https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:20:59 +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/mexico-preocupacion-por-la-reduccion-del-espacio-civico-en-chiapas-mexico-debido-al-deterioro-de-las-condiciones-para-ejercer-la-defensa-de-derechos-humanos/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:20:59 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23882 Las organizaciones firmantes expresamos nuestra profunda preocupación por la reducción del espacio cívico en Chiapas, México, debido al deterioro de las condiciones para ejercer la defensa de derechos humanos. Hacemos un llamado urgente al Estado Mexicano a cumplir con su obligación de proteger y respaldar públicamente a las personas defensoras de derechos humanos y su labor, y llevar a cabo investigaciones exhaustivas de los crímenes cometidos en su contra. Exhortamos a la comunidad internacional a realizar acciones concretas encaminadas a visibilizar, legitimar y proteger a las personas defensoras y con ello proteger y promover el espacio cívico para la defensa de los derechos humanos en Chiapas. Este pronunciamiento se emite a raíz del reciente allanamiento del domicilio de Dora Roblero, directora del Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (CDH Frayba), así como de la persistente vigilancia, intimidación y hostigamiento en contra de esta organización, que obstaculizan de manera directa su labor fundamental en la defensa de los derechos humanos en el Estado. El 22 de julio de 2025, el domicilio de Dora Roblero fue allanado en San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Como ha declarado Mary Lawlor, Relatora Especial de la ONU para los defensores de derechos humanos, al pronunciarse respecto a este hecho, este allanamiento forma parte de una serie de incidentes de seguridad que lxs integrantes de la organización han enfrentado recientemente, en un contexto cada vez más difícil para las personas defensoras en Chiapas. A lo largo de su trayectoria, el Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (CDH Frayba) ha desempeñado un papel clave en el acompañamiento a comunidades, víctimas y colectivos en su lucha por la paz, la justicia y la verdad, labores que le han significado numerosas agresiones y ataques. Por ello, desde 2010, el CDH Frayba es beneficiario de las medidas cautelares MC 52-10, otorgadas por la Comisión Interamericana de los Derechos Humanos. Este allanamiento constituye una grave agresión no solo contra la integridad personal de la directora del CDH Frayba, sino también contra todo su equipo. Se trata del segundo allanamiento en menos de un año que sufre el Centro, agresión que se suma a las 46 registradas desde 2024. Consideramos de particular gravedad que algunas de éstas hayan sido efectuadas por el propio Estado Federal, como las declaraciones difamatorias del ex-presidente de la República en abril de 2024. El allanamiento del domicilio de la directora del CDH Frayba se enmarca en un patrón de agresiones sostenidas y agudas contra personas defensoras en el estado. Desde enero de 2024 el Observatorio de Agresiones contra Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y del Territorio en Chiapas – El Obse –ha documentado 156 agresiones, entre ellas cuatro asesinatos y un total de 131 personas atacadas en represalia por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos. Los tipos de ataque más frecuentes han sido la vigilancia, la intimidación y la difamación, mientras que los incidentes de mayor gravedad han sido la masacre de Nueva Morelia, en la frontera con Guatemala el 12 de mayo 2024, el asesinato del sacerdote tzotzil y defensor de derechos humanos Marcelo Pérez Pérez el 20 de octubre de 2024, y las agresiones contra integrantes de la organización civil Las Abejas de Acteal en junio de 2025 en la comunidad de Tzajalch’en, que incluyeron ataques armados dirigidos y detonaciones por parte de grupos criminales, así como amenazas de criminalización por parte de integrantes de cuerpos de seguridad del Estado. El Estado de Chiapas es uno de los estados más pobres del país, y adolece de una desigualdad estructural que impacta principalmente a los pueblos originarios y sus territorios, así como a las mujeres y a las infancias. Desde 2021, a este escenario se ha sumado la violencia generada por grupos delcrimen organizado, que ha exacerbado las violaciones a los derechos humanos ya presentes en el estado, entre ellas el desplazamiento forzado, la desaparición forzada, el tráfico y la trata de personas. Ante la insuficiente respuesta a esta crisis por parte del Estado, pese al cambio de gobierno estatal y del despliegue de su Estrategia de Seguridad, la labor de organizaciones de la sociedad civil cumple un papel fundamental. De acuerdo con el Espacio de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas -Espacio OSC-, Chiapas es la quinta entidad con mayor número de personas defensoras y periodistas en riesgo y con medidas de protección (124) de todo el país. Las organizaciones aquí firmantes vemos con profunda preocupación varios aspectos que reflejan la falta de garantías efectivas para el ejercicio del derecho a defender los derechos humanos en Chiapas. En primer lugar, nos preocupa la ausencia de un respaldo público por parte de las autoridades de la legítima y fundamental labor que realizan las personas defensoras, lo cual puede contribuir a su estigmatización, deslegitimación y vulnerabilidad. Como ha declarado la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, es indispensable una política integral de protección que parta del reconocimiento sobre la importancia que la labor de defensa representa para la consolidación de las democracias y del Estado de derecho. Asimismo, observamos que los compromisos asumidos por el Estado Mexicano en materia de protección, plasmados en la Ley para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas aprobada en 2012, y en el Mecanismo de Protección correspondiente, no se han cumplido de manera efectiva. Como destaca el Grupo de Trabajo para el Fortalecimiento del Mecanismo de Protección, pese a los avances registrados, resultan insuficientes tanto los