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Israel: Human rights defender Mr Nuri al-Okbi sentenced to seven months imprisonmentposted on: 2011/01/06

Human rights defender Mr Nuri al-Okbi has been sentenced to seven months imprisonment on charges of "running a business without a license" by Ramla Magistrate's Court in Israel.

Further Information

Nuri al-Okbi, born in 1942 and father of 8 children, is head of the Association for Protection of the Rights of Bedouins in Israel and active for the rights of the Arab residents of Lod, many of whom were originally Negev Bedouins.

On 28 December 2010, Judge Zachariya Yemini of Ramla Magistrate's court sentenced Nuri Al-Okbi to seven months imprisonment on charges of “running a business without a license”. The business in question is a garage which Nuri al-Okbi has been running since 1964 in Lod. Over the years, the Municipality of Lod's policy has undergone various changes, with the garage being granted a permit some years, while being denied it in others.

It is reported that the Court originally appeared inclined to allow Nuri Al-Okbi perform community service in lieu of imprisonment.

Sudan – Human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam imprisoned in latest clampdown on human rights defenders and civil society activists. posted on: 2010/12/22

Sudan – leading human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) and winner of the 2005 Front Line Award imprisoned in latest clampdown on human rights defenders and civil society activists.

Further Information

Dr Mudawi had been summoned to the court in Khartoum on the morning of 22nd December 2010.

Dr Mudawi had previously been charged by the authorities with financial mismanagement but the prosecution was unable to bring any evidence against him and the judge acquitted him.

The Sudanese authorities ordered the same judge to make a new judgment on 22nd December. There was no new evidence presented and no judicial process but the judge announced that Dr Mudawi was now convicted and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 3,000 Sudanese Pounds.

“Front Line considers that Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is being imprisoned arbitrarily, with not even the pretence of a fair legal process, because of his peaceful activities in defence of human rights in Sudan.

China: Human rights defender Sun Hongjie left brain-dead after assaultposted on: 2010/12/22

Front Line is saddened by a brutal assault on human rights defender and anti-corruption journalist Mr Sun Hongjie on 18 December in Kuitun, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Sun Hongjie is an investigative journalist with Northern Xinjiang Morning Post.

Further Information

At approximately 1 am on 18 December Sun Hongjie was returning home after meeting an acquaintance for a drink.

As the two walked home, the acquaintance turned on Sun Hongjie as five other men appeared and proceeded to attack him. They dragged him into a construction site where he was severely beaten and reportedly hit over the head with clumps of earth.

His mobile phone was also smashed. His wallet and other belongings remained untouched. A colleague brought Sun to a hospital, where he was later pronounced brain dead. Six men have been arrested.

Sun Hongjie has become well known in Kuitun for exposing corruption and abuse of power in his writing.

Mexico: Killing of human rights defender Ms Marisela Escobedo Ortizposted on: 2010/12/20

Front Line is deeply saddened by the killing of human rights defender, Ms Marisela Escobedo Ortiz in Chihuahua, on 16 December 2010.

Further Information

Front Line strongly condemns the killing and believes that Marisela Escobedo Ortiz was targeted solely as a result of her work in the defence of human rights in particular, her fight for justice for the murder of her daughter, Rubi Marisol Fraye Escobedo, in August 2008 when aged 16 years. Marisela Escobedo Ortiz was a member of Justicia para Nuestras Hijas - Justice for our Daughters.

On the evening of 16 December 2010, Marisela Escobedo Ortiz was holding a peaceful vigil, together with other families of victims of femicide, against the absolution of her daughter's killer, outside the Chihuahua State Governor's Office. A security video recording is said to show a car arrive at the scene carrying a number of masked men.

One man allegedly approached the human rights defender and exchanged words with her. She attempted to get away but the man followed her and shot her in the head. He immediately fled the scene.

Western Sahara – Human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh released while Mr Saeed Al-Wa’ban remains in detention, posted on: 2010/12/17

On 14 December 2010, human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz, and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh were released from Bulmaharez prison, Marrakech, having served a two-year prison sentence. A third defender, Mr Saeed Al-Wa'ban remains in custody.

Further Information

The aforementioned defenders were reportedly arrested and brought to trial because of their role campaigning for the human rights of the Sahrawi people, including the right to self determination. In particular this included their participation in peaceful protests.

please see Front Line’s previous appeal on this case

Bahrain - Human rights defender Mr Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad arbitrarily arrested and held in incommunicado detentionposted on: 2010/12/16

On 15 December 2010, human rights defender, Mr Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad, aged 63 years, was arbitrarily arrested at his home. He is currently being held in incommunicado detention and his whereabouts is unknown. Mr Mohammed Jawad is a well-known independent human rights defender who campaigns for the human rights of detainees and prisoners.

