Nieuws

Concerns about the deterioration of Buzurgmehr Yorov’s health amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Tajikistan

In view of serious threats to his health and life as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the government of Tajikistan to immediately release the human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov and to provide him with

One year since Yu Wensheng was convicted after a one-day secret trial

China

On 9 May 2019, the Xuzhou Municipal Intermediate Court in Jiangshu province conducted a one-day secret trial of human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng. Before this trial, Yu Wensheng had been detained for more than 500 days. Neither Wensheng’s wife nor

Burundian lawyer Dieudonné Bashirahishize had to flee his country: ,,Defending the rule of law is not a crime”

,,History will judge. I will not stop fighting against impunity in my country” Text: Johan van Uffelen One of the lawyers for whom Lawyers for Lawyers has campaigned several times is the Burundian human rights lawyer Dieudonné Bashirahishize (1978), former

Pre-trial detention of Mohamed El-Baqer renewed

Egypt

It has been reported that the pre-trial detention of Egyptian human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer was renewed by 45 days on 5 May 2020. The renewal session took place in absentia, without Mohamed El-Baqer or his lawyer present. Photo taken

Arrest of lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen

Philippines

On 1 May 2020, lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen was arrested during a protest in Iloilo City, the Philippines. It was reported that the lawyer was present at the protest to provide legal assistance. According to our information, 42 individuals were arrested

Bar Associations of Ankara and Diyarbakir under investigation

Türkiye

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Ankara and Diyarbakir have initiated ex officio investigations against the Ankara Bar Association and the Diyarbakir Bar Association because of their statements denouncing Turkey’s top mufti Ali Erbaş. This has been reported by the

Wang Quanzhang reunited with his family in Bejing

China

Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was finally reunited with his family in their house in Beijing after he served a four-and-a-half–year prison sentence. Photo taken from AsiaNews.it After his release from prison on 5 April 2020, Wang Quanzhang was being

House of Esteban Celada raided and vandalized

Guatemala

On 22 April 2020, the house of human rights lawyer Esteban Celada from Guatemala was raided and vandalized by unknown individuals whilst the lawyer was at work. This is the third raid on his home in less than five months.

Zyad al-Elaimy has been added to Egypt’s ‘terrorist list’

Egypt

On 18 april 2020, Cairo’s Criminal Court has ordered to put human rights lawyer Zyad el-Elaimy and 12 other detainees on Egypt’s ‘terrorist list’ for a period of five years. This was reported by the FIDH. Zyad al-Elaimy is a

UN urges Iran to immediately release amongst others prisoners of conscience at risk of COVID-19

Iran

Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the initiative from UN human rights experts on 17 April 2020 to call on Iran to expand its temporary release of thousands of detainees to include prisoners of conscience and dual and foreign nationals still being

Concerns about the arrest of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah

Sri-Lanka

Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the arrest and detention of Sri Lankan Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah. According to our information, Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) on 14 April 2020, reportedly under the Prevention of Terrorism

Hong Kong arrests three lawyers and other human rights defenders on charges of illegal assembly

China

On 18 April 2020, 15 pro-democracy figures, including three lawyers, were arrested in Hong Kong for their alleged role in ”organizing and participating in unlawful assemblies” in August and October 2019. The arrest took place just hours after China’s top