human rights defender

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

Take Action : Serious concern for health of Uzbek human rights defender Mutabar Tadjibaeva

Conditions Improve for Mutabar Tadjibaeva

Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the deterioration in the health of Mutabar Tadjibaeva, human rights defender and Chairperson of the human rights organisation “Plammenoe Serdtse” (Fiery Hearts Club) in Ferghana city. Mutabar Tajibaeva was arrested on 7 October 2005 and subsequently sentenced to 8 years in prison on 6 March 2006. She is currently being detained at Tashkent Prison. Front Line has previously expressed grave concern at the continued detention of Mutabar Tadjibaeva and her deteriorating health, most recently on 28 March 2007.

Uzbekistan

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

Russia: Attack on the home of human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky

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.

Russia

Iran: Execution of human rights defender Yaghoub Mehrnehad

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.

Iran

Burma: Arrest of human rights defender U Myint Aye

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.

Burma

China: Human rights defender Zeng Jinyan disappears

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.

China

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