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	<title>Fin de la procédure judiciaire &#8211; The Observatory For Defenders</title>
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		<title>Ecuador: Importante amnistía a 268 personas defensoras de derechos humanos y de la naturaleza</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/ecuador-importante-amnistia-a-268-personas-defensoras-de-derechos-humanos-y-de-la-naturaleza/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/alert/ecuador-importante-amnistia-a-268-personas-defensoras-de-derechos-humanos-y-de-la-naturaleza/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<div class="text-lg font-medium">

<strong>París-Ginebra, 6 de abril de 2022<em> – A principios del mes de marzo, la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador otorgó la amnistía a 268 personas procesadas por participar en protestas sociales o en la defensa de los derechos de la naturaleza. El Observatorio para la Protección de los Defensores de Derechos Humanos (FIDH-OMCT) acoge esta decisión y reconoce la amnistía como un acto del Estado ecuatoriano dirigido a implementar una política efectiva de reconocimiento y protección de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en el país y cesar su criminalización. </em></strong>

</div>
El 10 de marzo de 2022, la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador concedió la amnistía a 268 personas, entre ellas personas defensoras del agua, la naturaleza, de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y activistas. Todas ellas habían sido procesadas por su participación en protestas sociales o en la defensa de derechos de la naturaleza, o por protestar en contra de <strong>proyectos que afectan sus tierras y territorios y la naturaleza. </strong>Con la decisión de la Asamblea Nacional, acogida con satisfacción por las comunidades indígenas ecuatorianas, se pone fin a la criminalización de estas personas.

De las 268 personas amnistiadas, 60 eran judicializadas por ejercer el derecho a la resistencia y la protesta social en el marco de las protestas de octubre de 2019, que se iniciaron con el l<a href="https://www.accionecologica.org/un-balance-de-octubre-2019-en-el-ecuador/">evantamiento indígena contra la política económica del Gobierno</a>; 153 son personas defensoras de los territorios comunitarios; 12 habían sido criminalizadas por cuestiones relacionadas con la administración de justicia indígena; y las otras 43 son defensoras de la naturaleza. El Observatorio subraya que todas estas personas tienen un papel esencial en la preservación y protección de la naturaleza y de las tierras indígenas y no debieron haber sido criminalizadas por su acción de defensa de derechos. Por ello, es legítimo considerar que se trata de una amnistía de delitos políticos, autorizada en el numeral 13 del artículo 120 de la Constitución ecuatoriana, pues las reivindicaciones de las personas defensoras no eran para proteger un interés individual, sino buscar proteger derechos colectivos. El Estado debió escucharlas y atender sus reclamos colectivos vulnerados.

En este sentido, el Observatorio recuerda que, en Ecuador, no solo están reconocidos los derechos colectivos de los pueblos indígenas a sus territorios y formas de vida, sino también los derechos de la naturaleza (articulo 71 de la Constitución Nacional) y por tanto los derechos a que la naturaleza tenga defensores y defensoras. Por ello el Estado tiene la obligación de garantizar su trabajo, de forma individual y colectiva.

El Observatorio celebra la decisión de la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador como una manifestación de la voluntad popular representada en la mayoría de este Órgano, de reconocer la indebida criminalización de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos, y por ello urge a las autoridades a poner fin al uso abusivo y persistente del derecho penal, al hostigamiento, a la estigmatización y a la judicialización en contra de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y de la naturaleza.

El Observatorio hace un llamado a las autoridades ecuatorianas a actuar conforme al derecho nacional e internacional, y a continuar tomando las medidas necesarias para implementar una efectiva política de reconocimiento y protección de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y de la naturaleza en Ecuador.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="text-lg font-medium">

<strong>París-Ginebra, 6 de abril de 2022<em> – A principios del mes de marzo, la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador otorgó la amnistía a 268 personas procesadas por participar en protestas sociales o en la defensa de los derechos de la naturaleza. El Observatorio para la Protección de los Defensores de Derechos Humanos (FIDH-OMCT) acoge esta decisión y reconoce la amnistía como un acto del Estado ecuatoriano dirigido a implementar una política efectiva de reconocimiento y protección de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en el país y cesar su criminalización. </em></strong>

</div>
El 10 de marzo de 2022, la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador concedió la amnistía a 268 personas, entre ellas personas defensoras del agua, la naturaleza, de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y activistas. Todas ellas habían sido procesadas por su participación en protestas sociales o en la defensa de derechos de la naturaleza, o por protestar en contra de <strong>proyectos que afectan sus tierras y territorios y la naturaleza. </strong>Con la decisión de la Asamblea Nacional, acogida con satisfacción por las comunidades indígenas ecuatorianas, se pone fin a la criminalización de estas personas.

De las 268 personas amnistiadas, 60 eran judicializadas por ejercer el derecho a la resistencia y la protesta social en el marco de las protestas de octubre de 2019, que se iniciaron con el l<a href="https://www.accionecologica.org/un-balance-de-octubre-2019-en-el-ecuador/">evantamiento indígena contra la política económica del Gobierno</a>; 153 son personas defensoras de los territorios comunitarios; 12 habían sido criminalizadas por cuestiones relacionadas con la administración de justicia indígena; y las otras 43 son defensoras de la naturaleza. El Observatorio subraya que todas estas personas tienen un papel esencial en la preservación y protección de la naturaleza y de las tierras indígenas y no debieron haber sido criminalizadas por su acción de defensa de derechos. Por ello, es legítimo considerar que se trata de una amnistía de delitos políticos, autorizada en el numeral 13 del artículo 120 de la Constitución ecuatoriana, pues las reivindicaciones de las personas defensoras no eran para proteger un interés individual, sino buscar proteger derechos colectivos. El Estado debió escucharlas y atender sus reclamos colectivos vulnerados.

En este sentido, el Observatorio recuerda que, en Ecuador, no solo están reconocidos los derechos colectivos de los pueblos indígenas a sus territorios y formas de vida, sino también los derechos de la naturaleza (articulo 71 de la Constitución Nacional) y por tanto los derechos a que la naturaleza tenga defensores y defensoras. Por ello el Estado tiene la obligación de garantizar su trabajo, de forma individual y colectiva.

El Observatorio celebra la decisión de la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador como una manifestación de la voluntad popular representada en la mayoría de este Órgano, de reconocer la indebida criminalización de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos, y por ello urge a las autoridades a poner fin al uso abusivo y persistente del derecho penal, al hostigamiento, a la estigmatización y a la judicialización en contra de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y de la naturaleza.

El Observatorio hace un llamado a las autoridades ecuatorianas a actuar conforme al derecho nacional e internacional, y a continuar tomando las medidas necesarias para implementar una efectiva política de reconocimiento y protección de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y de la naturaleza en Ecuador.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guatemala: Fin de la criminalización de Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/guatemala-fin-de-la-criminalizacion-de-anastasia-mejia-tiriquiz/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=17606</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[El Observatorio ha recibido información sobre el fin de la criminalización contra <strong>Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz</strong>, indígena Maya K’ich’e, periodista y directora de la emisora local Xol Abaj Radio y de Xol Abaj TV que desde septiembre de 2020 enfrentaba cargos por los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas” por su legítimo trabajo periodístico.

