News
India: UN Declares Detention of Human Rights Activist GN Saibaba to be a Violation of International Law
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found the Government of India violated international human rights law by imprisoning academic and human rights activist G.N. Saibaba.
Kazakhstan: UN Declares Detention of Labor Activist Erzhan Elshibayev to be a Violation of International Law
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found Kazakhstan violated international human rights law by imprisoning labor rights activist Erzhan Elshibayev, in response to a petition filed by Freedom Now.
Saudi Arabia: NGOs Call on President Biden to Help Lift Travel Ban on Loujain Alhathloul
Freedom Now, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and 10 other international human rights organizations have sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to take action to help facilitate the lifting of the travel ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women’s rights activist Loujain Alhathloul.
Blog Post: Vietnamese Journalist Nguyen Van Hoa Remains Imprisoned on World Press Freedom Day
Freedom Now calls for greater press freedoms in Vietnam and the release of journalist Nguyen Van Hoa on World Press Freedom Day.
As Press Freedom Declines in Eurasia, What Can Its Supporters Do?
On World Press Freedom Day, Freedom Now highlights several Eurasian countries where press freedom is most under threat.
Uzbekistan: Authorities Must End Reprisals Against Blogger Miraziz Bazarov for Exercising his Right to Freedom of Expression
Freedom Now joins seven international human rights organizations in calling for an end to reprisals against blogger Miraziz Bazarov and an investigation into his assault.
Saudi Arabia: Loujain Alhathloul Awarded Council of Europe’s 2020 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
Freedom Now congratulates Loujain Alhathloul as the 2020 recipient of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize and urges Council of Europe members and other states to use this opportunity to call for the lifting of the unlawful travel ban imposed on her.
Iran: UN Declares Detention of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to be a Violation of International Law
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued an opinion finding Iran to be in contravention of its international human rights obligations for the detention of Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.
Jailed Professor G.N. Saibaba’s Life at Risk after Testing Positive for COVID-19
Freedom Now joins 17 organizations in calling on Indian authorities to immediately release Professor Saibaba on medical parole and ensure he receives treatment for COVID-19.
Kazakhstan: Freedom Now and McKool Smith File UN Petition on behalf of Activist Alnur Ilyashev
Freedom Now and the law firm McKool Smith have filed a petition with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Kazakh human rights activist Alnur Ilyashev.
Saudi Arabia: Women’s Rights Activist Loujain Alhathloul Released from Prison
Freedom Now is pleased to announce that Saudi Arabian women’s rights activist Loujain Alhathloul was released from prison today after 1,001 days of wrongful imprisonment.
Sri Lanka: Charges Against Author Shakthika Sathkumara Are Dropped
Freedom Now welcomes the decision to drop pending charges against Shakthika Sathkumara. The 34 year old author faced up to 12 years in prison for a short story he published on Facebook.
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