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 Rida Benotmane
Released March 2024, arrested January 2007
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 13 January 2025
At liberty Mhamed Hali
Award or recognition, May 2025
Defamation and smear campaign
At liberty Kamira Nait Sid
Released September 2024, arrested August 2021
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Slimane Bouhafs
Released September 2024, arrested July 2016
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 30 March 2026
At liberty Ahmed Ettanji
Released October 2024, arrested October 2024
Arbitrary detention
Latest: UN opinion or decision, 3 January 2025
At liberty Mohamed Mayara
Released October 2024, arrested October 2024
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 3 January 2025
At liberty Ismail Lghazaoui
Released February 2025, arrested October 2024
Arbitrary detention
Mohad Gasmi
Released November 2024, arrested June 2020
Arbitrary detention
At liberty Said Boudour
Released December 2023, arrested 2019
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 20 July 2026
Jamila Loukil
Released December 2023, arrested November 2019
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Acquittal, 26 February 2025
Kaddour Chouicha
Released December 2023, arrested October 2019
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Acquittal, 26 February 2025
Imprisoned (serving sentence) Mohamed Al-Roken
Held since June 2023
Arbitrary detention
Latest: Context, 26 June 2025