El 3 de septiembre de 2021, el Juzgado de Primera Instancia Penal de Nebaj, dictó sobreseimiento de la causa penal abierta contra Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz al considerar que no había pruebas suficientes para imputarla por los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas”. Este sobreseimiento es susceptible de recurso, pero en el momento de la publicación de este llamado urgente no se había presentado ninguno.

El Observatorio <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/temas/defensores-de-derechos-humanos/guatemala-criminalizacion-y-detencion-arbitraria-de-la-periodista">recuerda</a> que el 22 de septiembre de 2020, funcionarios de la División Especializada en Investigación Criminal (DEIC) de la Policía Nacional (PNC) de Guatemala arrestaron a Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz tras la orden de detención emitida por el juzgado de primera instancia penal de Santa Cruz del Quiché por presuntos delitos de “sedición”, “atentado con agravaciones específicas”, “incendio agravado” y “robo agravado”. La detención de Anastasia Mejía y el proceso de criminalización en su contra estaban relacionadas con la cobertura y transmisión en directo que la periodista hizo de las protestas que tuvieron lugar el 24 de agosto de 2020 en el municipio de Joyabal, departamento de Quiché, y que acabaron con la quema de muebles en frente del ayuntamiento. Los manifestantes protestaron contra el alcalde de la localidad, por supuestos favoritismos en la entrega de las ayudas destinadas a la población para paliar los efectos de la crisis provocada por la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Tras más de un mes detenida de manera arbitraria en el Centro Preventivo para Mujeres de Quetzaltenango, el 28 de octubre de 2020, el Juzgadode Primera Instancia Penal de Santa Cruz del Quiché <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/region/americas/guatemala/guatemala-continua-la-criminalizacion-contra-la-periodista-anastasia">ligó a proceso penal</a> a Anastasia Mejía Tiriquizpor los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas” y le otorgó medidas sustitutivas a la prisión preventiva tras el pago de una fianza de 20.000 quetzales (aproximadamente 2.200 euros). Desde entonces y hasta el 3 de septiembre de 2021, Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz se encontraba bajo arresto domiciliario y con la obligación de presentarse al Juzgado de Paz de Joyabaj cada 15 días.

El Observatorio acoge con satisfacción la decisión del Juzgado de Primera Instancia Penal de Nebaj; sin embargo, reitera que el proceso de hostigamiento judicial contra Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz nunca debería haber ocurrido, al buscar criminalizar su legítimo trabajo periodístico, así como el ejercicio de su derecho a la libertad de expresión.

Asimismo, el Observatorio subraya que el caso de Anastasia Mejía no es aislado, sino que se enmarca en el persistente uso indebido del derecho penal para criminalizar la labor de periodistas independientes y medios de comunicación que informan sobre casos de corrupción y temas relacionados con los derechos humanos en un contexto de profundo <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/temas/defensores-de-derechos-humanos/guatemala-ataques-a-quienes-defienden-los-derechos-humanos-continuan">debilitamiento del Estado de Derecho</a> y de crecientes restricciones a la libertad de expresión y de información en Guatemala.

Por lo anterior, elObservatorio urgea las autoridades de Guatemala a poner fin a todo tipo de hostigamiento, incluido a nivel judicial,en contra de periodistas, comunicadores sociales, medios de comunicación independientes, y personas defensoras de derechos humanos, incluida Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz. Asimismo, el Observatorio exhorta a las autoridades a establecer plenas garantías para el ejercicio de la libertad de prensa, de información y de defensa de los derechos humanos en el país, de acuerdo con las normas internacionales pertinentes.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[El Observatorio ha recibido información sobre el fin de la criminalización contra <strong>Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz</strong>, indígena Maya K’ich’e, periodista y directora de la emisora local Xol Abaj Radio y de Xol Abaj TV que desde septiembre de 2020 enfrentaba cargos por los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas” por su legítimo trabajo periodístico.

El 3 de septiembre de 2021, el Juzgado de Primera Instancia Penal de Nebaj, dictó sobreseimiento de la causa penal abierta contra Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz al considerar que no había pruebas suficientes para imputarla por los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas”. Este sobreseimiento es susceptible de recurso, pero en el momento de la publicación de este llamado urgente no se había presentado ninguno.

El Observatorio <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/temas/defensores-de-derechos-humanos/guatemala-criminalizacion-y-detencion-arbitraria-de-la-periodista">recuerda</a> que el 22 de septiembre de 2020, funcionarios de la División Especializada en Investigación Criminal (DEIC) de la Policía Nacional (PNC) de Guatemala arrestaron a Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz tras la orden de detención emitida por el juzgado de primera instancia penal de Santa Cruz del Quiché por presuntos delitos de “sedición”, “atentado con agravaciones específicas”, “incendio agravado” y “robo agravado”. La detención de Anastasia Mejía y el proceso de criminalización en su contra estaban relacionadas con la cobertura y transmisión en directo que la periodista hizo de las protestas que tuvieron lugar el 24 de agosto de 2020 en el municipio de Joyabal, departamento de Quiché, y que acabaron con la quema de muebles en frente del ayuntamiento. Los manifestantes protestaron contra el alcalde de la localidad, por supuestos favoritismos en la entrega de las ayudas destinadas a la población para paliar los efectos de la crisis provocada por la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Tras más de un mes detenida de manera arbitraria en el Centro Preventivo para Mujeres de Quetzaltenango, el 28 de octubre de 2020, el Juzgadode Primera Instancia Penal de Santa Cruz del Quiché <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/region/americas/guatemala/guatemala-continua-la-criminalizacion-contra-la-periodista-anastasia">ligó a proceso penal</a> a Anastasia Mejía Tiriquizpor los delitos de “sedición” y “atentado con agravaciones específicas” y le otorgó medidas sustitutivas a la prisión preventiva tras el pago de una fianza de 20.000 quetzales (aproximadamente 2.200 euros). Desde entonces y hasta el 3 de septiembre de 2021, Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz se encontraba bajo arresto domiciliario y con la obligación de presentarse al Juzgado de Paz de Joyabaj cada 15 días.

El Observatorio acoge con satisfacción la decisión del Juzgado de Primera Instancia Penal de Nebaj; sin embargo, reitera que el proceso de hostigamiento judicial contra Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz nunca debería haber ocurrido, al buscar criminalizar su legítimo trabajo periodístico, así como el ejercicio de su derecho a la libertad de expresión.

Asimismo, el Observatorio subraya que el caso de Anastasia Mejía no es aislado, sino que se enmarca en el persistente uso indebido del derecho penal para criminalizar la labor de periodistas independientes y medios de comunicación que informan sobre casos de corrupción y temas relacionados con los derechos humanos en un contexto de profundo <a href="https://www.fidh.org/es/temas/defensores-de-derechos-humanos/guatemala-ataques-a-quienes-defienden-los-derechos-humanos-continuan">debilitamiento del Estado de Derecho</a> y de crecientes restricciones a la libertad de expresión y de información en Guatemala.

