Case updates

Please bookmark this page for updates on cases featured in the 2005 Greetings Card Campaign.

• Algeria: Louiza Saker
• China: Zheng Enchong RELEASED - URGENT ACTION
• Pakistan: Jawed Khan
• Bangladesh: Sumi Khan
• Zimbabwe: Women of Zimbabwe Arise
• Guantánamo Bay: Omar Deghayes and UK residents
• Turkey: Selahattin Demirtas & Mihdi Perinçek
• Belarus: Mikita Sasim RELEASED
• India: Bilqis Yakoob Rasool
• Uzbekistan: Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov
• Turkmenistan: Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev RELEASED
• Guatemala: Florentín Gudiel

Algeria: Louiza Saker

Louiza Saker's husband, Salah Saker, a teacher and former member of the FIS from Constantine 'disappeared' in May 1994. In the first ruling of an international human rights body on an Algerian 'disappearance' case, the Human Rights Committee ruled in April 2006 that Algeria had violated several provisions of the ICCPR by failing to protect his life, to ensure that he would not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture or ill-treatment, and by denying him access to a court. The Committee also ruled that the behaviour of the authorities towards his wife, Louiza Saker, amounted to ill-treatment.
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China: Zheng Enchong

Lawyer and human rights defender Zheng Enchong was released from a three-year prison sentence on 5 June 2006. He expressed thanks to Amnesty International for the organisation's support and efforts in calling for his release. However, since he was freed, Zheng Enchong has been detained four times and he and his family have been harassed and intimidated by the authorities. Amnesty International fears they are at risk of further abuse.
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Pakistan: Jawed Khan

December 2005: Amnesty has learned that the mercy petition to the President of Pakistan filed by Jawed Khan has been rejected. Jawed Khan continues to be held in a tiny and crowded death cell. No execution date has yet been set. Amnesty continues to monitor the case.
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Bangladesh : Sumi Khan

22 December 2005: Sumi Khan, Samerish Baiddya, other journalists from Chittagong, police, government officials and magistrates from across the country have received death threats in recent weeks. Amnesty believes that their lives may be at risk.
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Zimbabwe: Women of Zimbabwe Arise

On Thursday 4 May, 185 people were arrested in Bulawayo following a peaceful march organised by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) to protest against the government increase in school fees of up to 1000%. Those reportedly arrested included 112 adults, eight of them mothers with infants, and 73 children aged between 7 and 18. 
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Guantánamo Bay: Omar Deghayes and UK Residents

Many letters are reaching the detainees and some activists in the UK have received replies thanking them for their words of support. One of the lawyers for the Guantánamo detainees has told us that: "The cards have been a big boost for the Guantánamo prisoners, so keep them coming."
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Turkey: Selahattin Demirtaş & Mihdi Perinçek

The State Prosecutor launched a case against Selahattin Demirtaş and Mihdi Perinçek in March 2005 on the grounds of 'disseminating news which gives incorrect or misleading information to the public which will affect the conduct of the (statutory) investigation', with a first hearing in July and a second set for 21 October 2005. At the time of writing the outcome of this hearing is not known.
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Belarus: Mikita Sasim

Prominent youth opposition activist Mikita Sasim was released on 16 June 2006 after three months in detention. Mikita was arrested on 14 March, five days before the presidential elections, and was sentenced on 12 May to three month's imprisonment for draft evasion, despite the fact that he had been granted a deferral of his military service. As he was already well-known as a vocal opponent of the government, it seems likely that his arrest was timed to ensure that he was not around during the election period. Many thanks to all those who have taken action on this case.
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India: Bilqis Yakoob Rasool

In December 2003 the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to reinvestigate Bilqis' case. It found evidence of police failure and attempts to cover up the crime. The CBI has since arrested several of the accused and six police officers. In August 2004, the Supreme Court ordered the case to be tried in Mumbai. This case is still ongoing.
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Uzbekistan: Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov

According to reports, human rights defender Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in Tashkent on 5 January 2006, after what was effectively a secret trial. His current whereabouts are unknown. Amnesty International believes that Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov is being punished for his legitimate human rights activities and continues to call for his immediate and unconditional release as a prisoner of conscience.
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Turkmenistan: Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev

Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev was released on 12 April 2006 and returned home to his family in the early hours of the morning. He expressed thanks for the telegrams, postcards and letters that had been sent to him in the hospital. His family also expressed their thanks for the support shown by Amnesty members.  Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev had been forcibly confined to a psychiatric hospital since February 2004 solely to punish him for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Thank you to all those who took action on this case.

Guatemala: Florentín Gudiel

On 14 January 2005, Florentí­n's daughter, Makrina Gudiel Álvarez, was attacked by men who apparently sprayed gasoline over the pick-up truck she was in and attempted to set it on fire. She and the colleague she was travelling with fortunately managed to escape unharmed. Following this incident, Makrina went into hiding and has only recently returned. This is only the latest in a series of threats.
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