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Dear John,

In Thailand, 48 Uyghurs detained for a decade after trying to escape China are at imminent risk of being returned there. ​​​​Their plight is emblematic of how authoritarian regimes co-opt the immigration systems of other nations to engage in transnational repression, aiming to silence, intimidate, or harm perceived critics across borders.

There is time to prevent these men from being returned to China. Saving them would improve Bangkok’s reputation and avoid costly international criticism. It would also send a strong signal about the Thai government’s ability to act independently of Beijing’s influence.

Salma al-Shehab Released From Prison

Four years after being arrested for simply sharing social media posts, Saudi political prisoner Salma al-Shehab has been released from prison. We remain concerned that she has been given a conditional release and is still subject to an eight-year travel ban.

Freedom House Joins Conversation on Global Religious Freedom

Freedom House Interim Copresident Annie Boyajian joined an esteemed panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit to discuss how the new administration can prioritize religious liberty as part of its foreign policy agenda over the next four years.

Freeing Political Prisoners Around the World

Entrenched autocratic leaders are intensifying efforts to silence human rights defenders and democracy activists. Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners aims to document and study the cases of the thousands of activists who have been imprisoned or otherwise deprived of their liberty, and to advocate for their immediate release.

Explore the Map

Check out the interactive Freedom in the World map, where you can see country scores, Freedom Status, and trends.

Freedom House in the News

Defend Democracy,

Champion Freedom.