Schlagwort: human rights

The conviction and sentencing of Mali’s former Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison, one of which is mandatory, and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (762 euro), including 1 symbolic franc to the Malian state on charges of discrediting the state among others is a travesty of justice, Amnesty International said, as it called for authorities to immediately release him and other prisoners held solely for their political beliefs.

“Moussa Mara’s conviction and sentencing illustrate the authorities’ persistent disregard for Mali’s human rights obligations under the country’s constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civic and Political Rights to which Mali is a state party,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

“Instead of muzzling critics, the authorities must stop their escalating repression of peaceful dissent and authoritarian practices, and immediately release those currently being detained solely for voicing their opinion. Authorities must uphold and ensure the human rights of everyone in the country including to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”

Moussa Mara, who was Prime Minister from April 2014 to January 2015 and president of the opposition party Yéléma, was arrested on 1 August and accused of ‘discrediting the state’, ‘inciting a breach of public order’ and ‘opposition to legitimate authority’.

His arrest came after he posted a tweet on 4 July, expressing his solidarity with several imprisoned activists and politicians. In his tweet, referring to the “night”, he vowed to fight “by all means to make [the sun appear]”.

The authorities’ use of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and abuse of the criminal justice system to silence peaceful dissent in Mali must stop.

Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa

Recent cases of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances

Numerous journalists and activists have been targeted in the crackdown on perceived critical voices in Mali.

On 8 May 2025, El Béchir Thiam, a journalist and member of Mara’s Yéléma party, was abducted by hooded men claiming to be intelligence agents. This happened a day after he publicly criticized the transitional parliament’s decision to give the military government, another five-year term in power. Thiam’s fates and whereabouts were unknown at that point, as the authorities failed to acknowledge or disclose any information about his detention. On 17 July, his wife filed a formal complaint for abduction. On 26 September, he was released and allowed to return home.

Clément Dembélé, an anti-corruption activist, was arrested in November 2023 as he and his organization, the Platform against corruption and unemployment, were about to hold a press conference to denounce recurring power outages. Dembélé was accused of making death threats against Assimi Goïta, the head of state, and his family. In April 2025, an investigative judge dismissed the charges against Dembélé and called for his release. Despite this ruling, he remains in arbitrary detention.

In August and September 2025, the UN Independent expert on Mali denounced El Béchir Thiam’s enforced disappearance and Clément Dembélé’s arbitrary arrest, and called for their release.

“The authorities’ use of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and abuse of the criminal justice system to silence peaceful dissent in Mali must stop. Authorities must ensure respect for the right to a fair trial and uphold the rule of law,” said Marceau Sivieude.

Other critical voices silenced since 2023

Rokiatou Doumbia, also known as “Rose Vie Chère” or “Tantie Rose”, was arrested in March 2023 for denouncing the worsening insecurity and cost of living crisis since the military takeover. She was charged with ‘inciting revolt’, ‘discrediting the state’ and ‘criminal conspiracy’, and sentenced to one year in prison in August 2023. Although she has served her initial sentence, she is still being arbitrarily detained.

In March 2023, radio broadcaster and activist Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, known as “Ras Bath”, was arrested after he had described the death in detention of former Prime Minister, Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga, as an ‘assassination’. He was convicted on appeal in August 2023 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for ‘simulating an offence’, or accusing the state of committing an offence. Although he served his sentence, Ras Bath was again charged with ‘criminal conspiracy’, ‘discrediting the state’, and ‘regionalist, racial and religious offences’, for the same events and remains in pre-trial detention.

In September 2023, activist and member of the National Transitional Council Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le Cerveau” was arrested after he called for the return to civilian constitutional rule. He was charged with ‘discrediting the state’ and sentenced to two years in prison. In February 2025, a request filed by his lawyers for provisional release was dismissed, and Diarra remains in arbitrary detention.

Issa Kaou N’Djim, another former member of the National Transitional Council, was convicted and sentenced to a two-year prison term after he dismissed in November 2024 the veracity of a declaration by the Burkinabè authorities of a coup plot. N’Djim was arrested after a complaint by the Burkinabè authorities and charged with ‘public offense to a foreign head of state’.

