The United States is concerned over continued reports of arrests and excessive prison terms handed down to peaceful protesters under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Processions Act. Upholding an individual’s ability to exercise his or her basic rights of peaceful expression and assembly is central to any democracy, and fundamental to the on-going reform process. Free exercise of these rights will be particularly important during the upcoming election season as a measure of the election’s transparency, inclusiveness and credibility, and we urge authorities to ensure those democratic rights are protected in the coming months and beyond. Read More