As it enters its 21st year, Alkarama for Human Rights releases its 2025 Annual Report, providing an in-depth overview of the human rights situation across the Arab world and reflecting its unwavering commitment throughout the year.
For the second consecutive year, Alkarama accompanies its Annual Report with an annex compiling all human rights-related statements issued over the past year. This initiative underscores its sustained dedication to the protection and promotion of human rights. The annex brings together statements linked to Alkarama’s legal work — including individual complaints and parallel reports submitted to UN Special Procedures and treaty bodies — as well as advocacy statements and awareness-raising initiatives carried out in connection with international commemorations established by the UN General Assembly, with the aim of promoting a culture of human rights across its various platforms.
Rachid Mesli, Director of Alkarama, stated: “Throughout 2025, Alkarama has relentlessly pursued its mission of documenting human rights violations across the Arab world, denouncing abuses and promoting accountability. From the Maghreb to the Mashreq, from the Nile to the Gulf states, authorities continue to tighten restrictions, suppress dissenting voices and punish those who dare to speak out against injustice.” He added: “In this increasingly hostile environment, Alkarama has remained true to its mission, standing alongside victims and their families in their quest for truth, justice and dignity. Despite the many obstacles encountered, the determination that has guided the organisation since its foundation remains firm and unshaken.”
Drawing on its recognised expertise, Alkarama has provided UN mechanisms and procedures with reliable information and well-documented reports, ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and that facts are presented with rigour and credibility before the relevant bodies. The Annual Report offers an overview of the main cases followed by the organisation, using selected examples and representative cases to illustrate the context, nature of violations and methods employed.
This year, Alkarama chose to publish its Annual Report on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when conducive to Terrorism, observed on 12 February. The report includes a dedicated section on the organisation’s contributions to UN mechanisms addressing terrorism and human rights, highlighting cases documented and submitted to UN bodies over more than two decades.
These cases demonstrate how the absence of a clear and binding international definition of “terrorism” has enabled many States to adopt overly broad and vague legal frameworks, resulting in serious human rights violations.
Founded in 2004, Alkarama is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the defence of human rights. It supports individuals facing or at risk of extrajudicial execution, enforced disappearance, torture or arbitrary detention. Acting as a bridge between victims and international human rights protection mechanisms, Alkarama works towards a future in which people across the Arab world can live freely and with dignity under the rule of law.