Mr. Koet Saray was arrested in April 2024 for advocating on behalf of forcibly evicted villagers in Preah Vihear Province and was charged under vague “incitement” provisions in Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code. He was held in pretrial detention for six months, tried in a single-day, closed hearing, and sentenced to four years in prison.

HRF joins the call for Mr. Koet Saray’s immediate release, a transparent investigation, and the repeal of Cambodia’s abusive incitement laws. The international community must hold the Cambodian regime accountable for silencing human rights defenders.

Read HRF’s press release.