11 NOVEMBER 2019
Iranian Labour Rights Activists Sepideh Gholian and Esmail Bakhshi released on bail Good news! Labour rights activist Sepideh Gholian was released on bail from Shahr-e Rey prison on 26 October pending the outcome of her appeal. On 30 October 2019, fellow labour rights activist Esmail Bakhshi was released on bail from Evin prison pending the outcome of his appeal. The photo is of Sepideh Gholian immediately after her release. We urge you to take action on their cases in the next few weeks, which are a key period for campaigning as their appeals are pending. Details on Sepideh Golian's appalling treatment in prison are in case sheet FU UA 11/19 . More recent good news is posted below. |
Anyone remember writing on Phyoe Phyoe Aung's case for Write 4 Rights in 2015? We're happy to report that she is free now!
APRIL 2016
Phyoe Phyoe Aung, a student activist from Myanmar, was jailed for helping to organise a student protest. Amnesty International has campaigned heavily for Phyoe Phyoe Aung’s release since her arrest. As well as being the subject of an Urgent Action which was sent out globally, Phyoe Phyoe Aung also featured as one of our 2015 Write for Rights cases. In Australia, almost 30,000 people signed our online petitions calling in Myanmar’s then-President Thein Sein to release Phyoe Phyoe Aung. Countless more took action offline. Phyoe Phyoe Aung was released in April! Click here to read more on the release of Phyoe Phyoe Aung |
GOOD NEWS
06/02/2020
Stop UA 155/18 (ASA 41/1729/2020) - Viet Nam: Early release for prisoner of conscience: Tran Thi Nga
Tran Thi Nga was unexpectedly released in early January, after having served three years in prison. She agreed to go into exile as a condition for her release, and has since arrived in the USA safely along with her partner and two sons. In addition to the two photos attached (which we have consent to share on social media), Tran Thi Nga sent you all the following message:
“I thank Amnesty International for your tireless effort in demanding for my freedom, I am happy that my family are now reunited and living in peace. However, there are still many prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, I sincerely hope that Amnesty International will continue to fight for their freedom.”
23/01/2020
Stop UA 139/19 (EUR 62/1659/2020) - Uzbekistan: Nafosat Olloshkurova released
Please find attached the Outcome UA following the release of blogger and human rights defender Nafosat Olloshkurova. Nafosat’s family expressed their gratitude to us for issuing the Urgent Action and thanked all those who sent appeals and contributed to her release.
16/01/2020
Stop UA: 064/19 Honduras: Río Blanco land defenders' protection extended
Please find attached Outcome UA 064/19, confirming that action is no longer required for this UA. Members of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) reviewed and agreed on new protection measures with the government, including for Rosalina Dominguez, member of the Río Blanco community who faced threats in 2019. We will continue to monitor the situation and take action if deemed necessary.
16/01/2020
Stop UA: 153/19 Pakistan: Prime Minister rolls out plan to tackle smog crisis
Please find attached Outcome UA 153/19, confirming that action is no longer required for this UA. Following a press conference held by Prime Minister Imran Khan on 30 November, where a plan was rolled out to tackle the toxic air pollution in line with expert recommendations, Amnesty International received a letter from the Minister for Climate Change in December 2019. In addition to outlining the steps that the government will take to cut emissions, he stated: “I want to assure you that our Ministry is committed to play its role for shifting the landscape in Pakistan towards a cleaner, greener and sustainable future and particularly targeting the growing challenge of air pollution and climate change.” While we welcome the responsiveness of the Government of Pakistan and their willingness to address the crisis, we will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that they follow through on their commitment to clear the air. Big shout out to everyone involved in this action, it is always so wonderful to get a ‘successful’ Outcome UA and that is absolutely thanks to you!
16/01/2020
Stop UA 165/19 Guinea: Activists Arrested for Protesting Released
Please find attached Outcome UA 165/19 regarding five pro-democracy activists, Alseny Farinta Camara, Moussa Sanoh, Boubacar Diallo, Thierno Seydi Ly and Thierno Oumar Barry, who were released on 19 December 2019 in Kindia, western Guinea. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS. NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED.
12/12/2019
Stop UA 44/19 Uzbekistan: Torture of Rashitjon Kadirov stopped
TORTURE OF RASHITJON KADIROV STOPPED
Former Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan, Rashitjon Kadirov, and 12 others stood trial from January to June 2019. There have been credible reports that Rashitjon Kadirov was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention in order to coerce him to give evidence against himself and others. After international attention was brought to the case, it was reported that torture and other ill-treatment stopped. Rashitjon Kadirov was sentenced on 26 June to 10 years in prison.
5/12/2019
Stop Action 114/19 Saudi Arabia: Disappeared Qatari Father And Son Released
Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah. On 1 November 2019, the Saudi authorities released two Qatari citizens, Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (70) and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (17), who then returned home to Doha.
Stop Action UA 123/19 Ethiopia: University Lecturer Released: Firew Bekele
Firew Bekele was released on 19 November after spending three months in detention for his alleged role in writing and publishing a book "the Hijacked Revolution."
Stop Action UA 157/19 Ukraine: Police protect transgender rights march
Good news! On 23 November the Trans March in Kyiv was successfully protected by the authorities. Up to 100 activists were able to convene and march to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. Several hundred law enforcement officers were deployed to protect Trans March participants from the violent members of far-right groups advocating hatred and discrimination - there were dozens of them holding a nearby demonstration, beyond the police cordon. This is a striking improvement with regards to Trans March 2018 when transgender rights activists were not able to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We believe that the actions taken by the UA network as well as advocacy by Amnesty Ukraine have contributed significantly towards ensuring the protection of Trans March 2019. Organisers of the Trans March were thankful to Amnesty for our support.
28/11/2019
Stop Action UA 111/19 Turkey: Two missing men "found" in police detention: Gökhan Türkmen and Mustafa Yılmaz
We are issuing an Outcome UA regarding Gökhan Türkmen and Mustafa Yılmaz, who were missing for months, in what were suspected to be cases of enforced disappearance. The whereabouts of both men have now been disclosed to their families by the Turkish authorities. Mustafa Yılmaz was registered in police detention on 21 October and Gökhan Türkmen on 5 November. They have both been remanded in prison pending their prosecution and are being held in Sincan prison, Ankara.
Thanks so much to all those who supported this UA and contributed to this outcome. Amnesty will continue monitoring their prosecution and raising their case in advocacy meetings, calling for a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of their disappearances and urging the authorities ensure they are prosecuted in fair trials.
Stop Action UA 110/19 Bahrain: Withdrawal of Urgent Action
In light of new information, Amnesty no longer believes Osama Muhana al-Tamimi has been targeted or harassed by the government in 2019. Amnesty regrets the situation and apologizes to those in the Urgent Action network who have invested energy in the case.
Stop Action UA 121/19 Morocco: Hajar Raissouni Released
On 16 October 2019, following a royal pardon, Hajar Raissouni, her fiancé, and the doctor were released from prison after being sentenced to one year in prison for trumped-up charges of abortion and extra-marital sex. Many thanks to all who sent appeals, no further action is requested.
Stop Action UA 137/19 Chile: Referendum Called and State of Emergency Ended: People Protesting Inequality
Please find attached the Outcome UA 137/19 about the protest and repression in Chile. We issued today a long press release, evidence-based videos, social media graphics, and other materials about our findings on a crisis mission deployed on the country for the last 3 weeks.
Stop Action UA 146/19 USA: Execution Halted for Man with Innocence Claims: Rodney Reed
Please find attached the Outcome UA 146/19 with the good news of the halt of the execution of Rodney Reed in the USA.
21/11/2019
STOP ACTION UA 151/19 Turkmenistan: Kasymberdi Garaev returned home
It has been reported that after returning home he has requested public campaigning on his case to stop.
STOP ACTION UA 152/19 Iraq: Activist and Medic Released: Saba Mahdawi
Please find attached the second and final UA 152/19 on activist and medic Saba Mahdawi. On 13 November 2019, activist and medic Saba Mahdawi was released. Saba went missing after being abducted by an unknown group on 2 November 2019. Her family confirmed to Amnesty that Saba was in good health and had not been ill-treated. Thank you for all who sent appeals. No further action is requested.
31/10/19
Stop Action UA 125/19 Tunisia: Tunisian Activist Acquitted Of All Charges: Maissa al-Oueslati
On 19 September 2019, a court in Tunis acquitted 18-year-old activist Maissa al-Oueslati of all charges after facing trumped-up charges that could have resulted in her imprisonment for up to 4 years. On 4 September 2019, the police arbitrarily detained Maissa al-Oueslati and her 16-year-old brother, for filming a protester threatening to set himself on fire in front of a police station. They were interrogated without a lawyer, in a blatant violation of Tunisian law and international human rights law.
17/10/19
Stop Action UA 132/18 Myanmar: Early release for former child soldier: Aung Ko Htwe
Aung Ko Htwe - former child soldier - was released from prison a few months early on 6 September 2019, likely due to good behaviour. Aung Ko Htwe should have never been imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International will continue to monitor his situation and respond to developments as appropriate. Thank you to everyone who took action!
Stop Action UA 88/19 Cyprus: Ahmed H. allowed to return home
We have received confirmation that Ahmed is safely home. Please note that the family is still taking time to recover from this ordeal and we haven’t received consent so far to share any photos from the reunion. We will keep you posted if we get any updates on this.
3/10/19
Stop Action UA 88/19 Cyprus: Ahmed H. allowed to return home
We have received news that Ahmed is on his way home to Cyprus! The Hungarian authorities issued a press release saying that Cyprus has finally accepted him, and Nadia (Ahmed’s wife) has been in touch with the Cypriot authorities too. He was expected to land at around 3am on 28 September.
Stop Action UA 091/19 Colombia: Attacks on Human Rights Defender Investigated: Danelly Estupiñán
Please find attached the Outcome UA 091/19 with the good news of an ongoing national-level investigation initiated on the attacks on the Human Rights Defender Danelly Estupiñán from Buenaventura, Colombia.
26/9/19
Stop Action UA 90/18 Russian Federation: MIKHAIL TSAKUNOV RELEASED
Further to the news shared back in May, we have now even better news regarding Mikhail Tsakunov. On 17 September, the St Petersburg City Court overturned his conviction and acquitted him of all charges (of using violence against a police officer). Mikhail Tsakunov has now the right to receive a compensation for illegal criminal prosecution and spending a year in pre-trial detention. Thanks again for supporting his case at the time as that provided him with visibility and support and surely made a difference.
19/9/19
Stop Action UA 79/19 Russia/Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov finally free
Great news from Ukraine this week! A number of Ukrainian nationals were released as a part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on 7 September. Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov was included in this prisoner exchange. As you’ll remember, Edem Bekirov who has a disability and serious health issues, was in pretrial detention for more than 8 months in conditions that amounted to cruel and degrading treatment. There had already been positive developments on 27 August when a court in Russian-occupied Crimea ordered his release from detention under conditions. However, it was only after the prisoner exchange that he was transferred to a hospital in Kyiv. On 10 September he underwent heart surgery and he is now recovering surrounded by his family.
Stop Action UA 108/18 USA: Trans Asylum Seeker Freed from Detention: Alejandra
We are delighted to inform you that trans asylum seeker Alejandra was freed last Friday by the USA migration authorities who held her in detention for nearly 2 years. She will await the final decision on her asylum claim, which we will be monitoring closely.
12/9/19
Stop Action UA 04/19 Israel/OPT: Prominent Bedouin Leader Released
On 22 July 2019, 70-year-old human rights defender and prominent Bedouin leader Sheikh Sayyah Abu Mdeighim al-Turi was released from Maasiyahu Prison, in the city of Ramle in central Israel. He was granted an early release by the Israeli Prison Service. Sheikh Sayyah had spent seven months in detention for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He is the head of al-‘Araqib, a Bedouin village in the Negev/Naqab that is unrecognized by the Israeli authorities.
Stop Action UA 39/19 Argentina: Deported Mother Allowed To Return To Her Family
Vanessa Gómez Cueva, a Peruvian mother of three who was deported seven months ago from Argentina with her 2-year-old son and forced to leave her other two children behind, received permission to return to Argentina following a landmark decision from the Director of the National Migrations Office.
5/9/19
Stop Action UA 46/16 Kazakhstan: Human rights defender released with conditions: Serikzhan Bilash
After more than five months of detention, prisoner of conscience Serikzhan Bilash was released from house arrest on 17 August after he pleaded guilty and agreed to stop campaigning on human rights violations in China. He will pay a fine of $300 and remain under travel restrictions for three months. Following his release, Serikzhan stated that he had accepted the terms because he was told that he would face seven years in prison if he did not. He said that his organization would continue his work after he stepped down.
16/8/19
Stop Action UA 49/19 Mauritania: Charges against Mauritanian bloggers dropped
A judge has dismissed the case against Mauritanian bloggers Cheikh Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady and dropped the charges against them.
8/08/19
Stop Action UA 32/19 Paraguay: Attacks on Ysati Community Under Investigation
The Prosecutor’s Office began an investigation into the March attacks against the Ysati indigenous community “3 de Julio”. The Paraguayan Institute for Indigenous Affairs (INDI) provided them with humanitarian assistance on 5 April 2019, reissued the identity documents the community lost during the attack, and filed a formal complaint before the Public Prosecutor's Office for the alleged misuse of the criminal justice system against Ava Guaraní indigenous communities.
25/7/19
Stop Action UA 89/19 Turkey: Authorities unlawfully restrict Pride marches
While is it true that the bans were not lifted, Pride organisers welcomed the support and solidarity. We are winding down this action as Pride season is coming to an end in Turkey, but we continue to monitor the situation closely and supporting our partners on the ground.
18/7/19
STOP UA 45/19 Sri Lanka: Supreme court suspends all execution warrants
The 13 prisoners are no longer in imminent danger of being hanged as the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, while hearing the petitions to halt executions of death row prisoners, have suspended all execution warrants until 29 October (the next date of hearing). We are issuing this Outcome UA as action is no longer required for now but will continue to monitor the case closely.
STOP UA 69/19 USA: Dr. Scott Warren New Trial Slated for November
We are closing this UA but between now and November 12 the call is still for Michael Bailey, the US Attorney General in Arizona, to #DropTheCharges. Please continue sending all appeals to him, and more material will be forthcoming.
4/07/2019
FU UA 055-19 STOP ACTION Venezuela DETAINEE RELEASED
Gilber Caro, who was disappeared, arbitrary detained and held incommunicado for almost two months, was released on 17 June 2019, prior to a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to Venezuela.
20/06/2019
UA 14-19 STOP ACTION Cote d’Ivoire ONLINE ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON
Ivoirian online activist, Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir was sentenced to one year in prison for ‘disturbing the public order’ and ‘incitement to xenophobia’ on 7 June 2019. He was convicted without a lawyer present. He was arbitrarily arrested on 8 November 2018 in Korhogo town. While detained, he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.
UA 024-19 STOP ACTION Mexico KILLING OF SAMIR FLORES UNDER INVESTIGATION
The Attorney General of the State of Morelos has opened a criminal investigation into the killing of environmental, land and territory human rights defender Samir Flores Soberanes. Mexico’s National Protection Mechanism has also granted protection measures to several other members of his movement.
UA 74-19 STOP ACTION Turkey DETAINEES NO LONGER IN POLICE CUSTODY
All detainees held at the police’s anti-terrorism branch in Urfa province, south eastern Turkey, following clashes between security forces and the armed PKK on 18 May, have been either released or sent to prison custody. The 13 people that were remanded in prison are no longer considered to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
23/05/2019
UA 76-18 STOP ACTION Morocco HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
On 5 April 2019, human rights defender Zine El Abidine Erradi was released after serving a one-year sentence in Agadir local prison, following an unfair trial. Zine El Abidine holds a refugee status in France and had been arrested upon his arrival in Morocco to visit his father. As of 15 May, he could eventually come back in safety in France after receiving his travel documents.
UA 087-18 STOP ACTION Puerto Rico CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Puerto Rico authorities responded violently to demonstrations on 1 May 2018 by repressing protesters and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. With more demonstrations planned, peaceful protesters were at risk of further human rights violations.
UA 192-18 STOP ACTION Pakistan ASIA BIBI LEAVES PAKISTAN FOR CANADA A FREE WOMAN
Asia Bibi is a Christian farm worker, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010. After an eight-year ordeal, Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquitted her of all charges and released her in October 2018. Following the decision by the Supreme Court to uphold her acquittal on 29 January 2019, it was confirmed by the Pakistani Foreign Office on 9 May that she had left Pakistan and safely arrived in Canada to be reunited with her family.
16/05/2019
UA 4-18 STOP ACTION REUTERS JOUNALISTS RELEASED IN PRISONER AMNESTY
Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been granted a presidential pardon and released from prison after serving more than 500 days of their seven year sentences in Myanmar. This is an important victory for press freedom in Myanmar and beyond, which Amnesty International is proud to have contributed to.
UA 087-18 STOP ACTION Puerto Rico CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Puerto Rico authorities responded violently to demonstrations on 1 May 2018 by repressing protesters and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. With more demonstrations planned, peaceful protesters were at risk of further human rights violations.
UA 117-18 STOP ACTION Algeria PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 7 March 2019, Algerian blogger and prisoner of conscience Merzoug Touati was released. On 4 March 2019, an Algerian court issued a new verdict reducing Marzoug Touati’s sentence from seven to two years in prison and three years of suspended prison term. The decision prompted his release as he had already served two years in prison. Amnesty International has been calling for Merzoug Touati’s immediate and unconditional release, as he was a prisoner of conscience solely detained for his peaceful posts online.
UA 26-19 STOP ACTION United Arab Emirates PRISONER DIES OF CANCER IN DETENTION
On 4 May 2019, Alia Abdelnoor Mohamed Abdelnoor, who was in the terminal stages of cancer, died while chained to a bed in the Tawam hospital in the Al-Ain Emirate, after her health deteriorated. Alia was serving a 10-year sentence on vague and unsubstantiated “terrorism” charges, and which were based on forced confessions. During her detention, Alia was subjected to enforced disappearance, solitary confinement and torture.
9/05/2019
UA 42-19 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER BEING REARRESTED
Azerbaijani activist Bayram Mammadov was released on 29 April after having spent 30 days in administrative detention under trumped-up accusations.
2/05/2019
UA 90-18 STOP ACTION Russian Federation MIKHAIL TSAKUNOV RELEASED, TRIAL ONGOING
Prisoner of conscience Mikhail Tsakunov was released under travel restrictions on 26 April after spending almost a year in pre-trial detention. He was arrested in May 2018 and charged with violence against a police officer for his peaceful participation in an opposition rally. The criminal proceedings against him are ongoing and he is still facing up to five years in prison if convicted.
18/04/2019
UA 188-18 STOP ACTION Myanmar ANTI-MILITARY PEACEFUL PROTESTER RELEASED EARLY
Activist Tin Maung Kyi was released 13 days early on 29 March 2019 after serving six months and two days in prison. He was imprisoned for staging a solo protest calling on the international community to arrest senior Myanmar generals.
11 APRIL 2019
UA 176-18 STOP ACTION Egypt ARBITRARILY DETAINED EGYPTIAN ACTIVIST RELEASED
On 26 March 2019, Egyptian activist Islam Khalil was released on probation after more than a year in arbitrary detention. A judge in the terrorism circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court had ordered his release on 19 February. Instead of releasing Islam, the authorities held him incommunicado since 25 February, refusing to inform his family of his whereabouts. Despite his release, Islam is still facing bogus charges and must spend two hours at a police station twice a week as per his probation terms.
21 MARCH 2019
UA 31-19 STOP ACTION Ukraine POLICE PROTECT WOMEN'S DAY RALLY
The International Women’s Day rally organised by human rights defender Vitalina Koval in Uzhgorod, western Ukraine, on 8 March was a success. Participants were well protected by the police and able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly safely.
14 MARCH 2019
UA 168-12 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Azerbaijani prominent blogger Mehman Huseynov was released on 2 March following two years of unjust imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
UA 91-16 STOP ACTION Egypt DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
On 26 February 2019, Egypt’s Supreme Military Court of Appeals formally accepted an appeal on the two death sentences of Ahmad Amin Ghazali and Abdul Basir Abdul Rauf. The judge commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment, almost a year after a judge in the same court had upheld their death sentences, in a case marred by torture and enforced disappearances.
UA 187-17 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN LAWMAKER RELEASED
On 28 February 2019, Palestinian lawmaker and prominent political figure Khalida Jarrar was released from HaSharon prison in central Israel. She had spent 20 months in administrative detention without charge or trial.
UA 212-18 STOP ACTION Mexico MEXICAN CONGRESS APPROVED SECURITY REFORM
On 28 February, Mexican Congress approved a controversial Constitutional amendment to introduce a “National Guard” in Mexico. The bill originally proposed was substantially changed after heavy criticism by human rights defenders and activists. The approved bill does not contain the most concerning provisions of the proposal and, if correctly implemented, could be a first step in the orderly withdrawal of the military from security tasks.
UA 17-19 STOP ACTION Somaliland POET ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Abdirahman Ibrahim Adan, a poet in Somaliland, was released on 25 February. He had been arrested and detained on 12 January after reciting a poem the previous day in which he called on the Somaliland government to reform its prisons and criminal justice system.
UA 25-19 STOP ACTION Tajikistan OPPOSITION ACTIVIST RELEASED
Opposition leader Sharofiddin Gadoev returned safely to the Netherlands on 2 March. He had been held by the Tajik authorities following his arbitrary arrest in Moscow on 14 February and forcible return to Tajikistan.
28 February 2019
UA206/18 STOP ACTION Thailand RELEASED BAHRAINI RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA
On 11 February 2019, Hakeem Ali al-Araibi was released from Bangkok’s remand prison after the Bahraini authorities dropped their extradition request. He flew back to Australia the same day. Hakeem was arrested on 27 November 2018, by the Thai authorities upon arrival at Bangkok’s international airport, based on an Interpol red notice requesting his extradition to Bahrain. He was expected to serve an unfair 10-year prison sentence there, and would have been at risk of torture and other ill-treatment in detention. Upon his return to Australia, Hakeem thanked the human rights organizations that had acted on his behalf.
UA 112-16 STOP ACTION United Arab Emirates JORDANIAN JOURNALIST RELEASED
On 12 February 2019, Jordanian journalist and poet, Tayseer Salman al-Najjar was released from al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE authorities waived the fine imposed on him and he was flown back to Jordan on the same day. A prisoner of conscience, Tayseer had been due for release on 13 December 2018, having served his three-year prison sentence, but as his family could not pay the fine imposed by the court, his detention was extended.
