Activism
Inside Out

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement is dedicated to advancing the rights and empowerment of communities across the MENA region through strategic activism, advocacy, and collaboration.

Our approach transcends borders, resonating with a diverse array of stakeholders, including civil society, activists, citizens, and democratic governments.

About HuMENA

Engaging people IN, FROM, and FOR MENA

HuMENA promotes civic engagement in the MENA region to address inequality and empower marginalized communities. They emphasize engaging the MENA diaspora in change-making and human rights promotion through three pillars: integrating emigration into local policymaking, fostering diaspora involvement through advocacy networks, and supporting collaborations with local civil societies. HuMENA aims to establish institutional systems that incorporate citizens’ voices in decision-making, enhancing government responsiveness. They collaborate with various stakeholders, including local civil society, the diaspora, and international organizations, for the betterment of the MENA region.

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Years of Experience

Statements & Press Releases

The undersigned organizations express their grave concern regarding the continued lack of information concerning the fate of student Ahmed Hassan, whose whereabouts have remained unknown since April 1, 2019, in the absolute absence of any official response to date. Ahmed Hassan, who was 18 years old at the time of his disappearance, vanished on April 1, 2019, while on his way to attend a graphic design training course in Cairo, near his residence in the Al-Moqattam district. Since that date, his family has exhausted all legal avenues to inquire about his location; however, they have received no official information regarding

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement condemns the decision by the Algerian authorities on 16 March 2026 to close the office of the “SOS Disappeared” association (SOS Disparus) in Algiers, which is affiliated with the Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria (CFDA). HuMENA considers this measure to be not a routine administrative action, but an arbitrary use of legal and administrative tools to target an independent human rights association working on enforced disappearances. It constitutes a direct attack on freedom of association and on the right of victims’ families to organize and demand truth, justice, and redress.

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement condemns the issuance of pre-trial detention orders against several members of the steering committee of the “Sumud Flotilla” in Tunisia. HuMENA considers these measures a dangerous escalation in the criminalization of solidarity with Gaza, and a troubling resort to punitive criminal law measures against a humanitarian and solidarity-based initiative. On 16 March 2026, an investigating judge at the Economic and Financial Judicial Pole issued detention orders against Wael Naouar, Jawaher Channa, Nabil Chnoufi, Ghassan El Hanchiri, Ghassan Boughdiri, Mohamed Amine Belnour, and Sana Msahli, after several days of arrest and custody, in a

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Kuwaiti authorities have detained activist and writer Fareah Al-Saqqaf and thinker and activist Suad Al-Munayes over social media posts in which they expressed political views. Available information indicates that the State Security apparatus was responsible for their detention, amid a lack of clear official information regarding their legal status or the legal basis for the measures taken against them. Several days after their detention, information about the circumstances of their custody and their legal status remains limited. Available reports also indicate that, to date, they have not been allowed to meet with a lawyer or communicate with their families, raising

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Participation condemns the arbitrary arrest of environmental activist Murtadha Al-Janoubi and a number of peaceful protesters, following their participation in demonstrations demanding fair and sufficient water allocations for the Meshrab River and surrounding marshlands in Maysan Governorate. This arrest is part of a troubling pattern of shrinking civic space in southern Iraq, targeting especially those who exercise independent civil oversight over public policies and expose their environmental and human impacts on local communities. Murtadha Al-Janoubi has been an environmental activist documenting the degradation of Maysan’s marshes for years. He has monitored the impact of

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On 2 March 2026, the killing of Yanar Mohammed, President of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), was announced following a targeted shooting outside her home in Baghdad. According to sources close to her work, she had recently returned to Iraq to resume her activities in a country she refused to abandon as an open field. The nature of the targeting points directly to her work as a woman human rights defender. HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement expresses its unequivocal condemnation of this assassination and its full solidarity with her colleagues at the Organization of Women’s

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The next hearing in the case of human rights defender Saadia Mosbah is scheduled for 26 February 2026 before the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance. The proceedings raise serious concerns about respect for fair trial guarantees and the right to liberty, as well as about the judiciary’s adherence to the principle that pretrial detention is an exceptional measure and must not become a punitive tool. HuMENA expresses deep concern over the continued pretrial detention of Saadia Mosbah, particularly in light of the legal and human rights issues raised by this case, including the principles of necessity

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The undersigned human rights organizations condemn the ongoing escalation of summonses to human rights, political, and journalistic figures for investigation by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, in a context in which these summonses are viewed as a deliberate tool to silence independent voices and intimidate those working in the public sphere. The summoning of Dr. Aida Seif al-Dawla, a co-founder of the El Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, for investigation before the SSSP no longer limited to individual cases but has come to represent a systematic policy aimed at emptying human rights and political