Por lo anterior, elObservatorio urgea las autoridades de Guatemala a poner fin a todo tipo de hostigamiento, incluido a nivel judicial,en contra de periodistas, comunicadores sociales, medios de comunicación independientes, y personas defensoras de derechos humanos, incluida Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz. Asimismo, el Observatorio exhorta a las autoridades a establecer plenas garantías para el ejercicio de la libertad de prensa, de información y de defensa de los derechos humanos en el país, de acuerdo con las normas internacionales pertinentes.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>France : Cédric Herrou, enfin la relaxe définitive !</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/dcl-fra-020421-cedric-herrou/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=17016</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Paris-Genève – La Cour de Cassation a prononcé hier la relaxe définitive de Cédric Herrou, défenseur des droits des migrants, après plus de cinq années de harcèlement judiciaire. La Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) et l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme (FIDH-OMCT), se réjouissent de cette décision mais estiment que M. Herrou n’aurait jamais dû être poursuivi en raison des ses actes de solidarité envers des personnes migrantes en vallée de la Roya.

Depuis 2016, <strong>Cédric Herrou</strong> est la cible d’un acharnement judiciaire pour son action humanitaire d’aide aux personnes migrantes à la frontière franco-italienne, dans la vallée de la Roya dans les Alpes Maritimes.

Surveillée en permanence, la vallée de la Roya est depuis 2016 le théâtre d’une vaste opération policière visant à faire obstacle au passage et à la présence de migrants et de celles et ceux qui les aident. Cédric Herrou est devenu le symbole de celles et ceux qui ont dénoncé ces dernières années le refoulement illégal de migrants, notamment des mineurs, des Alpes Maritimes vers l’Italie. Il a été relaxé une première fois le 13 mai 2020 des poursuites d’« aide à l’entrée, à la circulation et au séjour irrégulier d’étrangers en France » par la cour d’Appel de Lyon mais le Parquet a formé un pourvoi en cassation contre sa relaxe le 22 mai 2020. La Cour de Cassation a finalement rejeté le pourvoi, rendant sa relaxe définitive hier, le 31 mars 2021.

L’agriculteur et défenseur des droits des migrants a été arrêté et placé en garde en vue une première fois le 11 août 2016. S’en est suivie une série de poursuites dont plusieurs condamnations pour « aide à l’entrée, à la circulation et au séjour irrégulier d’un étranger en France », les 10 février et 8 août 2017.

Le 12 septembre 2017, de nouvelles procédures ont été engagées contre lui. Il a été arrêté et placé en garde à vue avec un demandeur d’asile qui vivait chez lui, pour « violences » et « séquestration », suite à une plainte déposée par un trafiquant d’êtres humains dénoncé par M. Herrou fin juillet et condamné à huit mois de prison ferme dans la foulée.

A partir du 10 août 2018, le contrôle judiciaire de Cédric Herrou a été assoupli. Le 12 décembre 2018, la Chambre criminelle de la Cour de cassation a partiellement annulé la condamnation de Cédric Herrou après la décision du Conseil constitutionnel du 6 juillet 2018 qui marque la consécration du « principe de fraternité » neutralisant le « délit de solidarité » concernant l’aide au séjour d’un étranger en situation irrégulière. L’acharnement judiciaire ne s’est pourtant pas arrêté avant ce 31 mars 2021. Après presque cinq ans de poursuites, il est aujourd’hui définitivement relaxé.

L’Observatoire et la LDH espèrent que cette décision de la Cour de Cassation viendra mettre un terme au harcèlement de tous les défenseurs des droits des migrants en France, et que cette consécration juridique du « principe de solidarité » se concrétisera dans les faits, dans une reconnaissance de la légitimité à défendre les droits des migrants.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paris-Genève – La Cour de Cassation a prononcé hier la relaxe définitive de Cédric Herrou, défenseur des droits des migrants, après plus de cinq années de harcèlement judiciaire. La Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) et l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme (FIDH-OMCT), se réjouissent de cette décision mais estiment que M. Herrou n’aurait jamais dû être poursuivi en raison des ses actes de solidarité envers des personnes migrantes en vallée de la Roya.

Depuis 2016, <strong>Cédric Herrou</strong> est la cible d’un acharnement judiciaire pour son action humanitaire d’aide aux personnes migrantes à la frontière franco-italienne, dans la vallée de la Roya dans les Alpes Maritimes.

Surveillée en permanence, la vallée de la Roya est depuis 2016 le théâtre d’une vaste opération policière visant à faire obstacle au passage et à la présence de migrants et de celles et ceux qui les aident. Cédric Herrou est devenu le symbole de celles et ceux qui ont dénoncé ces dernières années le refoulement illégal de migrants, notamment des mineurs, des Alpes Maritimes vers l’Italie. Il a été relaxé une première fois le 13 mai 2020 des poursuites d’« aide à l’entrée, à la circulation et au séjour irrégulier d’étrangers en France » par la cour d’Appel de Lyon mais le Parquet a formé un pourvoi en cassation contre sa relaxe le 22 mai 2020. La Cour de Cassation a finalement rejeté le pourvoi, rendant sa relaxe définitive hier, le 31 mars 2021.

L’agriculteur et défenseur des droits des migrants a été arrêté et placé en garde en vue une première fois le 11 août 2016. S’en est suivie une série de poursuites dont plusieurs condamnations pour « aide à l’entrée, à la circulation et au séjour irrégulier d’un étranger en France », les 10 février et 8 août 2017.

Le 12 septembre 2017, de nouvelles procédures ont été engagées contre lui. Il a été arrêté et placé en garde à vue avec un demandeur d’asile qui vivait chez lui, pour « violences » et « séquestration », suite à une plainte déposée par un trafiquant d’êtres humains dénoncé par M. Herrou fin juillet et condamné à huit mois de prison ferme dans la foulée.

A partir du 10 août 2018, le contrôle judiciaire de Cédric Herrou a été assoupli. Le 12 décembre 2018, la Chambre criminelle de la Cour de cassation a partiellement annulé la condamnation de Cédric Herrou après la décision du Conseil constitutionnel du 6 juillet 2018 qui marque la consécration du « principe de fraternité » neutralisant le « délit de solidarité » concernant l’aide au séjour d’un étranger en situation irrégulière. L’acharnement judiciaire ne s’est pourtant pas arrêté avant ce 31 mars 2021. Après presque cinq ans de poursuites, il est aujourd’hui définitivement relaxé.

L’Observatoire et la LDH espèrent que cette décision de la Cour de Cassation viendra mettre un terme au harcèlement de tous les défenseurs des droits des migrants en France, et que cette consécration juridique du « principe de solidarité » se concrétisera dans les faits, dans une reconnaissance de la légitimité à défendre les droits des migrants.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kazakhstan: Withdrawal of the charges against two human rights organisations</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/kaz-001-0121-obs-013-1/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=16868</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed about the withdrawal of the charges against the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) and the International Legal Initiative (ILI Foundation), two FIDH member organisations working in Kazakhstan, which were prosecuted for alleged violations of financial reporting procedures.

