For example, in my case, over the past four years, I had to move from one city to another.
As a university student, every time I traveled—whether I was going camping, attending a protest, or simply returning to my hometown—if the police stopped me for an ID check and reviewed my identification, the system would indicate that I was in an urgent situation. This would lead to my arrest and being taken to the police station for hours of questioning about my activities.
They would ask me what I do, what I’m involved in, what I advocate for, who the people I associate with are. They would ask to check my phone, what connection I have with the LGBTIQ+ movement and human rights, and with the human rights civil society. They would also ask if I know people abroad who defend these rights and where I’ve traveled before.
They even ask me about my high school teachers, my family, my siblings, where I live, and what I do. They ask absolutely everything.
Impacts
Regarding protests, I have also participated in several demonstrations and organized some, which right now could land me in prison. Organizing protests can be prosecuted under the law governing terrorism. If you are organizing something with a group of people that is deemed to affect the country’s order, such as a protest, you can be investigated and arrested under the anti-terrorism law.
So, in addition to being part of groups that try to resist and bring about some change in the country, we are subject to this kind of criminalization, including the indirect criminalization of assembly and protest, even though we technically have the right to protest and gather peacefully.
How are they protected?
In some way, with everything that’s happening, you have to be more careful; you need to stay out of prison, not in it, to keep doing what you’re doing. So, one way or another, there’s an effect and an impact on what you do.
You try to find other ways to protest and to reach the government and the people in safer and smarter ways to protect yourself. But the mass arrests of people are creating new ways to build cases against individuals.
