https://observatoryfordefenders.org Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:18:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-OB-eye-orange-32x32.png https://observatoryfordefenders.org 32 32 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/norway-greece-aegean-boat-report-founder-tommy-olsen-arrested-in-norway-following-an-arrest-warrant-issued-by-the-greek-authorities/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:13:00 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24606 Tommy Olsen, a Norwegian human rights defender and founder of the NGO Aegean Boat Report, in relation to a European arrest warrant issued by the Greek authorities. Mr Olsen is the founder of Aegean Boat Report, created in 2017 as a platform documenting arrivals and distress situations of people on the move in the Aegean Sea, and formally established as a nongovernmental organisation in 2018. Aegean Boat Report also documented and denounced human rights violations committed against people on the move, including illegal pushbacks committed by authorities. On 16 March 2026, Tommy Olsen was arrested by the Norwegian police in Tromsø, in the North of Norway, in execution of a European arrest warrant following an investigation initiated in 2022 by the Greek authorities. On the same day, the Byretten City Court ruled that Mr Olsen would be extradited to Greece, and he was remanded in custody in Tromsø prison. His defence lawyer appealed the extradition ruling and his detention to the Hålogaland Court of Appeals, based in Tromsø. On 20 March 2026, Mr Olsen was released, but he still faces extradition. On 27 March 2026, the appeal judge ruled that the case will be processed by the Court of Appeals, without specifying the date of the hearing. If extradited to Greece, Mr Olsen could face prolonged pretrial detention of up to 18 months, as well as a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years, on charges that constitute a reprisal for his legitimate human rights activities. On 14 May 2024, the Investigating Magistrate of Kos issued an arrest warrant No 14/14-05-2024 against Mr Olsen. The warrant stems from a criminal investigation opened in 2022 against Mr Olsen and Mr Panayote Dimitras, co-founder and spokesperson of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, in retaliation for their legitimate work defending the rights of people on the move. As reported by the Observatory in 2022, the investigation against both Mr Olsen and Mr Dimitras is based on charges including “participation and membership of a criminal organisation”, “facilitating the entry into Greek territory of a third-country national, committed by two or more persons for profit and in the course of their professional activity, and committed repeatedly” and “facilitating the unlawful residence of a third country national for profit and on a repeated basis”, although past case law of similar trials, including Supreme Court case law, indicates individuals cannot be charged under “criminal organisation” for one action, without clear hierarchical organisation or financial benefits, nor can there be “facilitation of entry” when supporting people with accessing the universal right to asylum. The charges stem from their work of alerting authorities such as Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, migration authorities, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Greek Ombudsman of the presence of people arriving on the Greek islands of Kos in July 2021 and of their intention of applying for asylum, in alleged coordination with individuals in Turkey. Mr Olsen was only notified of the investigation in January 2023. The Observatory recalls that the case has been marked by smear campaigns and judicial harassment, including preventive measures imposed on Mr Dimitras and, more recently, reprisals for Mr Dimitras’ anti-racist activism. The Observatory recalls that non-governmental organisations that work on migrants’ rights play an essential role to defend the human rights of people on the move in a context of systematic violations of international human rights standards by the Greek authorities, including illegal pushbacks and collective expulsions of migrants, as denounced in 2020 by the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT). The Greek state has consistently failed to submit the information concerning the alleged intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and humanitarian workers and volunteers that was required by the UNCAT. Yet, migrants’ rights defenders have been heavily criminalised for years. They have consistently been targeted for their legitimate work and have faced different types of attacks, including surveillance, judicial harassment, smear campaigns, entry bans and expulsion from the country. The Greek investigative authorities often leak alleged criminal investigations initiated against migrants’ rights defenders to the media, creating a climate of fear and a chilling effect among all rights defenders, as documented by the Observatory in its 2021 report “Europe: Open Season on Solidarity”. The Observatory notes that cooperation between Greek and Norwegian authorities to arbitrarily detain Mr Olsen, a human rights defender in reprisal for his legitimate human rights activities, constitutes an act of transnational repression. The Observatory also notes Norway’s historical role to emphasise the right of human rights defenders to exercise the right to defend rights without obstacles and free from reprisals, including through the promotion of United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions. The Observatory further recalls that the European Parliament, in its resolution of 13 November 2025, recognised transnational repression as encompassing the misuse of legal instruments, including arrest warrants and extradition procedures, to target human rights defenders beyond national borders. It also denounces the occurrence of such practices within European Union territory and, in some instances, with the involvement or cooperation of Member States. In this context, the Observatory expresses serious concern that the actions undertaken by the Greek authorities, a Member State of the European Union, together with Norway as a partner country, constitute an instance of such practices. The Observatory further highlights the European Parliament’s call on the European Union and its Member States to hold accountable those responsible for acts of transnational repression in violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Refugee Convention, and to consider targeted sanctions against perpetrators. The Observatory strongly condemns the arrest of Mr Tommy Olsen and reiterates that human rights defenders working to protect people on the move are playing a crucial role in a context where serious violations, including illegal pushbacks and collective expulsions, have been widely documented.]]> Tommy Olsen, a Norwegian human rights defender and founder of the NGO Aegean Boat Report, in relation to a European arrest warrant issued by the Greek authorities. Mr Olsen is the founder of Aegean Boat Report, created in 2017 as a platform documenting arrivals and distress situations of people on the move in the Aegean Sea, and formally established as a nongovernmental organisation in 2018. Aegean Boat Report also documented and denounced human rights violations committed against people on the move, including illegal pushbacks committed by authorities. On 16 March 2026, Tommy Olsen was arrested by the Norwegian police in Tromsø, in the North of Norway, in execution of a European arrest warrant following an investigation initiated in 2022 by the Greek authorities. On the same day, the Byretten City Court ruled that Mr Olsen would be extradited to Greece, and he was remanded in custody in Tromsø prison. His defence lawyer appealed the extradition ruling and his detention to the Hålogaland Court of Appeals, based in Tromsø. On 20 March 2026, Mr Olsen was released, but he still faces extradition. On 27 March 2026, the appeal judge ruled that the case will be processed by the Court of Appeals, without specifying the date of the hearing. If extradited to Greece, Mr Olsen could face prolonged pretrial detention of up to 18 months, as well as a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years, on charges that constitute a reprisal for his legitimate human rights activities. On 14 May 2024, the Investigating Magistrate of Kos issued an arrest warrant No 14/14-05-2024 against Mr Olsen. The warrant stems from a criminal investigation opened in 2022 against Mr Olsen and Mr Panayote Dimitras, co-founder and spokesperson of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, in retaliation for their legitimate work defending the rights of people on the move. As reported by the Observatory in 2022, the investigation against both Mr Olsen and Mr Dimitras is based on charges including “participation and membership of a criminal organisation”, “facilitating the entry into Greek territory of a third-country national, committed by two or more persons for profit and in the course of their professional activity, and committed repeatedly” and “facilitating the unlawful residence of a third country national for profit and on a repeated basis”, although past case law of similar trials, including Supreme Court case law, indicates individuals cannot be charged under “criminal organisation” for one action, without clear hierarchical organisation or financial benefits, nor can there be “facilitation of entry” when supporting people with accessing the universal right to asylum. The charges stem from their work of alerting authorities such as Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, migration authorities, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Greek Ombudsman of the presence of people arriving on the Greek islands of Kos in July 2021 and of their intention of applying for asylum, in alleged coordination with individuals in Turkey. Mr Olsen was only notified of the investigation in January 2023. The Observatory recalls that the case has been marked by smear campaigns and judicial harassment, including preventive measures imposed on Mr Dimitras and, more recently, reprisals for Mr Dimitras’ anti-racist activism. The Observatory recalls that non-governmental organisations that work on migrants’ rights play an essential role to defend the human rights of people on the move in a context of systematic violations of international human rights standards by the Greek authorities, including illegal pushbacks and collective expulsions of migrants, as denounced in 2020 by the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT). The Greek state has consistently failed to submit the information concerning the alleged intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and humanitarian workers and volunteers that was required by the UNCAT. Yet, migrants’ rights defenders have been heavily criminalised for years. They have consistently been targeted for their legitimate work and have faced different types of attacks, including surveillance, judicial harassment, smear campaigns, entry bans and expulsion from the country. The Greek investigative authorities often leak alleged criminal investigations initiated against migrants’ rights defenders to the media, creating a climate of fear and a chilling effect among all rights defenders, as documented by the Observatory in its 2021 report “Europe: Open Season on Solidarity”. The Observatory notes that cooperation between Greek and Norwegian authorities to arbitrarily detain Mr Olsen, a human rights defender in reprisal for his legitimate human rights activities, constitutes an act of transnational repression. The Observatory also notes Norway’s historical role to emphasise the right of human rights defenders to exercise the right to defend rights without obstacles and free from reprisals, including through the promotion of United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions. The Observatory further recalls that the European Parliament, in its resolution of 13 November 2025, recognised transnational repression as encompassing the misuse of legal instruments, including arrest warrants and extradition procedures, to target human rights defenders beyond national borders. It also denounces the occurrence of such practices within European Union territory and, in some instances, with the involvement or cooperation of Member States. In this context, the Observatory expresses serious concern that the actions undertaken by the Greek authorities, a Member State of the European Union, together with Norway as a partner country, constitute an instance of such practices. The Observatory further highlights the European Parliament’s call on the European Union and its Member States to hold accountable those responsible for acts of transnational repression in violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Refugee Convention, and to consider targeted sanctions against perpetrators. The Observatory strongly condemns the arrest of Mr Tommy Olsen and reiterates that human rights defenders working to protect people on the move are playing a crucial role in a context where serious violations, including illegal pushbacks and collective expulsions, have been widely documented.