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Front Line News Archive

Russian Federation: Investigation Concluded into murder of Anna Politkovskaya - 5 to face trial. posted on: 2013/05/24

On 21 May 2013, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation announced that it had concluded its investigation into the murder of renowned journalist and human rights defender Anna Politkovskaya. The case will now be forwarded to the court.

Vietnam: Update – Sentence against eight human rights defenders upheld in appealposted on: 2013/05/24

On 23 May 2013 the appeal trials of Messrs Ho Duc Hoa, Thai Van Dung, Paulus Le Son, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Tran Minh Nhat, Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Ho Van Oanh and Nguyen Van Duyet were heard in a court in the northern city of Vinh. International observers were not allowed access to the hearing and there was a heavy police presence outside the court. Four of the human rights defenders had their sentences reduced, whilst four remained unchanged.

USA: Joint letter calling for the release on compassionate grounds of former defense lawyer Ms Lynne Stewartposted on: 2013/05/23

The undersigned organisations have written jointly to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to ask for the release of former defense lawyer Ms Lynne F. Stewart on compassionate grounds. Lynne Stewart has stage 4 cancer that has metastasised, spreading to her lymph nodes, shoulder, bones and lungs. Human rights organisations Front Line Defenders, the National Women's Council of Ireland, the International Commission of Jurists, Free Legal Advice Centres, Human Rights First and Ceartas call on the United States (US) authorities to grant her release on compassionate grounds from her 10-year sentence.

Bahrain: Update – Sentencing of human rights defenders Zainab Al-Khawaja and Naji Fateelposted on: 2013/05/23

On 22 May 2010, Bahraini courts sentenced, in separate proceedings, human rights defenders Ms  Zainab Al-Khawaja and Mr Naji Fateel.

UAE : Update – Sentencing of Mr Abdullah Al-Hadidi upheld by appeals court posted on: 2013/05/23

On 22 May 2013, the Abu Dhabi court of appeal upheld the sentence imposed on blogger and human rights defender Mr Abdullah Al-Hadidi. The human rights defender was sentenced to a ten-month jail term on 8 April 2013 on charges of publishing, via Twitter, a “dishonest account” of a public hearing of what has come to be known as the UAE 94 trial. Abdullah Al-Hadidi's father is one of the defendants in this trial.

Turkey: Update – Charges against VAKAD and other civil society organisations in Van dropped posted on: 2013/05/23

On 17 May 2013, charges were dropped in the case against the human rights organisation Van Women's Association (VAKAD) and nine other civil society organisations. Court proceedings for the closure of the ten groups were brought by the prosecutor on charges of links with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). The hearing of 17 May 2013 was the second in the trial.

DRC: Urgent Appeal issued by 82 Congolese Human Rights Organisations to Mary Robinsonposted on: 2013/05/23

“Every night, Congolese who live under the M23's control worry whether armed men will visit them and kidnap,rape or kill members of their family. Life has turned into a 24-hour contract, renewable each morning”

Vietnam: Joint Letter sent to PM Nguyen Tan Dung Ahead of Appeal Trial of Human Rights Defendersposted on: 2013/05/22

The appeal trial of human rights defenders Messrs Ho Duc Hoa, Thai Van Dung, Paulus Le Son, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Tran Minh Nhat, Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Ho Van Oanh and Nguyen Van Duyet is due to take place tomorrow, 23 May 2013. Ahead of the hearing, a joint letter has been sent by 7 NGOs to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung questioning the legitimacy of the trial that convicted them and condemning the ill-treatment of the human rights defenders whilst in detention.

Brazil: Supreme Court overturns the conviction of landowner Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura jailed for ordering the 2005 murder of Sr. Dorothy Stang posted on: 2013/05/20

On 15 May 2013, Brazil’s Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Mr Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura, also known as Bida, who is accused of ordering the 2005 murder of nun and defender of the Amazon, Sr. Dorothy Stang.

Belarus: Update – Abuse of prison regulations against imprisoned human rights defender Mr Ales Bialiatskiposted on: 2013/05/20

On 16 May 2013, the wife of human rights defender Mr Ales Bialiatski went to the Bobruysk colony No.2, where her husband has been held since February 2012, in order to bring him a food parcel. However, the food parcel was refused by prison officials, who informed her that in March 2013 Ales Bialiatski's right to receive food from visitors had been suspended for six months.

Thailand: Update – New hearings to take place in trial of human rights defenders and trade unionists Ms Jittra Kotchadej, Ms Boonrod Paiwong and Mr Soonthorn Boonyordposted on: 2013/05/20

From 28 to 30 May 2013, the hearings of the defence witnesses in the trial against three human rights defenders, Ms Jittra Kotchadej, Ms Boonrod Paiwong and Mr Soonthorn Boonyord will take place at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok.

China: Update - Two More Jiangxi Human Rights defenders facing subversion chargesposted on: 2013/05/17

On 16 May 2013 it emerged that human rights defenders Messrs Li Sihua and Wei Zhongping, in custody since 27 April 2013, are to face charges of 'inciting subversion of state power'.

Syria: Joint Statement Calling for the Release of Messrs. Mazen Darwish, Hussein Gharir and Hani Zaitani posted on: 2013/05/17

Syrian human rights defenders Mazen Darwish, Hussein Gharir and Hani Zaitani should be released and have all charges against them dropped, declares a joint letter sent today by a coalition of 19 regional and international human rights organisations including Front Line Defenders.

The Gambia: Update – Release of detained human rights defender Imam Baba Leighposted on: 2013/05/16

On 11 May 2013, the Gambian government released renowned Muslim cleric and human rights defender, Imam Baba Leigh. The human rights defender was arrested on 3 December 2012, and was detained incommunicado for five months and seven days for declaring the execution of nine death row inmates to be inimical to Islamic teaching.

Russian Federation: Update – Minister of Justice declares intention to close down election watchdog GOLOSposted on: 2013/05/16

On 14 May 2013, during an International Legal Forum which took place in St Petersburg, the Russian Minister for Justice, Alexander Konovalov, stated that his Ministry will demand the closure of election watchdog GOLOS if the NGO refuses to register as a 'foreign agent'. The statement from Minister Konovalov comes while court proceedings against GOLOS are pending.