Abdennour Abdesselam

An ethnic minority rights advocate, Abdesselam was arrested on September 13, 2021 on charges of “belonging to a terrorist organization,” and was accused of being connected to the Movement… More

Writers at Risk Database

Jordi Sànchez

Sànchez is a Catalan writer who advocates for the region’s independence. In October 2019, Sànchez, already detained, received a nine-year prison sentence and a ban on holding office for… More

Writers at Risk Database

Jordi Cuixart

Cuixart is a Catalan poet who advocates for the region’s independence. In October 2019, Cuixart, already detained, received a nine-year prison sentence and ban on holding office for sedition.… More

Ihar Bancer

Bancer, lyricist and frontman for band Mister X, was detained in October 2020 for his partially nude protest in front of police. He was charged with hooliganism, likely due… More

Writers at Risk Database

Nasrin Sotoudeh

A human rights lawyer and prominent voice of conscience, Sotoudeh was briefly rearrested and beaten in October 2023 while attending a funeral of a slain teenage girl. She had… More

Arnon Nampa

Arnon Nampa

Since August 2020, Arnon Nampa has been arrested and released on bail several times for his speeches at peaceful protests. In February 2021, he was remanded for violating lèse-majesté… More

Patiwat Saraiyaem

Patiwat was arrested on October 19, 2020 on sedition charges for his prior involvement in Bangkok pro-democracy protests. After being arrested and released shortly thereafter several times in the… More

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk

Magazine editor and activist Somyot was arrested on October 16, 2020 for sedition for his involvement in the September 2020 pro-democracy demonstrations. He was again detained in February 2021… More

Jose Bello

In May 2019, Bello recited his poem “Dear America,” inspired by his first-hand experience in Mesa Verde detention facility, at a local forum. Less than 36 hours later, he… More

Sudha Bharadwaj

Sudha Bharadwaj

On August 28, 2018 Bharadwaj’s house was raided, and she was detained for ‘inciting violence’ as part of a coordinated series of politically-motivated arrests of activists in the Bhima-Koregaon… More