07 February 2019
SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON FOR POSTING FB VIDEO
Agustinus Yolemal, a Papuan pro-independence activist was convicted for inciting hatred and hostility and sentenced to 1 year’s imprisonment by the Timika District Court in Papua Province on 14 January 2019. He has decided not to file appeal as he is concerned about the safety of his family as well as the boy who was implicated in the video he posted on Facebook. Detained since September 2018, Agustinus Yolemal will serve another 8 months in prison.
31 JANUARY 2019
UA 164-18 Mauritania STOP ACTION MAURITANIAN ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Two anti-slavery activists Biram Dah Abeid and Abdellahi el Housein Mesoud were released from Nouakchott civil Prison on 31 December 2018. The Tribunal of Arafat in Nouakchott sentenced them to six months, two months of which would be a suspended sentence. Having already spent more than four months in prison, Biram and Abdellahi were released the same day.
17 JANUARY 2019
UA 110/18 Paraguay STOP ACTION QUEER ARTIST ACCEPTS AGREEMENT TO AVOID PRISON
Bruno Almada Comas, a young queer artist, was accused of “acts of exhibitionism” and risked prison, based on a performance denouncing violence and discrimination against LGBTI people in Paraguay. He has now accepted an agreement for a conditional suspension of the criminal procedure. If he complies with the conditions imposed, the case will be closed.
10 JANUARY 2019
UA 137/18 Paraguay STOP ACTION 200 FAMILIES NO LONGER AT RISK OF FORCED EVICTION
Families from the Guahory Community, Eastern Paraguay, are no longer at imminent threat of forced eviction. The implementation of the Joint Action Plan for Punishable Actions for Trespassing on Property has been suspended in their community.
FU UA 180/18 Malaysia STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE GRANTED ASYLUM IN CANADA
Hassan al-Kontar has been granted asylum and arrived in Canada on 26 November 2018 after having been stranded in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia for about seven months. Arrested on 1 October for being in a “forbidden area” of the airport, Malaysian authorities initially considered deporting him back to Syria.
20 DECEMBER 2018
FU UA: 66/18 Turkey STOP ACTION COURT LIFTS TRAVEL BANS ON ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS
A Turkish court has lifted travel bans on 30 students facing terrorism-related charges for taking part in a peaceful protest on 19 March. The court rejected the students’ allegations of torture and other ill-treatment while they were in custody on the basis that ‘the incident did not take place in the presence of the court’. The students are still facing charges of ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organization’ and could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
6 DECEMBER 2018
FU UA 146/18 Bangladesh (ASA 13/9455/2018) ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER MONTHS IN DETENTION
Shahidul Alam, photographer and outspoken social activist, has been freed on permanent bail after spending more than 100 days behind bars for comments he made in an interview with Al-Jazeera in August 2018. In detention, he was ill-treated and subjected to prolonged detention merely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
15 NOVEMBER 2018
FU UA 240/17 South Sudan STOP ACTION PRESIDENT PARDONS TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
James Gatdet and William Endley received a presidential pardon on 31 October 2018. The president also ordered the immediate deportation of William Endley to his home country, South Africa. They were released on 2 November.
25 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 149/18 STOP ACTION Paraguay INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GRANTED PROTECTION
Paraguayan authorities have called for an impartial and independent investigation into
the attacks against Tekoha Sauce Indigenous leader Amada Martínez, and provided
physical protection to the community. In addition, the Paraguayan Institute for
Indigenous Affairs formally recognized Cristóbal Martínez as their Indigenous
representative leader enabling the community to claim their ancestral lands.
FU UA 131/18 STOP ACTION Turkey STUDENTS’ TRIAL ONGOING, DESPITE APOLOGY TO ERDOĞAN
Four students from the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in Turkey still face
charges for ‘insulting the president’ despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
withdrawing his complaint. The students met with President Erdoğan ahead of the first
hearing on 22 October and apologized for the offence caused. The next hearing will take
place on 4 April 2019.
FU UA 226/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN NGO WORKER RELEASED
On 30 September, Salah Hammouri, French-Palestinian lawyer and NGO worker, was
released from Ketziot prison in southern Israel. He had spent one year in administrative
detention without charge or trial.
18 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 150/18 Mexico STOP ACTION US-MEXICO ASYLUM DEAL APPEARS UNLIKELY
Diplomatic sources have reported that negotiations to declare Mexico a “safe third country” are off the table.
FU UA 158/18 Sudan STOP ACTION ONLINE ACTIVIST RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Activist Ahmed Al-Dai Bushara Joudah was released without charge from Kober prison on 18 September. He had spent sixty-four days in detention.
11 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 134/18 STOP ACTION Chile LAWYER AT RISK GRANTED PROTECTION MEASURES
Chilean human rights defender and lawyer Karina Riquelme is no longer considered under imminent threat. The Supreme Court of Justice of Chile ordered protection measures for her on 25 September 2018.
4 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 248/17 India STOP ACTION DALIT RIGHTS ACTIVIST RELEASED
Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, a prominent Dalit rights activist, has been released from Saharanpur District Prison on 14 September. He was being held in administrative detention without charge or trial under the draconian National Security Act.
18 SEPTEMBER 2018
FU UA 238/15 STOP ACTION Malaysia (ASA 28/9008/2018) ALL 14 CHARGES AGAINST POLITICAL ACTIVIST DROPPED
Khalid Mohd Ismath, former prisoner of conscience, has had all charges against him dropped. Arrested on 13 October 2015 and released on bail later that same month, Khalid Mohd Ismath has faced court proceedings, including hearings that were often postponed, for nearly three years. Following the good news, no further action is required.
11 SEPTEMBER 2018
FU UA 285/15 STOP ACTION Malaysia ALL 14 CHARGES AGAINST POLITICAL ACTIVIST DROPPED
Khalid Mohd Ismath, former prisoner of conscience, has had all charges against him dropped. Arrested on 13 October 2015 and released on bail later that same month, Khalid Mohd Ismath has faced court proceedings, including hearings that were often postponed, for nearly three years. Following the good news, no further action is required.
28 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 139/18 STOP ACTION Tajikistan TAJIKISTANI PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 22 August, independent journalist and prisoner of conscience Khairullo (Khayrullo) Mirsaidov received a non-custodial sentence and was released in the courtroom, after spending more than eight months behind bars. He had been detained and prosecuted following his allegations of government corruption.
16 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 72/18 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN NGO WORKER RELEASED
On 17 July, Abdul Razeq Farraj, Finance and Administration Director at the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), a development NGO based in Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), was released from Ofer prison. He had spent 14 months in administrative detention without charge or trial.
13 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 115/18 Angola Stop Action COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF THREE YOUTH
Afonso S. Muatchipuculo (22), António J. Fernando (18) and Justino H. Valente (21) were released on 17 July. The three youth had been sentenced to seven months in prison by the Malange Provincial Court in Angola on 9 April after an unfair trial. They were arrested on 4 April by the police in Malange province in Angola for allegedly throwing stones at the Vice-President’s convoy during a demonstration.
2 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 123/18 USA Stop Action OHIO GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
On 20 July, the Governor of Ohio commuted the death sentence of Raymond Tibbetts, who was scheduled for execution on 17 October. In so doing, the governor rejected the parole board’s 8-1 recommendation against clemency.
FU UA 228/17 Russian Federation Stop Action RUSSIAN COURT WHISTLEBLOWER RELEASED
On 18 July, St Petersburg’s Kalininsky District Court sentenced former court secretary and whistleblower Aleksandr Eivazov to one year and ten months in an open penal colony for “interfering with the course of justice”. On 21 July he was released, having served his sentence in full in pre-trial detention.
FU UA 75/18 Chile Stop Action INDIGENOUS LEADER ENDS 2 MONTH HUNGER STRIKE
After nearly two months on a hunger strike, Mapuche Indigenous spiritual leader Machi Celestino Córdova is granted access to his ceremonial altar to carry out a renewal ceremony, essential to guaranteeing the Mapuches’ psychic and physical well-being.
30 JULY 2018
FU UA 34/18 Indonesia Stop Action ACTIVIST RELEASED, APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTION ONGOING
Environmental activist Heri Budiawan, known as Budi Pego, was released from prison on 1 July 2018. Sentenced to 10 months behind bars for “crimes against the state security” on 24 January 2018, his case was the first conviction under the article of banning communism ideology since the downfall of Soeharto in 1998.
26 JULY 2018
FU UA 254/17 Russian Federation Stop Action
Following our UA on the enforced disappearance in Chechnya of Imran Salamov, we were informed in May that Imran had reappeared in detention in Grozny and that his family had access to him. In June, Imran Salamov had a court hearing in the Zavodsky regional court in Grozny on charges of “assisting in the formation of an armed formation not provided for by federal law” but was acquitted. On 20 June the prosecutor appealed against his acquittal and Imran remains in detention until the appeal hearing. However, his lawyer is confident the acquittal will be upheld and has asked that Amnesty International refrain from sending appeals at this critical time. For that reason, we are asking for people to stop sending appeals. We will issue a formal UA update once we have information regarding the appeal decision. A huge thank you to all those who sent appeals!
19 JULY 2018
FU UA 250/17 USA Stop Action COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION AFTER COMPANY SUES
A judge blocked the State of Nevada from carrying out its first execution in 12 years a few hours before it was due on 11 July. She temporarily suspended the execution – of a prisoner who had given up his appeals – following a legal challenge brought by the manufacturer of one of the drugs the state was going to use in the lethal injection.
FU UA 109/18 Cuba Stop Action ENVIRONMENTALIST CONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Prisoner of conscience and environmental activist Dr Ariel Ruiz Urquiola was sentenced in Cuba to one-year imprisonment for contempt. On 3 July he was released with conditions.
10 JULY 2018
FU UA 270/17 STOP ACTION China LIU XIA FREED, ON HER WAY TO BERLIN
Liu Xia was finally allowed to leave China for Germany on 10 July 2018, after almost eight years of illegal house arrest. Her release came three days before the first anniversary of the death of her husband , Nobel laureate Liu
Xiaobo. Liu Xia’s brother Liu Hui remains in China.
4 JULY 2018
FU UA 102/18 STOP ACTION Nigeria DISPLACED WOMEN, CHILDREN RECEIVE FOOD SUPPLY
Approximately 230 internally displaced women (known as the Knifar movement) and their children who had previously been denied access to food are now able to access food supplies.
20 JUNE 2018
FU UA 107/18 STOP ACTION Turkey TURKISH COURT ACQUITS RAPPER
On 19 June, an Istanbul court ordered the immediate release of rapper, Ezhel, after acquitting him of ‘publicly promoting the use of drugs’ on the basis of insufficient evidence of intent to engage in any unlawful behaviour.
8 JUNE 2018
FU UA 26/18 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 6 June, Palestinian activist and human rights defender, Munther Amira was released from Hadarim Prison in Israel after serving his prison sentence. He was sentenced to six months in prison, five years of probation and a fine on 12 March. He was convicted on charges relating to his peaceful participation in protests.
6 JUNE 2018
FU UA 100/18 STOP ACTION USA TEXAS COURT ISSUES STAY OF EXECUTION
On 5 June the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution for Clifton Williams, who was due to be executed in Texas on 21 June. The stay is so that there can be a hearing into the claim that Clifton Williams has intellectual disability.
5 JUNE 2018
FU UA 89/18 STOP ACTION Equatorial Guinea CARTOONIST AND ACTIVIST ABLE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
Equatorial Guinean cartoonist and activist Ramón Esono Ebalé was finally able to leave Equatorial Guinea
on 28 May after he was issued a passport by the authorities.
1 JUNE 2018
FU UA 232/17 STOP ACTION Uzbekistan PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 7 May a court issued Uzbekistani journalist Bobomurod Abdullayev with a non-custodial sentence. He was able to walk out of the court room to be reunited with his family, friends and supporters.
11 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION Turkey PRIDE MARCH NO LONGER AT RISK
The student-organized Pride march gathering hundreds of university students went ahead peacefully on
11 May on the Ankara-based Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), despite attempts from the university and
Ankara authorities to prevent it from taking place.
9 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION South Korea ACTIVIST’S NOT GUILTY VERDICT UPHELD ON APPEAL
Lee Jin-young, operator of the online library ‘Labour Books’, was found not guilty of charges under the National Security Law at the Seoul High Court on 11 April 2018. This verdict was made following an appeal by the prosecution
to a ruling on 20 July 2017 which found Lee Jin-young not guilty.
8 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION Israel ISRAELI GOVERNMENT STOPS FORCED DEPORTATIONS
The Israeli government has declared that it will not pursue forcible deportations of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-
seekers to third countries under the Israeli ‘Procedure for Deportation to Third Countries.' This follows the release of 280 asylum-seekers who had been detained as a result of the policy, after an order by the High Court of Justice.
3 MAY 2018
FU UA 186/17 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan SUPREME COURT ORDERS JOURNALIST’S RELEASE
On 5 April Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court ordered the release of Aziz Orujov, an independent journalist and CEO of the internet TV channel Canal 13, on a suspended three-year sentence. The prisoner of conscience had been detained since 2 May 2017 on fabricated charges and in inhumane conditions.
FU UA 142/15 STOP ACTION Bahrain PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 26 March political activist and prisoner of conscience Fadhel Abbas Mahdi Mohamed was released from Jaw prison, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. He served three years in prison on charges of “spreading false information that could damage military operations of Bahrain and its allies and calling for resistance.”
FU UA 57/18 STOP ACTION Ukraine WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS NO LONGER AT IMMINENT RISK
Following the attacks that marred International Women’s Day in Ukraine on 8 March, Vitaliana Koval and other women’s and LGBTI rights defenders in Ukraine are no longer considered to be facing an imminent threat of violence. Vitalina Koval has since received adequate protection measures during a public action she staged on 31 March, calling
against the impunity of far right groups in Ukraine.
18 APRIL 2018
FU UA 73/18 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT GAZAN'S SECOND LEG SAVED FROM BEING AMPUTATED
On 16 April, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that 20-year-old journalist Yousef al-Kronz, who was seriously wounded by Israeli forces on 30 March during Land Day protests in the Gaza Strip, must be permitted to leave Gaza for urgent medical care in Ramallah to save his remaining leg.
FU UA 62/18 STOP ACTION Ethiopia TWO GOVERNMENT CRITICS RELEASED
Seyoum Teshome and Taye Dendea were released from Maekelawi prison on 16 April without being charged. The two had been arrested on 8 March and 15 March respectively.
FU UA 35/18 STOP ACTION Sudan MORE THAN FIFTY CRITICS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
56 opposition party members and human rights defenders arrested in January and February were released without charge on 10 April. They were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in connection with protests condemning the rise in the cost of food and medicine in Sudan since the beginning of January.
12 APRIL 2018
FU UA 49/18 STOP ACTION India INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' ADVOCATE RELEASED ON BAIL
Upendra Nayak, a 65-year-old lawyer, was granted bail and released from custody on 23 March 2018. Charged with several offences, including ‘sedition’ and ‘waging war against the government of India’, in relation to cases registered by the police over eight years ago, he could face life imprisonment if found guilty.
FU UA 23/18 STOP ACTION Ethiopia ELEVEN PEOPLE FREED AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK IN JAIL
Eleven people including a lawyer, journalists, bloggers, opposition members and academics were released on 5 April without being charged. The 11 had been arrested by Ethiopian security forces while attending a private ceremony in Addis Ababa on 25 March.
FU UA 29/18 STOP ACTION USA ALABAMA ENDS PURSUIT OF 2ND EXECUTION ATTEMPT
An agreement signed on 27 March means that Alabama will not pursue another death warrant for Doyle Hamm, whose execution on 22 February was called off after the lethal injection team could not find an accessible vein over the course of two-and-a-half hours.
FU UA 8/18 STOP ACTION Ecuador INDIGENOUS DEFENDER NO LONGER UNDER THREAT
Indigenous defender Patricia Gualinga is no longer considered under imminent threat. No new security incidents or threats against her have occurred since the 5 January attack at her home. She has since reported receiving protection measures.
29 MARCH 2018
FU UA STOP ACTION 53/18 USA FAMILY SEEKING ASYLUM RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Asylum seekers 15-year-old Astrid and her father Arturo were released from immigration detention at the Berks County Residential Center on 23 March after the successful petition by their lawyers to reopen their case and international pressure calling for the family’s release pending the result of their asylum claim.
FU UA STOP ACTION 47/18 USA OHIO GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
On 26 March the Governor of Ohio granted clemency to William Montgomery, who was scheduled to be executed on 11 April. The governor has commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
FU UA STOP ACTION 275/17 Syria 35 ILL AND INJURED EVACUATED FROM EASTERN GHOUTA
A further 35 patients awaiting medical evacuation in besieged Eastern Ghouta have been evacuated to Damascus city for medical treatment and care. 496 patients are still awaiting evacuation. They require urgent medical treatment.
FU UA STOP ACTION 61/17 Russian Federation ACTIVIST RELEASED AND GIVEN DEPORTATION REPRIEVE
On 15 February, Ali Feruz was released and arrived in Germany a few hours later. The release came after the Supreme Court’s decision on 25 January to uphold the activist’s appeal and overturn the 2017 decision to deport him to Uzbekistan. Ali Feruz had been detained since August 2017 for supposedly violating the terms of his stay in Russia.
FU UA STOP ACTION 253/17 North Korea FORCIBLY RETURNED WOMAN NO LONGER AT RISK
Detained since 3 December 2017 in North Korea for leaving the country without legal permits, Koo Jeong-hwa’s family reports that she is no longer at risk of being sent to a political prison camp together with her 4-year-old son.
FU UA 43/18 STOP ACTION India KASHMIRI PHOTOJOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL
Kamran Yousuf was granted bail and released from prison on 14 March 2018, following six months of pre-trial detention. He has been charged with several criminal offences including ‘waging war against the government of India’, and faces life imprisonment if convicted.
2 MARCH 2018
FU UA 274/17 Venezuela Stop action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE GETS MEDICAL CARE
Prisoner of conscience Villca Fernández finally received medical care after having been denied urgently needed medical treatment since June 2017. Since 26 January 2018, prison authorities have transferred Villca Fernández to a military hospital on several occasions for continued treatment.
FU UA 44/18 Chad Stop action YOUTH ACTIVIST UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Alain Didah Kemba, spokesperson of the Chadian youth movement IYINA, was unconditionally released on 26 February after being presented before the prosecutor. Three days earlier, he had been released from detention for health reasons. He was having difficulty standing as he reported that he had been beaten during an interrogation while in detention. He was never formally charged.
14 FEBRUARY 2018
FU UA 13/18 USA Stop Action GOVERNOR STAYS EXECUTION AFTER JUROR PLEA
On 8 February, the Ohio Governor issued an eight-month reprieve for Raymond Tibbetts, who was due to be executed on 13 February. The decision came after he received a letter in support of clemency from one of the jurors from the 1998 trial.
2 FEBRUARY 2018
FuUA 263/15 STOP ACTION Lesotho LESOTHO SOLDIERS ACQUITTED OF MUTINY CHARGES
A Military Court Martial acquitted 22 Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Soldiers of mutiny charges, while a High Court had ordered a permanent stay of prosecution for one LDF soldier a month earlier. The 23 soldiers had first been arrested and detained between May and June 2015. They were charged with mutiny in the same year. If convicted they would have faced the death penalty.
FuUA 255/17 STOP ACTION Egypt PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Human rights activist and former Prisoner of Conscience Mahienour el-Masry and labour activist Moatasem Medhat acquitted of all charges by Montazah Misdemeanour Court of Appeals in Alexandria. They were respectively released on 16 January and 18 January.
FuUA 2/18 STOP ACTION Sudan OPPOSITION MEMBER RELEASED FROM SUDAN PRISON
Radwan Daoud, a dual national of the US and Sudan, was released without charge from Kober Prison on 18 January. He was arrested on 6 December 2017 and first detained at the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) detention centre.
FuUA 7/18 STOP ACTION China TWO MEMORIAL ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Independent writers Li Xuewen and Zhan Huidong (aka “Xiaozhang” or “Headmaster”), detained due to their participation in the July 2017 seaside memorial for late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, have been released on bail.
FuUA 11/18 STOP ACTION USA SUPREME COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION IN ALABAMA
The US Supreme Court granted a stay of execution in the case of Vernon Madison who was scheduled to be executed in Alabama on the evening of 25 January. The stay is to allow the Court time to decide whether to review the claim that Vernon Madison is not “competent” for execution due to his mental disability.
25 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 12/15 Russian Federation Stop Action TATAR ACTIVIST AND PRISONER OR CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 27 December 2017, Tatar activist Rafis Kashapov was released from prison after having served the full three-year sentence for his criticism of Russia’s involvement in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and the treatment of Crimean Tatars in the annexed Crimea. Amnesty International recognised the activist as a prisoner of conscience while he was in detention.
11 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 252/17 Bangladesh (ASA 13/7664/2018) Stop action
Mubashar Hasan, a well-known Bangladeshi academic who went missing and was feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance in late 2017, was returned home on 22 December, after 44 days. Mubashar Hasan’s family have said that they are immensely relieved that he has been recovered. “Thank you to Amnesty International for all that it has done,” Mubashar Hasan’s sister, Tamanna, told Amnesty International.
5 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 252/17 Bangladesh Stop Action MISSING BANGLADESHI ACADEMIC RETURNED HOME
Mubashar Hasan, a well-known Bangladeshi academic who went missing and was feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance, was returned home on 22 December, after 44 days.
21 DECEMBER 2017
FU UA 154/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
Palestinian human rights defender and media coordinator for prisoners’ rights group Addameer, Hasan Safadi, was released on 7 December from Ketziot Prison in Israel. He spent nearly a year and a half in administrative detention without charge or trial. He has now returned home to his family in Beit Hanina, in occupied East Jerusalem.
13 DECEMBER 2017
FU UA 169/16 Stop Action Zimbabwe HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES
Pastor Evan Mawarire, a human rights defender in Zimbabwe, was acquitted of the charge of ‘subversion of constitutional elected government’ on 29 November.
30 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA263/16 STOP ACTION MALAYSIA INVESTIGATIONS INTO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER CLOSED
The Malaysian police have officially closed all investigations into Maria Chin Abdullah, who was detained under security laws for organizing a rally on free and fair elections. Placed in solitary confinement for ten days in November 2016, she was released on 28 November 2016 and has continued with her human rights work. She is grateful for all the support and no further action is needed. She shared the following message:
“I would also really like to thank Amnesty very much for all the letters you have written to the Malaysian government, for taking action and for highlighting my case. We are thinking of our next steps. We are far from what we want in achieving human rights and democracy in Malaysia but we will have to continue our work.”
