Azhar Al-Rubaie has worked as a journalist in Iraq since 2014. In 2018 he did a series of articles in many topics, including  Politics, health, society, wars, militias ,human rights and LGBTQ rights. His is featured in the Arab Weekly, VICE news, Al-Jazeera, DW, Raseef 22, Washington Institute for ...

Iraq: Son of prominent women's rights activist found shot dead near Basra

24 Jul 2021  |  Middle East Eye  |  English  |  Activism

Ali Karim, son of prominent Iraqi rights activist Fatima al-Bahadly, was found shot dead in Basra after being kidnapped. His death underscores the ongoing violence against activists in Iraq, with many blaming powerful Iran-backed factions. The EU and Amnesty International have called for a serious investigation. Fatima al-Bahadly, who has faced threats due to her activism, mourns the loss of her second son. The article highlights the broader issue of impunity and the failure of the Iraqi government to protect its citizens.

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Front Line Defenders al-Firdaws Society Iraqi government's human rights commission Amnesty International EU

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I am a journalist based in Madrid. I have worked for seven years in the Diagonal and El Salto Diario newspapers, of which I am one of the founders. I am specialized in information on human rights violations and company monitoring.

SLAPP: Judicial Pressure on Journalists and Activists May Have Its Days Numbered

01 Oct 2023  |  www.elsaltodiario.com  |  Spanish  |  Human Rights

The article discusses the increasing use of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) to intimidate and silence journalists, activists, and human rights defenders in Spain and the European Union. It highlights several cases, including those of Iñaki Rivera, Jaime Palomera, and others, who have faced legal harassment for their activism. The European Commission is working on a directive to combat SLAPPs, recognizing them as a threat to democratic values and fundamental rights. The article underscores the need for legal protections and support for those targeted by such lawsuits.

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Front Line Defenders Front Line Defenders Commission Europea Sindicat de Llogaters Human Rights Watch Amnesty International Civil Liberties Vox Abogados Cristianos Observatori del Sistema Penal i Drets Humans Universitat de Barcelona Irídia Lafede.cat Observatori DESC Enginyeria Sense Fronteres Plataforma d'Afectades per la Hipoteca de Barcelona l'Aliança contra la Pobresa Energètica Associació per a la Transparència i la Qualitat Democràtica Agbar CC OO Prisiones Agrupación de los Cuerpos de la Administración de Instituciones Penitenciarias (ACAIPS) CSIF Prisiones Marea Blava Organización Mundial contra la Tortura Instituto de Belleza Francis Agencia de Salud Pública ONU Juzgado de lo Penal número 11 de Barcelona Parlamento Europeo Consejo de Ministros

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Isaac Kasamani is a freelance photojournalist based in Central Kampala, Kampala, Central Region, Uganda.

Uganda Official Threatens to Try to Resurrect Death Penalty for Homosexuality

30 Oct 2019  |  truthout.org  |  English  |  LGBTQ Issues

In Uganda, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, has threatened to reintroduce a bill that would make homosexuality punishable by death. This follows the murder of gay activist Brian Wasswa and reflects the country's climate of homophobia, influenced by British colonial legacy and American evangelism. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, known as the 'Kill the Gays Bill,' was first introduced in 2009 and passed in 2014 with life imprisonment as the penalty, but was overturned on a technicality. Despite constitutional protections, LGBTQ individuals face violence and discrimination, with recent arrests of 16 men from an LGBTQ shelter. The resurgence of anti-gay sentiment may distract from government issues, as Uganda approaches a contentious election. Human rights advocates emphasize the broader implications of such discrimination.

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Front Line Defenders Uganda's Ministry of Ethics and Integrity Sexual Minorities Uganda Abiding Truth Ministries Southern Poverty Law Center Uganda's Ministry of Health United Nations Committee Against Torture National Resistance Movement

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Florence Massena is a journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon.

After studying journalism and political sciences in France, I took a turn towards Middle East and have been living in Beirut, Lebanon, for over five years. I mostly write in English online about culture, women issues, society and ...

Report describes the treatment of Emirati activist in jail

05 Oct 2023  |  The New Arab  |  English  |  Political Repression

Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent Emirati human rights defender, has been subjected to inhumane detention conditions since his arrest in March 2017. A report by Human Rights Watch and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights details severe violations of due process and basic prisoner rights, including solitary confinement, lack of medical care, and restricted communication. Mansoor's imprisonment stems from his social media activities and communications with international human rights organizations. The report highlights the UAE's systematic repression of human rights activists, including forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and torture.

