On 22 November 2021, officials of National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s federal counter-terrorism agency, raided human rights defender Khurram Parvez’s home and office in Srinagar, seized several electronic devices and documents, and arrested him on charges of terrorism funding, being a member of a terrorist organization, criminal conspiracy, and waging war against the state under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Search
On 18 August 2022, Sri Lankan police used disproportionate force against peaceful protesters in Colombo including tear gas, water cannons and batons. 20 protesters, including human rights defender Chinthaka Rajapaksa and student leader and education rights defender Wasantha Mudalige were arrested from the protest. 16 of those arrested, were released on bail by the Magistrates Court the following day (19 August). Chinthaka Rajapakse was denied bail and remanded until 26 August.
On 20 July 2022, the Supreme Court of India granted interim bail to human rights defender Mohammed Zubair in all the cases filed against him by the Delhi police and Uttar Pradesh police.
On 31 May 2022, human rights defender Ven. Wekandawala Rahula Thero was released on bail by the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court on a surety of LKR 100000 (equivalent of EUR 260). The human rights defender had been targeted due to his support for peaceful protests in Sri Lanka in light of the ongoing economic crisis.
On 9 February 2022, human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah was released on bail by the Puttalam High Court. Hejaaz Hizbullah has been in prison for 22 months charged under the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without bail.
On 12 January 2021, sixteen human rights defenders and members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) were arrested during a protest in Harare, in Zimbabwe. They have been charged with participating in a gathering with intention to promote public violence, bigotry and breaches of peace, as defined in Section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The human rights defenders are currently being detained at the Harare Remand Prison and Chikurubi Prison. A bail application has been lodged today 17 January 2022 and awaiting a court decision.
On 18 April 2021, the Munduruku Wakoborũn Women's Association was the subject of another act of intimidation by miners from the local area. A group of miners that support mining activities on indigenous peoples’ lands, stole more than 830 litres of fuel and a boat engine belonging to the Association. The incident took place in the port of the municipality of Jacareanga, Pará.
On 25 March 2021, the premises of the Munduruku Wakoborũn Women's Association in Jacareanga, Pará was broken-into and vandalised by a group of miners associated with illegal mining on Munduruku territory.
On 7 April 2021, human rights defender Laishram Herojit Singh, alias Sintha, was arrested at his home by officers from the Thoubal Police station in the North East Indian state of Manipur. The defender was arrested on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged membership of a militant group. On 12 April 2021, the court accepted the human rights defender’s bail application, however the charges against him remain.
On 15 April 2021, human rights defender Muhammad Ismail was released on bail after spending more than two months in detention. The human rights defender was granted bail by the Anti-terrorism court in Peshawar three days prior, on 12 April 2021.
On 15 February 2021, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Peshawar denied the bail application submitted by human rights defender Muhammad Ismail, despite his post COVID-19 health situation.
On 3 March 2021, two unidentified men stabbed human rights defender Angelo Karlo Guillen in Iloilo City, in what is believed to have been an attempt to kill him. The defender is currently being treated for the stab wounds he incurred at a hospital in the city.
On 21 January 2021, the Public Prosecutor ordered the conditional release of human rights defender Hamza Nasri.
On 18 January 2021, the Tunisian police arrested human rights defender Hamza Nasri following his participation in a peaceful demonstration against the deteriorating economic situation in Tunis. The Public Prosecutor accused Hamza Nasri of ‘committing an act that violates the public morals’.
On 17 September 2020, woman human rights defender Natasha Narwal was granted bail by a Delhi court in case 50/2020. On 1 September 2020, the Delhi High Court granted bail to woman human rights defender Devangana Kalita in the same case.
On 14 June 2020, a Delhi court dismissed the bail pleas of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.
On 17 September 2020, woman human rights defender Natasha Narwal was granted bail by a Delhi court in case 50/2020. On 1 September 2020, the Delhi High Court granted bail to woman human rights defender Devangana Kalita in the same case.
On 14 June 2020, a Delhi court dismissed the bail pleas of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.
On 1 September 2020, the Allahabad High Court granted bail and released human rights defender Kafeel Khan.
On 4 September 2020, the Inspector General of Police informed human rights defender Pilato that all charges against him had been dropped. On 7 September 2020, the Livingstone Magistrate Court acquitted Laura Miti and Bornwell Mwewa.
On 12 August 2020, the High Court of Harare dropped all charges against human rights defenders Rita Nyampinga, Stabile Dewa, George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, and Frank Nyasha Mpahlo. They had been facing charges of subverting constitutional government under Article 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law Act.
On 22 May 2018, fifteen pro-democracy human rights defenders, including Arnon Nampa, Rangsiman Rome, Sirawith Seritiwat, Chonticha Jaengrew and Piyarat Chongthep, were arrested and charged with sedition, with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five people or more, and under the Road Traffic Act for participating in peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in Bangkok.
On 23 June 2020, the Delhi High Court granted bail to woman human rights defender Safoora Zargar citing 'humanitarian grounds'.
Between 18 April 2020 and 21 April 2020, the Cyber Police of the Kashmir Zone in Srinagar filed First Information Reports (FIR) against three journalists respectively: Masrat Zahra, Peerzada Ashiq and Gowhar Geelani. On 18 April 2020, photo-journalist Masrat Zahra was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Cyber Police for uploading social media posts that allegedly glorify ‘’anti-national activities’’ on social media.
Between 18 April 2020 and 21 April 2020, the Cyber Police of the Kashmir Zone in Srinagar filed First Information Reports (FIR) against three journalists respectively: Masrat Zahra, Peerzada Ashiq and Gowhar Geelani. On 18 April 2020, photo-journalist Masrat Zahra was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Cyber Police for uploading social media posts that allegedly glorify ‘’anti-national activities’’ on social media.
On 14 February 2020, an order was passed to move the investigation on the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai. The next court hearing is set for 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, all nine human rights defenders have been transferred to Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
On 14 February 2020, an order was passed to move the investigation on the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai. The next court hearing is set for 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, all nine human rights defenders have been transferred to Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
On 14 February 2020, an order was passed to move the investigation on the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai. The next court hearing is set for 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, all nine human rights defenders have been transferred to Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
On 22 May 2018, fifteen pro-democracy human rights defenders, including Anon Nampa, Rangsiman Rome, Sirawith Seritiwat, Chonticha Jaengrew and Piyarat Chongthep, were arrested and charged with sedition, with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five people or more, and under the Road Traffic Act for participating in peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in Bangkok.
On 22 May 2018, fifteen pro-democracy human rights defenders, including Anon Nampa, Rangsiman Rome, Sirawith Seritiwat, Chonticha Jaengrew and Piyarat Chongthep, were arrested and charged with sedition, with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five people or more, and under the Road Traffic Act for participating in peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in Bangkok.