On 17 June 2021, Narges Mohammadi, Mustafa Nili and two other human rights defenders were stopped, physically assaulted, detained for a few hours and had their devices confiscated temporarily by intelligence agents in Shazand, Markazi province in central Iran. The group of human rights defenders were denied entrance to Arkak city, in order to visit the family of a human rights defender who is detained in Arak prison.
On 31 May 2023, the Rasan Organisation was forcibly closed by a judicial order. On 16 June 2021, woman human rights defender Tanya Darwish received a call from the police informing her that she, her staff and other ex-employees of Rasan Organisation were under investigation, due to a complaint submitted against them by the Department of Non-Governmental Organisations. They are being accused of ‘spreading hatred with the aim of promoting illegal actions’, a charge which if they were found guilty could lead to a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment.
On 13 December 2018 the Criminal Court of Gap in south-east France convicted seven migrant rights defenders of assisting illicit entry into the country. The seven defenders had participated in a demonstration by crossing the Montgenèvre pass at the Italian border with around 20 illegal migrants on 22 April 2018.
On 2 April 2025, the Sentencing Court of the District of San Vicente issued an arrest warrant against five community leaders and environmental defenders, Alejandro Laínez García, Miguel Ángel Gámez and Pedro Rivas Laínez, from the Santa Marta community, and Antonio Pacheco and Saúl Rivas Ortega, representatives of the Asociación de Desar
On 2 April 2025, the Sentencing Court of the District of San Vicente issued an arrest warrant against five community leaders and environmental defenders, Alejandro Laínez García, Miguel Ángel Gámez and Pedro Rivas Laínez, from the Santa Marta community, and Antonio Pacheco and Saúl Rivas Ortega, representatives of the Asociación de Desar
On 1 February 2022, woman human rights defender Juana Ruiz Sánchez will be presented to a committee in a civil court in Nazaret for her parole hearing. The woman human rights defender is currently detained in Al-Damoun women’s prison, in Israel.
On 29 January 2025, Forough Samienia’s request for retrial was accepted at the Supreme Court and the woman human rights defender was released conditionally from prison. While her case will be transferred to a Branch of Court of Appeals in Gilan Province for retrial, the Supreme Court has suspended her prison sentences as a provisional remedy.
On 28 July 2021, the High Court of Uganda dismissed the charge “making defamatory statements against a government official” levied against the woman human rights defender Florence Orishaba. The two other charges of “inciting violence using Defence For Human Rights (DEFOHR) sponsored radio programs” and “promoting defiance among communities” remain. The case has been adjourned to 4 August 2021.
On 4 February 2019, Anthony Debbarma of the Borok Peoples’ Human Rights Organization (BPHRO), along with two other human rights defenders, Jagadish Debbarma and Aghore Debbarma, were charged with sedition for organising a peaceful public rally in Khumulwng, a town in West Tripura, on 30 January 2019.
On 10 July 2024, women human rights defenders Zohreh Dadres and Zahra Dadres were arrested and transferred to Lakan prison. Zahra Dadres was arrested at the Rasht Office of the Judicial Implementation of Sentences whilst she was following up on her sister’s situation. She had not received any judicial notice or summons prior to her arrest.
On 11 February 2019, human rights defender Froylán González was illegally detained by public servants of the State Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute (Instituto Estatal Electoral y de Participación ciudadana, IEEPCO) for 48 hours. He had been taking part in a peaceful protest by the Santiago Xanica indigenous community regarding their right to self-determination. The human rights defender remained in the custody of Oaxaca State police until 13 February 2019, onfabricated charges of ‘damage to public property’, injury of public employee and theft.
On 21 June 2023, the Crimean Tatar human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku was urgently hospitalised from a detention facility in Salavat, Russia, with acute pain. His wife Mariem attempted to contact the administration of the facility but received no response. Only the Russian Public Oversight Commission in Bashkortostan confirmed that the human rights defender had been hospitalised and underwent surgery.
On 17 July 2024, human rights defender Houman Taheri began serving a one year prison sentence in Lakan prison, in Rasht Gilan province in Iran.
On 3 September 2021, at least twenty members of the National Guard, forcibly and without a warrant, entered the home of a woman human rights defender Paula Rojas Nieto, and carried out a violent raid during which personal items were confiscated and she and several of her family members were attacked.
On 4 February 2019, Anthony Debbarma of the Borok Peoples’ Human Rights Organization (BPHRO), along with two other human rights defenders, Jagadish Debbarma and Aghore Debbarma, were charged with sedition for organising a peaceful public rally in Khumulwng, a town in West Tripura, on 30 January 2019.
On 7 September 2021, human rights defender Oumar Sylla was released from prison by decree of the 5 September 2021 military coup. On 28 January 2021, Oumar Sylla had been sentenced to 11 months in prison for his work in defence of the constitution and human rights in Guinea. He was charged with unlawful assembly, disturbing public order, undermining state security and destruction of public property.
On 17 March 2024, women human rights defenders Sasui Lohar and Sorath Lohar, together with other protestors engaged in a peaceful demonstration outside the Larkana Press Club, faced arrest and excessive use of force by Larkana police. The women human rights defenders had gathered peacefully to protest against the lack of justice or effective investigation into the killing of Hidayat Lohar, the father of Sasui Lohar and Sorath Lohar, on 16 February 2024. Sindh police used excessive force against the protesters, including firing live bullets, baton charges, and tear gas.
On 12 April 2020, human rights defender Hafez Omar was released from Ofer prison having completed a 13 month imprisonment sentence.
On 26 February 2020, the Ofer Military Court sentenced human rights defender Hafez Omar to 13 months imprisonment and a fine of 2000 NIS (approximately 520 Euros).
On 22 January 2020, Ofer Military Court extended the detention of human rights defender Hafez Omar until 26 February 2020.
On 18 July 2024, the Fourth Court of Cassation of general jurisdiction in Krasnodar, Russia, annulled a fine given to woman human rights defender and journalist Lutfiya Zudiyeva for the so-called “abuse of freedom of mass information.” The Court agreed with the woman human rights defender’s argument that law enforcement officials had no right to accuse her of such allegations, as the responsibility of making such accusations lies with the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor).
On 13 November 2023, human rights defender Esmail Abdi was released on a bail of 10 billion IRR issued by Branch 29 of Tehran Revolutionary Court while he awaits the decision of the competent branch of revolutionary court. This follows the Supreme court decision to uphold the human rights defender’s request for retrial back in April 2021.
On 9 November 2016, labour rights defender Mr. Esmail Abdi was imprisoned following the Tehran Appeals Court’s decision to uphold a six years prison sentence on charges related to his peaceful trade union activities.
On 30 September 2021, the court of the Zakrzówek Commune (Lublin Voivodeship) was due to consider the defamation case against LGBTIQ+ rights defender Bart Staszewski. However, citing technical reasons, the hearing has been postponed until 25 November 2021.