23 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA247/17 STOP ACTION USA EXECUTION CALLED OFF IN DEATH CHAMBER
The execution of Alva Campbell was called off on 15 November after the execution team was unable to find a viable vein for the lethal injection. The governor has set a new execution date of 5 June 2019, by which time Alva Campbell would be 71 years old.
17 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA188/15 STOP ACTION Saudi Arabia SAUDI ARABIAN WRITER ZUHAIR KUTBI RELEASED
On 23 June, Saudi Arabian writer Dr Zuhair Kutbi was released after serving two years in prison. He remains banned from travelling and writing on social media. The conditions of his release are unknown.
FUUA202/17 STOP ACTION USA ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT STOPS EXECUTION
On 7 November, the Arkansas Supreme Court granted a stay of execution in the case of Jack Greene, a 62-year-old man who was scheduled to be executed on 9 November. The state said that it would not seek to have the stay lifted.
FUUA205/16 STOP ACTION Ukraine CRIMEAN TATAR LEADERS RELEASED
Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz, both sentenced to prison by the de facto authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, were taken to an airport and flown to Turkey on 25 October. On 27 October they arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
FUUA234/17 STOP ACTION Chile MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DROPS TERRORISM CHARGES
The Chilean Minister of Interior submitted an application to the court for the crimes of four Indigenous Mapuche men to be reclassified and no longer considered “terrorist crimes”. The men are accused of having burned down an Evangelical church.
7 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA 244/17 STOP ACTION Tanzania HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER, ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Thirteen health and human rights activists, including two South Africans and one Ugandan, have been released after the court found that there was insufficient evidence against them. The 13 were arrested during a consultative meeting to discuss the Tanzanian government’s decision to limit the provision of certain health services that it had previously provided.
FUUA 215/15 STOP ACTION Bahrain PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED AND EXPELLED
On 30 October, Bahraini prisoner of conscience, Ibrahim Karimi was released from Jaw prison, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. He served over two years in prison on charges including ‘publicly insulting the King’. On 31 October, Ibrahim Karimi was expelled to Iraq following the Ministry of Interior’s decision in November 2012 to arbitrarily revoke his nationality.
19 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 230/17 USA TEXAS COURT ISSUES STAY OF EXECUTION
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted a stay of execution to Clinton Young, who was due to be put to death on 26 October. The case is remanded to the trial court for resolution of the claim that false or misleading testimony was introduced at his trial.
12 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 223/17 Stop Action Azerbaijan ALL LGBTI PEOPLE DETAINED IN MASS RAIDS RELEASED
All LGBTI persons detained during the raids carried out across Baku on 23 September have been released. The authorities must ensure prompt, impartial, thorough and effective investigations are carried out into the mass raids and all allegations of torture and ill-treatment of persons while in custody.
10 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 201/17 Stop Action China POET COMMEMORATING LIU XIAOBO RELEASED
Poet Wu Mingliang, better known by his pen name “Langzi”, and Peng Heping were released on 22 September after being criminally detained since August. It is believed Wu Mingliang’s detention was with regard to an anthology of poems commemorating Liu Xiaobo that he had helped produce. Both men have expressed thanks to the international community for its support.
3 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 216/17 Stop Action USA COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION, DECISION AWAITED
The US Supreme Court prevented the State of Georgia from executing Keith Tharpe on 26 September, to give the Justices more time to consider the claim that juror racism infected his 1991 trial.
29 SEPTEMBER 2017
FU UA 26/17 Stop Action Sudan DR MUDAWI UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Sudanese human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was released on 29 August after the Sudan government dropped all charges against him. Dr Mudawi was arrested on 7 December 2016 by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). He was charged with six offences, two of which are punishable by life imprisonment, or death.
28 SEPTEMBER 2017
FU UA 73/17 Stop Action Myanmar ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Activist Htin Kyaw was released from prison after the Myanmar Army announced on 1 September 2017 that all charges against him, and other named activists and journalists, were to be dropped. He should never have been detained for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
FU UA 137/17 Stop Action Myanmar CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEDIA WORKERS DROPPED
The charges against journalists Kyaw Min Swe and Kyaw Zwar Naing were dropped following an announcement by the Myanmar Army on 1 September 2017. The men had been detained solely for their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and should never have faced charges in the first place.
FU UA 159/17 Stop Action Myanmar THREE JOURNALISTS RELEASED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Former prisoners of conscience Lawi Weng, Aye Nai and Pyae Phone Aung have had the charge against them dropped following an announcement by the Myanmar Army. The three journalists were released from prison on 1 September 2017.
FU UA 205/17 Stop Action Algeria RELIGIOUS MINORITY LEADER RELEASED BUT STILL AT RISK
On 13 September the Court of First Instance in Ain Tedles, Algeria convicted and sentenced President of the Ahmadiyya religious community, Mohamed Fali to a 6 month suspended prison term and a fine of 20,000 Algerian dinar. He was released from pre-trial detention on 13 September but remains at risk of further prosecution.
13 September 2017
FU UA 12/16 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT-Palestine PALESTINIAN CIRCUS PERFORMER RELEASED
Palestinian circus performer and teacher Mohamed Faisal Abu Sakha was released on 30 August from Ketziot Prison in Israel. He spent nearly two years in administrative detention without being charged or tried. He has now returned home to his family in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
8 September 2017
FU UA 169/17 Stop Action Mexico SECURITY MEASURES FOR DEFENDER IMPLEMENTED
In recent weeks authorities have implemented some security measures for Mario Luna, human rights defender and leader of the Indigenous Yaquí community in Sonora state, northern Mexico, following an incident on 27 June where assailants burned the car of the wife, Anahí Ochoa. During July and August Amnesty International and other organizations placed pressure on authorities to achieve advances in his protection measures.
29 August 2017
FU UA 74/17 Stop Action USA ARKANSAS GOVERNOR TO COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCE
On 25 August, the Governor of Arkansas announced his intent to commute the death sentence of Jason McGehee, who had been scheduled for execution on 27 April, when he received a stay from a federal judge, and the parole board recommended clemency. The governor has now accepted that recommendation.
FU UA 90/17 Stop Action Zambia ZAMBIA OPPOSITION LEADER RELEASED
Leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema and five others accused with him have been released. He, together with five others had been arrested in April and charged with treason over allegations of obstructing the Presidential motorcade as it was on the way to a traditional ceremony in the Western Province.
FU UA 97/17 Stop Action Sudan SUDANESE DOCTOR RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Dr. Mohamed Yasin Abdalla, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD), has been released without charge. He was arrested on 22 April in Khartoum by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) agents and detained at the office of the NISS Prosecutor of Crimes against the State in Khartoum.
FU UA 190/17 Stop Action China SIX ACTIVISTS COMMEMORATING LIU XIAOBO RELEASED
Six activists who were criminally detained in July 2017, after taking part in a seaside memorial for Liu Xiaobo in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, have all been released on bail. While still subjected to some restrictions, they have all been returned to their respective hometowns.
24 August 2017
FU UA 140/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR RELEASED
University professor Ahmad Qatamesh was released from administrative detention by the Israeli authorities on 13 August. His three month detention order was not renewed after it expired. He is now back home in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank with his family. Ahmad Qatamesh was a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 161/17 STOP ACTION Chile ABORTION DECRIMINALISED IN CHILE
Chile's Constitutional Tribunal has ruled in favour of decriminalising abortion under three specific circumstances. This is an important step toward ensuring the protection of women and girls' human rights across the country.
FU UA 183/17 STOP ACTION USA GOVERNOR STAYS EXECUTION, ORDERS INQUIRY
On 22 August, the governor of Missouri issued a stay of execution for Marcellus Williams who was due to be put to death later that day. The governor will appoint a Board of Inquiry to review the case and make a recommendation on clemency.
FU UA 193/17 STOP ACTION Ukraine PROTESTOR RELEASED AFTER SERVING FULL SENTENCE
Crimean Tatar protestor Server Karametov was released from police custody in Simferopol, Crimea on 19 August after serving his full 10 day sentence. He was arrested on 8 August while engaging in a peaceful protest outside Crimea’s Supreme Court.
22 August 2017
FU UA 59/17 Stop Action USA FOUR FAMILIES ORDERED RELEASED FROM DETENTION
On 17 August, four-year-old Carlos and 16-year-old Michael along with their mothers, Lorena and Maribel (all names changed to protect their identities), were ordered released from Berks County Residential Center in Pennsylvania by an immigration judge after nearly 700 days in detention. This follows the release of two other young boys and their mothers held in Berks for over 22 months on 7 and 14 August.
FU UA 154/17 Stop Action Paraguay JOURALISTS OUT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER
Menchi Barriocanal and Oscar Acosta, Paraguayan journalists and married couple who were threatened with imprisonment by President Horacio Cartes, have stopped received threats and seem to be out of immediate danger of being arbitrarily detained.
15 August 2017
FU UA 139/17 STOP ACTION North Korea PASTOR RELEASED AFTER OVER TWO YEARS OF DETENTION
Lim Hyeon-soo, a 62 year old Canadian pastor, has been released from a North Korean labour camp after spending more than two and a half years in detention. Convicted of “plotting to overthrow the government” in 2015, he had been sentenced to life in prison with hard labour. The Canadian government has confirmed that Lim Hyeon-soo will soon be reunited with his family in Canada.
10 August 2017
FU UA 121/16 STOP ACTION Russian Federation RUSSIA DROPS CASE AGAINST RIGHTS DEFENDER
The criminal case against prominent Russian human rights defender Valentina Cherevatenko for “violation of ‘foreign agents’ law” was closed on 19 June due to an “absence of the elements of the crime”. She was not informed of the decision and only learnt of it by accident over a month later.
FU UA 116/17 STOP ACTION Sri Lanka HARASSED PRIEST GRANTED FELLOWSHIP ABROAD
Since being summoned for questioning by the Sri Lankan police for hosting a memorial for the war dead, Father Elil Rajendran was successful in securing a court order directing the police not to question him further. In terms of his personal safety, he now has respite from harassment and is out of the country on a short-term Fellowship.
8 August 2017
FU UA 112/17 STOP ACTION Bangladesh ALL 28 MEN SUSPECTED OF BEING GAY RELEASED
The five remaining men still being held on bail, of the 28 who were arrested at a social event outside of Dhaka, were released on 21 July 2017. Initially suspected of being held on suspicion of breaching the prohibition of ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ under Section 377 of the Penal Code, all 28 were charged under the Narcotics Control Act 1990.
FU UA 123/17 STOP ACTION Syria SYRIAN-KURDISH OPPOSITION ACTIVIST RELEASED
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been detained since 9 May by Asayish forces, the police force of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led Autonomous Administration.
FU UA 176/17 STOP ACTION Egypt EGYPTIAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Human rights defender Tarek Hussein was released on 27 July. After being arbitrarily detained for 40 days, the former prisoner of conscience has now joined his family.
FU UA 229/16 STOP ACTION Ukraine CRIMEAN RIGHTS DEFENDER TO APPEAR IN COURT
The pre-trial investigation into the case of Crimean Tatar human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku, falsely accused of membership in an alleged terrorist organisation in Crimea, has now concluded. Emir-Usein Kuku’s case will now be heard before a military court, in Russia. His family’s harassment has stopped for now.
27 July 2017
FU UA 20/17 STOP ACTION South Korea ACTIVIST DETAINED FOR RUNNING ONLINE LIBRARY
Lee Jin-young, operator of the online library ‘Labour Books’, was released on 20 July after the court ruled him not-guilty of charges under the National Security Law.
26 July 2017
FU UA 162/17 STOP ACTION Democratic Republic of Congo ACTIVIST AND HIS LAWYER RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Jean-Marie Kalonji, an activist with the youth movement Quatrieme voie/ il est temps, and his colleague and lawyer Sylva Mbikayi were released without charge on 17 July. The two had been held in incommunicado detention by military intelligence agents since 23 June.
18 July 2017
FU UA 33/14 STOP ACTION Venezuela LEOPOLDO LÓPEZ MOVED TO 'HOUSE ARREST'
Venezuelan prisoner of conscience Leopoldo López was transferred from prison to his house in Caracas, the capital, on 8 July, where he will continue to serve his sentence.
FU UA 151/16 STOP ACTION Dominican Republic CONGRESS REJECTS REGRESSIVE ABORTION REFORM
On 11 July, the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Congress voted to reject proposed reforms to the Criminal Code that failed to decriminalize abortion in limited circumstances and continued to violate the rights of women and girls. As a result, the proposed reforms cannot be made into law during the current legislative period.
FU UA 76/17 STOP ACTION Cuba DEFENDERS END HUNGER STRIKE, RELEASE SECURED
Siblings and human rights defenders Anairis Miranda Leyva, Adairis Miranda Leyva and Fidel Manuel Batista Leyva ended the hunger strike they began on 8 June after being harassed and intimidated in Cuba following their conditional release from prison.
12 July 2017
FU UA 136/17 STOP ACTION China THREE LABOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Hua Haifeng, Li Zhao, and Su Heng were released on bail on 28 June 2017 after being criminally detained while investigating labour conditions at Huajian shoe factories, which produce shoes for Ivanka Trump’s brand, among others. They will remain under close police surveillance for the next 12 month period.
6 July 2017
FU UA 51/17 Bahrain STOP ACTION NADER ABDULEMAN RELEASED AFTER SERVING TERM
Prisoner of conscience, Nader Abdulemam, was released from Jaw prison on 30 June after completing his six-month prison sentence.
30 June 2017
FU UA 151/17 STOP ACTION Syria KURDISH ACTIVIST IN CRITICAL HEALTH RELEASED
Syrian Kurdish opposition activist Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was released on 24 June. He had been detained by the Asayish forces since 23 May. Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was held in poor conditions while suffering a critical heart condition.
22 June 2017
FU UA 143/17 STOP ACTION Maldives OPPOSITION POLITICIAN RELEASED
Opposition politician Adam Azim has been released after spending nearly a week in detention in Maldives. He was arrested and faced trumped up charges after criticizing the government in a TV interview.
15 June 2017
FU UA 261/15 STOP ACTION Russian Federation NATALYA SHARINA VICTIM OF TRAVESTY OF INJUSTICE
On 5 June, Natalya Sharina, ex-Director of the Ukrainian Library in Moscow, was found guilty of “incitement of hatred and enmity” and “embezzlement” and given four years suspended sentence. Her prosecution was unfounded and politically motivated and she is going to appeal the conviction.
FU UA 93/17 STOP ACTION Greece UNSAFE REFUGEE CAMPS IN GREECE EVACUATED
The three refugee camps in the Elliniko area, Athens, were evacuated on 2 June. The majority of refugees and migrants still in the sites were transferred by bus to alternative camps. In the last days before the evacuation residents were finally asked about their specific circumstances but it is still unclear whether everyone has been moved to accommodation adequate to their needs.
FU UA 108/17 STOP ACTION Madagascar THREE CHARGES AGAINST JOURNALIST DROPPED
Fernand Cello, a Malagasy investigative journalist, has had three charges which were related to his journalism work dropped. These charges were related to his journalism work. He is also now receiving the medical care he needs.
FU UA 132/17 STOP ACTION Belarus TORTURE SURVIVOR RELEASED IN CHECHNYA
Murad Amriev was handed over to Russian law enforcement officers at 3am on 9 June after having been returned from Belarus where he unsuccessfully attempted to claim asylum. He has been released on bail on condition that he does not leave Chechnya.
8 June 2017
FU UA 93/17 STOP ACTION Greece UNSAFE REFUGEE CAMPS IN GREECE EVACUATED
The three refugee camps in the Elliniko area, Athens, were evacuated on 2 June. The majority of refugees and migrants still in the sites were transferred by bus to alternative camps. In the last days before the evacuation residents were finally asked about their specific circumstances but it is still unclear whether everyone has been moved to accommodation adequate to their needs.
7 June 2017
FU UA 230/16 STOP ACTION Timor-Leste JOURNALISTS CLEARED OF CRIMINAL DEFAMATION
On 1 June, a Dili court cleared Raimundos Oki and Lourenco Vicente Martins of all charges against them. The two Timorese journalists were on trial on criminal “defamatory false information” charges filed by Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister in 2016.
FU UA 70/17 STOP ACTION Maldives SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVIST RELEASED FROM PRISON
Maldivian social media activist Thayyib Shaheem was released on 17 April after spending almost one month on remand in Dhoonidhoo island prison. He was accused of “spreading panic” on social media after he criticised a development project in Maldives.
26/5/17
FU UA 104/17 STOP ACTION Togo COMMUNITY LEADER FREED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Salomée T. Abalodo, farmer and community leader, has been released after the Tribunal of Pagouda (Kara, northern region of Togo) dropped all charges against her.
19/5/17
FU UA 260/16 Stop Action Sudan PASTOR, MISSIONARY AND ACTIVIST RELEASED
Petr Jezek, Hassan A. Kodi and Abdulmonem Abdumawla have been released after a presidential pardon. Petr Jezek had been sentenced to life imprisonment, while the other two had been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on 29 January.
5/5/2017
FU UA 75/17 Stop Action Sudan OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Three political opposition activists, Mohamed Hassan El Bushi, Amin Saad and Motaz Al Ajail, were released without charge on 25 and 30 April. The three had been detained without charge since January and February 2017 because of their political activities and support of protests in November 2016 against economic austerity measures.
FU UA 19/16 Stop Action Iran IRANIAN FILMMAKER KEYWAN KARIMI RELEASED
Iranian filmmaker Keywan Karimi was released from Tehran’s Evin prison on 19 April 2017. He had been imprisoned since 23 November 2016. Keywan Karimi was a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 198/16 Stop Action Nigeria PRO-BIAFRAN ACTIVIST RELEASED
Sunday Chucks Obasi (30) who was abducted from his home in Amuko Nnewi Anambra State on 16 August 2016 by Nigerian security agents has been released on bail.
FU UA 11/17 Mexico Stop Action GENERAL LAW ON TORTURE IMPROVED AND PASSED
On 19 April the lower house of Mexican congress approved their version of the General Law on Torture and sent it back to the Senate for final approval before it becomes law. This final version is an improvement of the earlier draft, and all of the four regressive articles Amnesty International was concerned about have been improved upon.
20/4/17
FU UA 64/17 USA Stop Action STAY OF EXECUTION FOR DON DAVIS IN ARKANSAS
The execution of Don Davis, scheduled for 17 April in Arkansas, did not go ahead. Minutes before midnight, when the death warrant was set to expire, the US Supreme Court refused to lift the stay issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court that afternoon.
11/4/17
FU UA 72/17 USA Stop Action TEXAS APPEAL COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION
On 7 April, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution in the case of Paul Storey, who was scheduled to be put to death on 12 April. The case has been remanded to a lower court for further review of the claim that the prosecution presented false evidence at the trial.
6/4/17
UA 95/16 Argentina Good news: Supreme Court of Tucumán has acquitted Belén!
We would like to share with great joy that on 27 March, the Supreme Court of Tucumán Province, northern Argentina, unanimously decided to acquit Belén, the 27-year-old woman who was sentenced to eight years' prison after suffering a miscarriage in a public hospital.
FU UA 296/11 Bahrain Stop Action ACTIVIST DR ALI ESA MANSOOR AL-EKRI RELEASED
Dr Ali Esa Mansoor al-Ekri, a Bahraini consultant surgeon and activist, has been released after completing his five-year prison sentence. He was a prisoner of conscience.
4/4/17
FU UA 294/15 Egypt Stop Action FIFTH AND FINAL ACTIVIST IN ABDEEN CASE RELEASED
Gamila Seryel-Dain, the last jailed activist from the group of five activists sentenced in the ‘Abdeen case’ to two years in prison for violating Egypt’s repressive 2013 protest law, was released on 14 March after receiving a presidential pardon. All five activists have now been released.
FU UA 57/17 Malaysia Stop Action ACTIVIST FINED FOR SCREENING DOCUMENTARY
Human Rights Defender Lena Hendry was fined RM10,000 (USD 2,260) by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court on 22 March 2017 for the private screening of a human rights documentary about Sri Lanka. However no prison sentence was imposed.
23/3/17
FU UA 54/16 Algeria STOP ACTION ALGERIAN ACTIVIST DAHMANE KERAMI RELEASED
Algerian activist Dahmane Kerami was released on 31 December 2016 after spending one year behind bars for participating in 2014 and 2015 in peaceful social protests in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria.
FU UA 23/17 STOP ACTION Japan OKINAWA ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER FIVE MONTHS
Hiroji Yamashiro, 64 years of age, has been released on bail after five months in detention without being able to see his family. Arrested for his role in protests against new U.S. military construction projects in Okinawa, his next court hearing is scheduled for 27 March 2017.
FU UA 48/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL
Palestinian journalist Muhammed al-Qiq suspended his hunger strike on 10 March 2017 after he learned that the Israeli authorities were not renewing his administrative detention order. He is expected to be released on 10 April.
17/3/16
FU UA 224/16 South Sudan FORMER GOVERNOR RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Elias Waya Nyipuoch, former governor of Wau state, was released without charge on 14 March. He had been detained by the South Sudanese military since 26 June 2016.
14/3/17
FU UA 224/15 India DETAINED JOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL
Santosh Yadav was released from prison on 9 March 2017, over a week after the Supreme Court of India granted him bail. Detained since September 2015, it is believed that he was targeted for his work among Indigenous Adivasi communities in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. He is required to report to the local police station daily.
10/3/17
FU UA 128/16 Sudan THREE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FREED
Three human rights defenders Khalafalla A. Mukhtar, Midhat A. Hamdan and Mustafa Adam have been released after being sentenced to time served by a court in Khartoum, Sudan. The three, who were released on 6 March, had been in detention since their arrests on 22 May 2016. Earlier in January, the court dropped all charges against Arwa Elrabie, Al Hassan Kheiry and Raye Imany Leyla.
9/3/17
FU UA 33/17 STOP ACTION Venezuela DETAINEE NO LONGER HELD INCOMMUNICADO
Retired general Raúl Isaías Baduel, who has been detained in the Venezuelan military prison Ramo Verde since 12 January, has finally been allowed to meet with his lawyer and his family after being held incommunicado for a period of time, and has been brought before a relevant court of law.
