released

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender,Maytham Bader Jassim Al-Sheikh, from prison on April 3, 2009 after he received a pardon from King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa because of serious deterioration in Maytham's health conditions while in prison.He had been detained among eleven human rights defenders arrested by the Special Security Forces (SFF) between 21 and 28 December 2007, following demonstrations in Manama on 17 December 2007. 

Human rights defenders Floribert Bahizire, Dolly Inefo Mbunga and Donat Tshikaya who were arrested on 15 March 2009 were released on the evening of the 17 March. 

Case Update

Esha Momeni Iranian-American student who had returned to Iran to complete her thesis involving a film documentary on women's situation -arrested on 15 October 2008-, has been released on a 198000 dollar bail from Evin prison. According to Reza Momeni, her father, Esha is not allowed to leave Iran and has to be present in a political court hearing on charges of "acting against national security and propagating against the government". These charges are heavy enough to have her sentenced to a life prison term. Read more about Esha Momeni's release. 

The Main Directorate for the Administration of Punishment under the authority of the Interior Minister of Uzbekistan ordered the release of a prominent Uzbek human rights activist and journalist Umida Niyazova on February 2, the Uzbek website Newsuz.com reported. Several other prominent human rights defenders were also released.