Nieuws

Arrest and detention of Sukhrat Qudratov

Tajikistan

Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales are concerned to learn of the arrest and detention of Sukhrat Qudratov, a prominent defence lawyer in Tajikistan who had represented the former Minister of Industry, Zaid Saidov. According

Gao Zhisheng released from prison

China

Chinese human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, whose secret detention and alleged torture by Communist authorities prompted an international outcry has been released on 7 August 2014 at the end of his three-year suspended sentence, his wife and a relative said.

Lawyers for Lawyers concerned at prosecution of lawyer Georgy Antonov

Russian Federation

The Russian investigative authorities are trying to impede the work of lawyer Georgy Antonov. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) reported about this on their website. Antonov was, against his will, interrogated as a witness in his client’s case. After this,

Meeting with Alba Cruz

Mexico

On 19 May 2014 Lawyers for Lawyers met with Alba Cruz Ramos During this meeting Alba elaborated on her current work. One of her current concerns is the constitutionality of reforms proposed by the Mexican government to denationalize certain sectors. Specifically

Waleed Abu al-Khair sentenced to 15 years

Saudi Arabia

On 6 July 2014, the criminal court of Jeddah has convicted human rights lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair to a 15 year prison sentence, followed by a 15 year travel ban, and a fine of 200.000 Saudi riyal. On top of

Letter for Zinaida Mukhortova

Kazakhstan

In a letter Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the government of Kazakhstan to release Zinaida Mukhortova if her forced psychiatric confinement is connected to her invaluable human rights activities. Reports by Kadyr Kasiyet, a human rights organization based in Kazakhstan, indicate

Killing of human rights lawyer

Libya

On 26 June 2014, human rights lawyer Salwa Bugaighis was shot dead in her home in Benghazi by a group of unidentified men wearing military uniforms. Her husband, who was present at the time of the attack, is currently missing. Salwa

Mahienour el-Massry to be awarded Ludovic Trarieux prize

Egypt

On 25 June 2014, the 19th Ludovic Trarieux human rights prize was awarded to Egyptian human rights lawyer Ms. Mahienour el-Massry from Egypt. She was sentenced on 2 January, 2014 (in her absence) to a two year prison sentence, for organising a peaceful protest. She was

Thailand Rejection of evidence in case Somchai Neelapaijit

On 21 May 2014, the Supreme Court of Thailand rejected the admission of crucial phone evidence in the case against five police officers accused of causing the involuntary disappearance of the Thai lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit to enforced disappearance in Bangkok on 12 March 2004.

Swaziland L4L sends letters for lawyer Thulani Maseko

On 13 June 2014, L4L wrote letters to the Swaziland authorities calling on them to release lawyer Thulani Maseko immediately. Thulani Maseko and journalist Bheki Makhubu were arrested on 17th March 2014 after Chief Justice Ramodibedi had issued a warrant for their

UAE Ill-treatment of lawyer in prison

On 2 June 2014, L4L sent a letter to the United Arab Emirates authorities on behalf of human rights lawyer Mohamed Al-Roken. With this letter L4L wanted to draw attention once more to the situation of Al-Roken, who has been in prison for over

Egypt Repression campaign targeting human rights lawyers

The human rights situation in Egypt is quickly deteriorating. L4L was informed about several cases involving human rights lawyers, which illustrate a repression campaign targeting human rights defenders opposing the current regime in the country since the “Protest Law” was passed