Emine Avamileva
Emine Avamileva is a Crimean woman human rights defender and lawyer. Since the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, she has been actively involved with Crimean Solidarity movement, defending the rights of Crimean Tatars, who have become one of the major targets for the authorities, alongside civil society activists and journalists. Emine Avamlieva acts as a defense attorney in a number of politically-motivated cases, where Russian authorities target representatives of Hizb-ut Tahrir.
Hope for political reform in Iran surfaced when President Hassan Rouhani assumed office in 2013 and dozens of opposition political figures and human rights defenders were released. However, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement of HRDs continue to be prevalent.
Human rights defenders and journalists are arrested, detained and prosecuted in unfair trials. HRDs continue to receive death threats and are subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention. They are refused bail or receive extreme bail conditions. HRDs are additionally subjected to systematic surveillance and their family members are targeted. Journalists have been subjected to flogging for criticising the government.
