https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:45:24 +0000 es-ES 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/es/ 32 32 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/philippines-arbitrary-detention-of-edel-parducho-and-three-odena/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:45:24 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24476 Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Mr Edel Parducho, Human Rights Education Officer at Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), and Ms Three Odeña, a Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) youth activist. PAHRA is a non-profit alliance of individuals, institutions, and organisations committed to the promotion, protection, and realisation of human rights in the Philippines, and is a member of FIDH and of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. SPARK is a national organisation of young student-leaders who fight against all forms of oppression and report on social issues, particularly those concerning the youth and marginalised sectors. On 25 February 2026, police officers from the Eastern Police District in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, arbitrarily arrested Edel Parducho and Three Odeña during a peaceful protest commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Edel Parducho was acting as a marshal standing between the protesters and the police, and protecting female participants. Several times, the police forcefully pushed the protesters so that they would take up less space on the streets. Edel Parducho was hit multiple times on the back of his head with a shield, and was dragged by the collar of his shirt by the police until he fell to the ground. Once he was on the ground, several officers pinned him down and handcuffed him. Mr Parducho did not resist and remained in a defensive position throughout the incident. Three Odeña was taking photographs when she was pulled by her hair and arrested. On the same day, the two human rights defenders were charged by the National Capital Region Police Office with “direct assault”, “resistance to authority”, “illegal assembly”, and “physical injury”, allegations that are contradicted by video documentation and eyewitness accounts. As of 15:30 (Manila time) on 27 February 2026, Edel Parducho and Three Odeña were still arbitrarily detained at the Mandaluyong City police station. The Observatory notes with concern that the arbitrary arrests of Edel Parducho and Three Odeña occur amid a precarious situation for human rights defenders in the Philippines, who remain at risk of arbitrary detention, criminalisation, harassment, attacks, and, in some cases, killing. In addition, the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which was passed in July 2020, further compounded the precarious situation for human rights defenders by legally institutionalising the practice of “red-tagging” defenders with overly broad and vague definitions of terrorism. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Edel Parducho and Three Odeña, which seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities. The Observatory urges the authorities in the Philippines to immediately and unconditionally release Edel Parducho and Three Odeña, drop all unfounded charges against them and put an end to all acts of harassment against them and all human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further calls on the authorities in the Philippines to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, as enshrined in international human rights law, and in particular in Articles 19 and 21 of the Internation Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Philippines has ratified.]]> Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Mr Edel Parducho, Human Rights Education Officer at Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), and Ms Three Odeña, a Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) youth activist. PAHRA is a non-profit alliance of individuals, institutions, and organisations committed to the promotion, protection, and realisation of human rights in the Philippines, and is a member of FIDH and of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. SPARK is a national organisation of young student-leaders who fight against all forms of oppression and report on social issues, particularly those concerning the youth and marginalised sectors. On 25 February 2026, police officers from the Eastern Police District in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, arbitrarily arrested Edel Parducho and Three Odeña during a peaceful protest commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Edel Parducho was acting as a marshal standing between the protesters and the police, and protecting female participants. Several times, the police forcefully pushed the protesters so that they would take up less space on the streets. Edel Parducho was hit multiple times on the back of his head with a shield, and was dragged by the collar of his shirt by the police until he fell to the ground. Once he was on the ground, several officers pinned him down and handcuffed him. Mr Parducho did not resist and remained in a defensive position throughout the incident. Three Odeña was taking photographs when she was pulled by her hair and arrested. On the same day, the two human rights defenders were charged by the National Capital Region Police Office with “direct assault”, “resistance to authority”, “illegal assembly”, and “physical injury”, allegations that are contradicted by video documentation and eyewitness accounts. As of 15:30 (Manila time) on 27 February 2026, Edel Parducho and Three Odeña were still arbitrarily detained at the Mandaluyong City police station. The Observatory notes with concern that the arbitrary arrests of Edel Parducho and Three Odeña occur amid a precarious situation for human rights defenders in the Philippines, who remain at risk of arbitrary detention, criminalisation, harassment, attacks, and, in some cases, killing. In addition, the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which was passed in July 2020, further compounded the precarious situation for human rights defenders by legally institutionalising the practice of “red-tagging” defenders with overly broad and vague definitions of terrorism. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Edel Parducho and Three Odeña, which seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities. The Observatory urges the authorities in the Philippines to immediately and unconditionally release Edel Parducho and Three Odeña, drop all unfounded charges against them and put an end to all acts of harassment against them and all human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further calls on the authorities in the Philippines to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, as enshrined in international human rights law, and in particular in Articles 19 and 21 of the Internation Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Philippines has ratified.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/myanmar-arbitrary-detention-and-torture-of-student-leader-htet-myat-aung/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:17:35 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24316 Htet Myat Aung, a student leader and prominent pro-democracy activist in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city. Mr Htet Myat Aung is the former president of the Yadanabon University Students’ Union and an active member of several civil resistance coordination groups. He has been at the forefront of non-violent protests since the military coup d’état of 1 February 2021. On 14 December 2025, Mr Htet Myat Aung was violently arrested by the military authorities in Mandalay. Before his arrest he had been subject to an arrest warrant with a bounty of 20 million kyats (approximately 8,000 Euros) on his head for his anti-junta activities. Reliable sources report that he was tortured during his arrest. This arrest followed his participation in a peaceful silent protest on International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2025, which aimed to oppose the fraudulent elections organised by the junta. On 3 December 2025, Mr Htet Myat Aung and nine other pro-democracy activists, were charged under Section 23(b) of the Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction for allegedly “misleading the public regarding electoral processes” and distributing protest materials. This law, enacted by the military junta on 29 July 2025, has been widely used to arrest, charge, and prosecute critics of the elections. If convicted, Mr Htet Myat Aung risks an imprisonment of up to 10 years. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Htet Myat Aung remains detained incommunicado in an undisclosed location in Mandalay. There is no further information regarding his situation since his arrest on 14 December 2025, raising grave and immediate concerns for his life and physical safety. The Observatory considers that this arrest is part of Myanmar military’s campaign of repression, which has targeted its opponents, including human rights defenders, student leaders, and civil society activists. Between 18 August and 12 December 2025, the junta arbitrarily arrested and detained at least 1,932 people, including peaceful protesters, politicians, human rights defenders, activists and journalists. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and torture of Mr Htet Myat Aung, which appear to be a reprisal for his human rights activities as part of civil society’s struggle for democracy in Myanmar. These actions constitute a serious violation of international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protection against arbitrary detention. Therefore, the Observatory urges the military junta to immediately reveal the fate and whereabouts of Mr Htet Myat Aung, release him, and put an end to all acts of harassment against him and all other human rights defenders in the country.]]> Htet Myat Aung, a student leader and prominent pro-democracy activist in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city. Mr Htet Myat Aung is the former president of the Yadanabon University Students’ Union and an active member of several civil resistance coordination groups. He has been at the forefront of non-violent protests since the military coup d’état of 1 February 2021. On 14 December 2025, Mr Htet Myat Aung was violently arrested by the military authorities in Mandalay. Before his arrest he had been subject to an arrest warrant with a bounty of 20 million kyats (approximately 8,000 Euros) on his head for his anti-junta activities. Reliable sources report that he was tortured during his arrest. This arrest followed his participation in a peaceful silent protest on International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2025, which aimed to oppose the fraudulent elections organised by the junta. On 3 December 2025, Mr Htet Myat Aung and nine other pro-democracy activists, were charged under Section 23(b) of the Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction for allegedly “misleading the public regarding electoral processes” and distributing protest materials. This law, enacted by the military junta on 29 July 2025, has been widely used to arrest, charge, and prosecute critics of the elections. If convicted, Mr Htet Myat Aung risks an imprisonment of up to 10 years. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Htet Myat Aung remains detained incommunicado in an undisclosed location in Mandalay. There is no further information regarding his situation since his arrest on 14 December 2025, raising grave and immediate concerns for his life and physical safety. The Observatory considers that this arrest is part of Myanmar military’s campaign of repression, which has targeted its opponents, including human rights defenders, student leaders, and civil society activists. Between 18 August and 12 December 2025, the junta arbitrarily arrested and detained at least 1,932 people, including peaceful protesters, politicians, human rights defenders, activists and journalists. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and torture of Mr Htet Myat Aung, which appear to be a reprisal for his human rights activities as part of civil society’s struggle for democracy in Myanmar. These actions constitute a serious violation of international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protection against arbitrary detention. Therefore, the Observatory urges the military junta to immediately reveal the fate and whereabouts of Mr Htet Myat Aung, release him, and put an end to all acts of harassment against him and all other human rights defenders in the country.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/guatemala-23-organizaciones-internacionales-expresan-preocupacion-por-la-detencion-del-abogado-ramon-cadena/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:32:30 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24179 Lawyers for Lawyers, el Observatorio Internacional de la Abogacía en Riesgo, Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia, la Asociación de Abogadas y Abogados, Jueces y Fiscales de Derechos Humanos de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, y la Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España, organizaciones que conforman la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala, así como Observatorio para la Protección de las Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, la Comisión Internacional de Juristas (ICJ) y la Fundación Paz y Solidaridad Euskadi y otras organizaciones, expresan su profunda preocupación por la detención del abogado Ramón Cadena, ocurrida el 10 de noviembre de 2025. Ramón Cadena es un destacado abogado guatemalteco con una amplia trayectoria en la defensa de los derechos humanos y el fortalecimiento del Estado de Derecho. Entre abril de 2022 y junio de 2023, el Licenciado Cadena brindó asesoría jurídica ad honorem al movimiento estudiantil, docente y administrativo de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) en temas vinculados con el derecho a la protesta y la autonomía universitaria. Asimismo, acompañó la presentación de una solicitud de medidas cautelares ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) en favor del movimiento estudiantil y, en junio de 2023, participó en el acto público de entrega pacífica del campus central de la universidad. El 16 de noviembre de 2023, agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil y del Ministerio Público allanaron su domicilio, girando una orden de captura en su contra, así como contra estudiantes y personal académico de la universidad. Los delitos imputados en la causa penal: usurpación agravada, depredación de bienes culturales, sedición y asociación ilícita. El proceso en su contra ha estado marcado por graves violaciones al debido proceso. La audiencia de primera declaración del Sr. Cadena ha sido reprogramada en reiteradas ocasiones, en contravención del derecho a ser juzgado dentro de un plazo razonable y a ser oído por un juez competente, independiente e imparcial. Pese a haberse presentado voluntariamente al proceso en enero de 2025, la audiencia fue aplazada sucesivamente —primero hasta julio, luego hasta el 23 de octubre, fecha para la cual la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala había informado formalmente al juez su intención de asistir como observadora imparcial. No obstante, dicha audiencia fue nuevamente pospuesta por razones administrativas del juzgado hasta el 27 de enero de 2026, prolongando injustificadamente la situación de incertidumbre jurídica y vulnerando las garantías judiciales y el derecho a la defensa del abogado Cadena. Ante estas reiteradas dilaciones, que impidieron el ejercicio efectivo de su derecho de defensa, el abogado Cadena decidió presentarse personalmente ante el tribunal el 10 de noviembre. Sin embargo, fue arrestado sin que se celebrara la audiencia de primera declaración y sin que se levantara la orden de aprehensión, a pesar de su manifiesta voluntad de someterse al proceso judicial. Posteriormente, fue trasladado a la prisión Mariscal Zavala, donde permanece en un área aislada y reportada como insalubre. La audiencia de primera declaración ha sido fijada para el 14 de noviembre. Las organizaciones firmantes observan que la información disponible sugiere que este proceso penal parece constituir una forma de persecución relacionada con su labor como defensor de derechos humanos y su ejercicio legítimo de la abogacía, en particular por la asesoría legal brindada al movimiento universitario. Esta situación se inscribe en un patrón de criminalización documentado por la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala en sus observaciones preliminares, que incluye:

