HUMAN RIGHTS
Global Atlas
▦ THE WATCHLIST

The watchlist, by name.

Individuals detained, prosecuted, or otherwise targeted for their work in defence of human rights and free expression. Behind every statistic on this site is a person.

CHINA
Jimmy Lai
Media owner, founder of Apple Daily
On trial · detained since Dec 2020

Founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. Detained in Hong Kong since December 2020 and prosecuted under the Nationa

CHINA
Ilham Tohti
Uyghur economist and writer
Serving life sentence since 2014

Uyghur economist who advocated dialogue between Uyghurs and Han Chinese. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 on separatism charges. Award

CHINA
Dong Yuyu
Journalist, Guangming Daily
Sentenced to 7 years in 2024

Veteran Chinese journalist and commentator detained in February 2022 and sentenced in November 2024 to seven years on espionage charges, rep

IRAN
Narges Mohammadi
Human rights defender, Nobel Peace laureate
Imprisoned · intermittent medical furlough

Iranian human rights defender and journalist, awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign against the oppression of women in Iran. S

RUSSIA
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Opposition politician and journalist
Released in Aug 2024 prisoner exchange

Russian opposition figure and writer, twice survived suspected poisonings. Sentenced in 2023 to 25 years for treason over speeches criticizi

SAUDI ARABIA
Raif Badawi
Blogger and free-expression activist
Released 2022 after 10 years · travel ban

Saudi blogger sentenced in 2014 to ten years and 1,000 lashes for 'insulting Islam' through his liberal website. Released in March 2022 afte