The Philippines: SC, DOJ, law enforcement prodded to address continued killings of lawyers

29/12/20

Another organization of lawyers has prodded the government to take action against the continued killings of lawyers in the country.

“Centerlaw joins the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, civil society organizations, and the families of those slain in condemning all killings and violence against lawyers,” Centerlaw said in a statement issued on Monday, Dec. 28.

“With our halls of justice gripped in terror, Centerlaw calls on the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police to ensure that thorough, impartial, and focused investigations are carried out and to exact speedy accountability for the slain sentinels of justice,” it urged.

Centerlaw issued the statement after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed last week that the remains recovered in Capas, Tarlac back in October 30 was that of missing retired Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Normandie Pizarro.

“The killing of prosecutors, judges, and lawyers has become so commonplace that it has resulted in a frighteningly established expectation of news that lawyers being killed is a normal occurrence,” the group lamented.

[…]

SC, DOJ, law enforcement prodded to address continued killings of lawyers

http://www.centerlaw.org/

Bloody holidays

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2020/12/26/2066265/christmas-rings-calls-end-impunity

Judge Is Shot and Killed in Her Office at Manila’s City Hall

https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/a-deadly-and-disastrous-2020-for-the-philippines/

https://www.rappler.com/nation/attacks-and-harassment-women-journalists-in-the-philippines-on-the-cost-of-truth-telling

list-of-lawyers-legal-workers-killed-under-duterte-regimeDownload

attacks-on-filipino-lawyers-under-duterte-17-december-2020-5Download

Iran/USA: American Bar Association Awards Nasrin Sotoudeh With Eleanor Roosevelt Prize

29/12/20

Nasrin Sotoudeh is celebrated for her bold and unwavering work to strengthen human rights adherence in Iran which has not only served her fellow Iranians well but also remains an inspiration to human rights defenders around the world. The sacrifices she and her family have endured in defense of human rights have been abominable, yet she carries on firmly in solemn conviction that what she seeks is just and that human dignity is paramount.

Advancing Human Rights in Iran and Inspiring Human Rights Defenders WorldwideThe Center is pleased to honor Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights lawyer who was recently sentenced to more than 38 years’ imprisonment and 148 lashes because of her work defending women’s rights and protesting against Iran’s forced veiling laws, for her stalwart courage and effectiveness in pursuit of a just rule of law in Iran.

https://iranintl.com/en/iran-in-brief/american-bar-association-awards-nasrin-sotoudeh-eleanor-roosevelt-prize

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/human_rights/events/eleanor-roosevelt-prize-for-global-human-rights-advancement/virtual2020erprizeawards/nasrinsotoudeh/

https://www.radiofarda.com/a/nasrin-sotoudeh-won-eleanor-roosevelt-human-rights-prize/31023489.html (FARSI)

#NasrinSotoudeh, Iranian imprisoned #lawyer, has been chosen by @ABAesq as one of the recipients of the 2020 Eleanor Roosevelt Prize.https://t.co/URVI8wSgwo pic.twitter.com/96M0iEpa6s

— FreeIransLawyers (@FreeIranslawyer) December 28, 2020

#نسرین_ستوده: باید تلاش بیشتری برای ایجاد محاکمات عادلانه به خرج بدیم..#صدای‌شان_را_بشنویم#FreeNasrin pic.twitter.com/mShKLszqfT

— Taheri Movement (@Taheri_Movement) December 28, 2020

#نسرین_ستوده اعلامیه حقوق بشر را میراثی برای همه انسانها توصیف کرد و آزادی بشر، عدم تبعیض، منع شکنجه، حق زندگی و امنیت شخصی، ممنوعیت بازداشت خودسرانه، استقلال دستگاه قضایی، دادرسی عادلانه، و دیگر حقوق این اعلامیه را با اهمیت و مبنای تعامل شهروندان و دولت‌ها توصیف کرد@ABAesq pic.twitter.com/IElUa4Ms4z

— Taheri Movement (@Taheri_Movement) December 28, 2020

Uganda: Delays leave human rights lawyer in prison without bail

28/12/20

Ugandan officials today extended the pre-trial detention of human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo by scheduling his case in the courtroom of a judge without authority to grant him bail.