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/kenya-denial-of-entry-detention-and-deportation-of-zimbabwean-human-rights-defender-mr-brian-kagoro/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:44:54 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24482 Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the denial of entry, detention and deportation from Kenya of Mr Brian Kagoro, Zimbabwean human rights defender, constitutional lawyer, and Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Mr Brian Kagoro has long engaged in African human rights and governance initiatives. On 22 February 2026, Kenyan security authorities denied Mr Brian Kagoro entry into Kenya upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Officers from the National Intelligence Service held him at the airport for more than 10 hours and questioned him on the basis of allegations made by the Kenyan authorities that he had been involved in financing and coordinating protest activities in Kenya. During this period, authorities denied him access to a lawyer and prevented him from contacting his family or colleagues. Mr Kagoro rejects all the allegations and as an illustration of the false nature of these accusations, the authorities did not present any formal charges or any material evidence. Following his detention, immigration officials issued a removal order authorising the air carrier to return him to Johannesburg, South Africa, from where he had travelled. The removal order reportedly cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation-related offences, without any written explanation clarifying the factual basis. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Kenyan authorities have not formally issued any public information to explain the circumstances that led to their actions, nor have they announced any criminal charges against Mr Kagoro. The Observatory recalls that his deportation from the country ended a two-decade presence in Nairobi, where Mr Kagoro had established professional, academic and civic activities since the mid-2000s, when Nairobi consolidated its position as a regional hub for governance initiatives. This incident follows increased scrutiny by Kenyan authorities of civic actors and alleged foreign involvement in protest movements, particularly after the 2024 nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill. Indeed, Mr Kagoro’s deportation is not an isolated case, as the Observatory has already expressed concern about the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), on 5 July 2025 for similar reasons. As another illustration, Kenya has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlistdue to the escalation of repression of civic freedoms. These developments raise serious worries regarding the protection of civic space in Kenya and the ability of human rights defenders and civil society actors to operate without interference. The Observatory further recalls that Kenya must comply with its obligations under international and regional human rights law, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Articles 9, 12, 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Moreover, Article 47 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to fair administrative action, including the right to written reasons where rights are adversely affected. The Observatory considers that these administrative measures and patterns of harassment prevent human rights defenders from delivering public interventions or engaging in governance-related initiatives and undermine the democratic participation and respect of human rights in the country. The Observatory is extremely concerned about the absence of written reasons, the lack of formal charges, and the reliance on unsubstantiated allegations which raise serious concerns regarding due process guarantees and the principle of legality. Therefore, the Observatory strongly condemns the denial of entry, detention and deportation of Mr Brian Kagoro, which appear to be solely aimed at preventing him from engaging in legitimate human rights activities and interacting with civil society actors in Kenya. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kenya asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Mr Brian Kagoro and all human rights defenders in Kenya; Provide a full, official, transparent and legally reasoned explanation of the legal and factual basis for denying Mr Brian Kagoro entry, detaining him and deporting him from Kenya; Ensure that all measures taken in relation to Mr Kagoro fully comply with Kenya’s obligations under the Constitution, the ICCPR and the ACHPR, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to fair administrative action; Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders, including foreign nationals engaging in legitimate civic activities, can carry out their work without arbitrary interference, harassment, intimidation, restrictions or reprisals.]]> Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about the denial of entry, detention and deportation from Kenya of Mr Brian Kagoro, Zimbabwean human rights defender, constitutional lawyer, and Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Mr Brian Kagoro has long engaged in African human rights and governance initiatives. On 22 February 2026, Kenyan security authorities denied Mr Brian Kagoro entry into Kenya upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Officers from the National Intelligence Service held him at the airport for more than 10 hours and questioned him on the basis of allegations made by the Kenyan authorities that he had been involved in financing and coordinating protest activities in Kenya. During this period, authorities denied him access to a lawyer and prevented him from contacting his family or colleagues. Mr Kagoro rejects all the allegations and as an illustration of the false nature of these accusations, the authorities did not present any formal charges or any material evidence. Following his detention, immigration officials issued a removal order authorising the air carrier to return him to Johannesburg, South Africa, from where he had travelled. The removal order reportedly cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation-related offences, without any written explanation clarifying the factual basis. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Kenyan authorities have not formally issued any public information to explain the circumstances that led to their actions, nor have they announced any criminal charges against Mr Kagoro. The Observatory recalls that his deportation from the country ended a two-decade presence in Nairobi, where Mr Kagoro had established professional, academic and civic activities since the mid-2000s, when Nairobi consolidated its position as a regional hub for governance initiatives. This incident follows increased scrutiny by Kenyan authorities of civic actors and alleged foreign involvement in protest movements, particularly after the 2024 nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill. Indeed, Mr Kagoro’s deportation is not an isolated case, as the Observatory has already expressed concern about the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), on 5 July 2025 for similar reasons. As another illustration, Kenya has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlistdue to the escalation of repression of civic freedoms. These developments raise serious worries regarding the protection of civic space in Kenya and the ability of human rights defenders and civil society actors to operate without interference. The Observatory further recalls that Kenya must comply with its obligations under international and regional human rights law, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Articles 9, 12, 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Moreover, Article 47 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to fair administrative action, including the right to written reasons where rights are adversely affected. The Observatory considers that these administrative measures and patterns of harassment prevent human rights defenders from delivering public interventions or engaging in governance-related initiatives and undermine the democratic participation and respect of human rights in the country. The Observatory is extremely concerned about the absence of written reasons, the lack of formal charges, and the reliance on unsubstantiated allegations which raise serious concerns regarding due process guarantees and the principle of legality. Therefore, the Observatory strongly condemns the denial of entry, detention and deportation of Mr Brian Kagoro, which appear to be solely aimed at preventing him from engaging in legitimate human rights activities and interacting with civil society actors in Kenya. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities of Kenya asking them to: Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Mr Brian Kagoro and all human rights defenders in Kenya; Provide a full, official, transparent and legally reasoned explanation of the legal and factual basis for denying Mr Brian Kagoro entry, detaining him and deporting him from Kenya; Ensure that all measures taken in relation to Mr Kagoro fully comply with Kenya’s obligations under the Constitution, the ICCPR and the ACHPR, including the rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to fair administrative action; Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders, including foreign nationals engaging in legitimate civic activities, can carry out their work without arbitrary interference, harassment, intimidation, restrictions or reprisals.