https://observatoryfordefenders.org Thu, 07 May 2026 16:31:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-OB-eye-orange-32x32.png https://observatoryfordefenders.org 32 32 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/france-repression-des-mobilisations-etudiantes-pro-palestiniennes-a-sciences-po-et-a-la-sorbonne/ Thu, 07 May 2026 16:31:25 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24696 Paris-Genève, 7 mai 2026. L’intervention des forces de l’ordre au sein de Sciences Po et de la Sorbonne Université le 14 avril 2026 visant à réprimer des dizaines d’étudiant·es réuni·es et mobilisé·es en soutien à la Palestine, constitue une nouvelle étape préoccupante dans la restriction de la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique en France. La FIDH et l’OMCT, dans le cadre de l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur·es des droits humains, et la Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) condamnent fermement cette répression et appellent les autorités françaises à annuler les amendes délictuelles et à s’abstenir de toute autre mesure répressive à l’encontre des étudiant·es concerné·es. Le 14 avril 2026, plusieurs collectifs étudiants, dont le Comité Palestine Sciences Po, ont organisé des occupations simultanées à Sciences Po, à la Sorbonne, ainsi que dans d’autres établissements d’enseignement supérieur en France, afin de protester contre la proposition de loi Yadan, et contre la répression croissante des mobilisations pro-palestiniennes dans l’enseignement supérieur. Les étudiant·es demandaient notamment le retrait de cette proposition de loi, officiellement présentée comme visant à lutter contre les « formes renouvelées de l’antisémitisme », mais critiquée par de nombreuses organisations de défense des droits humains, et expert·es et rapporteur·es des Nations Unies en raison du risque qu’elle restreigne indûment la liberté d’expression. Les étudiant·es appelaient également à la fin de la répression du mouvement étudiant pro-palestinien et à la rupture des partenariats universitaires avec des institutions et entreprises qui seraient impliquées dans les violations des droits humains commises à Gaza. Aux alentours de 12h30, à Sciences Po, plus d’une centaine d’étudiant·es ont occupé pacifiquement l’amphithéâtre Boutmy situé au 27 rue Saint-Guillaume à Paris. Les participant·es y ont déployé des drapeaux palestiniens et des banderoles ayant notamment pour inscription « Israël Assassine » en dénonçant le génocide en cours contre le peuple palestinien. En réaction, la Présidence de l’établissement a fait évacuer l’ensemble du bâtiment sans chercher à entrer en contact avec les étudiant·es mobilisé·es ni à entendre leurs revendications. L’ensemble des cours prévus dans les bâtiments de l’établissement a ensuite été annulé. Moins de trois heures après le début de l’occupation, des dizaines de policier·es dont des agent·es de la BRAV-M (Brigade de Répression de l’Action Violente Motorisée) appelé·es par la Présidence de l’établissement sont intervenu·es au sein du campus. Selon les syndicats étudiants, plusieurs d’entre elles et eux qui souhaitaient quitter les lieux en ont été empêché·es par le service de sécurité de l’établissement avant l’arrivée de la police. Les étudiant·es ont ensuite été maintenu·es dans le hall du bâtiment, puis interpellé·es, aligné·es contre un mur dans le jardin de l’établissement, fouillé·es et photographié·es. Plusieurs d’entre elles et eux affirment avoir été traîné·es au sol ou violemment saisi·es par les forces de l’ordre. À l’issue de l’intervention, 76 étudiant·es de Sciences Po ont reçu une amende forfaitaire délictuelle minorée de 400 euros inscrite au casier judiciaire pour « introduction dans un établissement d’enseignement scolaire dans le but de troubler la tranquillité ou le bon ordre de l’établissement » en application de l’article 431-22 du Code pénal. Le même jour, à la Sorbonne, plusieurs centaines d’étudiant·es ont occupé la cour centrale du campus situé place de la Sorbonne à Paris. Les participant·es y ont installé des tentes, déployé des banderoles et organisé un rassemblement à l’extérieur du site. L’occupation se poursuivait encore en début d’après-midi en présence des forces de l’ordre à l’intérieur de l’université. Selon les syndicats étudiant·es, deux étudiant·es ont été placé·es en garde à vue à la suite de cette mobilisation. L’Observatoire et la LDH rappellent que ces évènements interviennent dans un contexte plus large de répression des expressions de solidarité avec la Palestine en France. Les mobilisations dans les établissements d’enseignement supérieur avaient ainsi été fermement condamnées par le Président de la République dès mai 2024, après que plusieurs occupations pacifiques à Sciences Po, à la Sorbonne et à l’École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) ont été brutalement évacuées par les forces de l’ordre. Le 7 mai 2024, 88 étudiant·es ont été placé·es en garde à vue à la suite d’une mobilisation pacifique à la Sorbonne. Une circulaire du ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur avait suivi le 4 octobre 2024, demandant aux présidences d’université de signaler au procureur toute infraction en lien avec la solidarité étudiante avec le peuple palestinien. Ces récentes atteintes à la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique suscitent de sérieuses inquiétudes quant à la multiplication des restrictions visant les voix critiques de la politique israélienne ou engagées dans la défense des droits des Palestinien·nes. L’Observatoire et la LDH rappellent également que la France doit respecter et ne pas entraver la liberté d’expression et la liberté de réunion pacifique, telles que protégées par les articles 19 et 21 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), ainsi que par les articles 10 et 11 de la Convention européenne des droits de l’Homme (CEDH). Si ces dispositions autorisent certaines restrictions prévues par la loi et nécessaires dans une société démocratique, ces dernières doivent néanmoins répondre à une exigence de nécessité et de proportionnalité. L’Observatoire et la LDH expriment leur vive inquiétude concernant l’intervention des forces de l’ordre françaises au sein d’établissements universitaires dans le but de disperser et réprimer des étudiant·es mobilisé·es de manière pacifique. Ces sanctions disproportionnées, qui ne visent qu’à faire taire des activités légitimes de soutien au peuple palestinien et de critique d’un projet de loi largement contesté, sont également de nature à produire un effet dissuasif sur l’exercice de la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique. L’Observatoire et la LDH appellent les autorités françaises à annuler les amendes délictuelles, et à veiller à ce qu’aucune poursuite ni sanction ne soit engagée contre les étudiant·es concerné·es. L’Observatoire appelle également les autorités à garantir que les étudiant·es puissent exercer librement leurs droits à la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique sans crainte de représailles.]]> Paris-Genève, 7 mai 2026. L’intervention des forces de l’ordre au sein de Sciences Po et de la Sorbonne Université le 14 avril 2026 visant à réprimer des dizaines d’étudiant·es réuni·es et mobilisé·es en soutien à la Palestine, constitue une nouvelle étape préoccupante dans la restriction de la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique en France. La FIDH et l’OMCT, dans le cadre de l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur·es des droits humains, et la Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) condamnent fermement cette répression et appellent les autorités françaises à annuler les amendes délictuelles et à s’abstenir de toute autre mesure répressive à l’encontre des étudiant·es concerné·es. Le 14 avril 2026, plusieurs collectifs étudiants, dont le Comité Palestine Sciences Po, ont organisé des occupations simultanées à Sciences Po, à la Sorbonne, ainsi que dans d’autres établissements d’enseignement supérieur en France, afin de protester contre la proposition de loi Yadan, et contre la répression croissante des mobilisations pro-palestiniennes dans l’enseignement supérieur. Les étudiant·es demandaient notamment le retrait de cette proposition de loi, officiellement présentée comme visant à lutter contre les « formes renouvelées de l’antisémitisme », mais critiquée par de nombreuses organisations de défense des droits humains, et expert·es et rapporteur·es des Nations Unies en raison du risque qu’elle restreigne indûment la liberté d’expression. Les étudiant·es appelaient également à la fin de la répression du mouvement étudiant pro-palestinien et à la rupture des partenariats universitaires avec des institutions et entreprises qui seraient impliquées dans les violations des droits humains commises à Gaza. Aux alentours de 12h30, à Sciences Po, plus d’une centaine d’étudiant·es ont occupé pacifiquement l’amphithéâtre Boutmy situé au 27 rue Saint-Guillaume à Paris. Les participant·es y ont déployé des drapeaux palestiniens et des banderoles ayant notamment pour inscription « Israël Assassine » en dénonçant le génocide en cours contre le peuple palestinien. En réaction, la Présidence de l’établissement a fait évacuer l’ensemble du bâtiment sans chercher à entrer en contact avec les étudiant·es mobilisé·es ni à entendre leurs revendications. L’ensemble des cours prévus dans les bâtiments de l’établissement a ensuite été annulé. Moins de trois heures après le début de l’occupation, des dizaines de policier·es dont des agent·es de la BRAV-M (Brigade de Répression de l’Action Violente Motorisée) appelé·es par la Présidence de l’établissement sont intervenu·es au sein du campus. Selon les syndicats étudiants, plusieurs d’entre elles et eux qui souhaitaient quitter les lieux en ont été empêché·es par le service de sécurité de l’établissement avant l’arrivée de la police. Les étudiant·es ont ensuite été maintenu·es dans le hall du bâtiment, puis interpellé·es, aligné·es contre un mur dans le jardin de l’établissement, fouillé·es et photographié·es. Plusieurs d’entre elles et eux affirment avoir été traîné·es au sol ou violemment saisi·es par les forces de l’ordre. À l’issue de l’intervention, 76 étudiant·es de Sciences Po ont reçu une amende forfaitaire délictuelle minorée de 400 euros inscrite au casier judiciaire pour « introduction dans un établissement d’enseignement scolaire dans le but de troubler la tranquillité ou le bon ordre de l’établissement » en application de l’article 431-22 du Code pénal. Le même jour, à la Sorbonne, plusieurs centaines d’étudiant·es ont occupé la cour centrale du campus situé place de la Sorbonne à Paris. Les participant·es y ont installé des tentes, déployé des banderoles et organisé un rassemblement à l’extérieur du site. L’occupation se poursuivait encore en début d’après-midi en présence des forces de l’ordre à l’intérieur de l’université. Selon les syndicats étudiant·es, deux étudiant·es ont été placé·es en garde à vue à la suite de cette mobilisation. L’Observatoire et la LDH rappellent que ces évènements interviennent dans un contexte plus large de