On February 4, 2021, the representatives of the KIBHR, the ILI Foundation as well as four other NGOs<a href="https://www.omct.org/en/resources/urgent-interventions/kazakhstan-withdrawal-of-the-charges-against-kibhr-and-ili-foundation#_ftn1">[1]</a> announced that all charges brought against them by the district office of the Almaty City Department of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan had been dropped and that their fines and the decisions to suspend their activities had been canceled.

The Observatory recalls that on January 25, 2021, the tax authorities ruled to <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/kazakhstan-judicial-harassment-of-kibhr-and-ili-foundation">fine and suspend</a> the activities of KIBHR and the ILI Foundation. After inspecting thousands of pages of the organisations' reports over several years, the tax authorities drew up multiple protocols on the violation of Article 460-1 of the Code of Administrative Offences for allegedly “inaccurate information” provided by the NGOs in their financial reporting documents. The International Legal Initiative was fined over a million tenge (approximately 1,957 Euros), KIBHR was fined over two million tenge (approximately 4,000 Euros) and the organisations' activities were to be suspended until April 15, 2021.

On February 4, 2021 the Almaty City Department of the State Revenue Committee overturned this decision and sent the relevant notifications to the concerned NGOs. As indicated in the notification, the withdrawal of the charges is due to the "insignificance" of the offence, and both organisations disagree with these grounds. The representatives of the KIBHR and the ILI Foundation believe that the charges against their respective organisations should not have been brought in the first place, and both organisations filed complaints against these decisions to the Almaty Specialised inter-district Court on February 18, 2021.

The Observatory further recalls that from August to December 2020, about 20 NGOs, including human rights organisations, received from the tax authorities a number of protocols related to the same administrative offence for allegedly providing inaccurate reporting information. Previously, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/03/kazakhstan-human-rights-groups-under-pressure">international human rights groups noted </a>that the legislation regulating the activities of NGOs in Kazakhstan provides for onerous reporting procedures and puts the activities of NGOs under the state control, which contradicts the principle of independence of civil society and violates the right to freedom of association.

The Observatory welcomes the withdrawal of all charges against KIBHR and ILI foundation but recalls that the two organisations should never have been prosecuted in the first place, as their fines and the suspension of their activities only aimed at preventing them from exercising their legitimate human rights activities. The Observatory calls on the Kazakh authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of association as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the principle of independence of civil society guaranteed by the Kazakh Constitution.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed about the withdrawal of the charges against the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) and the International Legal Initiative (ILI Foundation), two FIDH member organisations working in Kazakhstan, which were prosecuted for alleged violations of financial reporting procedures.

On February 4, 2021, the representatives of the KIBHR, the ILI Foundation as well as four other NGOs<a href="https://www.omct.org/en/resources/urgent-interventions/kazakhstan-withdrawal-of-the-charges-against-kibhr-and-ili-foundation#_ftn1">[1]</a> announced that all charges brought against them by the district office of the Almaty City Department of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan had been dropped and that their fines and the decisions to suspend their activities had been canceled.

The Observatory recalls that on January 25, 2021, the tax authorities ruled to <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/kazakhstan-judicial-harassment-of-kibhr-and-ili-foundation">fine and suspend</a> the activities of KIBHR and the ILI Foundation. After inspecting thousands of pages of the organisations' reports over several years, the tax authorities drew up multiple protocols on the violation of Article 460-1 of the Code of Administrative Offences for allegedly “inaccurate information” provided by the NGOs in their financial reporting documents. The International Legal Initiative was fined over a million tenge (approximately 1,957 Euros), KIBHR was fined over two million tenge (approximately 4,000 Euros) and the organisations' activities were to be suspended until April 15, 2021.

On February 4, 2021 the Almaty City Department of the State Revenue Committee overturned this decision and sent the relevant notifications to the concerned NGOs. As indicated in the notification, the withdrawal of the charges is due to the "insignificance" of the offence, and both organisations disagree with these grounds. The representatives of the KIBHR and the ILI Foundation believe that the charges against their respective organisations should not have been brought in the first place, and both organisations filed complaints against these decisions to the Almaty Specialised inter-district Court on February 18, 2021.

The Observatory further recalls that from August to December 2020, about 20 NGOs, including human rights organisations, received from the tax authorities a number of protocols related to the same administrative offence for allegedly providing inaccurate reporting information. Previously, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/03/kazakhstan-human-rights-groups-under-pressure">international human rights groups noted </a>that the legislation regulating the activities of NGOs in Kazakhstan provides for onerous reporting procedures and puts the activities of NGOs under the state control, which contradicts the principle of independence of civil society and violates the right to freedom of association.

The Observatory welcomes the withdrawal of all charges against KIBHR and ILI foundation but recalls that the two organisations should never have been prosecuted in the first place, as their fines and the suspension of their activities only aimed at preventing them from exercising their legitimate human rights activities. The Observatory calls on the Kazakh authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of association as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the principle of independence of civil society guaranteed by the Kazakh Constitution.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pakistan: Acquittal of Ms. Gulalai Ismail and her parents</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/pakistan-acquittal-of-ms-gulalai-ismail-and-her-parents/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=16297</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources that the Anti-Terrorism Court in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, dismissed a case against Ms. <strong>Gulalai Ismail</strong> and her parents, Mr. <strong>Muhammad Ismail</strong> and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, following an investigation opened after a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against them on July 12, 2019 over charges of “financial support from terrorist organisations”.

Ms. Ismail, an ethnic Pashtun and woman rights defender, is the founder of the Youth Peace Network and co-founder and Chairperson of the NGO Aware Girls[1]. Ms. Ismail has led a campaign against extrajudicial killings in Pakistan and was awarded the 2017 Anna Politkovskaya Award by the organization Reach all Women in War (RAW). Mr. Ismail is a prominent and vocal human rights activist and the coordinator of Pakistan NGOs Forum.

According to the information received, on July 2, 2020, the case was dismissed as the Prosecutor was not able to submit any evidence related to the charges filed against Ms. Ismail and her parents to the court in the one year the case was open.

The Observatory welcomes the acquittal of Ms. Gulalai Ismail and her parents, but recalls that Mr. Muhammad and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail’s names still figure on Pakistan’s Exit Control List (ECL), which prevents them from leaving the country. Moreover Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail has been denied her passport application and Mr. Muhammad Ismail is still facing charges of “cyber crime”. His bank accounts are also frozen.

The Observatory condemns the judicial harassment of Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Muhammad Ismail, and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, which seems to be only aimed at punishing Ms. Gulalai Ismail for her human rights work. The Observatory calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Muhammad Ismail, Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, and their other relatives.

