https://observatoryfordefenders.org Mon, 04 May 2026 11:09:49 +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/net-rights-coalition-132-other-digital-rights-stakeholders-endorse-statement-condemning-the-government-of-zambias-abrupt-disruption-of-rightscon/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:04:07 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24674 Thursday, April 30, 2026: We, the Net Rights Coalition (NRC), a network of digital rights actors, and all other signatories listed below, are appalled by the Government of Zambia’s unilateral announcement of the postponement of RightsCon on 29 April 2026, a move that has resulted in the cancellation of the global event with over 5000 participants that was going to be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. Access Now, partners, and thousands of stakeholders have incurred huge financial and logistical losses as plans were underway for the event to start in 3 days. Zambia will also record significant economic losses that would have come from thousands of visitors to a nation that prides itself as a tourist destination, anchored on the popular Zambia KuChalo (Zambia to the World) slogan. This will have a huge impact on Zambian small businesses that were engaged to provide services that will now be cancelled. The need for international consensus-building remains critical, and the government of Zambia missed an opportunity to demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving the multistakeholder model, a key feature of global digital governance, across its country's digital rights engagements. Rather, the government cited the need for comprehensive disclosures to align with “national values, policy priorities, and broader public-interest considerations”, but did not disclose them to the public to ease understanding of such a drastic action. The position comes after the Ministry of Technology and Science, on 3 March 2026, officially announced that they were the primary Government partner for RightsCon 2026, with the event meant to be held in Lusaka, Zambia and online from 5 to 8 May 2026. This government statement assured the global community that the event would proceed with the host government's appropriate support. The backtracking, at the last minute, on this commitment raises questions about trust and commitment to civil society engagement and international agreements, to which Zambia has in the past demonstrated a strong pledge. This action, when travel itineraries are set, accommodation is booked, and venue costs are incurred, constitutes a setback to global human and digital rights processes and derails the participation of diverse stakeholders, including civil society, government, investors, and the private sector engaged in these conversations. The suspended event agenda presents areas of discourse on key digital economy topics, promotes digital rights and embeds multistakeholderism, as outlined in the Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted in 2024, to which Zambia contributed as Co-Chair, having been appointed on 10 October 2023 by the President of the General Assembly, together with Sweden, to lead the intergovernmental process on the Global Digital Compact. RightsCon in Lusaka would have been an incredible opportunity for local and global exchange, and to create new initiatives to realise human rights in the digital age. A clear channel of resolving any outstanding issues with the event convenor to save the multistakeholder approach would have been a fair course of action, aligned with international human rights standards to which Zambia subscribes as a State party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We condemn the government's actions that led to the cancellation of RightsCon in Zambia. This raises concerns about closing civic space and fostering a culture of self-censorship ahead of the August 2026 elections, and is a major setback for Zambia’s digital rights trajectory regionally and globally, signalling a departure from the gains it has secured in leading global processes.]]> Thursday, April 30, 2026: We, the Net Rights Coalition (NRC), a network of digital rights actors, and all other signatories listed below, are appalled by the Government of Zambia’s unilateral announcement of the postponement of RightsCon on 29 April 2026, a move that has resulted in the cancellation of the global event with over 5000 participants that was going to be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. Access Now, partners, and thousands of stakeholders have incurred huge financial and logistical losses as plans were underway for the event to start in 3 days. Zambia will also record significant economic losses that would have come from thousands of visitors to a nation that prides itself as a tourist destination, anchored on the popular Zambia KuChalo (Zambia to the World) slogan. This will have a huge impact on Zambian small businesses that were engaged to provide services that will now be cancelled. The need for international consensus-building remains critical, and the government of Zambia missed an opportunity to demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving the multistakeholder model, a key feature of global digital governance, across its country's digital rights engagements. Rather, the government cited the need for comprehensive disclosures to align with “national values, policy priorities, and broader public-interest considerations”, but did not disclose them to the public to ease understanding of such a drastic action. The position comes after the Ministry of Technology and Science, on 3 March 2026, officially announced that they were the primary Government partner for RightsCon 2026, with the event meant to be held in Lusaka, Zambia and online from 5 to 8 May 2026. This government statement assured the global community that the event would proceed with the host government's appropriate support. The backtracking, at the last minute, on this commitment raises questions about trust and commitment to civil society engagement and international agreements, to which Zambia has in the past demonstrated a strong pledge. This action, when travel itineraries are set, accommodation is booked, and venue costs are incurred, constitutes a setback to global human and digital rights processes and derails the participation of diverse stakeholders, including civil society, government, investors, and the private sector engaged in these conversations. The suspended event agenda presents areas of discourse on key digital economy topics, promotes digital rights and embeds multistakeholderism, as outlined in the Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted in 2024, to which Zambia contributed as Co-Chair, having been appointed on 10 October 2023 by the President of the General Assembly, together with Sweden, to lead the intergovernmental process on the Global Digital Compact. RightsCon in Lusaka would have been an incredible opportunity for local and global exchange, and to create new initiatives to realise human rights in the digital age. A clear channel of resolving any outstanding issues with the event convenor to save the multistakeholder approach would have been a fair course of action, aligned with international human rights standards to which Zambia subscribes as a State party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We condemn the government's actions that led to the cancellation of RightsCon in Zambia. This raises concerns about closing civic space and fostering a culture of self-censorship ahead of the August 2026 elections, and is a major setback for Zambia’s digital rights trajectory regionally and globally, signalling a departure from the gains it has secured in leading global processes.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/china-released-tibetan-environmental-defender-anya-sengdra-subjected-to-ongoing-harassment/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:45:51 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24469 Paris-Geneva, 25 February 2026. Anya Sengdra, Tibetan nomad and prominent community leader from Gade County in the Tibetan region of Golog (Qinghai Province) was originally due for release on 3 September 2025. However, Chinese authorities failed to free him on that date and instead imposed a one-year extension of his sentence reportedly on the grounds of alleged “prison rule violations” for theft, without any official announcement or transparent judicial procedure. This unlawful extension constituted an arbitrary detention in total violation of international human rights, including the fundamental right to liberty and the right to a fair trial. On 6 December 2019, the Gade County Court sentenced Anya Sengdra to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of “provoking troubles, forming a mob to disturb public order, and other malicious acts” under Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law for his peaceful environmental and anti-corruption activities. Through the grassroots initiative “Mangdon Ling” (“Public Affairs Forum”), he campaigned against illegal mining, poaching of endangered species, and the misappropriation of public funds by local officials for relocated Tibetan nomads. In the early stages of his detention, Anya Sengdra was beaten by officers of the Gade County Public Security Bureau and denied access to legal counsel for 48 days. He was also subjected to years of restricted family visits. Deprived of adequate medical care, his health severely deteriorated in prison, leading to vision loss, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. Although he has now returned to his home in Gade County’s Kyangche Township, he remains prohibited from speaking publicly about his case, sharing images or information online, and seeking necessary medical treatment. The Observatory recalls that in August 2023, three United Nations Special Rapporteurs raised Anya Sengdra’s case in a press release, urging the Chinese government to clarify his whereabouts, the legal basis for his detention, and his health condition. They further urged Chinese authorities to provide him with adequate medical care and to allow visits from his family. The Observatory expresses serious concern over the ongoing restrictions on Anya Sengdra’s freedom of expression and access to healthcare, which amount to continued judicial harassment. The Observatory urges the Chinese authorities to immediately lift all restrictions imposed on Anya Sengdra, ensure his fundamental right to liberty, and guarantee prompt and unhindered access to adequate medical care. It further calls on the authorities to put an end to the criminalisation and harassment of Tibetan environmental rights defenders and ensure that they can carry out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities without fear of reprisals. The Observatory expresses its full and unequivocal support for Tibetan human rights defenders.]]