recursos técnicos y económicos con los que cuenta esta institución, como la aplicación de los enfoques integral, colectivo e interseccional en las tareas de investigación y análisis, así como en el diseño e implementación de los planes de protección. En este sentido, preocupa especialmente la dificultad de las autoridades estatales para colaborar en la implementación de los planes del Mecanismo, así como la reciente tendencia de procesar las solicitudes de protección de organizaciones, colectivos y grupos de defensores de manera individual, sin considerar la dimensión colectiva del riesgo. Ante estos hechos, hacemos un llamado urgente al Estado Mexicano, en sus niveles federal y estatal, a cumplir con su obligación de proteger a las personas defensoras de derechos humanos, garantizando su integridad física y psicológica, así como su derecho a ejercer su labor libre de amenazas, agresiones y criminalización. Instamos pronunciamientos públicos que respalden el derecho a defender los derechos humanos, así como investigaciones exhaustivas, imparciales y eficaces que impidan la impunidad y garanticen el acceso a la justicia para las víctimas y sus comunidades. Asimismo, exhortamos a la comunidad internacional a mantener su atención sobre la situación en Chiapas y a realizar acciones concretas, dentro de sus respectivos mandatos, que legitimen la defensa de los derechos humanos, apoyen activamente a quienes la ejercen, y vigilen que el Estado Mexicano cumpla con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección de las personas defensoras, así como de investigación y sanción de las agresiones en su contra. Quedamos atentos a las respuestas a la presente carta y agradecemos de antemano su atención Saludos cordiales.]]> Las organizaciones firmantes expresamos nuestra profunda preocupación por la reducción del espacio cívico en Chiapas, México, debido al deterioro de las condiciones para ejercer la defensa de derechos humanos. Hacemos un llamado urgente al Estado Mexicano a cumplir con su obligación de proteger y respaldar públicamente a las personas defensoras de derechos humanos y su labor, y llevar a cabo investigaciones exhaustivas de los crímenes cometidos en su contra. Exhortamos a la comunidad internacional a realizar acciones concretas encaminadas a visibilizar, legitimar y proteger a las personas defensoras y con ello proteger y promover el espacio cívico para la defensa de los derechos humanos en Chiapas. Este pronunciamiento se emite a raíz del reciente allanamiento del domicilio de Dora Roblero, directora del Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (CDH Frayba), así como de la persistente vigilancia, intimidación y hostigamiento en contra de esta organización, que obstaculizan de manera directa su labor fundamental en la defensa de los derechos humanos en el Estado. El 22 de julio de 2025, el domicilio de Dora Roblero fue allanado en San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Como ha declarado Mary Lawlor, Relatora Especial de la ONU para los defensores de derechos humanos, al pronunciarse respecto a este hecho, este allanamiento forma parte de una serie de incidentes de seguridad que lxs integrantes de la organización han enfrentado recientemente, en un contexto cada vez más difícil para las personas defensoras en Chiapas. A lo largo de su trayectoria, el Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (CDH Frayba) ha desempeñado un papel clave en el acompañamiento a comunidades, víctimas y colectivos en su lucha por la paz, la justicia y la verdad, labores que le han significado numerosas agresiones y ataques. Por ello, desde 2010, el CDH Frayba es beneficiario de las medidas cautelares MC 52-10, otorgadas por la Comisión Interamericana de los Derechos Humanos. Este allanamiento constituye una grave agresión no solo contra la integridad personal de la directora del CDH Frayba, sino también contra todo su equipo. Se trata del segundo allanamiento en menos de un año que sufre el Centro, agresión que se suma a las 46 registradas desde 2024. Consideramos de particular gravedad que algunas de éstas hayan sido efectuadas por el propio Estado Federal, como las declaraciones difamatorias del ex-presidente de la República en abril de 2024. El allanamiento del domicilio de la directora del CDH Frayba se enmarca en un patrón de agresiones sostenidas y agudas contra personas defensoras en el estado. Desde enero de 2024 el Observatorio de Agresiones contra Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y del Territorio en Chiapas – El Obse –ha documentado 156 agresiones, entre ellas cuatro asesinatos y un total de 131 personas atacadas en represalia por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos. Los tipos de ataque más frecuentes han sido la vigilancia, la intimidación y la difamación, mientras que los incidentes de mayor gravedad han sido la masacre de Nueva Morelia, en la frontera con Guatemala el 12 de mayo 2024, el asesinato del sacerdote tzotzil y defensor de derechos humanos Marcelo Pérez Pérez el 20 de octubre de 2024, y las agresiones contra integrantes de la organización civil Las Abejas de Acteal en junio de 2025 en la comunidad de Tzajalch’en, que incluyeron ataques armados dirigidos y detonaciones por parte de grupos criminales, así como amenazas de criminalización por parte de integrantes de cuerpos de seguridad del Estado. El Estado de Chiapas es uno de los estados más pobres del país, y adolece de una desigualdad estructural que impacta principalmente a los pueblos originarios y sus territorios, así como a las mujeres y a las infancias. Desde 2021, a este escenario se ha sumado la violencia generada por grupos delcrimen organizado, que ha exacerbado las violaciones a los derechos humanos ya presentes en el estado, entre ellas el desplazamiento forzado, la desaparición forzada, el tráfico y la trata de personas. Ante la insuficiente respuesta a esta crisis por parte del Estado, pese al cambio de gobierno estatal y del despliegue de su Estrategia de Seguridad, la labor de organizaciones de la sociedad civil cumple un papel fundamental. De acuerdo con el Espacio