tortured

Najim Abd-Jasem's, the founder and leader of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) was abducted in Baghdad and his body, with evident signs of torture, was found three days later, on March 30, 2007. Since the 1980’s, Najim Abd-Jasem's has actively promoted the rights of workers and faced routine persecution on account of this work. He was fired from his job during Saddam Hussein’s regime for having opposed the government’s official union. A law, decree 150 was passed by the Iraqi administration under Sadaam Hussein and remains in force. The law bans trade unions in the public sector. Najim Abd-Jasem was extremely active in the new trade union movement that followed the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime. Najim Abd-Jasem's was elected to the position of the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union in 2003. Human rights defenders in Iraq, face huge risks to their lives and security as they carry out their work in an extremely dangerous situation.  

Dalit activist and member of People's Watch, Mr. Vasanth arbitrarily arrested on 8 March 2007 has been released on bail facing charges under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was seriously assaulted by five policemen whilst in custody in Madikeri, Karnataka State, India. On 8 March 2007, Mr. Vasanth telephoned the Executive Director of SICHREM, to inform him that he was in Madikeri Town Police station where he had gone to gather some information on an alleged torture case. While at the police station he reportedly witnessed two individuals being tortured by members of the police. He enquired to the police as to why this was happening and as a result was himself arrested. He was transferred to Madikeri District jail later that day. At around six o'clock that evening the State Program Coordinator of SICHREM, contacted the police station and spoke with the Head Constable who informed him that Mr. Vasanth had been taken to the hospital for a medical check up.  

Shahidul Islam a human rights defender and the Executive Director of Uttaran, a non-governmental organisation promoting the rights of landless people in the Satkhira area of Bangladesh has reportedly been tortured whilst in detention at the Uttaran training centre in the Tala Upazilla region of Bangladesh.

Shahidul Islam was taken to a joint forces interrogation cell on 27 January where he was tortured before he was transferred to the local Tala Police Station at approximately three o'clock. He is reportedly in poor physical condition and urgently in need of medical attention. On 28 January 2007, he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment under the Special Powers Act.

Front Line is deeply concerned about the current state of emergency and the suspension of civil rights declared in Bangladesh, which has serious implications for members of the public and in particular for human rights defenders.  

The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan is a long-standing critic of human rights violations committed by the Uzbek government. The organisations members are regularly harassed, arbitrarily detained and often subjected to torture. At present, ten members of the organisation or either in prison or detained in psychiatric hospitals.

Since 1992 the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan has been working to promote and protect human rights in Uzbekistan. Following, the Andijan massacre the Uzbek government reinforced its policy of making it extremely difficult for NGOs to register. The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan has applied for registration six times and has been refused each time.  

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum published on 29 September the Political Violence Report for August. The report highlights an escalation in violence by Zimbabwean authorities against human rights defenders.

The report outlines the arrest and detention of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The full Report is available here.

One hundred and one members of WOZA face trial on 23 October for ‘participating in a public gathering with the intent to cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry’. If convicted, the women could receive up to five years in custody or a heavy fine. About 150 WOZA members face similar charges for participation in a demonstration in August and stand trial on 10 of October.

On 13 September 2006,180 members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) were arrested in Zimbabwe prior to the commencement of an anti-poverty and anti-government March. Many of those arrested were tortured.