Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Crimean Tatar citizen journalist Amet Suleimanov turns 42 today. He is serving a 12-year sentence in Russia and suffers from serious heart problems that require surgery. Russia must release him and ensure he receives urgently needed medical care.

Uyghur economist and scholar Ilham Tohti turns 57 today. He is serving a life sentence in China after being convicted of “separatism” in 2014. China must release him. @RepGabeAmo is his Defending Freedoms advocate.

Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor turns 57 today. Detained since 2017, he is serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges tied to his human rights advocacy. The UAE must release him immediately and unconditionally.

RT @TLHumanRights: Please join us for a virtual briefing on "One Year After the Fall of El-Fasher: How Transnational Networks Finance Crimes in Sudan" on Wednesday, October 21, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Poverty undermines human dignity and the enjoyment of fundamental rights. Ending poverty requires protecting the rights and voices of people living in poverty and ensuring no one is left behind.

Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro‑democracy activist and former student leader, has been inducted into the Defending Freedoms Project.

He has been imprisoned since 2020 on protest‑related and national security charges, most recently receiving a four‑year‑eight‑month sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion in 2024. @RepMoolenaar is his Defending Freedoms advocate.

Learn more about Joshua's case:

For nearly a decade, Tsi Conrad has been imprisoned in Cameroon after reporting on a protest. He was arrested, forced to sign a coerced confession and tried in a military court despite being a civilian. The government of Cameroon must release him immediately.

Learn more about Tsi Conrad's case:

On this day in 2017, Russian authorities detained Crimean Tatar activist Marlen Asanov in occupied Crimea. He is serving a 19-year prison sentence. Peaceful religious activity is not a crime. Russia must release him.

Today is the birthday of Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, known as Shawkan. Arrested while covering the Rabaa dispersal in 2013, he spent more than 5 years in prison and another 5 under police surveillance, which ended in 2023. Journalism is not a crime.

Saudi Arabia has sentenced 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa to death over a Facebook comment. He was denied access to a lawyer before his initial sentencing. Saudi authorities must overturn his conviction and release him immediately.

On this day in 2022, Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned. He was released in December 2025 after more than four years in detention. @RepCohen is his Defending Freedoms advocate.

On this day in 2008, Turkmen activist Gulgeldy Annaniyazov was sentenced to 11 years in prison after a closed trial. After prison, he spent 5 years in internal exile before his release in April 2024.

Galal El-Behairy, an Egyptian poet, lyricist, and activist, has been inducted into the Defending Freedoms Project. He has been imprisoned since 2018 for exercising his right to freedom of expression. @RepDonBeyer is his Defending Freedoms advocate.

Learn more about Galal's case:

On this day in 2020, Vietnamese journalist and human rights defender Pham Doan Trang was detained. She is serving a 9-year sentence for her writing and advocacy. Vietnam must release her. @RepRoKhanna is her Defending Freedoms advocate.

On this day in 2016, Tajik human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov was sentenced to 23 years in prison after defending political opposition members. He remains imprisoned. Peaceful legal advocacy is not a crime. Tajikistan must release him.