Uzbekistan: Human rights defender, Mr Ganihon Mamathanov, sentenced to five years in prison on fabricated charges

Posted on 2009/11/27

Uzbek human defender Mr Ganihon Mamathanov was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of extortion and bribery, on 25 November 2009. Ganihon Mamathanov is a defender of social rights, particularly of farmers' land rights, and is one of the last human rights defenders working in the Fergana valley. He collaborates with the Radio Liberty Uzbek Service. Read More

Tunisia: Human rights defender Mr. Taoufik Ben Brik sentenced to six months in prison

Posted on 2009/11/27

On November 26, journalist and human rights defender Mr. Taoufik Ben Brik was sentenced by the Tribunal de Grande Instance (Court of First Instance) in Tunis to six months in prison. Front Line expresses its concern at the verdict in a trial marred by several violations of the right to a fair trial. Read More

DRC: Death threats against four human rights organisations in Goma

Posted on 2009/11/26

On 24 November 2009, four non-governmental organizations based in Goma, DRC, received a letter which expressed death threats. The organizations to which the threats were addressed include the Centre for Research on Environment, Democracy and Human Rights (CREDDHO), the Association for Peasant Development Initiatives (ASSODIP), Action for Peace, Development and Solidarity (ASODP), and Social Action for Peace and Development (ASPD). Read More

Philippines: Killing of human rights lawyers Ms Concepcion Connie Brizuela and Ms Cynthia Oquendo in Maguindanao Massacre

Posted on 2009/11/26

Front Line is deeply saddened by the murder of human rights lawyers Ms Concepcion 'Connie' Brizuela and Ms Cynthia Oquendo in the Maguindanao Massacre, which took place on 23 November 2009 in Mindanao Province. At least 57 people are reported to have been killed. Both women were members of the Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM). Concepcion Brizuela was also UPLM's treasurer and a member of its Executive Committee. Read More

New York: United Nations 3rd Committee of the General Assembly passes resolution on human rights defenders

Posted on 2009/11/26

The 3rd committee of the General Assembly last week passed a resolution on human rights defenders (adopted by consensus – after excellent leadership from Norway, who led the negotiations). Read More

Burundi: Withdrawal of approval of the Forum for Strengthening Civil Society (FORSC) by the authorities

Posted on 2009/11/26

On November 23 2009, the Forum for Strengthening Civil Society (FORSC) received notification of the cancellation of its authorisation by the Ministry of the Interior. FORSC is a platform of 146 organizations of civil society in Burundi. The cancellation of the authorisation follows an open letter sent at the end of last week from civil society organizations addressed to the President of the Republic of Burundi on the situation of human rights defenders in the country. FORSC was the first signatory of the open letter. Read More

Iraq: Shooting of human rights defender and journalist Mr Imad Abadi

Posted on 2009/11/26

On 23 November 2009, journalist and human rights defender Mr Imad Abadi was shot in Baghdad. He remains in a critical condition in Yarmouk Hospital. Imad Abadi is a journalist with Al-Deyar satellite channel, an independent Iraqi television station. He is also associated with the Iraqi Association for Defending the Rights of Iraqi Journalists, and took part in a demonstration for journalists' rights in August 2009. Read More

Bahrain: Media harassment campaign against BCHR and its president Nabeel Rajab

Posted on 2009/11/25

Front Line is deeply concerned that the BCHR and its president, human rights defender Nabeel Rajab are being subjected to a media harassment campaign which started on the 13th of November 2009 following the publication of a BCHR report in relation to human rights organisations that allegedly are linked to the government of Bahrain. Read More

United States: WOZA, Women of Zimbabwe Arise receive the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award

Posted on 2009/11/25

Magodonga Mahlangu and her organisation, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), received the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. WOZA is a grassroots movement of over 75,000 Zimbabweans working throughout their country to empower women from all walks of life to mobilise and take non-violent action against injustice. Read More

China – UPDATE – Human rights defender Mr Huang Qi sentenced to three years in prison

Posted on 2009/11/23

Human rights defender Mr Huang Qi was sentenced today to three years in prison on charges of illegally possessing state secrets. Huang Qi is a human rights activist who helped families of children who died during the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China in May 2008. He has been in custody since his arrest in June 2008. Read More

Russian Federation – Assassination of anti-fascist human rights defender Mr Ivan Khoutorskoï

Posted on 2009/11/20

Front Line was deeply saddened to learn of the assassination of anti-fascist human rights defender Mr Ivan Khoutorskoï in Moscow on 16 November 2009. Ivan Khoutorskoï was shot dead at the bottom of his apartment building, apparently by two shots to the head. Read More