Le Azioni Urgenti

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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.

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USA: Release ukrainian man with mental health needs

Andriy Shepitsen, a Ukrainian national, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Krome North Service Processing Center since December 2025. Andriy has a diagnosed bipolar disorder, along with other mental health conditions. He has been denied critical medical and mental health treatment and medication, which has led to extreme depression and suicidal ideation. He started a hunger strike on 10 February in response to his mistreatment. We demand Andriy’s immediate release so he can have access to adequate healthcare to prevent further health deterioration and possible death.

Russian Federation: Indigenous leader detained in Russia: Daria Egereva

Daria Egereva is a representative of the Selkup people – one of the small Indigenous groups of Western Siberia in Russia. She also serves as Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) and is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing Indigenous rights globally. Daria was detained in December 2025. At the same time, searches were conducted at the homes of at least 17 other Indigenous activists and human rights defenders, suggesting a broader crackdown on Indigenous civil society.

El Salvador: Defender in prolonged pre-trial detention

Fidel Zavala, spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), has been held in pre-trial detention since 25 February 2025 for supporting the community La Floresta from
a forced eviction. The authorities had used several delay tactics that had prolonged his imprisonment and obtained and extension of the period of the investigation until March 2026. We call on the Attorney General to stop requesting further extensions of the investigation period.

Tunisia: Woman rights defender facing bogus charges: Saloua Ghrissa

French Tunisian human rights defender Saloua Ghrissa, executive director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference (ADD), is facing a criminal trial along with seven other staff and members of the association. They are being prosecuted on unfounded financial criminal and other charges stemming from their human rights work. On 19 March 2026, Tunisian authorities granted Saloua Ghrissa’s request for provisional release after she spent more than 15 months in arbitrary pretrial detention. She was arrested in December 2024 amid a broader crackdown on civil society. Tunisian authorities must immediately drop all charges against Saloua Ghrissa and her co-defendants. The next hearing in their case is scheduled for 30 April 2026.

Tunisia: Opposition figure unjustly sentenced: Abir Moussi

On 13 March 2026, the Tunis Court of Appeal sentenced opposition figure Abir Moussi to ten years in prison on the basis of unfounded accusations of attempting to change the form of the state and “inciting violence” and disorder. In addition to her existing two-year prison sentence in another case. The Tunis Court of First Instance initially sentenced her in December 2025 to 12 years imprisonment following a grossly unfair trial based on the same accusations. Abir Moussi has been unjustly imprisoned since 3 October 2023 when police officers arrested her after she attempted to submit an appeal against presidential decrees on electoral districts. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release Abir Moussi, quash her sentence and drop the charges against her as she is imprisoned solely on the peaceful exercise of her human rights.

USA: Journalists face criminal charges

Journalist Georgia Fort, along with other members of the press, documented a protest on 18 January 2026 inside a church in Minnesota as one of the church’s pastors was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office director. For this journalistic coverage, the US Department of Justice is prosecuting Fort and others representing the press, with serious criminal charges, including a hate crime. Since January 2025, the media and journalists have been targeted for reporting on the Trump administration’s actions. These charges seek to intimidate and silence journalists. We urge the authorities withdraw all charges against members of the press.

Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory: Release Ayman Bani Owda immediately

Ayman Bani Owda, also known as Ayman Ghrayeb, Palestinian human rights defender and social worker from Tammoun (Tubas Governorate) in the occupied West Bank, is held without charges or trial in an Israeli jail outside the occupied territory for his human rights work. A father of four, Bani Owda has been arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces since 17 November 2025. An Israeli military court confirmed a six-month administrative detention order against him on 14 December 2025. Israeli authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him.

Iran: Prisoners in Iran at risk during ongoing US and Israeli strikes

Ongoing US and Israeli air strikes near prisons, as well as the targeting of security facilities where detainees are held, are placing prisoners, including children, at risk. Iranian authorities’ refusal to release all those arbitrarily detained and grant humanitarian release to others imprisoned is knowingly placing those prisoners at risk of death or serious harm. Some prisoners have been transferred to unidentified locations or areas near potential military objectives, intensifying concerns for their safety. Authorities are also subjecting prisoners to enforced disappearance and denying them access to adequate food and water.

Eswatini: Student activist jailed under terrorism law: Menzi Bongeka Bhembe

Menzi Bongeka Bhembe, a 26-year-old university student and activist, was arrested on 16 January 2024 and charged under Eswatini’s 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act. He has been held in arbitrary detention for over two years in violation of due process guarantees, in what appears to be a politically motivated attempt to suppress student activism. Eswatini authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Menzi Bongeka Bhembe and drop all charges against him as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.

Tunisia: Human rights lawyer on trial: Ahmed Souab

On 12 February 2026, the appeal trial of human rights lawyer Ahmed Souab will open before the Tunis Court of Appeal. The Tunis Court of First Instance had last October sentenced him to five years in prison following a grossly unfair trial that only lasted seven minutes. Since his arrest on 21 April 2025, the health of 69-year-old Ahmed Souab has significantly deteriorated in prison. He is currently detained in El Mornaguia prison, outside of Tunis. Since his conviction was related solely to his work as a lawyer and the exercise of his right to freedom of expression, Tunisian authorities must quash Ahmed Souab’s unjust conviction and immediately and unconditionally release him. Authorities must ensure that human rights lawyers are able to freely carry out their work in a safe and enabling environment without any reprisals.

Myanmar: Grave concerns for tortured ex-politician: Linn Htut

While serving as Myanmar’s Shan State Chief Minister, Linn Htut was arrested on 1 February 2021 as part of a nationwide clampdown on senior government officials during a military coup. After he was reportedly tortured and subjected to sleep deprivation, solitary confinement and unfair trials, Linn Htut was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison with hard labour over trumped-up charges of corruption and electoral fraud. In June 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that Linn Htut’s detention is arbitrary and called for his immediate release. With 1,800 deaths in custody reported in Myanmar over a three-year period, there are dire concerns for the life of Linn Htut, who at 65 years of age faces multiple chronic medical conditions made worse by years of torture and poor conditions while in custody. We call on the Myanmar military to immediately and unconditionally release Linn Htut

Viet Nam: Imprisoned activist denied medical care

The health of prominent human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Cấn Thị Thêu has worsened. On 17 January, Cấn Thị Thêu informed her family that she had been ill for 16 days with concerning symptoms associated with a stroke. Her request for medical treatment has been denied. Without proper care and regular visits from her family, there are grave concerns for her wellbeing. Cấn Thị Thêu has been imprisoned in Prison No. 5 in Thanh Hoa province for five years and allegedly subjected to torture and inhumane conditions of detention. Cấn Thị Thêu is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for exercising her human rights, and must be immediately and unconditionally released.

Pakistan: Human rights lawyers imprisoned: Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha

On 24 January, human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were given ten-year prison sentences on “cyber terrorism” and “false information” charges for their posts on the social media platform, X, for expressing solidarity with Baloch and Pashtun activists and criticizing the Pakistan military. They were arrested on 23 January and remain imprisoned in Adila Jail, Rawalpindi. Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha are prominent lawyers who have defended the rights of countless people and are being targeted solely for their advocacy and work defending human rights in Pakistan.

Uganda: Human rights lawyer arbitrarily detained: Dr. Sarah Bireete

On 30 December 2025 Dr. Sarah Bireete, a Ugandan human rights lawyer and constitutional governance expert, was arbitrarily arrested and is currently being arbitrarily detained at Luzira Upper Prison Women’s section. On 2 January 2026, she was charged with unlawfully obtaining or disclosing personal data. On the same day, the court decided to adjourn the bail application to 21 January 2026 in order to enable prosecutor to respond. This is despite bail guidelines requiring an immediate determination of such requests. Amnesty International calls on the Ugandan authorities to grant her immediate release.

Egypt: Unjustly jailed activist tried on bogus terrorism charges: Marwa Arafa

Marwa Arafa, Egyptian human rights activist and translator, has been arbitrarily detained for nearly six years solely in relation to her activism, including supporting relatives of detainees. In December 2024, the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) referred her to trial before the Cairo Criminal Court on bogus charges of joining and financing a terrorist organization. On 20 April 2020, security forces arrested Marwa Arafa from her apartment in Cairo without presenting an arrest warrant; and subsequently subjected her to enforced disappearance for 14 days. Marwa Arafa was arrested in front of her then 2-year-old daughter, causing her child significant trauma. Marwa Arafa’s health has severely deteriorated in prison. Despite this, authorities are refusing her the medical care she needs. Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Marwa Arafa and drop all charges against her as she is detained solely for exercising her human rights.

Viet Nam: Activist held in solitary confinement: Bùi Tuấn Lâm

Since 2023, activist and well-known noodle seller Bùi Tuấn Lâm, also known as “Green Onion Bae”,has been imprisoned in Xuân Lộc prison in Đồng Nai province for his videos on social media about social issues and human rights concerns. Since April 2025, he has subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment with no access to clean water, electricity or light. His eyesight is deteriorating as a result of being held in a dark cell. There are grave concerns that, without improvement in prison conditions, his health and well-being could further deteriorate. Bùi Tuấn Lâm, detained solely for exercising his freedom of expression, must be immediately and unconditionally released.

China: Journalist convicted on baseless charges, denied visits: Zhang Zhan

Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan was sentenced to another four years in prison on 19 September 2025 for the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” After she appealed this verdict in late September, it has been reported that neither her family nor her lawyer was allowed to visit her. For a brief period her whereabouts were unknown, until on 18 November her family received confirmation that she is being held at Shanghai Women’s Prison. Neither they nor her lawyer have yet secured permission to visit her, and there are ongoing concerns for her well-being.

Algeria: Activist and poet Mohamed Tadjadit and 12 other activists

On 30 November 2025, a new trial will commence for activist and poet Mohamed Tadjadit and 12 other activists who all face state security charges punishable by long-term imprisonment and the death penalty, solely based on their peaceful activism and private online communications advocating for political reforms. Mohamed Tadjadit has been arbitrarily detained since January 2025 and subject to repeated arbitrary legal proceedings since 2019. In a separate case, an Algiers court sentenced him to five years in prison on 11 November 2025 for unfounded terrorism-related charges. Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and his co-defendants.