> Paris-Geneva, 25 February 2026. Anya Sengdra, Tibetan nomad and prominent community leader from Gade County in the Tibetan region of Golog (Qinghai Province) was originally due for release on 3 September 2025. However, Chinese authorities failed to free him on that date and instead imposed a one-year extension of his sentence reportedly on the grounds of alleged “prison rule violations” for theft, without any official announcement or transparent judicial procedure. This unlawful extension constituted an arbitrary detention in total violation of international human rights, including the fundamental right to liberty and the right to a fair trial. On 6 December 2019, the Gade County Court sentenced Anya Sengdra to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of “provoking troubles, forming a mob to disturb public order, and other malicious acts” under Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law for his peaceful environmental and anti-corruption activities. Through the grassroots initiative “Mangdon Ling” (“Public Affairs Forum”), he campaigned against illegal mining, poaching of endangered species, and the misappropriation of public funds by local officials for relocated Tibetan nomads. In the early stages of his detention, Anya Sengdra was beaten by officers of the Gade County Public Security Bureau and denied access to legal counsel for 48 days. He was also subjected to years of restricted family visits. Deprived of adequate medical care, his health severely deteriorated in prison, leading to vision loss, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. Although he has now returned to his home in Gade County’s Kyangche Township, he remains prohibited from speaking publicly about his case, sharing images or information online, and seeking necessary medical treatment. The Observatory recalls that in August 2023, three United Nations Special Rapporteurs raised Anya Sengdra’s case in a press release, urging the Chinese government to clarify his whereabouts, the legal basis for his detention, and his health condition. They further urged Chinese authorities to provide him with adequate medical care and to allow visits from his family. The Observatory expresses serious concern over the ongoing restrictions on Anya Sengdra’s freedom of expression and access to healthcare, which amount to continued judicial harassment. The Observatory urges the Chinese authorities to immediately lift all restrictions imposed on Anya Sengdra, ensure his fundamental right to liberty, and guarantee prompt and unhindered access to adequate medical care. It further calls on the authorities to put an end to the criminalisation and harassment of Tibetan environmental rights defenders and ensure that they can carry out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities without fear of reprisals. The Observatory expresses its full and unequivocal support for Tibetan human rights defenders.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/uganda-enforced-disappearances-of-kenyan-activists-bob-njagi-and-nicholas-oyoo/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:00:06 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24063 Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo. Both are members of the Free Kenya Movement, a human rights group that focuses on political and civil rights, accountability and social justice in Kenya. On 1 October 2025, Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo were forcibly taken by men dressed in military and civilian clothing at a petrol station in Kaliro District, Eastern Uganda. The two activists were in Uganda to monitor a political campaign rally of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who is running against the current Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the upcoming January 2026 general elections. On 6 October 2025, lawyers Eron Kiiza and Kato Tumusiime, representing Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo, filed a habeas corpus application before the High Court of Uganda. This application sought to compel the Chief of Defence Forces (also President Museveni’s son), along with the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of Uganda to unconditionally and immediately release Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo. At the hearing on 14 October 2025, the Ugandan authorities denied holding the two activists in custody. Justice Kinobe Peter ordered the Ugandan government to produce Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo, dead or alive, within seven days. A second hearing is scheduled on 21 October, during which the High Court of Uganda will review the developments in the case. On 7 October 2025, the OMCT, together with Freedom Hive Uganda, submitted a request for urgent humanitarian action to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which can review the case and refer it to the Ugandan government, which will be called upon to provide an explanation. As the time of publication of this Urgent Alert, the fate and whereabouts of Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo remain unknown. The activists are believed to be detained at the Defence Intelligence and Security agency (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), an entity reportedly associated with the incommunicado detention and torture ofactivists and opposition supporters in Uganda. The Observatory recalls that Bob Njagi was forcibly disappeared and tortured for a month in August 2024 after participating in the brutally repressed anti-government protests in Kenya. The Observatory recalls that of over the past several months, the governments of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya have intensified oppressive practices that pose a serious threat to democracy and fundamental rights. The normalisation of regime policing, the weaponisation of state agencies, the enactment of repressive legislation, as well as the persistence of arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and transnational abductions have stained the democratic fabric within the East Africa Community. Transnational repression among the three countries has increased as well, as shown by the deportation of Martin Mavenjina to Uganda, and the forcible disappearance of Boniface Mwangi from Tanzania and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda in Tanzania. The Observatory strongly condemns the enforced disappearance of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, which appears to be an act of reprisal for their legitimate political and civil rights work. The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to take all necessary measures to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, to ensure their immediate and unconditional release, and to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into their enforced disappearance. These actions should be carried out in line with the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Committee’s concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda. The Observatory recalls that, in its 2022 concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda, the United Nations Committee against Torture urged the Ugandan authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that the right to habeas corpus is “respected in practice and effective in ensuring the release of individuals in detention”. The Observatory further calls on the Ugandan authorities to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which the State signed on 6 February 2007.]]> Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo. Both are members of the Free Kenya Movement, a human rights group that focuses on political and civil rights, accountability and social justice in Kenya. On 1 October 2025, Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo were forcibly taken by men dressed in military and civilian clothing at a petrol station in Kaliro District, Eastern Uganda. The two activists were in Uganda to monitor a political campaign rally of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who is running against the current Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the upcoming January 2026 general elections. On 6 October 2025, lawyers Eron Kiiza and Kato Tumusiime, representing Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo, filed a habeas corpus application before the High Court of Uganda. This application sought to compel the Chief of Defence Forces (also President Museveni’s son), along with the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of Uganda to unconditionally and immediately release Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo. At the hearing on 14 October 2025, the Ugandan authorities denied holding the two activists in custody. Justice Kinobe Peter ordered the Ugandan government to produce Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo, dead or alive, within seven days. A second hearing is scheduled on 21 October, during which the High Court of Uganda will review the developments in the case. On 7 October 2025, the OMCT, together with Freedom Hive Uganda, submitted a request for urgent humanitarian action to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which can review the case and refer it to the Ugandan government, which will be called upon to provide an explanation. As the time of publication of this Urgent Alert, the fate and whereabouts of Mr Bob Njagi and Mr Nicholas Oyoo remain unknown. The activists are believed to be detained at the Defence Intelligence and Security agency (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), an entity reportedly associated with the incommunicado detention and torture ofactivists and opposition supporters in Uganda. The Observatory recalls that Bob Njagi was forcibly disappeared and tortured for a month in August 2024 after participating in the brutally repressed anti-government protests in Kenya. The Observatory recalls that of over the past several months, the governments of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya have intensified oppressive practices that pose a serious threat to democracy and fundamental rights. The normalisation of regime policing, the weaponisation of state agencies, the enactment of repressive legislation, as well as the persistence of arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and transnational abductions have stained the democratic fabric within the East Africa Community. Transnational repression among the three countries has increased as well, as shown by the deportation of Martin Mavenjina to Uganda, and the forcible disappearance of Boniface Mwangi from Tanzania and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda in Tanzania. The Observatory strongly condemns the enforced disappearance of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, which appears to be an act of reprisal for their legitimate political and civil rights work. The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to take all necessary measures to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, to ensure their immediate and unconditional release, and to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into their enforced disappearance. These actions should be carried out in line with the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Committee’s concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda. The Observatory recalls that, in its 2022 concluding observations on the second periodic report of Uganda, the United Nations Committee against Torture urged the Ugandan authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that the right to habeas corpus is “respected in practice and effective in ensuring the release of individuals in detention”. The Observatory further calls on the Ugandan authorities to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which the State signed on 6 February 2007.