de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas -Espacio OSC-, Chiapas es la quinta entidad con mayor número de personas defensoras y periodistas en riesgo y con medidas de protección (124) de todo el país. Las organizaciones aquí firmantes vemos con profunda preocupación varios aspectos que reflejan la falta de garantías efectivas para el ejercicio del derecho a defender los derechos humanos en Chiapas. En primer lugar, nos preocupa la ausencia de un respaldo público por parte de las autoridades de la legítima y fundamental labor que realizan las personas defensoras, lo cual puede contribuir a su estigmatización, deslegitimación y vulnerabilidad. Como ha declarado la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, es indispensable una política integral de protección que parta del reconocimiento sobre la importancia que la labor de defensa representa para la consolidación de las democracias y del Estado de derecho. Asimismo, observamos que los compromisos asumidos por el Estado Mexicano en materia de protección, plasmados en la Ley para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas aprobada en 2012, y en el Mecanismo de Protección correspondiente, no se han cumplido de manera efectiva. Como destaca el Grupo de Trabajo para el Fortalecimiento del Mecanismo de Protección, pese a los avances registrados, resultan insuficientes tanto los recursos técnicos y económicos con los que cuenta esta institución, como la aplicación de los enfoques integral, colectivo e interseccional en las tareas de investigación y análisis, así como en el diseño e implementación de los planes de protección. En este sentido, preocupa especialmente la dificultad de las autoridades estatales para colaborar en la implementación de los planes del Mecanismo, así como la reciente tendencia de procesar las solicitudes de protección de organizaciones, colectivos y grupos de defensores de manera individual, sin considerar la dimensión colectiva del riesgo. Ante estos hechos, hacemos un llamado urgente al Estado Mexicano, en sus niveles federal y estatal, a cumplir con su obligación de proteger a las personas defensoras de derechos humanos, garantizando su integridad física y psicológica, así como su derecho a ejercer su labor libre de amenazas, agresiones y criminalización. Instamos pronunciamientos públicos que respalden el derecho a defender los derechos humanos, así como investigaciones exhaustivas, imparciales y eficaces que impidan la impunidad y garanticen el acceso a la justicia para las víctimas y sus comunidades. Asimismo, exhortamos a la comunidad internacional a mantener su atención sobre la situación en Chiapas y a realizar acciones concretas, dentro de sus respectivos mandatos, que legitimen la defensa de los derechos humanos, apoyen activamente a quienes la ejercen, y vigilen que el Estado Mexicano cumpla con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección de las personas defensoras, así como de investigación y sanción de las agresiones en su contra. Quedamos atentos a las respuestas a la presente carta y agradecemos de antemano su atención Saludos cordiales.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/el-salvador-detencion-arbitraria-de-fidel-zavala-allanamiento-de-la-casa-de-ivania-cruz-y-de-la-oficina-de-unidehc/ Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:41:52 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23040 Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/india-arrests-raids-target-critics-of-government/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:05:09 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20881 Human rights groups, including the Observatory, are expressing their concern at the continuing crackdown on independent journalists and are calling on the Indian authorities to stop using the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to target critics and to amend it. October 13, 2023. – Indian authorities are misusing an abusive counterterrorism law, financial regulations, and other laws to silence journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and critics of the government, 12 international human rights groups said today. On October 3, 2023, police in New Delhi arrested the editor and an employee of the news portal NewsClick, and raided the homes of 46 journalists seemingly connected to the digital news platform over allegations of illegal foreign funding, which the outlet has denied. Soon after the writer Arundhati Roy spoke out at a protest meeting that followed the raids, authorities said they would prosecute her and a Kashmiri academic for allegedly “promoting enmity between different groups,” “causing disharmony,” and “public mischief,” for a speech she had made 13 years ago, in 2010. A case was also registered under the counterterrorism law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), against them. The groups are Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Committee to Protect Journalists, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Service for Human Rights, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in the framework of the Observatory. The arrest and raids at NewsClick, an outlet known to criticize the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government for failing to uphold human rights, are the latest attempts by authorities to harass and intimidate independent journalists, the groups said. The authorities sealed NewsClick’s Delhi office and seized several journalists’ electronic devices, including laptops and phones without ensuring the integrity of their data, essential to ensuring due process. Since the BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power in 2014, Indian authorities have carried out an escalating crackdown on the media and civil society. They have arrested journalists on spurious terrorism and other criminal charges, and have routinely targeted critics and independent news organizations with allegations of financial irregularities. Similarly, they have used the counterterrorism law, national security laws, foreign funding laws, and income tax regulations to target and prosecute human rights defenders