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/thailand-vietnam-end-acts-of-transnational-repression-against-human-rights-defenders-after-y-quynh-bdaps-extradition-to-vietnam/ Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:12:49 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24217 Paris–Geneva, 3 December 2025 – The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) strongly condemns the sudden extradition from Thailand to Vietnam of Montagnard human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap. The Observatory also urges authorities in the two countries to end and prevent acts of transnational repression against human rights defenders and demand the Vietnamese authorities to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of Y Quynh Bdap and all other human rights defenders in the country. On 28 November 2025, the Thai authorities extradited Vietnamese human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam, following a court decision issued two days earlier. Y Quynh Bdap is a United Nations (UN)-recognised refugee, who had lived in Thailand since 2018, following protracted acts of harassment he suffered in Vietnam in relation to his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. On 26 November 2025, the Thai Court of Appeals upheld the Criminal Court’s ruling from 30 September 2024, which had authorised Mr Bdap’s extradition, despite his refugee status, which the Court held was not grounds for exception under Thailand’s Extradition Act. The Observatory attended both court hearings. Disturbingly, the Court of Appeals concluded that there was “no real risk” of torture or enforced disappearance upon return to Vietnam, dismissing extensive documentation on Vietnam’s systematic repression, including arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, of Montagnard activists and instead relying on diplomatic assurances from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security that Y Quynh Bdap would be treated in accordance with international standards. Mr Bdap was arrested in Thailand on 11 June 2024, after being sentenced in absentia by a Vietnamese court to 10 years in prison over terrorism charges for his alleged involvement in the 2023 attacks on two police stations in Vietnam’s Dak Lak Province - charges that he categorically denied. United Nations human rights experts had expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial. In his appeal, Y Quynh Bdap argued that Thai courts had both the authority and the obligation to prevent his extradition due to the real and foreseeable risk of torture, invoking the customary international law principle of non-refoulement and Thailand’s own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, which strictly prohibits the return of individuals to jurisdictions where substantial grounds exist to believe that an individual may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment. The Court’s dismissal of these arguments, including its failure to assess the fairness of the Vietnamese conviction, represents a grave breach of Thailand’s human rights obligations. The reasoning contradicts both Thailand’s anti-torture legislation and its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, which bars reliance on diplomatic assurances from countries with well-documented patterns of abuse. The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately stop the refoulement of individuals, including human rights defenders, to jurisdictions where they are at risk of torture or enforced disappearance and to reaffirm Thailand’s commitment to the principle of non-refoulement. The Observatory further calls on the Vietnamese authorities to immediately reveal the fate or whereabouts of Y Quynh Bdap and to put an end to all acts of transnational repression against all human rights defenders.]]> Paris–Geneva, 3 December 2025 – The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) strongly condemns the sudden extradition from Thailand to Vietnam of Montagnard human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap. The Observatory also urges authorities in the two countries to end and prevent acts of transnational repression against human rights defenders and demand the Vietnamese authorities to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of Y Quynh Bdap and all other human rights defenders in the country. On 28 November 2025, the Thai authorities extradited Vietnamese human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam, following a court decision issued two days earlier. Y Quynh Bdap is a United Nations (UN)-recognised refugee, who had lived in Thailand since 2018, following protracted acts of harassment he suffered in Vietnam in relation to his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. On 26 November 2025, the Thai Court of Appeals upheld the Criminal Court’s ruling from 30 September 2024, which had authorised Mr Bdap’s extradition, despite his refugee status, which the Court held was not grounds for exception under Thailand’s Extradition Act. The Observatory attended both court hearings. Disturbingly, the Court of Appeals concluded that there was “no real risk” of torture or enforced disappearance upon return to Vietnam, dismissing extensive documentation on Vietnam’s systematic repression, including arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, of Montagnard activists and instead relying on diplomatic assurances from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security that Y Quynh Bdap would be treated in accordance with international standards. Mr Bdap was arrested in Thailand on 11 June 2024, after being sentenced in absentia by a Vietnamese court to 10 years in prison over terrorism charges for his alleged involvement in the 2023 attacks on two police stations in Vietnam’s Dak Lak Province - charges that he categorically denied. United Nations human rights experts had expressed concerns about the fairness of the trial. In his appeal, Y Quynh Bdap argued that Thai courts had both the authority and the obligation to prevent his extradition due to the real and foreseeable risk of torture, invoking the customary international law principle of non-refoulement and Thailand’s own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, which strictly prohibits the return of individuals to jurisdictions where substantial grounds exist to believe that an individual may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment. The Court’s dismissal of these arguments, including its failure to assess the fairness of the Vietnamese conviction, represents a grave breach of Thailand’s human rights obligations. The reasoning contradicts both Thailand’s anti-torture legislation and its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, which bars reliance on diplomatic assurances from countries with well-documented patterns of abuse. The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately stop the refoulement of individuals, including human rights defenders, to jurisdictions where they are at risk of torture or enforced disappearance and to reaffirm Thailand’s commitment to the principle of non-refoulement. The Observatory further calls on the Vietnamese authorities to immediately reveal the fate or whereabouts of Y Quynh Bdap and to put an end to all acts of transnational repression against all human rights defenders.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/bulgaria-joint-appeal-for-international-protection-for-saudi-human-rights-defender-detained-for-over-four-years/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:33:37 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24181 We, the undersigned civil society organisations, including the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), are gravely concerned by the imminent threat to Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman AlBakr al-Khalidi of deportation after over four years in detention from Bulgaria to Saudi Arabia, where he would be at real risk of serious human rights violations due to his peaceful activism. We urge the Bulgarian authorities to immediately halt al-Khalidi’s deportation in accordance with their legal obligations under international, European and domestic law, release him from detention, and grant him international protection through a fair and impartial asylum process. Abdulrahman AlBakr al-Khalidi has been trapped in a prolonged asylum process in Bulgaria since November 2021 and has faced a deportation order since 2024. On 15 July 2025 Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court rejected al-Khalidi’s appeal against his detention order, placing him at imminent risk. Al-Khalidi began his peaceful activism during the 2011 Arab Spring by joining the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and participating in pro-reform protests. Following a wave of arrests of fellow activists in 2013, and after being summoned for interrogation himself, he fled Saudi Arabia and continued his advocacy in exile. He later joined dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s “Electronic Bees Army”, a project aimed at countering state disinformation. In 2021, facing escalating threats in Turkey, al-Khalidi decided to seek asylum in the European Union. However, he was arrested upon arrival in Bulgaria shortly after crossing the Turkish-Bulgarian border on 23 October 2021. He has since spent over four years in detention – which according to public data from the European Court of Human Rights is one of the longest periods for any asylum seeker in Europe – most of it under harsh and degrading conditions at Sofia’s Busmantsi Detention Centre. On 26 September 2025, the Directorate of Migration decided to extend al-Khalidi’s detention for another six months. On 16 November 2021 al-Khalidi applied for asylum in Bulgaria, citing risks of serious human rights violations if returned to Saudi Arabia. However, the Bulgarian State Agency for Refugees rejected his application, claiming that Saudi Arabia had “taken measures to democratise society”. His appeal is ongoing. Despite several court rulings in his favour, including final judgments ordering his release, the Bulgarian authorities have ignored or circumvented them. In February 2024 the National Security Agency issued an expulsion order against al-Khalidi, calling him, without evidence, a “national security threat”. This order, later upheld by the Sofia Administrative Court, violates the international principle of non-refoulement as there is a well-documented risk that, if returned to Saudi Arabia, al-Khalidi would face torture, an unfair trial, and possibly the death penalty. In detention al-Khalidi has reportedly faced repeated ill-treatments including psychological pressure and physical abuse. In March 2024 the human rights defender reported that he was brutally beaten by police officers. He has attempted suicide, gone on a hunger strike that lasted more than 100 days, and been diagnosed with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Despite concerns raised by Bulgarian courts, UN experts, NGOs and members of the European Parliament, the Bulgarian authorities continue to detain him unlawfully and threaten him with deportation. A study on the transnational repression of human rights defenders, published on 12 June 2025 by the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), highlighted the case of al-Khalidi as a key example of the tactic of detention used in physical transnational repression. Deporting al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia would constitute a grave violation of Bulgaria’s commitments under international, European Union (EU) and domestic law, including its own constitution, which states that Bulgaria shall grant asylum to foreigners persecuted for their opinions and activity in defence of internationally recognised rights and freedoms. We, the undersigned organisations, therefore call on the Bulgarian authorities to:

• immediately and unconditionally release Abdulrahman al-Khalidi in accordance with judicial rulings made in the Bulgarian courts;
• guarantee that he will not be deported to Saudi Arabia, or any country where he risks onward refoulement; facilitate his resettlement in a safe third country, in coordination with international partners;
• launch an independent investigation into his ill-treatment in detention, including the March 2024 beating, and hold those responsible to account; and
• ensure that Bulgaria’s asylum system complies with EU and international human rights standards, preventing future violations of this kind.