répression des expressions de solidarité avec la Palestine en France. Les mobilisations dans les établissements d’enseignement supérieur avaient ainsi été fermement condamnées par le Président de la République dès mai 2024, après que plusieurs occupations pacifiques à Sciences Po, à la Sorbonne et à l’École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) ont été brutalement évacuées par les forces de l’ordre. Le 7 mai 2024, 88 étudiant·es ont été placé·es en garde à vue à la suite d’une mobilisation pacifique à la Sorbonne. Une circulaire du ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur avait suivi le 4 octobre 2024, demandant aux présidences d’université de signaler au procureur toute infraction en lien avec la solidarité étudiante avec le peuple palestinien. Ces récentes atteintes à la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique suscitent de sérieuses inquiétudes quant à la multiplication des restrictions visant les voix critiques de la politique israélienne ou engagées dans la défense des droits des Palestinien·nes. L’Observatoire et la LDH rappellent également que la France doit respecter et ne pas entraver la liberté d’expression et la liberté de réunion pacifique, telles que protégées par les articles 19 et 21 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), ainsi que par les articles 10 et 11 de la Convention européenne des droits de l’Homme (CEDH). Si ces dispositions autorisent certaines restrictions prévues par la loi et nécessaires dans une société démocratique, ces dernières doivent néanmoins répondre à une exigence de nécessité et de proportionnalité. L’Observatoire et la LDH expriment leur vive inquiétude concernant l’intervention des forces de l’ordre françaises au sein d’établissements universitaires dans le but de disperser et réprimer des étudiant·es mobilisé·es de manière pacifique. Ces sanctions disproportionnées, qui ne visent qu’à faire taire des activités légitimes de soutien au peuple palestinien et de critique d’un projet de loi largement contesté, sont également de nature à produire un effet dissuasif sur l’exercice de la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique. L’Observatoire et la LDH appellent les autorités françaises à annuler les amendes délictuelles, et à veiller à ce qu’aucune poursuite ni sanction ne soit engagée contre les étudiant·es concerné·es. L’Observatoire appelle également les autorités à garantir que les étudiant·es puissent exercer librement leurs droits à la liberté d’expression et de réunion pacifique sans crainte de représailles.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/kyrgyzstan-human-rights-defender-tolekan-ismailova-interrogated-by-police-and-threatened-with-criminal-investigation/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:06:51 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24552 Tolekan Ismailova, human rights defender and Director of the Kyrgyz human rights organisation Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan with two other human right defenders, Bermet Borukeeva and Bulat Satarkulov. On 13 March 2026, police officers took Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva and Mr Bulat Satarkulov to the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Bishkek for questioning in relation to publications posted on Ms. Ismailova’s personal Facebook account concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. According to police authorities, on 12 March 2026, during monitoring of online resources, officers from the department for combating extremism and illegal migration identified a social media account belonging to Ms. Ismailova containing posts on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine interpreted by the authorities as expressing support for Ukraine. However, the investigator’s questions did not only concern the content of the Facebook posts, but also the organization Bir Duino – Kyrgyzstan and its funding. The investigator asked whether her posts containing expressions of support for Ukraine reflected Ms Ismailova’s personal views or this is the position of the organisation Bir Duino, which she heads. The investigator also inquired whether she had received any remuneration for these publications and whether she was aware that such posts could “provoke public resonance and contentious discussions among users.” Ms Ismailova replied that she only expresses her personal views on her page and reaffirmed her anti-war stance, emphasising that she is the daughter of a World War II veteran. After questioning, which lasted approximately six hours in total, the human rights defenders were released from the police station without charges being brought against them. However, police officers informed Ms Ismailova that the texts of her Facebook posts would be sent for expert examination to determine whether they violate Article 330 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan (incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or interregional hatred, punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment). The questioning took place on the same day that Ms Ismailova and other activists had planned to organise a peaceful action titled “Freedom for Peaceful Assemblies of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic” near the Pervomaisky District Administration building in Bishkek. It seems that the Facebook posts were used as a pretext to intimidate, prevent and detain these individuals of undertaking that planned peaceful assembly.. The action aimed to raise concerns about restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including existing limitations on demonstrations in Bishkek, which have been repeatedly extended for years.The Observatory views these measures, particularly the summoning activists for questioning immediately ahead of planned peaceful assemblies, as forms of pressure that create a chilling effect and may amount to interference with the right to peaceful protest or even intimidation. The Observatory further expresses concern that the questioning of Ms Ismailova, particularly in relation to her personal social media posts, constitutes judicial harassment aimed at restricting her right to freedom of expression and intimidating a prominent human rights defender. The Observatory recalls that Kyrgyzstan, as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression (Article 19) and the right to peaceful assembly (Article 21), must ensure that there are no restrictions or obstacles to these freedoms. The Observatory calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to guarantee that Ms Ismailova and all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of intimidation or judicial harassment. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kyrgyzstan asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva, and Mr Bulat Satarkulov, as well as all human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan; Put an end to all acts of harassment, including judicial harassment, against Ms. Tolekan Ismailova, and ensure that she can carry out her legitimate human rights activities without interference; Ensure that no criminal charges are brought against Ms. Ismailova for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression, including her personal social media posts; Guarantee in all circumstances the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 of the ICCPR, and ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals, including from foreign state pressure; Ensure that human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan are able to carry out their activities without any fear of reprisals. Addresses: • Mr Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, Email: adskyrgyzstan@gmail.com, X: @SadyrJaparov, • Mr Adylbek Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Email: contactcenter@tunduk.gov.kg, • Mr Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: secretariat@mvd.kg, • Mr Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: info@mfa.gov.kg; dded@mfa.gov.kg, X: @MFA_Kyrgyzstan, • Mr Ayaz Baetov, Minister of Justice, Email: isakov@minjust.gov.kg / baetov.a@gmail.com, • Mr Ruslan Mukambetov, Minister of Defense, Email: op.minoboron@bk.ru, • Mr Jamilya Jamanbaeva, Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, Email: akyikatchy@ombudsman.kg, Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Kyrgyzstan in your respective countries. *** Paris-Geneva, 19 March 2026 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line: • E-mail: alert@observatoryfordefenders.org • Tel FIDH: + 33 1 43 55 25 18 • Tel OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39]]> Tolekan Ismailova, human rights defender and Director of the Kyrgyz human rights organisation Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan with two other human right defenders, Bermet Borukeeva and Bulat Satarkulov. On 13 March 2026, police officers took Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva and Mr Bulat Satarkulov to the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Bishkek for questioning in relation to publications posted on Ms. Ismailova’s personal Facebook account concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. According to police authorities, on 12 March 2026, during monitoring of online resources, officers from the department for combating extremism and illegal migration identified a social media account belonging to Ms. Ismailova containing posts on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine interpreted by the authorities as expressing support for Ukraine. However, the investigator’s questions did not only concern the content of the Facebook posts, but also the organization Bir Duino – Kyrgyzstan and its funding. The investigator asked whether her posts containing expressions of support for Ukraine reflected Ms Ismailova’s personal views or this is the position of the organisation Bir Duino, which she heads. The investigator also inquired whether she had received any remuneration for these publications and whether she was aware that such posts could “provoke public resonance and contentious discussions among users.” Ms Ismailova replied that she only expresses her personal views on her page and reaffirmed her anti-war stance, emphasising that she is the daughter of a World War II veteran. After questioning, which lasted approximately six hours in total, the human rights defenders were released from the police station without charges being brought against them. However, police officers informed Ms Ismailova that the texts of her Facebook posts would be sent for expert examination to determine whether they violate Article 330 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan (incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or interregional hatred, punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment). The questioning took place on the same day that Ms Ismailova and other activists had planned to organise a peaceful action titled “Freedom for Peaceful Assemblies of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic” near the Pervomaisky District Administration building in Bishkek. It seems that the Facebook posts were used as a pretext to intimidate, prevent and detain these individuals of undertaking that planned peaceful assembly.. The action aimed to raise concerns about restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including existing limitations on demonstrations in Bishkek, which have been repeatedly extended for years.The Observatory views these measures, particularly the summoning activists for questioning immediately ahead of planned peaceful assemblies, as forms of pressure that create a chilling effect and may amount to interference with the right to peaceful protest or even intimidation. The Observatory further expresses concern that the questioning of Ms Ismailova, particularly in relation to her personal social media posts, constitutes judicial harassment aimed at restricting her right to freedom of expression and intimidating a prominent human rights defender. The Observatory recalls that Kyrgyzstan, as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression (Article 19) and the right to peaceful assembly (Article 21), must ensure that there are no restrictions or obstacles to these freedoms. The Observatory calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to guarantee that Ms Ismailova and all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of intimidation or judicial harassment. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kyrgyzstan asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva, and Mr Bulat Satarkulov, as well as all human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan; Put an end to all acts of harassment, including judicial harassment, against Ms. Tolekan Ismailova, and ensure that she can carry out her legitimate human rights activities without interference; Ensure that no criminal charges are brought against Ms. Ismailova for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression, including her personal social media posts; Guarantee in all circumstances the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 of the ICCPR, and ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals, including from foreign state pressure; Ensure that human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan are able to carry out their activities without any fear of reprisals. Addresses: • Mr Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, Email: adskyrgyzstan@gmail.com, X: @SadyrJaparov, • Mr Adylbek Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Email: contactcenter@tunduk.gov.kg, • Mr Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: secretariat@mvd.kg, • Mr Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: info@mfa.gov.kg; dded@mfa.gov.kg, X: @MFA_Kyrgyzstan, • Mr Ayaz Baetov, Minister of Justice, Email: isakov@minjust.gov.kg / baetov.a@gmail.com, • Mr Ruslan Mukambetov, Minister of Defense, Email: op.minoboron@bk.ru, • Mr Jamilya Jamanbaeva, Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, Email: akyikatchy@ombudsman.kg, Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Kyrgyzstan in your respective countries. *** Paris-Geneva, 19 March 2026 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line: • E-mail: alert@observatoryfordefenders.org • Tel FIDH: + 33 1 43 55 25 18 • Tel OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/india-kashmiri-journalist-and-human-rights-defender-irfan-mehraj-held-for-three-years-in-pre-trial-detention/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:06:18 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24547 19 March 2026. On 20 March 2023, Irfan Mehraj was detained by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on politically motivated and fabricated charges. According to the NIA, Irfan Mehraj was arrested for being ‘a close associate of Khurram Parvez’. Khurram Parvez is a HRD and the Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a leading civil society organisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian authorities continue to arbitrarily detain Khurram Parvez for over four years now on politically motivated and fabricated charges. The ongoing detentions of Irfan Mehraj and Khurram Parvez highlight a broader pattern of persecution of human rights defenders and journalists in Jammu and Kashmir. The authorities have used the UAPA – a draconian anti-terror law - and the repressive Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), which permits long-term detention without trial, to criminalise and silence journalists and human rights defenders in Jammu and Kashmir. This has worsened since the unilateral abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in August 2019. In recent months, the police continued to harass and intimidate journalists from Indian-administered Kashmir for their reporting, including through summoning them for repeated police interrogations and demanding that journalists sign a bond undertaking that they will not do anything that would ‘disturb peace’. The Indian government has continuously failed to respond to concerns regarding human rights violations in Kashmir raised by United Nations experts and international human rights organisations. India should respect its international human rights obligations and end its reprisal against human rights defenders and journalists, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Other countries at the UN Human Rights Council should address these flagrant violations by a sitting member state. Our organisations urge the Indian authorities to repeal repressive laws including the UAPA and the PSA and to create an enabling environment for civil society and the media to freely and independently operate in Jammu and Kashmir. As India continues to work towards securing stronger multilateral and bilateral relations, we call on the international community to urge the Indian government to comply with its international human rights obligations, release Irfan Mehraj, Khurram Parvez and all other detained Kashmiri human rights defenders and end its repression in Jammu and Kashmir.]]> 19 March 2026. On 20 March 2023, Irfan Mehraj was detained by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on politically motivated and fabricated charges. According to the NIA, Irfan Mehraj was arrested for being ‘a close associate of Khurram Parvez’. Khurram Parvez is a HRD and the Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a leading civil society organisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian authorities continue to arbitrarily detain Khurram Parvez for over four years now on politically motivated and fabricated charges. The ongoing detentions of Irfan Mehraj and Khurram Parvez highlight a broader pattern of persecution of human rights defenders and journalists in Jammu and Kashmir. The authorities have used the UAPA – a draconian anti-terror law - and the repressive Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), which permits long-term detention without trial, to criminalise and silence journalists and human rights defenders in Jammu and Kashmir. This has worsened since the unilateral abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in August 2019. In recent months, the police continued to harass and intimidate journalists from Indian-administered Kashmir for their reporting, including through summoning them for repeated police interrogations and demanding that journalists sign a bond undertaking that they will not do anything that would ‘disturb peace’. The Indian government has continuously failed to respond to concerns regarding human rights violations in Kashmir raised by United Nations experts and international human rights organisations. India should respect its international human rights obligations and end its reprisal against human rights defenders and journalists, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Other countries at the UN Human Rights Council should address these flagrant violations by a sitting member state. Our organisations urge the Indian authorities to repeal repressive laws including the UAPA and the PSA and to create an enabling environment for civil society and the media to freely and independently operate in Jammu and Kashmir. As India continues to work towards securing stronger multilateral and bilateral relations, we call on the international community to urge the Indian government to comply with its international human rights obligations, release Irfan Mehraj, Khurram Parvez and all other detained Kashmiri human rights defenders and end its repression in Jammu and Kashmir.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/georgia-authorities-must-repeal-new-amendments-on-the-law-on-grants-and-other-repressive-legislation-criminalising-human-rights-work/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:11:33 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24561 Paris-Geneva-Tbilisi, 18 March 2026. On 28 January 2026, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party introduced legislative amendments on the Georgian Law “On Grants” before the Georgian Parliament. Thes new amendments were subsequently adopted by Parliament on 4 March, with the aim of effectively dismantling independent civil society organisations by cutting them off from foreign funding, and criminalising their vital work inside Georgia. Just before the new amendments were passed, the Georgian Law “On Grants” adopted in 1996 and amended several times, including most recently in April 2025, already obliged foreign donors to obtain government approval before providing grants to Georgian recipients, and imposed heavy administrative fines for grant recipients receiving funding without prior government authorisation. Under the newly adopted amendments, receiving “unauthorised” grants now constitutes criminal offence, punishable by up to six years of imprisonment. The definition of “foreign grants” has also been significantly expanded, allowing for the arbitrary and politically motivated criminal prosecution of civil society actors. In addition, individuals previously employed by organisations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources within a calendar year are now banned from political party membership for eight years. At the end of January, the GD had announced that this package of amendments was aimed at making it “significantly more difficult” to receive foreign support for activities framed as “political” or influencing public life. The amended legislation also introduces criminal liability for vaguely defined “extremism against the constitutional order” (new Article 360 of the Georgian Criminal Code). This provision seeks to punish the “systematic” “non-recognition of the Georgian Dream government”, including through “systematic and public calls (…) for mass violations of legislation, mass disobedience to state authorities, or the creation of alternative bodies to state authorities”, with fines and up to three years of imprisonment. This provision is designed as a tool to silence and suppress further peaceful protest against the violations carried out by GD, to further restrict the human rights work of civil society organisations, and to dismantle essential democratic