Human rights defenders
HuMENA documents the cases of human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa who have been targeted for their work. Each entry is a dated case file.
Scope of the archive and inclusion criteria
HuMENA applies the definition set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders: a human rights defender is any person who, individually or with others, acts by peaceful means to promote or protect internationally recognised human rights, their own or those of others. The status derives from the act, not from a person's profession or title.
Each person in this archive meets two conditions, established by reliable sources: a specific act of this kind, and targeting that followed from it. Cases that rest solely on a violation suffered, on family ties to a defender, on party membership, or on prosecution in a politically sensitive case fall outside its scope.
References: UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (resolution 53/144, 1998); HuMENA Editorial Guide.
Defenders on record, by country
Select a country to show its case files in the list below. The same countries are available in the country filter.
The Record
All records
Every entry is a case file. Open one to read the timeline and the cases, and what has and has not been checked. Where a photograph is missing, the file says so. When a case closes, the record stays.
At liberty Saad Bouakba
Appeal: sentence reduced, 7 July 2026
Arbitrary detention
Omar Al-Zayood
Held since March 2025
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Nezha Majdi
Released March 2026, arrested April 2021
Arbitrary detention
Imprisoned (serving sentence) Mourad Zghidi
Held since May 2024
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 10 September 2026
Mohamed Joô
Released January 2026, arrested May 2024
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Mohamed Ibrahim (known as “Oxygen”)
Released March 2026, arrested April 2018
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Imen Ouardani
Released January 2026, arrested May 2024
Arbitrary detention
Detained (pretrial) Ahmed Nazir El-Helw
Held since November 2022
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Hearing, January 2026
Tarek Al-Selkawi
Held since November 2018
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, March 2025
Ahmed Hamdy Abou Zeid Al-Tanoubi
Held since March 2020
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Hearing, April 2026
Sayed Said Khalaf
Held since September 2020
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Hearing, 1 October 2026
At liberty Sofiane Ouali
Released July 2024, arrested July 2024
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Hearing, 2026