Front Line Defenders

📍ECUADOR On 27 October, Ecuadorian civil society organisations raised concerns before the IACHR about the erosion of democracy, militarisation, restrictions on civic space and the criminalisation of HRDs. FLD welcomes this initiative and reiterates the concerns raised at the hearing. 🔗zurl.co/1DH5O [ESP] 📍ECUADOR El 27 de octubre, organizaciones de la sociedad civil ecuatorianas expresaron ante la CIDH su preocupación por la erosión de la democracia, la militarización, las restricciones al espacio cívico y la criminalización de personas defensoras de derechos humanos. FLD acoge esta iniciativa y reitera las preocupaciones planteadas en la audiencia.

📍ECUADOR Hoy en Ecuador, al menos 61 líderes y lideresas indígenas y personas defensoras de la naturaleza🌱 están siendo criminalizadas, entre ellas dirigentes de la @UNORCAC , a quienes la fiscalía les negó aplicar su justicia indígena a pesar de que Ecuador es un Estado plurinacional que reconoce la justicia indígena. 📢Tras las protestas de octubre de 2025, el Estado no se ha responsabilizado por las violaciones de derechos humanos cometidas y ha seguido silenciando a las personas defensoras por medio de procesos de judicialización. ✊Esta práctica institucional necesita cesar. Front Line Defenders insta al Estado ecuatoriano a garantizar los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y a dejar de criminalizar a quienes defienden derechos. [ENG]👇 Today in Ecuador, at least 61 indigenous leaders and environmental defenders🌱 are being criminalised, including leaders of UNORCAC, whom the public prosecutor’s office has refused to allow the use of their Indigenous justice system, despite the fact that Ecuador is a plurinational state that recognises Indigenous justice. 📢Following the protests in October 2025, the government has failed to take responsibility for the human rights violations committed and has continued to silence defenders through legal proceedings. ✊This institutional practice must stop. Front Line Defenders urges the Ecuadorian authorities to guarantee the rights of Indigenous peoples and to stop criminalising those who defend rights.

📍PAKISTAN 🚨Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were each sentenced to ten years in prison today under anti-terrorism law. FLD calls for their immediate and unconditional release and the dismissal of all criminal convictions and cases against them. 🔗 zurl.co/LSxQi

📍SUDAN 🚨On 20 October, all charges against HRD Mohamed Izzeldin were dismissed and he was released. FLD welcomes his release and calls on the authorities in Sudan to ensure accountability for violations he reportedly suffered during detention. 🔗 zurl.co/gvlZQ

The Ninth Circuit of the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court, presided over by Counsel Mohammed Mubarak, decided to fine the editor-in-chief of "Mada Masr," Lina Attalah, three million Egyptian pounds, on charges of operating a website without a license, and ordered the closure of "Mada Masr." This ruling was followed by Attalah's detention at the hands of security forces. Hossam Bahgat, executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, who attended the session, explained to "Mada Masr" that after the session was adjourned due to the defense's insistence on obtaining sufficient time to review the case files, the judge ordered the courtroom to be completely cleared except for "the defendant" and her defense team. This was followed by the courtroom filling with officers and guards in plain clothes, and the presence of a "National Security" officer. Afterward, the court president and the representative of the State Security Prosecution exited, and the court president announced that it had decided to uphold the rejection of all procedural defenses submitted by the defense, including the attachment of any documents or the hearing of any witnesses, before asking the defense team to present its closing argument. The team insisted on not delivering a closing statement given the failure to respond to the submitted requests. The judge then suddenly requested the entry of an unknown lawyer not recognized by any members of the defense team, and "in a move astonishing to all those present," the judge announced that the court had decided to appoint a lawyer to defend the accused. At that point, cries of protest erupted from all members of the defense team against the presence of an appointed lawyer in light of the eight original lawyers already present. Lina Attalah herself spoke up, declaring her rejection of this lawyer representing her—a declaration that the court president refused to record in the session minutes. "And in a move even more shocking," the court president himself began recording the appointed lawyer's requests in the session minutes, without the lawyer uttering a single word, before the judge started reciting the conviction ruling amid screams and cries of objection from the defense team. He ruled to convict Lina Attalah and impose the maximum penalty: a fine of three million Egyptian pounds, the closure of the "Mada Masr" website, and the confiscation of equipment and devices. Those present were then stunned to see security personnel surround Lina Attalah and carry her from the floor out of the courtroom, where she remains detained to this day.