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Front Line Defenders Human Rights Watch Gulf Centre for Human Rights Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals' State Security Chamber Federal Supreme Court

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Lluis Muñoz Pandiella is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain.

"Chester" knew he was going to be killed, another leader assassinated in Colombia

12 Apr 2023  |  www.france24.com  |  Spanish  |  Violence

Luis Alberto Quiñones, known as 'Chester', was a social leader in Colombia who was assassinated despite multiple threats and inadequate protection measures. He was committed to ending violence in his community through education and sports. His death highlights the ongoing violence against human rights defenders in Colombia, with 186 leaders killed in 2022 alone. The new left-wing government under Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez aims to address these issues, but significant challenges remain. The article underscores the need for comprehensive protection strategies and the involvement of various state and non-state actors to ensure the safety of social leaders.

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Front Line Defenders Indepaz Unidad Nacional de Protección Fundación PAZame el Balón Consejo Comunitario Las Voces Negras Government of Colombia

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Clarisse Sih is an award winning backpack mobile journalist who has been trained in Cameroon and Europe. She currently works as backpack reporter with Cameroon's national radio and television and also writes articles for the International Sports Press Association.

Defending Human Rights Is a Crime in Some Countries and a Deadly Activity in Others

27 Apr 2023  |  www.ipsnews.net  |  English  |  Activism

Human rights defenders face significant threats and repression globally, with 401 deaths reported in 2022 across 26 countries. In Bolivia, violations of freedoms and attacks on defenders are rampant, with state-owned YPFB's oil exploration threatening the Tariquía Flora and Fauna National Reserve. Campaigns like ReImagina La Defensa de Derechos and #AlternativeNarratives aim to raise awareness and amplify the voices of defenders. In Central and West Africa, civil society actors face repression, with initiatives supported by organizations like Forus and the French Development Agency. The Danish Institute for Human Rights has launched a tool to monitor the environment for defenders, urging global action to protect their crucial work.

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Observatory of Rights Defenders of UNITAS Front Line Defenders Permanent Assembly of Human Rights of Bolivia UNITAS ReImagina La Defensa de Derechos #AlternativeNarratives Repongac Repaoc Forus French Development Agency Danish Institute for Human Rights United Nations

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I'm a journalist based in Bogotá, Colombia with three years of experience in broadcast and investigative journalism. You can watch some of my TV pieces on these links: 

1. Regresaron a la zona de tragedia - ****

2. Fiscal de fiscales en aprietos por correos agresivos a columnista - ****

3. ...

The situation of environmental defenders in Colombia remains critical

01 Aug 2024  |  es.mongabay.com  |  Spanish  |  Violence against Women

Environmental defenders in Colombia, particularly women, face ongoing threats and violence, with at least six killed since 2015 in the Amazon region. Despite the risks, defenders like Soraida Chindoy and Maydany Salcedo continue their activism against extractive industries and environmental degradation. Organizations such as Somos Defensores report increasing violence, with 238 attacks on women leaders in 2023 and early 2024. The Colombian state is criticized for inadequate protection measures, and the situation is exacerbated by illegal armed groups and insufficient implementation of peace agreements. Calls for better protection and recognition of environmental defenders' roles remain unmet, highlighting systemic failures in addressing these issues.

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Front Line Defenders Mongabay Latam Indepaz Somos Defensores Unidad Nacional de Protección

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I am a journalist based in San Francisco, United States of America.

I am a graduate of the Department of Art History at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China. With experience as both a college teacher and a gallery manager and curator in Beijing, I have a solid understanding of the arts and ...

Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Missing for Six Years, Democratic Activists Gather at San Francisco Chinese Consulate in Protest

13 Aug 2023  |  美国之音  |  Chinese  |  Political Detention

On the sixth anniversary of the disappearance of renowned Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, his wife Geng He and democratic activists in San Francisco protested in front of the Chinese Consulate. Over 30 international human rights organizations issued a joint emergency petition demanding the Chinese government release Gao immediately and cease the persecution of human rights defenders and dissidents through forced disappearances and illegal detentions. Activists globally have joined the effort to locate Gao, with protests in major cities worldwide. Speakers at the events condemned the Chinese government's treatment of Gao and other political prisoners, calling for increased international attention and pressure on China to improve its human rights practices.

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Front Line Defenders China Human Rights Humanitarian China Freedom House International Service for Human Rights PEN International

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