March 2016 was an incredible month for human rights – activists were released, unfair laws were changed, and people who committed serious human rights abuses were brought to justice. We’ve picked out 15 successes, wins and pieces of good news, and they were all made possible thanks to your support.
1. Egypt: Teen who challenged torture released after more than two years
20-year-old Mahmoud Hussein (pictured above) was released from prison in Egypt after spending more than two years behind bars for wearing an anti-torture t-shirt. He had been tortured while in detention and forced into signing a confession.
2. Mexico: Marines prosecuted for disappearance
Five Mexican marines were prosecuted for the disappearance of Armando del Bosque Villarreal, who was found dead weeks after his arrest in 2013. The arrests bring a ray of hope to the families of the tens of thousands of people across Mexico whose whereabouts are still unknown.
3. Qatar: Poet released
Mohammed al-‘Ajami, also known as Ibn al-Dheeb, was finally released from prison in Qatar after a four-year ordeal. He had been charged with “insulting the Emir” after performing a poem to a group of people in his apartment in Cairo, Egypt, where he was studying Arabic literature at the time.
Qatari poet Mohammed al-Ajami. Credit: Private.
4. Azerbaijan: 10 prisoners of conscience released
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree ordering the release of 148 prisoners, including 10 prisoners of conscience. The prisoners released included human rights and opposition activists, members of a pro-democracy youth movement and a journalist imprisoned on politically motivated charges.
5. Norway: Historic breakthrough for transgender rights
The Norwegian Ministry of Health proposed key legal reforms which could change the lives of transgender people in Norway for generations. The proposals would allow individuals to self-determine their gender.
Norwegian Health Minister Bent Høie presents the proposed new law to transgender rights activist John Jeanette Solstad Remø. Credit: Amnesty International.
6. Central African Republic: Historic step forward for victims of sexual violence
The former Congolese vice-president, Jean-Pierre Bemba, was found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of using sexual violence as a tool of war. It was an historic moment in the battle for justice for victims of sexual violence in the Central African Republic and around the world.
7. Bosnia-Herzegovina: Karadžić found guilty of Srebrenica genocide
Former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadžić was found guilty of genocide and other crimes under international law. A UN Court convicted Karadžić of genocide in relation to the massacre in Srebrenica, where more than 7,000 Bosnian men and boys were killed. He was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment.
8. China: Lawyer who defended churches released
Zhang Kai. Credit: Private.
9. Malaysia: Women’s rights activist acquitted
Activist Lena Hendry was cleared after being charged under a law which criminalizes possessing or showing films not approved by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia. She had faced up to three years in prison after screening a film on human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
10. Azerbaijan: Human rights lawyer released
Intigam Aliyev. Credit: RFE
The Azerbaijani authorities released prominent human rights lawyer and vocal government critic Intigam Aliyev. He had been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison on trumped-up charges of tax avoidance, illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power, amid a crackdown on dissident voices in Azerbaijan.
11. Kuwait: Activist acquitted
Human rights activist Nawaf al-Hendal was acquitted in March along with 10 other men. He was arrested in March 2015 as he monitored a peaceful demonstration in Kuwait City and was charged with “participating in an illegal demonstration”.
12. Kuwait: Former opposition MP cleared
Former Kuwaiti opposition MP Saleh al-Mulla was acquitted in March of “insulting the Amir of Kuwait and the President of Egypt” on his Twitter account.
13. United Arab Emirates: Blogger released
Omani blogger Muawiya al-Ruwahi was acquitted by the Federal Supreme court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 14 March. He had been charged with “establishing and managing online accounts for the purpose of inciting hate and disrupting public order and social peace” and “ridiculing the State and its leaders”.
14. Turkey: Syrian refugee released from airport detention
Syrian refugee MK was released on 29 March after being arbitrarily detained on his arrival at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport in November. MK feared the Turkish authorities would send him back to Syria, where his life would be in danger.
15. China: Journalist and columnist released
Jia Jia. Credit: Private
Prominent journalist and columnist Jia Jia was released after going missing earlier in March. His disappearance may have been connected with an online letter critical of President Xi Jinping.