On 2 May 2013, at approximately 5pm, human rights defenders and journalists Mr Amitabh Patra and Mr Lenin Kumar Ray were released on bail from Balangir Jail pending trial. They had been arrested on 29 April 2013 along with fourteen protesters in the state of Odisha in eastern India.
On 18 April 2013, on his second day in custody at Kashimpur Central Jail, human rights defender Mr Mahmudur Rahman was moved from judicial custody to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University due to severe torture which reportedly included the hammering of nails into his flesh and bone as well as electric shock treatment.
On 10 April 2013 the Third Court of First Instance of the Judicial District of Xalapa sentenced Jorge Antonio Hernandez Silva, “El Silva”, to 38 years and two months in prison, for the homicide and robbery of human rights defender and journalist Regina Martínez Pérez in April 2012.
On 29 March 2013, a court in Libreville convicted human rights defender and prominent environmental rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essangui of defamation and sentenced him to a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5 million CFA (approximately € 7,600).
On 1 April 2013, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for the immediate release of human rights defender Eskinder Nega after finding his ongoing detention to be in violation of international law. He is currently serving an 18 year prison sentence on charges of terrorism and treason.
On 17 March 2013, several human rights defenders were granted bail by the Appeals Court during a retrial ordered by the Supreme Court. Amongst the human rights defenders released are writer Mr Said Al Hashimi, lawyer Ms Basma Al Kiyumi, Ms Basima Al Rajihi, Mr Khalid Al Nawfali and Mr Mohammed Al Fazari. The next hearing was adjourned until 24 March 2013.
On 15 March 2013, the Twerwaneho Listeners Club (TLC) reported that its bank accounts were frozen, following an order issued by the regional criminal investigation police department in Fort Portal.
On 4 March 2013, human rights defender and prominent radio and television journalist Mr Julio Ernesto Alvarado announced his resignation from presenting the week night news commentary programme Medianoche on national radio station Radio Globo, due to serious fears for his life.
On 21 January 2013, human rights defenders Messrs Gerald Kankya, Simon Amanyire and Gilbert Kayondo were detained following an extensive police interrogation of several members of the Twerwaneho Listeners Club (TLC) at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Fort Portal Police Station. The human rights defenders were each accused of making defamatory statements against Uganda's First Family during a radio talk show aired in late November 2012.
On 10 January 2013 six members of the PEN Turkey board, an international association of writers who aim to protect freedom of expression, were summoned by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office. The six faced questioning relating to content on their website criticising the ongoing prosecution of Turkish composer and pianist Fazil Say who is accused of 'insulting Islam'.
The ideas, opinions and comments contained on this website are entirely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect Irish Aid policy.
<$
<$
<$
<$
<$
