The Belarusian authorities are threatening to take journalist Larysa Schiryakova’s 10-year-old son away from her. This threat follows her critical reporting of events in the country including the ongoing crackdown against peaceful protesters.

Iranian journalist Hengameh Shahidi is in a critical condition in Tehran’s Evin prison. She has been on hunger strike for 29 days in protest at her arrest on 9 March. She has a heart condition and is refusing her medication. She is being held in solitary confinement and has been denied access to a lawyer.

On the night of 3 April, unidentified people situated in front of human rights defender Rafael Maldonado’s house in Guatemala City, shot at a car nearby. Although he was unharmed, the defender believes the incident was intended to intimidate him and is concerned for his safety.

Ledell Lee, aged 51, is due to be executed in Arkansas on 20 April for a murder committed in 1993. There have been serious concerns about his legal representation.

Loghman Sawari, an Iranian refugee, is being detained at Waigani Police cells, Papua New Guinea, under new charges under the Migration Act. Currently on bail for similar charges under the Passport Act, the Court will determine a preliminary application to dismiss these charges on 18 April 2017.

On 27 March, the Supreme Court of Tucuman Province, northern Argentina, unanimously decided to acquit Belén, the 27-year-

Members of the Defence Movement of Earth, Environmental Protection and Access to Water are facing death threats because of their work defending the right to water in Petorca Province, central Chile.

Research student Siti Noor Aishah has been placed under ‘preventive detention’ for alleged possession of 12 books deemed ‘illegal’ by the Malaysian government.

The prosecution of fashion designer and LGBTI activist Barbaros Şansal for exercising his right to freedom of expression continues. The next hearing will take place on 1 June. In the meantime, a travel ban prevents him from carrying out his professional activities and the authorities are failing to provide him with protection from attacks.

Lahpai Gam, an elderly ethnic Kachin man, is suffering from serious health problems which may be due to the torture he endured at the time of his arrest in 2012. He must be immediately and unconditionally released, and in the meantime, provided with access to necessary health care and treatment.