And relating to the European Union (EU), we call on:

• the European Commission to assess suspending or reprogramming any European support linked to pre-removal detention centers in Bulgaria until full compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR) is ensured;
• the European Commission to conduct a review of any possible European Commission support linked to Busmantsi Detention Centre to assess its compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR);
• the European Parliament (LIBE/DROI committees) to hold an urgent session and organise a fact-finding mission to Busmantsi Detention Centre; and
• the Council (FREMP group) to include this case on the agenda.

]]> We, the undersigned civil society organisations, including the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), are gravely concerned by the imminent threat to Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman AlBakr al-Khalidi of deportation after over four years in detention from Bulgaria to Saudi Arabia, where he would be at real risk of serious human rights violations due to his peaceful activism. We urge the Bulgarian authorities to immediately halt al-Khalidi’s deportation in accordance with their legal obligations under international, European and domestic law, release him from detention, and grant him international protection through a fair and impartial asylum process. Abdulrahman AlBakr al-Khalidi has been trapped in a prolonged asylum process in Bulgaria since November 2021 and has faced a deportation order since 2024. On 15 July 2025 Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court rejected al-Khalidi’s appeal against his detention order, placing him at imminent risk. Al-Khalidi began his peaceful activism during the 2011 Arab Spring by joining the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and participating in pro-reform protests. Following a wave of arrests of fellow activists in 2013, and after being summoned for interrogation himself, he fled Saudi Arabia and continued his advocacy in exile. He later joined dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s “Electronic Bees Army”, a project aimed at countering state disinformation. In 2021, facing escalating threats in Turkey, al-Khalidi decided to seek asylum in the European Union. However, he was arrested upon arrival in Bulgaria shortly after crossing the Turkish-Bulgarian border on 23 October 2021. He has since spent over four years in detention – which according to public data from the European Court of Human Rights is one of the longest periods for any asylum seeker in Europe – most of it under harsh and degrading conditions at Sofia’s Busmantsi Detention Centre. On 26 September 2025, the Directorate of Migration decided to extend al-Khalidi’s detention for another six months. On 16 November 2021 al-Khalidi applied for asylum in Bulgaria, citing risks of serious human rights violations if returned to Saudi Arabia. However, the Bulgarian State Agency for Refugees rejected his application, claiming that Saudi Arabia had “taken measures to democratise society”. His appeal is ongoing. Despite several court rulings in his favour, including final judgments ordering his release, the Bulgarian authorities have ignored or circumvented them. In February 2024 the National Security Agency issued an expulsion order against al-Khalidi, calling him, without evidence, a “national security threat”. This order, later upheld by the Sofia Administrative Court, violates the international principle of non-refoulement as there is a well-documented risk that, if returned to Saudi Arabia, al-Khalidi would face torture, an unfair trial, and possibly the death penalty. In detention al-Khalidi has reportedly faced repeated ill-treatments including psychological pressure and physical abuse. In March 2024 the human rights defender reported that he was brutally beaten by police officers. He has attempted suicide, gone on a hunger strike that lasted more than 100 days, and been diagnosed with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Despite concerns raised by Bulgarian courts, UN experts, NGOs and members of the European Parliament, the Bulgarian authorities continue to detain him unlawfully and threaten him with deportation. A study on the transnational repression of human rights defenders, published on 12 June 2025 by the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), highlighted the case of al-Khalidi as a key example of the tactic of detention used in physical transnational repression. Deporting al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia would constitute a grave violation of Bulgaria’s commitments under international, European Union (EU) and domestic law, including its own constitution, which states that Bulgaria shall grant asylum to foreigners persecuted for their opinions and activity in defence of internationally recognised rights and freedoms. We, the undersigned organisations, therefore call on the Bulgarian authorities to:

• immediately and unconditionally release Abdulrahman al-Khalidi in accordance with judicial rulings made in the Bulgarian courts;
• guarantee that he will not be deported to Saudi Arabia, or any country where he risks onward refoulement; facilitate his resettlement in a safe third country, in coordination with international partners;
• launch an independent investigation into his ill-treatment in detention, including the March 2024 beating, and hold those responsible to account; and
• ensure that Bulgaria’s asylum system complies with EU and international human rights standards, preventing future violations of this kind.

And relating to the European Union (EU), we call on:

• the European Commission to assess suspending or reprogramming any European support linked to pre-removal detention centers in Bulgaria until full compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR) is ensured;
• the European Commission to conduct a review of any possible European Commission support linked to Busmantsi Detention Centre to assess its compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR);
• the European Parliament (LIBE/DROI committees) to hold an urgent session and organise a fact-finding mission to Busmantsi Detention Centre; and
• the Council (FREMP group) to include this case on the agenda.

