الصفحة الرئيسية

imprisonment

China: Sentencing of human rights defender Mr Li Tie to ten years imprisonment on charges of subverting state powerposted on: 2012/01/19

On 18 January 2012, human rights defender and writer Mr Li Tie was sentenced to ten years in prison on subversion charges based on articles published on-line in which he was critical of the Chinese government and called on people to defend their rights.

In the last ten years Li Tie has written a number of articles endorsing democratic reform and advocating for local elections.

On 18 January 2012, following a hearing which lasted approximately half an hour, Wuhan Intermediate People's Court sentenced Li Tie to ten years in prison for “subversion of State power”.

Vietnam: UPDATE – Human rights defender Pham Minh Hoang sentenced to three years imprisonmentposted on: 2011/08/17

On 10 August 2011, human rights defender Professor Pham Minh Hoang was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the Ho Chi Minh People's Court for violating Article 79 of the Vietnamese Penal Code for “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration”.

Further Information

Prof. Pham Minh Hoang was arrested on 13 August 2010 and was denied bail until his trial on 10 August 2011. It is believed that he was arrested and subsequently sentenced for belonging to Viet Tan, a pro-democracy group. Viet Tan is currently banned by the Vietnamese authorities. According to the information received, only Prof. Pham Minh Hoang's wife and his attorney were allowed in the court while his mother, siblings, and supporters were stopped at the gate and sent away. The trial started at 8.00am and concluded at 11.30am. Security officers in both uniform, and civilian clothing, were positioned on the streets outside the courthouse preventing people from gathering or passing by.

Prof. Pham Minh Hoang, a human right defender and environmentalist, has actively campaigned against bauxite mining in the Central Highlands region.

Kazakhstan: Front Line visit to imprisoned human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis gives little hope of imminent releaseposted on: 2011/05/18

On 17 May 2011, Front Line's Protection Coordinator visited Evgeniy Zhovtis, prominent human rights defender and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, in penal colony N in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Eastern Kazakhstan. Mr. Zhovtis is serving a four year sentence following a politically motivated unfair trial after he was involved in a fatal traffic accident.

Kazakhstan: Front Line visit to imprisoned human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis gives little hope of imminent releaseposted on: 2011/05/18

On 17 May 2011, Front Line's Protection Coordinator visited Evgeniy Zhovtis, prominent human rights defender and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, in penal colony N in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Eastern Kazakhstan. Mr. Zhovtis is serving a four year sentence following a politically motivated unfair trial after he was involved in a fatal traffic accident.

Further Information

To date, Evgeniy Zhovtis has been given 3 'warnings' by colony administration which prevent him from being eligible for conditional release despite his active involvement in the colony's life. He is providing prisoners with legal aid, has filed 50 complaints and won 12 cases before tribunals which have resulted in the release of 7 prisoners. He is also the captain of the colony's football team, is actively involved in sports activities and has helped to renew all the equipment that allows prisoners to get hot water in the collective showers, etc. Normally this would ensure that the warnings against him would be cancelled, however in this instance the prison authorities seem determined to ignore anything that would bring his release date forward.

China: Human rights defender Mr Zhao Lianhai sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prisonposted on: 2011/03/02

On 10 November 2010, human rights defender Mr Zhao Lianhai was sentenced by a court in Beijing, to two-and-a-half years in prison on charges of inciting social disorder.

Bahrain: Ali Abdulemam speaks about his experiences in prison

Ali Abdulemam was one of 11 human rights defenders and 12 political activists detained on spurious charges of participation in a terrorist conspiracy in Bahrain.

Ali was kept in solitary confinement and sometimes tortured In this interview you can read his description of his experiences before his release.

Released blogger Ali Abdulemam speaks about his experiences in prison

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Bahrain: Ali Abdulemam speaks about his experiences in prison

Ali Abdulemam was one of 11 human rights defenders and 12 political activists detained on spurious charges of participation in a terrorist conspiracy in Bahrain.

Ali was kept in solitary confinement and sometimes tortured. In this interview you can read his description of his experiences before his release.

Released blogger Ali Abdulemam speaks about his experiences in prison

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For Mudawi - A Poem

For Mudawi - On 22 December Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was summoned to the court in Khartoum and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of £3000.

Dr Mudawi is Director of SUDO (the Sudan Social Development Organisation) and had been previously charged with financial mismanagement. Even though the court had dismissed the charges against him due to lack of evidence the Government intervened and insisted on the imposition of a prison term and fine.

This poem was written by Andrew Anderson, Deputy Director of Front Line who has worked closely with Dr Mudawi

The prison walls throw

in stark relief

the fragility of a good man

against the system

The power of quiet integrity

shining out brighter

uncaged by the banal brutality

of incarceration

The weak seek to repress

in fear of the truth

clinging vainly to the corrupt

trappings of office

And the whisper of justice breathes

over Khartoum

it's promise entwined in the lament

of days lost, but a future gained

Set free my friend Mudawi

and hope for Sudan

Tags:

For Mudawi - A Poem

For Mudawi - On 22 December Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was summoned to the court in Khartoum and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of £3000.

Dr Mudawi is Director of SUDO (the Sudan Social Development Organisation) and had been previously charged with financial mismanagement. Even though the court had dismissed the charges against him due to lack of evidence the Government intervened and insisted on the imposition of a prison term and fine.

This poem was written by Andrew Anderson, Deputy Director of Front Line who has worked closely with Dr Mudawi

The prison walls throw

in stark relief

the fragility of a good man

against the system

The power of quiet integrity

shining out brighter

uncaged by the banal brutality

of incarceration

The weak seek to repress

in fear of the truth

clinging vainly to the corrupt

trappings of office

And the whisper of justice breathes

over Khartoum

it's promise entwined in the lament

of days lost, but a future gained

Set free my friend Mudawi

and hope for Sudan

You can take action on behalf of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam here

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Sudan – Human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam imprisoned in latest clampdown on human rights defenders and civil society activists. posted on: 2010/12/22

Sudan – leading human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) and winner of the 2005 Front Line Award imprisoned in latest clampdown on human rights defenders and civil society activists.

Further Information

Dr Mudawi had been summoned to the court in Khartoum on the morning of 22nd December 2010.

Dr Mudawi had previously been charged by the authorities with financial mismanagement but the prosecution was unable to bring any evidence against him and the judge acquitted him.

The Sudanese authorities ordered the same judge to make a new judgment on 22nd December. There was no new evidence presented and no judicial process but the judge announced that Dr Mudawi was now convicted and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 3,000 Sudanese Pounds.

“Front Line considers that Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is being imprisoned arbitrarily, with not even the pretence of a fair legal process, because of his peaceful activities in defence of human rights in Sudan.