Rwanda Transnational Repression Targets Exiles, Thailand Sentences Lawyer, and more.

HRF strongly condemns the Thai court’s sentencing of human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa to an additional two years and eight months in prison under the country’s royal defamation law (Article 112 of the Criminal Code) for criticizing the monarchy, bringing his total prison sentence to more than 34 years.

Arnon is among more than 290 people who have been charged under the royal defamation law since the youth-led protests that began in 2020. He was among the first prominent figures to publicly challenge the longstanding taboo surrounding discussion of the monarchy in Thai society.

The Thai regime has increasingly weaponized the royal defamation law to suppress freedom of dissent. Dozens remain detained, while others have been forced into exile. According to HRF’s Tyranny Tracker, Thailand is ruled by a hybrid authoritarian regime, with civic space continuing to shrink.

HRF calls on the Thai regime for the unconditional and immediate release of Arnon Nampa and other prisoners of conscience. HRF also calls on Thailand to repeal Article 112 of the Criminal Code and bring its practices in line with international human rights law.

HRF expresses deep concern over the cancellation of the Beijing Queer film festival following reported harassment and pressure from Chinese officials.

The festival was founded in 2001 by Peking University students and later grew into a platform for public dialogue and awareness around LGBTQ+ issues. However, the Chinese Communist Party has increasingly restricted public discussion and activism related to feminism and LGBTQ+ rights.

The cancellation is part of a broader pattern of crackdowns on freedom of expression and civic space. In June, LGBTQ+ film screenings held for Pride Month were also canceled, following police harassment.

HRF will continue to monitor developments affecting civic space and the right to freedom of expression, particularly for marginalized and at-risk communities, including LGBTQ+, ethnic, and religious groups.

HRF joins Uyghur American journalist and former Oslo Freedom Forum speaker @GulchehraHoja in calling on the US government to help reunite her with her family.

For more than two decades, Gulchehra has reported on China’s persecution of Uyghurs. In retaliation, the Chinese regime has detained more than 20 members of her family and pressured other relatives to publicly denounce her reporting. Watch her speech at the virtual 2020 Oslo Freedom Forum.

Gulchehra’s brother, who was detained for three years, died in August. Her father, a renowned Uyghur author, passed away in September. Her elderly mother remains alone in Urumchi, with the regime repeatedly denying her permission to leave the country.

A Chinese database has identified Gulchehra as a high-priority target among Uyghur activists abroad. She warned that such information could be used to “intimidate, monitor, or silence people who speak out against human rights abuses.”

Gulchehra has spent her career telling the truth about the Uyghur genocide at great personal cost. HRF stands in solidarity with her and with the Uyghur community. Her family must be reunited immediately.