]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/israel-palestine-calls-for-the-protection-of-humanitarian-activists-sailing-to-gaza-aboard-all-the-global-sumud-flotilla/ Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:26:54 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23945 According to reports, more than 50 boats of humanitarian activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla - coordinated by the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, and the Sumud Nusantara - sailed to Gaza on 31st of August 2025, departing from Barcelona. They aim to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged population in Gaza. Israeli authorities have consistently intercepted vessels attempting to breach the blockade, redirecting them to Israeli ports and detaining humanitarian activists on board. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership of FIDH and OMCT) expresses deep concern for the safety of all the human rights defenders and humanitarian activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels sailing to Gaza and calls on the Israeli authorities to take every possible measure to guarantee the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor to Gaza. Paris-Geneva, 11 September 2025 - Following its initial departure from the port of Barcelona on 31st of August 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla launched more than 60 boats carrying humanitarian workers, medical professionals, and humanitarian activists volunteering from different disciplines across at least 50 countries. It resumed its voyage, with Tunisia as its first destination and a scheduled departure from there on 11 or 12 September 2025. The volunteers aboard are carrying vital food and medical supplies, seeking to provide much-needed relief to the people of Gaza, who have endured nearly 18 years of blockade. They are joining forces to challenge Israel's ongoing blockade, which has resulted in severe famine and critical shortages of supplies in Gaza. The situation is further exacerbated by reports of two suspected drone attacks against Global Sumud Flotilla vessels. On 8 September 2025, while docked at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, the flotilla’s “Family Boat” is said to have come under fire from above. Video footage released by the organisers appears to show an aerial incendiary device descending onto the deck and igniting a blaze, which was later extinguished by the crew. Tunisian authorities initially denied any strike, attributing the fire to an onboard accident. On 9 September 2025, the British-flagged vessel “Alma” appears to have been similarly targeted. Witnesses and video recordings document an unmanned aerial vehicle dropping what looks like an incendiary munition onto the deck, causing a brief fire that crew members quickly extinguished. The Tunisian authorities have confirmed that this was an assault and that an investigation has been launched. The Observatory strongly condemns any drone attacks against humanitarian vessels, which represent acts of aggression and calls for a thorough and impartial investigation, along with accountability measures, to prevent further violations. The Observatory is acutely alarmed by Israel's well-documented pattern of intercepting humanitarian flotillas in international waters, in violation of international maritime law. Other incidents include the interception by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025, of the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, with the detention of humanitarian workers on board. This interception follows similar events predating the launch of the Freedom Flotilla in 2010, when Israel killed and injured humanitarians in an attack on international waters. Such Israeli actions against people pursuing humanitarian missions constitute violations of established international humanitarian law. The Observatory is concerned that Israeli authorities may again intercept the Global Sumud Flotilla, potentially subjecting the volunteers on board to illegal arrest, detention and ill-treatment. This would delay breaking the siege and directly prevent the people of Gaza from receiving urgently needed food, medical supplies, and other essential assistance, thereby further aggravating the already dire humanitarian situation. In light of these grave risks, the Observatory further calls on the Government of Israel to allow the Global Sumud Flotilla safe passage to Gaza, refraining from any violent interception or arbitrary detention, and guaranteeing the protection of all humanitarian volunteers on board in full accordance with international law. The Observatory further recalls Israel’s legal obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to end the blockade of Gaza by allowing safe, direct, and unrestricted access to aid and by ensuring the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor that guarantees civilians unimpeded access to essential aid. The Observatory affirms the right to engage in peaceful and non-violent humanitarian initiatives such as the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is dedicated to delivering aid, and stands in solidarity with the volunteers on board. It also urges the international community to take action for their protection by enhancing protective visibility through social media, press releases, diplomatic protection, and other public advocacy that highlight both the humanitarian and peaceful nature of the voyage, as well as the imperative to safeguard the fundamental rights of those on board and of the people of Gaza.]]> According to reports, more than 50 boats of humanitarian activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla - coordinated by the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, and the Sumud Nusantara - sailed to Gaza on 31st of August 2025, departing from Barcelona. They aim to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged population in Gaza. Israeli authorities have consistently intercepted vessels attempting to breach the blockade, redirecting them to Israeli ports and detaining humanitarian activists on board. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership of FIDH and OMCT) expresses deep concern for the safety of all the human rights defenders and humanitarian activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels sailing to Gaza and calls on the Israeli authorities to take every possible measure to guarantee the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor to Gaza. Paris-Geneva, 11 September 2025 - Following its initial departure from the port of Barcelona on 31st of August 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla launched more than 60 boats carrying humanitarian workers, medical professionals, and humanitarian activists volunteering from different disciplines across at least 50 countries. It resumed its voyage, with Tunisia as its first destination and a scheduled departure from there on 11 or 12 September 2025. The volunteers aboard are carrying vital food and medical supplies, seeking to provide much-needed relief to the people of Gaza, who have endured nearly 18 years of blockade. They are joining forces to challenge Israel's ongoing blockade, which has resulted in severe famine and critical shortages of supplies in Gaza. The situation is further exacerbated by reports of two suspected drone attacks against Global Sumud Flotilla vessels. On 8 September 2025, while docked at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, the flotilla’s “Family Boat” is said to have come under fire from above. Video footage released by the organisers appears to show an aerial incendiary device descending onto the deck and igniting a blaze, which was later extinguished by the crew. Tunisian authorities initially denied any strike, attributing the fire to an onboard accident. On 9 September 2025, the British-flagged vessel “Alma” appears to have been similarly targeted. Witnesses and video recordings document an unmanned aerial vehicle dropping what looks like an incendiary munition onto the deck, causing a brief fire that crew members quickly extinguished. The Tunisian authorities have confirmed that this was an assault and that an investigation has been launched. The Observatory strongly condemns any drone attacks against humanitarian vessels, which represent acts of aggression and calls for a thorough and impartial investigation, along with accountability measures, to prevent further violations. The Observatory is acutely alarmed by Israel's well-documented pattern of intercepting humanitarian flotillas in international waters, in violation of international maritime law. Other incidents include the interception by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025, of the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, with the detention of humanitarian workers on board. This interception follows similar events predating the launch of the Freedom Flotilla in 2010, when Israel killed and injured humanitarians in an attack on international waters. Such Israeli actions against people pursuing humanitarian missions constitute violations of established international humanitarian law. The Observatory is concerned that Israeli authorities may again intercept the Global Sumud Flotilla, potentially subjecting the volunteers on board to illegal arrest, detention and ill-treatment. This would delay breaking the siege and directly prevent the people of Gaza from receiving urgently needed food, medical supplies, and other essential assistance, thereby further aggravating the already dire humanitarian situation. In light of these grave risks, the Observatory further calls on the Government of Israel to allow the Global Sumud Flotilla safe passage to Gaza, refraining from any violent interception or arbitrary detention, and guaranteeing the protection of all humanitarian volunteers on board in full accordance with international law. The Observatory further recalls Israel’s legal obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to end the blockade of Gaza by allowing safe, direct, and unrestricted access to aid and by ensuring the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor that guarantees civilians unimpeded access to essential aid. The Observatory affirms the right to engage in peaceful and non-violent humanitarian initiatives such as the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is dedicated to delivering aid, and stands in solidarity with the volunteers on board. It also urges the international community to take action for their protection by enhancing protective visibility through social media, press releases, diplomatic protection, and other public advocacy that highlight both the humanitarian and peaceful nature of the voyage, as well as the imperative to safeguard the fundamental rights of those on board and of the people of Gaza.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/kenya-deportation-of-martin-mavenjina-and-escalating-crackdown-on-human-hights-defenders/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:58:09 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23713 informed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) about the deportation of human rights lawyer and transitional justice expert Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at KHRC, and the ongoing pattern of repression targeting civil society and human rights defenders in Kenya. On 5 July 2025, Mr Mavenjina was deported to Uganda immediately after landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, following an official mission in South Africa. Mr Mavenjina holds valid legal status to work and reside in Kenya and has been a leading figure in promoting transitional justice, accountability for past atrocities, and civic engagement—particularly through initiatives such as the #MachoziYaJana dialogues, a series of community-driven fora to honor victims of police brutality and demand systemic reform, as well as civil society coalitions for electoral reform.   