FU UA 21/17 STOP ACTION Turkey WOMAN IN URGENT NEED OF SURGERY RELEASED
Sibel Çapraz was conditionally released from prison on 28 February. She had been in pre-trial detention for almost one year and was in need of medical treatment and an urgent operation. Her release means she will be able to obtain the vital medical care she needs.
FU UA 54/17 STOP ACTION USA SALVADORAN ASYLUM SEEKER RELEASED
Salvadoran woman Sara Beltran Hernandez has been granted bond and released from detention. She had been held in a Texas detention centre for 15 months, despite having a claim to asylum and being in urgent need of medical attention.
2/3/17
FU UA 279/16 STOP ACTION Turkmenistan INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST AND HIS MOTHER RELEASED
On 15 February independent Turkmenistani journalist Khudayberdy Allashov and his mother, Kurbantach Arazmedova, were given three-year conditional sentences after being found guilty of possessing chewing tobacco. They were released from the courtroom.
23/2/17
FU UA 287/16 STOP ACTION Congo LUCHA ACTIVIST RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Musasa Tshibanda, an activist from the youth movement Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was released on 8 February. He was not charged. He had been in incommunicado detention since 16 December 2016 when he was arrested together with another activist, Gloria Senga.
FU UA 42/17 STOP ACTION Ukraine TWO ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Russian activists Seroe Fioletovoe and Viktoriya Miroshnichenko were released unharmed after spending 15 days in detention in the pro-Russian separatist-controlled Donetsk, in Ukraine. The activists have now returned to Russia.
16/2/16
FU UA 280/16 STOP ACTION Algeria JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Algerian journalist Hassan Bouras was released on 17 January after his sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended prison term on appeal.
9/2/16
FU UA 239/16 STOP ACTION India CHILDREN RELEASED FROM UNLAWFUL DETENTION - Rayees Ahmad Mir and Waheed Ahmed Gojree have been released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed their detention orders on 6 and 31 December 2016 respectively. The teenagers were unlawfully detained in prison under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), an administrative detention law that expressly prohibits the detention of anyone under 18 years of age.
2/2/17
FU UA 256/16 Stop Action Myanmar AID SERVICES SLOWLY RESUME IN NORTH RAKHINE
Despite some continuing restrictions, humanitarian services such as food distribution, nutrition assistance and primary healthcare are slowly resuming in northern Rakhine State. According to the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), more than 16,000 people in Maungdaw north received food assistance and nutrition support between 13 and 20 January.
FU UA 265/05 Stop Action China NOT-GUILTY VERDICT FOR MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
After more than 13 years since Huang Zhiqiang, Fang Chunping, Cheng Fagen and Cheng Lihe were originally sentenced to death, the Jiangxi Provincial Higher People’s Court has announced a not-guilty verdict. All four men were immediately released after a closed-door retrial on 30 November 2016.
FU UA 273/16 Cuba Stop Action CUBAN GRAFFITI ARTIST RELEASED
Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado (‘El Sexto’) was released over the weekend. Amnesty International had considered him a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 277/16 USA Stop Action OBAMA COMMUTES CHELSEA MANNING'S SENTENCE
With less than a week left in his term, former President Barack Obama commuted Chelsea Manning’s sentence on 17 January. While this welcome move was long overdue, the US government must now investigate the potential human rights violations that she exposed.
UA 280/16 Stop Action Algeria ALGERIAN JOURNALIST HASSAN BOURAS RELEASED
Algerian journalist Hassan Bouras was released from prison on 17 January after his sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended prison term on appeal. An Algerian court had sentenced Hassan Bouras to a year in prison and fines for a video denouncing corruption of local officials in the city of El Bayadh.
FU UA 7/17 Bangladesh Stop Action UNLAWFULLY DETAINED HINDU FISHERMAN OUT ON BAIL
Hindu fisherman Rasraj Das was granted bail on 16 January 2017 after spending more than two months in jail for allegedly posting an “offensive” image on Facebook. Although police have stated he was not responsible for posting the image, the charge of “hurting religious sentiment” has not been dropped. His next court date has not been set.
25/1/17
FU UA 188/16 STOP ACTION Angola FOUR YOUTH ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Four Angolan youth activists who are part of the Benguela Revolutionary Movement (Movimento Revolucionário de Benguela) are out on bail. The youth activists have not been charged.
FU UA 247/16 STOP ACTION Russian Federation ILDAR DADIN MOVED TO A NEW PRISON
Following revelations that he had been tortured in Segezha prison colony, prisoner of conscience Ildar Dadin was moved to a new prison colony. On 6 January his family were informed that he is now in Prison Colony 5 in the Altai district of Southern Siberia. Between 5 December and 6 January neither his wife nor his lawyer were informed about his whereabouts.
22/12/16
FU UA 276/16 Nicaragua Stop Action POLICE RETURN DEFENDER'S SEIZED VEHICLES
On 10 December Nicaraguan police returned two vehicles that they had taken possession of from human rights defender Francisca Ramírez 10 days before. The vehicles showed signs of damage and no reason was given for their seizure. Francisca Ramírez mentioned that international pressure helped her gain justice.
15/12/16
FU UA 262/16 STOP ACTION France MAN RETURNED TO SUDAN, OTHER NO LONGER AT RISK
One of the two Sudanese nationals at risk of being illegally returned to Sudan from France was released on 22 November and is not at immediate risk. The other man was sent back to Sudan on 2 December after his asylum application was rejected.
8/12/2016
FU UA 168/15 Bahrain Stop Action CHARGE DROPPED, EBRAHIM SHARIF REMAINS FREE
Bahraini political activist Ebrahim Sharif’s one year prison sentence was upheld on 7 November by the Appeal Court. He remains free having already completed one year in prison on 11 July. On 13 November the Prosecution brought a new charge against him which was then dropped on 23 November.
FU UA 31/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action FORMER CHILD DETAINEE RETURNED TO PRISON
Mohammad al-Hashlamoun was released on 28 June after six months in administrative detention. However, the Israeli authorities have subsequently rearrested him and on 7 November he has been given another four month administrative detention order.
FU UA 77/16 Mongolia Stop Action ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PROVIDED FOR TEN FAMILIES
Ten families from Building #3 in Ulaanbaatar (UB), previously facing homelessness during this severe winter, have been provided with alternative housing. The Building is now empty of inhabitants.
FU UA 101/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action CHILD RELEASED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION
Abed al-Rahman Awad Kmail was released by the Israeli authorities from administrative detention on 2 October after nearly eight months in detention in Megiddo prison inside Israel. He had spent his 17th birthday in detention.
FU UA 164/16 Angola Stop Action ANGOLAN ACTIVIST RELEASED A WEEK EARLY
Francisco Mapanda (also known as Dago Nível Intelecto) was released from Comarca de Caquila prison on 21 November, seven days earlier than when he was due to be released. The reason for his early release is unknown.
FU UA 215/16 India Stop Action DETAINED KASHMIRI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, was released from administrative detention on 30 November, five days after a court ruled his detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act arbitrary and illegal.
FU UA 264/16 USA Stop Action TEXAS COURT BLOCKS EXCECUTION
On 2 December, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution to John Battaglia, a 61-year-old man who was scheduled to be executed in Texas on 7 December. The stay is for the Court to be able to review the question of his mental competence.
24/11/2016
FU UA 20/16 Venezuela Additional good news! PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RECEIVES MEDICAL CARE
Following on the stop action we issued on Rosmit Mantilla’s case earlier this week after he received urgently needed medical attention, we are happy to share with you that Rosmit Mantilla was released last night (17 November)! The Member of Parliament, LGBTI activist and prisoner of conscience was released after spending more than two years in pre-trial detention at the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service facilities in Caracas.
UA: 201/16 Bangladesh Stop action STUDENT ACTIVIST ARRESTED FOR FACEBOOK POSTS
Dilip Roy, a 22-year-old student activist, has been arrested in Rajshahi in Bangladesh after making two Facebook posts criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He has been denied bail and could face up to 14 years in prison.
Dilip Roy has been granted bail and, even if he hasn’t been released yet as it usually takes a couple of days in Bangladesh for the bail order from the court to reach the prison, he will be finally freed very soon.
17/11/2016
FU UA 143/15 Angola stop action 17 ANGOLAN YOUTH ACTIVISTS GRANTED AMNESTY
The 17 Angolan youth activists arrested, detained and convicted for attending a meeting to discuss politics and governance concerns in the country were granted amnesty by the Supreme Court on 16 September. Instead of the amnesty, 16 of them would prefer to have their conviction quashed.
FU UA 189/15 Nigeria STOP ACTION 267 HOMES FACE NO FURTHER THREAT OF EVICTIONS
The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) has not effected 21 day demolition notices issued on 12 August 2015 to 267 houses in communities in Zaria City, including Kofan Doka, Kofan Kibo and Anguwan Alkali. The court order restricting any further demolitions in Zaria City until the court case challenging the demolitions is concluded is still in place.
FU UA 020/16 Venezuela stop action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE
Venezuelan Prisoner of Conscience Rosmit Mantilla was finally given the urgent medical attention he needed.
6/10/2016
FU UA 137/16 IRAN Homa Hoodfar freed after global campaign
Canadian-Irish-Iranian citizen Dr Homa Hoodfar, a prominent professor of anthropology, was released on 26 September and flown out of Iran to Oman. She had been detained in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin Prison since her arbitrary arrest on 6 June.
29/09/2016
FU UA 175/16 Cambodia STOP ACTION Cambodian housing rights defender released
Two Cambodian housing rights defenders were tried and convicted on 22 August for “insult of a public official”. While Bov Sophea has been released, Tep Vanny remains in detention, serving a six-month sentence for charges related to a 2011 protest, and under investigation for separate charges linked to a 2013 protest.
22/09/2016
UA 9/16 Egypt STOP ACTION AHMED ABDULLAH RELEASED ON BAIL
Prisoner of conscience Ahmed Abdullah was released on bail on 10 September after spending over four months in detention without trial.
15/09/2016
FU UA 280/15 Jordan STOP ACTION ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS ON REFUGEES’ CONDITION
Negotiations continue to find a solution for the circa 80,000 refugees stranded at the ‘berm’, a desert area located along the Jordan-Syria border. While concerns remain on the wellbeing of refugees, we are closing this Urgent Action pending new information.
1/09/2016
FU UA 15/16 Egypt stop action THREE ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Dr Taher Mokhtar and two other activists were released from detention on 11 August. A Cairo court had ordered their release on bail nine days earlier on 3 August. They spent seven months in detention facing baseless charges.
FU UA 180/16 Ukraine stop action DISAPPEARED MAN FREED FROM SECRET DETENTION
Dmytro Koroliov was released on 2 August after spending one year in secret detention in the Security Service of Ukraine compound in Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine. At least 12 others were also released from secret detention between 25 July and 2 August.
26/08/2016
FU UA 107/15 Egypt STOP ACTION RIGHTS LAWYER AND JOURNALIST RELEASED
Mahienour El-Massry and Youssef Shaaban were released on 13 August after serving their 15-month prison sentence. Loay El-Kahwagi, who was sentenced in the same case, is still serving his sentence and is due to be released in March 2017.
18/08/2016
FU UA 17/16 Ukraine stop action DISAPPEARED MAN RETURNED HOME
Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi returned home on 25 February, having spent 15 months in secret detention. In July, Ukraine’s Chief Military Prosecutor promised an effective investigation into Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi’s allegations of enforced disappearance and torture by members of the Security Service of Ukraine. Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi has since given media interviews about his ordeal.
FU UA 135/16 Greece stop action RETURN TO TURKEY NOT IMMINENT FOR TWO SYRIANS
The first two Syrian refugees that became at risk of being forcibly returned to Turkey under the illegal EU-Turkey deal have now been released from detention. In both cases a court has also ordered the suspension of their deportation until other court hearings take place at the end of September.
11/08/2016
FU UA: 165/16 China STOP ACTION ON LAWYER AT RISK OF TORTURE
Lawyer Ren Quanniu, who was criminally detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, has been released on bail. Please stop sending appeals at this time.
21/07/2016
FU UA 231/15 Ukraine stop action UKRAINIAN OFFICER RELEASED, REUNITES WITH FAMILY
Ukrainian officer Ivan Bezyazykov was released from detention by the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on 5 July after spending more than 22 months in captivity and being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. He has reunited with his wife and children in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.
FU UA 34/16 Russian Federation stop action PERFORMANCE ARTIST RELEASED FROM PRISON
Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky was released from prison on 8 June after almost seven months in custody. Pyotr Pavlensky was arrested on 9 November when he set fire to the wooden doors of the headquarters of the Federal Security Service in the capital Moscow.
23/06/2016
FU UA 306/14 Bahrain STOP ACTION Zainab al-Khawaja released, left Bahrain
Zainab al-Khawaja and her son were released from prison in Bahrain on humanitarian grounds on 31 May. She left Bahrain for Denmark on 7 June after receiving information that she could face new charges if she remained in Bahrain.
FU UA 282/15 Turkey STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE REUNITED WITH FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA
Syrian refugee Fadi Mansour finally reunited with his family in Melbourne, Australia, on 11 June. He had been held in the Adana Removal Centre in south-eastern Turkey since 23 March, after he was arbitrarily detained for more than one year in inhumane conditions in Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport.
9/06/2016
FU UA 236/14 United Arab Emirates stop action FOUR LIBYAN MEN ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Four Libyan men, three of them with dual nationality, were acquitted on 30 May by the Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing support to “terrorist” groups. They were released the next day. The fate of three others remains unknown.
2/06/2016
FU UA 107/16 Oman Stop Action OMANI WRITER RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Omani writer, journalist and human rights activist Sulaiman al-Ma’mari was released without charge on 19 May, following 22 days detained in solitary confinement. The Omani authorities have yet to give a reason for Sulaiman al-Ma’mari’s arrest.
Last developments on UA 116/16 Turkey (EUR 44/4071/2016)
The Turkey team has received confirmation that the group of Syrian refugees that were being arbitrarily detained at the Düziçi camp were all released on Friday 20 May. Unfortunately, we were not able to confirm this information earlier. Please treat this as an informal update while the team verifies the details with the concerned individuals in order to issue a proper update to the UA. No further action is required from the UA Network. Thanks so much to all those who supported this action.
Amazing news regarding Khadija Ismayilova: journalist Khadija Ismayilova free but conviction must be quashed
The release of Khadija Ismayilova by Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court is a welcome step but she will not have obtained justice until her conviction is quashed, said Amnesty International.
Khadija Ismayilova was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment at a trial in September 2015 under trumped-up charges of embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and abuse of office. The Supreme Court today reduced her sentence to a suspended term of three and a half years, after it reversed two of the initial four charges against her.
“Khadija Ismayilova must be fully acquitted if she is ever to obtain justice for her wrongful imprisonment,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Numerous other prisoners of conscience are still in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression in Azerbaijan and must also be freed to break this dangerous pattern of fear and repression.” Khadija Ismayilova, who worked for Radio Free Europe, was investigating and reporting on corruption at the highest levels in Azerbaijan's government, including family members of the President, Ilham Aliyev. Amnesty International recognized her as a prisoner of conscience and, along with other human rights groups, campaigned extensively for her release. Khadija Ismayilova received the UNESCO World Press Freedom prize in earlier this month.
19/05/2016
FU UA 109/16 Russian Federation (EUR 46/4041/2016) stop action
ACTIVIST RELEASED FROM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
Activist Dmitry Vorobyovsky, who had been taken to a psychiatric hospital on 6 May and subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment, was released following a court order on 12 May.
12/05/2016
FU UA 232/13 Bahrain Stop Action GRAND PRIX PROTESTER RELEASED AFTER PARDON
Rayhana al-Mousawi, one of two women protesters at the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix, has been released as part of a royal pardon on 20 April. The other woman, Nafeesa al-‘Asfoor, was released on 2 July 2015.
FU UA 3/14 Bahrain stop action BAHRAINI PHOTOGRAPHER RELEASED
Photographer and prisoner of conscience Ahmad Fardan has been released after completing his three-month prison sentence on 18 April.
Latest news on UA 301/14 Brazil (AMR 19/014/2014)
The Brazil team would like to share with you the latest news on UA 301/14 regarding the disappearance of Davi Fiuza and threats against his mother, Rute Silva Santos.
The police investigations concluded two weeks ago and they indicate the involvement of 23 police officers - including two officials - in the disappearance of Davi. The case now is being sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. There are no further threats to Davi’s family so we are not asking for renewed action at this time, but wanted to update the network on the case.
5/05/2016
FU UA 227/11 Bahrain stop action TEACHER RELEASED AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE
Prisoner of conscience and former president of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, has been released after completing a five-year prison sentence.
FU UA 182/14 Azerbaijan stop action LEYLA AND ARIF YUNUS ARRIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS
Azerbaijani human rights defenders and former prisoners of conscience Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus were allowed to travel to the Netherlands on 19 April to receive medical care for their deteriorating health and to be reunited with their daughter.
FU UA 78/16 Turkey stop action ACADEMICS TARGETED FOR PEACE APPEAL, RELEASED
Turkish academics Muzaffer Kaya, Esra Mungan, Kıvanç Ersoy and Meral Camcı were released from pre-trial detention on 22 April. The prosecution against them for ‘‘making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’’ following their support to a peace appeal has stopped but they have not been acquitted.
28/04/2016
FU UA 82/14 Myanmar Stop Action FIVE MYANMAR MEDIA WORKERS RELEASED
Five media workers from the Unity journal were released from prison on 17 April following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar.
FU UA 117/14 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Political activist Htin Kyaw has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 2/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Six human rights activists have been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 16/15 Myanmar Stop Action HTIN LIN OO RELEASED AFTER PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
Writer Htin Lin Oo has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 211/15 Myanmar Stop Action FOUR MYANMAR LABOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Four labour activists have been released from prison in Myanmar following a Presidential pardon on 17 April.
FU UA 237/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Peaceful protester Myat Nu Khaing has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
Good news: UA 83/16 Mexico
In a positive development on UA 83/16 regarding the relatives of disappeared people from Chihuahua state, we can confirm that they and their human rights defenders have managed to get judges to issue “permanent suspension orders” (suspenciones definitivas) on the government’s attempt to proceed with forensic tests to be carried out by government appointed forensic experts. Although this is good news, we ask that you please continue to take action on the case, and we will issue further updates as necessary.
Good news: Leyla and Arif Yunus: FU UA 182/14 Azerbaijan
You might have already heard the good news regarding human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus. On 19 April, they were allowed to travel to the Netherlands to seek medical care for their deteriorating health. They are currently in the Netherlands where they have finally reunited with their daughter Dinara and they have applied for asylum.
21/04/2016
Correction to: FU UA 286/14 Egypt Stop Action MAHMOUD HUSSEIN RELEASED on bail
Prisoner of conscience Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was released on 25 March after spending more than two years in detention without trial.
FU UA 74/15 UAE Stop Action TWO LIBYAN MEN ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Two Libyan men, Mo’ad Mohammad al-Hashmi al-Harari and ‘Adel Rajeb Nasef, were acquitted of all charges by the Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates on 14 March. Mo’ad Mohammed al-Hashmi was released on 27 March and ‘Adel Rajeb Nasef on 28 March.
FU UA 204/15 Myanmar Stop Action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Prominent student unionist Nandar Sitt Aung was released from prison on 8 April after all charges against him were dropped by courts in Myanmar.
FU UA 237/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Peaceful protester Myat Nu Khaing has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 247/15 Myanmar Stop Action PROMINENT STUDENT UNIONIST RELEASED
Prominent student unionist Kyaw Ko Ko was released from prison on 8 April after courts in Myanmar dropped charges against scores of student protesters.
FU UA 252/15 Myanmar Stop Action STUDENT LEADERS RELEASED
Student leaders Phyoe Phyoe Aung and Lin Htet Naing (aka James aka Aung Thant Zin) were released on 8 April after all charges against them were dropped by courts in Myanmar.
UA 168-12 Azerbaijan (EUR 55/9959/2019)
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Azerbaijani prominent blogger Mehman Huseynov was released on 2 March following two years of unjust imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
Stop UA 155/18 (ASA 41/1729/2020) - Viet Nam: Early release for prisoner of conscience: Tran Thi Nga
Tran Thi Nga was unexpectedly released in early January, after having served three years in prison. She agreed to go into exile as a condition for her release, and has since arrived in the USA safely along with her partner and two sons. In addition to the two photos attached (which we have consent to share on social media), Tran Thi Nga sent you all the following message:
“I thank Amnesty International for your tireless effort in demanding for my freedom, I am happy that my family are now reunited and living in peace. However, there are still many prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, I sincerely hope that Amnesty International will continue to fight for their freedom.”
23/01/2020
Stop UA 139/19 (EUR 62/1659/2020) - Uzbekistan: Nafosat Olloshkurova released
Please find attached the Outcome UA following the release of blogger and human rights defender Nafosat Olloshkurova. Nafosat’s family expressed their gratitude to us for issuing the Urgent Action and thanked all those who sent appeals and contributed to her release.
16/01/2020
Stop UA: 064/19 Honduras: Río Blanco land defenders' protection extended
Please find attached Outcome UA 064/19, confirming that action is no longer required for this UA. Members of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) reviewed and agreed on new protection measures with the government, including for Rosalina Dominguez, member of the Río Blanco community who faced threats in 2019. We will continue to monitor the situation and take action if deemed necessary.
16/01/2020
Stop UA: 153/19 Pakistan: Prime Minister rolls out plan to tackle smog crisis
Please find attached Outcome UA 153/19, confirming that action is no longer required for this UA. Following a press conference held by Prime Minister Imran Khan on 30 November, where a plan was rolled out to tackle the toxic air pollution in line with expert recommendations, Amnesty International received a letter from the Minister for Climate Change in December 2019. In addition to outlining the steps that the government will take to cut emissions, he stated: “I want to assure you that our Ministry is committed to play its role for shifting the landscape in Pakistan towards a cleaner, greener and sustainable future and particularly targeting the growing challenge of air pollution and climate change.” While we welcome the responsiveness of the Government of Pakistan and their willingness to address the crisis, we will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that they follow through on their commitment to clear the air. Big shout out to everyone involved in this action, it is always so wonderful to get a ‘successful’ Outcome UA and that is absolutely thanks to you!
16/01/2020
Stop UA 165/19 Guinea: Activists Arrested for Protesting Released
Please find attached Outcome UA 165/19 regarding five pro-democracy activists, Alseny Farinta Camara, Moussa Sanoh, Boubacar Diallo, Thierno Seydi Ly and Thierno Oumar Barry, who were released on 19 December 2019 in Kindia, western Guinea. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS. NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED.