<strong>Background information:</strong>

On May 22 and 23, 2019, the police in Islamabad filed two FIRs against Ms. Gulalai Ismail, who was charged with “defamation” (Section 500 of the Penal Code), “sedition” (Section 124-A of the Penal Code), “promoting enmity between different groups” (Section 153-A of the Penal Code) and other charges under Section 6/7 of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act. The charges stemmed from a speech she gave at a rally in Islamabad, in which she called for justice in the case of a 10-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in May 2019 and denounced the authorities’ inaction to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice[2]. As a result, Ms. Gulalai Ismail was forced into hiding. The case is still ongoing. A petition has also been filed before the Islamabad High Court in order to ban Ms. Gulalai Ismail’s social media accounts.

At the same time, Ms. Ismail’s relatives have faced repeated acts of harassment and intimidation by security forces. For instance, on May 24, 2019 at dawn, the police raided her family home in Islamabad and threatened her family members. The family’s residence was again raided on May 27. Again, on July 4, 2019, a large group of men in civilian clothes raided three times Ms. Ismail’s house in Islamabad and threatened to harm Ms. Ismail’s younger sister if the former did not cease her work as an activist. Security forces also took away the family’s driver, interrogated him, and subjected him to physical acts of ill-treatment for about eight hours before he was released.

On July 12, 2019, a FIR was lodged against Ms. Ismail and her parents by the Counter-Terrorism Department in Peshawar, accusing them of having received “financial support from terrorist organizations”. Ms. Gulalai Ismail’s parents received a Bail Before Arrest (BBA) from the court and as a condition of that BBA, had to present themselves to the court every week. Without any official notification, Ms. Ismail’s parents were also placed on the ECL, and the immigration services refused to issue a new passport to Ms. Ismail’s mother.

During the night of October 17 to 18, 2019, armed police officers – some in police uniform, and some in plain clothes with their faces hidden - knocked at Ms. Gulalai Ismail parents’ house asking for Mr. Muhammad Ismail to come out of the house, which he refused to do. The police officers stayed outside the house for an hour before leaving.

On October 24, 2019, Mr. Muhammad Ismail was abducted by unidentified men in black clothes outside of the High Court of Peshawar, where he was due to present himself as a bail condition. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown for many hours. It was later discovered that Mr. Muhammad Ismail was taken to the Cybercrime department of the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), where he was temporarily detained. On October 25, 2020, Mr. Muhammad Ismail was finally presented to the magistrate of Peshawar Session Court, which ordered a 14 days pre-trial detention against him on the basis of Articles 10 (“cyber terrorism”) and 11 (“electronic forgery”) of the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The FIR accused Mr. Muhammad Ismail of “broaden hate speech and fake information against Government Institutions of Pakistan” through his Facebook and Twitter accounts. Mr. Muhammad Ismail had access to his lawyer during the hearing. Mr. Muhammad Ismail was then sent to Peshawar jail, where he was detained until November 25, 2019, when he was granted conditional bail.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources that the Anti-Terrorism Court in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, dismissed a case against Ms. <strong>Gulalai Ismail</strong> and her parents, Mr. <strong>Muhammad Ismail</strong> and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, following an investigation opened after a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against them on July 12, 2019 over charges of “financial support from terrorist organisations”.

Ms. Ismail, an ethnic Pashtun and woman rights defender, is the founder of the Youth Peace Network and co-founder and Chairperson of the NGO Aware Girls[1]. Ms. Ismail has led a campaign against extrajudicial killings in Pakistan and was awarded the 2017 Anna Politkovskaya Award by the organization Reach all Women in War (RAW). Mr. Ismail is a prominent and vocal human rights activist and the coordinator of Pakistan NGOs Forum.

According to the information received, on July 2, 2020, the case was dismissed as the Prosecutor was not able to submit any evidence related to the charges filed against Ms. Ismail and her parents to the court in the one year the case was open.

The Observatory welcomes the acquittal of Ms. Gulalai Ismail and her parents, but recalls that Mr. Muhammad and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail’s names still figure on Pakistan’s Exit Control List (ECL), which prevents them from leaving the country. Moreover Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail has been denied her passport application and Mr. Muhammad Ismail is still facing charges of “cyber crime”. His bank accounts are also frozen.

The Observatory condemns the judicial harassment of Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Muhammad Ismail, and Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, which seems to be only aimed at punishing Ms. Gulalai Ismail for her human rights work. The Observatory calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Muhammad Ismail, Mrs. Uzlifat Ismail, and their other relatives.

<strong>Background information:</strong>

On May 22 and 23, 2019, the police in Islamabad filed two FIRs against Ms. Gulalai Ismail, who was charged with “defamation” (Section 500 of the Penal Code), “sedition” (Section 124-A of the Penal Code), “promoting enmity between different groups” (Section 153-A of the Penal Code) and other charges under Section 6/7 of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act. The charges stemmed from a speech she gave at a rally in Islamabad, in which she called for justice in the case of a 10-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in May 2019 and denounced the authorities’ inaction to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice[2]. As a result, Ms. Gulalai Ismail was forced into hiding. The case is still ongoing. A petition has also been filed before the Islamabad High Court in order to ban Ms. Gulalai Ismail’s social media accounts.

At the same time, Ms. Ismail’s relatives have faced repeated acts of harassment and intimidation by security forces. For instance, on May 24, 2019 at dawn, the police raided her family home in Islamabad and threatened her family members. The family’s residence was again raided on May 27. Again, on July 4, 2019, a large group of men in civilian clothes raided three times Ms. Ismail’s house in Islamabad and threatened to harm Ms. Ismail’s younger sister if the former did not cease her work as an activist. Security forces also took away the family’s driver, interrogated him, and subjected him to physical acts of ill-treatment for about eight hours before he was released.

On July 12, 2019, a FIR was lodged against Ms. Ismail and her parents by the Counter-Terrorism Department in Peshawar, accusing them of having received “financial support from terrorist organizations”. Ms. Gulalai Ismail’s parents received a Bail Before Arrest (BBA) from the court and as a condition of that BBA, had to present themselves to the court every week. Without any official notification, Ms. Ismail’s parents were also placed on the ECL, and the immigration services refused to issue a new passport to Ms. Ismail’s mother.

During the night of October 17 to 18, 2019, armed police officers – some in police uniform, and some in plain clothes with their faces hidden - knocked at Ms. Gulalai Ismail parents’ house asking for Mr. Muhammad Ismail to come out of the house, which he refused to do. The police officers stayed outside the house for an hour before leaving.