According to the KHRC, Mr Mavenjina was initially allowed entry and had his passport stamped. However, within minutes, immigration officers reversed their decision without explanation, confiscated his passport, and held him in a detention facility. After roughly 30 minutes, officials—accompanied by five unidentified plainclothes men believed to be from the National Intelligence Service (NIS)—escorted him to a Kenya Airways desk and issued him a one-way ticket to Kampala. His passport was marked with an exit stamp, and his phone was temporarily confiscated. No formal deportation order or legal justification was presented at any point. KHRC has condemned this unlawful expulsion, stating that it violates both national and international laws. The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 stipulates due process guarantees for the removal of residence permit of any foreigner who legally resides in Kenya. This process was not availed to Mr Mavenjina. Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on freedom of movement and right to return was also violated, as deporting someone with valid work and residency documents falls squarely within "arbitrary deprivation", such as Articles 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) which protect individuals from arbitrary expulsion and premature removal without a fair legal process. As such, Martin Mavenjina’s deportation appears to be part of a coordinated attack on civil society—particularly those supporting families of victims of extrajudicial killings and police brutality—just ahead of the 7 July protests commemorating the historic country-wide 1990 7th July pro-democracy protests that lay the foundation for the eventual end of the 24-year Moi dictatorship. The protests were meant to instill a culture of democracy, good governance and adherence to the rule of law. The protests have since been held on every 7th July and dabbed “saba saba”, a Swahili term loosely translated as “seven seven”. The Observatory recalls that this incident follows a broader wave of repression. Human rights defenders, journalists, and protest organisers have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, threats, enforced disappearances, and unlawful detentions. According to Missing Voices—a coalition led by KHRC and other civil society organisations—2024 recorded the highest number of enforced disappearances since the coalition began documenting such cases in 2019. In 2024, a total of 159 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances were reported, 104 of which were police-related killings and 55 enforced disappearances—marking a 450% increase in disappearances compared to 2023. The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) also documented 67 extra judicial killings in 2023 and over 600 cases of police torture, including 63 deaths and 89 enforced disappearances in 2024. Most of these abuses occurred during the Gen Z protests - a youth led, decentralised movement against corruption, police brutality and the 2024 Finance Bill - between June and August 2024, with 58 killings tied directly to protest policing, predominantly in Nairobi, Kiambu, Migori, and other counties. The victims were overwhelmingly young men between the ages of 18 and 34. Despite the scale of abuse, no police officers have been convicted, and only two cases have proceeded to court, highlighting the ongoing culture of impunity. Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has reported 60 cases related to the protests, but most have been stalled or dismissed, often citing "lack of evidence" or "need for further investigation." Although the UN Working group on enforced disappearances called on Kenya to provide details on the measures taken to search for individuals who disappeared during or after the protests, the authorities failed to demonstrate that any such efforts were made. As part of the coordinated attack on KHRC, on 6 July, 2025, at around 14:00 hours while preparing to host a press conference by Kenyan Mothers calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, ahead of the 7 July protests, KHRC offices were invaded by state-sponsored goons. Mothers, journalists and KHRC staff that had gathered for the press conference were attacked and phones, laptops and other valuables stolen from them. The attackers informed them they were sent to ensure the press conference did not take place. On 7 July, 2025, the country witnessed yet another day of police brutality, by the end of the next day the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights had recorded at least 31 deaths, 107 injured, 2 enforced disappearances and 532 arrests - the numbers are expected to be much higher given night attacks reported in many of the satellite towns close to the capital city Nairobi. The Observatory considers that this context underscores a dire climate of shrinking civic space and systemic violence against protesters and human rights defenders. Deportations have been widely used in Kenya and other East African Community member states to prevent defenders from carrying out their legitimate work. Among several cases, in 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kiiza Besigye was abducted in Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda and arraigned before a military court while in 2025, Kenyan human rights defender Boniface Mwangi was forcibly disappeared in Tanzania and returned to Kenya. The Observatory reiterates that deportations, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture and the intimidation of civic actors constitute serious violations of international human rights norms and call for urgent accountability mechanisms, including the application of command responsibility and protection of witnesses. Furthermore, the Observatory emphasises that Mr Mavenjina’s deportation is not an isolated incident but reflects a systemic crackdown on independent voices amid Kenya’s most significant wave of youth-led mobilisation in recent history. Recent protests have evolved into a broader call for transformative governance, accountability, and human dignity—demands that the government appears increasingly unable or unwilling to address. The Observatory strongly condemns the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina and the absence of due process in this case, he continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Kenya, as well as the escalating violence and repression against peaceful protesters, including the use of lethal force, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. The Observatory urges the Kenyan authorities to immediately allow the safe and unconditional return of Mr Mavenjina to Kenya and ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all KHRC members and all human rights defenders and peaceful protesters in the country.]]> informed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) about the deportation of human rights lawyer and transitional justice expert Mr Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal advisor at KHRC, and the ongoing pattern of repression targeting civil society and human rights defenders in Kenya. On 5 July 2025, Mr Mavenjina was deported to Uganda immediately after landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, following an official mission in South Africa. Mr Mavenjina holds valid legal status to work and reside in Kenya and has been a leading figure in promoting transitional justice, accountability for past atrocities, and civic engagement—particularly through initiatives such as the #MachoziYaJana dialogues, a series of community-driven fora to honor victims of police brutality and demand systemic reform, as well as civil society coalitions for electoral reform.   According to the KHRC, Mr Mavenjina was initially allowed entry and had his passport stamped. However, within minutes, immigration officers reversed their decision without explanation, confiscated his passport, and held him in a detention facility. After roughly 30 minutes, officials—accompanied by five unidentified plainclothes men believed to be from the National Intelligence Service (NIS)—escorted him to a Kenya Airways desk and issued him a one-way ticket to Kampala. His passport was marked with an exit stamp, and his phone was temporarily confiscated. No formal deportation order or legal justification was presented at any point. KHRC has condemned this unlawful expulsion, stating that it violates both national and international laws. The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 stipulates due process guarantees for the removal of residence permit of any foreigner who legally resides in Kenya. This process was not availed to Mr Mavenjina. Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on freedom of movement and right to return was also violated, as deporting someone with valid work and residency documents falls squarely within "arbitrary deprivation", such as Articles 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) which protect individuals from arbitrary expulsion and premature removal without a fair legal process. As such, Martin Mavenjina’s deportation appears to be part of a coordinated attack on civil society—particularly those supporting families of victims of extrajudicial killings and police brutality—just ahead of the 7 July protests commemorating the historic country-wide 1990 7th July pro-democracy protests that lay the foundation for the eventual end of the 24-year Moi dictatorship. The protests were meant to instill a culture of democracy, good governance and adherence to the rule of law. The protests have since been held on every 7th July and dabbed “saba saba”, a Swahili term loosely translated as “seven seven”. The Observatory recalls that this incident follows a broader wave of repression. Human rights defenders, journalists, and protest organisers have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, threats, enforced disappearances, and unlawful detentions. According to Missing Voices—a coalition led by KHRC and other civil society organisations—2024 recorded the highest number of enforced disappearances since the coalition began documenting such cases in 2019. In 2024, a total of 159 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances were reported, 104 of which were police-related killings and 55 enforced disappearances—marking a 450% increase in disappearances compared to 2023. The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) also documented 67 extra judicial killings in 2023 and over 600 cases of police torture, including 63 deaths and 89 enforced disappearances in 2024. Most of these abuses occurred during the Gen Z protests - a youth led, decentralised movement against corruption, police brutality and the 2024 Finance Bill - between June and August 2024, with 58 killings tied directly to protest policing, predominantly in Nairobi, Kiambu, Migori, and other counties. The victims were overwhelmingly young men between the ages of 18 and 34. Despite the scale of abuse, no police officers have been convicted, and only two cases have proceeded to court, highlighting the ongoing culture of impunity. Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has reported 60 cases related to the protests, but most have been stalled or dismissed, often citing "lack of evidence" or "need for further investigation." Although the UN Working group on enforced disappearances called on Kenya to provide details on the measures taken to search for individuals who disappeared during or after the protests, the authorities failed to demonstrate that any such efforts were made. As part of the coordinated attack on KHRC, on 6 July, 2025, at around 14:00 hours while preparing to host a press conference by Kenyan Mothers calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, ahead of the 7 July protests, KHRC offices were invaded by state-sponsored goons. Mothers, journalists and KHRC staff that had gathered for the press conference were attacked and phones, laptops and other valuables stolen from them. The attackers informed them they were sent to ensure the press conference did not take place. On 7 July, 2025, the country witnessed yet another day of police brutality, by the end of the next day the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights had recorded at least 31 deaths, 107 injured, 2 enforced disappearances and 532 arrests - the numbers are expected to be much higher given night attacks reported in many of the satellite towns close to the capital city Nairobi. The Observatory considers that this context underscores a dire climate of shrinking civic space and systemic violence against protesters and human rights defenders. Deportations have been widely used in Kenya and other East African Community member states to prevent defenders from carrying out their legitimate work. Among several cases, in 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kiiza Besigye was abducted in Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda and arraigned before a military court while in 2025, Kenyan human rights defender Boniface Mwangi was forcibly disappeared in Tanzania and returned to Kenya. The Observatory reiterates that deportations, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture and the intimidation of civic actors constitute serious violations of international human rights norms and call for urgent accountability mechanisms, including the application of command responsibility and protection of witnesses. Furthermore, the Observatory emphasises that Mr Mavenjina’s deportation is not an isolated incident but reflects a systemic crackdown on independent voices amid Kenya’s most significant wave of youth-led mobilisation in recent history. Recent protests have evolved into a broader call for transformative governance, accountability, and human dignity—demands that the government appears increasingly unable or unwilling to address. The Observatory strongly condemns the deportation of Mr Martin Mavenjina and the absence of due process in this case, he continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Kenya, as well as the escalating violence and repression against peaceful protesters, including the use of lethal force, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. The Observatory urges the Kenyan authorities to immediately allow the safe and unconditional return of Mr Mavenjina to Kenya and ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all KHRC members and all human rights defenders and peaceful protesters in the country.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/bulgaria-saudi-activist-at-risk-of-deportation-sofia-should-allow-resettlement-to-third-country/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:36:11 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23026 Beirut, March 10, 2025 – Bulgarian authorities should suspend any plans to deport Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, and should allow his resettlement to a third country, twenty organizations said today. Bulgarian authorities would violate the Bulgarian, European, and international law obligation of nonrefoulement, which bars returning someone to a country where they would risk facing torture or ill-treatment if they deport this highly visible critic of the Saudi government. Bulgaria’s National Security Agency issued an expulsion order against Abdulrahman al-Khalidi in February 2024. On October 21, 2024, the Sofia Administrative Court ruling confirmed the expulsion order, imposing compulsory expulsion to Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Khalidi’s lawyer. Al-Khalidi has a separate pending asylum case and his lawyer in Bulgaria told Human Rights Watch that his expulsion order cannot be executed unless his asylum appeals are exhausted and denied. “Bulgaria will violate its nonrefoulement obligations and become complicit in Saudi repression if they deport Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia before the outcome of his asylum case,” said Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Bulgarian and European Union authorities should prevent a patent violation of international and EU law and halt the deportation of al-Khalidi and immediately allow his resettlement to a third country.” Human rights organizations have documented Saudi authorities targeting of human rights defenders and activists for their peaceful expression, punishing them with decades-long sentences and rampant abuses in Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system. Al-Khalidi has been a human rights defender for more than a decade, advocating the rights of prisoners and participating in multiple demonstrations supporting Saudi detainees. He fled Saudi Arabia in 2013, fearing for his safety. Al-Khalidi continued his activism abroad by writing articles criticizing the Saudi government and taking part in the prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s online movement Bees Army, which seeks to counter pro-Saudi government propaganda and trolls online. He lived in exile for nearly a decade in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, but after the murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, al-Khalidi crossed to Bulgaria on foot to claim asylum. In May 2022, Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees rejected al-Khalidi’s asylum application because it did not accept he was at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, claiming that Saudi Arabia had “taken measures to democratize society.” Al-Khalidi appealed this decision to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria twice and is awaiting a decision on the appeal, al-Khalidi’s lawyer in Bulgaria told Human Rights Watch. The decision can be appealed further to the appellate and supreme courts. Rights organizations have documented poor living and hygiene conditions, beatings by officers, and other ill-treatment during his detention at Sofia Busmantsi Detention Centre. In April 2024, Human Rights Watch documented allegations of abuse by police officers in Bulgaria’s Busmanci Migrant Accommodation Center against al-Khalidi. Al-Khalidi was denied medical care after, an informed source told Human Rights Watch. Bulgarian authorities should investigate the alleged assaults and abuse and hold those responsible to account. Bulgaria is under an obligation to refrain from returning individuals to another state where “there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture,” under article 3 of the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This protection also applies under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and under customary international law. Al-Khalidi’s deportation could also violate article 33 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees that prohibits “return of a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers or territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” “Bulgaria’s potential violation of European and international law is deeply concerning, especially when it could expose al-Khalidi to torture and other serious abuses in Saudi Arabia,” Abdullah Alaoudh, countering authoritarianism senior director from Middle East Democracy Center. “Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees was wrong to conclude the ‘measures’ Saudi Arabia had taken ‘to democratize society’ were sufficient to disqualify al-Khalidi’s asylum claim, given the state’s continuing record of persecuting political dissidents like him.”]]> Beirut, March 10, 2025 – Bulgarian authorities should suspend any plans to deport Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, and should allow his resettlement to a third country, twenty organizations said today. Bulgarian authorities would violate the Bulgarian, European, and international law obligation of nonrefoulement, which bars returning someone to a country where they would risk facing torture or ill-treatment if they deport this highly visible critic of the Saudi government. Bulgaria’s National Security Agency issued an expulsion order against Abdulrahman al-Khalidi in February 2024. On October 21, 2024, the Sofia Administrative Court ruling confirmed the expulsion order, imposing compulsory expulsion to Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Khalidi’s lawyer. Al-Khalidi has a separate pending asylum case and his lawyer in Bulgaria told Human Rights Watch that his expulsion order cannot be executed unless his asylum appeals are exhausted and denied. “Bulgaria will violate its nonrefoulement obligations and become complicit in Saudi repression if they deport Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia before the outcome of his asylum case,” said Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Bulgarian and European Union authorities should prevent a patent violation of international and EU law and halt the deportation of al-Khalidi and immediately allow his resettlement to a third country.” Human rights organizations have documented Saudi authorities targeting of human rights defenders and activists for their peaceful expression, punishing them with decades-long sentences and rampant abuses in Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system. Al-Khalidi has been a human rights defender for more than a decade, advocating the rights of prisoners and participating in multiple demonstrations supporting Saudi detainees. He fled Saudi Arabia in 2013, fearing for his safety. Al-Khalidi continued his activism abroad by writing articles criticizing the Saudi government and taking part in the prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s online movement Bees Army, which seeks to counter pro-Saudi government propaganda and trolls online. He lived in exile for nearly a decade in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, but after the murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, al-Khalidi crossed to Bulgaria on foot to claim asylum. In May 2022, Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees rejected al-Khalidi’s asylum application because it did not accept he was at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, claiming that Saudi Arabia had “taken measures to democratize society.” Al-Khalidi appealed this decision to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria twice and is awaiting a decision on the appeal, al-Khalidi’s lawyer in Bulgaria told Human Rights Watch. The decision can be appealed further to the