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/azerbaijan-sentencing-and-arbitrary-detention-of-prominent-peace-activist-bahruz-samadov/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:37:23 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23740 Bahruz Samadov, a prominent peace activist, political scientist, researcher specialised on authoritarianism, freelance journalist and author. Bahruz Samadov is widely known for his principled advocacy for peace and his contributions to OC Media and U.S.-based Eurasianet, both online news platforms covering the North and South Caucasus regions, including Azerbaijan. On 23 June 2025, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason. He was found guilty under Article 274 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. The charges encompass allegations of « espionage, the distribution of state secrets to a foreign state, and rendering assistance to a foreign state or a foreign organisation to prepare for a hostile activity against Azerbaijan ». These charges are based solely on his research and advocacy for peace in the South Caucasus and critical analysis of the Azerbaijani government and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which constituted a legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression. The trial was conducted behind closed doors, with only Samadov’s grandmother -Ms Zibeyda Osmanova, friends, and a limited number of activists permitted to attend the pronouncement of the verdict. The denial of public access to the proceedings constitutes a violation of the right to a fair trial and due process guarantees, as enshrined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Azerbaijan is a state party, and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of which Azerbaijan has been a member since 25 January 2001. The right to a public hearing is a fundamental safeguard against judicial abuse. On 20 June 2025, the prosecution had called for a 16-year prison term against Bahruz Samadov. Following this, Bahruz Samadov reportedly attempted suicide and was transferred to the hospital wing in the Baku Pretrial Detention Centre. Shortly after, he started a hunger strike. His human rights lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova reported that, unable to write his last words, during the trial, Bahruz Samadov verablly stated he was a peace activist and had committed no crime. Throughout the proceedings, Bahruz Samadov has consistently denied all charges, describing the accusations as fabricated and unsupported by any evidence. On 21 August 2024, Bahruz Samadov was initially detained, during a visit to Baku from Prague, where he was a doctoral candidate at Charles University. After two days of incommunicado detention, authorities confirmed that he had been detained, with the Baku’s Sabail District Court that afternoon confirming that he was being charged with treason. During his pre-trial detention hearing, on 23 August, 2024, the Sabail District Court imposed a four-month pre-trial detention measure on the basis that he might attempt to flee. Shortly before his arrest on 21 August, Bahruz Samadov published an article titled « Azerbaijan’s cooling relations with Turkey », which examines how the once “brotherly” alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey has been strained by diverging positions on the current conflicts in the Middle East. Bahruz Samadov has previously faced reprisals for his peaceful human rights activity. On 9 September 2020, when Azerbaijani armed forces attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, Bahruz Samadov was among the few young pacifist activists to protest against the war in Baku, which led to his detention alongside 12 other young pacifists activist in support of Tofig Yagublu, one of Azerbaijan’s most prominent opposition leaders and a symbol of peaceful resistance against government repression. The Observatory notes that the arbitrary arrest, unfair trial and conviction of Bahruz Samadov, are all in connection with his peaceful human rights work as a researcher and thus amount to violations to freedom of expression, the right to fair trial and the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and inhuman treatment. These violations form part of a broader crackdown and increasing repression on researchers and journalists in Azerbaijan. Authorities have escalated their repression of human rights defenders and journalists, resorting to arbitrary detention, trumped-up charges, and judicial harassment. Azerbaijani journalists and writers now face a climate of widespread repression. Charges of treason are being used to criminalise the expression of dissenting opinions. The intimidation of activists is intensifying, with arbitrary arrests and sentencing of those who advocate for peace, particularly in the context of Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Other recent cases illustrate this trend. Rufat Safarov is arbitrarily detained since December 2024 supposedly in relation with a disputed related to the sale of land plot, while prominent human rights defenders and 2014 winner of the Vaclav Havel Award Anar Mammadli is detained since April 2024, after his organisation published its preliminary findings on the conduct of the presidential elections and right after the establishment of the Climate Justice Initiative, an organisation he created, was announced. In April 2025, Bashir Suleymani and Mammad Alpay, two prominent human rights defenders, were arbitrarily arrested over supposed contract with the German Marshall Fund (GMF). In May 2025, Igbal Abilov, a Talysh researcher and the editor-in-chief of the Talysh National Academy News magazine, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, also on charges of high treason. On 20 June 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced seven journalists from the investigative independent media outlet Abzas Media - the director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasymova, translator Muhammad Kekalov, and economist and Radio Free Europe correspondent Farid Mehralizade, to between seven and a half and nine years in prison. The Observatory strongly condemns the conviction and the continued arbitrary detention of Bahruz Samadov which appear aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression. The Observatory calls on the Azerbaijan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Bahruz Samadov and all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in the country, and to put an end to all forms of judicial harassment against them. The Observatory also expresses its concern regarding Bahruz Samadov’s hunger strike and any other possible suicide attempts, which pose serious risks to his physical health and psychological well-being and life while in detention. It calls on the authorities to ensure that he has access to adequate medical and psychological care and to guarantee his fundamental rights are fully respected.]]> Bahruz Samadov, a prominent peace activist, political scientist, researcher specialised on authoritarianism, freelance journalist and author. Bahruz Samadov is widely known for his principled advocacy for peace and his contributions to OC Media and U.S.-based Eurasianet, both online news platforms covering the North and South Caucasus regions, including Azerbaijan. On 23 June 2025, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason. He was found guilty under Article 274 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. The charges encompass allegations of « espionage, the distribution of state secrets to a foreign state, and rendering assistance to a foreign state or a foreign organisation to prepare for a hostile activity against Azerbaijan ». These charges are based solely on his research and advocacy for peace in the South Caucasus and critical analysis of the Azerbaijani government and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which constituted a legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression. The trial was conducted behind closed doors, with only Samadov’s grandmother -Ms Zibeyda Osmanova, friends, and a limited number of activists permitted to attend the pronouncement of the verdict. The denial of public access to the proceedings constitutes a violation of the right to a fair trial and due process guarantees, as enshrined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Azerbaijan is a state party, and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of which Azerbaijan has been a member since 25 January 2001. The right to a public hearing is a fundamental safeguard against judicial abuse. On 20 June 2025, the prosecution had called for a 16-year prison term against Bahruz Samadov. Following this, Bahruz Samadov reportedly attempted suicide and was transferred to the hospital wing in the Baku Pretrial Detention Centre. Shortly after, he started a hunger strike. His human rights lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova reported that, unable to write his last words, during the trial, Bahruz Samadov verablly stated he was a peace activist and had committed no crime. Throughout the proceedings, Bahruz Samadov has consistently denied all charges, describing the accusations as fabricated and unsupported by any evidence. On 21 August 2024, Bahruz Samadov was initially detained, during a visit to Baku from Prague, where he was a doctoral candidate at Charles University. After two days of incommunicado detention, authorities confirmed that he had been detained, with the Baku’s Sabail District Court that afternoon confirming that he was being charged with treason. During his pre-trial detention hearing, on 23 August, 2024, the Sabail District Court imposed a four-month pre-trial detention measure on the basis that he might attempt to flee. Shortly before his arrest on 21 August, Bahruz Samadov published an article titled « Azerbaijan’s cooling relations with Turkey », which examines how the once “brotherly” alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey has been strained by diverging positions on the current conflicts in the Middle East. Bahruz Samadov has previously faced reprisals for his peaceful human rights activity. On 9 September 2020, when Azerbaijani armed forces attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, Bahruz Samadov was among the few young pacifist activists to protest against the war in Baku, which led to his detention alongside 12 other young pacifists activist in support of Tofig Yagublu, one of Azerbaijan’s most prominent opposition leaders and a symbol of peaceful resistance against government repression. The Observatory notes that the arbitrary arrest, unfair trial and conviction of Bahruz Samadov, are all in connection with his peaceful human rights work as a researcher and thus amount to violations to freedom of expression, the right to fair trial and the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and inhuman treatment. These violations form part of a broader crackdown and increasing repression on researchers and journalists in Azerbaijan. Authorities have escalated their repression of human rights defenders and journalists, resorting to arbitrary detention, trumped-up charges, and judicial harassment. Azerbaijani journalists and writers now face a climate of widespread repression. Charges of treason are being used to criminalise the expression of dissenting opinions. The intimidation of activists is intensifying, with arbitrary arrests and sentencing of those who advocate for peace, particularly in the context of Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Other recent cases illustrate this trend. Rufat Safarov is arbitrarily detained since December 2024 supposedly in relation with a disputed related to the sale of land plot, while prominent human rights defenders and 2014 winner of the Vaclav Havel Award Anar Mammadli is detained since April 2024, after his organisation published its preliminary findings on the conduct of the presidential elections and right after the establishment of the Climate Justice Initiative, an organisation he created, was announced. In April 2025, Bashir Suleymani and Mammad Alpay, two prominent human rights defenders, were arbitrarily arrested over supposed contract with the German Marshall Fund (GMF). In May 2025, Igbal Abilov, a Talysh researcher and the editor-in-chief of the Talysh National Academy News magazine, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, also on charges of high treason. On 20 June 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced seven journalists from the investigative independent media outlet Abzas Media - the director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasymova, translator Muhammad Kekalov, and economist and Radio Free Europe correspondent Farid Mehralizade, to between seven and a half and nine years in prison. The Observatory strongly condemns the conviction and the continued arbitrary detention of Bahruz Samadov which appear aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression. The Observatory calls on the Azerbaijan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Bahruz Samadov and all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in the country, and to put an end to all forms of judicial harassment against them. The Observatory also expresses its concern regarding Bahruz Samadov’s hunger strike and any other possible suicide attempts, which pose serious risks to his physical health and psychological well-being and life while in detention. It calls on the authorities to ensure that he has access to adequate medical and psychological care and to guarantee his fundamental rights are fully respected.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/kyrgyzstan-end-renewed-crackdown-on-independent-kloop-media-platform/ Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:38:16 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23593 3 June 2025 - We, the undersigned human rights organisations, are deeply alarmed by the renewed crackdown on Kloop, a leading independent Kyrgyzstani media platform known for investigating and reporting on corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations. In a sweeping security service operation between 28 and 30 May 2025, the authorities arbitrarily detained current and former Kloop staff in a clear attempt to intimidate and stifle the platform’s investigative reporting – further undermining the country’s already deteriorating space for dissent and independent journalism, and threatening the rule of law. We call on Kyrgyzstan’s authorities to immediately halt the intimidation and harassment of Kloop and its staff, release the platform’s contributors who are still in detention, and uphold their international obligations to protect media workers and safeguard press freedom. We also urge Kyrgyzstan’s international partners – in particular the European Union – to take a firm public stance demanding an end to the dismantling of independent journalism in the country. Officials from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) detained at least eight current and former Kloop employees— both journalists and non-editorial staff. They are: Aleksander Aleksandrov, Joomart Duulatov, Ziyagul Bolot Kyzy, Aiday Erkebaeva, Zara Sadygalieva, Abdil Torobaev, Symbat Baimurzaeva as well as an accountant, who requested to remain anonymous. Two others, friends of Kloop contributors, were arbitrarily detained at the same time because they happened to be present when the arrests took place. As reported by Kloop, SCNS officials failed to explain the reasons for the detentions, and searched the homes of media workers – confiscating computers, cameras, equipment for live broadcasting, and phones – without presenting search warrants. They also seized documentation and equipment from Kloop premises. They interrogated the detained Kloop contributors for several hours without allowing access to legal counsel and did not allow them to contact their families or colleagues. Lawyers representing those detained described these actions as flagrant violations of due process. Most of those detained – including the two friends of Kloop contributors – were eventually released after lengthy questioning. Classified as witnesses, they were placed under gag orders preventing them from speaking about their experiences. However, following a closed court hearing on 30 May, Kloop’s video operator Aleksander Aleksandrov and former contributor Joomart Duulatov were remanded in pre-trial detention until 21 July, pending further investigation. They will be held in the SCNS pre-trial detention in Bishkek. The two journalists face charges of “public calls for mass unrest” under Article 278 of the Criminal Code—a vague and overly broad provision frequently used to silence dissent. If convicted, they could face lengthy prison terms. Both reportedly “confessed” to the charges while being interrogated without a lawyer present. While the SCNS has not disclosed further details of the charges, a 30 May press release from the agency accused Kloop of operating illegally following a 2024 court ruling ordering the liquidation of the Kloop Media Public Foundation – the organisation running the Kloop news platform. Kloop’s top management—currently in exile for security reasons—has refuted these claims, stating that since the 2024 ruling, the platform has continued to operate legally through a separate legal entity that has not faced any official complaints. The SCNS also accused Kloop of spreading “negative” and “distorted” content aimed at “manipulating” public opinion and provoking ‘‘discontent’’ and unrest—language similar to that previously used to justify the court-ordered closure of the Kloop Media Public Foundation, although the official reason cited was that this organisation had allegedly operated beyond the scope of its charter. In a troubling move, the SCNS released a video on its official Instagram account showing several of the detained individuals expressing regret for contributing to Kloop’s allegedly “destructive” activities and to the dissemination of content ‘‘denigrating’’ the president and his allies. They were also shown pledging to cease cooperation with the platform. In addition to constituting public shaming, this video footage raised concerns that detainees may have been subjected to pressure while being interrogated without legal protection. We are seriously concerned that the SCNS’s recent actions are part of a broader retaliatory campaign against Kloop in response to its independent and investigative reporting, which has uncovered high-level corruption, government misconduct, and serious human rights abuses. Such journalism plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability and upholding the rule of law – it is not a crime. By targeting Kloop staff in an attempt to silence the platform, the authorities are violating Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations to safeguard media freedom and freedom of expression – including the duty to ensure that media outlets and journalists can criticise those in power without fear of reprisal. The reports of serious due process violations—searches conducted without warrants, arbitrary detentions, incommunicado detention, denial of access to legal counsel, and potential pressure—further reflect a profound disregard for the rule of law and fundamental rights protected under both international and national law. The renewed crackdown on Kloop comes amid an escalating assault on media freedom and critical voices in Kyrgyzstan. In the last few years, authorities have increasingly targeted independent outlets, journalists, and bloggers through raids, prosecutions, and other tactics designed to intimidate and silence them. For example, in 2024, during coordinated raids similar to those now affecting Kloop, the authorities detained a group of journalists linked to the Temirov Live platform—also known for investigating corruption. Four of them were later convicted under the same Criminal Code provision used in the Kloop case, and the platform’s director, Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, is currently serving a six-year prison sentence. The authorities have also sought to link the current detentions of Kloop staff to their alleged cooperation with Temirov Live’s founder, Bolot Temirov, who has lived abroad since being unlawfully stripped of his citizenship and expelled from Kyrgyzstan in 2022. In a Facebook post, a presidential spokesperson claimed that detained Kloop contributors had been paid by Temirov to conduct ‘‘false’’ investigations. The video recorded by SCNS – mentioned above – also featured such allegations. While Temirov Live and Kloop have cooperated on joint corruption investigations, the detained individuals are not known to have had any direct contact with Temirov. A growing number of other journalists, bloggers, and activists have also faced charges under broadly worded Criminal Code provisions for criticising those in power. An independent journalist, Kanyshay Mamyrkulova, remains in detention pending trial, following her March 2025 arrest for allegedly inciting mass unrest and inter-ethnic hatred through social media posts critical of the government’s stance on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border issue. A human rights defender, Rita Karasartova, is likewise in pre-trial detention on mass unrest-related charges after sharing a message on social media from an opposition activist in April 2025. On 27 May 2025, Zhoomart Karabaev, a whistleblower, received a three-year suspended sentence in a case brought against him for allegedly calling for mass unrest and the forceful seizure of power—charges that followed his exposure of how expert assessments dictated by security services are used in politically motivated prosecutions. These targeted prosecutions and the broader pattern of ongoing persecution signal a systematic attempt to dismantle independent reporting and suppress open debate on issues of public concern in Kyrgyzstan. It has had a deeply chilling effect, fuelling growing fear and self-censorship among media contributors, civil society representatives, and ordinary social media users—aware that criticism of the authorities could result in harassment, criminal charges, or even imprisonment. The downward trend is also reflected in international surveys: in the recently released 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Kyrgyzstan ranked 144th out of 180 countries – down 24 places from the previous year and, for the first time, below neighbouring Kazakhstan and just above Uzbekistan. We call on Kyrgyzstan’s authorities to: - End this dangerous backsliding, uphold their international human rights obligations, and; - Drop all charges against current and former Kloop employees brought in retaliation for the platform’s independent and investigative reporting, and immediately and unconditionally release the two journalists in pre-trial detention. - Thoroughly and impartially investigate all reported due process violations relating to the detentions of Kloop staff and their friends and hold those responsible to account. This should include an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recorded “repentant” video messages, as well as any possible ill-treatment of detainees. - Cease the harassment and intimidation of Kloop and its contributors, as well as others targeted for independent reporting, or criticism of those in power, and ensure they can carry out their professional and civic activities safely and without obstruction. We further urge the European Union and Kyrgyzstan’s other international partners to respond resolutely to this renewed crackdown. Diplomatic engagement and international solidarity are urgently needed to defend Kyrgyzstan’s shrinking space for independent journalism and open public debate and to support those engaged in these activities in the face of increasing repression. The persecution of Kloop’s staff sends a chilling message to all independent voices in Kyrgyzstan and is part of an immediate and direct threat to the rule of law and democracy. It cannot afford to go unchallenged.]]