12/12/2019
Stop UA 44/19 Uzbekistan: Torture of Rashitjon Kadirov stopped
TORTURE OF RASHITJON KADIROV STOPPED
Former Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan, Rashitjon Kadirov, and 12 others stood trial from January to June 2019. There have been credible reports that Rashitjon Kadirov was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention in order to coerce him to give evidence against himself and others. After international attention was brought to the case, it was reported that torture and other ill-treatment stopped. Rashitjon Kadirov was sentenced on 26 June to 10 years in prison.
5/12/2019
Stop Action 114/19 Saudi Arabia: Disappeared Qatari Father And Son Released
Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah. On 1 November 2019, the Saudi authorities released two Qatari citizens, Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (70) and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (17), who then returned home to Doha.
Stop Action UA 123/19 Ethiopia: University Lecturer Released: Firew Bekele
Firew Bekele was released on 19 November after spending three months in detention for his alleged role in writing and publishing a book "the Hijacked Revolution."
Stop Action UA 157/19 Ukraine: Police protect transgender rights march
Good news! On 23 November the Trans March in Kyiv was successfully protected by the authorities. Up to 100 activists were able to convene and march to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. Several hundred law enforcement officers were deployed to protect Trans March participants from the violent members of far-right groups advocating hatred and discrimination - there were dozens of them holding a nearby demonstration, beyond the police cordon. This is a striking improvement with regards to Trans March 2018 when transgender rights activists were not able to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We believe that the actions taken by the UA network as well as advocacy by Amnesty Ukraine have contributed significantly towards ensuring the protection of Trans March 2019. Organisers of the Trans March were thankful to Amnesty for our support.
28/11/2019
Stop Action UA 111/19 Turkey: Two missing men "found" in police detention: Gökhan Türkmen and Mustafa Yılmaz
We are issuing an Outcome UA regarding Gökhan Türkmen and Mustafa Yılmaz, who were missing for months, in what were suspected to be cases of enforced disappearance. The whereabouts of both men have now been disclosed to their families by the Turkish authorities. Mustafa Yılmaz was registered in police detention on 21 October and Gökhan Türkmen on 5 November. They have both been remanded in prison pending their prosecution and are being held in Sincan prison, Ankara.
Thanks so much to all those who supported this UA and contributed to this outcome. Amnesty will continue monitoring their prosecution and raising their case in advocacy meetings, calling for a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of their disappearances and urging the authorities ensure they are prosecuted in fair trials.
Stop Action UA 110/19 Bahrain: Withdrawal of Urgent Action
In light of new information, Amnesty no longer believes Osama Muhana al-Tamimi has been targeted or harassed by the government in 2019. Amnesty regrets the situation and apologizes to those in the Urgent Action network who have invested energy in the case.
Stop Action UA 121/19 Morocco: Hajar Raissouni Released
On 16 October 2019, following a royal pardon, Hajar Raissouni, her fiancé, and the doctor were released from prison after being sentenced to one year in prison for trumped-up charges of abortion and extra-marital sex. Many thanks to all who sent appeals, no further action is requested.
Stop Action UA 137/19 Chile: Referendum Called and State of Emergency Ended: People Protesting Inequality
Please find attached the Outcome UA 137/19 about the protest and repression in Chile. We issued today a long press release, evidence-based videos, social media graphics, and other materials about our findings on a crisis mission deployed on the country for the last 3 weeks.
Stop Action UA 146/19 USA: Execution Halted for Man with Innocence Claims: Rodney Reed
Please find attached the Outcome UA 146/19 with the good news of the halt of the execution of Rodney Reed in the USA.
21/11/2019
STOP ACTION UA 151/19 Turkmenistan: Kasymberdi Garaev returned home
It has been reported that after returning home he has requested public campaigning on his case to stop.
STOP ACTION UA 152/19 Iraq: Activist and Medic Released: Saba Mahdawi
Please find attached the second and final UA 152/19 on activist and medic Saba Mahdawi. On 13 November 2019, activist and medic Saba Mahdawi was released. Saba went missing after being abducted by an unknown group on 2 November 2019. Her family confirmed to Amnesty that Saba was in good health and had not been ill-treated. Thank you for all who sent appeals. No further action is requested.
31/10/19
Stop Action UA 125/19 Tunisia: Tunisian Activist Acquitted Of All Charges: Maissa al-Oueslati
On 19 September 2019, a court in Tunis acquitted 18-year-old activist Maissa al-Oueslati of all charges after facing trumped-up charges that could have resulted in her imprisonment for up to 4 years. On 4 September 2019, the police arbitrarily detained Maissa al-Oueslati and her 16-year-old brother, for filming a protester threatening to set himself on fire in front of a police station. They were interrogated without a lawyer, in a blatant violation of Tunisian law and international human rights law.
17/10/19
Stop Action UA 132/18 Myanmar: Early release for former child soldier: Aung Ko Htwe
Aung Ko Htwe - former child soldier - was released from prison a few months early on 6 September 2019, likely due to good behaviour. Aung Ko Htwe should have never been imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International will continue to monitor his situation and respond to developments as appropriate. Thank you to everyone who took action!
Stop Action UA 88/19 Cyprus: Ahmed H. allowed to return home
We have received confirmation that Ahmed is safely home. Please note that the family is still taking time to recover from this ordeal and we haven’t received consent so far to share any photos from the reunion. We will keep you posted if we get any updates on this.
3/10/19
Stop Action UA 88/19 Cyprus: Ahmed H. allowed to return home
We have received news that Ahmed is on his way home to Cyprus! The Hungarian authorities issued a press release saying that Cyprus has finally accepted him, and Nadia (Ahmed’s wife) has been in touch with the Cypriot authorities too. He was expected to land at around 3am on 28 September.
Stop Action UA 091/19 Colombia: Attacks on Human Rights Defender Investigated: Danelly Estupiñán
Please find attached the Outcome UA 091/19 with the good news of an ongoing national-level investigation initiated on the attacks on the Human Rights Defender Danelly Estupiñán from Buenaventura, Colombia.
26/9/19
Stop Action UA 90/18 Russian Federation: MIKHAIL TSAKUNOV RELEASED
Further to the news shared back in May, we have now even better news regarding Mikhail Tsakunov. On 17 September, the St Petersburg City Court overturned his conviction and acquitted him of all charges (of using violence against a police officer). Mikhail Tsakunov has now the right to receive a compensation for illegal criminal prosecution and spending a year in pre-trial detention. Thanks again for supporting his case at the time as that provided him with visibility and support and surely made a difference.
19/9/19
Stop Action UA 79/19 Russia/Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov finally free
Great news from Ukraine this week! A number of Ukrainian nationals were released as a part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on 7 September. Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov was included in this prisoner exchange. As you’ll remember, Edem Bekirov who has a disability and serious health issues, was in pretrial detention for more than 8 months in conditions that amounted to cruel and degrading treatment. There had already been positive developments on 27 August when a court in Russian-occupied Crimea ordered his release from detention under conditions. However, it was only after the prisoner exchange that he was transferred to a hospital in Kyiv. On 10 September he underwent heart surgery and he is now recovering surrounded by his family.
Stop Action UA 108/18 USA: Trans Asylum Seeker Freed from Detention: Alejandra
We are delighted to inform you that trans asylum seeker Alejandra was freed last Friday by the USA migration authorities who held her in detention for nearly 2 years. She will await the final decision on her asylum claim, which we will be monitoring closely.
12/9/19
Stop Action UA 04/19 Israel/OPT: Prominent Bedouin Leader Released
On 22 July 2019, 70-year-old human rights defender and prominent Bedouin leader Sheikh Sayyah Abu Mdeighim al-Turi was released from Maasiyahu Prison, in the city of Ramle in central Israel. He was granted an early release by the Israeli Prison Service. Sheikh Sayyah had spent seven months in detention for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He is the head of al-‘Araqib, a Bedouin village in the Negev/Naqab that is unrecognized by the Israeli authorities.
Stop Action UA 39/19 Argentina: Deported Mother Allowed To Return To Her Family
Vanessa Gómez Cueva, a Peruvian mother of three who was deported seven months ago from Argentina with her 2-year-old son and forced to leave her other two children behind, received permission to return to Argentina following a landmark decision from the Director of the National Migrations Office.
5/9/19
Stop Action UA 46/16 Kazakhstan: Human rights defender released with conditions: Serikzhan Bilash
After more than five months of detention, prisoner of conscience Serikzhan Bilash was released from house arrest on 17 August after he pleaded guilty and agreed to stop campaigning on human rights violations in China. He will pay a fine of $300 and remain under travel restrictions for three months. Following his release, Serikzhan stated that he had accepted the terms because he was told that he would face seven years in prison if he did not. He said that his organization would continue his work after he stepped down.
16/8/19
Stop Action UA 49/19 Mauritania: Charges against Mauritanian bloggers dropped
A judge has dismissed the case against Mauritanian bloggers Cheikh Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady and dropped the charges against them.
8/08/19
Stop Action UA 32/19 Paraguay: Attacks on Ysati Community Under Investigation
The Prosecutor’s Office began an investigation into the March attacks against the Ysati indigenous community “3 de Julio”. The Paraguayan Institute for Indigenous Affairs (INDI) provided them with humanitarian assistance on 5 April 2019, reissued the identity documents the community lost during the attack, and filed a formal complaint before the Public Prosecutor's Office for the alleged misuse of the criminal justice system against Ava Guaraní indigenous communities.
25/7/19
Stop Action UA 89/19 Turkey: Authorities unlawfully restrict Pride marches
While is it true that the bans were not lifted, Pride organisers welcomed the support and solidarity. We are winding down this action as Pride season is coming to an end in Turkey, but we continue to monitor the situation closely and supporting our partners on the ground.
18/7/19
STOP UA 45/19 Sri Lanka: Supreme court suspends all execution warrants
The 13 prisoners are no longer in imminent danger of being hanged as the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, while hearing the petitions to halt executions of death row prisoners, have suspended all execution warrants until 29 October (the next date of hearing). We are issuing this Outcome UA as action is no longer required for now but will continue to monitor the case closely.
STOP UA 69/19 USA: Dr. Scott Warren New Trial Slated for November
We are closing this UA but between now and November 12 the call is still for Michael Bailey, the US Attorney General in Arizona, to #DropTheCharges. Please continue sending all appeals to him, and more material will be forthcoming.
4/07/2019
FU UA 055-19 STOP ACTION Venezuela DETAINEE RELEASED
Gilber Caro, who was disappeared, arbitrary detained and held incommunicado for almost two months, was released on 17 June 2019, prior to a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to Venezuela.
20/06/2019
UA 14-19 STOP ACTION Cote d’Ivoire ONLINE ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON
Ivoirian online activist, Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir was sentenced to one year in prison for ‘disturbing the public order’ and ‘incitement to xenophobia’ on 7 June 2019. He was convicted without a lawyer present. He was arbitrarily arrested on 8 November 2018 in Korhogo town. While detained, he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.
UA 024-19 STOP ACTION Mexico KILLING OF SAMIR FLORES UNDER INVESTIGATION
The Attorney General of the State of Morelos has opened a criminal investigation into the killing of environmental, land and territory human rights defender Samir Flores Soberanes. Mexico’s National Protection Mechanism has also granted protection measures to several other members of his movement.
UA 74-19 STOP ACTION Turkey DETAINEES NO LONGER IN POLICE CUSTODY
All detainees held at the police’s anti-terrorism branch in Urfa province, south eastern Turkey, following clashes between security forces and the armed PKK on 18 May, have been either released or sent to prison custody. The 13 people that were remanded in prison are no longer considered to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
23/05/2019
UA 76-18 STOP ACTION Morocco HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
On 5 April 2019, human rights defender Zine El Abidine Erradi was released after serving a one-year sentence in Agadir local prison, following an unfair trial. Zine El Abidine holds a refugee status in France and had been arrested upon his arrival in Morocco to visit his father. As of 15 May, he could eventually come back in safety in France after receiving his travel documents.
UA 087-18 STOP ACTION Puerto Rico CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Puerto Rico authorities responded violently to demonstrations on 1 May 2018 by repressing protesters and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. With more demonstrations planned, peaceful protesters were at risk of further human rights violations.
UA 192-18 STOP ACTION Pakistan ASIA BIBI LEAVES PAKISTAN FOR CANADA A FREE WOMAN
Asia Bibi is a Christian farm worker, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010. After an eight-year ordeal, Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquitted her of all charges and released her in October 2018. Following the decision by the Supreme Court to uphold her acquittal on 29 January 2019, it was confirmed by the Pakistani Foreign Office on 9 May that she had left Pakistan and safely arrived in Canada to be reunited with her family.
16/05/2019
UA 4-18 STOP ACTION REUTERS JOUNALISTS RELEASED IN PRISONER AMNESTY
Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been granted a presidential pardon and released from prison after serving more than 500 days of their seven year sentences in Myanmar. This is an important victory for press freedom in Myanmar and beyond, which Amnesty International is proud to have contributed to.
UA 087-18 STOP ACTION Puerto Rico CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Puerto Rico authorities responded violently to demonstrations on 1 May 2018 by repressing protesters and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. With more demonstrations planned, peaceful protesters were at risk of further human rights violations.
UA 117-18 STOP ACTION Algeria PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 7 March 2019, Algerian blogger and prisoner of conscience Merzoug Touati was released. On 4 March 2019, an Algerian court issued a new verdict reducing Marzoug Touati’s sentence from seven to two years in prison and three years of suspended prison term. The decision prompted his release as he had already served two years in prison. Amnesty International has been calling for Merzoug Touati’s immediate and unconditional release, as he was a prisoner of conscience solely detained for his peaceful posts online.
UA 26-19 STOP ACTION United Arab Emirates PRISONER DIES OF CANCER IN DETENTION
On 4 May 2019, Alia Abdelnoor Mohamed Abdelnoor, who was in the terminal stages of cancer, died while chained to a bed in the Tawam hospital in the Al-Ain Emirate, after her health deteriorated. Alia was serving a 10-year sentence on vague and unsubstantiated “terrorism” charges, and which were based on forced confessions. During her detention, Alia was subjected to enforced disappearance, solitary confinement and torture.
9/05/2019
UA 42-19 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER BEING REARRESTED
Azerbaijani activist Bayram Mammadov was released on 29 April after having spent 30 days in administrative detention under trumped-up accusations.
2/05/2019
UA 90-18 STOP ACTION Russian Federation MIKHAIL TSAKUNOV RELEASED, TRIAL ONGOING
Prisoner of conscience Mikhail Tsakunov was released under travel restrictions on 26 April after spending almost a year in pre-trial detention. He was arrested in May 2018 and charged with violence against a police officer for his peaceful participation in an opposition rally. The criminal proceedings against him are ongoing and he is still facing up to five years in prison if convicted.
18/04/2019
UA 188-18 STOP ACTION Myanmar ANTI-MILITARY PEACEFUL PROTESTER RELEASED EARLY
Activist Tin Maung Kyi was released 13 days early on 29 March 2019 after serving six months and two days in prison. He was imprisoned for staging a solo protest calling on the international community to arrest senior Myanmar generals.
11 APRIL 2019
UA 176-18 STOP ACTION Egypt ARBITRARILY DETAINED EGYPTIAN ACTIVIST RELEASED
On 26 March 2019, Egyptian activist Islam Khalil was released on probation after more than a year in arbitrary detention. A judge in the terrorism circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court had ordered his release on 19 February. Instead of releasing Islam, the authorities held him incommunicado since 25 February, refusing to inform his family of his whereabouts. Despite his release, Islam is still facing bogus charges and must spend two hours at a police station twice a week as per his probation terms.
21 MARCH 2019
UA 31-19 STOP ACTION Ukraine POLICE PROTECT WOMEN'S DAY RALLY
The International Women’s Day rally organised by human rights defender Vitalina Koval in Uzhgorod, western Ukraine, on 8 March was a success. Participants were well protected by the police and able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly safely.
14 MARCH 2019
UA 168-12 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Azerbaijani prominent blogger Mehman Huseynov was released on 2 March following two years of unjust imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
UA 91-16 STOP ACTION Egypt DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
On 26 February 2019, Egypt’s Supreme Military Court of Appeals formally accepted an appeal on the two death sentences of Ahmad Amin Ghazali and Abdul Basir Abdul Rauf. The judge commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment, almost a year after a judge in the same court had upheld their death sentences, in a case marred by torture and enforced disappearances.
UA 187-17 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN LAWMAKER RELEASED
On 28 February 2019, Palestinian lawmaker and prominent political figure Khalida Jarrar was released from HaSharon prison in central Israel. She had spent 20 months in administrative detention without charge or trial.
UA 212-18 STOP ACTION Mexico MEXICAN CONGRESS APPROVED SECURITY REFORM
On 28 February, Mexican Congress approved a controversial Constitutional amendment to introduce a “National Guard” in Mexico. The bill originally proposed was substantially changed after heavy criticism by human rights defenders and activists. The approved bill does not contain the most concerning provisions of the proposal and, if correctly implemented, could be a first step in the orderly withdrawal of the military from security tasks.
UA 17-19 STOP ACTION Somaliland POET ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Abdirahman Ibrahim Adan, a poet in Somaliland, was released on 25 February. He had been arrested and detained on 12 January after reciting a poem the previous day in which he called on the Somaliland government to reform its prisons and criminal justice system.
UA 25-19 STOP ACTION Tajikistan OPPOSITION ACTIVIST RELEASED
Opposition leader Sharofiddin Gadoev returned safely to the Netherlands on 2 March. He had been held by the Tajik authorities following his arbitrary arrest in Moscow on 14 February and forcible return to Tajikistan.
28 February 2019
UA206/18 STOP ACTION Thailand RELEASED BAHRAINI RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA
On 11 February 2019, Hakeem Ali al-Araibi was released from Bangkok’s remand prison after the Bahraini authorities dropped their extradition request. He flew back to Australia the same day. Hakeem was arrested on 27 November 2018, by the Thai authorities upon arrival at Bangkok’s international airport, based on an Interpol red notice requesting his extradition to Bahrain. He was expected to serve an unfair 10-year prison sentence there, and would have been at risk of torture and other ill-treatment in detention. Upon his return to Australia, Hakeem thanked the human rights organizations that had acted on his behalf.
UA 112-16 STOP ACTION United Arab Emirates JORDANIAN JOURNALIST RELEASED
On 12 February 2019, Jordanian journalist and poet, Tayseer Salman al-Najjar was released from al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE authorities waived the fine imposed on him and he was flown back to Jordan on the same day. A prisoner of conscience, Tayseer had been due for release on 13 December 2018, having served his three-year prison sentence, but as his family could not pay the fine imposed by the court, his detention was extended.
07 February 2019
SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON FOR POSTING FB VIDEO
Agustinus Yolemal, a Papuan pro-independence activist was convicted for inciting hatred and hostility and sentenced to 1 year’s imprisonment by the Timika District Court in Papua Province on 14 January 2019. He has decided not to file appeal as he is concerned about the safety of his family as well as the boy who was implicated in the video he posted on Facebook. Detained since September 2018, Agustinus Yolemal will serve another 8 months in prison.
31 JANUARY 2019
UA 164-18 Mauritania STOP ACTION MAURITANIAN ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Two anti-slavery activists Biram Dah Abeid and Abdellahi el Housein Mesoud were released from Nouakchott civil Prison on 31 December 2018. The Tribunal of Arafat in Nouakchott sentenced them to six months, two months of which would be a suspended sentence. Having already spent more than four months in prison, Biram and Abdellahi were released the same day.
17 JANUARY 2019
UA 110/18 Paraguay STOP ACTION QUEER ARTIST ACCEPTS AGREEMENT TO AVOID PRISON
Bruno Almada Comas, a young queer artist, was accused of “acts of exhibitionism” and risked prison, based on a performance denouncing violence and discrimination against LGBTI people in Paraguay. He has now accepted an agreement for a conditional suspension of the criminal procedure. If he complies with the conditions imposed, the case will be closed.
10 JANUARY 2019
UA 137/18 Paraguay STOP ACTION 200 FAMILIES NO LONGER AT RISK OF FORCED EVICTION
Families from the Guahory Community, Eastern Paraguay, are no longer at imminent threat of forced eviction. The implementation of the Joint Action Plan for Punishable Actions for Trespassing on Property has been suspended in their community.
FU UA 180/18 Malaysia STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE GRANTED ASYLUM IN CANADA
Hassan al-Kontar has been granted asylum and arrived in Canada on 26 November 2018 after having been stranded in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia for about seven months. Arrested on 1 October for being in a “forbidden area” of the airport, Malaysian authorities initially considered deporting him back to Syria.
20 DECEMBER 2018
FU UA: 66/18 Turkey STOP ACTION COURT LIFTS TRAVEL BANS ON ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS
A Turkish court has lifted travel bans on 30 students facing terrorism-related charges for taking part in a peaceful protest on 19 March. The court rejected the students’ allegations of torture and other ill-treatment while they were in custody on the basis that ‘the incident did not take place in the presence of the court’. The students are still facing charges of ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organization’ and could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
6 DECEMBER 2018
FU UA 146/18 Bangladesh (ASA 13/9455/2018) ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER MONTHS IN DETENTION
Shahidul Alam, photographer and outspoken social activist, has been freed on permanent bail after spending more than 100 days behind bars for comments he made in an interview with Al-Jazeera in August 2018. In detention, he was ill-treated and subjected to prolonged detention merely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
15 NOVEMBER 2018
FU UA 240/17 South Sudan STOP ACTION PRESIDENT PARDONS TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
James Gatdet and William Endley received a presidential pardon on 31 October 2018. The president also ordered the immediate deportation of William Endley to his home country, South Africa. They were released on 2 November.
25 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 149/18 STOP ACTION Paraguay INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GRANTED PROTECTION
Paraguayan authorities have called for an impartial and independent investigation into
the attacks against Tekoha Sauce Indigenous leader Amada Martínez, and provided
physical protection to the community. In addition, the Paraguayan Institute for
Indigenous Affairs formally recognized Cristóbal Martínez as their Indigenous
representative leader enabling the community to claim their ancestral lands.
FU UA 131/18 STOP ACTION Turkey STUDENTS’ TRIAL ONGOING, DESPITE APOLOGY TO ERDOĞAN
Four students from the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in Turkey still face
charges for ‘insulting the president’ despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
withdrawing his complaint. The students met with President Erdoğan ahead of the first
hearing on 22 October and apologized for the offence caused. The next hearing will take
place on 4 April 2019.
FU UA 226/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN NGO WORKER RELEASED
On 30 September, Salah Hammouri, French-Palestinian lawyer and NGO worker, was
released from Ketziot prison in southern Israel. He had spent one year in administrative
detention without charge or trial.
