Human Rights Foundation

Before Algeria’s presidential campaign kicks off on Sept. 7, it has already been marked with allegations of suppression, as incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s is accused of 13 potential opposition candidates. Only two candidates were approved by the regime: Abdelaali Hassani, of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), and Youcef Aouchiche, of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS). Neither poses a serious challenge to Tebboune. Tebboune took power from Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019 with 58% of the vote but a turnout of less than 40%. Though he has promised significant social measures, the regime continues to crackdown on regime critics and separatist movements throughout his presidency. This year, the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders has downgraded Algeria on its freedom of expression index to 139th out of 180, saying the “media landscape in Algeria has never been so deteriorated.” HRF expresses concern over the abuse of executive power in Algeria’s upcoming presidential campaign by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the rejection of most opposition party leaders. It stands with Tunisians' rights to participate in free and fair elections. https://buff.ly/3XimOyZ

Hong Kong activist and former district councilor Ng Kin-wai is the first to defend himself in a national security trial where 47 prominent pro-democracy politicians, lawyers, scholars, and journalists are being tried for participating in a 2020 pro-democracy “primary.” A first round of mitigation hearings in the landmark trial started in June, following the conviction of 14 out of 16 defendants who pleaded not guilty and are now asking for lighter sentences. In the hearing, Ng said he has no remorse for participating in the primary. “I believe no one wants to be ruled by a totalitarian regime,” Ng said. The presiding judge, Andrew Chan, said Ng would be entitled to a concession “significantly less than others” due to his late plea and lack of remorse. The Hong Kong 47, #HK47, were accused of plotting against the government for organizing “primaries” ahead of the Legislative Council Election and now face charges of “conspiracy to subvert state power.” HRF continues to denounce the politically motivated arrests of the #HK47 and other pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and urges the government to allow for free and fair elections to take place. https://buff.ly/4dCR2T6

On Aug. 21, the Burmese military killed Win Htut Oo, a journalist with @DBV_English, and Htet Myat Thu, a freelance journalist with online media, the National Voice, during a raid in the southern Mon State. The bodies of the two journalists were cremated on the spot. While pro-regime groups alleged that Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu were rebel members, their media outlets confirmed they worked as journalists. Since the Burmese junta seized power in a 2021 coup, press freedom has sharply deteriorated. The junta has killed at least seven journalists, and more than 60 journalists remain in detention to date. HRF strongly condemns the Burmese military junta's relentless and brutal crackdown on journalists. It urgently calls on the international community to take action to end the atrocities being committed by the Burmese junta.

Today marks nearly one year since prominent Iranian pop singer Mehdi Yarrahi was arrested in Iran after releasing a song dedicated to the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement that followed Mahsa Amini’s 2022 death while in the custody of Iran's morality police. “Take off your scarf; the sun is sinking. Don’t be afraid, my love; laugh; protest against tears,” Yarrahi's song goes. Numerous artists and writers have been persecuted for their support of protests following Amini’s death, including Toomaj Salehi and Taraneh Alidoosti. In January, the Revolutionary Court sentenced Yarrahi to two years in prison and 74 lashes for “publishing obscene and immoral content, encouraging people towards corruption and obscenity” and “propaganda against the system.” In February, Yarrahi's sentence was changed to home confinement due to health issues in exchange for a bail of $270,000. HRF condemns Mehdi Yarrahi's deprivation of liberty and demands his immediate and unconditional release. It stands with Iranian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and dissent without fear of reprisal from the regime.

On July 31, Afghanistan's Taliban regime passed a new law banning journalists from publishing or broadcasting content that the morality police believe violates Sharia law or insults Muslims. The news was not made public until Aug. 21. According to the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, it has “implemented 90% of reforms across audio, visual, and print media” and arrested 13,000 people for “immoral acts,” including several journalists. The law preceded a law that bans women’s voices and bare faces in public, which was passed on Wednesday. The move is another devastating blow to fundamental human rights in Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover over three years ago. HRF strongly condemns the Taliban’s recent laws that prevent Afghani citizens’ freedom of expression and dissent without fear of reprisal. HRF stands for women’s rights to choose to be veiled and speak freely in public and private.

HRF expresses concern over the recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov and its potential impact on the safety and privacy of millions of users in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. Durov was arrested in France reportedly due to concerns about Telegram’s content moderation practices, which stem from the country’s regulations that place heavy burdens on digital platforms. Authorities allege that the platform has not done enough to prevent illegal activities. While it’s important for democratic countries to address criminal behavior on popular social media platforms, the right to privacy for the vast majority of users must be respected, particularly in countries with weak or nonexistent protections for freedom of expression and association, where dissent is harshly persecuted. Despite its documented use by at least some nefarious state actors, Telegram has also been an essential tool for human rights and pro-democracy activists worldwide, particularly in Eastern Europe, providing a generally secure platform for organizing and sharing information free from government censorship. HRF urges democratic governments to enforce laws thoughtfully in the digital space and calls on France, in particular, to uphold the presumption of innocence, ensuring that efforts to combat crime do not lead to sweeping infringement on digital rights and freedom of expression globally, especially for users in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes.

North Korean defector Eunhee Park shared her powerful story of her pursuit for freedom despite the risks and sacrifices facing the oppressive Kim regime at the 2024 #CollegeFreedomForum. Watch the full talk here: https://buff.ly/3WgSzXs

Larry Diamond, democracy expert and Stanford University political science professor, gave remarks at the 2024 #CollegeFreedomForum, where he discussed the struggle for democracy in Asia-Pacific. Watch the full talk on YouTube: https://buff.ly/4cKXjvr

Democracy expert and political scientist Francis Fukuyama discussed the global deterioration of democracy and the rise of authoritarian regimes at the 2024 #CollegeFreedomForum. Listen to his remarks on YouTube: https://buff.ly/3LXBCwB

Vietnamese pop star and political activist Mai Khoi took to the 2024 #CollegeFreedomForum to share how she works to counter authoritarianism with her music.