Further Information

On the morning of 15 December 2010, security forces raided the home of Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad and took him away. There was no arrest warrant issued, and no reasons were given for the arrest. Mohammed Jawad's current location and status is unknown.

In the past Mohammed Jawad has been subjected to torture while in detention. He suffers from health problems which include pain in his back and the loss of hearing in both ears allegedly due to beating during past interrogations.

On the night of 14 December, Mr Mohammed Jawad was seen in Manama city centre holding a banner with pictures of detained human rights defenders. He used a megaphone to publicly call for their release.

Strasbourg: "EU High Representative pays tribute to human rights defenders as she welcomes the European Parliament Human Rights Report"posted on: 2010/12/16

"On Friday we celebrated international Human Rights Day. This year's theme highlighted the work of individuals and organisations worldwide who fight human rights violations, specifically discrimination. Over the past year I have met Nobel prize-winner Shirin Ebadi on Iran and Front Line award-winner Afghanistan's Human Rights Commissioner for Women Dr Soraya Sobhrang and other human rights defenders and will continue to do so. As I have said to you previously, I fully expect colleagues in Brussels and the Heads of the EU Delegations to do the same".

Full Text of The High Representative's Speech

Speech by Catherine Ashton EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission on the Annual Human Rights Report European Parliament, Strasbourg, 15 December 2010 On Friday we celebrated international Human Rights Day.

This year's theme highlighted the work of individuals and organisations worldwide who fight human rights violations, specifically discrimination.

China: Human rights defenders remain missing following Nobel crackdownposted on: 2010/12/15

As of 15 December 2010 several prominent human rights defenders remain missing or in police detention following a sweeping crackdown in the run-up to the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo on 10 December 2010.

Further Information

In the past number of days, police have lifted restrictions on many human rights defenders who had been confined to house arrest, had been forced back to their home towns, or had their internet and phone lines cut for the period surrounding the Nobel Ceremony.

Others though, have failed to resurface after being taken by police, and their prolonged periods of detention are cause for concern.

Among those who have yet to reappear are the following (list is not exhaustive):

Fan Yafeng, a prominent human rights lawyer and leader of an underground house church. On 9 December, following numerous house arrests and interrogations in the previous two months, Fan was taken into police custody once again and has been out of contact since.

Li Hai, a Beijing based dissident and a member of the house church led by Fan Yafeng. On 30 October he was seized by police at the premises of the church and since then he has been unreachable.

Gabon – Media stigmatisation campaign against human rights defender Marc Ona Essanguiposted on: 2010/12/15

During the last several weeks, human rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essangui has been the target of a smear campaign organised by pro government media in Gabon.

Further Information

The campaign targets him because of his support to the trial taking place in France in relation to properties allegedly unlawfully acquired there by the Gabonese President, the so called "Bien Mal Acquis"(BMA) trial.

Marc Ona Essangui is the national coordinator of the Publish What You Pay Coalition (PWYP) in Gabon and Executive Secretary of the environmental organisation Brainforest. In January 2009, Front Line published an urgent appeal on the arrest and detention, in December 2008, of Marc Ona Essangui and four other human rights defenders and journalists, which was linked to the same affaire.

Since the French Court of Cassation's decision on the BMA trial was rendered, on 9 November 2010, several media in Gabon began a stigmatisation campaign aimed at discrediting Marc Ona Essangui.

Iran – Human rights defender Mr Emadeddin Baghi sentenced to one-year imprisonment and five-year ban from journalismposted on: 2010/12/14

On 5 December 2010, human rights defender and journalist Mr Emadeddin Baghi began a one-year prison sentence, and a five-year ban from journalism and civil activities. Emadeddin Baghi is the president of the Association for the Defence of Prisoners Rights, which was established in 2003.

Further Information

On 30 November 2010, Emadeddin Baghi received a phone call from the judiciary during which he was told to present himself at Evin prison, Tehran, either on 4 or 5 December to begin serving his sentence. No formal legal procedures were conducted and Emadeddin Baghi's lawyer was not informed that his client was required to report to Evin Prison.

In December 2009, Emadeddin Baghi was arrested following mass anti-government protests during the Shi'a religious occasion of Ashoura. He spent six months in solitary confinement before going on trial on 23 June 2010.