safeguards. These legislative developments have prompted strong reactions from the international community. On 12 February 2026, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński met the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, George Zurabashvili, and called on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the proposed amendments comply with Georgia’s commitments under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement, as well as the commitments undertaken by Georgia as a EU membership candidate country. On 29 January 2026, 23 OSCE participating Statesexplicitly cited growing concerns over restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the increasing pressure on independent voices and opposition actors in Georgia, leading to the first ever invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. The Observatory emphasises that these new restrictions are part of a broader legislative trajectory aimed at systematically restricting the rights to freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly in Georgia. As documented by the Observatory, over the past two years, the Georgian authorities have adopted and expanded a series of repressive laws that drastically impact the work of civil society organisations, independent media and human rights defenders, including the 2024 Law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”, currently challenged before the European Court of Human Rights, and the 2025 Foreign Agents Registration Act. In such a climate, the ability of human rights defenders, independent media and civil society actors to work freely and safely is under severe threat. Therefore, the Observatory and the undersigned organisations urge the Georgian authorities to: Repeal the amendments to the Law “On Grants” and all other legislation restricting the legitimate work of human rights defenders and civil society; Ensure that any regulation of civil society financing complies fully with Georgia’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), including the rights of freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression; Put an end to any act of harassment and intimidation of civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and journalists.]]> Paris-Geneva-Tbilisi, 18 March 2026. On 28 January 2026, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party introduced legislative amendments on the Georgian Law “On Grants” before the Georgian Parliament. Thes new amendments were subsequently adopted by Parliament on 4 March, with the aim of effectively dismantling independent civil society organisations by cutting them off from foreign funding, and criminalising their vital work inside Georgia. Just before the new amendments were passed, the Georgian Law “On Grants” adopted in 1996 and amended several times, including most recently in April 2025, already obliged foreign donors to obtain government approval before providing grants to Georgian recipients, and imposed heavy administrative fines for grant recipients receiving funding without prior government authorisation. Under the newly adopted amendments, receiving “unauthorised” grants now constitutes criminal offence, punishable by up to six years of imprisonment. The definition of “foreign grants” has also been significantly expanded, allowing for the arbitrary and politically motivated criminal prosecution of civil society actors. In addition, individuals previously employed by organisations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources within a calendar year are now banned from political party membership for eight years. At the end of January, the GD had announced that this package of amendments was aimed at making it “significantly more difficult” to receive foreign support for activities framed as “political” or influencing public life. The amended legislation also introduces criminal liability for vaguely defined “extremism against the constitutional order” (new Article 360 of the Georgian Criminal Code). This provision seeks to punish the “systematic” “non-recognition of the Georgian Dream government”, including through “systematic and public calls (…) for mass violations of legislation, mass disobedience to state authorities, or the creation of alternative bodies to state authorities”, with fines and up to three years of imprisonment. This provision is designed as a tool to silence and suppress further peaceful protest against the violations carried out by GD, to further restrict the human rights work of civil society organisations, and to dismantle essential democratic safeguards. These legislative developments have prompted strong reactions from the international community. On 12 February 2026, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński met the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, George Zurabashvili, and called on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the proposed amendments comply with Georgia’s commitments under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement, as well as the commitments undertaken by Georgia as a EU membership candidate country. On 29 January 2026, 23 OSCE participating Statesexplicitly cited growing concerns over restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the increasing pressure on independent voices and opposition actors in Georgia, leading to the first ever invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. The Observatory emphasises that these new restrictions are part of a broader legislative trajectory aimed at systematically restricting the rights to freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly in Georgia. As documented by the Observatory, over the past two years, the Georgian authorities have adopted and expanded a series of repressive laws that drastically impact the work of civil society organisations, independent media and human rights defenders, including the 2024 Law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”, currently challenged before the European Court of Human Rights, and the 2025 Foreign Agents Registration Act. In such a climate, the ability of human rights defenders, independent media and civil society actors to work freely and safely is under severe threat. Therefore, the Observatory and the undersigned organisations urge the Georgian authorities to: Repeal the amendments to the Law “On Grants” and all other legislation restricting the legitimate work of human rights defenders and civil society; Ensure that any regulation of civil society financing complies fully with Georgia’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), including the rights of freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression; Put an end to any act of harassment and intimidation of civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and journalists.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/algerie-fermeture-et-mise-sous-scelles-des-bureaux-de-sos-disparus/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:10:40 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24573 entraves répétées à leurs activités. L’association a notamment été ciblée par des interdictions d’événements, la surveillance et l’encerclement de ses locaux par les forces de sécurité, ainsi que par des mesures visant ses membres. En juillet 2025, Mme Nassera Dutour, présidente du CFDA, s’est vue refuser arbitrairement l’entrée sur le territoire algérien, la Cour administrative d’appel d’Alger ayant rejeté en janvier 2026 son recours contre cette interdiction d’entrée sur le territoire national. Ces éléments illustrent un schéma de harcèlement visant l’organisation dans un contexte plus large de restriction de l’espace civique, en particulier à l’égard des acteur·rices travaillant sur les disparitions forcées et l’héritage de la décennie noire. L’Observatoire exprime sa vive inquiétude face à la fermeture des bureaux de SOS Disparus, qui semble viser à réduire au silence l’un des derniers espaces de mémoire et de mobilisation des familles de disparu·es, et à entraver les activités légitimes de défense des droits humains menées par l’association. L’Observatoire rappelle que l’Algérie, en tant qu’État partie au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), qui garantit la liberté d’expression (article 19) et la liberté d’association (article 22), doit veiller à ce qu’aucune restriction ou entrave ne soit apportée à l’exercice de ces droits. Actions requises : L’Observatoire vous prie de bien vouloir écrire aux autorités algériennes en leur demandant de : Garantir en toutes circonstances l’intégrité physique et le bien-être psychologique des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA, ainsi que de l’ensemble des défenseur·es des droits humains en Algérie ; Lever immédiatement la mesure de fermeture et de mise sous scellés des bureaux de SOS Disparus, et permettre à l’association de reprendre ses activités ; Cesser tout harcèlement et toute intimidation à l’encontre d de l’ensemble des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA ainsi que tou⋅tes les défenseur⋅es des droits humains en Algérie et garantir en toutes circonstances qu’ils et elles puissent mener leurs activités légitimes en faveur des droits humains sans entraves ni crainte de représailles ; Garantir le respect effectif de la liberté d’association, de la liberté d’expression et du droit de défendre les droits humains, conformément aux obligations internationales de l’Algérie. Adresses : • M. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Président de l’Algérie, E-mail : president@el-mouradia.dz, X : @TebbouneAmadjid • M. Nadir Larbaoui, Premier Ministre de l’Algérie, E-mail : primeminister@pm.gov.dz • M. Abderrachid Tabi, Ministre de la Justice de l’Algérie, E-mail : contact@mjustice.dz • M. Rachid Bladehane Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire, Représentation Permanente de la République d’Algérie aux Nations unies à Genève, Suisse, E-mail : contact@mission-algeria.ch • M. Mohamed El Amine Bencherif, Ambassadeur de la République d’Algérie à Bruxelles, E-mail : info@algerian-embassy.be Prière d’écrire également aux représentations diplomatiques d’Algérie dans vos pays respectifs. *** Genève-Paris, le 18 mars 2026 Merci de bien vouloir informer l’Observatoire de toutes actions entreprises en indiquant le code de cet appel. L’Observatoire partenariat de la FIDH et de l’OMCT, a vocation à protéger les défenseur·es des droits humains victimes de violations et à leur apporter une aide aussi concrète que possible. La FIDH et l’OMCT sont membres de ProtectDefenders.eu, le mécanisme de l’Union européenne pour les défenseur·es des droits humains mis en œuvre par la société civile internationale. Pour contacter l’Observatoire, appeler La Ligne d’Urgence : · E-mail : alert@observatoryfordefenders.org · Tel FIDH : +33 1 43 55 25 18 · Tel OMCT : + 41 22 809 49 39]]> entraves répétées à leurs activités. L’association a notamment été ciblée par des interdictions d’événements, la surveillance et l’encerclement de ses locaux par les forces de sécurité, ainsi que par des mesures visant ses membres. En juillet 2025, Mme Nassera Dutour, présidente du CFDA, s’est vue refuser arbitrairement l’entrée sur le territoire algérien, la Cour administrative d’appel d’Alger ayant rejeté en janvier 2026 son recours contre cette interdiction d’entrée sur le territoire national. Ces éléments illustrent un schéma de harcèlement visant l’organisation dans un contexte plus large de restriction de l’espace civique, en particulier à l’égard des acteur·rices travaillant sur les disparitions forcées et l’héritage de la décennie noire. L’Observatoire exprime sa vive inquiétude face à la fermeture des bureaux de SOS Disparus, qui semble viser à réduire au silence l’un des derniers espaces de mémoire et de mobilisation des familles de disparu·es, et à entraver les activités légitimes de défense des droits humains menées par l’association. L’Observatoire rappelle que l’Algérie, en tant qu’État partie au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), qui garantit la liberté d’expression (article 19) et la liberté d’association (article 22), doit veiller à ce qu’aucune restriction ou entrave ne soit apportée à l’exercice de ces droits. Actions requises : L’Observatoire vous prie de bien vouloir écrire aux autorités algériennes en leur demandant de : Garantir en toutes circonstances l’intégrité physique et le bien-être psychologique des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA, ainsi que de l’ensemble des défenseur·es des droits humains en Algérie ; Lever immédiatement la mesure de fermeture et de mise sous scellés des bureaux de SOS Disparus, et permettre à l’association de reprendre ses activités ; Cesser tout harcèlement et toute intimidation à l’encontre d de l’ensemble des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA ainsi que tou⋅tes les défenseur⋅es des droits humains en Algérie et garantir en toutes circonstances qu’ils et elles puissent mener leurs activités légitimes en faveur des droits humains sans entraves ni crainte de représailles ; Garantir le respect effectif de la liberté d’association, de la liberté d’expression et du droit de défendre les droits humains, conformément aux obligations internationales de l’Algérie. Adresses : • M. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Président de l’Algérie, E-mail : president@el-mouradia.dz, X : @TebbouneAmadjid • M. Nadir Larbaoui, Premier Ministre de l’Algérie, E-mail : primeminister@pm.gov.dz • M. Abderrachid Tabi, Ministre de la Justice de l’Algérie, E-mail : contact@mjustice.dz • M. Rachid Bladehane Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire, Représentation Permanente de la République d’Algérie aux Nations unies à Genève, Suisse, E-mail : contact@mission-algeria.ch • M. Mohamed El Amine Bencherif, Ambassadeur de la République d’Algérie à Bruxelles, E-mail : info@algerian-embassy.be Prière d’écrire également aux représentations diplomatiques d’Algérie dans vos pays respectifs. *** Genève-Paris, le 18 mars 2026 Merci de bien vouloir informer l’Observatoire de toutes actions entreprises en indiquant le code de cet appel. L’Observatoire partenariat de la FIDH et de l’OMCT, a vocation à protéger les défenseur·es des droits humains victimes de violations et à leur apporter une aide aussi concrète que possible. La FIDH et l’OMCT sont membres de ProtectDefenders.eu, le mécanisme de l’Union européenne pour les défenseur·es des droits humains mis en œuvre par la société civile internationale. Pour contacter l’Observatoire, appeler La Ligne d’Urgence : · E-mail : alert@observatoryfordefenders.org · Tel FIDH : +33 1 43 55 25 18 · Tel OMCT : + 41 22 809 49 39]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/bahrain-release-human-rights-defender-dr-abduljalil-al-singace/ Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:10:09 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24557 18 March 2026 His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince and Prime Minister Your Majesties, We are writing to respectfully urge Your Majesties to order the release of human rights defender Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace, who has now completed 15 years of arbitrary imprisonment while serving a life sentence for his role in the pro-democracy movement. Bahrain is currently facing unprecedented challenges as the regional conflict intensifies. The country has been subjected to multiple attacks and its airspace has been closed. At such a difficult time for the nation, acts that promote compassion, unity, and reconciliation are more important than ever. The release of Dr Al-Singace and others imprisoned for their human rights work and political views would send an important message during this difficult time. Dr Al-Singace, now 64 years old, has been held in medical facilities since July 2021 and is currently detained at Muharraq Specialised Health Care Centre. He began a hunger strike in protest of the confiscation of his manuscripts and academic research. Since then, he has survived primarily on liquid intake, including multivitamin supplements. At times, he has resorted to full hunger strikes to protest the denial of medication and access to specialised medical treatment. In November 2025, the UN Committee against Torture expressed serious concerns regarding his ongoing detention and urged Bahrain to release Dr Al-Singace, alongside fellow human rights defenders Hassan Mushaima and Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. We remain deeply concerned that Dr Al-Singace continues to suffer from the systematic denial of adequate medical care. For example, since 2021, he has experienced severe shoulder pain. After prolonged delays in obtaining a proper diagnosis, he finally received an MRI scan last year and doctors advised that surgery is required. However, there has been no indication as to when this operation will take place. He also continues to be denied physiotherapy despite his disability. These medical concerns should be addressed without further delay. With Eid Al-Fitr approaching, an occasion traditionally marked by royal pardons, we respectfully ask that Dr Al-Singace be included among those pardoned. In the meantime, we urge Your Majesties to ensure that he is held in conditions that meet international standards, receives his medication without delay, and has access to adequate healthcare in compliance with medical ethics. We also urge the relevant authorities to facilitate the return of his confiscated research to his family at the earliest opportunity. At a time when the region is experiencing profound turmoil, the release of political prisoners, including Dr Al-Singace, would offer a meaningful gesture of compassion and help ease the suffering felt by many families in Bahrain. Yours sincerely,]]> 18 March 2026 His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince and Prime Minister Your Majesties, We are writing to respectfully urge Your Majesties to order the release of human rights defender Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace, who has now completed 15 years of arbitrary imprisonment while serving a life sentence for his role in the pro-democracy movement. Bahrain is currently facing unprecedented challenges as the regional conflict intensifies. The country has been subjected to multiple attacks and its airspace has been closed. At such a difficult time for the nation, acts that promote compassion, unity, and reconciliation are more important than ever. The release of Dr Al-Singace and others imprisoned for their human rights work and political views would send an important message during this difficult time. Dr Al-Singace, now 64 years old, has been held in medical facilities since July 2021 and is currently detained at Muharraq Specialised Health Care Centre. He began a hunger strike in protest of the confiscation of his manuscripts and academic research. Since then, he has survived primarily on liquid intake, including multivitamin supplements. At times, he has resorted to full hunger strikes to protest the denial of medication and access to specialised medical treatment. In November 2025, the UN Committee against Torture expressed serious concerns regarding his ongoing detention and urged Bahrain to release Dr Al-Singace, alongside fellow human rights defenders Hassan Mushaima and Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. We remain deeply concerned that Dr Al-Singace continues to suffer from the systematic denial of adequate medical care. For example, since 2021, he has experienced severe shoulder pain. After prolonged delays in obtaining a proper diagnosis, he finally received an MRI scan last year and doctors advised that surgery is required. However, there has been no indication as to when this operation will take place. He also continues to be denied physiotherapy despite his disability. These medical concerns should be addressed without further delay. With Eid Al-Fitr approaching, an occasion traditionally marked by royal pardons, we respectfully ask that Dr Al-Singace be included among those pardoned. In the meantime, we urge Your Majesties to ensure that he is held in conditions that meet international standards, receives his medication without delay, and has access to adequate healthcare in compliance with medical ethics. We also urge the relevant authorities to facilitate the return of his confiscated research to his family at the earliest opportunity. At a time when the region is experiencing profound turmoil, the release of political prisoners, including Dr Al-Singace, would offer a meaningful gesture of compassion and help ease the suffering felt by many families in Bahrain. Yours sincerely,]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/kenya-denial-of-entry-detention-and-deportation-of-zimbabwean-human-rights-defender-mr-brian-kagoro/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:44:54 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24482 Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the denial of entry, detention and deportation from Kenya of Mr Brian Kagoro, Zimbabwean human rights defender, constitutional lawyer, and Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Mr Brian Kagoro has long engaged in African human rights and governance initiatives. On 22 February 2026, Kenyan security authorities denied Mr Brian Kagoro entry into Kenya upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Officers from the National Intelligence Service held him at the airport for more than 10 hours and questioned him on the basis of allegations made by the Kenyan authorities that he had been involved in financing and coordinating protest activities in Kenya. During this period, authorities denied him access to a lawyer and prevented him from contacting his family or colleagues. Mr Kagoro rejects all the allegations and as an illustration of the false nature of these accusations, the authorities did not present any formal charges or any material evidence. Following his detention, immigration officials issued a removal order authorising the air carrier to return him to Johannesburg, South Africa, from where he had travelled. The removal order reportedly cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation-related offences, without any written explanation clarifying the factual basis. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Kenyan authorities have not formally issued any public information to explain the circumstances that led to their actions, nor have they announced any criminal charges against Mr Kagoro. The Observatory recalls that his deportation from the country ended a two-decade presence in Nairobi, where Mr Kagoro had established professional, academic and civic activities since the mid-2000s, when Nairobi consolidated its position as a regional hub for governance initiatives. This incident follows increased scrutiny by Kenyan authorities of civic actors and alleged foreign involvement in protest movements, particularly after the 2024 nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill. Indeed, Mr Kagoro’s deportation is not an isolated case, as the Observatory has already expressed concern about the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), on 5 July 2025 for similar reasons. As another illustration, Kenya has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlistdue to the escalation of repression of civic freedoms. These developments raise serious worries regarding the protection of civic space in Kenya and the ability of human rights defenders and civil society actors to operate without interference. The Observatory further recalls that Kenya must comply with its obligations under international and regional human rights law, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Articles 9, 12, 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Moreover, Article 47 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to fair administrative action, including the right to written reasons where rights are adversely affected. The Observatory considers that these administrative measures and patterns of harassment prevent human rights defenders from delivering public interventions or engaging in governance-related initiatives and undermine the democratic participation and respect of human rights in the country. The Observatory is extremely concerned about the absence of written reasons, the lack of formal charges, and the reliance on unsubstantiated allegations which raise serious concerns regarding due process guarantees and the principle of legality. Therefore, the Observatory strongly condemns the denial of entry, detention and deportation of Mr Brian Kagoro, which appear to be solely aimed at preventing him from engaging in legitimate human rights activities and interacting with civil society actors in Kenya. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kenya asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Mr Brian Kagoro and all human rights defenders in Kenya; Provide a full, official, transparent and legally reasoned explanation of the legal and factual basis for denying Mr Brian Kagoro entry, detaining him and deporting him from Kenya; Ensure that all measures taken in relation to Mr Kagoro fully comply with Kenya’s obligations under the Constitution, the ICCPR and the ACHPR, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to fair administrative action; Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders, including foreign nationals engaging in legitimate civic activities, can carry out their work without arbitrary interference, harassment, intimidation, restrictions or reprisals.]]> Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the denial of entry, detention and deportation from Kenya of Mr Brian Kagoro, Zimbabwean human rights defender, constitutional lawyer, and Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Mr Brian Kagoro has long engaged in African human rights and governance initiatives. On 22 February 2026, Kenyan security authorities denied Mr Brian Kagoro entry into Kenya upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Officers from the National Intelligence Service held him at the airport for more than 10 hours and questioned him on the basis of allegations made by the Kenyan authorities that he had been involved in financing and coordinating protest activities in Kenya. During this period, authorities denied him access to a lawyer and prevented him from contacting his family or colleagues. Mr Kagoro rejects all the allegations and as an illustration of the false nature of these accusations, the authorities did not present any formal charges or any material evidence. Following his detention, immigration officials issued a removal order authorising the air carrier to return him to Johannesburg, South Africa, from where he had travelled. The removal order reportedly cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation-related offences, without any written explanation clarifying the factual basis. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Kenyan authorities have not formally issued any public information to explain the circumstances that led to their actions, nor have they announced any criminal charges against Mr Kagoro. The Observatory recalls that his deportation from the country ended a two-decade presence in Nairobi, where Mr Kagoro had established professional, academic and civic activities since the mid-2000s, when Nairobi consolidated its position as a regional hub for governance initiatives. This incident follows increased scrutiny by Kenyan authorities of civic actors and alleged foreign involvement in protest movements, particularly after the 2024 nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill. Indeed, Mr Kagoro’s deportation is not an isolated case, as the Observatory has already expressed concern about the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), on 5 July 2025 for similar reasons. As another illustration, Kenya has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlistdue to the escalation of repression of civic freedoms. These developments raise serious worries regarding the protection of civic space in Kenya and the ability of human rights defenders and civil society actors to operate without interference. The Observatory further recalls that Kenya must comply with its obligations under international and regional human rights law, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Articles 9, 12, 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Moreover, Article 47 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to fair administrative action, including the right to written reasons where rights are adversely affected. The Observatory considers that these administrative measures and patterns of harassment prevent human rights defenders from delivering public interventions or engaging in governance-related initiatives and undermine the democratic participation and respect of human rights in the country. The Observatory is extremely concerned about the absence of written reasons, the lack of formal charges, and the reliance on unsubstantiated allegations which raise serious concerns regarding due process guarantees and the principle of legality. Therefore, the Observatory strongly condemns the denial of entry, detention and deportation of Mr Brian Kagoro, which appear to be solely aimed at preventing him from engaging in legitimate human rights activities and interacting with civil society actors in Kenya. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kenya asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Mr Brian Kagoro and all human rights defenders in Kenya; Provide a full, official, transparent and legally reasoned explanation of the legal and factual basis for denying Mr Brian Kagoro entry, detaining him and deporting him from Kenya; Ensure that all measures taken in relation to Mr Kagoro fully comply with Kenya’s obligations under the Constitution, the ICCPR and the ACHPR, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to fair administrative action; Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders, including foreign nationals engaging in legitimate civic activities, can carry out their work without arbitrary interference, harassment, intimidation, restrictions or reprisals.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/iran-additional-prison-sentences-against-narges-mohammadi/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:29:42 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24432 17 February 2026. The Free Narges Coalition Steering Committee stated: “The situation of Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate under detention is not an isolated example, but an indicator of the vulnerability and risks faced by those detained for their defense of human rights or expression. The information we have received from verified sources about the condition of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners is deeply worrying. Following the nationwide demonstrations and ensuing massacre of protesters, the government is doubling down on dangerously harsh treatment of its growing number of political prisoners. Human rights defenders, journalists, writers, and artists are at the forefront of the fight for a free and democratic Iran. Narges Mohammadi and all prisoners of conscience must be freed immediately; they must have access to their chosen lawyer, regular contact with family, and medical care.” On 7 February 2026, Mohammadi’s lawyer announced that the Nobel laureate was transferred to Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court despite her objections. In protest against the unjust judicial process, she refused to provide a defense and was immediately handed down two harsh sentences. According to these new rulings, the human rights defender was sentenced to six years prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and 18 months on the charge of “propaganda against the state.” Additionally, the judge issued supplementary punishments, including two years of internal exile to the city of Khosf, South Khorasan province in Iran and a two-year additional travel ban. Mohammadi, currently serving multiple prison sentences in a high security detention center in Mashhad, is facing more than 17 years of imprisonment since 2021. On 12 December 2025, Narges Mohammadi was arrested with a level of brutality unprecedented in her long history of judicial harassment. While attending the funeral of the late Iranian human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi in Mashhad, Mohammadi spoke to those gathered, offering a message of peace, unity, and national solidarity. It was during this peaceful assembly that plainclothes agents arrested her and others in an extremely violent manner. According to verified information, security forces encircled Mohammadi and other women defenders present and beat them repeatedly with wooden sticks and batons over their heads and between their legs, bruising her genital area and possibly fracturing her pelvic bone. During this assault, the agents threatened Mohammadi that “We will make your mother sit in mourning for you,” and that “Today is the last day of your life.” She was told that because they believed that she had “driven a dagger into the heart of the Islamic Republic,” they would “put a dagger back into her heart.” She