18 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 150/18 Mexico STOP ACTION US-MEXICO ASYLUM DEAL APPEARS UNLIKELY
Diplomatic sources have reported that negotiations to declare Mexico a “safe third country” are off the table.
FU UA 158/18 Sudan STOP ACTION ONLINE ACTIVIST RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Activist Ahmed Al-Dai Bushara Joudah was released without charge from Kober prison on 18 September. He had spent sixty-four days in detention.
11 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 134/18 STOP ACTION Chile LAWYER AT RISK GRANTED PROTECTION MEASURES
Chilean human rights defender and lawyer Karina Riquelme is no longer considered under imminent threat. The Supreme Court of Justice of Chile ordered protection measures for her on 25 September 2018.
4 OCTOBER 2018
FU UA 248/17 India STOP ACTION DALIT RIGHTS ACTIVIST RELEASED
Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, a prominent Dalit rights activist, has been released from Saharanpur District Prison on 14 September. He was being held in administrative detention without charge or trial under the draconian National Security Act.
18 SEPTEMBER 2018
FU UA 238/15 STOP ACTION Malaysia (ASA 28/9008/2018) ALL 14 CHARGES AGAINST POLITICAL ACTIVIST DROPPED
Khalid Mohd Ismath, former prisoner of conscience, has had all charges against him dropped. Arrested on 13 October 2015 and released on bail later that same month, Khalid Mohd Ismath has faced court proceedings, including hearings that were often postponed, for nearly three years. Following the good news, no further action is required.
11 SEPTEMBER 2018
FU UA 285/15 STOP ACTION Malaysia ALL 14 CHARGES AGAINST POLITICAL ACTIVIST DROPPED
Khalid Mohd Ismath, former prisoner of conscience, has had all charges against him dropped. Arrested on 13 October 2015 and released on bail later that same month, Khalid Mohd Ismath has faced court proceedings, including hearings that were often postponed, for nearly three years. Following the good news, no further action is required.
28 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 139/18 STOP ACTION Tajikistan TAJIKISTANI PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 22 August, independent journalist and prisoner of conscience Khairullo (Khayrullo) Mirsaidov received a non-custodial sentence and was released in the courtroom, after spending more than eight months behind bars. He had been detained and prosecuted following his allegations of government corruption.
16 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 72/18 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN NGO WORKER RELEASED
On 17 July, Abdul Razeq Farraj, Finance and Administration Director at the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), a development NGO based in Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), was released from Ofer prison. He had spent 14 months in administrative detention without charge or trial.
13 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 115/18 Angola Stop Action COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF THREE YOUTH
Afonso S. Muatchipuculo (22), António J. Fernando (18) and Justino H. Valente (21) were released on 17 July. The three youth had been sentenced to seven months in prison by the Malange Provincial Court in Angola on 9 April after an unfair trial. They were arrested on 4 April by the police in Malange province in Angola for allegedly throwing stones at the Vice-President’s convoy during a demonstration.
2 AUGUST 2018
FU UA 123/18 USA Stop Action OHIO GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
On 20 July, the Governor of Ohio commuted the death sentence of Raymond Tibbetts, who was scheduled for execution on 17 October. In so doing, the governor rejected the parole board’s 8-1 recommendation against clemency.
FU UA 228/17 Russian Federation Stop Action RUSSIAN COURT WHISTLEBLOWER RELEASED
On 18 July, St Petersburg’s Kalininsky District Court sentenced former court secretary and whistleblower Aleksandr Eivazov to one year and ten months in an open penal colony for “interfering with the course of justice”. On 21 July he was released, having served his sentence in full in pre-trial detention.
FU UA 75/18 Chile Stop Action INDIGENOUS LEADER ENDS 2 MONTH HUNGER STRIKE
After nearly two months on a hunger strike, Mapuche Indigenous spiritual leader Machi Celestino Córdova is granted access to his ceremonial altar to carry out a renewal ceremony, essential to guaranteeing the Mapuches’ psychic and physical well-being.
30 JULY 2018
FU UA 34/18 Indonesia Stop Action ACTIVIST RELEASED, APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTION ONGOING
Environmental activist Heri Budiawan, known as Budi Pego, was released from prison on 1 July 2018. Sentenced to 10 months behind bars for “crimes against the state security” on 24 January 2018, his case was the first conviction under the article of banning communism ideology since the downfall of Soeharto in 1998.
26 JULY 2018
FU UA 254/17 Russian Federation Stop Action
Following our UA on the enforced disappearance in Chechnya of Imran Salamov, we were informed in May that Imran had reappeared in detention in Grozny and that his family had access to him. In June, Imran Salamov had a court hearing in the Zavodsky regional court in Grozny on charges of “assisting in the formation of an armed formation not provided for by federal law” but was acquitted. On 20 June the prosecutor appealed against his acquittal and Imran remains in detention until the appeal hearing. However, his lawyer is confident the acquittal will be upheld and has asked that Amnesty International refrain from sending appeals at this critical time. For that reason, we are asking for people to stop sending appeals. We will issue a formal UA update once we have information regarding the appeal decision. A huge thank you to all those who sent appeals!
19 JULY 2018
FU UA 250/17 USA Stop Action COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION AFTER COMPANY SUES
A judge blocked the State of Nevada from carrying out its first execution in 12 years a few hours before it was due on 11 July. She temporarily suspended the execution – of a prisoner who had given up his appeals – following a legal challenge brought by the manufacturer of one of the drugs the state was going to use in the lethal injection.
FU UA 109/18 Cuba Stop Action ENVIRONMENTALIST CONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Prisoner of conscience and environmental activist Dr Ariel Ruiz Urquiola was sentenced in Cuba to one-year imprisonment for contempt. On 3 July he was released with conditions.
10 JULY 2018
FU UA 270/17 STOP ACTION China LIU XIA FREED, ON HER WAY TO BERLIN
Liu Xia was finally allowed to leave China for Germany on 10 July 2018, after almost eight years of illegal house arrest. Her release came three days before the first anniversary of the death of her husband , Nobel laureate Liu
Xiaobo. Liu Xia’s brother Liu Hui remains in China.
4 JULY 2018
FU UA 102/18 STOP ACTION Nigeria DISPLACED WOMEN, CHILDREN RECEIVE FOOD SUPPLY
Approximately 230 internally displaced women (known as the Knifar movement) and their children who had previously been denied access to food are now able to access food supplies.
20 JUNE 2018
FU UA 107/18 STOP ACTION Turkey TURKISH COURT ACQUITS RAPPER
On 19 June, an Istanbul court ordered the immediate release of rapper, Ezhel, after acquitting him of ‘publicly promoting the use of drugs’ on the basis of insufficient evidence of intent to engage in any unlawful behaviour.
8 JUNE 2018
FU UA 26/18 STOP ACTION Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories PALESTINIAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 6 June, Palestinian activist and human rights defender, Munther Amira was released from Hadarim Prison in Israel after serving his prison sentence. He was sentenced to six months in prison, five years of probation and a fine on 12 March. He was convicted on charges relating to his peaceful participation in protests.
6 JUNE 2018
FU UA 100/18 STOP ACTION USA TEXAS COURT ISSUES STAY OF EXECUTION
On 5 June the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution for Clifton Williams, who was due to be executed in Texas on 21 June. The stay is so that there can be a hearing into the claim that Clifton Williams has intellectual disability.
5 JUNE 2018
FU UA 89/18 STOP ACTION Equatorial Guinea CARTOONIST AND ACTIVIST ABLE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
Equatorial Guinean cartoonist and activist Ramón Esono Ebalé was finally able to leave Equatorial Guinea
on 28 May after he was issued a passport by the authorities.
1 JUNE 2018
FU UA 232/17 STOP ACTION Uzbekistan PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 7 May a court issued Uzbekistani journalist Bobomurod Abdullayev with a non-custodial sentence. He was able to walk out of the court room to be reunited with his family, friends and supporters.
11 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION Turkey PRIDE MARCH NO LONGER AT RISK
The student-organized Pride march gathering hundreds of university students went ahead peacefully on
11 May on the Ankara-based Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), despite attempts from the university and
Ankara authorities to prevent it from taking place.
9 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION South Korea ACTIVIST’S NOT GUILTY VERDICT UPHELD ON APPEAL
Lee Jin-young, operator of the online library ‘Labour Books’, was found not guilty of charges under the National Security Law at the Seoul High Court on 11 April 2018. This verdict was made following an appeal by the prosecution
to a ruling on 20 July 2017 which found Lee Jin-young not guilty.
8 MAY 2018
FU UA 83/18 STOP ACTION Israel ISRAELI GOVERNMENT STOPS FORCED DEPORTATIONS
The Israeli government has declared that it will not pursue forcible deportations of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-
seekers to third countries under the Israeli ‘Procedure for Deportation to Third Countries.' This follows the release of 280 asylum-seekers who had been detained as a result of the policy, after an order by the High Court of Justice.
3 MAY 2018
FU UA 186/17 STOP ACTION Azerbaijan SUPREME COURT ORDERS JOURNALIST’S RELEASE
On 5 April Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court ordered the release of Aziz Orujov, an independent journalist and CEO of the internet TV channel Canal 13, on a suspended three-year sentence. The prisoner of conscience had been detained since 2 May 2017 on fabricated charges and in inhumane conditions.
FU UA 142/15 STOP ACTION Bahrain PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 26 March political activist and prisoner of conscience Fadhel Abbas Mahdi Mohamed was released from Jaw prison, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. He served three years in prison on charges of “spreading false information that could damage military operations of Bahrain and its allies and calling for resistance.”
FU UA 57/18 STOP ACTION Ukraine WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS NO LONGER AT IMMINENT RISK
Following the attacks that marred International Women’s Day in Ukraine on 8 March, Vitaliana Koval and other women’s and LGBTI rights defenders in Ukraine are no longer considered to be facing an imminent threat of violence. Vitalina Koval has since received adequate protection measures during a public action she staged on 31 March, calling
against the impunity of far right groups in Ukraine.
18 APRIL 2018
FU UA 73/18 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT GAZAN'S SECOND LEG SAVED FROM BEING AMPUTATED
On 16 April, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that 20-year-old journalist Yousef al-Kronz, who was seriously wounded by Israeli forces on 30 March during Land Day protests in the Gaza Strip, must be permitted to leave Gaza for urgent medical care in Ramallah to save his remaining leg.
FU UA 62/18 STOP ACTION Ethiopia TWO GOVERNMENT CRITICS RELEASED
Seyoum Teshome and Taye Dendea were released from Maekelawi prison on 16 April without being charged. The two had been arrested on 8 March and 15 March respectively.
FU UA 35/18 STOP ACTION Sudan MORE THAN FIFTY CRITICS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
56 opposition party members and human rights defenders arrested in January and February were released without charge on 10 April. They were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in connection with protests condemning the rise in the cost of food and medicine in Sudan since the beginning of January.
12 APRIL 2018
FU UA 49/18 STOP ACTION India INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' ADVOCATE RELEASED ON BAIL
Upendra Nayak, a 65-year-old lawyer, was granted bail and released from custody on 23 March 2018. Charged with several offences, including ‘sedition’ and ‘waging war against the government of India’, in relation to cases registered by the police over eight years ago, he could face life imprisonment if found guilty.
FU UA 23/18 STOP ACTION Ethiopia ELEVEN PEOPLE FREED AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK IN JAIL
Eleven people including a lawyer, journalists, bloggers, opposition members and academics were released on 5 April without being charged. The 11 had been arrested by Ethiopian security forces while attending a private ceremony in Addis Ababa on 25 March.
FU UA 29/18 STOP ACTION USA ALABAMA ENDS PURSUIT OF 2ND EXECUTION ATTEMPT
An agreement signed on 27 March means that Alabama will not pursue another death warrant for Doyle Hamm, whose execution on 22 February was called off after the lethal injection team could not find an accessible vein over the course of two-and-a-half hours.
FU UA 8/18 STOP ACTION Ecuador INDIGENOUS DEFENDER NO LONGER UNDER THREAT
Indigenous defender Patricia Gualinga is no longer considered under imminent threat. No new security incidents or threats against her have occurred since the 5 January attack at her home. She has since reported receiving protection measures.
29 MARCH 2018
FU UA STOP ACTION 53/18 USA FAMILY SEEKING ASYLUM RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Asylum seekers 15-year-old Astrid and her father Arturo were released from immigration detention at the Berks County Residential Center on 23 March after the successful petition by their lawyers to reopen their case and international pressure calling for the family’s release pending the result of their asylum claim.
FU UA STOP ACTION 47/18 USA OHIO GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
On 26 March the Governor of Ohio granted clemency to William Montgomery, who was scheduled to be executed on 11 April. The governor has commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
FU UA STOP ACTION 275/17 Syria 35 ILL AND INJURED EVACUATED FROM EASTERN GHOUTA
A further 35 patients awaiting medical evacuation in besieged Eastern Ghouta have been evacuated to Damascus city for medical treatment and care. 496 patients are still awaiting evacuation. They require urgent medical treatment.
FU UA STOP ACTION 61/17 Russian Federation ACTIVIST RELEASED AND GIVEN DEPORTATION REPRIEVE
On 15 February, Ali Feruz was released and arrived in Germany a few hours later. The release came after the Supreme Court’s decision on 25 January to uphold the activist’s appeal and overturn the 2017 decision to deport him to Uzbekistan. Ali Feruz had been detained since August 2017 for supposedly violating the terms of his stay in Russia.
FU UA STOP ACTION 253/17 North Korea FORCIBLY RETURNED WOMAN NO LONGER AT RISK
Detained since 3 December 2017 in North Korea for leaving the country without legal permits, Koo Jeong-hwa’s family reports that she is no longer at risk of being sent to a political prison camp together with her 4-year-old son.
FU UA 43/18 STOP ACTION India KASHMIRI PHOTOJOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL
Kamran Yousuf was granted bail and released from prison on 14 March 2018, following six months of pre-trial detention. He has been charged with several criminal offences including ‘waging war against the government of India’, and faces life imprisonment if convicted.
2 MARCH 2018
FU UA 274/17 Venezuela Stop action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE GETS MEDICAL CARE
Prisoner of conscience Villca Fernández finally received medical care after having been denied urgently needed medical treatment since June 2017. Since 26 January 2018, prison authorities have transferred Villca Fernández to a military hospital on several occasions for continued treatment.
FU UA 44/18 Chad Stop action YOUTH ACTIVIST UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Alain Didah Kemba, spokesperson of the Chadian youth movement IYINA, was unconditionally released on 26 February after being presented before the prosecutor. Three days earlier, he had been released from detention for health reasons. He was having difficulty standing as he reported that he had been beaten during an interrogation while in detention. He was never formally charged.
14 FEBRUARY 2018
FU UA 13/18 USA Stop Action GOVERNOR STAYS EXECUTION AFTER JUROR PLEA
On 8 February, the Ohio Governor issued an eight-month reprieve for Raymond Tibbetts, who was due to be executed on 13 February. The decision came after he received a letter in support of clemency from one of the jurors from the 1998 trial.
2 FEBRUARY 2018
FuUA 263/15 STOP ACTION Lesotho LESOTHO SOLDIERS ACQUITTED OF MUTINY CHARGES
A Military Court Martial acquitted 22 Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Soldiers of mutiny charges, while a High Court had ordered a permanent stay of prosecution for one LDF soldier a month earlier. The 23 soldiers had first been arrested and detained between May and June 2015. They were charged with mutiny in the same year. If convicted they would have faced the death penalty.
FuUA 255/17 STOP ACTION Egypt PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Human rights activist and former Prisoner of Conscience Mahienour el-Masry and labour activist Moatasem Medhat acquitted of all charges by Montazah Misdemeanour Court of Appeals in Alexandria. They were respectively released on 16 January and 18 January.
FuUA 2/18 STOP ACTION Sudan OPPOSITION MEMBER RELEASED FROM SUDAN PRISON
Radwan Daoud, a dual national of the US and Sudan, was released without charge from Kober Prison on 18 January. He was arrested on 6 December 2017 and first detained at the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) detention centre.
FuUA 7/18 STOP ACTION China TWO MEMORIAL ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Independent writers Li Xuewen and Zhan Huidong (aka “Xiaozhang” or “Headmaster”), detained due to their participation in the July 2017 seaside memorial for late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, have been released on bail.
FuUA 11/18 STOP ACTION USA SUPREME COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION IN ALABAMA
The US Supreme Court granted a stay of execution in the case of Vernon Madison who was scheduled to be executed in Alabama on the evening of 25 January. The stay is to allow the Court time to decide whether to review the claim that Vernon Madison is not “competent” for execution due to his mental disability.
25 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 12/15 Russian Federation Stop Action TATAR ACTIVIST AND PRISONER OR CONSCIENCE RELEASED
On 27 December 2017, Tatar activist Rafis Kashapov was released from prison after having served the full three-year sentence for his criticism of Russia’s involvement in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and the treatment of Crimean Tatars in the annexed Crimea. Amnesty International recognised the activist as a prisoner of conscience while he was in detention.
11 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 252/17 Bangladesh (ASA 13/7664/2018) Stop action
Mubashar Hasan, a well-known Bangladeshi academic who went missing and was feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance in late 2017, was returned home on 22 December, after 44 days. Mubashar Hasan’s family have said that they are immensely relieved that he has been recovered. “Thank you to Amnesty International for all that it has done,” Mubashar Hasan’s sister, Tamanna, told Amnesty International.
5 JANUARY 2018
FU UA 252/17 Bangladesh Stop Action MISSING BANGLADESHI ACADEMIC RETURNED HOME
Mubashar Hasan, a well-known Bangladeshi academic who went missing and was feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance, was returned home on 22 December, after 44 days.
21 DECEMBER 2017
FU UA 154/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
Palestinian human rights defender and media coordinator for prisoners’ rights group Addameer, Hasan Safadi, was released on 7 December from Ketziot Prison in Israel. He spent nearly a year and a half in administrative detention without charge or trial. He has now returned home to his family in Beit Hanina, in occupied East Jerusalem.
13 DECEMBER 2017
FU UA 169/16 Stop Action Zimbabwe HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES
Pastor Evan Mawarire, a human rights defender in Zimbabwe, was acquitted of the charge of ‘subversion of constitutional elected government’ on 29 November.
30 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA263/16 STOP ACTION MALAYSIA INVESTIGATIONS INTO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER CLOSED
The Malaysian police have officially closed all investigations into Maria Chin Abdullah, who was detained under security laws for organizing a rally on free and fair elections. Placed in solitary confinement for ten days in November 2016, she was released on 28 November 2016 and has continued with her human rights work. She is grateful for all the support and no further action is needed. She shared the following message:
“I would also really like to thank Amnesty very much for all the letters you have written to the Malaysian government, for taking action and for highlighting my case. We are thinking of our next steps. We are far from what we want in achieving human rights and democracy in Malaysia but we will have to continue our work.”
23 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA247/17 STOP ACTION USA EXECUTION CALLED OFF IN DEATH CHAMBER
The execution of Alva Campbell was called off on 15 November after the execution team was unable to find a viable vein for the lethal injection. The governor has set a new execution date of 5 June 2019, by which time Alva Campbell would be 71 years old.
17 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA188/15 STOP ACTION Saudi Arabia SAUDI ARABIAN WRITER ZUHAIR KUTBI RELEASED
On 23 June, Saudi Arabian writer Dr Zuhair Kutbi was released after serving two years in prison. He remains banned from travelling and writing on social media. The conditions of his release are unknown.
FUUA202/17 STOP ACTION USA ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT STOPS EXECUTION
On 7 November, the Arkansas Supreme Court granted a stay of execution in the case of Jack Greene, a 62-year-old man who was scheduled to be executed on 9 November. The state said that it would not seek to have the stay lifted.
FUUA205/16 STOP ACTION Ukraine CRIMEAN TATAR LEADERS RELEASED
Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz, both sentenced to prison by the de facto authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, were taken to an airport and flown to Turkey on 25 October. On 27 October they arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
FUUA234/17 STOP ACTION Chile MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DROPS TERRORISM CHARGES
The Chilean Minister of Interior submitted an application to the court for the crimes of four Indigenous Mapuche men to be reclassified and no longer considered “terrorist crimes”. The men are accused of having burned down an Evangelical church.
7 NOVEMBER 2017
FUUA 244/17 STOP ACTION Tanzania HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER, ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Thirteen health and human rights activists, including two South Africans and one Ugandan, have been released after the court found that there was insufficient evidence against them. The 13 were arrested during a consultative meeting to discuss the Tanzanian government’s decision to limit the provision of certain health services that it had previously provided.
FUUA 215/15 STOP ACTION Bahrain PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED AND EXPELLED
On 30 October, Bahraini prisoner of conscience, Ibrahim Karimi was released from Jaw prison, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. He served over two years in prison on charges including ‘publicly insulting the King’. On 31 October, Ibrahim Karimi was expelled to Iraq following the Ministry of Interior’s decision in November 2012 to arbitrarily revoke his nationality.
19 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 230/17 USA TEXAS COURT ISSUES STAY OF EXECUTION
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted a stay of execution to Clinton Young, who was due to be put to death on 26 October. The case is remanded to the trial court for resolution of the claim that false or misleading testimony was introduced at his trial.
12 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 223/17 Stop Action Azerbaijan ALL LGBTI PEOPLE DETAINED IN MASS RAIDS RELEASED
All LGBTI persons detained during the raids carried out across Baku on 23 September have been released. The authorities must ensure prompt, impartial, thorough and effective investigations are carried out into the mass raids and all allegations of torture and ill-treatment of persons while in custody.
10 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 201/17 Stop Action China POET COMMEMORATING LIU XIAOBO RELEASED
Poet Wu Mingliang, better known by his pen name “Langzi”, and Peng Heping were released on 22 September after being criminally detained since August. It is believed Wu Mingliang’s detention was with regard to an anthology of poems commemorating Liu Xiaobo that he had helped produce. Both men have expressed thanks to the international community for its support.
3 OCTOBER 2017
FU UA 216/17 Stop Action USA COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION, DECISION AWAITED
The US Supreme Court prevented the State of Georgia from executing Keith Tharpe on 26 September, to give the Justices more time to consider the claim that juror racism infected his 1991 trial.
29 SEPTEMBER 2017
FU UA 26/17 Stop Action Sudan DR MUDAWI UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED
Sudanese human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was released on 29 August after the Sudan government dropped all charges against him. Dr Mudawi was arrested on 7 December 2016 by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). He was charged with six offences, two of which are punishable by life imprisonment, or death.