appellate and supreme courts. Rights organizations have documented poor living and hygiene conditions, beatings by officers, and other ill-treatment during his detention at Sofia Busmantsi Detention Centre. In April 2024, Human Rights Watch documented allegations of abuse by police officers in Bulgaria’s Busmanci Migrant Accommodation Center against al-Khalidi. Al-Khalidi was denied medical care after, an informed source told Human Rights Watch. Bulgarian authorities should investigate the alleged assaults and abuse and hold those responsible to account. Bulgaria is under an obligation to refrain from returning individuals to another state where “there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture,” under article 3 of the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This protection also applies under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and under customary international law. Al-Khalidi’s deportation could also violate article 33 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees that prohibits “return of a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers or territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” “Bulgaria’s potential violation of European and international law is deeply concerning, especially when it could expose al-Khalidi to torture and other serious abuses in Saudi Arabia,” Abdullah Alaoudh, countering authoritarianism senior director from Middle East Democracy Center. “Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees was wrong to conclude the ‘measures’ Saudi Arabia had taken ‘to democratize society’ were sufficient to disqualify al-Khalidi’s asylum claim, given the state’s continuing record of persecuting political dissidents like him.”]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/22545/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:42:32 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=22545 Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara. Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara son, respectivamente, presidente y coordinador de Équipe Média, un colectivo de periodistas fundado en 2009 que opera clandestinamente desde el Sáhara Occidental. El colectivo pretende romper el bloqueo informativo que el Reino de Marruecos ejerce sobre el Sáhara Occidental e informar sobre las violaciones de los derechos humanos que se cometen en la región. El 9 de octubre de 2024 el Sr. Ettanji y el Sr. Mayara fueron a la ciudad de Cabo Bojador, en el Sáhara Occidental, para una visita familiar. Al llegar al puesto de control local, fueron retenidos por las autoridades marroquíes durante aproximadamente una hora. Tras ser liberados y llegar al domicilio familiar alrededor de las 18:30, los dos defensores se dieron cuenta de que la policía, incluido el comisario de policía de Cabo Bojador, las fuerzas auxiliares y las autoridades de ocupación empezaban a rodear la casa. Las autoridades comenzaron a insultar a los señores Ettanji y Mayara y a amenazarles con detenerlos si no abandonaban la ciudad inmediatamente. La familia anfitriona también fue intimidada y amenazada con un allanamiento de su domicilio por acogerlos. Alrededor de las 19:10 los dos defensores fueron expulsados de Cabo Bojador a través del puesto de control localy fueron forzados a regresar a El Aaiún. El Observatorio recuerda que el colectivo Équipe Média lleva años bajo vigilancia de las autoridades marroquíes y es objeto de frecuentes intimidaciones. En 2021, el Observatorio emitió un llamado urgente para denunciar las amenazas, agresiones y restricciones a su libertad de reunión, luego de que las fuerzas del orden marroquíes impidieron la celebración de un taller de capacitación organizado por sus miembros. El Observatorio expresa su profunda preocupación por las restricciones a la libertad de circulación, los nuevos actos de intimidación y la expulsión de los periodistas y defensores de derechos humanos Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara. Estos actos parecen ser represalias por sus actividades legítimas de periodismo y defensa de los derechos humanos en el territorio del Sáhara Occidental. El Observatorio insta a las autoridades marroquíes a adoptar de manera inmediata las medidas más apropiadas para garantizar la libertad de circulación y la seguridad física y psicológica de Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara, y a cesar todos los actos de intimidación y hostigamiento contra ellos y todas las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en el Sáhara Occidental.]]> Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara. Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara son, respectivamente, presidente y coordinador de Équipe Média, un colectivo de periodistas fundado en 2009 que opera clandestinamente desde el Sáhara Occidental. El colectivo pretende romper el bloqueo informativo que el Reino de Marruecos ejerce sobre el Sáhara Occidental e informar sobre las violaciones de los derechos humanos que se cometen en la región. El 9 de octubre de 2024 el Sr. Ettanji y el Sr. Mayara fueron a la ciudad de Cabo Bojador, en el Sáhara Occidental, para una visita familiar. Al llegar al puesto de control local, fueron retenidos por las autoridades marroquíes durante aproximadamente una hora. Tras ser liberados y llegar al domicilio familiar alrededor de las 18:30, los dos defensores se dieron cuenta de que la policía, incluido el comisario de policía de Cabo Bojador, las fuerzas auxiliares y las autoridades de ocupación empezaban a rodear la casa. Las autoridades comenzaron a insultar a los señores Ettanji y Mayara y a amenazarles con detenerlos si no abandonaban la ciudad inmediatamente. La familia anfitriona también fue intimidada y amenazada con un allanamiento de su domicilio por acogerlos. Alrededor de las 19:10 los dos defensores fueron expulsados de Cabo Bojador a través del puesto de control localy fueron forzados a regresar a El Aaiún. El Observatorio recuerda que el colectivo Équipe Média lleva años bajo vigilancia de las autoridades marroquíes y es objeto de frecuentes intimidaciones. En 2021, el Observatorio emitió un llamado urgente para denunciar las amenazas, agresiones y restricciones a su libertad de reunión, luego de que las fuerzas del orden marroquíes impidieron la celebración de un taller de capacitación organizado por sus miembros. El Observatorio expresa su profunda preocupación por las restricciones a la libertad de circulación, los nuevos actos de intimidación y la expulsión de los periodistas y defensores de derechos humanos Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara. Estos actos parecen ser represalias por sus actividades legítimas de periodismo y defensa de los derechos humanos en el territorio del Sáhara Occidental. El Observatorio insta a las autoridades marroquíes a adoptar de manera inmediata las medidas más apropiadas para garantizar la libertad de circulación y la seguridad física y psicológica de Ahmed Ettanji y Mohamed Mayara, y a cesar todos los actos de intimidación y hostigamiento contra ellos y todas las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en el Sáhara Occidental.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/thailand-open-letter-to-the-royal-thai-government-on-the-extradition-of-united-nations-recognized-refugee-y-quynh-bdap/ Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:58:50 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23308 refoulement of people to a country where they would face a real risk of torture, other ill-treatment or other irreparable harm. Further, Mr. Bdap’s extradition would be contrary to Section 13 of Thailand’s. Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, which prohibits the extradition of individuals to countries where they may face torture, ill-treatment, or enforced disappearance. Human rights experts, including officials from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and United Nations experts, have expressed serious concerns over the real risk of egregious human rights violations against Mr. Bdap if he were to be extradited to Vietnam. Moreover, this case comes at a time when the Royal Thai Government has recently been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. The outcome of this case could impact Thailand’s image regarding its stated commitment to uphold international human rights law, including those commitments outlined by the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in its note verbale dated 10 May 2024. Thailand has demonstrated an admirable commitment to refugees over many decades, and for that reason, Mr. Bdap’s extradition to Vietnam would not be in keeping with Thailand’s reputation as a haven for people fleeing repression and violence. Mr. Bdap’s case is emblematic of broader issues faced by Vietnamese refugees, thousands of whom have fled to Thailand to escape persecution on religious, ethnic and political grounds. While we consider that, under international law, including international human rights law, States have an obligation to take measures to combat terrorism, we are concerned that Mr. Bdap’s extradition would embolden those who target and punish peaceful human rights activists like Mr. Bdap. We appreciate your attention to this letter and call on the Royal Thai Government to uphold its international and domestic legal obligations, and to preserve its international reputation as a human rights advocate, by declining to extradite Mr. Bdap to Vietnam.]]> refoulement of people to a country where they would face a real risk of torture, other ill-treatment or other irreparable harm. Further, Mr. Bdap’s extradition would be contrary to Section 13 of Thailand’s. Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, which prohibits the extradition of individuals to countries where they may face torture, ill-treatment, or enforced disappearance. Human rights experts, including officials from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and United Nations experts, have expressed serious concerns over the real risk of egregious human rights violations against Mr. Bdap if he were to be extradited to Vietnam. Moreover, this case comes at a time when the Royal Thai Government has recently been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. The outcome of this case could impact Thailand’s image regarding its stated commitment to uphold international human rights law, including those commitments outlined by the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in its note verbale dated 10 May 2024. Thailand has demonstrated an admirable commitment to refugees over many decades, and for that reason, Mr. Bdap’s extradition to Vietnam would not be in keeping with Thailand’s reputation as a haven for people fleeing repression and violence. Mr. Bdap’s case is emblematic of broader issues faced by Vietnamese refugees, thousands of whom have fled to Thailand to escape persecution on religious, ethnic and political grounds. While we consider that, under international law, including international human rights law, States have an obligation to take measures to combat terrorism, we are concerned that Mr. Bdap’s extradition would embolden those who target and punish peaceful human rights activists like Mr. Bdap. We appreciate your attention to this letter and call on the Royal Thai Government to uphold its international and domestic legal obligations, and to preserve its international reputation as a human rights advocate, by declining to extradite Mr. Bdap to Vietnam.]]>