Act Now!

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the attempted assassination of human rights defenders Ms Margarita Martín de las Nieves and Mr Santiago Ponce Lola on 24 June 2009 while they were driving from Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero, to the community of la Cortina. 

Human rights defenders Ms Radhia Nasraoui and Mr Raouf Ayadi were subjected to a "Zero six" full body and luggage search on their return to the country. Zero Six refers to the code used in the security database, authorising full body and luggage search and confiscation of documents every time the person leaves or returns to the country. Abdelwahab Maatar was beaten in Sfax airport for refusing to be body searched. 

Front Line has received new reports of further arrests in a clamp down on human rights defenders, in the aftermath of the controversial presidential election. Among the detained are Ms Jila Baniyaghoob, her husband Mr Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee and Ms Shiva Nazar Ahara. 

Draft anti-terrorism legislation currently pending before the Ethiopian parliament is a threat to civil society. The current draft of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation is not in conformity with a number of international human rights norms and, alongside its proclaimed anti-terrorism aim, may become a tool to further silence dissenting voices in the country. 

The arrest of seven journalists from the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and the newspapers The Point and Foroyaa on 15 June in Banjul highlights the threat to freedom of expression in The Gambia. Those arrested include Mr Emil Touray, GPU general secretary; Ms Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, GPU vice president; Mr Pa Modou Faal, GPU treasurer; Mr Pap Saine and Mr Ebrima Sawaneh, respectively The Point managing editor and news editor; Mr Sam Sarr and Mr Abubacarr Saidykhan, respectively Foroyaa editor and reporter. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of harassment, defamation and death threats against human rights defenders Ms Bertha Oliva de Nativí, Mr Carlos H Reyes and Mr Rafael Alegría. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender, Mr Arshaluys Hakobyan, was arrested and beaten in Kentron District Police Department, Yerevan, on 5 June 2009. Arshaluys Hakobyan is a member of the human rights organisation, Helsinki Association, and the press photographer for their official web site. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the recent intimidation of human rights defender Ms Angkhana Neelaphaijit. Angkhana Neelaphaijit is the chairperson of the Working Group on Justice and Peace (WGJP) and wife of the missing human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelaphaijit, who disappeared on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender, Ms Hasina Kharbhih, was assaulted and threatened on her way to the District Council Court in Shillong Meghalaya, on 28 May 2009. Hasina Kharbhih is the team leader of Impulse NGO Network which works to combat human trafficking in North East India. 

Front Line would like to express its grave concern in relation to reports of the arrest and detention of human rights defender Mr Marimuthu Barathan, and of false charges of murder that have been brought against him on 27 May 2009. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the ongoing harassment of human rights defender Ms Radhia Nasraoui. Radhia Nasraoui is a human rights lawyer and chairperson of the Association de lutte contre la torture en Tunisie, ALTT (Association against torture in Tunisia). 

Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders Rev Engr Rufus Duru, Dr Donatus Akubueze, Mr Remigius Alakwem and Rev John Ugwu have recently been the target of repeated physical attacks, threats and intimidation. 

Padre Tamayo is one of the leaders of the Environmental Movement of Olancho (MAO) in Honduras. MAO wants to prevent the illegal stripping of the forests which results in the drying up of the rivers and the impoverishment of the land. Because they challenge powerful economic interests the members of MAO are regularly targeted. In 2007 Heraldo Zuñiga and Roger Ivan Cartagena were assassinated. Rene Gradis Coordinator of Mao has survived two attempts on his life while Padre Tamayo who is Advisor to the group has a contract of $40,000 on his head. 

Front Line is deeply concerned by the news of the on-going detention of Saharwi human rights defender Shikhin Brahim. According to information received, as Front Line was visiting the region, on 21 September 2008, a group of Western Saharan activists, which included human rights defenders, organised a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara, following which the Moroccan security services launched a campaign of arbitrary arrests of several defenders and attacked several homes. While Front Line welcomes the release of nearly all of those arrested, Shikhine Brahim reportedly remains in detention at the El-Áaiun prison. Shikhine Brahim is a school student and member of the Committee for The Protection of Human Rights in Smara, Western Sahara.