Background

Mali has been governed by military-led authorities since the coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020. The transition, which was supposed to last 18 months, has been extended thrice beyond its term. In April 2025, the government announced the dissolution of all political parties and the extension of the transition to another five-year period. 

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Responding to reports that Roberto Mosquera del Peral, a Cuban national who was deported from the United States along with 13 others to Eswatini in July 2025, has begun an indefinite hunger strike at Matsapha Correctional Centre to protest his ongoing detention, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said:

“Roberto Mosquera del Peral’s hunger strike is a stark warning about the human cost of secret transfer arrangements and unlawful detention without due process. The authorities in Eswatini must urgently facilitate a medical assessment for Roberto by a qualified health professional (providing health care in compliance with medical ethics), ensure confidential access to lawyers and families for all detainees, and disclose the legal basis for these detentions. Both Eswatini and the United States must be transparent about the terms of their agreement.

Roberto Mosquera del Peral’s hunger strike is a stark warning about the human cost of secret transfer arrangements and unlawful detention without due process.

Tigere Chagutah, Regional Director, East and Southern Africa

“No one should be transferred to a country where they are at real risk of serious human rights violations (including unlawful detention). Such transfers breach the principle of non-refoulement as laid out in international human rights law. Moreover, no one should be unlawfully detained, and the Eswatini authorities must promptly either facilitate the release of Roberto and the 13 others, or establish lawful grounds for their detention before a competent court.”

Background

Roberto Mosquera del Peral is among 14 men deported to Eswatini under a secretive transfer arrangement between the two governments. None are known to have ties to Eswatini. According to lawyers and family members, the men remain detained without charge and attempts by legal representatives to obtain confidential access have been repeatedly refused.

Roberto Mosquera del Peral’s hunger strike reportedly began on 15 October and his health has deteriorated.

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ASEAN member states must put human rights at the centre of regional discussions and decision-making, Amnesty International said as Southeast Asian leaders gather for the bloc’s 47^th Summit in Malaysia this weekend.

“It is long past time for member states to act decisively to address the continually deteriorating crisis in Myanmar. Nearly five years since Myanmar’s military seized power, the situation in the country is an ever-worsening human rights nightmare,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director.

“People in Myanmar face multiple threats, including the armed conflict fueling internal displacement, and the junta’s ongoing campaign of repression, including unlawful air strikes on civilians. The military, and in some cases armed groups fighting against it, have carried out forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions. Crumbling economic standards are also affecting rights to health, education and livelihoods.

“Though the vast majority of human rights violations are committed by the military, Amnesty International and others have also documented abuses by armed groups, such as the Arakan Army that has taken control of large parts of Rakhine State, leaving civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other ethnic minorities trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of suffering.

“ASEAN’s approach to the situation in Myanmar has failed to prevent grave human rights violations let alone hold perpetrators accountable, with the humanitarian crisis in the country worse than ever, compounded by a devastating earthquake in March that killed thousands. ASEAN must urgently intensify efforts to exert maximum influence on the military and other armed groups to comply with international humanitarian law and free all arbitrarily detained prisoners.

“As the Myanmar junta prepares to hold elections, it is increasingly relying on repressive tactics and arresting anyone critical of the poll. ASEAN must take a clearer stand against these abuses or they will only increase. It must also revisit the failed five-point consensus that among other aims was intended to stop the violence in the country but has clearly fallen short.”

Amnesty International also remains deeply concerned about the ongoing scamming compound crisis in Southeast Asia – especially Cambodia, where thousands have been victims of human trafficking, forced labour and torture. Although organized criminal groups are running these compounds, the Cambodian state has failed to take adequate steps to stop the widespread human rights abuses despite being made aware of them for years.

“While ASEAN governments have previously acknowledged the seriousness of scamming compounds, they must put words into action by working to dismantle these criminal networks, protect victims, prosecute those responsible and ensure that host states like Cambodia take decisive action,” Montse Ferrer said.

In Indonesia and the Philippines, excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests by police to quell recent protests must also be effectively investigated.