was dragged across the ground by her hair with such force that sections of her scalp were torn away, leaving visible bald patches and open wounds. Inside the transport vehicle, agents broke another woman’s nose while forcing her to surrender her phone. Suffering from nausea, intense chest pain, and unusually high blood pressure, Mohammadi has reported feeling numb and being unable to breathe. When in solitary confinement, she has been overheard asking for help while shouting “I’m dying,” raising the possibility that she thought she was suffering a heart attack. Furthermore, she reported to not be able to sit down for several days due to the pelvic injury. Officials took detailed photographs of her extensive injuries, focusing specifically on the raw wounds on her scalp. During the first week of her arbitrary detention, Narges Mohammadi was transferred twice to hospital under heavy security measures. A physician confirmed that Mohammadi, who has a heart stent from a previous surgery, required urgent specialized cardiac care after serious medical negligence underdetention. In the first week of February, suffering from severe nausea, she was transferred again for a head scan, likely to Razavi Hospital in Mashhad, where doctors also provided an ointment for her scalp and gave her several unexplained injections. She was then returned to solitary confinement for weeks, kept in a windowless cell with constant artificial lighting that made it impossible to distinguish day from night, forced to sleep on a thin rug over ceramic tiles and not appropriately fed. Narges Mohammadi’s life remains in immediate danger. Despite her critical state, she is subjected to lengthy interrogation sessions to force a confession and a condemnation of the protests, which began on 28 December and continued for several weeks in January, leading to the killing of thousands of protesters. She has refused to comply, despite direct threats that she “won’t live to see the sun.” On the evening of 2 February, guards raided her cell and assaulted all detainees with electric shock devices. Prior to her arrest, Mohammadi was undergoing diagnostic testing for breast tumors; interrupting this, combined with cardiac distress and physical trauma, presents a high risk. Over two months into her unjust arrest, Mohammadi has been allowed only two short phone calls, both of which were abruptly cut short as she tried to recount her detention situation and current health condition. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate began a hunger strike on Monday, 2 February, to protest her continued unlawful detention, her dire detention conditions, and the denial of contact with her family or lawyers—realities faced by numerous prisoners currently held in Iran. Mohammadi ended her hunger strike six days later, amidst alarming reports about her health. Narges Mohammadi is a human rights defender, journalist, author, and the deputy director and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC) in Iran. Having spent more than 10 years of her life behind bars, her current period of detention began in December 2025. Throughout her life, she has been sentenced to a total of 44 years in prison, which includes previous sentences totaling 13 years and nine months for charges such as committing “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security.” She is the recipient of numerous international awards for her tireless struggle for human rights, including the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, and the 2022 Reporters Without Borders Prize for Courage. This statement is issued by the Free Narges Coalition steering committee and does not necessarily reflect the position of all Coalition members. The steering committee is led by the Narges Foundation, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Front Line Defenders. Join us in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners in Iran.]]> 17 February 2026. The Free Narges Coalition Steering Committee stated: “The situation of Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate under detention is not an isolated example, but an indicator of the vulnerability and risks faced by those detained for their defense of human rights or expression. The information we have received from verified sources about the condition of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners is deeply worrying. Following the nationwide demonstrations and ensuing massacre of protesters, the government is doubling down on dangerously harsh treatment of its growing number of political prisoners. Human rights defenders, journalists, writers, and artists are at the forefront of the fight for a free and democratic Iran. Narges Mohammadi and all prisoners of conscience must be freed immediately; they must have access to their chosen lawyer, regular contact with family, and medical care.” On 7 February 2026, Mohammadi’s lawyer announced that the Nobel laureate was transferred to Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court despite her objections. In protest against the unjust judicial process, she refused to provide a defense and was immediately handed down two harsh sentences. According to these new rulings, the human rights defender was sentenced to six years prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and 18 months on the charge of “propaganda against the state.” Additionally, the judge issued supplementary punishments, including two years of internal exile to the city of Khosf, South Khorasan province in Iran and a two-year additional travel ban. Mohammadi, currently serving multiple prison sentences in a high security detention center in Mashhad, is facing more than 17 years of imprisonment since 2021. On 12 December 2025, Narges Mohammadi was arrested with a level of brutality unprecedented in her long history of judicial harassment. While attending the funeral of the late Iranian human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi in Mashhad, Mohammadi spoke to those gathered, offering a message of peace, unity, and national solidarity. It was during this peaceful assembly that plainclothes agents arrested her and others in an extremely violent manner. According to verified information, security forces encircled Mohammadi and other women defenders present and beat them repeatedly with wooden sticks and batons over their heads and between their legs, bruising her genital area and possibly fracturing her pelvic bone. During this assault, the agents threatened Mohammadi that “We will make your mother sit in mourning for you,” and that “Today is the last day of your life.” She was told that because they believed that she had “driven a dagger into the heart of the Islamic Republic,” they would “put a dagger back into her heart.” She was dragged across the ground by her hair with such force that sections of her scalp were torn away, leaving visible bald patches and open wounds. Inside the transport vehicle, agents broke another woman’s nose while forcing her to surrender her phone. Suffering from nausea, intense chest pain, and unusually high blood pressure, Mohammadi has reported feeling numb and being unable to breathe. When in solitary confinement, she has been overheard asking for help while shouting “I’m dying,” raising the possibility that she thought she was suffering a heart attack. Furthermore, she reported to not be able to sit down for several days due to the pelvic injury. Officials took detailed photographs of her extensive injuries, focusing specifically on the raw wounds on her scalp. During the first week of her arbitrary detention, Narges Mohammadi was transferred twice to hospital under heavy security measures. A physician confirmed that Mohammadi, who has a heart stent from a previous surgery, required urgent specialized cardiac care after serious medical negligence underdetention. In the first week of February, suffering from severe nausea, she was transferred again for a head scan, likely to Razavi Hospital in Mashhad, where doctors also provided an ointment for her scalp and gave her several unexplained injections. She was then returned to solitary confinement for weeks, kept in a windowless cell with constant artificial lighting that made it impossible to distinguish day from night, forced to sleep on a thin rug over ceramic tiles and not appropriately fed. Narges Mohammadi’s life remains in immediate danger. Despite her critical state, she is subjected to lengthy interrogation sessions to force a confession and a condemnation of the protests, which began on 28 December and continued for several weeks in January, leading to the killing of thousands of protesters. She has refused to comply, despite direct threats that she “won’t live to see the sun.” On the evening of 2 February, guards raided her cell and assaulted all detainees with electric shock devices. Prior to her arrest, Mohammadi was undergoing diagnostic testing for breast tumors; interrupting this, combined with cardiac distress and physical trauma, presents a high risk. Over two months into her unjust arrest, Mohammadi has been allowed only two short phone calls, both of which were abruptly cut short as she tried to recount her detention situation and current health condition. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate began a hunger strike on Monday, 2 February, to protest her continued unlawful detention, her dire detention conditions, and the denial of contact with her family or lawyers—realities faced by numerous prisoners currently held in Iran. Mohammadi ended her hunger strike six days later, amidst alarming reports about her health. Narges Mohammadi is a human rights defender, journalist, author, and the deputy director and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC) in Iran. Having spent more than 10 years of her life behind bars, her current period of detention began in December 2025. Throughout her life, she has been sentenced to a total of 44 years in prison, which includes previous sentences totaling 13 years and nine months for charges such as committing “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security.” She is the recipient of numerous international awards for her tireless struggle for human rights, including the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, and the 2022 Reporters Without Borders Prize for Courage. This statement is issued by the Free Narges Coalition steering committee and does not necessarily reflect the position of all Coalition members. The steering committee is led by the Narges Foundation, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Front Line Defenders. Join us in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners in Iran.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/israel-palestine-the-observatory-condemns-the-arbitrary-detention-and-ill-treatment-of-activists-aboard-the-global-sumud-flotilla-in-israeli-prisons/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:00:24 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24051 Geneva-Paris, 8 October 2025. On the night of 1-2 October 2025, the Israeli army violently intercepted the boats composing the Global Sumud Flotilla, a non-violent humanitarian initiative aimed at breaking the illegal siege on Gaza and delivering food and medical supplies, while sailing in international waters. 