Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)

Whether authoritarian regimes, so-called democracies or warring armed groups, those who wield power in the Middle East and North Africa have taken internet censorship to new levels and stepped up their individual campaigns against critics, journalists, and opponents this month.

Hanan, a human rights defender and co-founder of the ÈAssociation of the Families of the DisappearedÈ group, was trying to get information about her forcibly disappeared husband when she was arrested herself and placed in preventative detention indefinitely.

On the one-year anniversary of the death of popular Cambodian activist Kem Ley, civil society organisations from around the world reiterated their call for an independent inquiry.

This June, the Gulf crisis and its ramifications on the right to free expression across the region dominated the news. Other developments included protests in Morocco and Lebanon, censorship in Egypt and the West Bank, and the loss of lives in Iraq.

NGOs around the world ask authorities to stop campaigns of repression against HRDs and civil society organisations in the Middle East and North Africa region

As President Trump visited Saudi Arabia, repression hit new highs throughout the Middle East. But, though the level of repression to stamp out dissent may be new, the excuse was a very familiar one.

Activist Mohammed Zaree was short-listed for the prestigious Martin Ennals human rights award. But the Egyptian government was not impressed: It may soon decide to put him behind bars.

With 21 extrajudicial killings reported in the last three years, Egypt’s student movement needs the world’s spotlight more than ever.