Category: Free speech
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Digital Repression in Belarus through ‘Anti-Extremism’ Laws
Belarus’s anti-extremism and anti-terrorism laws have become key tools for institutionalised political and digital repression. Vaguely worded provisions and administrative blacklists allow authorities to label any form of dissent—such as a social media like or channel subscription—as “extremism” or “terrorism,” leading to prosecution without judicial oversight. This directly violates Article 19 of the International Covenant…
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Kurdish Journalist Nedim Türfent is targeted by the Turkish Government, again
Nedim Türfent, a journalist and a poet who focuses on human-rights abuses Kurdish people face in Türkiye, is being charged for ‘disseminating propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation’ due to his activity on social media. This article (Anti-Terror Law Article 7) has been previously used for individuals such as Yavuz Ekinci, Sebnem Korur Fincanci,…
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Rwanda Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire Re-Arrested Amid Human Rights Concerns
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, an opposition leader in Rwanda, was re-arrested in June 2025. Ingabire, who returned from exile in 2010 to participate in the country’s presidential elections and spent many years in prison, had continued her opposition activities through peaceful means following her release. Authorities stated that she was taken into custody on charges of…
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Chad’s Democratic Decline: The Silencing of Opposition Voices
The recent arrest of opposition leader Succès Masra in Chad has sparked widespread concern over the erosion of democratic principles and the deterioration of human rights in the country. Masra, a former prime minister and leader of the opposition party Transformers, was detained on charges related to a violent clash in Logone Occidental province, which…
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Osman Kavala
Osman Kavala is a well-known philanthropist and rights advocate in Turkey. Yet, he has been behind bars for over 86 months (over 7 years), and his case has come to symbolize the decline of human rights and judicial independence in the country. Kavala’s imprisonment is not just an isolated case but a reflection of the…
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José Rubén Zamora/Guatemala
José Rubén Zamora, a distinguished journalist and the director of the newspaper “El Periódico,” was arrested on July 29, 2022. Known for his investigative journalism, Zamora has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. His arrest has raised significant concerns regarding press freedom and human rights in Guatemala, particularly in light of the politically charged…
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Targeted for Activism: Hossam Bahgat Faces Escalating Charges in Egypt’s Crackdown on Dissent
Hossam Bahgat, a leading figure in Egypt’s human rights movement and founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), continues to face systematic state harassment. Over the years, Bahgat has been targeted with legal challenges and punitive measures for his outspoken advocacy for civil liberties and democracy. Most recently, in January 2025, he was…
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Lawyer Dilek Ekmekci is facing Judicial Repression in Türkiye
Update: Dilek Ekmekci’s hunger strike that began on the 18th November ended on the 28th December. Her next court hearing is on the 10th of January. Dilek Ekmekci, a Turkish criminal lawyer, has been arrested in Türkiye. Since 2020, she has been working on the sexual exploitation of children in state care. In the case…
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Review of Turkey’s Human Rights Record
Regarding the UN Human Rights Committee Review Session in Geneva, November 2024 The UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Turkey’s human rights record in Geneva in November 2024. Rights Defenders Initiative attended the session with a representative and had the privilege to give a speech to the Committee based on the report they prepared and submitted.…
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Exile and Resistance: The Trial and Punishment of Sergei Lukashevsky
Sergei Lukashevsky, a prominent Russian human rights advocate and director of the Sakharov Center in Moscow, was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison by a Russian court in November 2024. The charges stemmed from his outspoken criticism of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including posts and broadcasts alleging misconduct by Russia’s armed forces. These…