“ASEAN governments should not rely on authoritarian tactics to silence dissent. They must instead respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as international standards on the use of force.

“Failing to address serious human rights violations undermines regional stability and weakens ASEAN’s reputation. If it wishes to have any credibility on the international stage, ASEAN must put people before politics, take decisive action to address crises in the region and strengthen the regional bloc’s system of promotion and protection of human rights,” Montse Ferrer said.

Background

The ASEAN Summit is a semi-annual meeting of the leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The 47^th ASEAN summit will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 26 to 28 of October. Timor-Leste will join as the 11^th member state of ASEAN on 26 October.

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In light of the prolonged arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán, Indigenous representatives of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán, who will today have been deprived of their liberty for six months, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said: 

“Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights. Their detention is arbitrary, and they must therefore be released immediately. We will insist as many times as is necessary: organizing a peaceful protest is a right, not a crime. The misuse of terrorism charges to silence dissenting voices does, however, violate human rights and puts the entire Guatemalan society at risk.”

Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights. 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

Both men were detained on 23 April 2025 and subsequently charged with crimes of terrorism and obstruction of justice, with a judge ordering their pre-trial detention. Amnesty International believes that these criminal proceedings are unfounded and that they are part of a pattern of politically motivated persecution previously reported by the organization,  the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 

Information compiled by Amnesty International shows that the authorities are seeking to punish Luis Pacheco and Hector Chaclán for participating in the peaceful protests of October 2023 in defence of the rule of law. At the time, they were president and treasurer, respectively, of the Maya K’iche Council of Community Mayors of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán.

The proceedings have been marked by irregularities and delays on the part of the authorities, which have directly impacted the defendants’ right to a fair trial. Legal proceedings have been stalled since 25 June due to the absence of a judge to preside over them. The judiciary still needs to appoint a judge to conduct an intermediate hearing. Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has kept the proceedings under reserve for several months, hindering their right to a defence and to be tried without unreasonable delay. 

“These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary,” added Ana Piquer. 

These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary. 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

Amnesty International reiterates that using antiterrorism laws to punish peaceful assembly is contrary to international human rights law, and once again calls on the Guatemalan authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and to put an end to the criminal prosecution of human rights defenders.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact press@amnesty.org 

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Reacting to news that Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has petitioned the Supreme Court to designate the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) founded by the late prisoner of conscience Aleksei Navalny a “terrorist organization,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“The Kremlin has been relentless in its persecution of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and his supporters. Its campaign of repression led to Navalny’s death in custody in February 2024, the banning of organizations he founded, and the exile and criminal prosecution of their activists and staff. Still unsatisfied, the Kremlin is now determined to deliver a final, fatal blow. This move is not just about dismantling Navalny’s legacy but crushing any pockets of dissent left in the country.

“The “terrorist” designation would expose anyone associated with ACF (FBK in Russian) or Aleksei Navalny to criminal prosecution with the harshest penalties, including up to life in prison. FBK once stood at the very centre of civic life in Russia, supported by tens of thousands country-wide; this decision could unleash a floodgate of mass reprisals.

The “terrorist” designation would expose anyone associated with ACF or Aleksei Navalny to criminal prosecution with the harshest penalties, including up to life in prison

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“The Prosecutor General must immediately withdraw its unlawful petition and end the misuse of anti-“terrorism,” and other legislation to crush dissent. The Russian authorities must also lift the ban on ACF, stop persecuting people for alleged association with it, and ensure a transparent and effective investigation into the death of Aleksei Navalny conducted by independent and impartial international experts.”

Background

On 22 October 2025, the Prosecutor General’s Office petitioned the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to recognize the US-registered ACF Inc. (Anti-Corruption Foundation, the legal successor of the banned Russia-based FBK) as a “terrorist organization” under Russia’s broad anti-“terrorism” laws. The hearing is scheduled for 27 November and will take place behind closed doors. It will be presided by the same judge who previously banned the non-existent “international LGBT movement” and “international satanism movement” on the grounds of “extremism.”

Just last week members of the Anti-War Committee, established by exiled opposition activists, were charged with “terrorism”-related offences.

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