​Alexandria, Virginia – At a workshop hosted by the International Catholic Jurists Forum (ICOJF) from October 28-30, 2021, experts gathered to address the persecution of religious groups through “forced marriage” and “forced conversion.” At the end of the three-day conference they agreed to form the international “Coalition to End Sexual Enslavement and Religious Persecution (CEaSE RP),” which includes a network of civil society leaders, including the Global Liberty Alliance (GLA).

Alexandria, Virginia - The Global Liberty Alliance is reviewing a case of unlawful detention involving two American citizens and Maryland residents, Mr. Ronell Stephenson (38) and Mr. John Stephenson (29). John and Ronell have been wrongfully accused of very serious crimes in Ecuador. While some charges against them were dismissed a few years ago, the legal battle continues as the brothers seek to correct a manifest injustice so that they return to America.

This week the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation released an open letter to President Joe Biden from the families of 26 Americans and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents currently held hostage and detained abroad. Signers included family members of two of GLA's clients, Mr. Jamshid Sharmahd from California, unlawfully detained in Iran and Ms. Alina Lopez from Miami, Florida, unlawfully detained in Cuba.

​Earlier today, the Global Liberty Alliance updated the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on the status of four members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba who have been held in prison since mid-July of this year.

This week, the Global Liberty Rule of Law and Legal Defense Fund (a.k.a., Global Liberty Alliance) joined a Supreme Court amicus brief filed by Advancing American Freedom, Inc. and close to 70 other groups and individuals in the case popularly called the “Praying Coach Case,” Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.

On October 1, acting leadership of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba made a statement responding to the Provincial Prosecutor of Villa Clara’s findings and sentencing for four members of the Free Yorubas and other political activists who joined the mass July 11 protests in Placetas and throughout Cuba.

On October 3, the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measure protections to political prisoner and UNPACU member Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez García.

​The Global Liberty Alliance applied for Precautionary Measures for Mr. Rodríguez García in June 2021 after learning of the inhumane treatment and abuse he had suffered in Cuban prisons. In March 2021, he was placed in a punishment cell in Pinar del Río’s Kilo 5 Prison for speaking out about the lack of COVID-19 preventative measures taken by the Cuban prison system. In April, he was taken to a hospital after suffering from severe breathing problems, and was unable to communicate with his family directly for several months.

​Earlier this week, the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office of Placetas in Villa Clara sentenced over ten individuals to 8-10 years in prison for participation in protests that took place on July 11. Charges were filed against several members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba and other opposition group affiliates for a variety of crimes including disobedience, public disorder and assault/attack.

​Yesterday, the Court of Justice of the European Union legally annulled agreements on agricultural trade and fishing partnerships between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco. The Court determined that the European Union and Morocco did not secure the legally required consent from Western Sahara, a third party to the agreement, a necessary element of customary international law.

UPDATE AS OF 9/28/2021 (5:00PM)
The prosecutor has officially charged sisters Lisdiani & Lisdani with 1 count public disorder, two counts of disobedience, and two counts of assault/attack for a total of 10 years in prison with additional travel restrictions.

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!