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Disappearance

Brussels: EU High Representative Ashton calls for release of Gao Zhishengposted on: 2011/12/22

The EU's High representative Catherine Ashton calls for the immediate release of imprisoned human rights defender Gao Zhisheng, who is being held in secret detention, and for information about his well-being and location.

Sri Lanka:UPDATE - Arrest of chief suspect in the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeek posted on: 2011/07/12

On 8 July 2011, the Colombo Crimes Division formally arrested Mr Shahabdeen Nowshaadh, for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of Mr Pattani Razeek. Mr Nowshaadh, who is the chief suspect in the case, remains in custody but has not been officially charged. It is reported that the aforementioned arrest is linked to evidence which suggests that phone calls were made from Mr Nowshaadh's mobile phone using Mr Razeek's sim card shortly after his disappearance.

China: Human rights defenders Ms Li Tiantian, Mr Liu Shihui and Mr Yuan Xinting remain missing following their disappearances three months agoposted on: 2011/05/24

Human rights defenders, Ms Li Tiantian, Mr Liu Shihui and Mr Yuan Xinting, remain missing following their disappearances three months ago amidst a Chinese government crackdown in response to anonymous calls for protest posted online in mid-February 2011. Li Tiantian and Liu Shihui are human rights lawyers and Yuan Xinting is a human rights defender and editor. No information has been received regarding the whereabouts of the human rights defenders and there are serious concerns for their physical and psychological well-being.

Bahrain: Beating and arrest of human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawajaposted on: 2011/04/09

On 9 April 2011, human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was arrested and beaten unconscious by police in Al-Manama, Bahrain. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a former Protection Co-ordinator for Front Line and former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). His current whereabouts, along with that of two of his sons-in-law, remains unknown and he is believed to be at high risk of torture.

China: Disabled housing rights activist and human rights defender Ni Yulan and husband Dong Jiqin disappear into police custodyposted on: 2011/04/08

Veteran human rights defender Ni Yulan and her husband Dong Jiqin are the latest victims of the Chinese government's severe crackdown on human rights defenders.

Further Information

Ms Ni and Mr Dong were taken into police custody in the early hours of Thursday morning (7 April) from their small room in the Yu Xin Gong Hotel, Beijing, where they have been forced to stay for most of the last year since police demolished their home in 2008. The couple's daughter, Dong Beibei, was questioned by the police for two hours before being released. Despite numerous requests, Ms Dong was given no information regarding the whereabouts of her parents or why they are being held.

This is the latest step in a sustained and increasingly spiteful campaign by police in Beijing's Xicheng District against Ni Yulan and Dong Jiqin. Previous to this disappearance, police had forced the management of the Yu Xin Gong Hotel to cut off the electricity and water supply to their room.

Syria: Disappearance of human rights defender Mr Abd Al-Karim Dhaoon in Syriaposted on: 2011/04/06

On 1 April 2011, human rights defender Mr 'Abd Al-Karim Dha'oon was arrested in Al-Salamia, Syria. 'Abd Al-Karim Dha'oon is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Syrian Committee for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights. He is believed to be held incommunicado, and his whereabouts are unknown.

Syria: Disappearance of human rights lawyers amidst escalating crackdownposted on: 2011/03/30

Between 5 and 27 March 2011, a number of human rights lawyers have been arrested and remain detained in undisclosed locations in Syria, including Messrs Hussain 'Issa and Tamer Al-Jahmani, members of the Committee for the Defence of Prisoners of Conscience in Syria, Sulayman Nahili, Nidal Al-Shaykh Hammoud and Muhammad Ibrahim 'Issa.

Sri Lanka: One year anniversary of the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeekposted on: 2011/02/08

On 9 February 2011, the next hearing in the case of the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeek will be heard in Puttalam Magistrate's Court in Sri Lanka. Pattani Razeek is managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) and a member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). His whereabouts remain unknown since his disappearance one year ago, on 11 February 2010.

Further Information

On 10 February 2011, the final hearing with regard to an anticipatory bail application for a named suspect in the human rights defender's disappearance case will be held at Puttalam High Court. There is reportedly evidence to suggest that Mr Shabdeen Nowshadh, who has been associated with the CTF and a close acquaintance of the Minister of Industry and Commerce, placed phone calls using Pattani Razeek's mobile phone SIM card following his disappearance.

DRC: Disappearance of human rights defender Mr. Sylvestre Bwira Kyahiposted on: 2010/08/27

On 24 August 2010, human rights defender, Mr Sylvestre Bwira Kyahi was abducted by gunmen in the town of Goma in North Kivu province.

Sri Lanka: Disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeekposted on: 2010/02/17

Front Line is gravely concerned by reports of the disappearance of human rights defender, Mr Pattani Razeek, managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) and member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).