• el inicio de procedimientos basados en acusaciones genéricas, recurriendo con frecuencia a tipos penales abiertos y a investigaciones superfluas
• la inobservancia de garantías procesales, reflejada en dilaciones excesivas, suspensiones reiteradas de audiencias y restricciones de acceso a los expedientes mediante declaraciones de reserva;
• el uso abusivo y desproporcionado de la prisión preventiva;
• la asignación de causas con posibles fines represivos a operadores judiciales cuestionados por su falta de independencia e imparcialidad.

Estos hechos contravienen las obligaciones internacionales del Estado de Guatemala bajo el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (artículo 14) y la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos (artículo 8), que garantizan el derecho a un juicio justo y a ser oído por un juez independiente e imparcial. Asimismo, violan los Principios Básicos de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Función de los Abogados, que establecen que los abogados deben poder ejercer sus funciones sin sufrir intimidaciones, obstáculos ni represalias derivadas del cumplimiento de su labor profesional. En atención a lo anterior, las organizaciones firmantes exhortan a las autoridades del Estado de Guatemala a:

• Garantizar la celebración inmediata de la audiencia de primera declaración del Sr. Cadena, sin más dilaciones ni obstáculos administrativos.

• Garantizar condiciones de higiene y salubridad adecuadas para el Sr. Cadena durante su detención, asegurando un trato digno conforme a los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos y las Reglas Mínimas de las Naciones Unidas para el Tratamiento de los Reclusos (Reglas Mandela).

• Resolver de manera inmediata y ajustada a derecho la situación de privación de libertad del Licenciado Cadena, garantizando el respeto pleno de las garantías judiciales y del debido proceso, en cumplimiento de las obligaciones internacionales asumidas por el Estado conforme al PIDCP y la CADH.

• Adoptar medidas para garantizar la independencia e imparcialidad del órgano judicial encargado de conocer la causa, evitando toda injerencia o presión indebida.

• Revisar y levantar la orden de aprehensión vigente, considerando la voluntad expresa del abogado de someterse al proceso judicial y la naturaleza desproporcionada de su detención.

• Abstenerse de utilizar el sistema de justicia penal como medio de intimidación o represalia contra profesionales del derecho por el ejercicio legítimo de su labor.

• Cumplir con los Principios Básicos de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Función de los Abogados, garantizando que los abogados puedan ejercer su profesión sin sufrir amenazas, hostigamientos o interferencias indebidas.

]]> Lawyers for Lawyers, el Observatorio Internacional de la Abogacía en Riesgo, Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia, la Asociación de Abogadas y Abogados, Jueces y Fiscales de Derechos Humanos de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, y la Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España, organizaciones que conforman la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala, así como Observatorio para la Protección de las Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, la Comisión Internacional de Juristas (ICJ) y la Fundación Paz y Solidaridad Euskadi y otras organizaciones, expresan su profunda preocupación por la detención del abogado Ramón Cadena, ocurrida el 10 de noviembre de 2025. Ramón Cadena es un destacado abogado guatemalteco con una amplia trayectoria en la defensa de los derechos humanos y el fortalecimiento del Estado de Derecho. Entre abril de 2022 y junio de 2023, el Licenciado Cadena brindó asesoría jurídica ad honorem al movimiento estudiantil, docente y administrativo de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) en temas vinculados con el derecho a la protesta y la autonomía universitaria. Asimismo, acompañó la presentación de una solicitud de medidas cautelares ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) en favor del movimiento estudiantil y, en junio de 2023, participó en el acto público de entrega pacífica del campus central de la universidad. El 16 de noviembre de 2023, agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil y del Ministerio Público allanaron su domicilio, girando una orden de captura en su contra, así como contra estudiantes y personal académico de la universidad. Los delitos imputados en la causa penal: usurpación agravada, depredación de bienes culturales, sedición y asociación ilícita. El proceso en su contra ha estado marcado por graves violaciones al debido proceso. La audiencia de primera declaración del Sr. Cadena ha sido reprogramada en reiteradas ocasiones, en contravención del derecho a ser juzgado dentro de un plazo razonable y a ser oído por un juez competente, independiente e imparcial. Pese a haberse presentado voluntariamente al proceso en enero de 2025, la audiencia fue aplazada sucesivamente —primero hasta julio, luego hasta el 23 de octubre, fecha para la cual la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala había informado formalmente al juez su intención de asistir como observadora imparcial. No obstante, dicha audiencia fue nuevamente pospuesta por razones administrativas del juzgado hasta el 27 de enero de 2026, prolongando injustificadamente la situación de incertidumbre jurídica y vulnerando las garantías judiciales y el derecho a la defensa del abogado Cadena. Ante estas reiteradas dilaciones, que impidieron el ejercicio efectivo de su derecho de defensa, el abogado Cadena decidió presentarse personalmente ante el tribunal el 10 de noviembre. Sin embargo, fue arrestado sin que se celebrara la audiencia de primera declaración y sin que se levantara la orden de aprehensión, a pesar de su manifiesta voluntad de someterse al proceso judicial. Posteriormente, fue trasladado a la prisión Mariscal Zavala, donde permanece en un área aislada y reportada como insalubre. La audiencia de primera declaración ha sido fijada para el 14 de noviembre. Las organizaciones firmantes observan que la información disponible sugiere que este proceso penal parece constituir una forma de persecución relacionada con su labor como defensor de derechos humanos y su ejercicio legítimo de la abogacía, en particular por la asesoría legal brindada al movimiento universitario. Esta situación se inscribe en un patrón de criminalización documentado por la Misión Internacional de Juristas por Guatemala en sus observaciones preliminares, que incluye:

• el inicio de procedimientos basados en acusaciones genéricas, recurriendo con frecuencia a tipos penales abiertos y a investigaciones superfluas
• la inobservancia de garantías procesales, reflejada en dilaciones excesivas, suspensiones reiteradas de audiencias y restricciones de acceso a los expedientes mediante declaraciones de reserva;
• el uso abusivo y desproporcionado de la prisión preventiva;
• la asignación de causas con posibles fines represivos a operadores judiciales cuestionados por su falta de independencia e imparcialidad.

Estos hechos contravienen las obligaciones internacionales del Estado de Guatemala bajo el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (artículo 14) y la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos (artículo 8), que garantizan el derecho a un juicio justo y a ser oído por un juez independiente e imparcial. Asimismo, violan los Principios Básicos de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Función de los Abogados, que establecen que los abogados deben poder ejercer sus funciones sin sufrir intimidaciones, obstáculos ni represalias derivadas del cumplimiento de su labor profesional. En atención a lo anterior, las organizaciones firmantes exhortan a las autoridades del Estado de Guatemala a:

• Garantizar la celebración inmediata de la audiencia de primera declaración del Sr. Cadena, sin más dilaciones ni obstáculos administrativos.

• Garantizar condiciones de higiene y salubridad adecuadas para el Sr. Cadena durante su detención, asegurando un trato digno conforme a los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos y las Reglas Mínimas de las Naciones Unidas para el Tratamiento de los Reclusos (Reglas Mandela).

• Resolver de manera inmediata y ajustada a derecho la situación de privación de libertad del Licenciado Cadena, garantizando el respeto pleno de las garantías judiciales y del debido proceso, en cumplimiento de las obligaciones internacionales asumidas por el Estado conforme al PIDCP y la CADH.

• Adoptar medidas para garantizar la independencia e imparcialidad del órgano judicial encargado de conocer la causa, evitando toda injerencia o presión indebida.

• Revisar y levantar la orden de aprehensión vigente, considerando la voluntad expresa del abogado de someterse al proceso judicial y la naturaleza desproporcionada de su detención.

• Abstenerse de utilizar el sistema de justicia penal como medio de intimidación o represalia contra profesionales del derecho por el ejercicio legítimo de su labor.

