One Year Anniversary of #WithoutJustCause Political Prisoners Initiative
Around the world, an estimated one million individuals find themselves behind bars as political prisoners. Among them are individuals held unjustly for exercising human rights and fundamental freedoms, or detained because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or who they love. Individuals like Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who has been unjustly incarcerated for more than 500 days and is currently serving a 26-year sentence in isolation; Russian pro-democracy opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, sentenced to 25 years for criticizing Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine; Iranian lawyer Narges Mohammadi, whom the Iranian regime attempted to retry on additional charges after she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for activism on behalf of human rights and women’s equality; Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired physician and ethnic Uyghur sentenced to 20 years in prison by PRC authorities for an unfounded charge despite preexisting medical conditions that require regular care; and Tajik human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov, known for representing individuals prosecuted on political grounds, convicted on an unsubstantiated fraud charge in July that added 10 years to his previous 28-year sentence. These individuals and so many others like them represent bright lights of hope for their countries that autocratic leaders seek to extinguish. They serve as critical voices in holding their governments accountable and promoting democratic governance.
One year ago, the United States launched the #WithoutJustCause campaign to galvanize global attention to the outrage of political prisoners detained unjustly around the world, to help the world to learn their stories, and to increase pressure to secure their release. The individuals highlighted in this initiative represent the diversity of prisoners held unfairly for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms; they include faith leaders, civic activists, businesspeople, and former government officials. As the #WithoutJustCause initiative enters its second year, the United States again calls for the release of the brave women and men whose detention we have highlighted, and more broadly for the release of every single individual imprisoned unjustly around the world.
Official news published at https://www.state.gov/one-year-anniversary-of-withoutjustcause-political-prisoners-initiative/
Politics - JISIP NEWS originally published at Politics - JISIP NEWS
The United States is taking action today to advance the mission of the Counter ISIS Finance Group (CIFG), which supports international efforts to curb financing of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) worldwide. Against the backdrop of the 20th meeting of the CIFG, the United States is designating three individuals in a network associated […]
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will speak at the opening of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Private Sector Forum on Wednesday, July 24, at 9:00 a.m. EDT held at the United States Institute of Peace. The Private Sector Forum convenes African and American businesses to discuss greater trade and investment collaboration, particularly […]
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. It’s a great pleasure to have Foreign Minister Battsetseg here. We are proud to be Mongolia’s third neighbor and also very pleased to be able to launch this Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue between our countries. Mongolia has really been an oasis for democracy in the region, and together we are building […]
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. We’re here today ahead of the ten-year commemoration of the ISIS genocide against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims – genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing against these and other groups. I have very strong memories of that time, having served in government when the attacks took place. I remember […]