Le Azioni Urgenti

SCRIVI UNA LETTERA, SALVA UNA VITA

Il programma Azioni Urgenti ha lo scopo di salvare persone che vivono situazioni di emergenza per quanto riguarda i Diritti Umani. Si tratta di un metodo di risposta rapida realizzato per proteggere individui la cui vita o integrità fisica è in pericolo.

Alla fine di questa pagina trovi maggiori informazioni che ti potranno aiutare a partecipare alla nostra attivazione.

Avvisaci in caso di risposta dalle Autorità

Burundi: Jailed doctor needs urgent medical care: Dr Christophe Sahabo

Dr Christophe Sahabo, a Burundian doctor, was arrested on 1 April 2022 over a dispute regarding the management of Kira hospital and has remained in detention ever since. On 10 September, he vomited and collapsed during a trial hearing. He was admitted to hospital, but transferred back to Ruyigi Prison on 12 September, while still undergoing treatment. His medical condition is serious and potentially life-threatening if he does not receive urgent medical attention. Family members were refused access to visit him in prison on 14 September and were not allowed to bring him medicines. The authorities must immediately allow him unfettered access to all necessary medical care.

Iran: woman rights defender at risk of execution: Sharifeh Mohammadi

Human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi is at risk of execution after a Revolutionary Court in Rasht, Gilan province, sentenced her to death in June 2024 solely in relation to her peaceful human rights activities. She supported women’s and workers’ rights as well as the abolition of the death penalty, and until 2011 was a member in a workers’ committee in Iran, where independent trade unions are banned. Her trial was grossly unfair, and her allegations of torture and other ill-treatment were never investigated.

Saudi Arabia: Manahel al-Otaibi subjected to torture in Saudi prison

After one month of incommunicado detention, Manahel al-Otaibi contacted her family on 1 September 2024 and told them she was again being held in solitary confinement and brutally beaten by fellow prisoners and prison guards. On 9 January 2024 Saudi Arabia’s infamous Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old fitness instructor and women’s rights activist, to 11 years in prison for “terrorist offences” in a secret trial. She was arrested on 16 November 2022 and charged with violating the Anti-Cyber Crime Law due to her tweets in support of women’s rights as well as posting photos of herself at the mall without an abaya (a traditional loose-fitting long-sleeved robe) on Snapchat. Saudi authorities had forcibly disappeared Manahel al-Otaibi between 5 November 2023 and 14 April 2024.

Belarus: end torturous ssolation of Maryia Kalesnikava

Maryia Kalesnikava has been arbitrarily detained for four years for her prominent role in the 2020 election and subsequent peaceful protests in Belarus and held for over 500 days incommunicado. She is denied any external calls, visits, letters, and furthermore, is not allowed to speak with other prisoners. According to confidential sources, Maryia’s health has deteriorated gravely and she weighs only 45 kilos. Her treatment, including the denial of medical care she requires, amounts to torture or other ill-treatment and puts her life at risk.

Türkiye: Eritreans at imminent risk of forced return

Hundreds of Eritrean nationals are at imminent risk of forcible return to Eritrea where they would face a real risk of torture, arbitrary detention and other serious human rights violations. Reports indicate that around 300 Eritreans recently detained in Türkiye without adequate access to communication or legal support have been deported to Eritrea. The authorities must immediately halt any plans to forcibly return Eritrean nationals from Türkiye and grant them access to asylum procedures, in line with international law.

Tunisia: opposition figure handed two year sentence: Abir Moussi

On 5 August 2024, the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced opposition figure Abir Moussi to two years in prison under Decree-Law 54 following a complaint filed by the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) after she criticized the legislative elections process. Abir Moussi has been in arbitrary detention since 3 October 2023 under charges that include “attempting to change the form of government,” “inciting violence on Tunisian territory,” and “attacking with the aim of provoking disorder” under Article 72 of the Penal Code, following her attempt to submit an appeal against presidential decrees ahead of local elections. Abir Moussi is facing several other charges in separate investigations related to the exercise of her right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release Abir Moussi and drop the charges against her as they are based solely on the exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Russian Federation/Ukraine: Release Crimean activist on health grounds: Tofik Abdulgaziev

Tofik Abdulgaziev, human rights activist from Crimea sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on politically motivated charges in Russia, was hospitalized in a critical condition in March 2024. He has lost 15 kg and has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. He must be released immediately.

Tunisia: Former head of Truth commission arbitrarily detained: Sihem Bensedrine

On 1 August 2024, a Tunis investigative judge ordered the pre-trial detention of prominent human rights defender Sihem Bensedrine who was president of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) until 2018. Sihem Bensedrine has been under investigation since February 2023 under charges of “fraud”, “forgery” and “abuse of official capacity” following a complaint about the alleged falsification of the chapter about corruption in the banking sector in the IVD final report. Sihem Bensedrine pre-trial detention is arbitrary because it is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her human rights. The detention also falls short of international standards of fairness. Her prosecution appears to be a reprisal for her work exposing human rights violations as head of the IVD. Sihem Bensedrine is currently detained pending trial in the Manouba prison for woman. Authorities must immediately release Sihem Bensedrine, drop all the charges against her, and end the misuse of the criminal justice system to target her.

Equatorial Guinea: Human rights defender arrested once again: Joaquín Elo Ayeto

On 1 August, Equatorial Guinean human rights defender Joaquín Elo Ayeto was arrested at his house in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s capital, when members of the Gendarmerie forcibly entered his house and took him away. He was accused of carrying out illegal activities through the civil society platform, Somos +, which he is a member of and which the authorities claim is not legally registered. He was initially sent to Malabo Black Beach prison before being transferred on 13 August to Oveng Azem prison, in the eastern city of Mongomo, where he is held in pretrial detention. The Equatorial Guinean authorities must immediately release Joaquín Elo Ayeto from arbitrary detention which stems solely from his work as a human rights defender.

Egypt: father unjustly jailed in relation to protests: Badr Mohamed

Badr Mohamed, aged 28, has spent over four years arbitrarily detained in connection to the Ramsis Square protests which took place on 16 August 2013, when he was 17 years old. In January 2023, he was sentenced to an unjust five-year prison sentence following a grossly unfair trial. He is held in Badr 1 prison in cruel and inhuman conditions of detention amid extreme heat, as well as lack of sufficient food. The Egyptian authorities must quash Badr Mohamed’s sentence, immediately release him, and allow him to travel to Austria to be reunited with his wife and his three-year-old daughter, who was born while he was behind bars.

Egypt: unjustly jailed journalist denied healthcare: Tawfik Ghanem

Tawfik Ghanem, a 68-year-old Egyptian journalist, has been arbitrarily detained since 21 May 2021 without trial, pending investigations by the Supreme State Security Prosecution into charges of “spreading false news” and “misusing social media”, among others. Authorities in Badr 1 prison, where he is held, continue to deny him access to adequate healthcare, including transfer to hospital and medication, for his numerous health conditions including diabetes, a bone disease and a skin condition. He should be released immediately and unconditionally as he is held solely in connection to his legitimate media work.

Cuba: teacher in need of medical care

Pedro Albert Sánchez, a 68-year-old teacher and human rights defender, has been arbitrarily detained in Cuba since 22 November 2023. Despite his critical health conditions, including cancer, Pedro is being denied adequate healthcare. He is a prisoner of conscience jailed simply for exercising his human rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. We urge the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Pedro Albert Sánchez and ensure he urgently receives adequate healthcare.

Zimbabwe: end crackdown on activists and opposition

Ahead of the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads State and Government of the Southern African Development community in Zimbabwe on 17 August, the government is systematically clamping down on dissent. In an attempt to silence critical voices and dissuade potential protests, the police and security forces have arbitrarily arrested over 160 activists, political party members, student union activists and civil society members on charges relating to disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance and plotting to incite protests. Some of those arrested were severely tortured and sustained injuries that required hospitalization.

Guinea: Arrested activists’ whereabouts unknown: Oumar Sylla, Mamadou Billo Bah

On 9 July, activists Oumar Sylla (alias Fonike Mengue) and Mamadou Billo Bah were arrested by defense and security forces in Oumar Sylla’s home in Conakry, Guinea’s capital. They have since been subjected to enforced disappearance, with their whereabouts unknown. On the day of their arrest, Oumar Sylla called on social networks for people to wear red clothes on 11 July to protest, among other things, against the crackdown on media and the high cost of living. The Guinean authorities must immediately disclose information regarding Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah’s whereabouts, protect their physical integrity and ensure the two activists are immediately and unconditionally released.

Bangladesh: Thousands of protesters arrested arbitrarily

Arif Sohel, Rony Sheikh and Sabir Rahman are three of the more than 10,000 protesters (students, members of the opposition as well as bystanders) who were arrested in July 2024, as part of the government’s intense crackdown against protesters. Families of the three detained students claim that neither they nor their lawyers have been given access to them, and they fear that they will be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in custody. The government’s harsh response has killed more than 200 people, including journalists and bystanders. The Bangladeshi authorities must immediately end the mass arrests, release all protesters detained solely for exercising their human rights and ensure the right to fair trial for all detainees.

Iran: tortured dissident rapper facing spurious charges: Toomaj Salehi

Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi is arbitrarily detained in Esfahan central prison, Esfahan province, in relation to his peaceful activities, including participation in the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising and social media posts critical of the Iranian authorities. In June 2024, the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence, and sent the case to a lower court. He is also facing new spurious charges in separate proceedings solely for peacefully exercising of human rights, including freedom of expression through his music.

Egypt: Politician detained over social media posts: Yehia Hussein Abdelhady

On 31 July, policemen in plain clothes arbitrarily arrested prominent Egyptian opposition politician Yehia Hussein Abdelhady, aged 71, from a street in Cairo. His arrest came a few days after he published a post on Facebook criticising President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the army and calling for regime change. On the same day of his arrest, a Supreme State Security Prosecution prosecutor interrogated him over the post and ordered his pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations into bogus terrorism-related charges and for publishing “false news”. He must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is detained solely for his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

Egypt: Protester sentenced to three years in jail: Mahmoud Hussein

On 26 June 2024, Egypt’s Emergency State Security Court (ESSC) sentenced anti-torture protester Mahmoud Hussein, also known as the “T-shirt detainee” to three years in prison for wearing an anti-torture T-shirt. He was arrested following the court verdict and taken into custody to serve the remainder of his sentence after he had already spent two years and 10 months in pretrial detention. He is currently held in the El Marg police station, in Cairo, where detainees are banned from visits by families and lawyers. The Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Mahmoud Hussein as his detention is solely related to the exercise of his human rights.

Indonesia: fishermen on trial after protesting encroachment: Ilham Mahmudi and Taufik

Ilham Mahmudi and Taufik, two fishermen from North Sumatra Province, face trial amid efforts to save their coastal village from drowning. They face up to five and a half years in prison after being indicted for alleged group violence and property damage. Local NGOs and advocates view the charges as a form of unjust criminalization linked to their activities as environmental activists. They, along with their community, strive to protect the mangrove forest in the area from encroachment, which they fear could lead to flooding and cause their village to sink. The Indonesian authorities must ensure a fair and impartial prosecution and grant their right to a fair trial.