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Latest Publications

At a glance: Civic space, arbitrary detention, press freedom | For policymakers, UN mechanisms, donors, and independent media “This report turns documented testimonies into a roadmap for accountability and protection—so that the silence of victims becomes the exception, not the rule.” “Silence by Force: Systematic Houthi Violations Against Human Rights Defenders in Yemen” offers a credible reading of the continuing deterioration in rights and freedoms since Ansar Allah (the Houthis) seized control on 21 September 2014. The picture goes beyond a narrowed public sphere to reveal systematic policies of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture, alongside sham trials that violate

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We are proud to share HuMENA’s Activism in Exile Impact Report, highlighting five years of achievements, challenges, and milestones from 2019 to 2024. This report captures how HuMENA has transformed exile from a condition of displacement into a platform for advocacy, empowerment, and systemic change. Since its launch, the Activism in Exile program has worked to empower exiled human rights defenders (HRDs) and activists from the MENA region, ensuring that their voices are not silenced by displacement but rather amplified on the global stage. Over the years, we have built a movement that redefines exile activism, positioning it as a

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On February 14, 2025, marking the anniversary of Bahrain’s “Day of Rage,” HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement released a new report titled “Bahrain’s Failure to Uphold UPR Commitments: A Deepening Crisis of Compliance.” The report provides a critical analysis of Bahrain’s ongoing failure to implement the recommendations it committed to under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), exposing a widening gap between official pledges and the reality of human rights on the ground. Since Bahrain’s first UPR cycle in 2008, the government has repeatedly asserted that it has taken substantial steps toward reform and compliance with international human rights

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement has released its latest report, titled “The Right to Peaceful Assembly in Jordan: Between Legislative Restrictions and Security Practices.” This comprehensive study explores the legal framework and field practices governing the right to peaceful assembly in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The report examines the legislative and historical contexts related to this fundamental right, shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals and civil society in exercising it. The report aims to highlight Jordan’s trajectory in safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly in alignment with international treaties and conventions. It focuses on the

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‘HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement,’ in collaboration with ‘RedWord for Human Rights and Freedom of Expression,’ publishes a joint report titled: “Political Satire in Egypt: A Peaceful Protest Against Repression.” The report provides an in-depth analysis of the concept of freedom of expression, paired with political satire as a peaceful and effective tool for protest against repressive regimes, with a specific focus on the modern Egyptian Republic. The report traces the development of political satire across decades, examining the periods of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak. It places special emphasis on the Egyptian Revolution of

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement Releases New Report: “Eyes Everywhere: State Surveillance of Human Rights Defenders in Jordan“ This report sheds light on the escalating digital surveillance of human rights defenders in Jordan over the past five years and its detrimental impact on civil space and human rights. Digital surveillance encompasses monitoring mobile devices, wiretapping networks, and tracking personal accounts, particularly on social media platforms, exposing defenders to immense pressure and threatening their fundamental rights. The report is based on comprehensive research, including data collection, analysis, and documentation of digital surveillance cases. It provides an integrated view of

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement has released a new research paper titled “Under Siege: The Shrinking Space for Peaceful Assembly in Tunisia.” This comprehensive study delves into the increasing restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly in Tunisia, particularly following the political shifts after July 25, 2021. The paper draws on extensive desk and field research, including interviews with activists, HRDs, and civil society leaders and a detailed review of legal frameworks and media reports. It thoroughly analyzes the challenges facing Tunisia’s civic space, highlighting the erosion of democratic freedoms and how the legal system is increasingly used

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Trigger Warning! This report may contain testimonies of torture or triggering information related to torture and execution. If you are sensitive about reading horrifying torture testimony that would jeopardize your safety and mental health, we ask that you avoid reading the report. HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement published a new report titled “Bahrain’s Death Penalty Cases: Judicial Complicity in Human Rights Violations,” which offers an in-depth analysis of the use of the death penalty in Bahrain as a political tool to silence dissent and instill fear within society. The report highlights the systemic failures of Bahrain’s legal framework

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HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement has published a research paper titled “Peaceful Assembly Under Fire: Authorities’ Violations of the Right to Protest in Lebanon” This paper delves into the current state of the right to peaceful assembly in Lebanon, shedding light on the significant challenges this right faces amid volatile political and security conditions. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the risks faced by activists and protesters in Lebanon, presenting documented testimonies that illustrate how peaceful assembly has become increasingly dangerous with the rise of repression and violence by authorities. The research paper meticulously documents key events

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The report “Statelessness in Bahrain: Its Effect on Identity and Belonging” offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the profound impact that the revocation of citizenship has on individuals in Bahrain. It delves into the social, legal, and psychological dimensions of statelessness, focusing on how losing nationality not only strips people of their legal rights but also deeply affects their sense of identity and belonging. Through detailed case studies, the report examines the lives of prominent figures such as Dr. Abdul Hadi Khalaf, Jawad Fairooz, and Ebrahim Alaradi, who have had their citizenship revoked due to their political activism and

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