On October 24, 2019, Mr. Muhammad Ismail was abducted by unidentified men in black clothes outside of the High Court of Peshawar, where he was due to present himself as a bail condition. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown for many hours. It was later discovered that Mr. Muhammad Ismail was taken to the Cybercrime department of the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), where he was temporarily detained. On October 25, 2020, Mr. Muhammad Ismail was finally presented to the magistrate of Peshawar Session Court, which ordered a 14 days pre-trial detention against him on the basis of Articles 10 (“cyber terrorism”) and 11 (“electronic forgery”) of the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The FIR accused Mr. Muhammad Ismail of “broaden hate speech and fake information against Government Institutions of Pakistan” through his Facebook and Twitter accounts. Mr. Muhammad Ismail had access to his lawyer during the hearing. Mr. Muhammad Ismail was then sent to Peshawar jail, where he was detained until November 25, 2019, when he was granted conditional bail.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Niger: Détention au secret et liberté provisoire de Samira Sabou</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/niger-detention-au-secret-et-liberte-provisoire-de-samira-sabou-2/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=16284</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[L’Observatoire a été informé de la détention au secret, de la garde à vue et du placement en liberté provisoire de Mme <strong>Samira Sabou</strong>, journaliste indépendante, administratrice du site MIDES (Magazine d’information sur le Développement Economique et Social), blogueuse et présidente de l’Association des Blogueurs pour une Citoyenneté Active (ABCA), qui poste régulièrement des informations et des analyses sur la situation au Niger sur sa page Facebook.

Le 30 septembre 2023, vers 18 heures, trois hommes en civil non identifiés, se présentant comme des membres des services de sécurité, ont enlevé Samira Sabou au domicile de sa mère à Niamey, l’ont encagoulée, ont saisi son téléphone portable et l’ont emmenée de force vers une destination inconnue dans un véhicule non identifié.

Sa famille et ses avocats, cherchant à localiser la journaliste, ont contacté la police judiciaire de Niamey, qui a nié l’avoir arrêtée. Le 4 octobre 2023, après plus de 72h sans nouvelles de Samira Sabou, et sans qu’aucune autorité ne reconnaisse son arrestation, ses avocats ont introduit une plainte contre X auprès du Procureur de la République près le Tribunal de grande instance hors classe de Niamey pour « enlèvement, séquestration et détention arbitraire ».

Le 7 octobre 2023, après avoir été détenue au secret pendant huit jours, prétendument dans les locaux des services nigériens de la sécurité extérieure (DGDSE), ce qui fait craindre des actes de torture et de mauvais traitements à son encontre pendant cette période, Samira Sabou a été localisée dans les locaux de la police judiciaire de Niamey, où elle a été placée en garde à vue pour y être auditionnée, sans que les charges à son encontre ne soient connues. La veille de son enlèvement, Samira Sabou avait <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficielSamiraSabou/posts/882401559919329" rel="external">partagé</a> sur sa page Facebook un document confidentiel concernant les mutations de certains officiers de l’armée nigérienne, ce qui pourrait, selon ses proches, être à l’origine de son arrestation.

Le 11 octobre 2023, Samira Sabou a été présentée au juge du Tribunal de Niamey, qui a ordonné son placement en liberté provisoire dans l’attente des suites de l’enquête ouverte à son encontre pour « production et diffusion de données de nature à troubler l’ordre public ».

L’Observatoire rappelle que ce n’est pas la première fois que Samira Sabou est poursuivie pour l’exercice légitime de son droit à la liberté d’expression dans le cadre de ses fonctions de journaliste. Le 4 août 2023, la journaliste avait reçu des <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficielSamiraSabou/posts/pfbid02tULypC9K2tdNVtg39hvVUnJ8zYPtzwNSLpK83QFRTGgPLjxryzbRghukGu4TwrDDl" rel="external">intimidations</a> de la part d’un membre de l’armée nigérienne, pour avoir partagé un message de Mohamed Bazoum, l’ancien président renversé par la junte militaire le 26 juillet 2023. En janvier 2022, la Haute Cour de Niamey a <a href="https://cpj.org/fr/2022/01/les-journalistes-nigeriens-moussa-aksar-et-samira-sabou-reconnus-coupables-et-condamnes-a-une-amende-en-vertu-de-la-loi-sur-la-cybercriminalite/" rel="external">condamné</a> Samira Sabou à un mois de prison avec sursis et une amende pour « diffamation par un moyen de communication électronique » pour avoir diffusé une enquête sur le trafic de drogue au Niger. En 2020, elle avait été détenue arbitrairement pendant 48 jours et <a href="https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/afrique/niger/verdict-attendu-pour-une-journaliste-poursuivie-au-niger-un-cas">poursuivie</a> pour diffamation par le fils de l’ancien président du Niger pour des propos qu’elle n’avait pas tenus, avant d’être <a href="https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/afrique/niger/relaxe-de-samira-sabou-un-premier-signal-positif-envoye-par-le">relaxée</a>.

L’Observatoire condamne fermement la détention au secret pendant huit jours de Samira Sabou, et enjoint la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à faire la lumière sur le sort qui lui a été réservé durant cette période et à l’indemniser pour les dommages subis.

L’Observatoire condamne par ailleurs la poursuite du harcèlement judiciaire de Samira Sabou, qui ne semble viser qu’à la punir pour l’exercice légitime de son droit à la liberté d’expression en tant que journaliste, et appelle la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à y mettre fin immédiatement et à abandonner toutes les charges à son encontre.

L’Observatoire appelle également la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à garantir le droit à la liberté d’expression, tel que consacré par les standards internationaux relatifs aux droits humains, et particulièrement à l’Article 19 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques des Nations Unies, et à l’Article 9 de la Charte africaine des droits de l’Homme et des peuples.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[L’Observatoire a été informé de la détention au secret, de la garde à vue et du placement en liberté provisoire de Mme <strong>Samira Sabou</strong>, journaliste indépendante, administratrice du site MIDES (Magazine d’information sur le Développement Economique et Social), blogueuse et présidente de l’Association des Blogueurs pour une Citoyenneté Active (ABCA), qui poste régulièrement des informations et des analyses sur la situation au Niger sur sa page Facebook.

Le 30 septembre 2023, vers 18 heures, trois hommes en civil non identifiés, se présentant comme des membres des services de sécurité, ont enlevé Samira Sabou au domicile de sa mère à Niamey, l’ont encagoulée, ont saisi son téléphone portable et l’ont emmenée de force vers une destination inconnue dans un véhicule non identifié.

Sa famille et ses avocats, cherchant à localiser la journaliste, ont contacté la police judiciaire de Niamey, qui a nié l’avoir arrêtée. Le 4 octobre 2023, après plus de 72h sans nouvelles de Samira Sabou, et sans qu’aucune autorité ne reconnaisse son arrestation, ses avocats ont introduit une plainte contre X auprès du Procureur de la République près le Tribunal de grande instance hors classe de Niamey pour « enlèvement, séquestration et détention arbitraire ».

Le 7 octobre 2023, après avoir été détenue au secret pendant huit jours, prétendument dans les locaux des services nigériens de la sécurité extérieure (DGDSE), ce qui fait craindre des actes de torture et de mauvais traitements à son encontre pendant cette période, Samira Sabou a été localisée dans les locaux de la police judiciaire de Niamey, où elle a été placée en garde à vue pour y être auditionnée, sans que les charges à son encontre ne soient connues. La veille de son enlèvement, Samira Sabou avait <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficielSamiraSabou/posts/882401559919329" rel="external">partagé</a> sur sa page Facebook un document confidentiel concernant les mutations de certains officiers de l’armée nigérienne, ce qui pourrait, selon ses proches, être à l’origine de son arrestation.

