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Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja Letter from Prison February 2012posted on: 2012/02/13

Open Letter written by Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to Danish Foreign Minister on the eve of his hunger strike in which he demanded his freedom and that of the other detainees.

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Zimbabwe: UPDATE – Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the charges against three human rights defendersposted on: 2012/02/10

On 7 February 2012, three human rights defenders Ms Molly Chimhanda and Messrs Gilbert Mabusa and Fadzai December were successful in their application to have their case referred to the Supreme Court on the basis of the unconstitutionality of the criminal provisions used against them.

India: Update - Central Bureau of Investigation offers reward for information into murder of human rights defender Ms Shehla Masoodposted on: 2012/02/10

Front Line Defenders is informed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has offered a cash reward of 1,000,000 Indian Rupees (€15,270) for anyone who could provide information on the murder of human rights defender and right to information activist Ms Shehla Masood.

Berlin/Uganda: Call me Kuchu - film on the life of murdered LGBTI human rights Defender David Kato Premieres at Berlin International film Festival posted on: 2012/02/09

As the Berlin International Film Festival this weekend premieres “Call Me Kuchu” – the story of murdered gay rights defender David Kato - the inflammatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill is once again before the Ugandan Parliament.

Brazil: Update - Investigation into murder of human rights defender Adelino “Dinho” Ramos closed after the killing of the main suspectposted on: 2012/02/06

On 2 February 2012, judge Gonçalves da Silva Filho from the Rodonian Tribunal (2ª Vara do Tribunal do Júri de Rondônia) decided to close the case against Osias Vicente, accused of killing human rights defender Adelino “Dinho” Ramos on 27 May 2011.

Colombia: Update - Further death threats against members of CREDHOSposted on: 2012/02/03

Members of Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos - CREDHOS (Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights) have received further death threats.

Peru: Human rights defender Estinaldo Quispe Mego releasedposted on: 2012/02/03

Estinaldo Quispe Mego was released from prison on 4 October 2011 after it was declared that he should not spend another day incarcerated as he had acted within the legal framework of Article 149 of the Peruvian Constitution relating to Indigenous Communities.

The article states that Rondas Campesinas are entitled to intervene in conflicts and exercise judicial functions.

For further information, please see the original Front Line Defenders appeal dated 30 August 2011.

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Sudan: UPDATE - Human rights defender Bushra Gamar Hussein Rahma transferred from Kober prison to a detention centreposted on: 2012/01/31

Front Line Defenders has received information that Sudanese human rights defender Bushra Gamar Hussein Rahma was transferred on 22 January 2012 from the security section of Kober Prison in Khartoum North to a detention centre operated by the Department of the Attorney General.

Nigeria: UPDATE - Human rights defender Osmond Ugwu released on bailposted on: 2012/01/31

On 26 January 2012, human rights defender and labour leader Mr Osmond Ugwu , was granted bail by Justice Pearl Enejere of Enugu State High Court. He has been released from detention but is due to appear before the court again on Friday 3 February 2012.

Zimbabwe – UPDATE: Two of three charges against human rights defenders droppedposted on: 2012/01/31

On 24 January 2012 human rights defenders and Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) members Ms Molly Chimhanda and Messrs Gilbert Mabusa and Fadzai December saw two charges against them dismissed by the court. All three are members of the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ), an organisation which works to promote freedom of expression and responsible journalism in Zimbabwe.

Bahrain: UPDATE - Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 13 other prisoners start hunger strikeposted on: 2012/01/30

On 29 January 2012 human rights defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 13 other prisoners, including prisoners of conscience and human rights defender Abduljalil Al Singace, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest against the arbitrary arrest of peaceful protesters and continued human rights violations in Bahrain.

Kazakhstan: UPDATE - General Prosecutor issues statement on events of 16 December 2011 and charges brough t against human rights defender Roza Tuletaevaposted on: 2012/01/27

On 25 January 2012, the General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan issued a statement on 'the events that took place in the town of Zhanaozen on the 16th of December 2011' in which 64 people received gunshot wounds and 14 people died.

Saudi Arabia: UPDATE - Human rights defender Sheikh Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi to appeal sentence following an unfair trialposted on: 2012/01/26

On 24 January 2012 Saudi human rights rights defender Sheikh Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi lodged an appeal before the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, along with other advocates of reform in Saudi Arabia, against the sentences handed down against them in November 2011.

thailand: UPDATE – Request to have hearing of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk held in Bangkok rejected by the courtposted on: 2012/01/26

On 26 January 2012, Front Line Defenders was informed that the request by human rights defender Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, to have the next session of the court hearing against him heard in Bangkok was rejected by the court.

Dublin: Front Line Defenders launches Annual Report on Global Challenges to Human Rights Defenders Around the Worldposted on: 2012/01/26

The 2012 Front Line Defenders Annual Report highlights the fact that while international media focused on the dramatic events in the Middle East, elsewhere repressive governments continued to respond to any challenge to their power and privileges with violent repression.