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Act Now!
Across the globe human rights defenders face various forms of persecution in their everyday struggle for human rights
Artillery shells are fired at radio studios in Mogadishu injuring two journalists. Fariba Davodi Mohajer is sentenced for campaigning on behalf of women in Iran. In the Philippines, gunmen ambush a car in which three human rights defenders are travelling, leaving one man injured. In Mexico, a journalist is abducted and six days later his body is found.
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- - Thompson Ade Bayor, lawyer and human rights defender, Liberia
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Urgent Cases
 Following its recent visit to Western Sahara from 15 to 22 September 2008, Front Line expresses its serious concern in relation to repressive practices against human rights defenders in Western Sahara. These include intrusive surveillance of defenders, the imposition of obstacles to registration of non-governmental organisations, physical attacks and arbitrary detentions, such as the wave of arrests carried out on 21 September following a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara. 
Front Line is deeply concerned by information received concerning the surveillance of human rights defenders who are members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Universidad Nacional de Honduras – SITRAUNAH (Trade Union of Workers of the National University of Honduras), including its president René Andino, and the existence of a list containing the names of 136 human rights defenders, including trade unionists and members of religious orders.
Front Line is seriously concerned about the judicial harassment of Kirity Roy, the former president of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a non-governmental human rights organisation based in Howrah, Kolkata, West Bengal. On 27 September 2008, police entered the offices of MASUM searching for Kirity Roy and affidavits from the People's Tribunal on Torture (PTT), which is organised by the National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPTI).
Front Line is deeply concerned following information received of media threats and aggressive intimidation against human rights defender Sonja Biserko and staff at the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia (HCHRS). Sonja Biserko is the Chairperson of the HCHRS, a professional organisation working on the promotion of the rule of law and protection of human rights in Serbia.
Front Line is seriously concerned about the judicial harassment of Kirity Roy, the former president of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a non-governmental human rights organisation based in Howrah, Kolkata, West Bengal. On 27 September 2008, police entered the offices of MASUM searching for Kirity Roy and affidavits from the People's Tribunal on Torture (PTT), which is organised by the National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPTI).
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender Nilar Thein, a human rights defender and pro-democracy activist leader in Burma, on 10 September 2008. Nilar Thein is a member of the '88 Generation Students group and has been in hiding from the authorities for over a year following the mass protests in Burma in August and September 2007.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the alleged enforced disappearance of human rights defender James M. Balao on 17 September 2008. James M. Balao is a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), an independent group of non-governmental organisations in the Cordillera Region. CPA works to promote democracy and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
Front Line is seriously concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention and intimidation of a group of human rights defenders opposed to the construction of the Mapithel Dam in Manipur State.These include T. Dewal from the village of Itham, L. Bipin from Tumukhong, L. Bobojit and H. Kendra Luwang from Moirangpurel. All are members of the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching-Tam Organization (MDACTO), an organisation which defends the rights of communities affected by the dam project.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender Yehuda Shaul on 10 September in the city of Hebron. Yehuda Shaul is co-founder of 'Breaking the Silence', an organisation of veteran Israeli soldiers which conducts tours of the West Bank and documents human rights violations perpetrated against Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army in the area.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defenders George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah were arbitrarily detained from 10 to 18 September 2008 and that Pepe Juliana Onziema, David Kato, Victor Julie Mukasa and Kasha Jacqueline have been subjected to intimidation by police and the authorities in Uganda.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that the trial of Salijon Abdurahmanov commenced on 12 September 2008. Salijon Abdurahmanov was arrested on 7 June 2008, after drugs were planted in his car. He is a founding member and leading journalist with Uznews.net, a member of the Real Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan, and a member of the Committee to Protect Individuals' Rights in Karakalpakstan. He has also worked for Radio Liberty and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, and has made public statements concerning human rights violations and restrictions on freedom of expression in Uzbekistan. His case was the subject of a Front Line urgent appeal on 20 June 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the recent intimidation, threats and attempted attack against woman human rights defender Pouline Kimani. Pouline Kimani is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) and works in defence of the rights of the gay and lesbian community in Kenya.
Front Line is extremely concerned by reports of the attempted assassination of Yuri Melini on 4 September 2008. Yuri Melini is the Director of the Centro de Acción Legal, Ambiental y Social de Guatemala (CALAS) [Legal, Environmental and Social Action Centre of Guatemala]. CALAS is an organisation working for the strengthening of environmental issues, community participation and respect for the collective rights of indigenous communities in relation to environmental concerns.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defenders, Dennis Abarrientos, Vimarie Arcilla, Jean Suarez and Concordia Oyao have received threatening text messages to their mobile phones and the 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IB-PA) have made allegations of kidnapping against Vimarie Arcilla. Dennis Abarrientos is the Secretary-General of Karapatan-Cebu, Vimarie Arcilla is the Public Information Officer, Jean Suarez is Research and Documentation Officer and Concordia Oyao is Direct Services Officer. Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights is an alliance of individuals, groups and organisations working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.
Front Line is deeply concerned by reports of an attempt on the life of Luis Javier Santos on 1 September 2008. Luis Javier Santos is an anti-corruption prosecutor in Honduras who investigates cases of corruption, including by state officials.
Front Line is concerned by reports of the transfer of human rights defender Mansour Osanloo to Rajaei Prison in the city of Karaj. Mansour Osanloo is an advocate of workers' rights and President of the Executive Board of Sherkat-e Vahed (the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburban Bus Vahed Company), Mansour Osanloo was arrested on 10 July 2007 by security services while he was leaving his place of work. Following his arrest, he was sentenced to five-year imprisonment after being convicted of “anti-regime propaganda” and “activities against national security”.
Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the killing of Magomed Yevloyev, human rights defender, journalist and owner of the Internet news site www.ingushetiya.ru, on 31 August 2008 in Nazran. Magomed Yevloyev was very critical, in his writings, of the Russian security forces in Ingushetia. He was also extremely critical of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the sentencing of Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi to five years in prison. Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi is a journalist and writer who has written in defence of the rights of ethnic minorities, particularly the Ahwazi Arab ethnic group to which he belongs. He is also a founder member of the Iranian PEN association, which works to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression.
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