Front Line News Archive

Human rights defender Sylvestre Bwira Kyahi has been found alive on 31 August in Goma. He had disappeared a week before, on 24 August 2010. Those who saw him shortly after he was found reported that he was weak and presented signs of torture. He is currently in hospital in Goma for treatment.

On Saturday, 28 August 2010, the Grievances (Administrative) Court in Riyadh is expected to announce a verdict in the case of “Judge Al-Reshoudi Vs. the Ministry of Interior”, a lawsuit filed against the Ministry regarding Judge Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi, who has been detained incommunicado without charge for more than three years.

Front Line expresses its concern regarding the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf, a teacher and member of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedoms (YODDRF) which campaigns for the protection of the rights of detainees.

A Zimbabwe Magistrates' Court has eased the bail conditions of human rights defender Mr Farai Maguwu.

Front Line is seriously concerned that human rights defenders arrested over the last days in Bahrain are being denied access to lawyers and to their families. The whereabouts of Dr. Abduljalil Al Singace and Abdul Ghani al-Kanjar remain unknown and they have reportedly been denied access to their families and to their lawyers since their arrest on 13 and 15 August 2010 respectively.

Front Line is pleased to report that on 7 August 2010, human rights defender Mr Mohammad Mostafaei arrived safely in Norway where he has claimed political asylum. Ms Fereshteh Halimi, Mohammad Mostafaei's wife, was also released on bail on the afternoon of 7 August.

At least four young activists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been arrested or have been dismissed from their jobs after attempting to organise a peaceful protest march using BlackBerry devices, in response to increasing oil prices in the region. Other activists have been sought by the police in relation to their participation in the attempted organisation of the protest.