Individual at risk

Today’s decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge anyone in relation to its investigation into UK officials’ involvement in the rendition to Libya of Sami al Saadi and Abdul Hakim Belhaj and their families in 2004 further highlights the need for an independent enquiry, said Amnesty International today. 

Responding to the decision Amnesty International UK’s Legal Programme Director Rachel Logan said:

The release of Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani yesterday is a long-overdue step towards righting the injustice against her and must be followed by the immediate and unconditional release of other peaceful artists and activists who remain behind bars, Amnesty International said today.

Ibrahim Halawa has been stuck in prison for 1000 days. Join our postcard action calling on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to relase him immediately.

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Good news on recent urgent action cases: In Honduras, Mexican Human Rights Defender was able to leave Honduras after he witnessed the murder of Berta Cáceres . In Tunisia, six men jailed for “sodomy" were released. Myanmar student activists, Phyoe Phyoe Aung and her husband Lin Htet Naing were released on 11 April.

Four academics who signed an appeal for peace in January 2016 have been charged with “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation”. If convicted they face up to seven and a half years’ imprisonment. 

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172 medical professionals, including two medical organisations call for Dr 'Ali al-'Ekri's immediate release on the fifth anniversary of his arrest for treating injured protesters and criticisng the excessive force used by the armed forces against them. 

Mexican human rights defender Gustavo Castro Soto, sole witness to the murder of Indigenous leader Berta Cáceres, is not allowed leave Honduras and he fears for his safety.

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Student activists Phyoe Phyoe Aung and Lin Htet Naing are facing additional charges for organising peaceful student protests. 

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Following twelve adjournments Ibrahim Halawa is now set to stand in a grossly unfair mass trial on 6 March in Cairo. 20 year old Ibrahim has now been languishing in an Egyptian prison cell for 30 months, imprisoned merely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Ibrahim has lost 30 kg in weight as a result of a phased hunger strike which was on its 150^th day on Thursday 25 February. Amnesty International is gravely concerned for Ibrahim’s physical and mental wellbeing. 

Five years ago, people in Bahrain rose up in protest to demand reform, but were met with violence from security forces.  Doctors, nurses and paramedics were arrested, detained, and tortured for treating injured protesters. Dr ‘Ali al-‘Ekri is still in prison five years on.