office raid
Friday 29.7.2022 Argentina - Latest Developments -
Argentina: Journalists harassed and threatened
On 6th May 2022, three journalists working in Rosario, Santa Fe were threatened by a member of a criminal network linked to narcotrafficking. Lorena Verdún, widow of the former leader of the network Los Monos, wrote a letter accusing journalists of being responsible for deaths and corruption in the city. Read more
Wednesday 18.5.2022 Kyrgyzstan - Latest Developments -
Restrictive legislation, criminal cases against the media & bans on protests on Ukraine
The government pushed ahead with the implementation of a law claimed to be aimed at countering the spread of ‘’false’’ information on the internet and put forward a draft anti-extremism law containing vague wording. Critics fear that both of these laws might be used to unduly restrict freedom of expression. Decision makers and pro-government activists made new calls for designating foreign funded NGOs and media as ‘’foreign agents’’ and proposed to renew consideration of controversial draft legislation on this topic previously rejected by parliament. The implementation of a new widely criticised reporting scheme for NGOs began with technical difficulties, as a result of which NGOs were unable to submit reports online -- as required by law -- within the first deadline. Parliament passed new legislation that media organisations have warned will result in public TV and radio channels becoming mouthpieces of the authorities. In an alarming development, several criminal cases were opened against media outlets and journalists in apparent retaliation for their work. While residents continued to actively exercise their right to peacefully assemble on issues of concern to them, local authorities in the capital Bishkek imposed excessive and unlawful restrictions on protests relating to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Read more
Friday 13.5.2022 Somalia - Latest Developments -
Ahead of the elections, journalists and media outlets face brutal repression
Suicide bomber assassinates Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled, the director of the government-owned Radio Mogadishu; Hirshabelle police in Beledweyne raid local independent radio station Hiiraan Weyn and arrest seven journalists; police officers in the town of Abudwak, in the Galmudug regional state, raid privately owned Sooyal TV and Radio offices; Haramcad police officers (Special Operations Command Battalion) attack a group of journalists reporting a car bombing and gunfire attacks; Read more
Tuesday 22.3.2022 Uruguay - Latest Developments -
Uruguay: repression of labour protests based on Law of Urgent Consideration
On 10th December 2021, unionised transportation workers demonstrated in front of the Tres Cruces Bus Terminal in Montevideo, demanding better pay and working conditions amid salary negotiations. The police repressed the protest, firing rubber bullets and injuring at least one worker who was hit multiple times in the leg. Read more
Friday 18.3.2022 Nigeria - Latest Developments -
Civic space continues to be regularly violated in Nigeria
Wednesday 2.3.2022 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Despite sanctions, abuses against activists, journalists and protesters persist in Bangladesh
Human rights abuses have continued to be reported including judicial harassment of human rights defenders as well as the families of activists in exile. Families of the disappeared have been coerced to sign statements denying the violation took place. Journalists have also been targeted as well as media outlets critical of the state. The police have also disrupted and used excessive force against protesters. In some cases, ruling party supporters were also involved in attacks on protesters with impunity. Read more
Monday 28.2.2022 India - Latest Developments -
Authorities harass and squeeze funding of NGOs while activists, journalists targeted in India
The authorities have blocked access to foreign funding for NGOs using the restrictive Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and raided the offices of human rights groups for allegedly violating the law. There continues to be a lack of accountability on the use of the Pegasus spyware against activists, while human rights defenders and journalists continue to be targeted, including in Jammu and Kashmir. Activists and protesters also remain in detention on various trumped up charges. Read more
Friday 18.2.2022 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Government critics face continued harassment, journalists face restrictions, assault and arrest
Police officers detain six environmental activists; military was deployed around the home of Robert Kyagulanyi, (popularly known as Bobi Wine) ahead of his scheduled campaign for his party’s candidature in the Kayunga district chairperson by-election; police officers arrest 33 doctors and interns attempting to petition the parliament speaker; Media Council of Uganda release a statement reiterating the directive for all news editors to register with the council; security forces violently arrest three journalists while covering the district LCV chairperson by-elections in Kayunga; Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) withdrew charges against two online journalists; Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, an author and government critic, arrested in his home by armed men claiming to be police officers for allegedly posting on Twitter about Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba Read more
Monday 7.2.2022 Malaysia - Latest Developments -
Malaysia starts its UN Human Rights Council term by harassing activists, protesters and critics
On 14th October 2021, Malaysia was elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2022 – 2024 term. In recent months, the government has targeted journalists and a graphic artist and has attempted to remove critical tweets. It is also harassing a whistle-blower for corruption allegations against the anti-graft chief Azam Baki as well as activists, opposition parliamentarians and protesters seeking an investigation into the case. Police also raided an NGO working on police abuse and have failed five years on to bring the perpetrators of the enforced disappearances of four individuals to justice. Read more
