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Saudi Arabia: Women human rights defenders sentenced to imprisonment and receive travel bansposted on: 2013/06/17

On 15 June 2013, human rights defenders Ms Wajeha Al-Huwaider and Ms Fawzia Al-Oyouni were sentenced to ten months imprisonment to be followed by a two year travel ban by the District Court in Al-Khobar. The human rights defenders were arrested on 7 June 2011 and briefly held on charges of trying to sabotage the marital relationship between a Canadian woman and her Saudi husband.

Cambodia: Update – Appeal court upholds conviction but reduces sentence of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bophaposted on: 2013/06/17

On 14 June 2013, the Court of Appeals in Phnom Penh upheld the conviction of housing rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha, but reduced her sentence from three to two years. The human rights defender was found guilty of “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances” on 27 December 2012 and sentenced to three years imprisonment. She will now serve the remainder of her sentence – fifteen months.

Egypt: Update – Sentence of human rights defender Mr Hassan Mustafa reducedposted on: 2013/06/17

On 15 June 2013, an appeal court in Alexandria upheld the conviction of human rights defender Mr Hassan Mustafa but reduced the sentence from two years to one year. Hassan Mustafa was arrested on 21 January 2013, on charges of assaulting a staff member of the Alexandria Prosecutor's Office, charges which he strongly denies.

Bangladesh: Update – Pre-trial detention of human rights defender Mr Mahmudur Rahman further extended and charges confirmedposted on: 2013/06/13

On 12 June 2013, the pre-trial detention of human rights defender Mr Mahmudur Rahman was extended for three days by Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Harunur Rashid, who confirmed the charges of inciting violence. The human rights defender was arrested on 11 April 2013, and was subjected to severe torture whilst in custody.

China: Crackdown on Anticorruption Activists Escalatesposted on: 2013/06/10

Ten Activists Formally Arrested on Criminal Charges, Indicating Likely Prosecution

Turkey: Oppression vs. Solidarity

Osman İşçi, a human rights defender and trade unionist, wrote this blog following his release on 10 April 2013 on bail after 10 months of detention. It gives an insight into the mentality of those in Turkey who wish to limit human rights and target those who defend them.

This is a topic that has become particularly relevant over the past week, with the emergence of a mass protest movement, following the violent suppression of a peaceful protest against the destruction of Gezi Park in Istanbul.

Importantly Osman also shows us the huge importance of solidarity in giving human rights defenders the will to struggle on.

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Cambodia: Appeal trial of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha postponedposted on: 2013/06/06

On 5 June 2013, the appeal trial in Phnom Penh of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha was suspended until 14 June. The housing rights activist was charged on 4 September 2012 with 'intentional violence with aggravating circumstances' in relation to a skirmish that had broken out near her house on 7 August 2012. She was sentenced to three years imprisonment on 27 December 2012.

China: Human rights defender Ms Ye Haiyan detained following assaultposted on: 2013/05/31

On 30 May 2013, human rights defender Ms Ye Haiyan was detained by police after being assaulted at her home in Guangxi province.

Kazakhstan: Prison sentence of human rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaeva upheldposted on: 2013/05/30

On 28 May 2013, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan upheld the five-year prison sentence of human rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaeva, in relation to a demonstration that took place on 16 December 2011 in the town of Zhanaozen. During the demonstration police opened fire and killed at least sixteen people.

Angola: Arrests and violence at a vigil to mark one year since the disappearance of two human rights defendersposted on: 2013/05/29

On 27 May 2013, at least nine human rights defenders were arrested, including Messrs Manuel Nito Alves, Albano Bingo, Nicola, Domingos Cipriano “Aristocrata”, Adolfo Miguel Campos André, Graciano, Ferbern, Emiliano Catumbela “Ticreme”, and Raul Lino “Mandela” while they were taking part in a vigil at Largo da Independência in Luanda to mark one year since the disappearance of human rights defenders Messrs António Alves Kamulingue and Isaías Cassule.