> 3 June 2025 - We, the undersigned human rights organisations, are deeply alarmed by the renewed crackdown on Kloop, a leading independent Kyrgyzstani media platform known for investigating and reporting on corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations. In a sweeping security service operation between 28 and 30 May 2025, the authorities arbitrarily detained current and former Kloop staff in a clear attempt to intimidate and stifle the platform’s investigative reporting – further undermining the country’s already deteriorating space for dissent and independent journalism, and threatening the rule of law. We call on Kyrgyzstan’s authorities to immediately halt the intimidation and harassment of Kloop and its staff, release the platform’s contributors who are still in detention, and uphold their international obligations to protect media workers and safeguard press freedom. We also urge Kyrgyzstan’s international partners – in particular the European Union – to take a firm public stance demanding an end to the dismantling of independent journalism in the country. Officials from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) detained at least eight current and former Kloop employees— both journalists and non-editorial staff. They are: Aleksander Aleksandrov, Joomart Duulatov, Ziyagul Bolot Kyzy, Aiday Erkebaeva, Zara Sadygalieva, Abdil Torobaev, Symbat Baimurzaeva as well as an accountant, who requested to remain anonymous. Two others, friends of Kloop contributors, were arbitrarily detained at the same time because they happened to be present when the arrests took place. As reported by Kloop, SCNS officials failed to explain the reasons for the detentions, and searched the homes of media workers – confiscating computers, cameras, equipment for live broadcasting, and phones – without presenting search warrants. They also seized documentation and equipment from Kloop premises. They interrogated the detained Kloop contributors for several hours without allowing access to legal counsel and did not allow them to contact their families or colleagues. Lawyers representing those detained described these actions as flagrant violations of due process. Most of those detained – including the two friends of Kloop contributors – were eventually released after lengthy questioning. Classified as witnesses, they were placed under gag orders preventing them from speaking about their experiences. However, following a closed court hearing on 30 May, Kloop’s video operator Aleksander Aleksandrov and former contributor Joomart Duulatov were remanded in pre-trial detention until 21 July, pending further investigation. They will be held in the SCNS pre-trial detention in Bishkek. The two journalists face charges of “public calls for mass unrest” under Article 278 of the Criminal Code—a vague and overly broad provision frequently used to silence dissent. If convicted, they could face lengthy prison terms. Both reportedly “confessed” to the charges while being interrogated without a lawyer present. While the SCNS has not disclosed further details of the charges, a 30 May press release from the agency accused Kloop of operating illegally following a 2024 court ruling ordering the liquidation of the Kloop Media Public Foundation – the organisation running the Kloop news platform. Kloop’s top management—currently in exile for security reasons—has refuted these claims, stating that since the 2024 ruling, the platform has continued to operate legally through a separate legal entity that has not faced any official complaints. The SCNS also accused Kloop of spreading “negative” and “distorted” content aimed at “manipulating” public opinion and provoking ‘‘discontent’’ and unrest—language similar to that previously used to justify the court-ordered closure of the Kloop Media Public Foundation, although the official reason cited was that this organisation had allegedly operated beyond the scope of its charter. In a troubling move, the SCNS released a video on its official Instagram account showing several of the detained individuals expressing regret for contributing to Kloop’s allegedly “destructive” activities and to the dissemination of content ‘‘denigrating’’ the president and his allies. They were also shown pledging to cease cooperation with the platform. In addition to constituting public shaming, this video footage raised concerns that detainees may have been subjected to pressure while being interrogated without legal protection. We are seriously concerned that the SCNS’s recent actions are part of a broader retaliatory campaign against Kloop in response to its independent and investigative reporting, which has uncovered high-level corruption, government misconduct, and serious human rights abuses. Such journalism plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability and upholding the rule of law – it is not a crime. By targeting Kloop staff in an attempt to silence the platform, the authorities are violating Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations to safeguard media freedom and freedom of expression – including the duty to ensure that media outlets and journalists can criticise those in power without fear of reprisal. The reports of serious due process violations—searches conducted without warrants, arbitrary detentions, incommunicado detention, denial of access to legal counsel, and potential pressure—further reflect a profound disregard for the rule of law and fundamental rights protected under both international and national law. The renewed crackdown on Kloop comes amid an escalating assault on media freedom and critical voices in Kyrgyzstan. In the last few years, authorities have increasingly targeted independent outlets, journalists, and bloggers through raids, prosecutions, and other tactics designed to intimidate and silence them. For example, in 2024, during coordinated raids similar to those now affecting Kloop, the authorities detained a group of journalists linked to the Temirov Live platform—also known for investigating corruption. Four of them were later convicted under the same Criminal Code provision used in the Kloop case, and the platform’s director, Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, is currently serving a six-year prison sentence. The authorities have also sought to link the current detentions of Kloop staff to their alleged cooperation with Temirov Live’s founder, Bolot Temirov, who has lived abroad since being unlawfully stripped of his citizenship and expelled from Kyrgyzstan in 2022. In a Facebook post, a presidential spokesperson claimed that detained Kloop contributors had been paid by Temirov to conduct ‘‘false’’ investigations. The video recorded by SCNS – mentioned above – also featured such allegations. While Temirov Live and Kloop have cooperated on joint corruption investigations, the detained individuals are not known to have had any direct contact with Temirov. A growing number of other journalists, bloggers, and activists have also faced charges under broadly worded Criminal Code provisions for criticising those in power. An independent journalist, Kanyshay Mamyrkulova, remains in detention pending trial, following her March 2025 arrest for allegedly inciting mass unrest and inter-ethnic hatred through social media posts critical of the government’s stance on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border issue. A human rights defender, Rita Karasartova, is likewise in pre-trial detention on mass unrest-related charges after sharing a message on social media from an opposition activist in April 2025. On 27 May 2025, Zhoomart Karabaev, a whistleblower, received a three-year suspended sentence in a case brought against him for allegedly calling for mass unrest and the forceful seizure of power—charges that followed his exposure of how expert assessments dictated by security services are used in politically motivated prosecutions. These targeted prosecutions and the broader pattern of ongoing persecution signal a systematic attempt to dismantle independent reporting and suppress open debate on issues of public concern in Kyrgyzstan. It has had a deeply chilling effect, fuelling growing fear and self-censorship among media contributors, civil society representatives, and ordinary social media users—aware that criticism of the authorities could result in harassment, criminal charges, or even imprisonment. The downward trend is also reflected in international surveys: in the recently released 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Kyrgyzstan ranked 144th out of 180 countries – down 24 places from the previous year and, for the first time, below neighbouring Kazakhstan and just above Uzbekistan. We call on Kyrgyzstan’s authorities to: - End this dangerous backsliding, uphold their international human rights obligations, and; - Drop all charges against current and former Kloop employees brought in retaliation for the platform’s independent and investigative reporting, and immediately and unconditionally release the two journalists in pre-trial detention. - Thoroughly and impartially investigate all reported due process violations relating to the detentions of Kloop staff and their friends and hold those responsible to account. This should include an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recorded “repentant” video messages, as well as any possible ill-treatment of detainees. - Cease the harassment and intimidation of Kloop and its contributors, as well as others targeted for independent reporting, or criticism of those in power, and ensure they can carry out their professional and civic activities safely and without obstruction. We further urge the European Union and Kyrgyzstan’s other international partners to respond resolutely to this renewed crackdown. Diplomatic engagement and international solidarity are urgently needed to defend Kyrgyzstan’s shrinking space for independent journalism and open public debate and to support those engaged in these activities in the face of increasing repression. The persecution of Kloop’s staff sends a chilling message to all independent voices in Kyrgyzstan and is part of an immediate and direct threat to the rule of law and democracy. It cannot afford to go unchallenged.