On 10 March, the Goretsky District Court recognised the Instagram, X and Facebook pages of the International Society for Human Rights as “extremist”.

On March 10, a court in the Horki District of Belarus declared the social media pages of the International Society for Human Rights on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook to be “extremist.”

The decision concerns the official accounts of an international human rights organization that has been working for decades to protect fundamental human rights and freedoms around the world.

According to the court ruling, distributing materials from these pages, as well as subscribing to them or reposting their content in Belarus, may be interpreted as participation in the dissemination of “extremist materials.” Similar practices have already been used by the Belarusian authorities against independent media, human rights initiatives, and civil society organizations.

An international human rights organization with a long history

The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) is an independent non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in West Germany in 1972. The organization was established to protect human rights and to support people persecuted for their beliefs, civic position, or human rights activities.

Today, ISHR unites national sections and partner organizations in many countries around the world. The organization actively monitors human rights violations, supports political prisoners, conducts international advocacy, and raises public awareness about the persecution of human rights defenders and civic activists.

The International Society for Human Rights holds participatory status with the Council of Europe and is a member of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe. Through this status, the organization participates in international discussions on the protection of human rights, the rule of law, and the development of democratic institutions.

Pressure on human rights organizations

The decision of the Belarusian court is another example of pressure on human rights organizations and restrictions on freedom of expression in the country. In recent years, the Belarusian authorities have repeatedly declared materials from independent media, civic initiatives, and international organizations “extremist,” significantly restricting citizens’ access to information and increasing the risk of criminal or administrative prosecution for sharing such materials.

Human rights defenders note that such decisions create an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship and hinder the work of international organizations seeking to document human rights violations and support victims.

The importance of international solidarity

Despite the pressure, international human rights organizations continue their work to defend human rights and human dignity. International solidarity and attention from the global community remain crucial tools for supporting civil society and human rights defenders in countries where their activities are restricted.

The International Society for Human Rights emphasizes that it will continue informing the international public about the human rights situation in Belarus and other countries and supporting people who face persecution for peacefully expressing their views.