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Egypt | Urgent Call for Independent Investigation into Torture and Death of Mahmoud Mika in Egyptian Custody

We, the undersigned rights organizations, express our alarm over the growing number of detainee deaths in Egyptian prisons, amid consistent indications that many of these deaths were a result of torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities. We further condemn the Egyptian government’s entrenchment of impunity through its policies and practices, which collectively lack any credible…

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Yemen | Condemnation of the Houthi Court Ruling Against Journalist Mohammed Dabwan Al-Mayahi: A Flagrant Violation of the Right to Free Expression and an Escalation of Repression Against Journalists in Yemen

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement condemns the ruling issued on May 24, 2025, by the Specialized Criminal Court under the Houthi group against journalist Mohammed Dabwan Al-Mayahi, considering it a serious violation of fundamental rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression, and a further intensification of the use of the judiciary as…

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Egypt: Urgent action for Alaa Abd el-Fattah and Laila Soueif needed

The Rt Hon Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer KC 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AB30 May 2025Dear Prime Minister,We are writing as a coalition of 21 organisations deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of British-Egyptian writer and prisoner of conscience Alaa Abd el-Fattah, and the rapidly deteriorating health of his mother Laila Soueif.Earlier this week, and after an…

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Joint Statement by Humanitarian, Development, and Human Rights Organizations in Lebanon: From South to North: Ongoing Violations Must End — Ceasefire Commitments and IHL Obligations Must Be Respected

As of today, six months have passed since the announcement of a ceasefire that was intended to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. Yet military actions and occupation of territory continue, with near-daily airstrikes, shelling, and airspace violations continuing to impact communities across Lebanon.The  impact of Israel's ongoing military offensive in Lebanon…

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Jordan | The Blocking of News Websites in Jordan is a Grave Violation of Freedom of Expression and the Right to Access Information

23 May 2025On 14 May 2025, the Jordanian Media Commission issued an order for ISPs to block at least 12 news websites, most of which are independent media outlets. The decision lacked an official detailed announcement, including the legal basis for the blocking. Instead, authorities provided vague justifications through media channels, invoking broad and imprecise…

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Egypt | In absentia verdict against politician Hisham Kassem reinforces growing pattern of transnational repression targeting exiled dissidents

The undersigned organizations unequivocally condemn the verdict issued in absentia on 14 May 2025 by the Cairo Economic Misdemeanor Court, sentencing prominent publisher and political dissident Hisham Kassem to six months in prison with labor and ordering him to pay a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds. The sentence stems from charges of defamation, slander, and…

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Iraq’s Protest Ban Is an Arbitrary Measure That Undermines the Right to Peaceful Assembly

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior’s decision to ban all forms of peaceful protest in Baghdad from 11 to 20 May 2025, coinciding with the Arab League Summit.This decision, which has already been implemented and was accompanied by explicit threats of…

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Joint Letter: President Trump Has a Unique Opportunity to End the War in Sudan

The Honorable President Donald J. Trump President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500The Honorable Marco Rubio Secretary of State U.S. State Department 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20037May 13, 2025Dear President Trump and Secretary Rubio,We, the undersigned organizations, write to urge you to take advantage of the critical opportunity presented during your upcoming trip to Saudi…

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As Trump visits Saudi Arabia, groups call for the kingdom to end repression of journalists 

As global attention turns to U.S. President Donald Trump's first international visit to Saudi Arabia on May 13, many journalists inside the kingdom will be unable to cover the event as they are behind bars, banned from writing, or silenced by fear of censorship. We, the undersigned organizations, call on the Saudi authorities to release all…

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Bahrain | Joint Letter on Human Rights Situation to Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Re: Upcoming 59th Session of the Human Rights Council and Eid al-AdhaAhead of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council (June 16 - 11 July 11, 2025), we are writing to you and your delegation regarding the continued detention of leading human rights defenders, bloggers, journalists, opposition and religious activists, and death row inmates…

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Saudi Arabia | NGOs call for immediate release of ​Nourah Al-Qahtani, in solitary confinement and deteriorating health

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, are extremely concerned that Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani has been held in solitary confinement in Saudi Arabia since February 2025, precipitating a rapid deterioration of her health, according to ALQST. We call on the Saudi authorities to release her at once and immediately provide her adequate medical care.Al-Qahtani, a…

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