Front Line Defenders

⚡️ Marfa Rabkova is free! ⚡️ The coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer service was sentenced to almost 15 years in prison for her peaceful work. In the end, she spent 5.5 years in prison. Immediately after release, she was taken to Lithuania. 🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: freeviasna.org #FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

⚡️Valiantsin Stefanovic is free! ⚡️ The deputy chairperson of Viasna spent over 4 years and 8 months in prison for his peaceful work. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison along with his colleagues from @viasna96, Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich, who were released on December 13, 2025. In detention, Valiantsin faced pressure and was recently transferred to a harsher prison regime in Mahilioŭ. After his release today, he was immediately taken to Lithuania. 🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: freeviasna.org #FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

As the sun crosses the celestial equator and the ancient tradition of Nowruz brings the promise of rebirth, the air is thick not just with the scent of spring blossoms, but with the acrid smoke of conflict. On International Nowruz Day, the UN-recognized celebration of peace and dialogue, the Narges Foundation stands in solidarity with the people of Iran and the Middle East, steadfast in our hope for the arrival of a truly New Day. "I offer my Nowruz greetings to all the people of Iran and the world, in the hope of ending the autocratic religious regime and establishing democracy, freedom, and equality." — Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi, March 2024 May every one of your days be a new beginning, and may this New Year bring the triumph of lasting peace and universal human rights. #Nowruz #Iran #FreeNarges

🥰 Human rights defenders are free! Photo by @AstaAndr

⚡️Nasta Loika is free! ⚡️ Human rights defender and co-founder of Human Constanta, Nasta Loika, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for her peaceful human rights activities. After more than 3 years behind bars, Nasta has been released and immediately forcibly removed from Belarus. Nasta's release was the result of yet another round of negotiations between representatives of the US presidential administration and the Lukashenka regime.

📍Mexico 🚨Two years after the disappearance of environmental and Indigenous Nahua human rights defender and teacher, José Gabriel Pelayo, his family and community continue to wait for truth and justice to bring an end to the uncertainty that his disappearance has left those who tirelessly search for him. Pelayo's disappearance is not an isolated incident but forms part of a broader pattern of violence, disappearances, and impunity affecting communities in the Sierra–Costa region, a key region for the trafficking of drugs and chemical precursors, according to media outlets. For years, defenders like José Gabriel Pelayo have denounced the territorial control exercised by armed groups fighting over strategic routes in the region, as well as the threat to their territory posed by mega-projects for the extraction of minerals and natural resources. Because of their human rights work, many face grave risks. In José Gabriel Pelayo's case, the Mexican State has failed to locate him and to deliver results in its investigation of his disappearance. We call on them to effectively progress in the search for his whereabouts and address the worsening security crisis in the Sierra–Costa region. 🔗Read more: frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-r…

📍 IRAN - Statement Ahead of Nowrouz, the Persian New Year, Front Line Defenders calls for an end to hostilities and reiterates its call for the release of human rights defenders unjustly detained in Iran. The escalating war since 28 February 2026 has displaced millions in Iran and Lebanon and has claimed hundreds of lives across the region, including health workers, civilians, and children. Since the beginning of the war, the internet in Iran has been shut down and the Gulf States have further restricted freedom of expression. In Iran, at least three human rights defenders and journalists have been arrested among hundreds of cases of arbitrary detention and disappearances. Many other Iranian HRDs remain in detention, amid deteriorating conditions as the armed conflict escalates. We call on the authorities in Iran to release or furlough detained HRDs on humanitarian grounds. Read more: zurl.co/AiHTw

HRC61: Ensure unhindered access, protect defenders, uphold self-determination in Western Sahara. Saharawi woman human rights defender Fatima Moulay delivered a joint statement on behalf of ISHR, Front Line Defenders, and the Working group on human rights in occupied Western Sahara during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, General Debate Item 4. ishr.ch/latest-updates…

📍India - Joint Statement: Irfan has been detained since 20 March 2023 under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on politically motivated and fabricated charges for his human rights work. We call for his immediate and unconditional release! Read more: zurl.co/YcDX8

Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, was granted leave from Lakan Prison in Rasht. A page attributed to Sharifeh Mohammadi announced the news, stating that the labor activist has been granted a one-week leave. Read more about this political prisoner in HRANA’s reports: ow.ly/50yR50YvZLX

🔊 We stand in solidarity with Norwegian migrant rights defender Tommy Olsen. No one should be criminalised for peacefully defending the rights of vulnerable migrants. Read more about his case history here: frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/tom…

📍Kyrgyzstan 🚨Women human rights defenders Tolekan Ismailova and Bermet Borubaieva were arbitrarily detained and questioned by authorities in Kyrgyzstan last Friday. They were released on the same day, after being held for nearly six hours. The WHRDs were planning on holding a peaceful protest that day against the continued ban on freedom of assembly imposed by the authorities in Kyrgyzstan in 2022, enforced due to the ongoing trial against human rights defenders, civic activists, and members of the political opposition who demanded access to information about the decision to transfer the ownership of the Kempir-Abad water reserve to Uzbekistan. During the questioning, the authorities expressed specific concerns over Tolekan Ismailova's Facebook posts showing support for Ukrainian HRDs and condemning the war crimes committed by the Russian military. They also questioned her on the activities and sources of funding of her human rights organisation Bir Duino. Front Line Defenders condemns the arbitrary detention and harassment against women human rights defenders Tolekan Ismailova and Bermet Borubaieva, in what appears to be a reprisal for their non-violent and legitimate human rights work. 🔗Read more: frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/detent…

#Indonesia: Deeply concerned by horrific acid attack on Andrie Yunus, the Deputy External Affairs Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (@KontraS). Those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account. HRDs must be protected in their vital work & able to raise without fear issues of public concern. - @volker_turk

📍CAMEROON 🚨HRD Maximilienne Ngo Mbe faces an eighth court hearing on 16 March 2026 in a case marked by repeated adjournments and charges including “rebellion”. FLD calls on authorities in Cameroon to drop all charges and end the judicial harassment. 🔗 Read more: zurl.co/opFg6

📍INDONESIA 🚨HRD Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, suffered severe burns after premeditated acid attack in Central Jakarta on 12 March 2026, shortly after speaking about militarism and judicial review. FLD calls for an urgent investigation into this horrific incident. 🔗 zurl.co/7ZfsD

📍Zimbabwe 🚨On 5 March 2026, civic leaders gathered near the historic ruins of Great Zimbabwe to launch the Civic Leadership Institute (CLI), a new space supporting civic leaders across Africa. FLD welcomes the launch of CLI and its mission to strengthen civic leadership across Africa.

📣 Front Line Defenders is recruiting a Finance Coordinator for Lighthouse - the Global Protection Fund. The role will support the financial management of the Lighthouse Fund. More information and how to apply can be found here ⬇️ zurl.co/YW6uE

⚠️Investigate the Perpetrator of the Acid Attack Against Andrie Yunus!🚨 An acid attack against KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus is an attack on human rights defenders and on everyone speak out the truth. Silence and impunity cannot be tolerated. We condemn such action and demand investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice!