Harry Hummel

Civic activist since a long time and planning to hold on. Occasional posts (E & NL) on (the struggle for) a just society in the Netherlands, Europe & beyond

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

❗ Urgent Action: Amnesty International raises alarm over Nasta Loika's health

@amnesty is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Belarusian human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Nasta Loika, and urges people to take action by writing to the Prosecutor General of #Belarus and demanding she be set free.

Nasta Loika is currently serving a 7-year prison sentence solely for her human rights work. As previously reported, she has been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention, denied adequate nutrition, and held in prolonged solitary confinement for six months, which has severely affected her health.

Sample letter and more information:
https://t.co/8hORRNHf0W

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

💔 Marfa Rabkova — 2,000 days of stolen freedom

Belarusian human rights defender Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the Volunteer Service of @viasna96, has spent 2,000 days in prison.

She monitored peaceful assemblies, observed elections, and documented torture of detained protesters. For this work, Belarusian authorities sentenced her to nearly 15 years in prison.

Marfa was arrested on September 17, 2020. Since then, she has been held in harsh conditions — without proper medical care and under severe restrictions on contact with the outside world.

Human rights work is not a crime. Marfa Rabkova must be free!

#FreeMarfa #FreeViasna

[Neil Coleman @NeilColemanSA]

The Canadian PM, Mark Carney, spoke of a 'rupture' in the global order where the global North will have to come to terms with the power of the global South in a reconfigured international order.
US Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio speaks of a different type of rupture: a new colonial order for the 21st century in which 'Western civilisation' captures its former glory by asserting military and economic hegemony over the South.
Which vision will prevail?
One leads to a reconfigured global order, messy and contested but with real potential.
The other leads to a global military conflagration.
These two paths therefore clearly have enormous implications for the future of humanity.
It would be a mistake for the left to write off these differences as being superficial, and merely a dispute between imperialists, as some tend to do.
The global majority are not passive spectators in this conflict of visions. We have a critical role in determining which direction we want humanity to take.
Global South leaders, particularly in countries such as Brazil, Colombia South Africa and China, and formations such as BRICS and the G77, need to start speaking out to articulate an alternative vision of how humanity can resolve these existential challenges.

[Commissioner for Human Rights @CommissionerHR]

We are living through a change of era where nothing is guaranteed, including human rights. At the 20th @WiltonPark annual dialogue, I argued that if we want a future that honours human dignity, we have no choice but to struggle for the #HumanRights roadmap.
Read more 👉
https://t.co/MjWhMAlrb2

[Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay @NazaninAJ]

Heartbreaking photos are emerging from Iran. This woman discovered her loved one among hundreds of the those killed. Morgues are overflowing, and bodies are being stored in warehouses. Down with the brutal regime of the Islamic Republic, and shame on those who had the power to act but chose to look away.

[Human Rights House Foundation @HRHFoundation]

Today marks five years behind bars for Belarusian #humanrights defender Andrei Aliaksandrau. We continue to call for his release and for the release of all political prisoners in the country.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

🎉 "I'm confident that we will celebrate the next birthday together with you in freedom"

The head of @viasna96 and #NobelPeacePrize laureate Ales Bialiatski congratulated human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova and Nasta Loika on their birthdays.

Today, Marfa and Nasta are marking their birthdays in a women’s penal colony in Belarus. Ales Bialiatski, who was released on December 13, 2025, recorded a video message for his colleagues filled with warm words of support and hope for a reunion in freedom.

#FreeMarfa #FreeNasta

[Oleksandra Matviichuk @avalaina]

Today, for the fourth time, my colleague, Belarusian human rights defender Nasta Loika, is celebrating her birthday in prison. Please, wish her strength and health. We are all looking forward to seeing her!

[Benjamin Alvarez @BenjAlvarez1]

"Today it is Venezuela, tomorrow it could be any other country." Chilean President @GabrielBoric, a vocal critic of the Maduro regime, strongly condemned the US military action. "If they can do it there, why wouldn't they do it elsewhere in the future?" he asked.

[Cumartesi Anneleri @CmrtesiAnneleri]

Yeni yıla başlarken taleplerimizi bir kez daha kamuoyuyla paylaşıyoruz:

- Zorla kaybetme dosyalarında etkili, bağımsız ve tarafsız soruşturmalar yürütülsün; sorumlular yargı önüne çıkarılsın adalet sağlansın.

- Kayıp yakınlarının hakikati bilme hakkı tanınsın.

- Galatasaray Meydanı’ndaki barışçıl toplanma hakkımız üzerindeki Anayasa’ya aykırı kısıtlamalar ve mekân yasağı kaldırılsın.

