A TrialWatch Spotlight: Five Issues from the Trial – Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha

Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha have spent their careers defending others. Now, they are defending themselves.

The couple were each sentenced to 17 years in prison over social media posts critical of the state. Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch Programme monitored 49 days of hearings across their five-month trial and identified serious concerns about their fair trial rights and right to freedom of expression.

The Supreme Court is considering whether their sentences should be suspended on September 17. Our TrialWatch team identifies five key issues from the proceedings.