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Turkmenistan - Human Rights Defender Valery Pal Pardonedposted on: 2008/12/09

President of Turkmenistan Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov signed a pardon in the light of the forthcoming "Neutrality Day". Three hundred and ninety prisoners, human rights defender Valery Pal among them, are to be released from jail.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, on the 10th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defendersposted on: 2008/12/09

To coincide with events organised in Ireland by Front Line to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders I am pleased to issue a statement to mark this significant milestone.

The 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders offers us the opportunity to renew our support for this important document. The adoption of the text in 1998 was the culmination of years of negotiations and the final result was a strong, useful and pragmatic text. The Declaration is not just addressed to States and to human rights defenders, but also reminds us that we all have a role to play in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Zimbabwe: Abduction of two more members of Zimbabwe Peace Projectposted on: 2008/12/04

Front Line is deeply concerned at the adbuction Pascal Gonzo and Broderick Takawira, staff members of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), on 8 December 2008. They were taken away from ZPP offices by six men driving unmarked cars.

Lebanon: Charges of criminal slander dismissed against lawyer and human rights defender, Dr. Muhammad Mugrabyposted on: 2008/12/04

Front Line welcomes the decision of a Lebanese Criminal Court to dismiss charges of criminal slander against Muhammad Mugraby on 27 November 2008. The charges had arisen from a speech that Muhammad Mugraby gave to a European Parliament delegation in Brussels on 4 November 2003 which criticised the Lebanese government for its abuse of the judiciary. Despite the dismissal of charges against Muhammad Mugraby, Front Line is concerned about numerous other legal actions pending against Muhammad Mugraby.

Bahrain: Travel ban on human rights defender, Abdulghani Al-Khanjarposted on: 2008/12/03

Front Line is concerned following reports received of a travel ban imposed on human rights defender, Abdulghani Al-Khanjar who was refused entry to Qatar at Doha Airport on 2 December 2008.

Sudan: Front Line welcomes the release of Osman Hummaida from detentionposted on: 2008/11/28

Case Update

Front Line welcomes the release of Osman Hummaida from detention in the office of the National Security Service (NSS) in Northern Khartoum on 28 November 2008 at around 12.30 am. Abdelmonim Aljak and Amir Mohamed Suliman, who were arrested with Osman Hummaida and redetained several times, have not been rearrested. Despite the release of the human rights defenders from detention, Front Line condemns the torture and ill-treatment that Osman Hummaida and Abdelmonim Aljak were subjected to in the course of interrogation.

Exceptional Uzbek woman honored in Geneva on 20 Novemberposted on: 2008/11/19

Mutabar Tadjibeva, released from prison on the 2nd of June and for the first time allowed to travel abroad, will receive the 2008 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on Thursday 20th November, 18h00, during an international ceremony in Geneva at the prestigious Musée Ariana. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present the award and opera star Barbara Hendricks will perform. This year’s event is covered by Swiss Television for the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) which will broadcast a news flash on Euronews.

Launch of the new website of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Projectposted on: 2008/11/14

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project/Network has launched a new website at http://www.defenddefenders.org. The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) seeks to strengthen the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) throughout the region by reducing their vulnerability to the risk of persecution and by enhancing their capacity to effectively defend human rights.

Dr. Sima Samar wins Taiwan Foundation for Democracy’s 2008 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Awardposted on: 2008/11/12

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) Chairman Wang Jin-pyng announced today that Dr. Sima Samar, Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and founder of the Shuhada Organization, has been selected as the winner of the 2008 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award (ADHRA). Samar is recognized for her contributions to advancing human rights and especially women’s rights and welfare in Afghanistan. She will formally receive the Award sculpture and a grant of US$100,000 at a ceremony in Taipei on December 10th, International Human Rights Day. Read more about the 2008 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award.

Tunis: Release of human rights defender Zakia Dhifaouiposted on: 2008/11/12

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender Zakia Dhifaoui,member of the Kairouan section of the Ligue tunisienne des droits de l'Homme (Tunisian League of Human Rights)(LTDH), on the 5th of November 2008. Zakia Dhifaoui was released under a Presidential amnesty.

Colombia - Attempted assassination of prominent human rights defender Jesús Emilio Tuberquiaposted on: 2008/11/06

Front Line is extremely concerned by reports of the attempted assassination of Jesús Emilio Tuberquia on 1 November 2008. Jesús Emilio Tuberquia is a leader and legal representative of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó in the north-western department of Antioquia.

Zimbabwe - Front Line welcomes human rights defenders releaseposted on: 2008/11/06

Front Line welcomes the release on bail of Jenni Williams, National Coordinator of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), and WOZA deputy Magodonga Mahlangu from Mlondolozi Prison at 9:30 am on 6 November 2008. Despite the release of the two human rights defenders, Front Line is concerned about the ongoing pattern of harassment against members of WOZA and urges the authorities to guarantee that human rights defenders and human rights organisations in Zimbabwe are free to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals.

Front Line joins joint open letter to the Iranian authorities concerning attacks and harassment of women human rights defenders.posted on: 2008/11/06

Front Line, along with numerous other civil society organisations, has signed an open letter to the Iranian authorities asking them to end the harassment and prosecution of members of all women’s rights activists and defenders in Iran, including members of the One Million Signatures Campaign.

Read the letter to the Iranian authorities

Ethiopia - Ethiopian government has indicated it will submit a new draft law on Charities and Societies to parliamentposted on: 2008/10/31

Ethiopia - The government of Ethiopia has indicated it will submit a new draft law on Charities and Societies to parliament before the end of October. Despite amendments to the previous draft, the current text remains highly restrictive and, if passed, would have the effect of heavily curtailing the work of independent civil society groups.

Iran: Esha Momeni, Member of the Iranian One Million Signatures Campaign released on bailposted on: 2008/10/23

Case Update

Esha Momeni Iranian-American student who had returned to Iran to complete her thesis involving a film documentary on women's situation -arrested on 15 October 2008-, has been released on a 198000 dollar bail from Evin prison. According to Reza Momeni, her father, Esha is not allowed to leave Iran and has to be present in a political court hearing on charges of "acting against national security and propagating against the government". These charges are heavy enough to have her sentenced to a life prison term. Read more about Esha Momeni's release.