Opiyo was arrested Dec. 22 on charges of money laundering and was remanded to prison over the Christmas weekend.

He appeared by video today in a Kampala magistrate’s court where the presiding officer had no jurisdiction to receive his plea or grant him release on bail. Currently he is to remain in Kitalya Maximum Security Prison at least until Jan.  11, when a further court hearing is scheduled.

Opiyo’s lawyers have applied for bail in the High Court. A bail hearing there has been set for Dec. 30.

Chapter Four, the human rights advocacy organization that Opiyo leads, stated that US $340,000 that police labeled “proceeds of crime” in their money-laundering charge were simply “a grant from one of Chapter Four’s reputable recurring and long-standing donors who legally support Chapter Four’s work of promoting and protecting human rights.”

Opiyo and Chapter Four are longtime supporters of LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda. Opiyo also represents presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), who seeks to unseat Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in next month’s election.

Numerous human rights organizations have issued statements of support for Opiyo and have called for his release.

[…]

Uganda: Delays leave human rights lawyer in prison without bail

https://chapterfouruganda.org/articles/2020/12/28/5th-statement-frivolous-charges-against-nicholas-opiyo

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-remands-nicholas-opiyo-again-3241454

Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo remanded again, till January 11

https://www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/news/uk-human-rights-lawyers-call-upon-uk-foreign-office-to-press-for-immediate-release-of-ugandan-human-rights-lawyer-nicholas-opiyo

How Human Rights Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo Is Using His Time In Prison To Offer Pro-bono Legal Services To Fellow Inmates…

https://www.change.org/p/united-nations-the-government-of-uganda-must-end-intimidation-and-immediately-release-nicholas-opiyo (SIGN THE PETITION!)

https://www.voaswahili.com/a/uganda-mgombea-urais-anyunyuziwa-pilipili-machoni-waandishi-wa-habari-wagoma/5715823.html (SWAHILI)

https://www.maenner.media/gesellschaft/ausland/uganda-free-Nicholas-Opiyo/ (DEUTSCH)

Earlier today, we served the @ODPPUGANDA and the Officer in Charge of Kitalya Prisons with the Production Warrant for @nickopiyo to be produced at the High Court in Kampala before Hon. Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga on December 30 at 9 AM for his bail hearing.#FreeNicholasOpiyo pic.twitter.com/KerIrgCoED

— Chapter Four Uganda (@chapterfourug) December 28, 2020

#FreeNicholasOpiyo • Ugandas bekanntester Menschenrechtsanwalt, der maßgeblich an der Aufhebung des umstrittenen „Kill the Gays“-Gesetz beteiligt war, steht wegen Geldwäsche vor Gericht. Was steckt wirklich hinter den Anschuldigungen? https://t.co/letlNirK45

— männer* (@bluMag) December 28, 2020

Our 5th statement on the frivolous charges against @nickopiyo

Chapter Four protests abuse of court process to punish Mr. Opiyo. These tactics violate his constitutional right to liberty. Unconditionally drop the charges. Statement: https://t.co/eYiLcRmuVl#FreeNicholasOpiyo pic.twitter.com/q6Yapgt7ov

— Chapter Four Uganda (@chapterfourug) December 28, 2020

An independent , principled and strong media serves as a guarantee to our freedoms " @ANMakubuya @cobbo3 @PrimahKwagala @chapterfourug @MucunguziJRK @adianneil#FreeNicholasOpiyo pic.twitter.com/gccf1ajy3w

— Albert Niwagaba (@AlbertKatego_1) December 28, 2020

When LGBTI+ rights defender Nicholas Opyio was unlawfully arrested & detained in Uganda last week, 14 nations, including @StateDept & the European Union, issued this noteworthy response ⬇️ #FreeNicholasOpiyo https://t.co/IfWCdd9eAn pic.twitter.com/0wfNQNzLJY

— Global Equality (@Global_Equality) December 28, 2020