On 14 February 2020, an order was passed to move the investigation on the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai. The next court hearing is set for 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, all nine human rights defenders have been transferred to Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
On 9 August 2023, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), an intelligence agency operating under the Bangladesh Bank, requested all banks of Bangladesh to provide account details of human rights defender Zillur Rahman and the Centre for Governance Studies.
On 14 September 2023, human rights defenders Adilur Rahman and A.S.M Nasiruddin Elan were sentenced for two years of jail by the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka. The human rights defenders are Secretary and Director of Odhikar, a renowned human rights organisation documenting human rights violations in Bangladesh.
On 28 July 2023, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to human rights defenders Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case in 2018.
On 14 February 2020, an order was passed to move the investigation on the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai. The next court hearing is set for 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, all nine human rights defenders have been transferred to Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
On 22 March 2023, the Patiala House Court in New Delhi remanded human rights defender and journalist Irfan Mehraj in NIA custody. Irfan Mehraj was arrested by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) under several charges including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 20 March 2023. In the evening of 20 March 2023, he received a ‘routine telephone call’ from the NIA and was asked to report to their office in Srinagar.
On 18 August 2022, the convener of the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of the Inter University Bhikku Federation (IUBF), Galwewa Siridhamma Thero and Hashan Jeewantha were arrested along with 17 other peaceful protesters during a protest in Colombo.
On 11 December 2022, a bail order of 6 billion IRR was issued for a new case opened against Mustafa Nili following his arrest in November 2022. The first court session was adjourned on 9 January 2023 at 28 Branch of Tehran Revolutionary Court when the human rights defender refused to be present in protest against the violation of due processes for the detainees of the recent protests taking place in Iran sparked by the killing of Mahsa Amini. Therefore, the new charges against the defender are yet to be known.
On 6 December 2022, human rights defender and convenor of the Inter University Bhikku Federation (IUBF) Ven. Siridhamma Thero was granted bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.
On 9 March 2021, woman human rights defender Hidme Markam was arrested by Chhattisgarh police on several charges, including charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) anti-terrorism law in relation to her alleged involvement in Maoist activities. The woman human rights defender was arrested during an event in Dantewada in the State of Chhattisharh to mark International Working Women’s Day, and to protest the custodial torture and sexual violence by police against Adivasi women in the State.
On 1 July 2021, human rights defender Akhil Gogoi was released from jail after a National Investigation Agency court cleared him of all charges in a case filed against Gogoi under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
On 7 January 2021, the Guwahati High Court rejected the bail plea of human rights defender, Akhil Gogoi.
On 14 July 2020, human rights defender Manash Konwar was released from Guwahati Jail after he was granted bail. On 15 July 2020, Bitu Sonawal was granted bail by the NIA court.
On 22 November 2021, officials of National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s federal counter-terrorism agency, raided human rights defender Khurram Parvez’s home and office in Srinagar, seized several electronic devices and documents, and arrested him on charges of terrorism funding, being a member of a terrorist organization, criminal conspiracy, and waging war against the state under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
On 18 August 2022, Sri Lankan police used disproportionate force against peaceful protesters in Colombo including tear gas, water cannons and batons. 20 protesters, including human rights defender Chinthaka Rajapaksa and student leader and education rights defender Wasantha Mudalige were arrested from the protest. 16 of those arrested, were released on bail by the Magistrates Court the following day (19 August). Chinthaka Rajapakse was denied bail and remanded until 26 August.
On 20 July 2022, the Supreme Court of India granted interim bail to human rights defender Mohammed Zubair in all the cases filed against him by the Delhi police and Uttar Pradesh police.
On 31 May 2022, human rights defender Ven. Wekandawala Rahula Thero was released on bail by the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court on a surety of LKR 100000 (equivalent of EUR 260). The human rights defender had been targeted due to his support for peaceful protests in Sri Lanka in light of the ongoing economic crisis.
On 9 February 2022, human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah was released on bail by the Puttalam High Court. Hejaaz Hizbullah has been in prison for 22 months charged under the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without bail.
On 12 January 2021, sixteen human rights defenders and members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) were arrested during a protest in Harare, in Zimbabwe. They have been charged with participating in a gathering with intention to promote public violence, bigotry and breaches of peace, as defined in Section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The human rights defenders are currently being detained at the Harare Remand Prison and Chikurubi Prison. A bail application has been lodged today 17 January 2022 and awaiting a court decision.
On 18 April 2021, the Munduruku Wakoborũn Women's Association was the subject of another act of intimidation by miners from the local area. A group of miners that support mining activities on indigenous peoples’ lands, stole more than 830 litres of fuel and a boat engine belonging to the Association. The incident took place in the port of the municipality of Jacareanga, Pará.
On 25 March 2021, the premises of the Munduruku Wakoborũn Women's Association in Jacareanga, Pará was broken-into and vandalised by a group of miners associated with illegal mining on Munduruku territory.
On 7 April 2021, human rights defender Laishram Herojit Singh, alias Sintha, was arrested at his home by officers from the Thoubal Police station in the North East Indian state of Manipur. The defender was arrested on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged membership of a militant group. On 12 April 2021, the court accepted the human rights defender’s bail application, however the charges against him remain.
On 15 April 2021, human rights defender Muhammad Ismail was released on bail after spending more than two months in detention. The human rights defender was granted bail by the Anti-terrorism court in Peshawar three days prior, on 12 April 2021.
On 15 February 2021, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Peshawar denied the bail application submitted by human rights defender Muhammad Ismail, despite his post COVID-19 health situation.
On 3 March 2021, two unidentified men stabbed human rights defender Angelo Karlo Guillen in Iloilo City, in what is believed to have been an attempt to kill him. The defender is currently being treated for the stab wounds he incurred at a hospital in the city.
On 21 January 2021, the Public Prosecutor ordered the conditional release of human rights defender Hamza Nasri.
On 18 January 2021, the Tunisian police arrested human rights defender Hamza Nasri following his participation in a peaceful demonstration against the deteriorating economic situation in Tunis. The Public Prosecutor accused Hamza Nasri of ‘committing an act that violates the public morals’.
On 17 September 2020, woman human rights defender Natasha Narwal was granted bail by a Delhi court in case 50/2020. On 1 September 2020, the Delhi High Court granted bail to woman human rights defender Devangana Kalita in the same case.
On 14 June 2020, a Delhi court dismissed the bail pleas of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.
On 17 September 2020, woman human rights defender Natasha Narwal was granted bail by a Delhi court in case 50/2020. On 1 September 2020, the Delhi High Court granted bail to woman human rights defender Devangana Kalita in the same case.
On 14 June 2020, a Delhi court dismissed the bail pleas of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.
On 1 September 2020, the Allahabad High Court granted bail and released human rights defender Kafeel Khan.
