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Updates on Previous Freedom Writers Cases

This page last updated July 2008

SUDAN -- Sami al Hajj

(February 2008 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Sami al Hajj, a former Sudanese cameraman for the television station al-Jazeera, was freed from the Guantánamo Bay detention facility on May 1, 2008 and returned to Sudan, where he was reunited with his family. He was held by the U.S government without charge for over 6 years. Sami al Hajj has said that while in U.S. custody he was subjected to a range of torture and ill-treatment, including beatings and denial of prescribed medication for cancer. Amnesty International volunteers worldwide have written letters to U.S. authorities on behalf of Sami al Hajj, who was featured in the Campaign for Individuals at Risk's 2007 Write-a-Thon and the February 2008 Freedom Writers Bulletin. His case was also the focus of ongoing casework by AIUSA Local Groups 48 Portland, OR) and 74 (Garden City, NY).

EQUATORIAL GUINEA– Reverend Bienvenido Samba

(April 2008 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
On Saturday June 7, 2008, prisoner of conscience Reverend Bienvenido Samba of Equatorial Guinea was freed under the terms of a presidential pardon. A prominent pastor and member of an ethnic group native to Bioko Island, Reverend Samba was arrested at his church in 2002. Since the time of his arrest, Amnesty members have worked steadily on Reverend Samba's behalf, publicizing his plight and sending thousands of letters calling for his release. Members of the Freedom Writers Network took action several times on Reverend Samba's behalf, most recently in April 2008.

Reverend Samba has thanked Amnesty International for its work, saying: "I want to thank you and congratulate you for the work you do and for getting me free. I knew of your work because 2 years ago I received a letter in prison from a woman in Spain who said she was a member of an NGO. It was a miracle that I received it. I also received the letters sent to me via [other means]. And when you published your annual report I heard on Radio Exterior de España [the Spanish world service radio] my name mentioned and that you have been working on my behalf since my arrest in October 2002. Thank you for your solidarity."

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UZBEKISTAN – Mutabar Tadzhibaeva

(July 2006 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Mutabar Tadzhibaeva was released on June 2, 2008 from Tashkent Womens? Prison in Uzbekistan and taken to her home in Margilan. Upon her release, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva told Nadezhda Ataeva of the organization Human Rights in Central Asia to pass her greatest thanks to Amnesty International. She said: "I spent 900 days on a 'torture island'; 700 of those days I spent in solitary confinement. I endured only because of the support of people who were concerned about my fate. Only this gave me strength. I want to thank them for not forgetting those nearest and dearest to me -- that knowledge helped me remain determined." Her case was featured in the July 2006 Freedom Writers Bulletin, the 2006 Holiday Card Action and the 2006 Ramadan Action. AIUSA group 365 in Watertown, MA also campaigned for her release.

OPT/ISRAEL– Thirteen Individuals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories/Israel

(February 2008 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Several critically ill Palestinians have been allowed to leave the Gaza Strip to seek medical treatment not available in Gaza. Rihab 'Attia Abu Taha (f), Ahmad Mas'oud, Amin Favad and Bassam al-Dos have been allowed to travel outside of Gaza for medical treatment abroad. Ibrahim al-Qanou' received treatment in Jordan, and Iyad Jandiya was allowed to travel to East Jerusalem for care. Sha'aban Fares Salama Abu 'Obeid underwent a successful operation in Gaza when an Israeli cardiac surgeon was allowed to enter the territory temporarily. Karima Abu Dalal (f) managed to leave Gaza in mid-May when some patients were exceptionally allowed passage out of Gaza via the border with Egypt. Rami Al-Arouqi, Rami al-Masri and Sameer Taleb have been denied permission to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment. Tayseer al-Qanou' has given up trying to access medical treatment, and he remains in Gaza without specialized care.

MOROCCO/WESTERN SAHARA– Brahim Sabbar

(December 2006 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Brahim Sabbar, Secretary General of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State, was released in June 2008, after completing two prison terms imposed after unfair trials. Amnesty International believes that he was probably imprisoned for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression.

Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov
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UZBEKISTAN– Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov

(April 2006 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Human rights defender Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was released from prison on February 4, 2008, under a presidential amnesty. After what was, in effect, a secret trial, he had been sentenced to seven years in prison in 2006 for "slander," "spreading information with the aim of causing panic" and other offenses. The chairperson of the independent human rights group Apelliatsia (Appeal), Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov had been monitoring protests in the eastern town of Andizhan when troops allegedly fired indiscriminately into the crowd in May 2005, killing and wounding many, mainly unarmed civilians. The government said that 170 people were killed, but unofficial sources, including Apelliatsia, estimated the death toll as at least 500. International media coverage cited Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov's account of the events, providing a stark contrast to the official account provided by the authorities.

Zmitser Dashkevich© AFP

BELARUS – Zmitser Dashkevich

(January 2008 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Prisoner of conscience Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of the youth-based opposition group Young Front that advocates political freedom in Belarus, was released from prison on January 23, 2008. Zmitser Dashkevich was freed from Sklou prison two months early of the completion of an 18-month prison sentence for "organizing or participating in activities of an unregistered organization."

Rebiya Kadeer © Private

CHINA – Ablikim, Alim, and Kahar Abdiriyim

(January 2007 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
The family of exiled former prisoner of conscience Rebiya Kadeer continue to be targeted by the Chinese authorities. On November 26, 2007, her son Ablikim Abdiriyim, detained in Xinjiang awaiting trial on charges of "subversion" and tax evasion, was seen being carried out of Tianshan District Detention Centre, apparently in need of medical attention. On November 27, her sons Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim were fined heavily and Alim sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on charges of tax evasion.

RUSSIA – Mikhail Trepashkin

(June 2006 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
Prisoner of conscience Mikhail Trepashkin, a lawyer and former KGB and FSB (Federal Security Services) officer, was released from prison on November 30, 2007. He had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment in May 2005. AI campaigned on his behalf, raising fair trial concerns, concerns about the conditions of his detention and the fact that he was denied medical treatment. AI delegates met him in Moscow, and he expressed his gratitude towards all the human rights activists who supported him. He believes that AI's input made a difference in his case.

SAUDI ARABIA – the "Girl from al-Qatif"

(December 2007 Freedom Writers Bulletin)
The sentences of flogging and imprisonment imposed on a woman rape victim, known only as the "Girl from al-Qatif," and her male companion, are reported to have been dropped under a pardon granted by Saudi Arabia's Head of State, King Abdullah.

TURKEY– Mehmet Desde

(August 2007 Freedom Writers Bulletin; 2007 Holiday Card Action)
Many Freedom Writers who participated in the 2007 Holiday Card Action have received responses from prisoner of conscience Mehmet Desde, who is facing 30 months in prison after an unfair trial. His conviction was based largely on statements allegedly extracted under torture. AI continues to monitor his case. Please send copies of any correspondence you receive from Mehmet Desde to: Amnesty International USA / attn: Individuals at Risk Program.

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