Front Line News Archive

On 28 January 2010, Saharawi human rights defender Dagja Lachgar was temporarily released following three months and twenty days in detention in Sale military prison, Morocco. Human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane, Ahmad Anasiri, Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Saleh Lebayhi, and Rachid Sghayar, who remain in detention in Sale prison, have declared that they will commence a 48-hour hunger strike on 4 February 2009, in protest against the ill-treatment that they are subjected to in detention. 

Human rights defender Ms Pham Thanh Nghien has been sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years under house arrest, having been found guilty of spreading propaganda against the state. The trial was closed to Western media and diplomats who have previously been allowed to watch such proceedings on closed-circuit at the courthouse, despite the fact that European Union diplomats had requested permission to attend and observe the trial. Pham Thanh Nghien has been held in prison since she was arrested on 18 September 2008 for attempting to stage a peaceful protest. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of new death threats against Mr Adolfo Guzmán Ordaz and his family. Adolfo Guzmán Ordaz is a member of the organisation “Connect, Communication and Training” (Enlace, Comunicación y Capacitación – Enlace CC). Enlace CC is a civil organisation based in Chiapas which works for sustainable development for indigenous people and rural workers in central and southern Mexico, incorporating human rights and gender equality as its guiding principles. 

Front Line welcomes the news that the Oman Police has halted its judicial prosecution of journalist Mr A’sem Al-Sheedi who had been accused of denouncing the police in an article published in an Oman newspaper on 7 December 2009. The article included information on police corruption. 

Front Line has recently learned that Mr Kayvan Samini is agian being helf in solitary confinement after a period of temporary release while Mr Bahaman Ahmadi Amoee has been sentenced to seven years and 4 months in prison and 32 lashes. 

Defending Hope in Gaza is an exhibition of beautiful yet disturbing images documenting the impact of Operation Cast Lead on the people of Gaza. The exhibition shows how the people of Gaza are bravely struggling to survive, while the work of human rights defenders is severely restricted by limitations on freedom of movement.The Exhibition opens on Monday 11 January and will run until 22 January. 

On 20 December Iranian security forces arrested Shiva Nazarahari, Kouhyar Goudarzi and Saeed Haeri, members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR). This follows less than three weeks after the arrest of Saeed Kalanaki and Saeed Jalili, two other prominent members of CHRR.