Update ~ Recent Focus Cases

Tohti Tunyaz, CHINA -still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2002–2006

Tohti Tunyaz Mozat, a Uighur historian, was arrested in 1998 when he traveled to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region to research his thesis on the region’s pre-1949 history. He was charged with “inciting splittism” and “illegally procuring state secrets” in February 2000. Since he has been convicted of a political “crime”, possibly on the basis of torture, the UN Special Rapporteur has appealed for his release.

U Win Tin, MYANMAR - Released!
Banned Books Week 2005

One of Myanmar's longest serving
political prisoners released
23 September 2008
At Insein Prison, journalist U Win Tin, 78, the longest-held political prisoner in Myanmar, needs urgent medical attention. He suffers from severe asthma attacks, other lung problems, heart disease, and painful inflammation of the joints of the spine. He has had difficulties breathing and eating because of the worsening of his health. Although he has been allowed to see a doctor, he is not receiving the level of medical care that he needs.

Amnesty International members are appealing to the authorities responsible for the custody and care of U Win Tin to release him unconditionally, since he is in prison solely for the peaceful expression of his political views, and in the meantime to provide him with all necessary medical treatment immediately and allow him access to a lawyer of his own choosing as well as to his family members.

Ko Aung Htun, MYANMAR - still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2007

A 41-year-old historian of student movements, he continues to serve sentences totaling 17 years. He suffers from severe asthma and tuberculosis, and has been held incommunicado for prolonged periods.

Shi Tao, CHINA -still imprisoned Banned Books Week 2006

Prisoner of conscience Shi Tao, a journalist and poet, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for sending an e-mail summarizing a Chinese Central Propaganda Department communiqué on how journalists should handle the 15th anniversary of the crackdown on the 1989 prodemocracy movement. He was detained on 24 November 2004, later charged with “illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities”, and sentenced in April 2005; his appeal was turned down in June 2005. His conviction was based partly on information provided to the Chinese authorities by the Internet company Yahoo!

Meanwhile, Shi Tao remains in prison, and AI continues to campaign for his release. To take further action on his behalf, go to http:// www.amnestyusa.org/action/special/shitao.html.

Arzhang Davoodi, IRAN - still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2006

Writer and teacher Arzhang Davoodi, 56, serving a 15-year prison sentence for peaceful expression of opinion, has been tortured and prevented from appealing his case. He began a hunger strike in April 2008. He says:
"I continue to hold out hope that, soon, Iran may … join the rest of the world in upholding human rights. Until then I shall remain in this darksome prison."

Sakit Zahidov, AZERBAIJAN - still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2007

Opposition journalist Sakit Zahidov, who was not given a fair trial, has received medical treatment for dental, heart, and arthritis problems. Meanwhile, however, his brother Q?nim?t Zahid, editor-in-chief of Azadlýq newspaper, was arrested on 10 November 2007 and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on charges of “aggravated hooliganism” and “assault and battery” on 7 March 2008. Q?nim?t Zahid denies all charges against him and believes his arrest was in retaliation for articles he published alleging corruption in the activities of President Ilham Aliyev’s family members. On 10 March 2008, following correspondence to the Prosecutor General late last year, an official letter to the Azerbaijani authorities from Amnesty International emphasized concerns for Sakit Zahidov and other journalists and included a copy of an AI report, Azerbaijan: Mixed messages on freedom of expression.

Karim Amer, EGYPT -still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2007

Student blogger Karim Amer, sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on 22 February 2007 in Alexandria for publishing on the internet material critical of both Islam and the Egyptian President, is considered by Amnesty International to be a prisoner of conscience, jailed for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression. His impris-onment sets a precedent and represents a threat to other Egyptian bloggers, as the Internet has become a major forum for expressing views critical of the Egyptian authorities and exposing human rights abuses. Bloggers in Egypt have been instrumental in publicizing torture and other ill-treatment in police stations. Karim Amer’s case is before the Court of Cassation, which has not set a date to consider it. This court can order a retrial if it finds there were procedural flaws in the trial at which Karim Amer was sentenced, but it can neither acquit him nor change the sentence

Anna Politkovskaya, RUSSIA -killed
Banned Books Week 2007

After the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation reportedly stated (August 2007) that the murderers of journalist and human rights defender Anna Politkovskaya and those who ordered her killing are enemies abroad, trying to destabilize the country, in June 2008 his office announced that investigation is complete and that three detained men are being charged with involvement in the October 2006 killing. A fourth man has been charged with abuse of office in connection with it. There are allegations that the person who shot her, allegedly a Chechen, is hiding in a Western European country. Amnesty International remains concerned that there is a lack of political will to bring all those who were involved in this crime to justice, and continues to call for a full investigation and for all necessary steps to be taken to identify those who ordered the killing and bring them to justice.

In addition to her award-winning reports about the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic, Anna Politkovskaya had written extensively about other abuses in Russia, such as violence in the army, corruption in state structures, and police brutality. Many of her articles were published in foreign media and her books have been translated into several languages.

Pablo Pacheco Avila, CUBA -still imprisoned
Banned Books Week 2007

AI is concerned about the health of Pablo Pacheco, whose arrest and sentencing to 20 years’ imprisonment are believed to have been politically motivated, relating to his legitimate journalistic activities and peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association. He reportedly was transferred to Ciego de Avila Hospital at the end of May to have surgery on his knee. Although there have been some positive signs since Fidel Castro transferred his responsibilities to other senior officials in July 2006, numerous prisoners of conscience — including teachers, journalists and human rights defenders — still are held in prisons across Cuba.