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/jordan-the-blocking-of-news-websites-is-a-grave-violation-of-freedom-of-expression-and-the-right-to-access-information/ Tue, 27 May 2025 17:49:05 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23563 block at least 12 news websites, most of which are independent media outlets. The decision lacked an official detailed announcement, including the legal basis for the blocking. Instead, authorities provided vague justifications through media channels, invoking broad and imprecise terms such as “spreading media poison” and “targeting national symbols,” without specifying the facts or evidence upon which the ban was based. There has been no indication that affected outlets were offered any opportunity to appeal or challenge the decision before an independent court, raising serious due process concerns. The undersigned organizations condemn this action as a direct violation of Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion and states that “every Jordanian shall be free to express his opinion by speech, writing, photography, and other means of expression,” within boundaries that must not be interpreted arbitrarily or politically. The decision also breaches Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information. Jordan acceded to the ICCPR in 1975 and is therefore bound to uphold its provisions in both law and practice. According to international standards, particularly General Comment No. 34 by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, any restriction on freedom of expression must meet three cumulative conditions: it must be provided by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate. It is evident that the Jordanian decision to block these websites fails to meet any of these conditions. The timing of the ban strongly suggests it was in direct response to investigative reports alleging that official Jordanian institutions profited from the coordination of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Following these reports, the media outlets involved faced a smear-and-intimidation campaign.Access to some sites was gradually restricted, until, on 14 May, authorities imposed a total ban. This sequence of events suggests the ban was not the outcome of a neutral legal process, but rather a politically motivated attempt to suppress independent reporting. To date, there has been no indication that the judiciary was involved in issuing, reviewing, or upholding the blocking decision, nor that the measure was subject to any form of independent oversight or legal appeal. Statements from public officials accusing the blocked sites of spreading false news further reflect the lack of any procedural framework that would enable these outlets to respond or defend themselves. There is no evidence of judicial oversight regarding the decision, nor has there been any formal publication of the list of banned sites or the legal basis for their censorship. In parallel, Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 has increasingly served as a central tool to restrict digital freedoms in Jordan. Its broadly worded provisions grant administrative and security authorities extensive powers to block websites and detain individuals for online expression. During the same period, journalists and political commentators were detained for their posts, reflecting an alarming trend in the criminalization of peaceful expression and digital activity, outside the bounds of independent judicial oversight. The impact of this decision extends beyond the media sector and into Jordan’s broader civic space. Independent media constitute a vital part of civil society's infrastructure and serve as essential platforms for public accountability and the formation of public opinion. When access to information is restricted and independent outlets are silenced, the public’s ability to engage in meaningful debate, scrutiny, and collective decision-making is severely undermined. The erosion of press freedom signals a broader deterioration in the conditions for civic engagement, weakening democratic participation that is based on knowledge and awareness. These practices reflect a deliberate policy of censorship that goes beyond media regulation. They aim to monopolize public discourse and suppress the independent production and circulation of information. Blanket website bans imposed without due legal process violate fundamental rights and erode public trust in institutions, contributing to a hostile environment for journalism, one where media organizations are forced into self-censorship or closure. The undersigned organizations call on the Jordanian government to:

• Immediately reverse the decision to block the websites and lift the ban on all affected platforms unconditionally.
• Publicly disclose the legal basis and justifications for any action that restricts freedom of expression or access to information, in full transparency.
• Ensure access to effective legal remedies to challenge blocking decisions before an independent judiciary, in line with constitutional and international standards, and in accordance with Article 100 of the Jordanian Constitution, guaranteeing judicial independence.
• Undertake a comprehensive review of Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 through a transparent and participatory process involving civil society organizations, media actors, and legal experts. The objective must be to revise all provisions that are currently being used to curtail freedoms and to bring the law into full compliance with Jordan’s international human rights obligations, particularly Article 19 and Article 14 of the ICCPR.

The undersigned affirm that protecting press freedom and media pluralism is not incompatible with the rule of law; it is a prerequisite for it. Disinformation cannot be countered through censorship, and public trust cannot be built by excluding independent voices. Stability is only achieved through an open, protected, and legally grounded media environment—one that guarantees the right to scrutiny and accountability and supports journalists in uncovering truth, not silencing it.]]> block at least 12 news websites, most of which are independent media outlets. The decision lacked an official detailed announcement, including the legal basis for the blocking. Instead, authorities provided vague justifications through media channels, invoking broad and imprecise terms such as “spreading media poison” and “targeting national symbols,” without specifying the facts or evidence upon which the ban was based. There has been no indication that affected outlets were offered any opportunity to appeal or challenge the decision before an independent court, raising serious due process concerns. The undersigned organizations condemn this action as a direct violation of Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion and states that “every Jordanian shall be free to express his opinion by speech, writing, photography, and other means of expression,” within boundaries that must not be interpreted arbitrarily or politically. The decision also breaches Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information. Jordan acceded to the ICCPR in 1975 and is therefore bound to uphold its provisions in both law and practice. According to international standards, particularly General Comment No. 34 by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, any restriction on freedom of expression must meet three cumulative conditions: it must be provided by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate. It is evident that the Jordanian decision to block these websites fails to meet any of these conditions. The timing of the ban strongly suggests it was in direct response to investigative reports alleging that official Jordanian institutions profited from the coordination of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Following these reports, the media outlets involved faced a smear-and-intimidation campaign.Access to some sites was gradually restricted, until, on 14 May, authorities imposed a total ban. This sequence of events suggests the ban was not the outcome of a neutral legal process, but rather a politically motivated attempt to suppress independent reporting. To date, there has been no indication that the judiciary was involved in issuing, reviewing, or upholding the blocking decision, nor that the measure was subject to any form of independent oversight or legal appeal. Statements from public officials accusing the blocked sites of spreading false news further reflect the lack of any procedural framework that would enable these outlets to respond or defend themselves. There is no evidence of judicial oversight regarding the decision, nor has there been any formal publication of the list of banned sites or the legal basis for their censorship. In parallel, Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 has increasingly served as a central tool to restrict digital freedoms in Jordan. Its broadly worded provisions grant administrative and security authorities extensive powers to block websites and detain individuals for online expression. During the same period, journalists and political commentators were detained for their posts, reflecting an alarming trend in the criminalization of peaceful expression and digital activity, outside the bounds of independent judicial oversight. The impact of this decision extends beyond the media sector and into Jordan’s broader civic space. Independent media constitute a vital part of civil society's infrastructure and serve as essential platforms for public accountability and the formation of public opinion. When access to information is restricted and independent outlets are silenced, the public’s ability to engage in meaningful debate, scrutiny, and collective decision-making is severely undermined. The erosion of press freedom signals a broader deterioration in the conditions for civic engagement, weakening democratic participation that is based on knowledge and awareness. These practices reflect a deliberate policy of censorship that goes beyond media regulation. They aim to monopolize public discourse and suppress the independent production and circulation of information. Blanket website bans imposed without due legal process violate fundamental rights and erode public trust in institutions, contributing to a hostile environment for journalism, one where media organizations are forced into self-censorship or closure. The undersigned organizations call on the Jordanian government to:

• Immediately reverse the decision to block the websites and lift the ban on all affected platforms unconditionally.
• Publicly disclose the legal basis and justifications for any action that restricts freedom of expression or access to information, in full transparency.
• Ensure access to effective legal remedies to challenge blocking decisions before an independent judiciary, in line with constitutional and international standards, and in accordance with Article 100 of the Jordanian Constitution, guaranteeing judicial independence.
• Undertake a comprehensive review of Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 through a transparent and participatory process involving civil society organizations, media actors, and legal experts. The objective must be to revise all provisions that are currently being used to curtail freedoms and to bring the law into full compliance with Jordan’s international human rights obligations, particularly Article 19 and Article 14 of the ICCPR.

