PEN International

In advance of the Formula 1, 50 IFEX members and partners call for detained activists and human rights defenders to be freed, including blogger and activist Abduljalil Al-Singace and human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, founder of IFEX member the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, who is ailing in prison since starting a hunger strike on 8 February.

Guillermo Fernández García’s murderers had bound his feet and hands before killing him with a blow to the head.

The IFEX-TMG is alarmed at attacks and prison sentences based on religious morality charges, as well as the use of force by police on demonstrators.

Among the demands expressed by the rights organisations is the immediate release of human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose health is severely compromised after 50 days of hunger strike.

Professor Büşra Ersanlı is facing up to 22.5 years in jail, while Ragıp Zarakolu could see as many as 15 years behind bars on charges of “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.

Dia’a Al-Abdullah was arrested on 13 February from his home in Asswaida by the Air Forces secret services after writing an open letter to the President, and remains detained incommunicado at an unknown location.

Ericson Acosta, who was reportedly arrested while conducting research on human rights and environmental issues, has been held without trial since February 2011.

Kanak Mani Dixit is one of three leading figures to be facing implicit death threats after being declared “People’s Enemies” by the ruling Maoist party.