A former government official has been sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the killing of a young woman.

The health of Iranian women’s rights activist, Atena Daemi, has sharply deteriorated. After 46 days on hunger strike, she is critically ill and her body has started rejecting water.

Salomée T. Abalodo, farmer and community leader, has been released after the Tribunal of Pagouda (Kara, northern region of Togo) dropped all charges against her.

Human rights lawyer Xie Yang was released on bail the day after his trial for “inciting subversion of state power” and “disrupting court order”. The verdict has not yet been announced and he continues to be kept under tight surveillance.

In the case of two Timorese journalists, the lead prosecutor has recommended imprisonment of one year for Raimundos Oki, and a two year suspended sentence for Lourenco Vicente Martins if they are convicted of “defamatory false information.”

Unidentified persons broke into the residence of Venezuelan human rights defenders Yonaide Sánchez and Nelson Freitez.

Yong Kar Mun was convicted and sentenced to death in 2009 for discharging a firearm in the commission of an armed robbery.

Prisoner of conscience Maryam Akbari Monfared has been threatened with an additional three-year prison term and exile to a remote prison.

Letter-writing changes lives. A letter from you could help free a prisoner, stop an execution or help a bereaved family receive justice. This edition of Real Lives is produced for those wishing to write more letters in support of individuals at risk.

On 11 May, the Bahrain High Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence imposed against Maher Abbas Ahmed. His case will now go before the Court of Cassation. Maher Abbas Ahmed will be at imminent risk of execution if the sentence is upheld again.