ARTICLE 19

The law grants security forces broad and vague monitoring and surveillance powers, extends incommunicado detention from 6 to up to 15 days for terrorism suspects, and permits courts to close hearings to the public, and allow witnesses to remain anonymous to the defendants.

One year ago, on July 30, 2014, human rights defender Leyla Yunus was arrested and charged with treason, fraud, forgery, tax evasion, and illegal entrepreneurship. Her arrest marked the start of a period of unprecedented repression in Azerbaijan.

Eight international freedom of expression groups have called for an investigation into the illegal blocking of online access to the “Colombo Telegraph”.

Akhmednabi Akhmednabiyev was shot dead on 9 July 2013 as he left for work in Makhachkala, Dagestan. He had actively reported on human rights violations against Muslims by the police and Russian army.

EFF, Derechos Digitales and their colleagues in the region have issued a statement to Latin American governments, demanding more transparency on how Latin American states are using — or misusing — spyware like that sold by Hacking Team.

Filadelfo Sánchez Sarmiento, a radio commentator and director for the station La Favorita 103.3 FM in Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, was killed on the morning of 2 July 2015.

A recent ARTICLE 19 report finds that restrictions and punishments directed at men tend to come from the government, whereas for women they are reinforced and exacerbated by society in the form of gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence.

Vietnamese blogger Le Quoc Quan describes the conditions during his 30 months in prison, and vows to continue speaking out in defense of human rights.