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.
Killed Khamis Arabab
Context, 11 June 2023
Extrajudicial killing
Killed Tareg Hassan Yagoub Elmalik
Context, 18 June 2023
Extrajudicial killing
Killed El Sadeg Mohammed Ahmed Haroun
Killing, 18 June 2023
Extrajudicial killing
Imprisoned (serving sentence) Sherwan Sherwani
Held since October 2020
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Hunger strike begins, 22 April 2026
Killed Ahmed Mohamed Abdella
Killing, 4 August 2023
Extrajudicial killing
At liberty Delsoz Khalaf
Referral to trial, 17 August 2023
Judicial harassment
At liberty Ahmed Gamal Ziada
Released March 2019, arrested December 2013
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 20 September 2023
Killed Bahjaa Abdelaa Abdelaa
Killing, 26 October 2023
Threats and intimidation
At liberty Murtadha Al-Janoubi
Released March 2026, arrested March 2026
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Hoda Abdelwahab
Travel ban lifted, April 2026
Judicial harassment
Imprisoned (serving sentence) Zied El Heni
Held since April 2026
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Conviction, 27 October 2026
Detained (pretrial) Yasser Abu Al-Ela
Held since March 2024
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Referral to trial, May 2026