Thomas Arthur, aged 75, was executed in Alabama late on 25 May. It was his eighth execution date since 2001, three times coming within a day of being killed. This time, the US Supreme Court lifted a stay shortly before the death warrant was due to expire.

Zhao Liping was executed on 26 May 2017 following the approval by the Supreme People’s Court of his death sentence with immediate execution. The decision was made despite serious concerns about whether he had received a fair trial and allegations that his “confession” was made after being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

Veteran activist Xu Youchen has testified at his appeal that police had tortured him to obtain the evidence used to convict and sentence him to death in December 2016.

Sri Lankan priest, Father Elil Rajendram, is being harassed by the police over his efforts to help families memorialize their loved ones lost during the armed conflict.

Yong Kar Mun was executed at 5.30 am on 24 May 2017 at Sungai Buloh Prison in Selangor, Malaysia.

Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is now facing six charges two of which may result in the death penalty or life imprisonment if he is convicted.

A Provincial Court upheld a three-year prison sentence against human rights defender Eduardo Cardet who continues to be held in the Provincial Prison of Holguín, south-east Cuba.

Academic Nuriye Gülmen and primary school teacher Semih Özakça, were remanded in Sincan prison, in Ankara, on 23 May. They are continuing a prolonged hunger strike to protest against the dismissal from their jobs.

Residents of the city of Buenaventura in Colombia have reported police repression, including the use of tear gas, at peaceful protests that began on 16 May.

Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Idri, were disappeared in Kenya and taken to a prison facility at the National Security Service (NSS) headquarters in Juba, South Sudan on 25 January, around midday.