Update on my post earlier today: I have just learned that Mona Seif – MEA Final Nominee 2013 – was released a few hours ago.
Posts Tagged ‘release’
latest news: Mona Seif released
November 27, 2013Citing freedom of expression, UN calls 15-year sentence for Qatari poet Ibn al Dheeb disproportionate
October 23, 2013On 22 October 2013 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights called for the immediate release of a well-known Qatari poet who it says was harshly sentenced for a poem considered to be encouraging the overthrow of the ruling system of the country. Mohammed al Ajami – also known as Ibn al Dheeb – was initially sentenced to life in prison on 29 November 2012 for the poem, which was also considered insulting to the nation’s symbols. His sentence was reduced to 15 years last February during a second appeal. On 20 October, Qatar’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, decided to uphold the 15-year sentence. Mr. al Ajami’s only recourse now is to appeal for clemency to the Emir of Qatar, the home country of Al-Jazeera. “This sentence is clearly disproportionate,” OHCHR spokesperson Cécile Pouilly told reporters in Geneva. “Last January, we already publicly expressed our concerns about the harsh sentencing, the fairness of his trial and about the many months Mr. al Ajami had spent in solitary confinement,” she added.
Good Breaking News: Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh among freed political prisoners
September 18, 2013Today, 18 September 2013, the BBC and other news media brought the good news that Iran lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is among the freed political prisoners which Iran is reported to have freed (at least eight). Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested in 2010 and jailed for six years on charges of acting against national security. She was one of the three Final Nominees of the MEA in 2012 and winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov award.
The release of the political prisoners comes just days before Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani visits New York for the UN General Assembly. In his election campaign, he promised to free political prisoners.
via BBC News – Iran lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh among freed political prisoners.
Saudi Arabia: Release of human rights defender Mohammed El-Bejadi after more than two years
August 9, 2013
Mohammed El-Bejadi
On 6 August 2013, human rights defender Mr Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi was released from detention in which he had been kept since his arrest during a peaceful protest in the area of Buraidah, on 21 March 2011. Mohammed El-Bejadi is Read the rest of this entry »
Human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang released in China
April 11, 2013In the early hours of 6 April, human rights lawyer Mr Wang Quanzhang was released from detention in the province of eastern Jiangsu, approximately 56 hours after he was detained and placed under a 10-day judicial detention for “disrupting court order”. The human rights defender was detained for photographing a document which he had been asked to submit to the court, as it was his only copy! The Jingjiang People’s Court released Wang Quanzhang on the grounds that the short detention had already served as a punishment and a warning. However, the human rights defender believes that his release is due to public pressure. Wang Quanzhang had been defending Mr Zhu Yanian, who is a member of Falun Gong and was being tried for ‘using a cult organisation to undermine the implementation of the law’.
For more information on this case, please see Front Line Defender’s Urgent Appeal on 5 April 2013 <http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/22244> .
Human Rights Defender Antonio González Rodiles Released in Cuba
November 28, 2012Sometimes there is good news from Cuba: Front Line Defenders confirmed yesterday that on 26 November 2012, the Cuban HRD, Antonio González Rodiles, was released after 19 days in Acosta police station in Havana. He had to pay a fine of 800 Cuban pesos. News of his release was first published around 9pm on 26 November on Twitter by the prominent Cuban blogger and dissident Ms Yoani Sánchez. The website of Estado de SATS, an independent project headed by Antonio Rodiles, reports that the defender is “grateful for the solidarity and support he has received and will immediately resume his work leading Estado de SATS”….. In addition to being released today, these charges against him have been cleared.The independent project Estado de SATS, led by Antonio Rodiles, aims to create a space for participation and debate in Cuba through panel discussions, forums and other events that are filmed and broadcast on the Internet.
via Cuba: Update- Human Rights Defender Mr Antonio González Rodiles Released | Front Line.
Zimbabwean lawyers released on bail
November 13, 2012The case I referred to yesterday of the three Zimbabwean human rights defenders, who were detained on 5 November and illegally transferred between Harare and Bulawayo on 7 November, has seen some improvement.
They were charged and released on bail on the afternoon of 8 November 2012.
Related articles
- Three Zimbabwean Human Rights Defenders in difficulty (thoolen.wordpress.com)
- Zimbabwe: Release illegally detained human rights activists (appablog.wordpress.com)
Boeung Kak Lake 13 released in Cambodia
June 27, 2012On 6 June I informed you about the women of the Boeung Kak Lake protest being sentenced for up to two and a half years for standing up for their land rights, but now a bit of good news: the thirteen protesters have been released from jail. Their sentences having been reduced to 1 month 3 days (which is the time they’ve actually been in detention) by the Appeal Court.
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2012/06/bkl-13-finally-released.html
To see also the WHRD IC statement on the protesters: http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/international_coalition_boeung_kak_lake.php
MEA nominee Luon Savath just been released
May 24, 2012We have just learned that the Venerable Luon Savath been released and is now at the office of the NGO LICADHO. But not sure that this is the end of the story and will keep you posted.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 