• Cumplir con los Principios Básicos de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Función de los Abogados, garantizando que los abogados puedan ejercer su profesión sin sufrir amenazas, hostigamientos o interferencias indebidas.

]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/india-free-umar-khalid-stop-invoking-counter-terrorism-law-to-silence-dissent/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:44:59 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23955 The undersigned organisations, including the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), call for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid, who was arrested on 13 September 2020 on politically motivated and spurious charges, including for alleged terrorism-related offences, and who remains in detention without trial five years later. 12 September 2025 - In December 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The law discriminates on the basis of religion by explicitly excluding Muslims from expedited access to citizenship and from legislative protection against deportation and imprisonment. The passage of the CAA, alongside the proposed National Population Register, prompted nationwide peaceful protests over fears that millions of Muslims could be excluded in their access to citizenship. These concerns were reinforced by the precedent of a similar exercise previously undertaken in Assam under a BJP-led state government. Umar Khalid had actively voiced his protest against the CAA on X (formerly Twitter) and through his speeches in Delhi, Mumbai and Bihar amongst others. In February 2020, following legislative assembly elections in Delhi, communal violence erupted in the context of the protests, leaving 53 people dead - 38 of them Muslims - and hundreds injured. The Delhi Police failed to conduct effective investigations and bring perpetrators to justice, thereby fostering impunity. Instead, they arrested peaceful protesters, including at least 18 students and activists, the majority of them Muslims, including Khalid. Authorities accused them of instigating violence and conspiring to defame the Indian government. Khalid was arrested on 13 September 2020 and subsequently charged under the Indian Penal Code (since replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) with offences including sedition, murder, promoting enmity between religious groups, unlawful assembly, and rioting amongst others. He has also been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged unlawful and terrorist activities and conspiracy, and under the Prevention of Damage to Property Act and the Arms Act. In December 2022, a Delhi court acquitted Khalid in the case involving rioting, property damage, and vandalism. However, he has remained arbitrarily detained – and continues to be detained in Delhi’s Tihar Jail – in connection with the broader conspiracy case under the UAPA, in which eight other activists have also been charged and remain behind bars after having their own bail applications rejected. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, with its overbroad definition of “terrorist act” coupled with stringent bail provisions and lengthy investigation, contributes to prolonged, and in many cases, indefinite detention, contravening international human rights law guaranteed the right to liberty, including on presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. The legislation is rampantly and selectively used against human rights defenders including journalists, civil society activists and students who remain imprisoned without trial such as Khalid. In 2024, the Financial Action Task Force in India’s Mutual Evaluation Report highlighted that the delays in prosecutions under the UAPA are “resulting in a high number of pending cases and accused persons in judicial custody waiting for cases to be tried and concluded.” The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and several independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council (special procedures) have consistently raised concerns about the vague and overly broad provisions of the UAPA and its use to criminalise legitimate human rights work in India. They have repeatedly called on the Government of India to end the use of the UAPA to curtail human rights and fundamental freedoms. Amnesty International has also echoed these concerns, noting the poor conviction rate under the UAPA and the prolonged detentions, which illustrate how the process itself has become a form of punishment, and has therefore called for its repeal. However, the Indian authorities have not responded to these calls. In Khalid’s case, the prosecution has primarily rested the invocation of India’s counter-terrorism law on his speech in the Amravati town of Maharashtra state in India on 17 February 2020 that referred to phrases like ‘inquilabli salam’ (revolutionary salute) and ‘krantikari istiqbal’ (revolutionary welcome). While referring to these phrases, Khalid praised the attendees of the event for daring to peacefully dissent against the discriminatory law in the prevailing political context. This did not constitute incitement to violence in any way, and instead showed Khalid exercising his right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. However, over the past five years, his bail applications have been denied at least four times by trial and appellate courts, most recently on 2 September 2025. His petition before the Supreme Court of India was adjourned at least 14 times in eleven months due to requests for adjournment by the state, scheduling delays, and judicial recusals, ultimately leading Khalid to withdraw his petition. In the latest order denying bail, the Delhi High Court described five years of his pre-trial detention as the “natural pace” of proceedings, despite the fact that the trial has yet to begin and the evidence has not been substantively examined. The Court further characterized Khalid’s speeches, mere membership in WhatsApp groups and his role in mobilising protests as part of a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” without demonstrating substantial links to the incitement of violence. These repeated bail denials combined with persistent delays, and the continued absence of trial proceedings, amount to a violation of his right to a fair trial, including speedy trial, guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a state party, as well as under the Constitution of India. We are further concerned about the discriminatory application of bail standards in cases arising from the violence surrounding the CAA protests and more broadly in cases involving the UAPA. While similarly situated accused have been granted bail, Khalid continues to be denied relief. Such unequal treatment violates the principle of equality before the law and sets a deeply troubling precedent. Independent investigations, including by Amnesty International India, Human Rights Watch and Delhi Minorities Commission, have documented the role of the Delhi Police in human rights violations during the CAA protests and the ensuing violence. Police officers were recorded engaging in beatings, torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrests, and in some cases standing by as mobs attacked protesters. Courts in India have repeatedly criticised the quality of the police investigations, describing them as “very poor,” “callous,” and “fraught with multiple flaws,” and have noted instances of fabricated cases and manipulated records. At the same time, senior political leaders employed inflammatory hate speech, branding protesters as “traitors” or “anti-national” and openly incited violence. Despite the existence of video and documentary evidence, no meaningful accountability measures have been taken against implicated political figures or police officials. Khalid’s detention is not an isolated case ; it is emblematic of a broader pattern of repression faced by those who dare to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association. Other students and human rights activists, including Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Shifa-ur-Rehman and Meeran Haider, also remain in detention for their peaceful opposition to the CAA, while police officials and political leaders responsible for incitement or complicity in violence continue to enjoy impunity. This selective prosecution erodes public trust in the justice system, entrenches impunity for state actors, and criminalises free expression. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to : • Immediately and unconditionally release Umar Khalid and all others detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression ; • Ensure equality in the application of bail standards and end the discriminatory treatment of human rights defenders ; • Hold accountable police officials and political leaders against whom there is credible evidence of incitement of and complicity in violence ; • Repeal the UAPA or amend it to bring it into full conformity with international human rights law ; • Respect, protect, and promote the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.]]> The undersigned organisations, including the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), call for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid, who was arrested on 13 September 2020 on politically motivated and spurious charges, including for alleged terrorism-related offences, and who remains in detention without trial five years later. 