Prisoners of Conscience
What is a prisoner of conscience?
A "prisoner of conscience" is someone imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. The term was coined by Amnesty International's founder, civil rights lawyer Peter Benenson, who launched Amnesty International with an appeal on behalf of six prisoners of conscience.
Special Focus Cases
Help Amnesty International win the release of these prisoners of conscience.
To find out what you can do, click on their names.
 | CHINA
Shi Tao
Chinese journalist Shi Tao used his Yahoo! email account to send a message to a U.S.-based pro-democracy website. Authorities used email account holder information supplied by Yahoo! to sentence Shi Tao to 10 years in prison.
» Call on your Representative to stand up for human rights in China
» Send a message to the Chinese government |
 | BELARUS
Zmitser Dashkevich - Released
UPDATE: Amnesty International welcomes the release from prison on January 23 of Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of a youth organization that advocates political freedom in Belarus. A leader of the youth-based opposition group, Young Front, 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." |
 | LIBYA
Fathi el-Jahmi
Libyan authorities arrested Fathi el-Jahmi in 2002 after he called for free speech and political reforms during a conference in Tripoli. For that “crime,” he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in March 2004 following international pressure but authorities detained him again just weeks later after he repeated his call for democracy during a television interview.
» Take action to release Fathi el-Jahmi |
 | INDONESIA
Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage
In May 2005, a court sentenced Filep Karma to 15 years in prison and Yusak Pakage to 10 years on charges of treason for having "betrayed" Indonesia by flying the outlawed Papua flag.
» Take action to release Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage |  |
| MYANMAR
Ma Khin Khin Leh
While planning a peaceful demonstration in support of the National League of Democracy (NLD), Ma Khin Khin Leh was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Years earlier the political party NLD had won a parliamentary majority, but the election was overturned by the military.
» Take Action for Ma Khin Khin Leh |