Le 11 octobre 2023, Samira Sabou a été présentée au juge du Tribunal de Niamey, qui a ordonné son placement en liberté provisoire dans l’attente des suites de l’enquête ouverte à son encontre pour « production et diffusion de données de nature à troubler l’ordre public ».

L’Observatoire rappelle que ce n’est pas la première fois que Samira Sabou est poursuivie pour l’exercice légitime de son droit à la liberté d’expression dans le cadre de ses fonctions de journaliste. Le 4 août 2023, la journaliste avait reçu des <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficielSamiraSabou/posts/pfbid02tULypC9K2tdNVtg39hvVUnJ8zYPtzwNSLpK83QFRTGgPLjxryzbRghukGu4TwrDDl" rel="external">intimidations</a> de la part d’un membre de l’armée nigérienne, pour avoir partagé un message de Mohamed Bazoum, l’ancien président renversé par la junte militaire le 26 juillet 2023. En janvier 2022, la Haute Cour de Niamey a <a href="https://cpj.org/fr/2022/01/les-journalistes-nigeriens-moussa-aksar-et-samira-sabou-reconnus-coupables-et-condamnes-a-une-amende-en-vertu-de-la-loi-sur-la-cybercriminalite/" rel="external">condamné</a> Samira Sabou à un mois de prison avec sursis et une amende pour « diffamation par un moyen de communication électronique » pour avoir diffusé une enquête sur le trafic de drogue au Niger. En 2020, elle avait été détenue arbitrairement pendant 48 jours et <a href="https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/afrique/niger/verdict-attendu-pour-une-journaliste-poursuivie-au-niger-un-cas">poursuivie</a> pour diffamation par le fils de l’ancien président du Niger pour des propos qu’elle n’avait pas tenus, avant d’être <a href="https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/afrique/niger/relaxe-de-samira-sabou-un-premier-signal-positif-envoye-par-le">relaxée</a>.

L’Observatoire condamne fermement la détention au secret pendant huit jours de Samira Sabou, et enjoint la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à faire la lumière sur le sort qui lui a été réservé durant cette période et à l’indemniser pour les dommages subis.

L’Observatoire condamne par ailleurs la poursuite du harcèlement judiciaire de Samira Sabou, qui ne semble viser qu’à la punir pour l’exercice légitime de son droit à la liberté d’expression en tant que journaliste, et appelle la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à y mettre fin immédiatement et à abandonner toutes les charges à son encontre.

L’Observatoire appelle également la junte militaire au pouvoir au Niger à garantir le droit à la liberté d’expression, tel que consacré par les standards internationaux relatifs aux droits humains, et particulièrement à l’Article 19 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques des Nations Unies, et à l’Article 9 de la Charte africaine des droits de l’Homme et des peuples.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Thailand: Dismissal of the cases against Mr. Nan Win and Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee-wannasiri/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=16129</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the dismissal of the cases against human rights defenders Mr. <strong>Nan Win </strong> and Ms. <strong>Sutharee Wannasiri</strong>, who were found not guilty of the accusation of defamation brought against them by the Thai poultry company Thammakaset Co., Ltd, as well as of the continued judicial harassment against Ms. <strong>Angkhana Neelapaijit</strong> [<a title="Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, former Thailand National Human Rights (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb1" rel="appendix">1</a>] and Ms. <strong>Puttanee Kangkun</strong> [<a title="Ms. Puttanee Kangkun is a Senior Human Rights Specialist with Fortify (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb2" rel="appendix">2</a>] , who remain accused of “defamation” (Article 326 of the Thai Criminal Code) and “libel” (Article 328).

According to the information received, on June 8, 2020, the Criminal Court in Bangkok found Mr. Nan Win not guilty of defamation and dismissed the case against him. The Court ruled that the information Mr. Nan Win gave in the two interviews to the NGO Fortify Rights [<a title="Fortify Rights is an international NGO that works to prevent and remedy (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb3" rel="appendix">3</a>] was true and provided in good faith for the protection of a legitimate interest - an exemption from defamation under Article 329 (1) of the Criminal Code [<a title="Article 329 of the Thai Criminal Code reads that: A person, in good faith, (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb4" rel="appendix">4</a>]. The Courts also found Ms. Sutharee not guilty of defamation and dismissed the case against her. The Court ruled that Ms. Sutharee’s three Twitter posts constituted “fair comment” on issues that were the subject of public criticism - another exemption from defamation under Article 329(3) of the Criminal Code.

The complaints stemmed from social media posts that included a video clip by Fortify Rights that highlighted alleged labour rights violations. Thammakaset considered the video clip defamatory.

On the same day, the Bangkok South Criminal Court refused to combine the cases of Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijitand Ms. Puttanee Kangkun and scheduled the next preliminary hearings for the two cases for August 4, 2020, and August 17, 2020, respectively.

The Observatory welcomes the dismissal of the cases against Mr. Nan Win and Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri, but condemns the ongoing judicial harassment against Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, Ms. Puttanee Kangkun, and all other human rights defenders, as it only aims at punishing them for the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression. The Observatory calls on Thai authorities to immediately put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, Ms. Puttanee Kangkun, and all other human rights defenders targeted by civil and criminal defamation complaints filed by Thammakaset.

<strong>Background information:</strong>

Since 2016, Thammakaset has filed at least 38 criminal and civil cases against 22 defendants, including human rights defenders, workers, and a journalist for alleged defamation of the company [<a title="See the Observatory Factsheet, “Thammakaset Watch”, published on 13 February (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb5" rel="appendix">5</a>]. They include Mr. Andy Hall [<a title="See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 003 / 0815 / OBS 067.5, published on May (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb6" rel="appendix">6</a>], Ms. Ngamsuk Ruttanasatian, and Ms. Suchanee Cloitre [<a title="See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 003 / 1219 / OBS 114, published on (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb7" rel="appendix">7</a>] .

The Observatory also recalls that on April 4, 2018, at the end of its 10-day visit to Thailand, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Business and Human Rights issued a statement that urged the Thai government to “ensure that defamation cases are not used by businesses as a tool to undermine legitimate rights and freedoms of affected rights holders, [civil society organizations] and human rights defenders.” [<a title="See" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb8" rel="appendix">8</a>]

On March 12, 2020, a group of UN human rights experts, including the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, condemned Thammakaset’s “continued misuse of judicial processes” to harass and silence human rights defenders [<a title="See" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb9" rel="appendix">9</a>] .]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the dismissal of the cases against human rights defenders Mr. <strong>Nan Win </strong> and Ms. <strong>Sutharee Wannasiri</strong>, who were found not guilty of the accusation of defamation brought against them by the Thai poultry company Thammakaset Co., Ltd, as well as of the continued judicial harassment against Ms. <strong>Angkhana Neelapaijit</strong> [<a title="Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, former Thailand National Human Rights (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb1" rel="appendix">1</a>] and Ms. <strong>Puttanee Kangkun</strong> [<a title="Ms. Puttanee Kangkun is a Senior Human Rights Specialist with Fortify (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb2" rel="appendix">2</a>] , who remain accused of “defamation” (Article 326 of the Thai Criminal Code) and “libel” (Article 328).

