May 2026 - HuMENA

Egypt | Rights Groups Call for Release of Filmmaker Omar Salah Marei and his Immediate Access to Medical Care

May 23, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the continued detention of Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Omar Salah Marei. We call for his immediate and unconditional release, the dropping of all charges against him, and the closure of Case No. 3835 of 2026 (Supreme State Security). We are gravely concerned over the serious deterioration of Marei’s health, as he…

Joint Statements

Criminalizing Truth: Gulf Governments Must End the Crackdown on Information

May 19, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

Since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, triggering a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region, Gulf governments have moved swiftly to seal, even further, the information environment, controlling what their populations can see, say, and share about the attacks unfolding in their cities. Across Kuwait,…

Joint Statements

Bahrain | Freedom of Religion and Belief Is a Fundamental Right, Not a Basis for Arrest or Criminalization

May 16, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain must immediately and unconditionally release the religious scholars arrested by Bahraini security forces across the Kingdom on May 9, 2026, especially since it has not presented any evidence to substantiate its claims or formally charged them with internationally recognized offenses. On the contrary, it has resorted to its…

Joint Statements

Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

May 15, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

The undersigned organisations condemn Meta’s recent decision to restrict the Facebook and Instagram accounts of independent NGOs, researchers, and civil society figures from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the latest in a pattern of major technology companies, including Meta, acting as enforcement arms for repressive governments in…

Reports

Tunisia | The Verdict Against Zied El-Heni: How Tunisia Is Criminalizing Journalistic Expression A legal reading of Article 86, Law-Decree 54, and the sidelining of Tunisia’s press law safeguards

May 11, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement publishes this position paper in a context where Tunisia’s civic and media space is undergoing a cumulative transformation, shaped by judicial, administrative, and financial measures that are reshaping the relationship between public authorities and independent institutions. The case of journalist Zied El-Heni, which forms the immediate basis of…

Joint Statements

Tunisia | HuMENA Condemns the Imprisonment of Journalist Zied El Heni and Calls for the Verdict to Be Annulled

May 9, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement condemns the ruling issued on the evening of Thursday, 7 May 2026, by the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance, sentencing journalist Zied El Heni to one year in prison under Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code. The case relates to an expert media intervention…

Press Releases

Tunisia | Suspension of Avocats Sans Frontières Restricts Civic Space and Threatens Access to Justice for Vulnerable Groups

May 6, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

HuMENA condemns the decision by the Tunisian authorities, issued on 5 May 2026, to suspend the activities of Avocats Sans Frontières for one month. The measure raises serious concerns for freedom of association and the right to access justice, particularly as the organization stated that it received the decision without being provided with the legal…

News

Call for Applications: Programs Lead

May 3, 2026 0Comments 0Reactions

Position Programs Lead Location Remote / MENA Time Commitment Full-time, 5 days (40 hours) per week. Occasional travel for missions, meetings, and representation Contract Type Twelve-month consultancy agreement. Duration 12 months, renewable subject to performance and funding Reporting Line Executive Director Start Date 15 June 2026, or earlier if available Application Deadline 21 May 2026 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis) Compensation Compensation will be discussed with shortlisted candidates and will reflect…