human rights

Honduras: Attempted murder of lawyer and human rights defender Luis Javier Santos in San Pedro Sula.

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.

Honduras

Ingushetia: Killing of human rights defender and owner of opposition Internet news site in Ingushetia, Magomed Yevloyev

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.

Europe and Central Asia

Iran: Sentencing of human rights defender and journalist Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi

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.

Iran

Nigeria: Arbitrary detention of human rights defender Ibrahim Magu and harassment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

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.

Nigeria

Colombia: Attack against human rights defender Luisa Fernanda Malo Rodríguez

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.

Colombia

Honduras: Attacks on human rights defenders

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.

Honduras

China: Renewed torture of human rights defender Liu Jie while undergoing re-education through labour

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.

China

Honduras: Break-ins at the offices of COFADEH and intimidation and surveillance of COFADEH Coordinator Bertha Oliva

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.

Honduras

Yemen: Human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani subjected to ill-treatment and denied medical treatment

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.

Yemen

Burundi: Summoning for interrogation of human rights defenders Gabriel Rufyiri, Jean Marie Vianey Kavumbagu and Joseph Mujiji

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.

Burundi

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