and peaceful protesters. Journalists and activists from minority groups are particularly at risk, the groups said. During the latest raids, the authorities also searched the Mumbai home of a prominent human rights activist, Teesta Setalvad, in apparent retaliation for writing NewsClick articles criticizing the government. The government has repeatedly targeted Setalvad and jailed her on politically motivated charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery while she was pursuing accountability for the 2002 anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat state. Regardless of the veracity of the allegations of foreign funding, raiding a media outlet and arresting its journalists on terrorism charges is a grossly disproportionate measure, the groups said. In September 2021, tax and financial regulators raided journalists’ homes and offices of news websites Newslaundry and NewsClick, an actor’s premises, and the home and office of the human rights activist Harsh Mander. In February 2023, Indian tax officials raided the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in an apparent reprisal for a two-part documentary that highlighted Modi’s record in failing to protect Muslims. The government blocked the BBC documentary in India in January, using emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules. The government is increasingly using the counterterrorism law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), to target its critics. The law defines terrorism in a vague and overbroad manner, reverses the presumption of innocence, allows for prolonged detention without trial or charge for up to 180 days, including up to 30 days in police custody, and creates a strong presumption against bail. In November 2021, the authorities arrested a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez, under the UAPA. On March 22, 2023, the authorities added another case of financing terrorism under UAPA against Parvez, while Irfan Mehraj, a journalist formerly associated with Parvez’s human rights organization, was arrested in the same case. The Kashmir Walla editor Fahad Shah and a reporter, Sajad Gul, have been detained since early 2022. After being granted bail in separate cases, both were rearrested – without being released – under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), a draconian preventive detention law that allows for up to two years in custody without trial. While the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the PSA order against Shah, he remains jailed while facing trial in a separate UAPA case in relation to a 2011 article on his website, whose author, contributor Abdul Aala Fazili, has been detained since April 2022. Similarly, another Kashmiri journalist, Aasif Sultan, detained since August 2018, was granted bail in a UAPA case in April 2022, but rearrested under the PSA five days later. The Indian government also used UAPA to arrest 16 prominent activists who promoted the rights of India’s most marginalized communities, accusing them of inciting violence that occurred during a Dalit meeting in January 2018. Eight are still detained without trial, and seven eventually were granted bail, while one died in custody. According to reports by the US-based forensic firm Arsenal Consulting, malware was used to surveil and plant evidence on the computers of two accused in this case, amplifying concerns surrounding the seizure of the NewsClick journalists’ devices without due process. The Delhi police filed politically motivated charges of sedition and terrorism against 18 activists, students, opposition politicians, and residents in relation to the communal violence in Delhi in February 2020. Several of those arrested were involved in organizing peaceful protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Delhi High Court, while granting bail in June 2021 to three activists booked under UAPA, stated that “in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred.” An analysis of the latest crime data by Amnesty International found that despite the increased use of UAPA, there have been very few convictions. Only 2.2 percent of cases registered under the law from 2016 to 2019 ended in a court conviction. Nearly 11 percent of cases were closed by the police for lack of evidence, while the rest remained pending. The delay in filing charges and several acquittals in these cases show that the counterterrorism law is used to keep critics locked up for years, and send a chilling message to others who speak out, making the judicial process itself a tool for persecution and punishment. United Nations human rights experts have repeatedly condemned the use of UAPA to target journalists, human rights defenders, and other critics. The Indian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and critics arrested in politically motivated cases, drop all charges against them, and stop threatening, harassing, and intimidating them, including through criminal prosecutions, the groups said. The government should also amend the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to bring it in line with international human rights standards and, pending its amendment, the government should stop using it to target critics.]]