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

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

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

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

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Senegal: Human rights defender Alioune Tine arrested and released following 48 hours in police custodyposted on: 2012/02/01

On 30 January 2012, human rights defender Mr Alioune Tine was released having spent approximately 48 hours in police custody.

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

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

Mauritania: Update - Human rights defenders Messrs Lehbous Ould Omar, Ely Ould Ravaa, Ell Mehdy Ould Lemrabott and Abdallahy Abou Diop releasedposted on: 2012/01/24

On 21 January 2012, Messrs Lehbous Ould Omar, Ely Ould Ravaa, Ell Mehdy Ould Lemrabott and Abdallahy Abou Diop, human rights defenders and members of l'Initiative de résurgence du mouvement abolitionniste en Mauritanie (IRA), were released from detention in Aioun.

Cuba: Update - Release of human rights defendersposted on: 2012/01/24

Front Line Defenders welcomes the news of the release of human rights defender and member of the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) Ms Ivonne Malleza, her husband Ignacio Martinez, and activist Ms Isabel Alvarez on 19 January 2012.

All three had been arrested on 30 November 2011 following a peaceful protest in Fraternity Park in Havana.

Front Line Defenders continues to call on the authorities in Cuba to release all those who have been detained solely on a account of their human rights activities and to guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Cuba are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities and exercise their right to freedom of association and assembly without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.

Please see the original Front Line Defenders Urgent Appeal dated 8 December 2011.

Kazakhstan: Update - Hope for imminent release of human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis on amnestyposted on: 2012/01/12

On 28 December 2011, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law on amnesty dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

China: Update – Human rights defender Mr Liu Zhengyou releasedposted on: 2011/11/11

Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of human rights defender Mr Liu Zhengyou on 11 November 2011, following his completion of a two year prison sentence.

Uzbekistan: Update - Human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov releasedposted on: 2011/08/31

Human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov was released from Penal Colony No.6, Navoi Oblast, on 9 June 2011. He served two years of a seven-year prison sentence. The following five years of his prison sentence have been commuted to corrective work.

Further Information

On 9 June 2009, Mr Maksim Popov was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Chilazar district court of Tashkent.

Maksim Popov is a psychologist and Executive Director of Izis, a non-governmental organisation which conducts training programmes on HIV/AIDS, individual and group counselling sessions, as well as ensuring the provision of sterile needles.

Front Line welcomes the release of Maksim Popov however urges the authorities in Uzbekistan to drop all charges against him.

Further information on this case is available here

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Bahrain: Update - Human rights defender Mohammed Al-Tajir releasedposted on: 2011/08/09

On 7 August 2011, human rights defender Mohammed Al-Tajir was released from prison, along with dozens of other political prisoners including two former members of Parliament.

Further Information

It is reported that prior to his release, Mohammed Al-Tajir was forced to sign an undertaking not to engage in any activities against the "country" and to make himself available when required for interrogation at any time in the future.

The charges brought against Mohammed Al Tajir have not been dropped and it not clear whether a travel ban has been imposed on him

Mohammed Al-Tajir is a prominent defence lawyer who has worked with more than 25 lawyers to defend human rights defenders and political activists held in incommunicado detention during the ongoing crackdown. He has been in prison since 15 April 2011.

Further information on case of Mohammed Al-Tajir

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Cambodia: UPDATE – Release of trade union leader and human rights defender Mr Sous Chantaposted on: 2011/06/27

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender Mr Sous Chanta on Friday 24 June 2011 following a verdict of the Phnom Penh Court. The decision by the court which was made at 12.00pm on Friday local time convicted Sous Chanta to 10 months imprisonment on the charge of drug distribution. The charge was lowered from drug trafficking to drug distribution for personal use. Given that Sous Chanta was detained prior to the trial for 7 months and 5 days, the remainder of the sentence (2 months 25 days) will be suspended.

Further Information

Mr Sous Chanta is a prominent trade union leader and human rights defender in Cambodia. He is a union leader with United Apparel Garment Factory and the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU).