Imaan and Chattha receive the Ludovic Trarieux Human Rights Prize for their defense of human rights

Lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, received the prestigious Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in recognition of their work in favor of human rights and marginalized communities, we learned on Tuesday.

Imaan and Chattha are currently serving prison terms after a district and sessions court in Islamabad convicted them earlier this year in a case linked to controversial social media posts and sentenced each of them to 17 years in prison.

According to a press release published on June 13 by the Medico-Legal Union for the Protection of Human Rights (UFDU), this award is considered the oldest and one of the most prestigious international distinctions awarded to a lawyer.

Created in memory of Ludovic Trarieux, French lawyer and founder of the League for the Defense of Human and Citizen Rights in 1898, the prize is awarded each year to a lawyer who has made an exceptional contribution to the defense of human rights, the rule of law and the fight against racism and all forms of intolerance through his professional commitment.

The awards ceremony took place in the Parlamentino Hall of the National Council of Lawyers in Rome. Among those present, lawyer Antonino Galletti, coordinator of the Commission on European and International Law at the National Bar Council.

The statement noted that in recent years, Imaan and Chattha have carried out their work “against a backdrop of increasing pressure on lawyers and human rights defenders in Pakistan, according to international organizations and observers.”

“By awarding the Ludovic Trarieux 2026 International Human Rights Prize, the jury recognized the professional and personal contribution of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to the defense of the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and access to justice,” the press release said.

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Background of the case

The case against Imaan and Hadi concerns allegedly controversial posts and reposts on X, described by authorities as “anti-state.” The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency registered the case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, alleging that the content was intended to incite divisions and portray state institutions in a negative manner.

The case over the social media posts came before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the trial court proceedings on November 19, during which the statements of all prosecution witnesses were recorded. Both levels challenged procedural irregularities, including the recording of evidence in their absence and the appointment of a court-appointed lawyer without their consent, prompting the IHC to intervene.

Legal bodies, including the Islamabad Bar Association, criticized aspects of the proceedings, arguing that the accused’s right to a fair defense had been compromised.

Their request to transfer the case was heard by the High Court, which refused to grant an immediate stay. The couple then approached the Supreme Court, which temporarily stayed the trial until the High Court completed its hearing.

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Meanwhile, several other FIRs surfaced against the couple during this period. One of the newly surfaced FIRs, registered at Kohsar Police Station on July 26, 2025, was lodged following the complaint of Police Commissioner Safdar Hussain in connection with a protest by the Balock Yakjehti Committee at the National Press Club under several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The couple were arrested on January 23 near the underpass outside the Serena Hotel on their way to the district court and then sent to 14-day remand by an anti-terrorism court.

A district court and a magistrate court subsequently sentenced them to a combined term of 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment each: five years under Section 9 of PECA (plus a fine of Rs 5 million), 10 years under Section 10 (plus Rs 30 million) and two years under Section 26-A (plus Rs 1 million), with additional imprisonment for non-payment of the fine. fines. The judge also acquitted them of PECA’s hate speech charge under Article 11, saying prosecution witnesses did not support the allegation.

During the proceedings conducted via video link, Imaan alleged ill-treatment in detention and announced a boycott of the hearing. The judgment noted that the two men were already in custody in another case and said they would remain in prison to serve their sentences, with credit for time spent in custody under section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure.