Nieuws

Lawyer Mahienour el-Massry released

Egypt

On 21 September 2014, the Court of Appeal in Alexandria accepted the petition to quash human rights lawyer Mahienour el-Massry’s sentence. She was released the very same day. El-Massry was sentenced on 2 January, 2014 (in her absence) to a two

Sri Lanka Situation of lawyers deteriorates rapidly

The situation of lawyers in Sri Lanka is deteriorating rapidly. Lawyers for Lawyers was informed about- and contacted by several lawyers who are the victim of (death) threats in connection to their work. This week, Lawyers for Lawyers wrote letters to the Sri

Human rights lawyer Gustaf Kawer at risk of arrest

Indonesia

The Papua Regional Police has opened an investigation into human rights lawyer Gustaf Kawer in connection with “crimes against public authority”. The charges, under articles 211 and 212 of the Criminal Code, refer to events alleged to have occurred during

Court rules to hold Intigam Aliev in pre-trial detention

Azerbaijan

On 12 September 2014, Nasimi District Court in Baku rejected the petition to transfer Intigam Aliev from pre-trial detention to house arrest. Intigam Aliev will appeal this ruling in Baku City Court. On the morning of 8 August 2014, Intigam Aliyev was summoned

Call for release of Mazen Darwish

Syria

The Syrian government should immediately and unconditionally release the arbitrarily detained human rights defender Mazen Darwish and his colleagues Hani Al-Zitani and Hussein Ghareer, 79 organizations, including Lawyers for Lawyers, said today. The Syrian Anti-Terrorism Court is expected to issue

Lawyer Rodolfo Felicio killed

Philippines

Lawyers for Lawyers has sent letters to the authorities of the Philippines urging them to investigate the death of human rights lawyer Rodolfo Felicio. On 24 August 2014, Atty. Felicio was killed at Floodway, Taytay, Rizal, while reportedly amongst his

Colombia Caravana mission 2014

Colombia

This year, like in 2010 and 2012, Lawyers for Lawyers again participated in the Caravana Internacional de Juristas (Caravana). From 23-30 August, Wout Albers and Harald Wiersema visited Colombia together as part of a group consisting of 70 lawyers and judges. The Caravana

Human rights lawyer Abdujaparov attacked in his office

Kyrgyzstan

Frontline Defenders informed Lawyers for Lawyers about the following: On 4 September 2014, an unknown individual attacked human rights lawyer Makhamajan Abdujaparov in his office. Makhamajan Abdujaparov is a senior lawyer of Jalal-Abad regional human rights organization Spravedlivost (“Justice”). The attack was

Teng Biao speaks at meeting Lawyers for Lawyers

China

On 29 August, Lawyers for Lawyers and NGIZ Amsterdam organized a meeting with the Chinese human rights lawyer Teng Biao. As a lawyer Biao defended AIDS activists, Falun Gong followers, Tibetan protesters and farmers who have been displaced from their land. The price

Thulani Maseko sentenced to 2 years in prison

eSwatini

On 17 July lawyer Thulani Maseko and journalist Bheki Makhubu, were both convicted of  ‘contempt of court’ by  the High Court of Swaziland. Shortly afterwards they were both sentenced to two years in prison. The normal punishment for  ‘contempt of court’ is

Human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev in pre-trial detention

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan holds the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, and should therefore respect and uphold the democratic values of the Council of Europe and the essential human rights guaranteed in the European Convention on Human Rights. However, a

Rommel Durán arrested and detained in poor conditions

Colombia

On 9 August 2014, Rommel Durán Castellanos, Colombian lawyer, was arrested in the village Curumaní in the Cesar region. Rommel works for the legal team “Pueblos” and Department of Santander Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los presos politicos (FCSPP). According