- Gözaltında kaybetme fiilinin insanlığa karşı işlenen bir suç olarak tanımlanmasına, önlenmesine ve cezalandırılmasına yönelik yasal düzenlemeler yapılsın.

- Türkiye, imzalamaktan kaçındığı Birleşmiş Milletler Bütün Kişilerin Zorla Kaybedilmeden Korunmasına Dair Uluslararası Sözleşmesi’ni ve Uluslararası Ceza Mahkemesi’ni kuran Roma Statüsü’nü imzalasın, onaylasın ve uygulasın.

#CumartesiAnneleri1084Hafta

[Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya @Tsihanouskaya]

This Christmas, let solidarity be our gift.

For Belarusians imprisoned for their courage.
For families waiting for their loved ones.
For Ukraine, defending freedom against darkness.

Thank you for standing with us — and for not forgetting Belarus.

Merry Christmas. 🤍❤️🤍

[Cumartesi Anneleri @CmrtesiAnneleri]

1082.haftamızda, 31 yıldır inkâr ve cezasızlık politikalarıyla sonuçsuz bırakılan Nihat Aydoğan dosyasında hakikatin ortaya çıkarılması ve adaletin sağlanması talebimizi bir kez daha kamuoyu ile paylaşıyoruz.

#CumartesiAnneleri1082Hafta

[Commissioner for Human Rights @CommissionerHR]

European leaders need to refute the critics: Europe’s power lies not in mimicking those who oppose #HumanRights, but in showing that dignity, law, and freedom remain the only foundations on which a stable and prosperous future can be built.
Read my latest shoutout 👇
https://t.co/G8TNWb8EUD

[Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative @fossiltreaty]

2025 wasn’t the easiest year to navigate, but we got through it together, and we made real ground. It was the year a scattered movement began to move in sync:

[Caolan @CaolanReports]

Carol of the Bells - a song we all know and love - is Ukrainian. It’s about light after darkness and it was written in Pokrovsk.

The next time you hear it on your radio, driving home for Christmas - take a moment to think of Pokrovsk - and that light returning back again.

Towns in the Donbas aren’t just lines on a map - they are places that created music and art. Steeped in history and culture.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

📸 Ales Bialiatski next to a mural created in his honor in Vilnius in 2022 with the support of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo: Nasha Niva

[Oleksandra Matviichuk @avalaina]

It is difficult to describe the impression of a few days in Syria. It was a visit of solidarity with Syrian civil society. We were fortunate to arrive on an important date. Exactly one year ago, Syrians reclaimed their country. This happened after more than fifty years of dictatorial rule. I saw another dimension of evil, as well as a nation that refused to be broken. So instead of conclusions, here are some sketches. 1/1

[Harry Hummel @harryhummel]

@BIforPeace @rochowanski Better not to use rhetorical tricks in referring to Spanish workers as 'caballero'. Possibly the workers might well engage in strawberry picking if paid an appropriate salary.

[Mariam Nikuradze @mari_nikuradze]

On the very first day of the protest, I was poisoned by the substance mixed in the water canon. I was in the middle of Rustaveli, standing very close to the riot police. The water sprinkled all over my face, I lost coordination, couldn't move. My colleague recognized me and walked me to the ambulance, where I spent around 15 minutes to regain my senses. Face, throat, everything was burning.
For 4 or 5 months since being poisoned, I had very frequent, almost daily nose bleeds, which started on that day.
Georgian Dream never disclosed what substance was mixed in water canon that day despite many efforts from various groups. Dozens reported some sort of long effects they experienced after being poisoned on that day.
BBC investigation now suggests that WW1 toxic compound was used on us.
https://t.co/3pskJuwVeu

[Gandalv @Microinteracti1]

🇪🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺 EU Opens “Territorial Swap Season” as Von der Leyen Floats Trading Alaska for Crimea.

In a surprise statement that left diplomats choking on their coffee, Ursula von der Leyen reportedly announced that the EU is “open” to recognizing Alaska as Russian territory if it helps settle the whole Crimea thing once and for all. “Look, the Americans barely use the place except for reality TV and bears,” she allegedly said, shrugging as if she were trading Pokémon cards and not chunks of sovereign land.

According to sources, she concluded by noting that “this is how grownups negotiate,” before pointing out that if Trump can hand out Europe like party favors, she might as well join the fun.

The Kremlin was said to be “deeply intrigued,” mostly because they hadn’t even asked for Alaska yet, but appreciated the enthusiasm. Washington, on the other hand, responded with its usual composure.

Experts agree the whole episode highlights the new era of diplomatic innovation, where global leaders spontaneously auction off territories they don’t own in exchange for ones they also don’t own, all in the noble pursuit of “peace” or at least a quieter news cycle ❤️.