Stephen Marley, Angelique Kidjo and Hugh Masekela are just a few of the renowned musicians from around the world to take part in a musical project, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The song and video, The Price of Silence, also features the talents of...

Peter Gabriel was honoured with the 2008 Ambassador of Conscience (AOC) award in London on Wednesday 10 September, at the launch of Amnesty International’s global music and human rights project, the Small Places Tour. The event, held at the Hard Rock Cafe, outlined a preliminary list of 545...

On 13 May 2019, 33-year-old musician Rami Sidky was released on probation after 374 days of pre-trial detention. Rami was detained on 5 May 2018 in connection with a song criticizing president Abdelfatah al-Sisi. According to his lawyer, he neither wrote, nor produced, nor performed the satirical...

On 5 May 2018, Egyptian authorities arrested 33-year-old musician Rami Sidky at Cairo International Airport. He was detained in connection with a satirical music video, “Balaha,” which had gone viral ahead of the March 2018 presidential elections, and appeared to poke fun at President El-Sisi....

Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian was forced to return to Tehran’s Evin Prison on 4 December. He had been on medical leave following his month-long hunger strike. He was hospitalized during his leave and Amnesty International fears for his health. His brother Hossein Rabajian, a filmmaker, is on...

Amnesty International and renowned Iranian music band Kiosk are calling on artists and members of the public around the world to join a #FreeArtists campaign to raise awareness about the crackdown on artists, including musicians and filmmakers, in Iran. The crackdown, which has led to harsh prison...

Iranian brothers Mehdi Rajabian and Hossein Rajabian began a hunger strike on 8 September in protest at the authorities’ refusal to allow them medical leave, as well as the decision to separate the brothers into different sections of Tehran’s Evin Prison. The health of both prisoners of conscience...

Iranian musicians Mehdi Rajabian and Yousef Emadi, and filmmaker Hossein Rajabian have been summoned to start serving a three-year prison sentence, imposed for their artistic work. They must report to the Office of the Prosecutor in Tehran’s Evin Prison by 31 May. If imprisoned, they will be...

Iranian musicians Mehdi Rajabian and Yousef Emadi, and filmmaker Hossein Rajabian, have had their prison sentences upheld by an appeal court in Tehran. They are at imminent risk of arrest. If jailed, they will be prisoners of conscience.

Iranian filmmaker Hossein Rajabian and musicians Mehdi Rajabian and Yousef Emadi have each been sentenced to six years in prison, in connection with their artistic work. They have appealed their sentences. If jailed, they will be prisoners of conscience.

Prisoner of conscience Dr Mohammed al-Roken passed out in his cell in al-Razeen Prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 11 November after the prison authorities deliberately broadcast very loud noise, which could amount to torture.

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