Home

arbitrary arrest

Algeria: Arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defender Mr Noureddine Belmouhoubposted on: 2011/10/27

On 23 October 2011, human rights defender and lawyer Mr Noureddine Belmouhoub was arbitrarily arrested by officers of the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DRS) and held in a detention centre in Algiers.

Kazakhstan: Arbitrary arrest and administrative conviction of human rights defender and labour rights leader, Ms Natalya Azhigalievaposted on: 2011/09/13

On 8 September 2011, human rights defender and labour rights leader, Ms Natalya Azhigalieva, was arbitrarily arrested in Zhanaozen and subsequently sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention following a short trial which was held in camera on that same day.

Further Information

Natalya Azhigalieva is one of the leaders of the strike committee set up by workers of the oil company Ozenmunaigaz. In May 2011, oil industry workers throughout Kazakhstan began a strike which is currently ongoing, in response to a dispute which erupted in January 2011 regarding demands for an increase in salaries and an improvement in work conditions. To date, some 1200 oil industry workers have been dismissed for their participation in the strike, and a number of other human rights defenders and their families have been subjected to acts of intimidation, harassment, and violence.

According to the information received from Kazakh NGO 'Kadyr Kassiet' (Dignity), on 8 September 2011 at 1.30 pm approximately, as Natalya Azhigalieva was making her way to her relatives' home in Zhanaozen, she noticed that she was being followed by a black car.

Mexico: Upcoming court hearing regarding arbitrary arrest, imprisonment and torture of human rights defenders Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabreraposted on: 2010/08/19

On 26 and 27 August 2010, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hold a public hearing regarding the case of Mr Rodolfo Montiel and Mr Teodoro Cabrera, two human rights defenders who were arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Mexican authorities between 1999 and 2001.

Kenya: Arbitrary arrest and torture of human rights defender Mr Kenneth Kirimiposted on: 2010/04/27

On 22 April 2010, human rights defender Mr Keneth Kirimi was arrested and detained without charge for over two days, and was reportedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in detention.

Further Information

Much of his interrogation reportedly concerned the work of fellow human rights defender Mr Stephen Musau. Keneth Kirimi works with Release Political Prisoners (RPP) and is an active member of Bunge la Mwananchi, a grassroots movement which aims to fight social injustice and promote accountable leadership at all levels in Kenya. Stephen Musau is the Executive Coordinator of RPP.

On the morning of 22 April 2010, plain clothed police officers arrested Keneth Kirimi and two individuals who were with him on Thika road in Nairobi. The arrest occurred near the headquarters of the General Services Unit (GSU), a special unit of the Kenyan police established to deal with special operations and civil disorder.

One of the individuals arrested alerted Bunge la Mwananchi immediately after his release, at approx 2.45 pm of the same day.

Kenya: Arbitrary arrest and torture of human rights defender Mr Keneth Kirimiposted on: 2010/04/27

On 22 April 2010, human rights defender Mr Keneth Kirimi was arrested and detained without charge for over two days, and was reportedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in detention.

Syria: Arbitrary arrest and continued detention of human rights defender Mr Abdul-Hafiz Abdul Al-Rahmanposted on: 2010/04/15

Human rights defender Mr Abdul-Hafiz Abdul Al-Rahman remains in detention having been arrested in Aleppo, Syria by military security forces on 2 March 2010

Tunisia: Assault and arbitrary arrest of human rights defender, Mr Omar Mestiriposted on: 2009/11/17

Human rights defender Mr Omar Mestiri was arbitrarily arrested and violently beaten before being abandoned in Tunis' outskirts today, 16 November 2009. Omar Mestiri is managing editor of the web newspaper Kalima and member of the Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie (CNLT).

DRC – Arbitrary arrest of four human rights defenders, members of ANMDHposted on: 2009/09/11

Four human rights defenders, members of the organisation, Amis de Nelson Mandela pour la défense des Droits Humains – Friends of Nelson Mandela for the Defence of Human Rights (ANMDH), have been arbitrarily arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) on 31 August 2009 in Kinshasa. Mr Robert Ilunga Numbi is the president of the ANMDH, Ms Marie-Thérèse Kalonda is the head of the Woman and Family programme for ANMDH, Mr Jean-Paul Itupa, is the head of public relations of the Kalamu section of ANMDH and Mr Ndumba Toutou is a member of ANMDH, an organisation which promotes conflict resolution and human rights in the DRC.

Somaliland – Arbitrary arrest and detention of two journalists, human rights defenders Mr Ahmed Saleban Dhuhul and Mr Sayid Osman Mireposted on: 2009/07/24

Two human rights defenders, Mr Ahmed Saleban Dhuhul and Mr Sayid Osman Mire have been detained following their arrest on 13 July 2009 in Hargeisa, Somaliland, for allegedly inciting clan violence. Ahmed Dhuhul is a member of the executive committee of Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and Sayid Mire is the Chairperson of SOLJA's third assembly general. Both men work for Radio Horyaal, the only privately–owned radio station in Somaliland.

Bahrain: Arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders, Mr Ali Hassan Salman and Mr Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahimposted on: 2009/02/09

Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders, Mr Ali Hassan Salman and Mr Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim, were arbitrarily arrested on 4 February 2009. Both human rights defenders have worked for the Committee of Activists and Prisoners of Conscience since December 2007 and have helped to organise peaceful marches and protests for the rights of detainees.