28 SEPTEMBER 2017
FU UA 73/17 Stop Action Myanmar ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Activist Htin Kyaw was released from prison after the Myanmar Army announced on 1 September 2017 that all charges against him, and other named activists and journalists, were to be dropped. He should never have been detained for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
FU UA 137/17 Stop Action Myanmar CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEDIA WORKERS DROPPED
The charges against journalists Kyaw Min Swe and Kyaw Zwar Naing were dropped following an announcement by the Myanmar Army on 1 September 2017. The men had been detained solely for their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and should never have faced charges in the first place.
FU UA 159/17 Stop Action Myanmar THREE JOURNALISTS RELEASED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Former prisoners of conscience Lawi Weng, Aye Nai and Pyae Phone Aung have had the charge against them dropped following an announcement by the Myanmar Army. The three journalists were released from prison on 1 September 2017.
FU UA 205/17 Stop Action Algeria RELIGIOUS MINORITY LEADER RELEASED BUT STILL AT RISK
On 13 September the Court of First Instance in Ain Tedles, Algeria convicted and sentenced President of the Ahmadiyya religious community, Mohamed Fali to a 6 month suspended prison term and a fine of 20,000 Algerian dinar. He was released from pre-trial detention on 13 September but remains at risk of further prosecution.
13 September 2017
FU UA 12/16 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT-Palestine PALESTINIAN CIRCUS PERFORMER RELEASED
Palestinian circus performer and teacher Mohamed Faisal Abu Sakha was released on 30 August from Ketziot Prison in Israel. He spent nearly two years in administrative detention without being charged or tried. He has now returned home to his family in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
8 September 2017
FU UA 169/17 Stop Action Mexico SECURITY MEASURES FOR DEFENDER IMPLEMENTED
In recent weeks authorities have implemented some security measures for Mario Luna, human rights defender and leader of the Indigenous Yaquí community in Sonora state, northern Mexico, following an incident on 27 June where assailants burned the car of the wife, Anahí Ochoa. During July and August Amnesty International and other organizations placed pressure on authorities to achieve advances in his protection measures.
29 August 2017
FU UA 74/17 Stop Action USA ARKANSAS GOVERNOR TO COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCE
On 25 August, the Governor of Arkansas announced his intent to commute the death sentence of Jason McGehee, who had been scheduled for execution on 27 April, when he received a stay from a federal judge, and the parole board recommended clemency. The governor has now accepted that recommendation.
FU UA 90/17 Stop Action Zambia ZAMBIA OPPOSITION LEADER RELEASED
Leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema and five others accused with him have been released. He, together with five others had been arrested in April and charged with treason over allegations of obstructing the Presidential motorcade as it was on the way to a traditional ceremony in the Western Province.
FU UA 97/17 Stop Action Sudan SUDANESE DOCTOR RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Dr. Mohamed Yasin Abdalla, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD), has been released without charge. He was arrested on 22 April in Khartoum by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) agents and detained at the office of the NISS Prosecutor of Crimes against the State in Khartoum.
FU UA 190/17 Stop Action China SIX ACTIVISTS COMMEMORATING LIU XIAOBO RELEASED
Six activists who were criminally detained in July 2017, after taking part in a seaside memorial for Liu Xiaobo in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, have all been released on bail. While still subjected to some restrictions, they have all been returned to their respective hometowns.
24 August 2017
FU UA 140/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR RELEASED
University professor Ahmad Qatamesh was released from administrative detention by the Israeli authorities on 13 August. His three month detention order was not renewed after it expired. He is now back home in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank with his family. Ahmad Qatamesh was a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 161/17 STOP ACTION Chile ABORTION DECRIMINALISED IN CHILE
Chile's Constitutional Tribunal has ruled in favour of decriminalising abortion under three specific circumstances. This is an important step toward ensuring the protection of women and girls' human rights across the country.
FU UA 183/17 STOP ACTION USA GOVERNOR STAYS EXECUTION, ORDERS INQUIRY
On 22 August, the governor of Missouri issued a stay of execution for Marcellus Williams who was due to be put to death later that day. The governor will appoint a Board of Inquiry to review the case and make a recommendation on clemency.
FU UA 193/17 STOP ACTION Ukraine PROTESTOR RELEASED AFTER SERVING FULL SENTENCE
Crimean Tatar protestor Server Karametov was released from police custody in Simferopol, Crimea on 19 August after serving his full 10 day sentence. He was arrested on 8 August while engaging in a peaceful protest outside Crimea’s Supreme Court.
22 August 2017
FU UA 59/17 Stop Action USA FOUR FAMILIES ORDERED RELEASED FROM DETENTION
On 17 August, four-year-old Carlos and 16-year-old Michael along with their mothers, Lorena and Maribel (all names changed to protect their identities), were ordered released from Berks County Residential Center in Pennsylvania by an immigration judge after nearly 700 days in detention. This follows the release of two other young boys and their mothers held in Berks for over 22 months on 7 and 14 August.
FU UA 154/17 Stop Action Paraguay JOURALISTS OUT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER
Menchi Barriocanal and Oscar Acosta, Paraguayan journalists and married couple who were threatened with imprisonment by President Horacio Cartes, have stopped received threats and seem to be out of immediate danger of being arbitrarily detained.
15 August 2017
FU UA 139/17 STOP ACTION North Korea PASTOR RELEASED AFTER OVER TWO YEARS OF DETENTION
Lim Hyeon-soo, a 62 year old Canadian pastor, has been released from a North Korean labour camp after spending more than two and a half years in detention. Convicted of “plotting to overthrow the government” in 2015, he had been sentenced to life in prison with hard labour. The Canadian government has confirmed that Lim Hyeon-soo will soon be reunited with his family in Canada.
10 August 2017
FU UA 121/16 STOP ACTION Russian Federation RUSSIA DROPS CASE AGAINST RIGHTS DEFENDER
The criminal case against prominent Russian human rights defender Valentina Cherevatenko for “violation of ‘foreign agents’ law” was closed on 19 June due to an “absence of the elements of the crime”. She was not informed of the decision and only learnt of it by accident over a month later.
FU UA 116/17 STOP ACTION Sri Lanka HARASSED PRIEST GRANTED FELLOWSHIP ABROAD
Since being summoned for questioning by the Sri Lankan police for hosting a memorial for the war dead, Father Elil Rajendran was successful in securing a court order directing the police not to question him further. In terms of his personal safety, he now has respite from harassment and is out of the country on a short-term Fellowship.
8 August 2017
FU UA 112/17 STOP ACTION Bangladesh ALL 28 MEN SUSPECTED OF BEING GAY RELEASED
The five remaining men still being held on bail, of the 28 who were arrested at a social event outside of Dhaka, were released on 21 July 2017. Initially suspected of being held on suspicion of breaching the prohibition of ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ under Section 377 of the Penal Code, all 28 were charged under the Narcotics Control Act 1990.
FU UA 123/17 STOP ACTION Syria SYRIAN-KURDISH OPPOSITION ACTIVIST RELEASED
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been detained since 9 May by Asayish forces, the police force of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led Autonomous Administration.
FU UA 176/17 STOP ACTION Egypt EGYPTIAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Human rights defender Tarek Hussein was released on 27 July. After being arbitrarily detained for 40 days, the former prisoner of conscience has now joined his family.
FU UA 229/16 STOP ACTION Ukraine CRIMEAN RIGHTS DEFENDER TO APPEAR IN COURT
The pre-trial investigation into the case of Crimean Tatar human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku, falsely accused of membership in an alleged terrorist organisation in Crimea, has now concluded. Emir-Usein Kuku’s case will now be heard before a military court, in Russia. His family’s harassment has stopped for now.
27 July 2017
FU UA 20/17 STOP ACTION South Korea ACTIVIST DETAINED FOR RUNNING ONLINE LIBRARY
Lee Jin-young, operator of the online library ‘Labour Books’, was released on 20 July after the court ruled him not-guilty of charges under the National Security Law.
26 July 2017
FU UA 162/17 STOP ACTION Democratic Republic of Congo ACTIVIST AND HIS LAWYER RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Jean-Marie Kalonji, an activist with the youth movement Quatrieme voie/ il est temps, and his colleague and lawyer Sylva Mbikayi were released without charge on 17 July. The two had been held in incommunicado detention by military intelligence agents since 23 June.
18 July 2017
FU UA 33/14 STOP ACTION Venezuela LEOPOLDO LÓPEZ MOVED TO 'HOUSE ARREST'
Venezuelan prisoner of conscience Leopoldo López was transferred from prison to his house in Caracas, the capital, on 8 July, where he will continue to serve his sentence.
FU UA 151/16 STOP ACTION Dominican Republic CONGRESS REJECTS REGRESSIVE ABORTION REFORM
On 11 July, the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Congress voted to reject proposed reforms to the Criminal Code that failed to decriminalize abortion in limited circumstances and continued to violate the rights of women and girls. As a result, the proposed reforms cannot be made into law during the current legislative period.
FU UA 76/17 STOP ACTION Cuba DEFENDERS END HUNGER STRIKE, RELEASE SECURED
Siblings and human rights defenders Anairis Miranda Leyva, Adairis Miranda Leyva and Fidel Manuel Batista Leyva ended the hunger strike they began on 8 June after being harassed and intimidated in Cuba following their conditional release from prison.
12 July 2017
FU UA 136/17 STOP ACTION China THREE LABOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Hua Haifeng, Li Zhao, and Su Heng were released on bail on 28 June 2017 after being criminally detained while investigating labour conditions at Huajian shoe factories, which produce shoes for Ivanka Trump’s brand, among others. They will remain under close police surveillance for the next 12 month period.
6 July 2017
FU UA 51/17 Bahrain STOP ACTION NADER ABDULEMAN RELEASED AFTER SERVING TERM
Prisoner of conscience, Nader Abdulemam, was released from Jaw prison on 30 June after completing his six-month prison sentence.
30 June 2017
FU UA 151/17 STOP ACTION Syria KURDISH ACTIVIST IN CRITICAL HEALTH RELEASED
Syrian Kurdish opposition activist Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was released on 24 June. He had been detained by the Asayish forces since 23 May. Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was held in poor conditions while suffering a critical heart condition.
22 June 2017
FU UA 143/17 STOP ACTION Maldives OPPOSITION POLITICIAN RELEASED
Opposition politician Adam Azim has been released after spending nearly a week in detention in Maldives. He was arrested and faced trumped up charges after criticizing the government in a TV interview.
15 June 2017
FU UA 261/15 STOP ACTION Russian Federation NATALYA SHARINA VICTIM OF TRAVESTY OF INJUSTICE
On 5 June, Natalya Sharina, ex-Director of the Ukrainian Library in Moscow, was found guilty of “incitement of hatred and enmity” and “embezzlement” and given four years suspended sentence. Her prosecution was unfounded and politically motivated and she is going to appeal the conviction.
FU UA 93/17 STOP ACTION Greece UNSAFE REFUGEE CAMPS IN GREECE EVACUATED
The three refugee camps in the Elliniko area, Athens, were evacuated on 2 June. The majority of refugees and migrants still in the sites were transferred by bus to alternative camps. In the last days before the evacuation residents were finally asked about their specific circumstances but it is still unclear whether everyone has been moved to accommodation adequate to their needs.
FU UA 108/17 STOP ACTION Madagascar THREE CHARGES AGAINST JOURNALIST DROPPED
Fernand Cello, a Malagasy investigative journalist, has had three charges which were related to his journalism work dropped. These charges were related to his journalism work. He is also now receiving the medical care he needs.
FU UA 132/17 STOP ACTION Belarus TORTURE SURVIVOR RELEASED IN CHECHNYA
Murad Amriev was handed over to Russian law enforcement officers at 3am on 9 June after having been returned from Belarus where he unsuccessfully attempted to claim asylum. He has been released on bail on condition that he does not leave Chechnya.
8 June 2017
FU UA 93/17 STOP ACTION Greece UNSAFE REFUGEE CAMPS IN GREECE EVACUATED
The three refugee camps in the Elliniko area, Athens, were evacuated on 2 June. The majority of refugees and migrants still in the sites were transferred by bus to alternative camps. In the last days before the evacuation residents were finally asked about their specific circumstances but it is still unclear whether everyone has been moved to accommodation adequate to their needs.
7 June 2017
FU UA 230/16 STOP ACTION Timor-Leste JOURNALISTS CLEARED OF CRIMINAL DEFAMATION
On 1 June, a Dili court cleared Raimundos Oki and Lourenco Vicente Martins of all charges against them. The two Timorese journalists were on trial on criminal “defamatory false information” charges filed by Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister in 2016.
FU UA 70/17 STOP ACTION Maldives SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVIST RELEASED FROM PRISON
Maldivian social media activist Thayyib Shaheem was released on 17 April after spending almost one month on remand in Dhoonidhoo island prison. He was accused of “spreading panic” on social media after he criticised a development project in Maldives.
26/5/17
FU UA 104/17 STOP ACTION Togo COMMUNITY LEADER FREED AFTER CHARGES DROPPED
Salomée T. Abalodo, farmer and community leader, has been released after the Tribunal of Pagouda (Kara, northern region of Togo) dropped all charges against her.
19/5/17
FU UA 260/16 Stop Action Sudan PASTOR, MISSIONARY AND ACTIVIST RELEASED
Petr Jezek, Hassan A. Kodi and Abdulmonem Abdumawla have been released after a presidential pardon. Petr Jezek had been sentenced to life imprisonment, while the other two had been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on 29 January.
5/5/2017
FU UA 75/17 Stop Action Sudan OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Three political opposition activists, Mohamed Hassan El Bushi, Amin Saad and Motaz Al Ajail, were released without charge on 25 and 30 April. The three had been detained without charge since January and February 2017 because of their political activities and support of protests in November 2016 against economic austerity measures.
FU UA 19/16 Stop Action Iran IRANIAN FILMMAKER KEYWAN KARIMI RELEASED
Iranian filmmaker Keywan Karimi was released from Tehran’s Evin prison on 19 April 2017. He had been imprisoned since 23 November 2016. Keywan Karimi was a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 198/16 Stop Action Nigeria PRO-BIAFRAN ACTIVIST RELEASED
Sunday Chucks Obasi (30) who was abducted from his home in Amuko Nnewi Anambra State on 16 August 2016 by Nigerian security agents has been released on bail.
FU UA 11/17 Mexico Stop Action GENERAL LAW ON TORTURE IMPROVED AND PASSED
On 19 April the lower house of Mexican congress approved their version of the General Law on Torture and sent it back to the Senate for final approval before it becomes law. This final version is an improvement of the earlier draft, and all of the four regressive articles Amnesty International was concerned about have been improved upon.
20/4/17
FU UA 64/17 USA Stop Action STAY OF EXECUTION FOR DON DAVIS IN ARKANSAS
The execution of Don Davis, scheduled for 17 April in Arkansas, did not go ahead. Minutes before midnight, when the death warrant was set to expire, the US Supreme Court refused to lift the stay issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court that afternoon.
11/4/17
FU UA 72/17 USA Stop Action TEXAS APPEAL COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION
On 7 April, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution in the case of Paul Storey, who was scheduled to be put to death on 12 April. The case has been remanded to a lower court for further review of the claim that the prosecution presented false evidence at the trial.
6/4/17
UA 95/16 Argentina Good news: Supreme Court of Tucumán has acquitted Belén!
We would like to share with great joy that on 27 March, the Supreme Court of Tucumán Province, northern Argentina, unanimously decided to acquit Belén, the 27-year-old woman who was sentenced to eight years' prison after suffering a miscarriage in a public hospital.
FU UA 296/11 Bahrain Stop Action ACTIVIST DR ALI ESA MANSOOR AL-EKRI RELEASED
Dr Ali Esa Mansoor al-Ekri, a Bahraini consultant surgeon and activist, has been released after completing his five-year prison sentence. He was a prisoner of conscience.
4/4/17
FU UA 294/15 Egypt Stop Action FIFTH AND FINAL ACTIVIST IN ABDEEN CASE RELEASED
Gamila Seryel-Dain, the last jailed activist from the group of five activists sentenced in the ‘Abdeen case’ to two years in prison for violating Egypt’s repressive 2013 protest law, was released on 14 March after receiving a presidential pardon. All five activists have now been released.
FU UA 57/17 Malaysia Stop Action ACTIVIST FINED FOR SCREENING DOCUMENTARY
Human Rights Defender Lena Hendry was fined RM10,000 (USD 2,260) by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court on 22 March 2017 for the private screening of a human rights documentary about Sri Lanka. However no prison sentence was imposed.
23/3/17
FU UA 54/16 Algeria STOP ACTION ALGERIAN ACTIVIST DAHMANE KERAMI RELEASED
Algerian activist Dahmane Kerami was released on 31 December 2016 after spending one year behind bars for participating in 2014 and 2015 in peaceful social protests in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria.
FU UA 23/17 STOP ACTION Japan OKINAWA ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER FIVE MONTHS
Hiroji Yamashiro, 64 years of age, has been released on bail after five months in detention without being able to see his family. Arrested for his role in protests against new U.S. military construction projects in Okinawa, his next court hearing is scheduled for 27 March 2017.
FU UA 48/17 STOP ACTION Israel/OPT PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL
Palestinian journalist Muhammed al-Qiq suspended his hunger strike on 10 March 2017 after he learned that the Israeli authorities were not renewing his administrative detention order. He is expected to be released on 10 April.
17/3/16
FU UA 224/16 South Sudan FORMER GOVERNOR RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Elias Waya Nyipuoch, former governor of Wau state, was released without charge on 14 March. He had been detained by the South Sudanese military since 26 June 2016.
14/3/17
FU UA 224/15 India DETAINED JOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL
Santosh Yadav was released from prison on 9 March 2017, over a week after the Supreme Court of India granted him bail. Detained since September 2015, it is believed that he was targeted for his work among Indigenous Adivasi communities in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. He is required to report to the local police station daily.
10/3/17
FU UA 128/16 Sudan THREE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FREED
Three human rights defenders Khalafalla A. Mukhtar, Midhat A. Hamdan and Mustafa Adam have been released after being sentenced to time served by a court in Khartoum, Sudan. The three, who were released on 6 March, had been in detention since their arrests on 22 May 2016. Earlier in January, the court dropped all charges against Arwa Elrabie, Al Hassan Kheiry and Raye Imany Leyla.
9/3/17
FU UA 33/17 STOP ACTION Venezuela DETAINEE NO LONGER HELD INCOMMUNICADO
Retired general Raúl Isaías Baduel, who has been detained in the Venezuelan military prison Ramo Verde since 12 January, has finally been allowed to meet with his lawyer and his family after being held incommunicado for a period of time, and has been brought before a relevant court of law.
FU UA 21/17 STOP ACTION Turkey WOMAN IN URGENT NEED OF SURGERY RELEASED
Sibel Çapraz was conditionally released from prison on 28 February. She had been in pre-trial detention for almost one year and was in need of medical treatment and an urgent operation. Her release means she will be able to obtain the vital medical care she needs.
FU UA 54/17 STOP ACTION USA SALVADORAN ASYLUM SEEKER RELEASED
Salvadoran woman Sara Beltran Hernandez has been granted bond and released from detention. She had been held in a Texas detention centre for 15 months, despite having a claim to asylum and being in urgent need of medical attention.
2/3/17
FU UA 279/16 STOP ACTION Turkmenistan INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST AND HIS MOTHER RELEASED
On 15 February independent Turkmenistani journalist Khudayberdy Allashov and his mother, Kurbantach Arazmedova, were given three-year conditional sentences after being found guilty of possessing chewing tobacco. They were released from the courtroom.
23/2/17
FU UA 287/16 STOP ACTION Congo LUCHA ACTIVIST RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Musasa Tshibanda, an activist from the youth movement Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was released on 8 February. He was not charged. He had been in incommunicado detention since 16 December 2016 when he was arrested together with another activist, Gloria Senga.
FU UA 42/17 STOP ACTION Ukraine TWO ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Russian activists Seroe Fioletovoe and Viktoriya Miroshnichenko were released unharmed after spending 15 days in detention in the pro-Russian separatist-controlled Donetsk, in Ukraine. The activists have now returned to Russia.
16/2/16
FU UA 280/16 STOP ACTION Algeria JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM DETENTION
Algerian journalist Hassan Bouras was released on 17 January after his sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended prison term on appeal.
9/2/16
FU UA 239/16 STOP ACTION India CHILDREN RELEASED FROM UNLAWFUL DETENTION - Rayees Ahmad Mir and Waheed Ahmed Gojree have been released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed their detention orders on 6 and 31 December 2016 respectively. The teenagers were unlawfully detained in prison under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), an administrative detention law that expressly prohibits the detention of anyone under 18 years of age.
2/2/17
FU UA 256/16 Stop Action Myanmar AID SERVICES SLOWLY RESUME IN NORTH RAKHINE
Despite some continuing restrictions, humanitarian services such as food distribution, nutrition assistance and primary healthcare are slowly resuming in northern Rakhine State. According to the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), more than 16,000 people in Maungdaw north received food assistance and nutrition support between 13 and 20 January.
FU UA 265/05 Stop Action China NOT-GUILTY VERDICT FOR MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
After more than 13 years since Huang Zhiqiang, Fang Chunping, Cheng Fagen and Cheng Lihe were originally sentenced to death, the Jiangxi Provincial Higher People’s Court has announced a not-guilty verdict. All four men were immediately released after a closed-door retrial on 30 November 2016.
FU UA 273/16 Cuba Stop Action CUBAN GRAFFITI ARTIST RELEASED
Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado (‘El Sexto’) was released over the weekend. Amnesty International had considered him a prisoner of conscience.
FU UA 277/16 USA Stop Action OBAMA COMMUTES CHELSEA MANNING'S SENTENCE
With less than a week left in his term, former President Barack Obama commuted Chelsea Manning’s sentence on 17 January. While this welcome move was long overdue, the US government must now investigate the potential human rights violations that she exposed.
UA 280/16 Stop Action Algeria ALGERIAN JOURNALIST HASSAN BOURAS RELEASED
Algerian journalist Hassan Bouras was released from prison on 17 January after his sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended prison term on appeal. An Algerian court had sentenced Hassan Bouras to a year in prison and fines for a video denouncing corruption of local officials in the city of El Bayadh.