12 September 2025 - In December 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The law discriminates on the basis of religion by explicitly excluding Muslims from expedited access to citizenship and from legislative protection against deportation and imprisonment. The passage of the CAA, alongside the proposed National Population Register, prompted nationwide peaceful protests over fears that millions of Muslims could be excluded in their access to citizenship. These concerns were reinforced by the precedent of a similar exercise previously undertaken in Assam under a BJP-led state government. Umar Khalid had actively voiced his protest against the CAA on X (formerly Twitter) and through his speeches in Delhi, Mumbai and Bihar amongst others. In February 2020, following legislative assembly elections in Delhi, communal violence erupted in the context of the protests, leaving 53 people dead - 38 of them Muslims - and hundreds injured. The Delhi Police failed to conduct effective investigations and bring perpetrators to justice, thereby fostering impunity. Instead, they arrested peaceful protesters, including at least 18 students and activists, the majority of them Muslims, including Khalid. Authorities accused them of instigating violence and conspiring to defame the Indian government. Khalid was arrested on 13 September 2020 and subsequently charged under the Indian Penal Code (since replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) with offences including sedition, murder, promoting enmity between religious groups, unlawful assembly, and rioting amongst others. He has also been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged unlawful and terrorist activities and conspiracy, and under the Prevention of Damage to Property Act and the Arms Act. In December 2022, a Delhi court acquitted Khalid in the case involving rioting, property damage, and vandalism. However, he has remained arbitrarily detained – and continues to be detained in Delhi’s Tihar Jail – in connection with the broader conspiracy case under the UAPA, in which eight other activists have also been charged and remain behind bars after having their own bail applications rejected. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, with its overbroad definition of “terrorist act” coupled with stringent bail provisions and lengthy investigation, contributes to prolonged, and in many cases, indefinite detention, contravening international human rights law guaranteed the right to liberty, including on presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. The legislation is rampantly and selectively used against human rights defenders including journalists, civil society activists and students who remain imprisoned without trial such as Khalid. In 2024, the Financial Action Task Force in India’s Mutual Evaluation Report highlighted that the delays in prosecutions under the UAPA are “resulting in a high number of pending cases and accused persons in judicial custody waiting for cases to be tried and concluded.” The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and several independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council (special procedures) have consistently raised concerns about the vague and overly broad provisions of the UAPA and its use to criminalise legitimate human rights work in India. They have repeatedly called on the Government of India to end the use of the UAPA to curtail human rights and fundamental freedoms. Amnesty International has also echoed these concerns, noting the poor conviction rate under the UAPA and the prolonged detentions, which illustrate how the process itself has become a form of punishment, and has therefore called for its repeal. However, the Indian authorities have not responded to these calls. In Khalid’s case, the prosecution has primarily rested the invocation of India’s counter-terrorism law on his speech in the Amravati town of Maharashtra state in India on 17 February 2020 that referred to phrases like ‘inquilabli salam’ (revolutionary salute) and ‘krantikari istiqbal’ (revolutionary welcome). While referring to these phrases, Khalid praised the attendees of the event for daring to peacefully dissent against the discriminatory law in the prevailing political context. This did not constitute incitement to violence in any way, and instead showed Khalid exercising his right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. However, over the past five years, his bail applications have been denied at least four times by trial and appellate courts, most recently on 2 September 2025. His petition before the Supreme Court of India was adjourned at least 14 times in eleven months due to requests for adjournment by the state, scheduling delays, and judicial recusals, ultimately leading Khalid to withdraw his petition. In the latest order denying bail, the Delhi High Court described five years of his pre-trial detention as the “natural pace” of proceedings, despite the fact that the trial has yet to begin and the evidence has not been substantively examined. The Court further characterized Khalid’s speeches, mere membership in WhatsApp groups and his role in mobilising protests as part of a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” without demonstrating substantial links to the incitement of violence. These repeated bail denials combined with persistent delays, and the continued absence of trial proceedings, amount to a violation of his right to a fair trial, including speedy trial, guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a state party, as well as under the Constitution of India. We are further concerned about the discriminatory application of bail standards in cases arising from the violence surrounding the CAA protests and more broadly in cases involving the UAPA. While similarly situated accused have been granted bail, Khalid continues to be denied relief. Such unequal treatment violates the principle of equality before the law and sets a deeply troubling precedent. Independent investigations, including by Amnesty International India, Human Rights Watch and Delhi Minorities Commission, have documented the role of the Delhi Police in human rights violations during the CAA protests and the ensuing violence. Police officers were recorded engaging in beatings, torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrests, and in some cases standing by as mobs attacked protesters. Courts in India have repeatedly criticised the quality of the police investigations, describing them as “very poor,” “callous,” and “fraught with multiple flaws,” and have noted instances of fabricated cases and manipulated records. At the same time, senior political leaders employed inflammatory hate speech, branding protesters as “traitors” or “anti-national” and openly incited violence. Despite the existence of video and documentary evidence, no meaningful accountability measures have been taken against implicated political figures or police officials. Khalid’s detention is not an isolated case ; it is emblematic of a broader pattern of repression faced by those who dare to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association. Other students and human rights activists, including Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Shifa-ur-Rehman and Meeran Haider, also remain in detention for their peaceful opposition to the CAA, while police officials and political leaders responsible for incitement or complicity in violence continue to enjoy impunity. This selective prosecution erodes public trust in the justice system, entrenches impunity for state actors, and criminalises free expression. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to : • Immediately and unconditionally release Umar Khalid and all others detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression ; • Ensure equality in the application of bail standards and end the discriminatory treatment of human rights defenders ; • Hold accountable police officials and political leaders against whom there is credible evidence of incitement of and complicity in violence ; • Repeal the UAPA or amend it to bring it into full conformity with international human rights law ; • Respect, protect, and promote the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/uganda-arbitrary-suspension-and-detention-of-student-leaders/ Tue, 06 May 2025 09:58:40 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23324 27 students at Kyambogo University in Kampala, Uganda, including Akiso Benjamin, the Guild President and a social justice and environmental activist and Kabuni Evelyne, Murozi Abel, Kiwumulo Paul, Winnie Nansenja, and Muguluma Wahab, student leaders defending student rights at the university. On 23 April, 2025, student leaders at Kyambogo University in Kampala convened a general assembly to address issues affecting students, including late registration surcharges, missing marks, delayed release of results, and the request for students who had paid at least 70% of their tuition to be allowed to sit for end-of-semester exams. During this assembly, police officers stormed the meeting and violently disrupted it by firing tear gas canisters and live bullets. Peaceful