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Bangladesh: Update – Hunger strike and Reported torture of Mahmudur Rahman whilst in detentionposted on: 2013/05/14

On 7 May 2013, Front Line Defenders learned that the High Court Division of the Supreme Court rejected a petition by human rights defender Mr Mahmudur Rahman challenging the decision to place him under police remand without adequate measures in place to ensure his physical health. The human rights defender's wife had argued that the decision violated the High Court's directives concerning pre-trial detention, but the Attorney General claimed that the human rights defender's wife could not file a written petition.

Bahrain: Abdulhadi and Zainab Al-Khawaja on hunger strikeposted on: 2013/03/21

On 17 March 2013, human rights defenders Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Zainab Al-Khawaja began a hunger strike to protest against a new requirement by prison authorities that they wear prison uniforms.

Singapore: Update – Trial of human rights defenders to take place from 4 to 8 March 2013posted on: 2013/02/13

Human rights defenders Messrs He Jun Ling, Gao Yue Qiang, Liu Xiangying, and Wang Xian Jie will go on a joint trial from 4 to 8 March 2013.

Exclusive: Maryam Al-Khawaja Speaks to Front Line Defenders After Return from Bahrain - Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja on Hunger Strikeposted on: 2013/02/12

Facing possible arrest, Maryam Al-Khawaja travelled to visit her family in Bahrain, including her imprisoned father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and sister, Zainab Al-Khawaja, who faces ongoing trials for her human rights work.  Despite the risk, Maryam was able to enter the country for two weeks after almost two years in exile.  She visited her father in prison and left to continue her efforts to campaign for Bahraini human rights around the world.

Turkey: Tension in Diyarbakir

Today I arrived in Diyarbakir, the main city of the Kurdish part of Turkey. There is an appearance of normality at the moment and the city is buzzing. If I had arrived the day before I would have been witness to a very different scene: heavy police presence, the city centre cordoned off, people protesting on the streets, and truly palpable tension. I am told one could still smell the pepper spray late last night.

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Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh, 2012 Sakharov Prize winner, on Hunger Strike in Evin Prisonposted on: 2012/11/02

On 17 October, Iranian human rights defender and lawyer Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh began a hunger strike to protest the ongoing and escalating harassment by judicial authorities faced by her family. Most recently, Ms. Sotoudeh’s 12-year-old daughter was summoned by authorities and informed that she was banned from traveling outside the country. This follows ongoing efforts by prison and judicial authorities to harass Ms. Sotoudeh, including the denial of visits with her mother and brother for almost a year, restrictions on visits with her husband and children and the frequent use of solitary confinement against her.

Tunisia: the struggle continues

Seven years ago I visited the police state of Tunisia for the absurd UN Summit on the Information Society. Absurd because the UN was celebrating the information society in a decaying, corrupt dictatorship which led the world in internet censorship. We protested at the unjust imprisonment and torture of human rights defender Mohammed Abbou. We visited the hunger strikers who had launched a fast for human rights and democracy on 18th October.

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Syrian Blogger Hussein Ghrer on Hunger Strike in Protest of His Fifth Month in Detentionposted on: 2012/07/11

Front Line Defenders has learned that Syrian blogger Hussein Ghrer began a hunger strike to protest his continued incarceration after spending more than five months in detention.

Sudan-Update: Mr Bushra Gamar Hussein remains in arbitrary detention despite court rejecting his detention and declares hunger strikeposted on: 2012/06/28

On 19 June 2012, prominent human rights defender Mr Bushra Gamar Hussein declared an open ended hunger strike in protest against his arbitrary detention despite a judge dismissal of a call for his remand in custody.

Bahrain: authorities should provide a ‘proof of life’ to confirm that Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja on day 78 of hunger strike is still alive posted on: 2012/04/26

On the 78th Day of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s hunger strike in Bahrain, Front Line Defenders calls upon the Bahraini Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, to provide a ‘proof of life’ to confirm that Abdulhadi is still alive.