FU UA 7/17 Bangladesh Stop Action UNLAWFULLY DETAINED HINDU FISHERMAN OUT ON BAIL
Hindu fisherman Rasraj Das was granted bail on 16 January 2017 after spending more than two months in jail for allegedly posting an “offensive” image on Facebook. Although police have stated he was not responsible for posting the image, the charge of “hurting religious sentiment” has not been dropped. His next court date has not been set.
25/1/17
FU UA 188/16 STOP ACTION Angola FOUR YOUTH ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Four Angolan youth activists who are part of the Benguela Revolutionary Movement (Movimento Revolucionário de Benguela) are out on bail. The youth activists have not been charged.
FU UA 247/16 STOP ACTION Russian Federation ILDAR DADIN MOVED TO A NEW PRISON
Following revelations that he had been tortured in Segezha prison colony, prisoner of conscience Ildar Dadin was moved to a new prison colony. On 6 January his family were informed that he is now in Prison Colony 5 in the Altai district of Southern Siberia. Between 5 December and 6 January neither his wife nor his lawyer were informed about his whereabouts.
22/12/16
FU UA 276/16 Nicaragua Stop Action POLICE RETURN DEFENDER'S SEIZED VEHICLES
On 10 December Nicaraguan police returned two vehicles that they had taken possession of from human rights defender Francisca Ramírez 10 days before. The vehicles showed signs of damage and no reason was given for their seizure. Francisca Ramírez mentioned that international pressure helped her gain justice.
15/12/16
FU UA 262/16 STOP ACTION France MAN RETURNED TO SUDAN, OTHER NO LONGER AT RISK
One of the two Sudanese nationals at risk of being illegally returned to Sudan from France was released on 22 November and is not at immediate risk. The other man was sent back to Sudan on 2 December after his asylum application was rejected.
8/12/2016
FU UA 168/15 Bahrain Stop Action CHARGE DROPPED, EBRAHIM SHARIF REMAINS FREE
Bahraini political activist Ebrahim Sharif’s one year prison sentence was upheld on 7 November by the Appeal Court. He remains free having already completed one year in prison on 11 July. On 13 November the Prosecution brought a new charge against him which was then dropped on 23 November.
FU UA 31/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action FORMER CHILD DETAINEE RETURNED TO PRISON
Mohammad al-Hashlamoun was released on 28 June after six months in administrative detention. However, the Israeli authorities have subsequently rearrested him and on 7 November he has been given another four month administrative detention order.
FU UA 77/16 Mongolia Stop Action ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PROVIDED FOR TEN FAMILIES
Ten families from Building #3 in Ulaanbaatar (UB), previously facing homelessness during this severe winter, have been provided with alternative housing. The Building is now empty of inhabitants.
FU UA 101/16 Israel/OPT Stop Action CHILD RELEASED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION
Abed al-Rahman Awad Kmail was released by the Israeli authorities from administrative detention on 2 October after nearly eight months in detention in Megiddo prison inside Israel. He had spent his 17th birthday in detention.
FU UA 164/16 Angola Stop Action ANGOLAN ACTIVIST RELEASED A WEEK EARLY
Francisco Mapanda (also known as Dago Nível Intelecto) was released from Comarca de Caquila prison on 21 November, seven days earlier than when he was due to be released. The reason for his early release is unknown.
FU UA 215/16 India Stop Action DETAINED KASHMIRI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED
Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, was released from administrative detention on 30 November, five days after a court ruled his detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act arbitrary and illegal.
FU UA 264/16 USA Stop Action TEXAS COURT BLOCKS EXCECUTION
On 2 December, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution to John Battaglia, a 61-year-old man who was scheduled to be executed in Texas on 7 December. The stay is for the Court to be able to review the question of his mental competence.
24/11/2016
FU UA 20/16 Venezuela Additional good news! PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RECEIVES MEDICAL CARE
Following on the stop action we issued on Rosmit Mantilla’s case earlier this week after he received urgently needed medical attention, we are happy to share with you that Rosmit Mantilla was released last night (17 November)! The Member of Parliament, LGBTI activist and prisoner of conscience was released after spending more than two years in pre-trial detention at the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service facilities in Caracas.
UA: 201/16 Bangladesh Stop action STUDENT ACTIVIST ARRESTED FOR FACEBOOK POSTS
Dilip Roy, a 22-year-old student activist, has been arrested in Rajshahi in Bangladesh after making two Facebook posts criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He has been denied bail and could face up to 14 years in prison.
Dilip Roy has been granted bail and, even if he hasn’t been released yet as it usually takes a couple of days in Bangladesh for the bail order from the court to reach the prison, he will be finally freed very soon.
17/11/2016
FU UA 143/15 Angola stop action 17 ANGOLAN YOUTH ACTIVISTS GRANTED AMNESTY
The 17 Angolan youth activists arrested, detained and convicted for attending a meeting to discuss politics and governance concerns in the country were granted amnesty by the Supreme Court on 16 September. Instead of the amnesty, 16 of them would prefer to have their conviction quashed.
FU UA 189/15 Nigeria STOP ACTION 267 HOMES FACE NO FURTHER THREAT OF EVICTIONS
The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) has not effected 21 day demolition notices issued on 12 August 2015 to 267 houses in communities in Zaria City, including Kofan Doka, Kofan Kibo and Anguwan Alkali. The court order restricting any further demolitions in Zaria City until the court case challenging the demolitions is concluded is still in place.
FU UA 020/16 Venezuela stop action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE
Venezuelan Prisoner of Conscience Rosmit Mantilla was finally given the urgent medical attention he needed.
6/10/2016
FU UA 137/16 IRAN Homa Hoodfar freed after global campaign
Canadian-Irish-Iranian citizen Dr Homa Hoodfar, a prominent professor of anthropology, was released on 26 September and flown out of Iran to Oman. She had been detained in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin Prison since her arbitrary arrest on 6 June.
29/09/2016
FU UA 175/16 Cambodia STOP ACTION Cambodian housing rights defender released
Two Cambodian housing rights defenders were tried and convicted on 22 August for “insult of a public official”. While Bov Sophea has been released, Tep Vanny remains in detention, serving a six-month sentence for charges related to a 2011 protest, and under investigation for separate charges linked to a 2013 protest.
22/09/2016
UA 9/16 Egypt STOP ACTION AHMED ABDULLAH RELEASED ON BAIL
Prisoner of conscience Ahmed Abdullah was released on bail on 10 September after spending over four months in detention without trial.
15/09/2016
FU UA 280/15 Jordan STOP ACTION ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS ON REFUGEES’ CONDITION
Negotiations continue to find a solution for the circa 80,000 refugees stranded at the ‘berm’, a desert area located along the Jordan-Syria border. While concerns remain on the wellbeing of refugees, we are closing this Urgent Action pending new information.
1/09/2016
FU UA 15/16 Egypt stop action THREE ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
Dr Taher Mokhtar and two other activists were released from detention on 11 August. A Cairo court had ordered their release on bail nine days earlier on 3 August. They spent seven months in detention facing baseless charges.
FU UA 180/16 Ukraine stop action DISAPPEARED MAN FREED FROM SECRET DETENTION
Dmytro Koroliov was released on 2 August after spending one year in secret detention in the Security Service of Ukraine compound in Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine. At least 12 others were also released from secret detention between 25 July and 2 August.
26/08/2016
FU UA 107/15 Egypt STOP ACTION RIGHTS LAWYER AND JOURNALIST RELEASED
Mahienour El-Massry and Youssef Shaaban were released on 13 August after serving their 15-month prison sentence. Loay El-Kahwagi, who was sentenced in the same case, is still serving his sentence and is due to be released in March 2017.
18/08/2016
FU UA 17/16 Ukraine stop action DISAPPEARED MAN RETURNED HOME
Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi returned home on 25 February, having spent 15 months in secret detention. In July, Ukraine’s Chief Military Prosecutor promised an effective investigation into Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi’s allegations of enforced disappearance and torture by members of the Security Service of Ukraine. Kostyantyn Beskorovaynyi has since given media interviews about his ordeal.
FU UA 135/16 Greece stop action RETURN TO TURKEY NOT IMMINENT FOR TWO SYRIANS
The first two Syrian refugees that became at risk of being forcibly returned to Turkey under the illegal EU-Turkey deal have now been released from detention. In both cases a court has also ordered the suspension of their deportation until other court hearings take place at the end of September.
11/08/2016
FU UA: 165/16 China STOP ACTION ON LAWYER AT RISK OF TORTURE
Lawyer Ren Quanniu, who was criminally detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, has been released on bail. Please stop sending appeals at this time.
21/07/2016
FU UA 231/15 Ukraine stop action UKRAINIAN OFFICER RELEASED, REUNITES WITH FAMILY
Ukrainian officer Ivan Bezyazykov was released from detention by the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on 5 July after spending more than 22 months in captivity and being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. He has reunited with his wife and children in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.
FU UA 34/16 Russian Federation stop action PERFORMANCE ARTIST RELEASED FROM PRISON
Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky was released from prison on 8 June after almost seven months in custody. Pyotr Pavlensky was arrested on 9 November when he set fire to the wooden doors of the headquarters of the Federal Security Service in the capital Moscow.
23/06/2016
FU UA 306/14 Bahrain STOP ACTION Zainab al-Khawaja released, left Bahrain
Zainab al-Khawaja and her son were released from prison in Bahrain on humanitarian grounds on 31 May. She left Bahrain for Denmark on 7 June after receiving information that she could face new charges if she remained in Bahrain.
FU UA 282/15 Turkey STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE REUNITED WITH FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA
Syrian refugee Fadi Mansour finally reunited with his family in Melbourne, Australia, on 11 June. He had been held in the Adana Removal Centre in south-eastern Turkey since 23 March, after he was arbitrarily detained for more than one year in inhumane conditions in Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport.
9/06/2016
FU UA 236/14 United Arab Emirates stop action FOUR LIBYAN MEN ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Four Libyan men, three of them with dual nationality, were acquitted on 30 May by the Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing support to “terrorist” groups. They were released the next day. The fate of three others remains unknown.
2/06/2016
FU UA 107/16 Oman Stop Action OMANI WRITER RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
Omani writer, journalist and human rights activist Sulaiman al-Ma’mari was released without charge on 19 May, following 22 days detained in solitary confinement. The Omani authorities have yet to give a reason for Sulaiman al-Ma’mari’s arrest.
Last developments on UA 116/16 Turkey (EUR 44/4071/2016)
The Turkey team has received confirmation that the group of Syrian refugees that were being arbitrarily detained at the Düziçi camp were all released on Friday 20 May. Unfortunately, we were not able to confirm this information earlier. Please treat this as an informal update while the team verifies the details with the concerned individuals in order to issue a proper update to the UA. No further action is required from the UA Network. Thanks so much to all those who supported this action.
Amazing news regarding Khadija Ismayilova: journalist Khadija Ismayilova free but conviction must be quashed
The release of Khadija Ismayilova by Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court is a welcome step but she will not have obtained justice until her conviction is quashed, said Amnesty International.
Khadija Ismayilova was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment at a trial in September 2015 under trumped-up charges of embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and abuse of office. The Supreme Court today reduced her sentence to a suspended term of three and a half years, after it reversed two of the initial four charges against her.
“Khadija Ismayilova must be fully acquitted if she is ever to obtain justice for her wrongful imprisonment,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Numerous other prisoners of conscience are still in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression in Azerbaijan and must also be freed to break this dangerous pattern of fear and repression.” Khadija Ismayilova, who worked for Radio Free Europe, was investigating and reporting on corruption at the highest levels in Azerbaijan's government, including family members of the President, Ilham Aliyev. Amnesty International recognized her as a prisoner of conscience and, along with other human rights groups, campaigned extensively for her release. Khadija Ismayilova received the UNESCO World Press Freedom prize in earlier this month.
19/05/2016
FU UA 109/16 Russian Federation (EUR 46/4041/2016) stop action
ACTIVIST RELEASED FROM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
Activist Dmitry Vorobyovsky, who had been taken to a psychiatric hospital on 6 May and subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment, was released following a court order on 12 May.
12/05/2016
FU UA 232/13 Bahrain Stop Action GRAND PRIX PROTESTER RELEASED AFTER PARDON
Rayhana al-Mousawi, one of two women protesters at the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix, has been released as part of a royal pardon on 20 April. The other woman, Nafeesa al-‘Asfoor, was released on 2 July 2015.
FU UA 3/14 Bahrain stop action BAHRAINI PHOTOGRAPHER RELEASED
Photographer and prisoner of conscience Ahmad Fardan has been released after completing his three-month prison sentence on 18 April.
Latest news on UA 301/14 Brazil (AMR 19/014/2014)
The Brazil team would like to share with you the latest news on UA 301/14 regarding the disappearance of Davi Fiuza and threats against his mother, Rute Silva Santos.
The police investigations concluded two weeks ago and they indicate the involvement of 23 police officers - including two officials - in the disappearance of Davi. The case now is being sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. There are no further threats to Davi’s family so we are not asking for renewed action at this time, but wanted to update the network on the case.
5/05/2016
FU UA 227/11 Bahrain stop action TEACHER RELEASED AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE
Prisoner of conscience and former president of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, has been released after completing a five-year prison sentence.
FU UA 182/14 Azerbaijan stop action LEYLA AND ARIF YUNUS ARRIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS
Azerbaijani human rights defenders and former prisoners of conscience Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus were allowed to travel to the Netherlands on 19 April to receive medical care for their deteriorating health and to be reunited with their daughter.
FU UA 78/16 Turkey stop action ACADEMICS TARGETED FOR PEACE APPEAL, RELEASED
Turkish academics Muzaffer Kaya, Esra Mungan, Kıvanç Ersoy and Meral Camcı were released from pre-trial detention on 22 April. The prosecution against them for ‘‘making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’’ following their support to a peace appeal has stopped but they have not been acquitted.
28/04/2016
FU UA 82/14 Myanmar Stop Action FIVE MYANMAR MEDIA WORKERS RELEASED
Five media workers from the Unity journal were released from prison on 17 April following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar.
FU UA 117/14 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Political activist Htin Kyaw has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 2/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Six human rights activists have been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 16/15 Myanmar Stop Action HTIN LIN OO RELEASED AFTER PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
Writer Htin Lin Oo has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 211/15 Myanmar Stop Action FOUR MYANMAR LABOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED
Four labour activists have been released from prison in Myanmar following a Presidential pardon on 17 April.
FU UA 237/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Peaceful protester Myat Nu Khaing has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
Good news: UA 83/16 Mexico
In a positive development on UA 83/16 regarding the relatives of disappeared people from Chihuahua state, we can confirm that they and their human rights defenders have managed to get judges to issue “permanent suspension orders” (suspenciones definitivas) on the government’s attempt to proceed with forensic tests to be carried out by government appointed forensic experts. Although this is good news, we ask that you please continue to take action on the case, and we will issue further updates as necessary.
Good news: Leyla and Arif Yunus: FU UA 182/14 Azerbaijan
You might have already heard the good news regarding human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus. On 19 April, they were allowed to travel to the Netherlands to seek medical care for their deteriorating health. They are currently in the Netherlands where they have finally reunited with their daughter Dinara and they have applied for asylum.
21/04/2016
Correction to: FU UA 286/14 Egypt Stop Action MAHMOUD HUSSEIN RELEASED on bail
Prisoner of conscience Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was released on 25 March after spending more than two years in detention without trial.
FU UA 74/15 UAE Stop Action TWO LIBYAN MEN ACQUITTED AND RELEASED
Two Libyan men, Mo’ad Mohammad al-Hashmi al-Harari and ‘Adel Rajeb Nasef, were acquitted of all charges by the Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates on 14 March. Mo’ad Mohammed al-Hashmi was released on 27 March and ‘Adel Rajeb Nasef on 28 March.
FU UA 204/15 Myanmar Stop Action PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Prominent student unionist Nandar Sitt Aung was released from prison on 8 April after all charges against him were dropped by courts in Myanmar.
FU UA 237/15 Myanmar Stop Action MYANMAR PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Peaceful protester Myat Nu Khaing has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
FU UA 247/15 Myanmar Stop Action PROMINENT STUDENT UNIONIST RELEASED
Prominent student unionist Kyaw Ko Ko was released from prison on 8 April after courts in Myanmar dropped charges against scores of student protesters.
FU UA 252/15 Myanmar Stop Action STUDENT LEADERS RELEASED
Student leaders Phyoe Phyoe Aung and Lin Htet Naing (aka James aka Aung Thant Zin) were released on 8 April after all charges against them were dropped by courts in Myanmar.
UA 168-12 Azerbaijan (EUR 55/9959/2019)
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RELEASED
Azerbaijani prominent blogger Mehman Huseynov was released on 2 March following two years of unjust imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
14/04/2016
FU UA 35/15 Saudi Arabia STOP ACTION HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST RELEASED
Saudi Arabian prisoner of conscience, Issa al-Nukheifi, was released after serving a prison sentence for his human rights activism.
FU UA 50/16 Honduras STOP ACTION MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RETURNS HOME
Mexican human rights defender Gustavo Castro Soto, sole witness to the murder of Indigenous leader Berta Cáceres, has returned to Mexico. Honduran authorities had previously ordered him to remain in the country until 6 April.
7/04/2016
FU UA 319/12 Qatar STOP ACTION POET MOHAMMED AL-AJAMI PARDONED, RELEASED
Qatari poet Mohammed al-Ajami, a prisoner of conscience, was released on 15 March when the Emir of Qatar pardoned him unconditionally.
FU UA 4/15 Kuwait STOP ACTION FORMER MP SALEH AL-MULLA ACQUITTED
Former Kuwaiti opposition MP Saleh al-Mulla was acquitted by the Appeal Court on 9 March of “insulting the Amir of Kuwait and the President of Egypt” on his Twitter account.
FU UA 227/15 Myanmar STOP ACTION PEACE ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER SERVING SENTENCE
Kachin peace activist Patrick Kum Jaa Lee has been released on 1 April after serving his 6 months sentence. He was imprisoned for a Facebook post mocking the Myanmar army.
FU UA 228/15 Myanmar STOP ACTION ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER SERVING SENTENCE
Activist Chaw Sandi Tun has been released on 30 March after serving her 6 months sentence. She was imprisoned for a Facebook post mocking the Myanmar army.
FU UA 45/16 Turkey STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE RELEASED FROM AIRPORT DETENTION
Syrian refugee M.K., who had been arbitrarily detained at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen airport since 9 November 2015, was released on 29 March. He is required to go to the central Anatolian province of Aksaray to await a decision on his international protection application. He will not be detained while awaiting the decision.
FU UA 64/15 UAE STOP ACTION BLOGGER RELEASED, RETURNED TO OMAN
Omani blogger Muawiya al-Ruwahi was acquitted by the Federal Supreme court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 14 March. He has been deported to Oman.
FU UA 70/15 Kuwait STOP ACTION KUWAITI ACTIVIST NAWAF AL-HENDAL ACQUITTED
Kuwaiti human rights activist Nawaf al-Hendal was acquitted on 1 March, along with 10 other men, of charges including “illegal gathering”.
FU UA 289/15 Indonesia STOP ACTION PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE GRANTED MEDICAL CARE
Malukan prisoner of conscience, Johan Teterissa, was granted medical treatment by prison authorities for a condition affecting both his legs and hindering his movement.
FU UA 62/16 China STOP ACTION CHINESE JOURNALIST RELEASED
Prominent journalist and columnist Jia Jia went missing on 15 March while he was due to board a flight to Hong Kong. His disappearance may be connected with an online letter critical of President Xi Jinping. He was released on 27 March.
FU UA 239/16 India (ASA 20/5615/2017) CHILDREN RELEASED FROM UNLAWFUL DETENTION
Rayees Ahmad Mir and Waheed Ahmed Gojree have been released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed their detention orders on 6 and 31 December 2016 respectively. The teenagers were unlawfully detained in prison under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), an administrative detention law that expressly prohibits the detention of anyone under 18 years of age
FU UA 319/12 Qatar STOP ACTION POET MOHAMMED AL-AJAMI PARDONED, RELEASED
Qatari poet Mohammed al-Ajami, a prisoner of conscience, was released on 15 March when the Emir of Qatar pardoned him unconditionally.
FU UA 4/15 Kuwait STOP ACTION FORMER MP SALEH AL-MULLA ACQUITTED
Former Kuwaiti opposition MP Saleh al-Mulla was acquitted by the Appeal Court on 9 March of “insulting the Amir of Kuwait and the President of Egypt” on his Twitter account.
FU UA 227/15 Myanmar STOP ACTION PEACE ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER SERVING SENTENCE
Kachin peace activist Patrick Kum Jaa Lee has been released on 1 April after serving his 6 months sentence. He was imprisoned for a Facebook post mocking the Myanmar army.
FU UA 228/15 Myanmar STOP ACTION ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER SERVING SENTENCE
Activist Chaw Sandi Tun has been released on 30 March after serving her 6 months sentence. She was imprisoned for a Facebook post mocking the Myanmar army.
FU UA 45/16 Turkey STOP ACTION SYRIAN REFUGEE RELEASED FROM AIRPORT DETENTION
Syrian refugee M.K., who had been arbitrarily detained at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen airport since 9 November 2015, was released on 29 March. He is required to go to the central Anatolian province of Aksaray to await a decision on his international protection application. He will not be detained while awaiting the decision.
FU UA 64/15 UAE STOP ACTION BLOGGER RELEASED, RETURNED TO OMAN
Omani blogger Muawiya al-Ruwahi was acquitted by the Federal Supreme court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 14 March. He has been deported to Oman.
FU UA 70/15 Kuwait STOP ACTION KUWAITI ACTIVIST NAWAF AL-HENDAL ACQUITTED
Kuwaiti human rights activist Nawaf al-Hendal was acquitted on 1 March, along with 10 other men, of charges including “illegal gathering”.
FU UA 289/15 Indonesia STOP ACTION PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE GRANTED MEDICAL CARE
Malukan prisoner of conscience, Johan Teterissa, was granted medical treatment by prison authorities for a condition affecting both his legs and hindering his movement.
FU UA 62/16 China STOP ACTION CHINESE JOURNALIST RELEASED
Prominent journalist and columnist Jia Jia went missing on 15 March while he was due to board a flight to Hong Kong. His disappearance may be connected with an online letter critical of President Xi Jinping. He was released on 27 March.
FU UA 239/16 India (ASA 20/5615/2017) CHILDREN RELEASED FROM UNLAWFUL DETENTION
Rayees Ahmad Mir and Waheed Ahmed Gojree have been released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed their detention orders on 6 and 31 December 2016 respectively. The teenagers were unlawfully detained in prison under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), an administrative detention law that expressly prohibits the detention of anyone under 18 years of age