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torture
A Front Line mission visited Rwanda, Burundi, the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya between 8 and 16 of April 2007. Front Line Director Mary Lawlor and Protection Coordinator Natacha O’Brien met with human rights defenders at risk and national authorities to discuss the protection and security of human rights defenders in the region 
Front Line está muy preocupado por los informes recibidos sobre Ihtiyor Hamroev, defensor de los derechos humanos y miembro de la Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Asociación para los Derechos Humanos en Uzbekistán]. Hamoev fue sujeto de torturas y malos tratos durante su detención en la Prisión 64/78 en la región de Djizak, el 26 y 27 de diciembre del 2006.
El 26 de diciembre del 2006, Ihtiyor Hamroev se quejó reiteradamente de dolores en el estómago debido a una úlcera, y le solicitó al guardia de la prisión que llamara al médico. Las autoridades de la prisión fueron informadas de su situación. Se dice que, al día siguiente, 27 de diciembre del 2006, Ihtiyor Hamroev fue esposado y salvajemente golpeado por los guardias de la prisión. Los informes afirman que recibió patadas repetidamente en el estómago, y que fue arrastrado de los pelos por el suelo. Luego se lo trasladó a una celda donde estuvo aislado durante 24 horas. La salud de Hamroev se deterioró considerablemente luego del incidente, y fue transferido al hospital del distrito de Zafarabad, donde fue examinado por los médicos.
The increasing repression faced by human rights defenders in Bahrain was discussed at a seminar in the UK House of Lords on 18 December. The speakers included; Mrs. Ghada Jamsheer, President of the Women's Petition Committee, who discussed the situation with regard to women's rights in Bahrain. Jamsheer has repeatedly faced fabricated legal charges including "insulting the judiciary" as a result of her work to press for the rights of women in Bahrain's family courts. Front Line Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson, spoke of the pattern of threats, harassment, fabricated legal charges, torture and detention faced by human rights defenders who have dared to speak out about human rights in Bahrain. He stated that it was particularly ironic that Bahrain was repressing human rights defenders and trying to close down the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights at a time when it sits on the UN Human Rights Council.
Press Statement
EHAHRDN Index: UGA 033/008/2006 (Public)
27th November 2006
KAMPALA: GOVERNMENTS IN THE EAST&HORN OF AFRICA MUST OBSERVE MEDIA FREEDOM-A CALL FOR REDRESS
As the year 2006 draws to its close, the human rights movement in the East and Horn of Africa continues to nurse the shocking reports relating to infringement on press freedom by governments and government agencies within the sub-region. This infringement is despite the fact that press freedom is recognized in national, regional and international legislation as a key factor in ensuring transparency and democratic governance.
From Djibouti and Eritrea to Ethiopia, from Kenya to Somalia and Somaliland, from Sudan including Southern Sudan to Tanzania and Uganda, journalists continue to be subjected to a wide range of violations including harassment, intimidation, banning of media houses or restriction of their activities, unlawful arrests, incommunicado detention, imprisonment on unclear charges, torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial killings. Such is the misery inflicted on persons supposed to undertake the role of watchdogs of society to ensure due accountability in public offices.
Shehenaz Abdulla, a senior Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist and the coordinator of a demonstration aimed at speeding up democratic reforms in the Maldives, was arrested on 6 November. Since her detention she has been on hunger strike, as she believes she is being held in detention unlawfully. Reports claim she is at risk of torture and ill treatment, a routine measure used against political dissidents in the Maldives.
The Maldivian Democratic Party had planned a week of demonstrations to express opposition to the incumbent President Maymoon Abdul Gayoom, who has been in power for 28 years. Their hopes of a peaceful resolution were quashed. More than 100 people were arrested in connection with the demonstration and according to reports many have been subjected to ill treatment and torture. The demonstration has been cancelled due to concerns for the safety of protesters.
Alí al-Dailami, director ejecutivo de la Yemeni Organization for the Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedom (Organización yemení para la defensa de los derechos democráticos y la libertad) se encuentra actualmente incomunicado y podría haber sido objeto de torturas y maltratos desde su arresto y detención el pasado nueve de octubre de 2006.
Alí al-Dailami fue arrestado en el aeropuerto de Copenhague cuando se dirigía a una reunión internacional de derechos humanos en la capital danesa. El señor al-Dailami había hecho campaña a favor de su hermano, el clérigo Yahia al-Dailami, sentenciado a muerte en mayo de 2005, logrando que la sentencia fuera conmutada y Yahia al-Dailami fuera puesto en libertad.
27 July 2006
One year ago, on 31 July 2005, hugely respected human rights defender Pascal Kabungulu was shot dead in front of his family at his home in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by three armed men.
Pascal was the Executive Secretary of human rights organisation Heritiers de la Justice. He is survived by his wife Kitumani Kasiba and their six children, who were forced to go into exile shortly after his murder.
Front Line is extremely concerned with the lack of progress of the legal investigations into his death. There have been two separate investigations; the first was a commission of enquiry established by the acting governor, Didace Kaningini. The members of this commission concluded that they could not act on the case as the commission had lost credibility when the governor was accused of fabricating evidence to incriminate members of Heritiers de la Justice.
20 July 2006
Three prominent human rights defenders, including a pro-democracy author of over 20 books, are being held in the notorious political prisoner section 209 of Evin prison in Tehran, without charge or access to lawyers or family members.
Trade unionist, Mansoor Ossanlu, intellectual, commentator and writer Dr Raimin Jahanbegloo and Head of the Alumni Association of Iran, Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini have been held for seven months, two and a half months and one month respectively and may be at risk of ill-treatment or torture.
Mansoor Ossanlu, a staunch advocate of workers' rights and Head of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, was arrested on 22 December 2005 at his home. 11 of his colleagues were also arrested but were all released by 26 December. Charges have not been officially brought against him but reports suggest he may be facing charges of contact with Iranian opposition groups. He has allegedly been tortured and Front Line is concerned for his well being as he has health problems and may not be receiving adequate treatment.
24 April 2006 Front Line Press Release
During a recent visit to meet with human rights defenders in Bahrain, the Deputy Director of Front Line welcomed the candidacy of Bahrain for election to the new UN Human Rights Council.
Bahrain is a candidate for one of the 13 seats allocated to the region of Asia on the UN Human Rights Council. The council, which meets for the first time in June, replaces the discredited UN Human Rights Commission
Speaking from Manama, Andrew Anderson said that Bahrain’s candidacy "demonstrates a commitment to international human rights mechanisms and openness to scrutiny of Bahrain's human rights record, which must now also be reflected in measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders in Bahrain."
Front Line has been concerned by a pattern of attacks against human rights defenders in Bahrain, including the attempted Government closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, ill-treatment and torture of human rights defenders and the detention and prosecution of human rights defenders for exercising their legitimate rights.
En estos días se está realizando en Ginebra el comité preparatorio final para la próxima Cumbre Mundial de la ONU sobre Tecnología de la Información (WSIS por sus siglas en inglés) que se llevará a cabo en Túnez el próximo noviembre, la cual tratará el futuro de la Internet. Paradójicamente, Mohammed Abbou, abogado y defensor de los derechos humanos, se encuentra encarcelado en Túnez por ejercer su libertad de expresión a través de la Internet, medio de comunicación que será tratado en dicha cumbre.
Andrew Anderson, Director Ejecutivo de Front Line así como representantes de otras organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos viajaron a Ginebra para presentar su inconformidad sobre el encarcelamiento de Mohammed Abbou y la cada vez mayor precariedad de los derechos humanos en Túnez, en particular las muchas restricciones represivas tanto en los medios de comunicación como en la Internet.
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