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Across the globe human rights defenders face various forms of persecution in their everyday struggle for human rights
Artillery shells are fired at radio studios in Mogadishu injuring two journalists. Fariba Davodi Mohajer is sentenced for campaigning on behalf of women in Iran. In the Philippines, gunmen ambush a car in which three human rights defenders are travelling, leaving one man injured. In Mexico, a journalist is abducted and six days later his body is found.
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- - Thompson Ade Bayor, lawyer and human rights defender, Liberia
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Urgent Cases
 Front Line is deeply concerned by reports of an attempt on the life of Luis Javier Santos on 1 September 2008. Luis Javier Santos is an anti-corruption prosecutor in Honduras who investigates cases of corruption, including by state officials. 
Front Line is concerned by reports of the transfer of human rights defender Mansour Osanloo to Rajaei Prison in the city of Karaj. Mansour Osanloo is an advocate of workers' rights and President of the Executive Board of Sherkat-e Vahed (the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburban Bus Vahed Company), Mansour Osanloo was arrested on 10 July 2007 by security services while he was leaving his place of work. Following his arrest, he was sentenced to five-year imprisonment after being convicted of “anti-regime propaganda” and “activities against national security”.
Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the killing of Magomed Yevloyev, human rights defender, journalist and owner of the Internet news site www.ingushetiya.ru, on 31 August 2008 in Nazran. Magomed Yevloyev was very critical, in his writings, of the Russian security forces in Ingushetia. He was also extremely critical of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the sentencing of Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi to five years in prison. Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi is a journalist and writer who has written in defence of the rights of ethnic minorities, particularly the Ahwazi Arab ethnic group to which he belongs. He is also a founder member of the Iranian PEN association, which works to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression.
Front Line is deeply concerned following the arbitrary detention of human rights defender Ibrahim Magu and the harassment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Ibrahim Magu is a former official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is the former Chairperson of the Commission, a government agency which investigates and prosecutes cases of corruption in Nigeria.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the attack against human rights defender Luisa Fernanda Malo Rodríguez, member of the Fundación Esperanza (Hope Foundation), an organisation working in the defence of the rights of displaced peoples, migrants, and of women and girls who have been victims of exploitation.
Front Line is concerned by reports of attacks against several human rights defenders in the communities of Agalteca and Orica in the department of Francisco Morazón, Honduras. Raymundo Rodríguez, Abel Hernández, Jairo Domingo and Franklin Martínez are members of the Comité Ambientalista de Orica (Environmental Committee of Orica) and Mario Adolfo López is a member of the Committee in the village of Agalteca. Both Committees work in defence of the natural resources of the area.
Front Line is deeply concerned following new reports that human rights defender Liu Jie has been tortured during her re-education through labour (RTL). Liu Jie has been active in rural communities and has campaigned for political and legal reforms in China. Front Line previously expressed its concerns regarding the treatment of Liu Jie in an urgent action of 18 June 2008. Liu Jie was nominated for the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk in 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that the premises of the Committee of Families of Disappeared-Detainees in Honduras (Comité de Familiares Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Honduras – COFADEH) have been broken into on two occasions and that Bertha Oliva de Nativí, General Coordinator of COFADEH has been followed. COFADEH is a non-governmental organisation which works in defence of the rights of the disappeared and prisoners and also on the issue of land rights in Honduras.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been subjected to ill-treatment while in prison. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online publication Al-Shoura. He is a pro-democracy activist and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen, and was recently awarded the 2008 Amnesty International UK Special Award for Human Rights Journalism Under Threat. On 9 June 2008, Abdul Al-Khaiwani was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted by a state security court in Sana'a of conspiracy with anti-government rebels; on the basis of allegations which are believed to be fabricated.
Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders Gabriel Rufyiri, Jean Marie Vianey Kavumbagu and Joseph Mujiji have been summoned for questioning by the Prosecutor General. Gabriel Rufyiri is President of the non-governmental anti-corruption organisation l'Observatoire de Lutte contre la Corruption et les Malversations Economiques – l'OLUCOME (Observatory for the Struggle against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement). Jean Marie Vianey Kavumbagu and Joseph Mujiji are, respectively, former President of the Ligue ITEKA, la Ligue Burundaise des Droits de l'Homme, (ITEKA League, Burundian League for Human Rights) and member of the same organisation.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of an attack on the home of human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky. Stanislav Dmitrievsky is a consultant with the Nizhny Novgorod Foundation to Support Tolerance, and was previously Chairperson of its predecessor, the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS), before it was closed in Russia by authorities. Stanislav Dmitrievsky was also the subject of a Front Line urgent action on 15 April 2008 and has received threats regularly since 2005.
Front Line is deeply concerned that human rights defenders, Duskar Barik, Mamata Barik, Jayanti Sethy and Ranjan Patnaik currently fear arrest by police following reports that they have alleged links with armed Maoist groups. The above-mentioned human rights defenders all work for the Keonjhar Integrated Rural Development and Training Institute (KIRDTI), an organisation that campaigns for the land rights of adivasis, or indigenous populations, ecological protection from mining and illegal felling of woods, in Harichandanpur and Banspal Block of Keonjhar district in Orissa. KIRDTI is also involved in working on development activities with the 'Juang' tribal community.
