Arbitrary arrest

Saudi Arabia: Activists Face Blowback from Hunger Strike

Chris Michael — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:58:12 -0800

We just received an email update from Saudi activists that Saudi authorities have "intensified campaigns aimed at suppressing freedom of expressions, blocking media outlets, and stymieing civil movements" since the November 6-7 hunger strike.

3 Ways You Can Take Action to Close Guantanamo

Priscila Néri — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:37:56 -0800

According to Time Magazine, only 23 of the roughly 250 people currently imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention center have been charged. The rest have been held for several months - even years - unlawfully and without access to legal defense.

Saudi Activist on Hunger Strike: 'Fighting for freedom is worth the risks'

Priscila Néri — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:45:35 -0800

Dr. Mohammad Al-Qahtani joined several other activists this week in a 2-day hunger strike in Saudi Arabia to protest the unfair detention of 11 human rights activists. In this Skype webcam interview, Mohammad talks about the campaign and discusses how online tools are being used to call for justice within Saudi Arabia.

Of the 11 detained human rights activists, none of them have had formal charges or a trail date. Additionally, 9 are currently in solitary confinement and 10 of them have been detained since February 2, 2007 - 642 days and counting.

Saudi Activist: 'Why I joined the hunger strike...'

Priscila Néri — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:20:19 -0800

Maha Al-Qahtani joined several other activists this week in a 2-day hunger strike in Saudi Arabia to protest the unfair detention of 11 human rights activists. In this audio interview, Maha talks about the campaign and discusses how online tools are being used to call for justice within Saudi Arabia.

Facebooking a Hunger Strike: Saudi Activists' Innovative Online Campaign

Chris Michael — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:42:55 -0800

Update: November 14, 2008:

Esam Mudeer, blogger and one of the Saudi hunger strike organizers, reports on the group's Facebook page that the Saudi government has blocked his blog because of his participation in the hunger strike.

Saudi Arabia: Facebooking a Hunger Strike for 11 Detained Activists

Chris Michael — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:26:17 -0800

In this video interview, Saudi journalist Ebtihal Mubarak discusses how Saudi activists are harnessing online tools to call for justice within Saudi Arabia. Due to oppressive restraints - primarily freedom of expression and assembly - the defense teams and supporters of eleven human rights activists detained in Saudi prisons have called for a hunger strike online - via Facebook.

Saudis Use Internet to Protest Unfair Detention of 11 Activists

Priscila Néri — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:48:09 -0800

"This is our silent invitation to the world," says one Saudi activist, "but can the world hear us?". Today Saudi activists launch a two-day hunger strike via Facebook to protest the detention of 11 human rights activists who have been held in Saudi Arabia for months - some for almost two years - without charge. In a country where the internet is strictly monitored and controlled, this campaign is a bold attempt to use online tools to advocate for justice and mobilize global support.

China's media laws under scrutiny

aljazeeraenglish — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:55:11 -0700

China's temporary media laws - designed to give greater, freedoms to foreign journalists during the Olympics, are due to expire on Friday.

The Chinese government has given no indication that it plans to renew the law.

That could see reporters once again having to seek permission every time they want to leave Beijing.

Melissa Chan reports. (October 17, 2008)

Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia 2007

licadho — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:27:05 -0700

Cambodia is a dangerous place for human rights defenders. During 2007, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) recorded more cases than ever before of threats and attacks against activists attempting to peacefully defend the rights of others.

Urgent Action: Call on the Egyptian Government to Release Online Activists

Chris Michael — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:01:09 -0700

This week's Urgent Action comes from Human Rights First's Human Rights Defenders program with a focus on online activists within Egypt, which they note is "continuing its assault on free expression, jailing internet activists and journalists under broad and unjust laws."