5 individuals at risk you can take action for today 

People all around the world face human rights violations at the hands of their own government. Often it can be for simple, everyday actions that we take for granted – like voicing their opinions, just for being who they are or peacefully standing up for what they believe in.

Some of these people will be subjected to torture and ill-treatment, unfair trials, enforced disappearances, and tragically in some cases, sentenced to death or left languishing on death row for decades.

Amnesty keeps governments accountable for their actions and reminds them of the international laws and instruments by which they are bound – like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – to keep people safe and free in their countries. To make this happen we need your support.

Here are 5 individuals at risk you can take action for today:


1. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya

On 27 December 2024, the Israeli military raided Kamal Adwan hospital and arbitrarily detained its director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, along with other medical staff and patients.

The raid put the hospital, the last functioning major medical facility in the North Gaza governorate, out of service. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Sign the petition and demand that the Israeli authorities immediately release Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and all Palestinians arbitrarily detained, including healthcare workers who are protected under international law.

2. Justyna Wydrzyńska

In February 2020, Justyna supported Ania*, a woman in an abusive relationship, who was pregnant and desperate, saying she would rather die than continue with her pregnancy. Justyna, a survivor of a violent relationship herself, knew she had to help.

She sent Ania her own abortion pills through the post, but Ania’s partner intercepted the package and contacted the police, who confiscated the pills.

In 2021, the public prosecutor brought charges against Justyna for “helping with an abortion” and in March 2023, she was found guilty and sentenced to eight months’ community service.

Her lawyers have appealed but Justyna’s conviction sets a dangerous precedent. Without the support and trustworthy information that Justyna and other activists provide, people like Ania would be alone and without access to safe abortion.

Sign the petition and demand the prosecutor general take all necessary measures to ensure that Justyna’s unjust conviction is overturned.

3. Mohammed Reza Azizi

Mohammad Reza Azizi was still a child when he was arrested and interrogated without a lawyer present. In August 2021, 17-year-old Mohammad Reza Azizi was sentenced to death in a grossly unfair trial under Iran’s “retribution-in-kind” laws which permit the death penalty even for those under 18 at the time of the alleged crime. International law strictly prohibits this.

Iranian authorities have previously scheduled Mohammad’s execution at least twice. The execution was halted following public outcry, yet Mohammad remains at risk of imminent execution.

Sign the petition urging the Iranian authorities to quash Mohammad’s conviction and death sentence and grant him a fair retrial in full compliance with international law.

4. Manahel al-Otaibi

Manahel al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor and outspoken advocate for women’s rights, is serving an 11-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia merely for promoting women’s rights and expressing herself on social media.

She wrote tweets supporting women’s rights and posted pictures of herself enjoying a day at the mall. In the pictures, she is not wearing the abaya, a traditional robe, and these things alone were enough for the authorities to target her.

Manahel was arrested and charged with violating Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law. Her case was referred to the counter-terrorism court, notorious for grossly unfair trials and draconian punishments.

In January 2024, Manahel was sentenced to 11 years in prison in a secret hearing. Sign the petition and demand that Manahel is immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against her are dropped.

5. Maryia Kalesnikava

Maryia Kalesnikava is a political activist, passionate about meeting people and learning from them. She dreams of a Belarus where everyone is respected and allowed to speak freely.

During the 2020 presidential elections, Maryia bravely challenged the repressive Belarus government and on 7 September 2020, Maryia was abducted by the Belarus authorities, detained, and later sentenced to 11 years in prison on false charges.

Sign the petition to bring her home.


Thank you

Thanks to incredible Amnesty supporters, we bring torturers to justice, change oppressive laws and free people jailed for voicing their opinion. Together, we are unstoppable.

GOOD NEWS: After more than a year behind bars, Neth Nahara, alongside five other arbitrarily detained government critics in Angola have been released. Neth, a mother of two young children, was jailed for criticising Angola’s president on TikTok. She was summarily tried, convicted, and sentenced to six months in prison – later increased to two years. Responding to Neth’s release, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:

“At last, Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro and Pensador are free. We are overjoyed that they are home with their loved ones.

“Though we celebrate their release, these five people should never have been locked up. Authorities arrested them solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We look forward to them receiving the medical care that authorities deliberately denied them in prison.

“Angola’s government must respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end arbitrary detention and torture in the country. They must urgently hold accountable anyone suspected of responsibility for violating the rights of these five activists.”

Amnesty International campaigned extensively for the release of the five with petitions, public statements, events and more, and supported them through their families and legal representatives during their imprisonment.

Click here to learn more about our impact.

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