Front Line News Archive

Colombia: Update - Further death threats against members of CREDHOSposted on: 2012/02/03

Members of Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos - CREDHOS (Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights) have received further death threats.

Peru: Human rights defender Estinaldo Quispe Mego releasedposted on: 2012/02/03

Estinaldo Quispe Mego was released from prison on 4 October 2011 after it was declared that he should not spend another day incarcerated as he had acted within the legal framework of Article 149 of the Peruvian Constitution relating to Indigenous Communities.

The article states that Rondas Campesinas are entitled to intervene in conflicts and exercise judicial functions.

For further information, please see the original Front Line Defenders appeal dated 30 August 2011.

Sudan: UPDATE - Human rights defender Bushra Gamar Hussein Rahma transferred from Kober prison to a detention centreposted on: 2012/01/31

Front Line Defenders has received information that Sudanese human rights defender Bushra Gamar Hussein Rahma was transferred on 22 January 2012 from the security section of Kober Prison in Khartoum North to a detention centre operated by the Department of the Attorney General.

Nigeria: UPDATE - Human rights defender Osmond Ugwu released on bailposted on: 2012/01/31

On 26 January 2012, human rights defender and labour leader Mr Osmond Ugwu , was granted bail by Justice Pearl Enejere of Enugu State High Court. He has been released from detention but is due to appear before the court again on Friday 3 February 2012.

Bahrain: UPDATE - Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 13 other prisoners start hunger strikeposted on: 2012/01/30

On 29 January 2012 human rights defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 13 other prisoners, including prisoners of conscience and human rights defender Abduljalil Al Singace, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest against the arbitrary arrest of peaceful protesters and continued human rights violations in Bahrain.

Kazakhstan: UPDATE - General Prosecutor issues statement on events of 16 December 2011 and charges brough t against human rights defender Roza Tuletaevaposted on: 2012/01/27

On 25 January 2012, the General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan issued a statement on 'the events that took place in the town of Zhanaozen on the 16th of December 2011' in which 64 people received gunshot wounds and 14 people died.

Saudi Arabia: UPDATE - Human rights defender Sheikh Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi to appeal sentence following an unfair trialposted on: 2012/01/26

On 24 January 2012 Saudi human rights rights defender Sheikh Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi lodged an appeal before the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, along with other advocates of reform in Saudi Arabia, against the sentences handed down against them in November 2011.

thailand: UPDATE – Request to have hearing of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk held in Bangkok rejected by the courtposted on: 2012/01/26

On 26 January 2012, Front Line Defenders was informed that the request by human rights defender Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, to have the next session of the court hearing against him heard in Bangkok was rejected by the court.

Dublin: Front Line Defenders launches Annual Report on Global Challenges to Human Rights Defenders Around the Worldposted on: 2012/01/26

The 2012 Front Line Defenders Annual Report highlights the fact that while international media focused on the dramatic events in the Middle East, elsewhere repressive governments continued to respond to any challenge to their power and privileges with violent repression.

Mauritania: Update - Human rights defenders Messrs Lehbous Ould Omar, Ely Ould Ravaa, Ell Mehdy Ould Lemrabott and Abdallahy Abou Diop releasedposted on: 2012/01/24

On 21 January 2012, Messrs Lehbous Ould Omar, Ely Ould Ravaa, Ell Mehdy Ould Lemrabott and Abdallahy Abou Diop, human rights defenders and members of l'Initiative de résurgence du mouvement abolitionniste en Mauritanie (IRA), were released from detention in Aioun.

France: Human Rights Organisations Call for Refusal of Request for extradition of Dr Mourad Dhina by Algerian Authorities posted on: 2012/01/24

A coalition of ten international and national NGOs today addressed French Prime Minister François Fillon in a public letter calling for Alkarama’s executive director Dr Mourad Dhina not be extradited to Algeria, where he risks torture.

Russian Federation: Update - Investigations into the case brought by human rights defender and lawyer Ms Sapiyat Magomedova against police officers and counter claim put on holdposted on: 2012/01/24

Ms Sapiyat Magomedova was informed by reliable sources that further investigations into the case which she initiated against two police officers, Batirbi Magdiev and Nariman Mollaev, have been put on hold.

Cuba: Update - Release of human rights defendersposted on: 2012/01/24

Front Line Defenders welcomes the news of the release of human rights defender and member of the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) Ms Ivonne Malleza, her husband Ignacio Martinez, and activist Ms Isabel Alvarez on 19 January 2012.

All three had been arrested on 30 November 2011 following a peaceful protest in Fraternity Park in Havana.

Front Line Defenders continues to call on the authorities in Cuba to release all those who have been detained solely on a account of their human rights activities and to guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Cuba are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities and exercise their right to freedom of association and assembly without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.

Please see the original Front Line Defenders Urgent Appeal dated 8 December 2011.

Dublin/London: International Mission to Bahrain Report "Justice Denied in Bahrain: Freedom of Expression and Assembly Curtailed" says promises for reform unfulfilled, while situation deteriorates posted on: 2012/01/24

The report from a six-member mission of international organisations to Bahrain last November called out Bahraini authorities for failing to deliver on promises of reform, despite a highly-touted commission of inquiry which made numerous recommendations.