.

Freedom House condemns the guilty verdict and 15-year sentence handed down to U.S citizen Alan Gross today following last week's two-day trial in Cuba.

Freedom House strongly condemns the brutal killing of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs, who actively campaigned to protect the rights of religious minorities.

Freedom House applauds interim President Fouad Mebazaa's announcement today that Tunisia will hold elections for a constituent assembly on July 24th, and calls for the government to ensure that the new electoral law will allow for free and fair elections.

As the conflict between anti-government protesters and supporters of authoritarian leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi continues, Freedom House reiterates its call for al-Qadhafi to step down and put an end to the violence.

Freedom House condemns the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) deepening repression of foreign journalists. Recent violent attacks and restrictions on journalists' freedom of movement threaten to further skew coverage of important issues and limit the outside world's ability to follow developments in China at a critical time.