Front Line Defenders

📍INDIA 🚨 Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the violent police crackdown on students and other peaceful protesters, including human rights defenders, exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression during a demonstration held in Delhi on 20 July 2026. The protests, which began in Delhi in June 2026, have since spread to other parts of India and continue despite the police crackdown. What started off as a parody of a statement of the Chief Justice of India labeling unemployed youth as ‘cockroaches,’ has galvanised into a national, youth-led movement for rights under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party. Front Line Defenders stands in solidarity with students and other peaceful protesters, including human rights defenders, as they continue to campaign peacefully in the face of violence and provocation. The organisation calls on the Indian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, ensure accountability for the reported use of excessive force against protesters, conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations into alleged human rights violations, and ensure that human rights defenders and others exercising their fundamental freedoms can do so without fear of violence, intimidation or criminalisation. 🔗 zurl.co/30pDd

🔊 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Protection Coordinator for East & Southern Africa. To find out more and apply, see here: zurl.co/DWQaV

Through its Protection Grants Programme, Front Line Defenders contributes to strengthening the security and capacity of human rights defenders by enabling them to continue their legitimate work. This supports practical security needs including legal costs, temporary relocation, office and home security systems, psychological support and medical costs. Read more about the impact of our grants program on human rights defenders in our Annual Report for 2025: zurl.co/hoRls

🚨 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Head of Region for Middle East and North Africa. Find out more and apply here: zurl.co/1Gg0Z

🚨 OUT NOW: FRONT LINE DEFENDERS ANNUAL REPORT In 2025, Front Line Defenders delivered over 6,000 support activities to HRDs and their organisations worldwide. Our Annual Report demonstrates this through statistics, case studies, narrative demonstrations, and more. Read here: zurl.co/bxNTQ

📍 We urge the Indian government to immediately withdraw the latest amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, and amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act - both of which discriminate against human rights defenders and civil society organisations. Read more: zurl.co/531HB

📍MEXICO 🚨 José Luis Silva Andrade was abducted on 15 July while investigating a logging incident in Agua Fría, following threats against his community. FLD calls on Mexican authorities to determine his whereabouts, ensure his release, and protect him, his family and community. 🔗 zurl.co/6LoS1 photo credit: Serapaz @Claudiashein @GobiernoMX @rosaicela_ @Mecanismo_MX

📍EGYPT 🚨On 16 July, an appeal court upheld Ahmed Douma’s one-year prison sentence over an article criticising political imprisonment and posts on prison conditions. We call for his immediate release, the conviction to be quashed, and all charges dropped. 🔗 zurl.co/TntOk

📍EGYPT 🚨 On 16 July, an Egyptian court is expected to rule on Ahmed Douma's appeal against his one-year prison sentence. FLD expresses grave concern regarding his continued detention and judicial harassment and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. 🔗 zurl.co/knjwV

📣 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Head of Strategy. The role will lead the development and implementation of Front Line Defenders’ Strategic Plan while strengthening programme quality, learning, innovation, and research across the organisation. More information and how to apply can be found here ⬇️ zurl.co/rEEUB

The killing of human rights defenders continues to plague the human rights community. Today I’m launching a report examining why perpetrators have not been held accountable in Eswatini, South Africa and the Philippines: linkedin.com/posts/mary-law…

🚨 Call for Applications DefendDefenders, Front Line Defenders and ISHR are organising an in-person training to equip African defenders with the knowledge and skills to integrate the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner. The training aims to provide an opportunity for participants to prepare for and engage in advocacy activities at the ACHPR in order to push for change back home at the national level. For more info and to apply, see here: zurl.co/R6GtY

📍IRAN 🚨 HRDs and lawyers Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Roy, and Massoud Ahmadian are at imminent risk of arrest after their case was assigned to an Appeals Court. FLD believes this is a reprisal and urges the authorities in Iran to immediately drop all charges. 🔗 Read more: zurl.co/V20B2

#Israel must release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya & all #Palestinian medical personnel arbitrarily detained & adhere to international law, the @UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory & #Israel said today. ➡️ bit.ly/3T7IoGC

FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA

📍OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 🚨 Palestinian HRD and paediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s life is in imminent danger in Israel, where he has been arbitrarily detained for 18 months. He must be immediately and unconditionally released. 🔗 Read more: zurl.co/WCVmm