> Human rights groups, including the Observatory, are expressing their concern at the continuing crackdown on independent journalists and are calling on the Indian authorities to stop using the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to target critics and to amend it. October 13, 2023. – Indian authorities are misusing an abusive counterterrorism law, financial regulations, and other laws to silence journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and critics of the government, 12 international human rights groups said today. On October 3, 2023, police in New Delhi arrested the editor and an employee of the news portal NewsClick, and raided the homes of 46 journalists seemingly connected to the digital news platform over allegations of illegal foreign funding, which the outlet has denied. Soon after the writer Arundhati Roy spoke out at a protest meeting that followed the raids, authorities said they would prosecute her and a Kashmiri academic for allegedly “promoting enmity between different groups,” “causing disharmony,” and “public mischief,” for a speech she had made 13 years ago, in 2010. A case was also registered under the counterterrorism law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), against them. The groups are Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Committee to Protect Journalists, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Service for Human Rights, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in the framework of the Observatory. The arrest and raids at NewsClick, an outlet known to criticize the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government for failing to uphold human rights, are the latest attempts by authorities to harass and intimidate independent journalists, the groups said. The authorities sealed NewsClick’s Delhi office and seized several journalists’ electronic devices, including laptops and phones without ensuring the integrity of their data, essential to ensuring due process. Since the BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power in 2014, Indian authorities have carried out an escalating crackdown on the media and civil society. They have arrested journalists on spurious terrorism and other criminal charges, and have routinely targeted critics and independent news organizations with allegations of financial irregularities. Similarly, they have used the counterterrorism law, national security laws, foreign funding laws, and income tax regulations to target and prosecute human rights defenders and peaceful protesters. Journalists and activists from minority groups are particularly at risk, the groups said. During the latest raids, the authorities also searched the Mumbai home of a prominent human rights activist, Teesta Setalvad, in apparent retaliation for writing NewsClick articles criticizing the government. The government has repeatedly targeted Setalvad and jailed her on politically motivated charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery while she was pursuing accountability for the 2002 anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat state. Regardless of the veracity of the allegations of foreign funding, raiding a media outlet and arresting its journalists on terrorism charges is a grossly disproportionate measure, the groups said. In September 2021, tax and financial regulators raided journalists’ homes and offices of news websites Newslaundry and NewsClick, an actor’s premises, and the home and office of the human rights activist Harsh Mander. In February 2023, Indian tax officials raided the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in an apparent reprisal for a two-part documentary that highlighted Modi’s record in failing to protect Muslims. The government blocked the BBC documentary in India in January, using emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules. The government is increasingly using the counterterrorism law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), to target its critics. The law defines terrorism in a vague and overbroad manner, reverses the presumption of innocence, allows for prolonged detention without trial or charge for up to 180 days, including up to 30 days in police custody, and creates a strong presumption against bail. In November 2021, the authorities arrested a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez, under the UAPA. On March 22, 2023, the authorities added another case of financing terrorism under UAPA against Parvez, while Irfan Mehraj, a journalist formerly associated with Parvez’s human rights organization, was arrested in the same case. The Kashmir Walla editor Fahad Shah and a reporter, Sajad Gul, have been detained since early 2022. After being granted bail in separate cases, both were rearrested – without being released – under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), a draconian preventive detention law that allows for up to two years in custody without trial. While the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the PSA order against Shah, he remains jailed while facing trial in a separate UAPA case in relation to a 2011 article on his website, whose author, contributor Abdul Aala Fazili, has been detained since April 2022. Similarly, another Kashmiri journalist, Aasif Sultan, detained since August 2018, was granted bail in a UAPA case in April 2022, but rearrested under the PSA five days later. The Indian government also used UAPA to arrest 16 prominent activists who promoted the rights of India’s most marginalized communities, accusing them of inciting violence that occurred during a Dalit meeting in January 2018. Eight are still detained without trial, and seven eventually were granted bail, while one died in custody. According to reports by the US-based forensic firm Arsenal Consulting, malware was used to surveil and plant evidence on the computers of two accused in this case, amplifying concerns surrounding the seizure of the NewsClick journalists’ devices without due process. The Delhi police filed politically motivated charges of sedition and terrorism against 18 activists, students, opposition politicians, and residents in relation to the communal violence in Delhi in February 2020. Several of those arrested were involved in organizing peaceful protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Delhi High Court, while granting bail in June 2021 to three activists booked under UAPA, stated that “in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred.” An analysis of the latest crime data by Amnesty International found that despite the increased use of UAPA, there have been very few convictions. Only 2.2 percent of cases registered under the law from 2016 to 2019 ended in a court conviction. Nearly 11 percent of cases were closed by the police for lack of evidence, while the rest remained pending. The delay in filing charges and several acquittals in these cases show that the counterterrorism law is used to keep critics locked up for years, and send a chilling message to others who speak out, making the judicial process itself a tool for persecution and punishment. United Nations human rights experts have repeatedly condemned the use of UAPA to target journalists, human rights defenders, and other critics. The Indian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and critics arrested in politically motivated cases, drop all charges against them, and stop threatening, harassing, and intimidating them, including through criminal prosecutions, the groups said. The government should also amend the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to bring it in line with international human rights standards and, pending its amendment, the government should stop using it to target critics.