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Indonesian journalist Muhammad Asrul behind behind bars

34-year-old investigative journalist Muhammad Asrul was convicted of cyberdefamation under Indonesia’s notorious Electronic Information and Transactions Law and sentenced to three months in prison for reporting on alleged corruption by the son of a city mayor. Even though the Supreme Court of Indonesia ultimately upheld his conviction, he was not imprisoned, likely because of international pressure, including that of...

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Indonesia: No Prison for Investigative Journalist

In addition to monitoring his trial, TrialWatch submitted an amicus brief urging the Indonesian Supreme Court to overturn the conviction of Asrul based on the press protections he was due under both international and domestic law.

This type of aggressive use of the ITE Law has no place in a democracy. The way the Law has been applied in this and other cases is highly problematic and it is easy to see why the President sought its revision.
Professor Simon Butt TrialWatch Expert

Malaysia

Just days after the TrialWatch report was released on the trial of Dian Abdullah, a 65-year-old blogger who was tried for ‘offensive communication’ for criticizing the government and the monarchy’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prosecution offered to settle the case for a fine.

TrialWatch has since leveraged the monitoring and reporting in Abdullah’s case to file an amicus...

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Malaysia: No Prison Sentence for Blogger

TrialWatch has since leveraged the monitoring and reporting in Abdullah’s case to file an amicus submission in an affirmative challenge to the law under which she was convicted.

Instead of adding to its tally of prosecutions based on vague laws, Malaysia should dismiss the charges against Dian Abdullah and make good on its offer to review some of the legislation at issue.
Stephen Townley Legal Director TrialWatch

Bangladesh

Soon after TrialWatch issued a press statement calling for the release of Shafiqul Kajol, a 52-year-old Bangladeshi photographer and editor of an independent news outlet, he was freed. Kajol is charged under Bangladesh’s draconian cybercrime law, the Digital Security Act, in three separate cases. The cases all relate to a story he shared on his Facebook page alleging a...

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Bangladesh: Freedom for Photojournalist

TrialWatch is monitoring ongoing proceedings against Mr. Kajol.

“I feel extremely good [that my trial is being monitored] … It gives me a sense of hope, and it gives me some courage.”
Shafiqul Kajol Photographer and Editor

Algeria

Ahmed Manseri, an Algerian blogger and human rights activist, was acquitted after TrialWatch monitored his trial. Mr. Manseri was charged with criminal defamation after he filed a criminal complaint alleging police abuse. His trial, graded a “D” by TrialWatch, was one of the first cases to be monitored by an international organization in Algeria in years.

The monitor reported

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Algeria: Blogger and Human Rights Activist Acquitted

The monitor reported “that the treatment of Mr. Manseri’s case differed significantly from the treatment of any other case heard that day” in that the judge took the time to ensure that Mr. Manseri’s rights were respected. And Mr. Manseri’s lawyer told CFJ that he doubted Mr. Manseri would have been allowed to go home but for the presence of the monitor.

The judicial harassment he experienced through the proceedings and the threat of further such action led him to temporarily flee the country, a significant harm.
TrialWatch Report

Peru

Paola Ugaz is an investigative journalist in Peru who has written about corruption, drug trafficking, and terrorism and, most recently, allegations of paedophilia in a Catholic organization called Sodalicio. People linked to Sodalicio submitted multiple complaints against her, including a criminal defamation complaint filed by the director of a Catholic news website. TrialWatch was not allowed in the courtroom...

Peru: Journalist Paola Ugaz Acquitted

After issuing a report finding that Ms. Ugaz’s trial violated her right to freedom of expression, TrialWatch called for the case against her to be dismissed and in January 2022 she was acquitted.

When they read the judgement dismissing the case of defamation, I was happy, I was really happy because I feel that it was a triumph for the female journalists in this country, who have been so much harassed. TrialWatch played a key role in the judge's decision. TrialWatch plays an invaluable role for journalists around the world. In my case … the assistance was not only exceptional, but it came at the perfect time.
Paola Ugaz Investigative Journalist

Morocco

TrialWatch monitored the trial of Moroccan journalist Hajar Raissouni and released a report exposing her sham trial. She was then freed and pardoned following the international attention drawn to her case. TrialWatch Expert Baroness Helena Kennedy KC – Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute – graded the trial a “D” and our findings on the...

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Morocco: Journalist Pardoned

Ms. Raissouni – a journalist for one of Morocco’s few independent newspapers – was charged with the ‘crimes’ of abortion and extra-marital sex after reporting criticism of the government and convicted after a sham process in which she was denied access to a lawyer.

Through my experience, I think that TrialWatch is important because it documented all events and exposed human rights violations, and this is important for political detainees who are released from prison with nothing but their dignity.
Hajar Raissouni Independent newspaper journalist