According to the information received, on June 8, 2020, the Criminal Court in Bangkok found Mr. Nan Win not guilty of defamation and dismissed the case against him. The Court ruled that the information Mr. Nan Win gave in the two interviews to the NGO Fortify Rights [<a title="Fortify Rights is an international NGO that works to prevent and remedy (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb3" rel="appendix">3</a>] was true and provided in good faith for the protection of a legitimate interest - an exemption from defamation under Article 329 (1) of the Criminal Code [<a title="Article 329 of the Thai Criminal Code reads that: A person, in good faith, (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb4" rel="appendix">4</a>]. The Courts also found Ms. Sutharee not guilty of defamation and dismissed the case against her. The Court ruled that Ms. Sutharee’s three Twitter posts constituted “fair comment” on issues that were the subject of public criticism - another exemption from defamation under Article 329(3) of the Criminal Code.

The complaints stemmed from social media posts that included a video clip by Fortify Rights that highlighted alleged labour rights violations. Thammakaset considered the video clip defamatory.

On the same day, the Bangkok South Criminal Court refused to combine the cases of Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijitand Ms. Puttanee Kangkun and scheduled the next preliminary hearings for the two cases for August 4, 2020, and August 17, 2020, respectively.

The Observatory welcomes the dismissal of the cases against Mr. Nan Win and Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri, but condemns the ongoing judicial harassment against Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, Ms. Puttanee Kangkun, and all other human rights defenders, as it only aims at punishing them for the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression. The Observatory calls on Thai authorities to immediately put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, Ms. Puttanee Kangkun, and all other human rights defenders targeted by civil and criminal defamation complaints filed by Thammakaset.

<strong>Background information:</strong>

Since 2016, Thammakaset has filed at least 38 criminal and civil cases against 22 defendants, including human rights defenders, workers, and a journalist for alleged defamation of the company [<a title="See the Observatory Factsheet, “Thammakaset Watch”, published on 13 February (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb5" rel="appendix">5</a>]. They include Mr. Andy Hall [<a title="See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 003 / 0815 / OBS 067.5, published on May (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb6" rel="appendix">6</a>], Ms. Ngamsuk Ruttanasatian, and Ms. Suchanee Cloitre [<a title="See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 003 / 1219 / OBS 114, published on (…)" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb7" rel="appendix">7</a>] .

The Observatory also recalls that on April 4, 2018, at the end of its 10-day visit to Thailand, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Business and Human Rights issued a statement that urged the Thai government to “ensure that defamation cases are not used by businesses as a tool to undermine legitimate rights and freedoms of affected rights holders, [civil society organizations] and human rights defenders.” [<a title="See" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb8" rel="appendix">8</a>]

On March 12, 2020, a group of UN human rights experts, including the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, condemned Thammakaset’s “continued misuse of judicial processes” to harass and silence human rights defenders [<a title="See" href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/thailand-dismissal-of-the-cases-against-mr-nan-win-and-ms-sutharee#nb9" rel="appendix">9</a>] .]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Azerbaijan: Rasul Jafarov acquitted of all charges and rehabilitated</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/azerbaijan-rasul-jafarov-acquitted-of-all-charges-and-rehabilitated/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=15942</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On 23 April 2020, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan acquitted prominent human rights defender Rasul Jafarov of all charges, overturning prior convictions and awarding him compensation for his arbitrary detention.

The human rights lawyer and founder of FIDH member organisation the <a href="https://www.humanrightsclub.net/en/" rel="external">Human Rights Club</a> was arrested in August 2014 following a government crackdown. He was eventually sentenced to 6.5 years in April 2015 on trumped-up charges aimed solely at ending his legitimate human rights work. Rasul Jafarov was released on 17 March 2016 as part of a mass presidential pardon.

FIDH, through its Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, has followed the case of Rasul Jafarov from the beginning. The case was brought by his lawyers before the European Court of Human Rights who <a href="https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{&quot;itemid&quot;:[&quot;001-161416&quot;" rel="external">ruled</a>] on 4 July 2016 that his detention was ’<i>unjustified and aimed to punish him for activities as human rights defender</i>.’ The case of Rasul Jafarov has been highlighted by FIDH before key stakeholders through sustained advocacy efforts notably at the <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/impacts/council-of-europe-launches-inquiry-into-azerbaijan-s-alarming-human">Council of Europe</a> level and featured in the <a href="http://en.freedom-defenders.org/" rel="external">#ForFreedom</a> campaign for the release of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders.

FIDH welcomes the acquittal and rehabilitation of Rasul Jafarov and continues its work to end the judicial harassment of all human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

See also <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/azerbaijan-rasul-jafarov-finally-acquitted">Azerbaijan: Rasul Jafarov finally acquitted!</a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[On 23 April 2020, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan acquitted prominent human rights defender Rasul Jafarov of all charges, overturning prior convictions and awarding him compensation for his arbitrary detention.

The human rights lawyer and founder of FIDH member organisation the <a href="https://www.humanrightsclub.net/en/" rel="external">Human Rights Club</a> was arrested in August 2014 following a government crackdown. He was eventually sentenced to 6.5 years in April 2015 on trumped-up charges aimed solely at ending his legitimate human rights work. Rasul Jafarov was released on 17 March 2016 as part of a mass presidential pardon.

FIDH, through its Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, has followed the case of Rasul Jafarov from the beginning. The case was brought by his lawyers before the European Court of Human Rights who <a href="https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{&quot;itemid&quot;:[&quot;001-161416&quot;" rel="external">ruled</a>] on 4 July 2016 that his detention was ’<i>unjustified and aimed to punish him for activities as human rights defender</i>.’ The case of Rasul Jafarov has been highlighted by FIDH before key stakeholders through sustained advocacy efforts notably at the <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/impacts/council-of-europe-launches-inquiry-into-azerbaijan-s-alarming-human">Council of Europe</a> level and featured in the <a href="http://en.freedom-defenders.org/" rel="external">#ForFreedom</a> campaign for the release of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders.

FIDH welcomes the acquittal and rehabilitation of Rasul Jafarov and continues its work to end the judicial harassment of all human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

See also <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/azerbaijan-rasul-jafarov-finally-acquitted">Azerbaijan: Rasul Jafarov finally acquitted!</a>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>TCD 001 / 1219 / OBS 104.1, &#8211; Mahamat Nour Ibedou</title>
		<link>https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/tcd-001-1219-obs-104-1-mahamat-nour-ibedou/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observatory_admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&#038;p=15619</guid>

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