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/russia-raids-on-office-of-the-crew-against-torture-and-homes-of-three-of-its-members/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:25:07 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20337 Olga Sadovskaya. CAT-Russia is a prominent and one of the oldest anti-torture human rights organisation in the country and a member of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. Among other things, CAT Russia helps victims of torture through efforts to further accountability, particularly in regions like Northern Caucasus. The organisation provides assistance to victims of torture and conducts independent investigation of torture cases. Since its creation, the organisation has received at least 3178 complaints, won 78 cases in European Court of Human Rights and contributed to verdicts to 159 perpetrators of torture. Ms Sadovskaya is a member of the OMCT Executive Council. She is a lawyer and joined CAT-Russia in 2002. As a lawyer, she is specialised in the submission of applications to the European Court of Human Rights for violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“prohibition of torture”). She received the Moscow Helsinki Group Award in the category "Protection of the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable groups" on April 27, 2023. On April 28, 2023, officers of the Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre-E) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs searched CAT-Russia’s office in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in connection with a criminal case opened against one of CAT-Russia’s beneficiaries in North Ossetia who reported torture at a police station. During the search, several USB flash drives were seized. Centre-E officers also searched the apartments of three staff of CAT-Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, including Olga Sadovskaya’s residence, where they seized her laptop, a mobile phone and 80 hunting cartridges belonging to her ex-husband. Previously, on April 14, 2023, CAT-Russia’s North Caucasus branch’s office in the city of Pyatigorsk was also searched in connection with the same case, the details of which remained unknown at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. On that day, the police seized an old laptop and an USB flash drive. CAT-Russia team’s position is that law enforcement officials are using the criminal case brought against their beneficiary to put pressure on the organisation, as it continues operating in the Russian Federation. The Observatory recalls that it is not the first time that CAT-Russia and its members face harassment and obstacles to their right to defend human rights. On June 10, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated CAT-Russia as a non-registered foreign agent organisation under the “Foreign Agent” Law. On June 11, 2022, the human rights organisation announced its liquidation due to the impossibility to continue carrying out its human rights work in a safe manner under the label of “foreign agent”. Yet, on June 15, 2022, the organisation announced the continuation of its work under a new name – from Committee Against Torture-Russia to Crew Against Torture-Russia. The organisation was likewise listed as a “foreign agent” in January 2015. After that, the organisation changed its name and it was again declared a ”foreign agent” in January 2016. The Observatory further recalls that the harassment against CAT-Russia and its members takes place in the context of an increased crackdown on the Russian civil society, including the systematic liquidation of human rights organisations and independent media outlets under the “Foreign Agent” Law. This is the case of the International Memorial and the Human Rights Center “Memorial (HRC Memorial), the Moscow Helsinki Group, as well as the independent human rights media project OVD-Info. The Observatory condemns the searches conducted in the offices of CAT-Russia and the apartments of three of its members and calls on the Russian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all human rights defenders and organisations in the country. The Observatory expresses its concern over the ongoing targeting of CAT-Russia as well as over the crackdown on all independent human rights organisations in Russia and urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human rights law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> Olga Sadovskaya. CAT-Russia is a prominent and one of the oldest anti-torture human rights organisation in the country and a member of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. Among other things, CAT Russia helps victims of torture through efforts to further accountability, particularly in regions like Northern Caucasus. The organisation provides assistance to victims of torture and conducts independent investigation of torture cases. Since its creation, the organisation has received at least 3178 complaints, won 78 cases in European Court of Human Rights and contributed to verdicts to 159 perpetrators of torture. Ms Sadovskaya is a member of the OMCT Executive Council. She is a lawyer and joined CAT-Russia in 2002. As a lawyer, she is specialised in the submission of applications to the European Court of Human Rights for violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“prohibition of torture”). She