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Turkmenistan: Threats against human rights defender and journalist Mrs Natalia Shabuntsposted on: 2012/02/03

On 3 February 2012 a bloodstained sheep’s head was put on the apartment’s door of Mrs Natalia Shabunts in Ashkhabad.

Front Line Defenders Statement on Violence Against HRDs in the Americas 2012

The start of the new year has seen a dangerous turn for the worse for human rights defenders in the Americas. In the last 2 weeks alone, Front Line Defenders has documented a number of cases of killing, attempted killing, attacks and death threats to human rights defenders throughout the region.

Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned about the apparent increase in violence and intimidation against human rights defenders in the Americas region. As the region continues to deal with the legacy of the past and makes strides towards justice and accountability, it is more important than ever to ensure the safety and security of human rights defenders working on the front lines of securing political, social, cultural, economic and other human rights for the people of the region.

You can read more about these cases on the Americas page at www.frontlinedefenders.org and you can stay updated on news about human rights defenders around the world by signing up for the Front Line Defenders e-bulletin via the website.

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Tunisia: Threats against human rights defender and lawyer Ms Najet Laabidiposted on: 2011/11/10

On 8 November 2011, human rights defender and lawyer Ms Najet Laabidi was subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse and threats from the relatives of those former officials currently being tried before a military court in Tunis on charges of torturing political prisoners during the rule of the former Tunisian President Ben Ali.

Guatemala: Threats, intimidation and false accusations against human rights defender Ms Lucia Carolina Escobar Mejíaposted on: 2011/11/02

On 24 and 28 October 2011 respectively, journalist and human rights defender Ms Lucia Carolina Escobar Mejía was subjected to threats, intimidation as a result of a series of articles she wrote denouncing what she described as the social cleansing being carried out by the Security Commission of Panajachel.

Chad: Risk of arrest and threats made against human rights defender Mr Deuzoumbe Daniel Passaletposted on: 2011/10/21

Human rights defender Mr Deuzoumbe Daniel Passalet has been the victim of public attacks and threats by the Chadian authorities since his denouncement of the inaction of the authorities regarding child abduction for ransom, and of the moral responsibility of a traditional chief.

Gabon: Threats and media smear campaign against human rights defender Marc Ona Essanguiposted on: 2011/08/23

Human rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essangui received several intimidatory and threatening phone calls from various phone numbers on the 5, 11, and 22 August 2011.

Over previous weeks, Marc Ona Essangui has also been the target of a smear campaign led by sections of pro Government media in relation to his involvement in the movement 'Ça suffit comme ça' ('That's enough of this'). The movement was launched in July 2011 by 13 trade unions, associations and NGOs in Gabon, to call for institutional reforms and transparent legislative elections. Front Line issued an urgent appeal on Marc Ona Essangui in December 2010 available here.

Further Information

On 22 August 2011, at 3pm approximately, Marc Ona Essangui received two threatening phone calls. He received similar calls 11 August, between 1.18pm and 2.36pm, as well as on 5 August at 11am approximately. The calls were made from at least seven different phone numbers, some of which were used repeatedly. The phone numbers were not withheld. Six of the phone numbers used contained similar digit patterns. Three of the phone numbers used only differed by one digit, the last one.

DRC: Repeated threats against human rights defender Justin BAHIRWE posted on: 2011/07/19

Human rights defender Mr Justin Bahirwe, coordinator of SOS Information Juridique Multisectorielle (SOS IJM), received death threats and intimidatory messages by phone on 6, 7, 10, 30 June and 1 July 2011. The undersigned NGOs express their deep concern about the threats received by Justin Bahirwe and call on the Congolese authorities to ensure his physical and psychological integrity.

According to the information received by the undersigned NGOs, the threats appeared to be related to the human rights activities of Justin Bahirwe. The human rights defender is currently working on a project funded by the European Commission and aimed to strengthen the role of civil society in rural areas. The threats appeared to be also related to Justin Bahirwe's work on the case of his colleague Mr Adrien Zawadi, project supervisor at SOS IJM, who was violently assaulted on 1 May 2011.

Russia: Threats against members of Committee against Torture, Mr Supian Baskhanov, Mr Magomed Alamov and Ms Olga Sadovskayaposted on: 2011/06/27

On 24 and 25 June 2011, three members of Russian Interregional 'Committee against Torture' (CAT), Mr Supian Baskhanov, Mr Magomed Alamov and Ms Olga Sadovskaya received direct threats to their lives and health. The CAT is a prominent Russian organisation which combats against torture and impunity of the law enforcement authorities in the Russian Federation. The CAT is the winner of the 2011 Human Rights Prize of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and is the leading organisation of Joint Mobile Group, which received the 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Kyrgyzstan: Threats against human rights defender Mr Maxim Bratuhinposted on: 2011/06/14

Human rights defender Mr Maxim Bratuhin was threatened by officials on 25 May 2011, after he acted as a witness in a criminal trial which was reportedly initiated based on the defendant's sexual orientation. Maxim Bratuhin is chairman of the board of 'Pathfinder', a public association which works to promote equality for all, and to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 'Pathfinder' defends the rights of the LGBT community in Kyrgyzstan.

Pakistan: Killing of human rights defender Mr Siddique Eido and ongoing threats against family members not to pursue the caseposted on: 2011/05/13

On 28 April 2011 the bodies of human rights defender and journalist Mr Siddique Eido and member of a student organisation Mr Yousaf Nazar were found in Ormara, Balochistan. Both bodies showed visible marks of torture and both men had been shot in the head. Siddique Eido was a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Balochistan province and Yousaf Nazar was a member of the Baloch Students Organization (Azad). The families have received ongoing threats not to pursue the cases.