students were dispersed across the campus, and 20 of them were brutally arrested by armed police forces. As they were taken from Kyambogo University to Jinja Road Police Station in Kampala, some were subjected to torture by being forced under police trucks and kicked by officers. On 24 April, ten of the 20 arrested students were released from the police station, while the remaining ten, including their leader, Akiso Benjamin, continued to be held in custody. On 25 April, the ten students still detained were brought before a Grade One Magistrate at Nakawa – one of the five divisions of Kampala -, to be charged with three counts under the Penal Code : “incitement to violence” (article 51), “unlawful assembly” (articles 65-75), and “participating in a riot” (articles 65-75). They were subsequently remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala, where several contracted illnesses. On 29 April, 2025, all ten students were granted cash bail set at UGX 100,000 each, despite their limited financial means as unemployed students. On the same day, these ten students, along with seven other students, were suspended from the university for 30 days for “disrupting university activities”. Among the 17 suspended students, six are Guild leaders. The suspension, effective 29 April, prohibits them from accessing university premises, thereby preventing them from sitting for their examinations scheduled for 7 May. This disciplinary measure was imposed without affording the students a fair hearing before the University Council’s Welfare and Student Affairs Committee. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial and administrative harassment of students peacefully advocating for their rights, which appear to be aimed only at restricting their freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed under article 29 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda. Persistent reports of peaceful assemblies continuing to be unduly prohibited and repressed, relying on disparate provisions, were outlined in 2023 in the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee’s concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda, demonstrating a worrying trend. The Observatory is also worried about the disproportionate use of force by police officers in response to peaceful assemblies. This concern echoes that of the UN Human Rights Committee which has raised alarm over reports of assemblies being frequently dispersed through disproportionate force. The United Nations Committee against Torture has already expressed in 2022 deep concerns that torture and ill-treatment were widespread and frequently practised in Uganda, and recommended the immediate suspension of suspected perpetrators from duty while investigations are carried out. The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment, at the judicial and administrative level, and any act of intimidation against peaceful students. The Observatory requests the authorities to drop all charges against the 20 students and quash their suspension without delay to ensure they are able to sit for their final examinations on 7 May. The Observatory further calls on the Ugandan authorities to carry out immediate, thorough, and impartial investigations into the acts of torture and ill-treatment committed against the students who participated in the general assembly on 23 April, as well as those perpetrated against the 20 arrested students, and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international human rights standards.]]> 27 students at Kyambogo University in Kampala, Uganda, including Akiso Benjamin, the Guild President and a social justice and environmental activist and Kabuni Evelyne, Murozi Abel, Kiwumulo Paul, Winnie Nansenja, and Muguluma Wahab, student leaders defending student rights at the university. On 23 April, 2025, student leaders at Kyambogo University in Kampala convened a general assembly to address issues affecting students, including late registration surcharges, missing marks, delayed release of results, and the request for students who had paid at least 70% of their tuition to be allowed to sit for end-of-semester exams. During this assembly, police officers stormed the meeting and violently disrupted it by firing tear gas canisters and live bullets. Peaceful students were dispersed across the campus, and 20 of them were brutally arrested by armed police forces. As they were taken from Kyambogo University to Jinja Road Police Station in Kampala, some were subjected to torture by being forced under police trucks and kicked by officers. On 24 April, ten of the 20 arrested students were released from the police station, while the remaining ten, including their leader, Akiso Benjamin, continued to be held in custody. On 25 April, the ten students still detained were brought before a Grade One Magistrate at Nakawa – one of the five divisions of Kampala -, to be charged with three counts under the Penal Code : “incitement to violence” (article 51), “unlawful assembly” (articles 65-75), and “participating in a riot” (articles 65-75). They were subsequently remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala, where several contracted illnesses. On 29 April, 2025, all ten students were granted cash bail set at UGX 100,000 each, despite their limited financial means as unemployed students. On the same day, these ten students, along with seven other students, were suspended from the university for 30 days for “disrupting university activities”. Among the 17 suspended students, six are Guild leaders. The suspension, effective 29 April, prohibits them from accessing university premises, thereby preventing them from sitting for their examinations scheduled for 7 May. This disciplinary measure was imposed without affording the students a fair hearing before the University Council’s Welfare and Student Affairs Committee. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial and administrative harassment of students peacefully advocating for their rights, which appear to be aimed only at restricting their freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed under article 29 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda. Persistent reports of peaceful assemblies continuing to be unduly prohibited and repressed, relying on disparate provisions, were outlined in 2023 in the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee’s concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda, demonstrating a worrying trend. The Observatory is also worried about the disproportionate use of force by police officers in response to peaceful assemblies. This concern echoes that of the UN Human Rights Committee which has raised alarm over reports of assemblies being frequently dispersed through disproportionate force. The United Nations Committee against Torture has already expressed in 2022 deep concerns that torture and ill-treatment were widespread and frequently practised in Uganda, and recommended the immediate suspension of suspected perpetrators from duty while investigations are carried out. The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment, at the judicial and administrative level, and any act of intimidation against peaceful students. The Observatory requests the authorities to drop all charges against the 20 students and quash their suspension without delay to ensure they are able to sit for their final examinations on 7 May. The Observatory further calls on the Ugandan authorities to carry out immediate, thorough, and impartial investigations into the acts of torture and ill-treatment committed against the students who participated in the general assembly on 23 April, as well as those perpetrated against the 20 arrested students, and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international human rights standards.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/cambodia-koet-saray-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:21:26 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=22550 Koet Saray, President of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), a group that works on capacity building to increase students’ participation in social development, good governance, and sustainable use of natural resources in Cambodia. On November 6, 2024, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted Koet Saray of “incitement to commit a felony” and “committing a misdemeanour after sentencing for a misdemeanour” under Articles 494, 495, and 88 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code. He was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison and fined two million riel (approximately 420 Euro). The conviction of Koet Saray relates to a decade-long land dispute in Preah Vihear Province, where approximately 300 families were evicted from their homes in Kuleaen District to make way for a rubber plantation on a government-granted land concession to Seladamex Co., Ltd, a Phnom Penh-based company. On March 21, 2024, Koet Saray visited a group of these evicted villagers who were hiding in a nearby forest area, and spoke to reporters about their situation. The Observatory recalls that on April 5, 2024, Koet Saray was arrested following an order issued on the same day by the Office of the Prosecutor at Phnom Penh Capital Court. He was charged with “incitement to cause serious chaos to social security”. On April 7, 2024, an investigating judge at Phnom Penh Capital Court remanded him to pretrial detention at Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1 (CC1) on charges of “committing a misdemeanour after sentencing for another misdemeanour” and “incitement to commit a felony”, following an order issued by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Capital Court. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Koet Saray was still arbitrarily detained at CC1. The Observatory further recalls that Koet Saray was previously arbitrarily arrested on September 6, 2020, in connection with his participation in a peaceful gathering at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park calling for the release of then-imprisoned union leader Rong Chhun. He was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”, and sentenced in October 2021 to 20 months in prison, with six months of his sentence suspended for a period of two years. He was additionally fined two million riel (approximately 420 Euro) and placed under pre-trial detention in CC1. He was released on November 5, 2021. The Observatory strongly condemns the convictions, prison sentences, and arbitrary detention of Koet Saray. The Observatory urges the Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him and all other human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further urges the Cambodian authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in international human rights law and particularly in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a state party.]]> Koet Saray, President of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), a group that works on capacity building to increase students’ participation in social development, good governance, and sustainable use of natural resources in Cambodia. On November 6, 2024, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted Koet Saray of “incitement to commit a felony” and “committing a misdemeanour after sentencing for a misdemeanour” under Articles 494, 495, and 88 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code. He was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison and fined two million riel (approximately 420 Euro). The conviction of Koet Saray relates to a decade-long land dispute in Preah Vihear Province, where approximately 300 families were evicted from their homes in Kuleaen District to make way for a rubber plantation on a government-granted land concession to Seladamex Co., Ltd, a Phnom Penh-based company. On March 21, 2024, Koet Saray visited a group of these evicted villagers who were hiding in a nearby forest area, and spoke to reporters about their situation. The Observatory recalls that on April 5, 2024, Koet Saray was arrested following an order issued on the same day by the Office of the Prosecutor at Phnom Penh Capital Court. He was charged with “incitement to cause serious chaos to social security”. On April 7, 2024, an investigating judge at Phnom Penh Capital Court remanded him to pretrial detention at Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1 (CC1) on charges of “committing a misdemeanour after sentencing for another misdemeanour” and “incitement to commit a felony”, following an order issued by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Capital Court. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Koet Saray was still arbitrarily detained at CC1. The Observatory further recalls that Koet Saray was previously arbitrarily arrested on September 6, 2020, in connection with his participation in a peaceful gathering at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park calling for the release of then-imprisoned union leader Rong Chhun. He was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”, and sentenced in October 2021 to 20 months in prison, with six months of his sentence suspended for a period of two years. He was additionally fined two million riel (approximately 420 Euro) and placed under pre-trial detention in CC1. He was released on November 5, 2021. The Observatory strongly condemns the convictions, prison sentences, and arbitrary detention of Koet Saray. The Observatory urges the Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him and all other human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further urges the Cambodian authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in international human rights law and particularly in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a state party.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/thailand-death-in-detention-of-pro-democracy-activist-netiporn-bung-sanesangkhom/ Thu, 16 May 2024 11:30:18 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=22052 Paris - Geneva - Bangkok, May 16, 2024 – On May 14, 2024, Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, 28, a member of the pro-democracy group Thalu Wang, died while in pre-trial detention on charges of violating Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code (lèse-majesté). The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) are deeply saddened by her senseless death, which underscores the deep flaws in Thailand’s judicial and penitentiary systems. Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom was reported to have suffered a cardiac arrest while in custody of the Department of Corrections on the morning of May 14, 2024. She became unconscious at the Department of Corrections Hospital in Bangkok before being transferred to Thammasat University Hospital in Pathumthani Province, where she was later pronounced dead at 11:22am. Since January 26, 2024, Ms. Netiporn had been detained at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok, after the Bangkok South Criminal Court found her guilty of contempt of court and sentenced her to one month in prison in relation to a physical altercation with the Court’s security personnel on October 19, 2023. The incident occurred while she and other Thalu Wang members were attending the verdict hearing in a lèse-majesté case against another pro-democracy activist. On the same day, the Bangkok South Criminal Court revoked Ms. Netiporn’s bail in a lèse-majesté case1 originating from a public opinion poll on royal motorcades conducted by her and other Thalu Wang activists at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall on February 8, 2022. The Court ruled that Ms. Netiporn violated her bail conditions by spraying paint onto the Queen’s flag during a peaceful demonstration in front of the Ministry of Culture in Bangkok on August 6, 2023. On January 27, 2024, Ms. Netiporn commenced a dry hunger strike to demand judicial reform and the cessation of imprisonment of individuals for expressing dissenting opinions. Due to her deteriorating health, she was transferred to medical facilities several times. She resumed drinking water in February 2024 and eating in April 2024. Prior to her death, on April 4, 2024, she had been receiving treatment at the Department of Corrections Hospital in Bangkok for her deteriorating health as a result of the hunger strike. Ms. Netiporn had previously undertaken a hunger strike in 2022 while held in pre-trial detention at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in connection with the opinion poll case, alongside fellow Thalu Wang activist Natthanit “Baipor” Duangmusit. Despite their deteriorating health, their requests for bail were repeatedly denied until August 4, 2022. They had initiated the hunger strike on June 2, 2022, to protest their detention. Ms. Netiporn was a prominent activist who advocated for LGBTIQ+ and youth rights in 2020-2021. She then joined the pro-democracy group Thalu Wang (“shattering the palace”), where she actively engaged in conducting public opinion polls regarding the Thai monarchy. Her political activism was met with repeated prosecutions since 2021, including two cases under Article 112. Between November 24, 2020 and May 16, 2024, at least 272 individuals, including many human rights defenders and 20 minors, were charged under Article 112 of lèse-majesté. Eighteen of them are currently detained pending trial, and seven are serving prison sentences, including Anon Nampa, a prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer who was found guilty under Article 112 for the third time on April 29, 2024, and is now serving a total prison term of 10 years and 20 days. The Observatory, CrCF, and TLHR express their deepest sorrow over the death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom and urge the Thai government and relevant authorities, namely the Department of Corrections, the Office of the Attorney General, and the police, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of her death. Furthermore, the organisations call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, including those held under Article 112. The organisations also urge the Thai government to refrain from arresting, prosecutin, and detaining human rights defenders under Article 112 for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression. Additionally, the organisations urge the Thai government to amend Article 112 to bring it into line with Thailand’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).   