received the Moscow Helsinki Group Award in the category "Protection of the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable groups" on April 27, 2023. On April 28, 2023, officers of the Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre-E) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs searched CAT-Russia’s office in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in connection with a criminal case opened against one of CAT-Russia’s beneficiaries in North Ossetia who reported torture at a police station. During the search, several USB flash drives were seized. Centre-E officers also searched the apartments of three staff of CAT-Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, including Olga Sadovskaya’s residence, where they seized her laptop, a mobile phone and 80 hunting cartridges belonging to her ex-husband. Previously, on April 14, 2023, CAT-Russia’s North Caucasus branch’s office in the city of Pyatigorsk was also searched in connection with the same case, the details of which remained unknown at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. On that day, the police seized an old laptop and an USB flash drive. CAT-Russia team’s position is that law enforcement officials are using the criminal case brought against their beneficiary to put pressure on the organisation, as it continues operating in the Russian Federation. The Observatory recalls that it is not the first time that CAT-Russia and its members face harassment and obstacles to their right to defend human rights. On June 10, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated CAT-Russia as a non-registered foreign agent organisation under the “Foreign Agent” Law. On June 11, 2022, the human rights organisation announced its liquidation due to the impossibility to continue carrying out its human rights work in a safe manner under the label of “foreign agent”. Yet, on June 15, 2022, the organisation announced the continuation of its work under a new name – from Committee Against Torture-Russia to Crew Against Torture-Russia. The organisation was likewise listed as a “foreign agent” in January 2015. After that, the organisation changed its name and it was again declared a ”foreign agent” in January 2016. The Observatory further recalls that the harassment against CAT-Russia and its members takes place in the context of an increased crackdown on the Russian civil society, including the systematic liquidation of human rights organisations and independent media outlets under the “Foreign Agent” Law. This is the case of the International Memorial and the Human Rights Center “Memorial (HRC Memorial), the Moscow Helsinki Group, as well as the independent human rights media project OVD-Info. The Observatory condemns the searches conducted in the offices of CAT-Russia and the apartments of three of its members and calls on the Russian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all human rights defenders and organisations in the country. The Observatory expresses its concern over the ongoing targeting of CAT-Russia as well as over the crackdown on all independent human rights organisations in Russia and urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human rights law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/india-independent-media-outlet-and-journalists-targeted/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:15:01 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=19314 The Wire in New Delhi, and the residences of the media outlet’s founding editors Messrs Siddharth Vardarajan, M.K. Venu, and Sidharth Bhatia, deputy editor Ms Jahnavi Sen, and staff member Mr Mithun Kidambi in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as about the seizure of their electronic devices. The Wire is an independent online media outlet established in 2015 and since then has published numerous pieces of investigative journalism. Several news stories published by The Wire have been critical of the policies and actions of the central and state governments in India. On the evening of October 31, 2022, a large contingent of Delhi Police Crime Branch officers conducted coordinated raids at The Wire’s office in New Delhi as well as at the residences of Messrs Vardarajan, Venu, and Ms Sen in New Delhi, and Mr Bhatia in Mumbai. The Wire’s lawyer was manhandled and denied access to The Wire’s office while the raids were being conducted. On November 1, 2022, at around 2:30 in the morning, raids were conducted at the residence of Mr Kidambi in Mumbai. The police did not present any search warrant in any of the raids. The police seized 16 electronic devices from the office, and phones, laptops and tablets from the above-mentioned individuals. All of them were asked by the police officers to provide them with the passwords of their personal and professional email accounts, and to remove the passcodes of all their devices. The police refused to provide The Wire staff members with the hash value of the seized phones, computers and tablets. The hash value is a numeric value of an electronic device that works as a digital “fingerprint” and is a critical tool to assess potential tampering after seizure of a device. These searches and seizures followed a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Delhi police on alleged charges of “cheating”, “forgery”, “defamation”, and “criminal conspiracy”. The basis of this FIR is a complaint filed on October 27, 2022, by Mr. Amit Malviya, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s National Information and Technology Department, against The Wire in relation to a series of articles published by the media outlet in early October 2022. The articles claimed that the multinational technology conglomerate Meta had granted Mr. Malviya the ability to remove any Instagram posts without any due process. On October 23, 2022, The Wire had retracted all the articles, as an internal review revealed that the researcher who wrote them had used falsified documents in the story. In another statement, The Wire publicly apologized to its readers and announced its decision to conduct an internal review of its recent coverage of Meta. On October 29, 2022, The Wire had also filed a complaint against the researcher with the Delhi Police. Yet, Mr. Malviya filed the complaint and the Delhi police pursued the raids and seizures. The Observatory condemns the harassment against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, which seems unnecessary and disproportionate, considering The Wire’s public retraction, announcement of subsequent internal review, and submission of a police complaint against its researcher. The Observatory believes this action is deliberately used as a pretext to intimidate and ultimately silence The Wire’s independent reporting and legitimate criticism, especially of the BJP. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the rampant deterioration of the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom, in India, which ranks 150th out of 180 countries surveyed in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2022 World Press Index. Several journalists and online critics, including Mohammad Zubair and Siddique Kappan, have been subjected to arbitrary detention and judicial harassment on trumped-up charges in retaliation to their online and offline criticism of the ruling party. Many journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan and M.K. Venu, have been subjected to online surveillance, including through the use of the spyware Pegasus, as reported by The Wire and international media in July 2021. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, and all independent journalists in India, and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected, respected and promoted in the country, in line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party.]]> The Wire in New Delhi, and the residences of the media outlet’s founding editors Messrs Siddharth Vardarajan, M.K. Venu, and Sidharth Bhatia, deputy editor Ms Jahnavi Sen, and staff member Mr Mithun Kidambi in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as about the seizure of their electronic devices. The Wire is an independent online media outlet established in 2015 and since then has published numerous pieces of investigative journalism. Several news stories published by The Wire have been critical of the policies and actions of the central and state governments in India. On the evening of October 31, 2022, a large contingent of Delhi Police Crime Branch officers conducted coordinated raids at The Wire’s office in New Delhi as well as at the residences of Messrs Vardarajan, Venu, and Ms Sen in New Delhi, and Mr Bhatia in Mumbai. The Wire’s lawyer was manhandled and denied access to The Wire’s office while the raids were being conducted. On November 1, 2022, at around 2:30 in the morning, raids were conducted at the residence of Mr Kidambi in Mumbai. The police did not present any search warrant in any of the raids. The police seized 16 electronic devices from the office, and phones, laptops and tablets from the above-mentioned individuals. All of them were asked by the police officers to provide them with the passwords of their personal and professional email accounts, and to remove the passcodes of all their devices. The police refused to provide The Wire staff members with the hash value of the seized phones, computers and tablets. The hash value is a numeric value of an electronic device that works as a digital “fingerprint” and is a critical tool to assess potential tampering after seizure of a device. These searches and seizures followed a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Delhi police on alleged charges of “cheating”, “forgery”, “defamation”, and “criminal conspiracy”. The basis of this FIR is a complaint filed on October 27, 2022, by Mr. Amit Malviya, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s National Information and Technology Department, against The Wire in relation to a series of articles published by the media outlet in early October 2022. The articles claimed that the multinational technology conglomerate Meta had granted Mr. Malviya the ability to remove any Instagram posts without any due process. On October 23, 2022, The Wire had retracted all the articles, as an internal review revealed that the researcher who wrote them had used falsified documents in the story. In another statement, The Wire publicly apologized to its readers and announced its decision to conduct an internal review of its recent coverage of Meta. On October 29, 2022, The Wire had also filed a complaint against the researcher with the Delhi Police. Yet, Mr. Malviya filed the complaint and the Delhi police pursued the raids and seizures. The Observatory condemns the harassment against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, which seems unnecessary and disproportionate, considering The Wire’s public retraction, announcement of subsequent internal review, and submission of a police complaint against its researcher. The Observatory believes this action is deliberately used as a pretext to intimidate and ultimately silence The Wire’s independent reporting and legitimate criticism, especially of the BJP. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the rampant deterioration of the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom, in India, which ranks 150th out of 180 countries surveyed in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2022 World Press Index. Several journalists and online critics, including Mohammad Zubair and Siddique Kappan, have been subjected to arbitrary detention and judicial harassment on trumped-up charges in retaliation to their online and offline criticism of the ruling party. Many journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan and M.K. Venu, have been subjected to online surveillance, including through the use of the spyware Pegasus, as reported by The Wire and international media in July 2021. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, and all independent journalists in India, and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected, respected and promoted in the country, in line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party.]]>