462 peaceful activists on board, including human rights defenders, NGO representatives, journalists, medical workers, and lawmakers were forcibly taken to the port of Ashdod and subjected to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment. Among those abducted and detained were two FIDH Vice-Presidents, Alexis Deswaef (Belgium) and Aziz Rhali (Morocco), former President of the Moroccan Human Rights Association (Association marocaine des droits humains - AMDH), member of OMCT’s SOS-Torture Network. The interception and abduction of the Flotilla participants in international waters constitute a grave breach of international law and of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. At the time of publication of this statement, almost all activists had been released except Aziz Rhali and 5 others. After their unlawful arrest, which, according to United Nations experts, constitutes a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles, detainees were held in Ketziot prison in the Naqab (Negev) desert under inhumane conditions. According to Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, some detainees were denied access to legal representation for several hours and some have still not been granted access to legal support to this day. Some detainees have reported physical violence, verbal harassment, deprivation of food, clean drinking water, life-sustaining medication, sleep, and confinement in painful stressful positions. These acts and omissions violate the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. The Observatory recalls that OMCT, FIDH, and their respective network members have extensively documented the systematic use of torture by Israeli authorities, including in the context of the reviews of Israel by the United Nations Committee against torture, as a means of dehumanisation and control over the Palestinian people - a pattern that has reached unprecedented levels of brutality since October 2023. Testimonies, legal analyses, and case studies reveal torture as a tool of political subjugation and war in the context of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The Observatory recalls that the Global Sumud Flotilla is a legitimate, peaceful, and non-violent initiative, carried out in line with the principles of solidarity and the right to defend human rights. The violent repression of this initiative and the ongoing mistreatment of its participants are part of a broader pattern of state-sanctioned violence against Palestinians that seeks to silence voices denouncing Israel’s ongoing genocide and concrete acts to challenge the illegal siege in Gaza. The Observatory condemns in the strongest possible terms the humiliating and stigmatising declarations made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who publicly stated that he was “proud” of the treatment of Flotilla activists, calling them “supporters of terrorism” who “deserve the conditions of terrorists.” Such statements not only legitimise torture and abuse, and indicate that such treatment is a state policy, but also aim to stigmatise and criminalise international solidarity and dehumanise peaceful defenders acting to uphold human rights and international law. The Observatory further condemns the silence and inaction of some members of the international community and the European Union, which have failed to take protective diplomatic measures to secure the release of their nationals and to uphold international law. This failure emboldens Israeli impunity and undermines the credibility of the EU’s own human rights commitments. On the night of 7-8 October, Israeli forces attacked and unlawfully intercepted a new peaceful humanitarian flotilla in international waters. The operation targeted the Conscience, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s flagship vessel, and eight sailboats of the Thousands Madleens to Gaza initiative, carrying around 145 participants from around the world, including human rights defenders, medical workers, and journalists. According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the participants are being transported to an Israeli port. Considering this, the Observatory therefore:

• Urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all Freedom Flotilla Coalition activists arbitrarily detained for their peaceful humanitarian action;
• Demands an immediate end to the systematic and widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment in Israeli detention facilities;
• Calls on the EU and the international community to address the systematic and widespread nature of torture in Israel and to ensure accountability for crimes committed under international law;
• Urges EU member states and all States, to use all their leverage and deploy all necessary diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the arbitrarily detained activists and to publicly condemn Israel’s violations.

The Observatory reaffirms its solidarity with all defenders and activists who, through peaceful means, continue to stand for justice, dignity, and human rights in Palestine. The Observatory will continue to closely monitor the situation, pursuing accountability for Israel’s persistent and systematic violations of international law and demanding the immediate release and protection of those arbitrarily detained.]]> Geneva-Paris, 8 October 2025. On the night of 1-2 October 2025, the Israeli army violently intercepted the boats composing the Global Sumud Flotilla, a non-violent humanitarian initiative aimed at breaking the illegal siege on Gaza and delivering food and medical supplies, while sailing in international waters. 462 peaceful activists on board, including human rights defenders, NGO representatives, journalists, medical workers, and lawmakers were forcibly taken to the port of Ashdod and subjected to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment. Among those abducted and detained were two FIDH Vice-Presidents, Alexis Deswaef (Belgium) and Aziz Rhali (Morocco), former President of the Moroccan Human Rights Association (Association marocaine des droits humains - AMDH), member of OMCT’s SOS-Torture Network. The interception and abduction of the Flotilla participants in international waters constitute a grave breach of international law and of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. At the time of publication of this statement, almost all activists had been released except Aziz Rhali and 5 others. After their unlawful arrest, which, according to United Nations experts, constitutes a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles, detainees were held in Ketziot prison in the Naqab (Negev) desert under inhumane conditions. According to Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, some detainees were denied access to legal representation for several hours and some have still not been granted access to legal support to this day. Some detainees have reported physical violence, verbal harassment, deprivation of food, clean drinking water, life-sustaining medication, sleep, and confinement in painful stressful positions. These acts and omissions violate the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. The Observatory recalls that OMCT, FIDH, and their respective network members have extensively documented the systematic use of torture by Israeli authorities, including in the context of the reviews of Israel by the United Nations Committee against torture, as a means of dehumanisation and control over the Palestinian people - a pattern that has reached unprecedented levels of brutality since October 2023. Testimonies, legal analyses, and case studies reveal torture as a tool of political subjugation and war in the context of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The Observatory recalls that the Global Sumud Flotilla is a legitimate, peaceful, and non-violent initiative, carried out in line with the principles of solidarity and the right to defend human rights. The violent repression of this initiative and the ongoing mistreatment of its participants are part of a broader pattern of state-sanctioned violence against Palestinians that seeks to silence voices denouncing Israel’s ongoing genocide and concrete acts to challenge the illegal siege in Gaza. The Observatory condemns in the strongest possible terms the humiliating and stigmatising declarations made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who publicly stated that he was “proud” of the treatment of Flotilla activists, calling them “supporters of terrorism” who “deserve the conditions of terrorists.” Such statements not only legitimise torture and abuse, and indicate that such treatment is a state policy, but also aim to stigmatise and criminalise international solidarity and dehumanise peaceful defenders acting to uphold human rights and international law. The Observatory further condemns the silence and inaction of some members of the international community and the European Union, which have failed to take protective diplomatic measures to secure the release of their nationals and to uphold international law. This failure emboldens Israeli impunity and undermines the credibility of the EU’s own human rights commitments. On the night of 7-8 October, Israeli forces attacked and unlawfully intercepted a new peaceful humanitarian flotilla in international waters. The operation targeted the Conscience, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s flagship vessel, and eight sailboats of the Thousands Madleens to Gaza initiative, carrying around 145 participants from around the world, including human rights defenders, medical workers, and journalists. According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the participants are being transported to an Israeli port. Considering this, the Observatory therefore:

• Urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all Freedom Flotilla Coalition activists arbitrarily detained for their peaceful humanitarian action;
• Demands an immediate end to the systematic and widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment in Israeli detention facilities;
• Calls on the EU and the international community to address the systematic and widespread nature of torture in Israel and to ensure accountability for crimes committed under international law;
• Urges EU member states and all States, to use all their leverage and deploy all necessary diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the arbitrarily detained activists and to publicly condemn Israel’s violations.

The Observatory reaffirms its solidarity with all defenders and activists who, through peaceful means, continue to stand for justice, dignity, and human rights in Palestine. The Observatory will continue to closely monitor the situation, pursuing accountability for Israel’s persistent and systematic violations of international law and demanding the immediate release and protection of those arbitrarily detained.]]>