The undersigned affirm that protecting press freedom and media pluralism is not incompatible with the rule of law; it is a prerequisite for it. Disinformation cannot be countered through censorship, and public trust cannot be built by excluding independent voices. Stability is only achieved through an open, protected, and legally grounded media environment—one that guarantees the right to scrutiny and accountability and supports journalists in uncovering truth, not silencing it.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/pakistan-the-authorities-must-end-crackdown-on-baloch-human-rights-defenders/ Tue, 27 May 2025 15:10:56 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23518 Bebarg Zehri and another HRD were arrested on 20 March. Bebarg Zehri, a person with disability, remains detained to date under the MPO—a law which has been used against most of the detained Baloch activists and restricts access to bail. On 21 March, Balochistan police opened fire on peaceful protesters who were calling for his release. Three people were killed and at least seven injured due to police violence against protesters. In the early hours of 22 March, woman human rights defenders (WHRDs), Mahrang Baloch and Beebow Baloch, were arrested from a peaceful sit-in in Quetta against police violence and calling for Bebarg’s release. The women are detained at the Hudda Jail, Quetta under the MPO. For several hours following their arrest, there was no information about their whereabouts, and the WHRDs were denied access to legal counsel of family members causing concern for their safety, a pattern which is repeated in many of the arrests of Baloch HRDs and family members. Family members have also repeatedly raised concerns regarding detention conditions and lack of access to adequate medical facilities. On 24 March, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch and several other HRDs were arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Karachi against the targeting of BYC members and HRDs. Despite being granted bail by a judicial magistrate in Karachi the following day (25 March), Sammi Deen Baloch was re-arrested under the MPO, a deliberate strategy to prevent release and prolong detention by several means. These harassment tactics reflect the intention of Pakistan authorities to intimidate and dismantle the BYC and the work of Baloch HRDs. On 1 April, Sammi Deen Baloch was released following a decision by the Sindh government to remove her name from the MPO detention order. On 18 April, the home of Israr Baloch – a lawyer in Quetta representing BYC HRDs – was raided and law enforcement officers threatened his family with consequences if Israr did not stop his human rights work. The authorities also moved WHRD Beebow Baloch from Hudda Jail to Pishin Prison on 23 April where her medical condition severely deteriorated. After being transferred to a hospital on 2 May she was sent back to Hudda Jail, despite her condition not having improved. Her family has reported that she was subject to physical torture while being moved. The Balochistan authorities continued the crackdown on the BYC leadership and members by arresting human rights defenders Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah on 30 March and Gulzadi Baloch on 7 April, and by detaining family members of other BYC leaders as part of a pattern of intimidation of activists to psychologically and socially pressure HRDs into silence. WHRD Sabiha Baloch, whose father was detained on 5 April and his whereabouts remain unknown, faces threat of imminent arrest on baseless charges. Participants of a peaceful protest organised by BYC on 25 April in Karachi were subject to arbitrary detention on charges of unlawful assembly, public nuisance, and sedition. Similarly on 20 May, 20 protesters in Quetta were detained by security forces and 5 remain under arrest after they gathered for a peaceful protest. This severe crackdown on Baloch activists violates Pakistan’s international human rights obligations and its own Constitutional safeguards. The Pakistani Constitution guarantees the right to assemble peacefully under Article 16 and the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19. Article 10 provides the right to life and liberty and Article 10A the right to fair trial and due process. Pakistan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and in its treaty body review last year the Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about the frequent use of the Exit Control Lists, particularly in late 2024, and the Anti-Terrorism Act to arbitrarily restrict the freedom of movement of dissenting persons, including WHRDs such as Sammi Deen Baloch and Mahrang Baloch. The BYC and Baloch HRDs follow a non-violent, rights based approach, and the crackdown on their work including false criminalisation erodes space for meaningful engagement with human rights and the rights of the Baloch community. These developments come against a backdrop of harassment of journalists and a clampdown on freedom of expression. In March, journalist Waheed Murad was arrested simply for reporting on a statement by a Baloch politician. Last month, a case was filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act against advocate Jalila Haider for expressing online support for Mahrang Baloch. On 24 May, Baloch journalist Abdul Latif Baloch, who reported on enforced disappearances, was shot dead at his family home during an alleged attempted abduction. His son previously disappeared and was found dead a few months ago. Frequent internet shutdowns in Balochistan further compromise the free flow of information and has worsened the security situation for HRDs, their families and at-risk communities. Digital censorship, internet shutdowns, surveillance and other forms of restriction on freedom of expression are yet another core tactic of silencing dissent and further isolating and endangering Baloch voices. It is imperative that human rights are upheld and never sacrificed in the name of security. We call on the Pakistani authorities to: - Immediately and unconditionally release all Baloch HRDs and their family members arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights in line with the right to liberty and safety. - Drop all charges against HRDs based solely on the exercise of their rights. - Pending their release, ensure the safety of HRDs and family members, including by sharing accurate information about their whereabouts, providing effective access to family members, legal counsel and medical treatment. - Conduct a thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation into the allegations of torture and mistreatment by Pakistani authorities of Baloch HRDs under detention. - End the crackdown against HRDs, journalists, protesters and dissidents by ensuring their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully protected. - Cease all forms of reprisals against family members of HRDs. - Conduct an effective, prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the unlawful use of force against protesters on 21 March in Quetta and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice through fair trials.]]> Bebarg Zehri and another HRD were arrested on 20 March. Bebarg Zehri, a person with disability, remains detained to date under the MPO—a law which has been used against most of the detained Baloch activists and restricts access to bail. On 21 March, Balochistan police opened fire on peaceful protesters who were calling for his release. Three people were killed and at least seven injured due to police violence against protesters. In the early hours of 22 March, woman human rights defenders (WHRDs), Mahrang Baloch and Beebow Baloch, were arrested from a peaceful sit-in in Quetta against police violence and calling for Bebarg’s release. The women are detained at the Hudda Jail, Quetta under the MPO. For several hours following their arrest, there was no information about their whereabouts, and the WHRDs were denied access to legal counsel of family members causing concern for their safety, a pattern which is repeated in many of the arrests of Baloch HRDs and family members. Family members have also repeatedly raised concerns regarding detention conditions and lack of access to adequate medical facilities. On 24 March, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch and several other HRDs were arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Karachi against the targeting of BYC members and HRDs. Despite being granted bail by a judicial magistrate in Karachi the following day (25 March), Sammi Deen Baloch was re-arrested under the MPO, a deliberate strategy to prevent release and prolong detention by several means. These harassment tactics reflect the intention of Pakistan authorities to intimidate and dismantle the BYC and the work of Baloch HRDs. On 1 April, Sammi Deen Baloch was released following a decision by the Sindh government to remove her name from the MPO detention order. On 18 April, the home of Israr Baloch – a lawyer in Quetta representing BYC HRDs – was raided and law enforcement officers threatened his family with consequences if Israr did not stop his human rights work. The authorities also moved WHRD Beebow Baloch from Hudda Jail to Pishin Prison on 23 April where her medical condition severely deteriorated. After being transferred to a hospital on 2 May she was sent back to Hudda Jail, despite her condition not having improved. Her family has reported that she was subject to physical torture while being moved. The Balochistan authorities continued the crackdown on the BYC leadership and members by arresting human rights defenders Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah on 30 March and Gulzadi Baloch on 7 April, and by detaining family members of other BYC leaders as part of a pattern of intimidation of activists to psychologically and socially pressure HRDs into silence. WHRD Sabiha Baloch, whose father was detained on 5 April and his whereabouts remain unknown, faces threat of imminent arrest on baseless charges. Participants of a peaceful protest organised by BYC on 25 April in Karachi were subject to arbitrary detention on charges of unlawful assembly, public nuisance, and sedition. Similarly on 20 May, 20 protesters in Quetta were detained by security forces and 5 remain under arrest after they gathered for a peaceful protest. This severe crackdown on Baloch activists violates Pakistan’s international human rights obligations and its own Constitutional safeguards. The Pakistani Constitution guarantees the right to assemble peacefully under Article 16 and the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19. Article 10 provides the right to life and liberty and Article 10A the right to fair trial and due process. Pakistan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and in its treaty body review last year the Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about the frequent use of the Exit Control Lists, particularly in late 2024, and the Anti-Terrorism Act to arbitrarily restrict the freedom of movement of dissenting persons, including WHRDs such as Sammi Deen Baloch and Mahrang Baloch. The BYC and Baloch HRDs follow a non-violent, rights based approach, and the crackdown on their work including false criminalisation erodes space for meaningful engagement with human rights and the rights of the Baloch community. These developments come against a backdrop of harassment of journalists and a clampdown on freedom of expression. In March, journalist Waheed Murad was arrested simply for reporting on a statement by a Baloch politician. Last month, a case was filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act against advocate Jalila Haider for expressing online support for Mahrang Baloch. On 24 May, Baloch journalist Abdul Latif Baloch, who reported on enforced disappearances, was shot dead at his family home during an alleged attempted abduction. His son previously disappeared and was found dead a few months ago. Frequent internet shutdowns in Balochistan further compromise the free flow of information and has worsened the security situation for HRDs, their families and at-risk communities. Digital censorship, internet shutdowns, surveillance and other forms of restriction on freedom of expression are yet another core tactic of silencing dissent and further isolating and endangering Baloch voices. It is imperative that human rights are upheld and never sacrificed in the name of security. We call on the Pakistani authorities to: - Immediately and unconditionally release all Baloch HRDs and their family members arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights in line with the right to liberty and safety. - Drop all charges against HRDs based solely on the exercise of their rights. - Pending their release, ensure the safety of HRDs and family members, including by sharing accurate information about their whereabouts, providing effective access to family members, legal counsel and medical treatment. - Conduct a thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation into the allegations of torture and mistreatment by Pakistani authorities of Baloch HRDs under detention. - End the crackdown against HRDs, journalists, protesters and dissidents by ensuring their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully protected. - Cease all forms of reprisals against family members of HRDs. - Conduct an effective, prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the unlawful use of force against protesters on 21 March in Quetta and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice through fair trials.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/alert/brazil-intimidation-against-the-mining-observatory/ Thu, 22 May 2025 12:37:58 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23500 Mining Observatory, an independent investigative journalism center and think tank focused on the extractive sector in Brazil. Founded in 2015, the Mining Observatory has since become an international reference in investigative coverage of the mining sector, notably focusing on the environmental and human rights impacts of mining projects. On 30 April, 2025, the mining company SIGMA Lithium, based in Canada, sent an extrajudicial notice to the Mining Observatory in relation to the Mining Observatory’s position on a technical note produced by researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Montes Claros State University (Unimontes), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM) and the London South Bank University, all involved in an international research project named LIQUIT (Local, Indigenous, Quilombola and Traditional Communities and the construction of the ‘Lithium Valley’ in Minas Gerais, Brazil: Empowering silenced voices in the energy transition). The report pointed out serious violations of human rights, irregularities in environmental licensing, deficiencies in environmental impact studies and the use of outdated technologies that caused 30 times more social and environmental damage than other existing technologies. The document also called for the revocation of all environmental licences granted to the SIGMA in Jequitinhonha; a review of licensing, incorporating local knowledge and Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC); and the prioritisation of studies to ascertain the environmental viability of low-impact technologies, such as underground mining. The notice sent by the mining company's lawyers requested that the article published on 7 May, 2025 not be published. The mining company’s notice reads as follows: “Should the allegedly technical note be made public, SIGMA will adopt all applicable legal measures to hold those involved accountable, including the investigation of criminal liability and the payment of compensation for moral and material damages that may be found”, in a clear attempt to intimidate, threaten and censor the Mining Observatory. The mining company, through its lawyers, claimed that the researchers' report, which requests the suspension of the company's activities in Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, because of its socio-environmental impacts, is "a defamatory text” only aiming at tarnishing the image and reputation of the company In the notice, the lawyers notified the Mining Observatory to to refrain from disclosing the content of the report,under penalty of criminal investigation. The aforementioned report produced by researchers from renowned institutions was sent to several media outlets in Brazil and abroad. However, in fulfilling its duty to listen to the other side and reaching out to SIGMA ahead of the publication of its article, the Mining Observatory ended up being the only target of intimidation and attempted censorship by SIGMA. For example, the media Brasil de Fato published an article on 5 May, 2025 about the technical note and was not the target of intimidation by SIGMA, which reveals a targeted attack on the work of the Mining Observatory. In response to SIGMA’s notice, on 6 May, 2025, the Mining Observatory sent a counter-notification to SIGMA, prepared by its legal counsel, and published the aforementioned article on its website on 7 May, 2025. The Mining Observatory also informed publicly on its website and social media about the intimidation carried out by SIGMA and reached out to journalism associations in relation to this incident. The Observatory condemns SIGMA’s acts of intimidation and threats against the Mining Observatory, which seems to be only aimed at preventing the media free exercise of its right to freedom of expression on a topic of public interest. The Observatory urges the Brazilian authorities to carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation about the aforementioned acts of intimidation and threats against the Mining Observatory and to ensure in all circumstances its rights to freedom of expression and independent investigative journalism. The Observatory further calls on SIGMA to commit not to use strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP) actions against journalists and human rights defenders and to respect human rights, including the the right to freedom of expression, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.]]> Mining Observatory, an independent investigative journalism center and think tank focused on the extractive sector in Brazil. Founded in 2015, the Mining Observatory has since become an international reference in investigative coverage of the mining sector, notably focusing on the environmental and human rights impacts of mining projects. On 30 April, 2025, the mining company SIGMA Lithium, based in Canada, sent an extrajudicial notice to the Mining Observatory in relation to the Mining Observatory’s position on a technical note produced by researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Montes Claros State University (Unimontes), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM) and the London South Bank University, all involved in an international research project named LIQUIT (Local, Indigenous, Quilombola and Traditional Communities and the construction of the ‘Lithium Valley’ in Minas Gerais, Brazil: Empowering silenced voices in the energy transition). The report pointed out serious violations of human rights, irregularities in environmental licensing, deficiencies in environmental impact studies and the use of outdated technologies that caused 30 times more social and environmental damage than other existing technologies. The document also called for the revocation of all environmental licences granted to the SIGMA in Jequitinhonha; a review of licensing, incorporating local knowledge and Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC); and the prioritisation of studies to ascertain the environmental viability of low-impact technologies, such as underground mining. The notice sent by the mining company's lawyers requested that the article published on 7 May, 2025 not be published. The mining company’s notice reads as follows: “Should the allegedly technical note be made public, SIGMA will adopt all applicable legal measures to hold those involved accountable, including the investigation of criminal liability and the payment of compensation for moral and material damages that may be found”, in a clear attempt to intimidate, threaten and censor the Mining Observatory. The mining company, through its lawyers, claimed that the researchers' report, which requests the suspension of the company's activities in Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, because of its socio-environmental impacts, is "a defamatory text” only aiming at tarnishing the image and reputation of the company In the notice, the lawyers notified the Mining Observatory to to refrain from disclosing the content of the report,under penalty of criminal investigation. The aforementioned report produced by researchers from renowned institutions was sent to several media outlets in Brazil and abroad. However, in fulfilling its duty to listen to the other side and reaching out to SIGMA ahead of the publication of its article, the Mining Observatory ended up being the only target of intimidation and attempted censorship by SIGMA. For example, the media Brasil de Fato published an article on 5 May, 2025 about the technical note and was not the target of intimidation by SIGMA, which reveals a targeted attack on the work of the Mining Observatory. In response to SIGMA’s notice, on 6 May, 2025, the Mining Observatory sent a counter-notification to SIGMA, prepared by its legal counsel, and published the aforementioned article on its website on 7 May, 2025. The Mining Observatory also informed publicly on its website and social media about the intimidation carried out by SIGMA and reached out to journalism associations in relation to this incident. The Observatory condemns SIGMA’s acts of intimidation and threats against the Mining Observatory, which seems to be only aimed at preventing the media free exercise of its right to freedom of expression on a topic of public interest. The Observatory urges the Brazilian authorities to carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation about the aforementioned acts of intimidation and threats against the Mining Observatory and to ensure in all circumstances its rights to freedom of expression and independent investigative journalism. The Observatory further calls on SIGMA to commit not to use strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP) actions against journalists and human rights defenders and to respect human rights, including the the right to freedom of expression, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.]]>