Prisoners of Conscience

"Prisoners of conscience" are men, women or children imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs or because of their race, gender or other personal characteristics. Many have never been charged with a crime. Amnesty seeks the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience.

Natalia Estemirova, one of the leading human rights defenders who worked in the North Caucasus region, was abducted in Grozny, Chechnya on July 15th on her way to work. She was dragged into a car by several men and driven off in an unknown direction. According to witnesses, Natalia Estemirova managed to shout out that she was being abducted. Her body was found several hours later in the neighboring Republic of Ingushetia with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. For more information don't forget to click on  More Detail


Brad Will US Video journalist:

On 27 October 2006, US video journalist Brad Will was shot and killed in Oaxaca City, southern Mexico as he filmed a clash between members of a local protest movement (Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO) and supporters and officials of the local governing party.

Three years later,  Amnesty International believes that the truth about Brad Will's death has still not come out. Juan Manuel Mart�nez, anAPPO sympathiser, has been detained pending trial since October 2008 for Will's murder. However, Amnesty International believes the evidence against him is flawed and he is a being used as a scapegoat.


US Video journalis Brad Will was in Mexico to film the widespread protests and political violence that started in Oaxaca City in June 2006 and continued into 2007. At least twelve other people were killed in Oaxaca City during the violence and scores more were illegally detained and ill-treated.

Investigations carried out by the Offices of the Oaxaca State Attorney General and the Federal Attorney General insist that Brad Will was shot at close range and that a witness saw Juan Manuel Mart�nez near him at the time of the shooting.