🕊️Front Line Defenders is deeply saddened by the passing of Daniela Fichino, deputy director of Justiça Global and a dear colleague in the struggle for human rights, whose life was characterised by courage, generosity and an unwavering commitment to social justice and a fairer and more equal society. At this time of sadness, we express our solidarity and affection to the Justiça Global team, her family, her friends and all those who had the privilege of sharing her journey. [PORTUGUÊS]👇 🕊️ Front Line Defenders lamenta profundamente o falecimento de Daniela Fichino, diretora-adjunta da Justiça Global e querida companheira na luta pelos direitos humanos, cuja trajetória foi marcada pela coragem, pela generosidade e pelo compromisso inabalável com a justiça social e com uma sociedade mais justa e igualitária. Neste momento de tristeza, expressamos nossa solidariedade e nosso carinho à equipe da Justiça Global, à família, às amizades e a todas as pessoas que tiveram o privilégio de compartilhar sua caminhada.

📍ARMENIA 🚨On 21 October, women environmental HRDs from My Heart Is In The Highlands initiative reported intensified surveillance and intimidation during COP17, following restrictions on a peaceful protest. FLD calls on Armenian authorities to end harassment and intimidation and ensure their safety. 🔗zurl.co/E3kpV

📍MEXICO It's been six years since lawyer, feminist and Amuzga Indigenous woman human rights defender Kenia Inés Hernández Montalván was arbitrarily detained, criminalised and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison on eleven charges, for exercising her right to protest and defending human rights. Despite being cleared of the eight federal charges against her in April 2026, Kenia remains in prison. In July, one of those cases was reopened after an appeal by a federal agency, CAPUFE, challenging a judge's decision not to proceed with the case on the premise that doing so would amount to criminalising the defence of human rights and activism in Mexico. Over these six years, Kenia has been separated from her young children and held in several prisons, including a maximum-security facility. Last year, she was denied the right to attend her mother's funeral. Even so, she continues to defend the rights of other women in prison and has set up "Weavers of Freedom", a weaving and beadwork workshop that supports more than 30 women in custody. Six years of injustice have also brought six years of solidarity from people and organisations in Mexico, Latin America and beyond. Front Line Defenders joins the call for Kenia's immediate release and demands that the authorities close the cases against her. FREEDOM FOR KENIA NOW! 🔗Read the joint statement: frontlinedefenders.org/en/st…

🔊 HRD Ahmed Mansoor marks another birthday in prison in the UAE. Front Line Defenders calls for his immediate and unconditional release. #BirthdayWishes4Ahmed #FreeAhmed 🔗zurl.co/5zL1N

🔊 Amid widespread threats to HRDs and global funding cuts, developing collective approaches to resourcing and coordinating protection is more urgent than ever. We're sharing the 2026 Global HRD Protection Summit Findings Report and 12 Commitments to shift resources and decision-making closer to defenders, with clearer roles and shared priorities! 🔗 zurl.co/xA12A @OpenSociety @UNHumanRights @AfricaDefenders @Irish_Aid @MAECgob @SpainMFA @AECID_es @dfatirl @ProtectHRD_EU @noradno

📣 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Head of Region (MENA). More information and how to apply can be found here ⬇️ zurl.co/m96ZQ

📍BANGLADESH 🚨WHRD Shampa Goswami faces imminent arrest after a sedition case was filed against her targeting her for her human rights work. FLD calls on the authorities in Bangladesh to drop all criminal investigations against her and cease all forms of harassment against her. 🔗zurl.co/TrN8U

📍India 🚨The crackdown on peaceful protesters in New Delhi involved mass detention, unlawful force and targeting of journalists and HRDs. We call on Indian authorities to release everyone arbitrarily detained and ensure accountability for abuses by security forces. 🔗zurl.co/KzjTz

📍IRAN 🚨WHRD Pouran Nazemi faces imminent risk of imprisonment after an appeal against her prison sentences may not have been registered. FLD believes her conviction is linked to her peaceful human rights work and calls for the convictions and sentences against her to be dropped. 🔗zurl.co/LV5P7