release of HRDs
Thursday 9.9.2021 Republic of the Congo - Latest Developments -
HRDs released on bail after spending more than 100 days in prison
On 13th July 2021, activists, who had been imprisoned since March2021 and were prosecuted for ‘undermining the internal security of the state’ were provisionally released from prison. civil society activist Alexandre Ibacka Dzabana was taken from his residence and detained on 11th March 2021, and Christ Dongui, the vice-president of the social movement Ras-le-Bol was arrested on 25th March 2021. Read more | Read in French
Thursday 9.9.2021 Egypt - Latest Developments -
UN Special Rapporteur calls for an end to persecution of HRDs
HRDs continue to come under attack. Human right organisations raised concerns about Ahmed Samir Santawy, Egyptian researcher and anthropology student at the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria, who was sentenced to four years in prison on “false news” charges on 22nd June 2021. Furthermore, regarding updates on Case 173 of 2011 (known as the foreign funding case), at least five prominent human rights defenders were summoned during July 2021 for questioning, including Mozn Hassan, a women’s rights defender and director of Nazra for Feminist Studies; human rights lawyer Negad al-Borai; human rights activist and head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information Gamal Eid; and lawyer and head of the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance Azza Soliman. On 30th August 2021, an Investigative Judge, authorised by the Cairo Court of Appeal, decided to drop case 173 against four human rights defenders. However, to date no decision has been made on charges against Mozn Hassan and the case against Nazra for Feminist studies. Read more
Friday 3.9.2021 Chad - Latest Developments -
Protests against Chad’s Transitional Military Council continue
Protests against Chad’s Transitional Military Council continued in July and August 2021. On 29th July and 7th August 2021, protests organised by Wakit Tama and other organisations took place in Chad’s capital N’Djamena, gathering hundreds of people. The N’Djamena protests, which were on both occasions authorised by authorities, was organised against the Transitional Military Council and the transition process, deemed to be non-inclusive and lacking transparency. Read more
Wednesday 25.8.2021 Oman - Latest Developments -
Online Activists and Protesters Subjected to Arrests, Raids and Judicial Harassment in Oman
authorities release five peaceful protesters after detaining them for several weeks after they held protests calling for reform, job opportunities, improved living conditions and the eradication of corruption ; internet activist Ghaith Al-Shibli was arrested ; Read more
Thursday 19.8.2021 Brazil - Latest Developments -
Brazil’s civic space in dispute amid democratic backsliding
Brazil’s institutional crisis has expanded as President Jair Bolsonaro seeks to undermine trust in the electoral system and embarks on disputes with the Federal Supreme Court. Read more
Sunday 1.8.2021 Burundi - Latest Developments -
Prominent HRD Germain Rukuki released
Human rights defender Nestor Nibitanga released; Germain Rukuki’s conviction overturned and released; lawyer Tony Germain Nkina sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of one million Burundian francs (approximately US$ 500); main opposition party CNL raise concerns over the alleged abductions of party members; National Communication Council (CNC) lifted the ban on the BBC and a local news website, Ikiriho Read more
Thursday 15.7.2021 Cuba - Latest Developments -
Widespread anti-government protests across Cuba
On 11th July 2021, thousands of people joined spontaneous anti-government protests in at least 20 cities across Cuba. News outlets reported that these were the largest demonstrations seen in the country in decades. Read more | Read in Spanish
Thursday 10.6.2021 Chad - Latest Developments -
At least 16 killed, hundreds arrested in protests to demand a return to civilian rule
At least 16 people were killed in protests between 27th April and 19th May 2021 in Chad's capital N'Djamena and Moundou and over 700 people were arrested in relation to the protests. On 27th April 2021, at least six people - nine people according to Chadian human rights organisation Convention tchadienne de défense des droits de l’homme (CTDDH) - were killed in protests against the Transitional Military Council in N'Djamena and Moundou. The protests, organised by Wakit Tama, a coalition of civil society organisations and opposition parties, were repressed by police, who reportedly used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters. Read more | Read in French
Thursday 27.5.2021 Tunisia - Latest Developments -
Ten years post-revolution: Protests met with detentions & excessive force, LGBTI activists targeted
January 2021 marked the ten-year anniversary of the Tunisian Revolution. Yet, prior to the anniversary, the authorities announced a strict four-day lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). However this move by the government was seen as a ‘political tactic’ in an attempt to curb mass protests. Protests erupted on 14th January 2021. Human rights organisations reported the use of excessive force against protesters, with one person dying as a result of excessive force, which included tear gas, water cannon and physical violence. At least 1,540 people arrested during the protests, including minors. LGBTI activists were also targeted durin this period and several activists were detained in relation to the protests.
Read more
Thursday 27.5.2021 Venezuela - Latest Developments -
Venezuela cracks down on civil society operation and funding
On 30th March 2021, Venezuela’s Interior Ministry published Administrative Ruling 001-2021 for the Unified Registry of Obligated Subjects, requiring all non-governmental and non-profit organisations in the country to provide sensitive information regarding their activities. Read more | Read in Spanish