1 Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code imposes jail terms of three to 15 years for anyone found guilty of defaming insulting, or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne, or the Regent.]]> Paris - Geneva - Bangkok, May 16, 2024 – On May 14, 2024, Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, 28, a member of the pro-democracy group Thalu Wang, died while in pre-trial detention on charges of violating Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code (lèse-majesté). The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) are deeply saddened by her senseless death, which underscores the deep flaws in Thailand’s judicial and penitentiary systems. Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom was reported to have suffered a cardiac arrest while in custody of the Department of Corrections on the morning of May 14, 2024. She became unconscious at the Department of Corrections Hospital in Bangkok before being transferred to Thammasat University Hospital in Pathumthani Province, where she was later pronounced dead at 11:22am. Since January 26, 2024, Ms. Netiporn had been detained at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok, after the Bangkok South Criminal Court found her guilty of contempt of court and sentenced her to one month in prison in relation to a physical altercation with the Court’s security personnel on October 19, 2023. The incident occurred while she and other Thalu Wang members were attending the verdict hearing in a lèse-majesté case against another pro-democracy activist. On the same day, the Bangkok South Criminal Court revoked Ms. Netiporn’s bail in a lèse-majesté case1 originating from a public opinion poll on royal motorcades conducted by her and other Thalu Wang activists at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall on February 8, 2022. The Court ruled that Ms. Netiporn violated her bail conditions by spraying paint onto the Queen’s flag during a peaceful demonstration in front of the Ministry of Culture in Bangkok on August 6, 2023. On January 27, 2024, Ms. Netiporn commenced a dry hunger strike to demand judicial reform and the cessation of imprisonment of individuals for expressing dissenting opinions. Due to her deteriorating health, she was transferred to medical facilities several times. She resumed drinking water in February 2024 and eating in April 2024. Prior to her death, on April 4, 2024, she had been receiving treatment at the Department of Corrections Hospital in Bangkok for her deteriorating health as a result of the hunger strike. Ms. Netiporn had previously undertaken a hunger strike in 2022 while held in pre-trial detention at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in connection with the opinion poll case, alongside fellow Thalu Wang activist Natthanit “Baipor” Duangmusit. Despite their deteriorating health, their requests for bail were repeatedly denied until August 4, 2022. They had initiated the hunger strike on June 2, 2022, to protest their detention. Ms. Netiporn was a prominent activist who advocated for LGBTIQ+ and youth rights in 2020-2021. She then joined the pro-democracy group Thalu Wang (“shattering the palace”), where she actively engaged in conducting public opinion polls regarding the Thai monarchy. Her political activism was met with repeated prosecutions since 2021, including two cases under Article 112. Between November 24, 2020 and May 16, 2024, at least 272 individuals, including many human rights defenders and 20 minors, were charged under Article 112 of lèse-majesté. Eighteen of them are currently detained pending trial, and seven are serving prison sentences, including Anon Nampa, a prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer who was found guilty under Article 112 for the third time on April 29, 2024, and is now serving a total prison term of 10 years and 20 days. The Observatory, CrCF, and TLHR express their deepest sorrow over the death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom and urge the Thai government and relevant authorities, namely the Department of Corrections, the Office of the Attorney General, and the police, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of her death. Furthermore, the organisations call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, including those held under Article 112. The organisations also urge the Thai government to refrain from arresting, prosecutin, and detaining human rights defenders under Article 112 for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression. Additionally, the organisations urge the Thai government to amend Article 112 to bring it into line with Thailand’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).   1 Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code imposes jail terms of three to 15 years for anyone found guilty of defaming insulting, or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne, or the Regent.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/thailand-arbitrary-arrest-of-human-rights-lawyer-mr-anon-nampa-and-student-activisist-mr-panupong-chadnok/ Fri, 07 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=16312 Anon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer, and Panupong Chadnok, aka Mike, a student activist member of the group Eastern Youth for Democracy, in connection with their participation in a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration at Bangkok’s’ Democracy Monument on July 18, 2020[1]. According to the information received, on August 7, 2020, eight police officers arrested Mr. Anon in front of his residence in Bangkok. Later the same day, Mr. Panupong was arrested by police officers in front of Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. Messrs. Anon and Panupong were taken to Bangkok’s Samranrat police station. Mr. Anon was later transferred to Bangkok’s Bangkhen police station. Arrest warrants for Messrs. Anon and Panupong were both issued by the Bangkok Criminal Court on August 6, 2020, for alleged violations of: Article 116 of the Criminal Code (“sedition”); Article 215 of the Criminal Code (“assembly intended to commit acts of violence”); Article 385 of the Criminal Code (“obstructing public way”); Article 9(2) of the Emergency Decree (“assembly or gathering of persons […] which may cause unrest“); Article 114 of the Land Traffic Act (“obstructing the traffic”); Article 4 of the Control of the Use of Amplifier Act (“use of loudspeakers without permission”); Article 19 of the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act (“placing object on road”); and Article 34 of Communicable Disease Act (“participating in the acts that increase the risk for infection”). The Observatory recalls that Mr. Anon Nampa has been subjected to numerous acts of judicial harassment at the hands of the authorities since the May 2014 military coup in Thailand[2]. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern about the arbitrary detention of Messrs. Anon Nampa and Panupong Chadnok, which seems to be only aimed at punishing them for the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and calls on Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Messrs. Anon Nampa and Panupong Chadnok.]]> Anon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer, and Panupong Chadnok, aka Mike, a student activist member of the group Eastern Youth for Democracy, in connection with their participation in a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration at Bangkok’s’ Democracy Monument on July 18, 2020[1]. According to the information received, on August 7, 2020, eight police officers arrested Mr. Anon in front of his residence in Bangkok. Later the same day, Mr. Panupong was arrested by police officers in front of Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. Messrs. Anon and Panupong were taken to Bangkok’s Samranrat police station. Mr. Anon was later transferred to Bangkok’s Bangkhen police station. Arrest warrants for Messrs. Anon and Panupong were both issued by the Bangkok Criminal Court on August 6, 2020, for alleged violations of: Article 116 of the Criminal Code (“sedition”); Article 215 of the Criminal Code (“assembly intended to commit acts of violence”); Article 385 of the Criminal Code (“obstructing public way”); Article 9(2) of the Emergency Decree (“assembly or gathering of persons […] which may cause unrest“); Article 114 of the Land Traffic Act (“obstructing the traffic”); Article 4 of the Control of the Use of Amplifier Act (“use of loudspeakers without permission”); Article 19 of the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act (“placing object on road”); and Article 34 of Communicable Disease Act (“participating in the acts that increase the risk for infection”). The Observatory recalls that Mr. Anon Nampa has been subjected to numerous acts of judicial harassment at the hands of the authorities since the May 2014 military coup in Thailand[2]. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern about the arbitrary detention of Messrs. Anon Nampa and Panupong Chadnok, which seems to be only aimed at punishing them for the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and calls on Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Messrs. Anon Nampa and Panupong Chadnok.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/india-release-on-bail-on-humanitarian-grounds-of-ms-safoora-zargar/ Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=16172