Front Line is gravely concerned following reports that human rights defender Yaghoub Mehrnehad has been executed. Yaghoub Mehrnehad was a journalist and human rights defender who worked in defence and promotion of the rights of Baluch peoples in Iran. Yaghoub Mehrnahad was also the founder of Anjoman Sedayeh edalat (Voice of Justice Association), a non-governmental organisation which organised cultural activities for Baluch people.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender U Myint Aye, Director and Co-founder of the human rights organisation Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP), former Chairman of the National League for Democracy's Kyimindine branch, and a campaigner for democracy and the rule of law in Burma, on 8 August 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the disappearance of human rights defender Zeng Jinyan on 7 August 2008. Zeng Jinyan is married to jailed human rights defender Hu Jia, co¬founder of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute for Health Education, a non-governmental organisation which promotes public awareness and education on the issue of HIV/ AIDS. Hu Jia was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison in April 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned by reports of the assault and detention of human rights defenders Zohir Hasanzoda, Pardakul Turakulov and Kamiljon Ashurov. Zohir Hasanzoda is a journalist with the Ovozi Tojik (Tajik Voice) and the newspaper’s correspondent in the Samarkand region, Pardakul Turakulov is a freelance journalist with the same newspaper. Both journalists are also members of the Centre for Human Rights Initiatives, in Samarkand, of which Kamiljon Ashurov is the Director.
Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to ill-treatment and torture. Hemid Valai is a human rights lawyer. Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi are all activists working to promote the rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest and restricted movement of human rights defenders Zakia Dhifaoui, member of the Kairouan section of the Ligue tunisienne des droits de l'Homme (Tunisian League of Human Rights) (LTDH); Ali Ben Salem, president of the Bizerte section of the LTDH; Mohamed Ben Saïd, member of the Bizerte section of the LTDH; Othman Jmili and Faouzi Sadkaoui of the Association internationale de soutien aux prisonniers politiques en Tunisie (International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners in Tunisia) (AISPP).
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of death threats received via SMS text message by José Suasnavar over a three-day period beginning 27 July 2008. José Suasnavar is the Deputy Director of the Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (Foundation of Forensic Anthropology in Guatemala – FAFG), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to investigating human rights violations through the application of forensic and social sciences, with a view to strengthening the respect and the protection of human rights. Front Line has previously written to you in relation to threats to members of the FAFG, most recently on 21 May and 15 February 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention and torture of Usaam Mukwaaya, a human rights defender working on issues of sexual health and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Uganda on 25 and 26 July 2008. Front Line previously communicated with you on 11 June 2008 in relation to the detention of Usaam Mukwaaya, together with two other human rights defenders, during a peaceful protest at the HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting on 4 June 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the alleged kidnapping and beating of human rights defender Zurab Tsetchoev in Ingushetia on 25 July 2008. Zurab Tsetchoev is a member of Autonomous Non-Commercial Organisation (ANCO) Mashr, the Republic of Ingushetia's Association of Relatives of Missing Persons.
Front Line is concerned following reports received about the harassment of the family of human rights defender Akifa Aliyeva, in particular of her husband Nusrat Aliyev. Akifa Aliyeva is Coordinator of the Ganja branch of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly of Azerbaijan, an organisation which protects human rights, promotes democracy in the region, and peace-building in the Southern Caucasus. Front Line previously wrote to you in relation to the harassment of human rights defender Javid Aliyev, Akifa Aliyeva's son, on 25 April 2007.
Osman Ibrahim is Secretary of the Kajbar Dam Committee, who are protesting at the construction of dam, which will flood their villages resulting in forced displacement of local communities. Local people are particularly concerned at the lack of any adequate consultation on the plans to build the dam. <!break-->
Further Information
Posted 18/11/2007 Osman Ibrahim and other committee members including Abdel Aziz Ali Khieri, have been repeatedly arrested and ill-treated while in custody. On 13 June 2007, four people died and thirteen others suffered serious injuries when armed security personnel fired on the crowd during a peaceful demonstration against the dam. Journalists and lawyers attending the protest were arrested. Front Line is concerned that the Kajbar Dam Committee will face ongoing intimidation and arrests.
Get back to Protect One Empower a Thousand - Front Line and The Body Shop Campaign
Andre Fernandes is a social activist in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Because of his work he has been targeted with death threats, which forced him into “exile” in southern Brazil. He came back to Rio de Janeiro at the end of 2006. Since his return he has again received death threats and has had to leave Rio de Janeiro for his own safety.
Jackeline Rojas is a prominent human rights defender in Colombia. She is the oordinator and legal representative for the Organisation Femenina Popular in Magdalena Medio, Colombia. Jackeline Rojas and the OFP work to empower women and those who say no to war and violence. Human rights defenders are the objects of constant surveillance and attacks in Colombia.
Donny Reyes is the Treasurer of Arcoiris, the Rainbow Association for Lesbians, Gays, Transvestites and Bisexuals in Honduras. He was arrested outside his office, taken into police custody, beaten and assaulted. No one has yet been charged.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the violent dispersal of members of the teachers'union, Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT), during a peaceful demonstration aimed at celebrating World Teachers' Day on 5 October 2007. Further concern is expressed about the lack of governmental response regarding accusations of police misconduct.
“Your days are running out f******g REVOLUTIONARY. Today we have your sister under surveillance. She is wearing black trousers and a white shirt. It is going to be easier than we thought”. This is typical of the threats received by Fredy Peccerelli Director of FAFG the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation which carries out exhumations of mass graves to return the victims to their families and to find evidence which will bring the perpetrators to justice.
“You want evidence of people being killed? I will kill your tribe, your family and your children will become only bones..........”. Yan Christian Warinussy is Executive Director of the Institute of Research, Analysis and Development for Legal Aid in Manokwari, West Papua which documents human rights abuses. In recent months Yan Christian has received repeated death threats because of his work.
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