Home

harassment

Syria: Human rights defender Mr Abdulla Al Khalil summoned to court on criminal charges as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against himposted on: 2012/02/01

Human rights defender and lawyer Abdulla Al Khalil has been summoned to appear before the criminal court in Al Riqqa on 6 February 2012 to face criminal charges.

Russian Federation: Campaign of harassment against children's rights defender Mrs Vera Drobinskayaposted on: 2012/01/27

On 16 January 2012, a group of individuals visited the home of children's rights defender Mrs Vera Drobinskaya and attempted to take her seven foster children from her. Vera Drobinskaya has been subjected to a campaign of harassment after denouncing violations of the rights of children living in a home for mentally disabled children in the village of Raznochinovka, in the region of Astrakhan.

Guinea: Update – Court ruling in favour of human rights defenders in the midst of harassment and intimidation against themposted on: 2011/12/08

On 30 November 2011, the Court of First Instance of Conakry found Commander Sékou Resco Camara, Governor of Conakry, guilty of interfering in judicial affairs in connection with the arbitrary arrest of five human rights defenders on 3 November 2011.

Bangladesh: Harassment and intimidation of human rights defender Ms Shampa Goswamiposted on: 2011/11/03

On 23 October 2011, in the Satkhira District, South-western Bangladesh, human rights defender Ms Shampa Goswami was harassed by a group of men believed to be linked to individuals who were accused of gang raping an elderly woman.

Colombia: Ongoing campaigns of intimidation, harassment and persecution against human rights defendersposted on: 2011/09/02

Front Line is deeply concerned regarding reports that ongoing campaigns of intimidation, harassment and persecution perpetrated against human rights defenders by State and non-state actors, are not being adequately investigated by the Colombian authorities. Despite the campaign from the side of paramilitary groups intensifying in recent months, the authorities have failed to bring to account those responsible for orchestrating such acts. Most recently, Front Line has been informed of a planned assassination, as well as death threats which were issued against human rights defenders in the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia.

Further Information

On 24 August 2011, it was revealed that two prison guards at the Tramacúa Prison in Valledupar, Cesar Department, had supplied a prisoner with a dagger in order to stab Mr Iván Cepeda Castro, member of Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes) and member of congress, while carrying out a prison visit on 22 May 2011. The prisoner however refused to carry out the attack.

Cameroon: Harassment and surveillance of human rights defender Ms Maximilienne Ngo Mbeposted on: 2011/07/21

On 16 July 2011, human rights defender Ms Maximilienne Ngo Mbe received a phone call summoning her to a meeting at the Department of Security of the Territory (Département de la Sécurité du Territoire – DST) in Yaounde. The call followed an interview given on 11 July 2011 to Radio France Internationale (RFI). Maximilienne Ngo Mbe is the executive director of the Human Rights Defenders Network of Central Africa (Réseau des défenseurs des droits humains de l'Afrique Centrale – REDHAC), based in Douala.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe received a call from a withheld number on 16 July at 7.30 pm. The caller, who refused to reveal his identify, stated that he was calling from the DST. He requested that Maximilienne Ngo Mbe present herself at the DST in Yaounde two days later, on 18 July, for questioning about an interview given to RFI on 11 July 2011.

Russian Federation: Harassment of human rights defenders in Nizhny Novgorod on the eve of the European Union-Russia summitposted on: 2011/06/09

Several human rights activists in Nizhny Novgorod have been subjected to harassment during the days leading up to the European Union – Russia summit which is due to take place in Nizhny Novgorod. The two day summit is to be held on 9-10 June 2011 in the presence of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and senior European officials. In parallel to the official summit, non-governmental organisations from the Russian Federation and countries of the European Union will hold the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum.

Bahrain: UPDATE - Violence, harassment and intimidation of human rights defendersposted on: 2011/06/01

On 31 May 2011 Mr Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and vice-president of FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), was summoned by the office of the military prosecutor to present himself at their offices at 6pm on the same day. He was interrogated for more than 5 hours before being released.

Further Information

The interrogation was in connection with three charges: Disseminating abroad false and malicious news and statements about the internal situation of the country (Article 134 of the Penal Code of 1976); publicly inciting for the hatred of a sect of people and denigrating them (Article 172 of the Penal Code of 1976) and; broadcasting false and malicious news, statements and rumors (Article 168/A of the Penal Code of 1976. An additional charge of insuting the king of the country was apparently brought against Mr Rajab during the investigation. The interrogation focused on his television statement and interviews and on his writings on twitter. Mr Rajab has stated that he was treated courteously during and after the interrogation.

Peru: Harassment and intimidation of human rights defender Ms Benicia Chinchay Mulatilloposted on: 2011/05/31

Human rights defender Ms Benicia Chinchay Mulatillo is being subjected to ongoing intimidation and harassment near her home in Santa Rosa de Suyo, Peru, by men who were allegedly involved in her husband's killing. Benicia Chichay Mulatillo is a member of the Asociación Comunidad Campesina de Santa Rosa de Suyo (Community Association of Agricultural workers in Santa Rosa de Suyo), a group that is concerned with environmental issues and develops and facilitates initiatives that protect and maintain the environment in the region.

Bahrain: Violence, harassment and intimidation of human rights defendersposted on: 2011/05/31

Human right defenders in Bahrain are being subjected to ongoing violence, harassment and intimidation. The latest spate of attacks on human rights defenders in the country have included malicious interrogation by the office of the military prosecution of Mr Abdulla Al-Derazi, the Secretary General of Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS); the imposition of a travel ban on Mr 'Issa Al-Ghayeb, the Deputy Secretary General of BHRS, and lawyer Mr 'Issa Ibrahim, BHRS board member; and a dawn attack by tear gas on the house of Mr Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and vice-president of FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights).