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Colombia: House break-in, assault and threats against human rights defenders Ms Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, Mr Juan Carlos Galvis and familyposted on: 2011/11/17

On 9 November 2011, the home of human rights defenders Ms Jackeline Rojas Castañeda and Mr Juan Carlos Galvis was forcibly entered by two unknown armed individuals.

Nepal: Attempted assault, death threats and intimidation of human rights defender Jitman Basnet posted on: 2011/07/21

Since June 2011 human rights defender Mr Jitman Basnet has received death threats, as well as being subjected to an attempted assault by unknown individuals. Jitman Basnet is a journalist and human rights lawyer based in Kathmandu and is a recipient of the Universal Human Rights Promotion Award in India. He is the General Secretary of Lawyers' Forum for Human Rights, an NGO that works to combat impunity associated with human rights violations.

On 18 and 21 June 2011 Jitman Basnet received two threatening phone calls to his personal mobile phone. On 18 June 2011, at 7.42pm, an unknown caller rang Jitman Basnet and asked him why he was outside his house. When Jitman Basnet asked who was on the line, the unknown caller said that the human rights defender would soon be made aware of who was calling him. On 21 June at 7.00pm, in a phone call from a number that he did not recognise, the caller told Jitman Basnet that he was near his house and that “if you don't meet us soon, you will bear the result. Death is coming”. It is reported that the call was made from a public telephone located in Bhaktapur.

China: Assault, detention and house arrest of human rights lawyers Messrs Jiang Tianyong, Tang Jitian and Teng Biaoposted on: 2011/02/17

Human rights lawyers Messrs Jiang Tianyong, Tang Jitian and Teng Biao were assaulted, detained and/or placed under house arrest by police in Beijing on 16 February 2011.

Further Information

The three human rights lawyers had met for lunch with a number of other human rights lawyers and activists to discuss the continuing illegal house arrest and mistreatment of human rights defender Mr Chen Guangcheng and his wife Ms Yuan Weijing, who were the subject of a Front Line Urgent Appeal dated 11 February 2011.

At approximately midday on 16 February 2011, Jiang Tianyong, Tang Jitian and Teng Biao gathered with a group of other lawyers and human rights defenders to discuss ways in which they might offer help to Chen Guangcheng and his family. However, from 12.15pm onwards, the restaurant began to be surrounded by a number of policemen from the Beijing Public Security Bureau, who remained outside until the lunch broke up at 2.30pm.

Later that afternoon, Jiang Tianyong, having left the restaurant, was detained by police and taken to Yangfangdian police station in Haidian District, Beijing for interrogation.

Yemen: Severe assault of human rights journalist Ms Samia Alagbryposted on: 2011/02/14

On 13 February 2011, human rights journalist Ms Samia Alagbry was reportedly subjected to an abduction attempt and physical assault while participating in a demonstration in Sana'a. Samia Alagbry was the secretary of the Rights and Freedoms Committee of the Journalists' Syndicate, and regularly documents and reports human rights violations in Yemen, particularly against journalists.

Further Information

It is reported that individuals in plain clothes, believed to have been State Security officers and thugs, attacked the demonstrators as they marched between the University of Sana’a and Heda Street.

A masked man in plain clothes reportedly attempted to take Samia Alagbry with him by force; however, other demonstrators, having overheard her screams intervened to aid her. The man then pushed Samia Alagbry violently to the ground, causing her head to hit the pavement and subsequent loss of consciousness. Samia Alagbry was then transferred to Al-Jumohoria hospital where she regained her consciousness and was treated for bruises.

Police officers present at the time seemed to have observed the event without intervening to protect Samia Alagbry.

Bangladesh: Assault and robbery of human rights defender Mr Shahanur Islam and other members of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rightsposted on: 2011/01/27

On 25 January 2011, a named individual was arrested on suspicion of participation in the physical assault and robbery of human rights defenders Messrs Shahanur Islam, Shohel Ahmed, and Uzzal Hossain, and is currently being held in remand.

Further Information

The assault and robbery took place on 9 January 2011 while the three aforementioned human rights defenders were carrying out field work in Bania/Jhargaon, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh. Shahanur Islam is General Secretary and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR); Shohel Ahmed and Uzzal Hossain serve as Fact Finding Officer and Social Worker for the BIHR respectively. Front Line previously issued an Urgent Appeal concerning threats against Shahanur Islam on 9 August 2009.

On 9 January 2011, the three human rights defenders had travelled to the Bania/Jhargaon area of Thakurgaon district in order to carry out fact-finding in relation to a human rights violation against a minority woman.

China: Human rights defender Sun Hongjie left brain-dead after assaultposted on: 2010/12/22

Front Line is saddened by a brutal assault on human rights defender and anti-corruption journalist Mr Sun Hongjie on 18 December in Kuitun, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Sun Hongjie is an investigative journalist with Northern Xinjiang Morning Post.

Further Information

At approximately 1 am on 18 December Sun Hongjie was returning home after meeting an acquaintance for a drink.

As the two walked home, the acquaintance turned on Sun Hongjie as five other men appeared and proceeded to attack him. They dragged him into a construction site where he was severely beaten and reportedly hit over the head with clumps of earth.

His mobile phone was also smashed. His wallet and other belongings remained untouched. A colleague brought Sun to a hospital, where he was later pronounced brain dead. Six men have been arrested.

Sun Hongjie has become well known in Kuitun for exposing corruption and abuse of power in his writing.

Syria: Joint NGO statement on assault on Martin Ennals Award winner human rights defender Muhannad al-Hassaniposted on: 2010/11/05

(London, 4 November 2010) – Eight leading human rights organizations today called on the Syrian government to guarantee the safety of Muhannad al-Hassani, a human rights defender serving a three year prison term, after he was assaulted last week in ‘Adra prison, Damascus.

Syria - Human rights defender Mr Muhannad Al-Hassani assaulted while in prisonposted on: 2010/11/02

On 28 October 2010 human rights defender Mr Muhannad Al-Hassani, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence and sharing a cell with 60 common convicted criminals, was attacked by one of the prisoners and severely beaten causing a cut in his forehead that required 10 stitches, and swelling of his right eye and cheek.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Human rights defender Clemence Bakatuseka assaulted on 4 Octoberposted on: 2010/11/01

Several international human rights organisations have come together to call on the Congolese authorities to initiate as soon as possible, a thorough, impartial investigation into the violent assault of human rights defender Ms Clemence Bakatuseka, They have also urged the authorities to make a firm commitment to end attacks against human rights defenders and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Cambodia: Assault on trade union representative, Mr Phao Sak, following negotiations with management of working conditionsposted on: 2010/10/01

Union representative and human rights defender, Mr Phao Sak, was attacked and severely beaten on 30 September 2010. Phao Sak is a representative for the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) and was involved in negotiations at the Generation International Co., Ltd over the rights of the factory workers to be granted leave for the Pchum Ben Day, a religious festival in Cambodia.