Human Rights Defenders

The home of human rights defender Ms Erenia Vanegas was broken into on 5 March 2010 and the car of Ms Claudia Samayoa was tampered with in an attempt to cause an accident on 2 February 2010. 

On 2 March 2010, the Appeal Court in Casablanca adjourned the hearing in the trial of Mr El Mustapha Addari until 16 March 2010. El Mustapha Addari is the head of the Khenifra branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits Humains - AMDH (Moroccan Association for Human Rights). 

Since 16 February 2010, executive members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) have received a number of threatening messages. On 17 February, Front Line issued an urgent appeal on the threats against Mr Okay Machisa, ZimRights National Director. On 25 February, Mr Nunurai Jena, Mr Netsai Kaitano and Mr Jabulisa Tshuma also received threats. 

Human rights defender Mr Vadim Karasteljov was attacked by two unidentified individuals on 27 February 2010. This attack comes just one day after Vadim Karasteljov was released from administrative custody having spent seven days in custody on charges of holding an unsanctioned rally on 19 February 2010 and refusing to follow police orders. Vadim Karasteljov is a member of the Novorossijsk Human Rights Committee.