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Iran: Ongoing detention and reported torture of human rights lawyer Dr Houtan Kianposted on: 2011/04/26

Since his arrest by Iranian security forces during a raid on his offices on 9 October 2010, human rights lawyer Dr Houtan Kian has reportedly been subjected to repeated tortured and ill-treatment while being held incommunicado and in solitary confinement.

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Western Sahara – Human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh released while Mr Saeed Al-Wa’ban remains in detention, posted on: 2010/12/17

On 14 December 2010, human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz, and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh were released from Bulmaharez prison, Marrakech, having served a two-year prison sentence. A third defender, Mr Saeed Al-Wa'ban remains in custody.

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The aforementioned defenders were reportedly arrested and brought to trial because of their role campaigning for the human rights of the Sahrawi people, including the right to self determination. In particular this included their participation in peaceful protests.

please see Front Line’s previous appeal on this case

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China: Human rights defenders remain missing following Nobel crackdownposted on: 2010/12/15

As of 15 December 2010 several prominent human rights defenders remain missing or in police detention following a sweeping crackdown in the run-up to the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo on 10 December 2010.

Further Information

In the past number of days, police have lifted restrictions on many human rights defenders who had been confined to house arrest, had been forced back to their home towns, or had their internet and phone lines cut for the period surrounding the Nobel Ceremony.

Others though, have failed to resurface after being taken by police, and their prolonged periods of detention are cause for concern.

Among those who have yet to reappear are the following (list is not exhaustive):

Fan Yafeng, a prominent human rights lawyer and leader of an underground house church. On 9 December, following numerous house arrests and interrogations in the previous two months, Fan was taken into police custody once again and has been out of contact since.

Li Hai, a Beijing based dissident and a member of the house church led by Fan Yafeng. On 30 October he was seized by police at the premises of the church and since then he has been unreachable.

Uzbekistan – Human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov detained and interrogatedposted on: 2010/12/02

On 25 November 2010, human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov were detained and interrogated by Uzbek police officers over their suspected involvement in the organisation of a demontration in Karshi. Gulshan Karaeva and Nodir Akhatov are members of Karshi branch of Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU).

Further Information

On 25 November 2010, at approximatively 10:00am a group of muslim women gathered in front of the National Security Service (SNB) building in Karshi in protest, over the mass arrest of their children on 16 November 2010.

Gulshan Karaeva and Nodir Akhatov did not take part in the demonstration, but observed it taking place. Approximately one hour later, at 11:00am, a convoy of SNB officers interrupted the protest, and arrested Ms Karaeva and Mr Akhatov, as well as a number of others who were participating in the demonstration.

Those arrested were brought to the Karshi City Police Department where the were interrogated until 7:00pm. Police officers tried to force Ms Karaeva and Mr Akhatov to admit involvement in organising the protest, claiming that some of the demonstrators had made statements suggesting as such.

Iraq: Residence of human rights defender Mr Ayad Muayyad Salih attacked by Iraqi armyposted on: 2010/11/04

On 26 October 2010 at 3:30am, an Iraqi Army squad broke in to the house of human rights defender Mr Ayad Muayyad Salih in Al-Faysaleya quarter of Mosul city in order to arrest him.

Saudi Arabia: UPDATE – Continued detention and fear of secret trial for human rights defender Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi and twelve othersposted on: 2010/10/22

On 16 October 2010, three members of the defence team of human rights defender Judge Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi, aged 73, went to the Rulings Delivery Section of the Grievances (Administrative) Court in Riyadh in order to receive a copy of a court decision which was taken on 28 August 2010. The court decided that the Grievances Court was incompetent in dealing with the case filed against the Ministry of Interior regarding the on-going detention of Judge Al-Reshoudi.

Western Sahara: Update - Human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri remain in detention despite court ruling of incompetence posted on: 2010/09/28

On 21 September 2010, the investigating judge of a Moroccan Military Court ordered that the court is incompetent to take jurisdiction over the case of detained human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri. The judge has referred the case back to the Casablanca Penal Court. Nevertheless, the human rights defenders remain in detention.

Algeria: Detention of anti-corruption activist Mr Djilali Hadjadposted on: 2010/09/09

On 8 September 2010, journalist and human rights activist Mr Djilali Hadjadj was transferred to Serkadji prison in Algiers, following his arrest in Constantine in the afternoon of 5 September. His trial date has been set for 13 September. Djilali Hadjadj was arrested following an in absentia conviction handed down in May 2010, regarding which he was never informed.

Iran: Arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Ms Nasrin Sotoudehposted on: 2010/09/08

On 4 September 2010, human rights defender Ms Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested at Evin prison in Tehran. Nasrin Sotoudeh is a prominent human rights lawyer, who in particular has worked with juvenile prisoners facing the death penalty as well as prisoners of conscience. She is also a member of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child.

India: Arrest and detention of five human rights defenders investigating Dalit human rights violationsposted on: 2010/08/17

Human rights defenders Mr Gnana Diraviam, Mr Anandan, Ms Bharathi Pillai, Ms Niharga Priya and Ms Sudha have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody since 15 August 2010.