andrew Anderson

Front Line Defenders Marks 13th Anniversary of UN Declaration on Human Rights Defendersposted on: 2011/12/09

Front Line Defenders Deputy Director Andrew Anderson reflects on the state of affairs for human rights defenders on the 13th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Bahrain: Front Line's Andrew Anderson highlights the denial of justice in the trial of Abdulhadi Al Khawajaposted on: 2011/10/19

Bahrain's rulers condemn themselves by sentencing my friend to life in prison

Abdulhadi Al Khawaja is a dear friend and former colleague who worked with us at Front Line up until February this year coordinating our work with human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa. Today a military court in Bahrain sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges including ”organising and managing a terrorist organisation” and “attempt to overthrow the government by force and in liaison with a terrorist organisation working for a foreign country”.

Further Information

The Bahraini Government has been trying to repress the protests which broke out in February calling for democracy and human rights and an end to corruption. They have also repeatedly insisted they are in favour of dialogue and reform and that the evidence of the killings of peaceful protesters and the torture of detainees was fabricated.

Andrew Anderson en route to Bahrain following the recent clamp down & arrest of former colleague Abdulhadi Alkawaja

Andrew Anderson is on his way to Bahrain following the recent clamp down there and the arrest of former Front Line colleague and friend Abdulhadi Alkawaja.

Mohammed al- Tajer, a prominent human rights lawyer has also been arrested - http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/14839 "I met the distinguished Mohammed al-Tajer last year, his arrest shows the authorities are abandoning all pretence of the rule of law. Heading to Bahrain in the morning, the situation looks bleak. And very worried for friends in Syria too."

Keep checking for updates!

Kyrgyzstan: Bumpy landing in Bishek

Front Line's Deputy Director Andrew Anderson is currently on mission in Kyrgyzstan - however the adventures started in the air as they successfully landed in Bishek - on the 4th attempt.

Good old hammer and sickle!

I was not sure if the hammer and sickle on the uniform of the Aeroflot woman at the check in for my flight from Moscow to Bishkek meant the uniform was twenty years old or they just had resisted corporate rebranding.

Our first two attempts to land in Bishkek the pilot had to pull out because of below minimum visability. So he announced we were diverting to Almaty. but he had to pull out of an attempted landing there too. Apparently whilst I was wondering how much extra fuel our plane might carry the weather cleared over Bishkek. We bumped down fourth time lucky. Good old hammer and sickle.

Pictured - Andrew Anderson with human rights defender Tolekan Ismailova outside Bishek prison.

Kyrgyzstan: Bumpy landing in Bishek

Front Line's Deputy Director Andrew Anderson is currently on mission in Kyrgyzstan - however the adventures started in the air as they successfully landed in Bishek - on the 4th attempt.

Good old hammer and sickle!

I was not sure if the hammer and sickle on the uniform of the Aeroflot woman at the check in for my flight from Moscow to Bishkek meant the uniform was twenty years old or they just had resisted corporate rebranding.

Our first two attempts to land in Bishkek the pilot had to pull out because of below minimum visability. So he announced we were diverting to Almaty. but he had to pull out of an attempted landing there too. Apparently whilst I was wondering how much extra fuel our plane might carry the weather cleared over Bishkek. We bumped down fourth time lucky. Good old hammer and sickle.

Pictured - Andrew Anderson with human rights defender Tolekan Ismailova outside Bishek prison.