Worldwide Torture Cases
Torture is inflicted upon detainees in a shocking number of the world's nations. Some governments seek to justify their use of this brutal practice, while others don't even bother to try. But torture can never be justified. Torture can never be condoned.
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Zhao Lianhai, father of a boy who became ill from contaminated milk powder in China in 2008 is being held as a prisoner of conscience and is at risk of torture and other ill- treatment for his campaigning for justice for other affected families.
Brazilian teacher, Rolindo Vera, has been missing since October 30 after he and other indigenous people were evicted from their land. His community fears he may have been abducted and taken to Paraguay. The body of another male teacher was found in a nearby river; Rolindo Vera's life is in grave danger.
A 20 year old man, Nouravie Wilfred, held incommunicado without charge by police in Guyana has been release. However, another man, Deonarine Rafick may face an unfair trial after being tortured in order to force him to sign a confession.
Three Iranian journalists, Bahman Ahmadi Amou'i, Kevyan Samimi Behbahani, and Saeed Laylaz, remain detained since the government's crackdown on freedom of expression after the June 12 elections. They are at risk of torture.
Members of a peasant farmers' organization in southern Mexico have been tortured while in custody after being arrested without a warrant.
Charged by a military judge with "conveying false nwes" about human rights in Syria, Haytham al-Maleh could face up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted. The 78-year-old man is being held in a prison in Damascus, awaiting a trial that does not comply with international standards.
Yemeni journalist Muhammad al-Maqalih is now believed to be detained at a prison run by the Ministry of Defense, though the authorities have continued to refuse to give any information about him.
Mohammad Pour Abdollah, who was arrested in February in Tehran, is now on trial for his involvement with an Iranian student organization. He is at risk of torture and other ill treatment while he is in detention.
Mehdi Karroubi, a 72 year old male cleric is facing criminal charges in relation for his reporting of allegations that detainees were mistreated.
President Obama and a number of members of Congress have resisted full accountability for torture, and have endorsed indefinite detention and unfair military commissions. There is an alternative: call on President Obama and Congress to respect human rights. PDF format | RTF format
Mohammed Mohammed Hassan Odaini remains detained in Guantanamo despite being cleared for release over 2 years ago. Odaini was detained in March 2002 along with several other Yemeni nationals, and sent to the detention camp at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In June 2005 he was deemed suitable for release from Guantanamo, yet he continues to be unjustly detained. He has not been interrogated for nearly two years and the reason for his continued detention is unclear.
On December 1, 2004, some 200 people participated in a nonviolent ceremony in Papua Province during which the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, was raised in commemoration of the declaration of Papuan independence in 1962. For peacefully raising this flag, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage may spend the next decade or more in prison in Indonesia.
