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Human rights defender

Pakistan: Killing of human rights defender Ms Perveen Rehmanposted on: 2013/03/15

On 13 March 2013, human rights defender Ms Perveen Rehman was shot and killed by armed motorcyclists, close to her offices. Perveen Rehman was a social and economic rights defender, working with communities in the slums of Karachi.

Cambodia: UPDATE - Human rights defender Mr Mam Sonando to be releasedposted on: 2013/03/15

On 14 March 2013, the Court of Appeal ruled that jailed human rights defender Mr Mam Sonando is to be released on 16 March 2013, while his prison sentence was reduced to five years and suspended for eight months.

Egypt: 2 years in jail for human rights defender Mr Hassan Mustafaposted on: 2013/03/14

On 12 March 2013, Mansheya Misdemeanour Court in Alexandria sentenced prominent human rights defender Mr Hassan Mustafa to two years imprisonment on charges of allegedly assaulting a staff member of the Alexandria Prosecutor's Office, a charge which he strenuously denies.

Thailand: Update – Verdict in case of human rights defender Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsuk to be announced on 23 January 2013posted on: 2013/01/21

The verdict in the case of human rights defender and labour rights activist Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is scheduled to be announced by Ratchadapisek Criminal Court on 23 January 2013 at 9am. The human rights defender has been in detention since 30 April 2011 and is charged with contravening Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which forbids defaming, insulting or threatening the royal family, commonly known as the lèse majesté law.

China: Update - Family of Gao Zhisheng finally permitted second visitposted on: 2013/01/21

On 12 January 2013 the family of imprisoned human rights defender Mr Gao Zhisheng were permitted a visit to see him ten months after an initial visit on 24 March 2012. Reports of this recent visit only came to light on 18 January 2013. Gao Zhisheng's US-based wife, Ms Geng He, told Radio Free Asia that her father and brother in law saw Gao Zhisheng for 30 minutes on 12 January but were forbidden from asking any “sensitive” questions, including what conditions in prison were like.

Bahrain: Update – Release on bail of human rights defender Mr Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdaposted on: 2013/01/21

On 17 January 2013, human rights defender Mr Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha was released on bail pending trial after paying 100 Bahraini Dinars (approximately 200 Euro). He had been in detention since 17 December 2012. The human rights defender faces charges of spreading false information on Twitter, a trial date has been set for 29 January 2013.

Russian Federation: Death threats issued against human rights defender Mr Vitaly Ponomarev and his familyposted on: 2013/01/18

On 12 January 2013, human rights defender Mr Vitaly Ponomarev received several anonymous death threats through electronic mail. Vitaly Ponomarev is the head of the Central Asia programme of Human Rights Centre (HRC) Memorial, which was founded in 1999 and has a major focus on documenting human rights violations in Central Asian states, particularly Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, in close cooperation with local human right defenders.

Joint Letter Regarding the Disappearance of Laotian Human Rights Defender Sombath Somphoneposted on: 2013/01/18

On 17 January 2013, a joint open letter was sent to the Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos regarding the alleged enforced disappearance of human rights defender Mr Sombath Somphone. The letter is signed by 59 national, regional and international human rights groups, including Front Line Defenders.

Gabon : Defamation case lodged against human rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essanguiposted on: 2013/01/18

On 18 January 2013, human rights defender and environmental activist Mr Marc Ona Essangui was scheduled to appear before the Correctional Court of Libreville over allegations of defamation lodged against him by the Chief of Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Gabon.

Russian Federation: Harassment of the family of environmental rights defender Mr Suren Gazaryanposted on: 2013/01/17

On the evening of 11 January 2013, police officers visited the home of environmental and human rights defender Mr Suren Gazaryan, where his wife and two minor children live, and interrogated them about his whereabouts. Suren Gazaryan has recently left the Russian Federation due to fear of unlawful imprisonment and is currently residing in Estonia.