I. Threats to, and Attacks on, the Physical Integrity of Human Rights Defenders Human rights defenders faced a number of serious violations of, and threats to, their physical integrity during the period under consideration. These included killings, torture, and ill-treatment by police and security forces; disappearances; physical attacks by unknown assailants; harassment and intimidation, including of lawyers; threats of prosecution; retaliation against family members; threats by unknown individuals; and the falsification of evidence. The following examples set out circumstances and challenges that have been affecting human rights defenders. 1. Killings. In two highly publicized attacks, two journalists were killed. An award-winning journalist who had written for many years about human rights issues and was at the time of her death preparing a report on torture was killed by unknown assailants in her apartment building.15 In January 2007, a well-known journalist, intellectual, and human rights activist was shot dead, eliciting public protest from a wide cross-section of society.16 Another journalist affiliated with a human rights NGO died under unexplained circumstances in prison after being held incommunicado throughout 15 Case of Anna Politkovskaya (Russian Federation), UN SRSG on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, “Report on the situation of the Human Rights Defenders. Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received”, A/HRC/4/37/Add.1, 27 March 2007, para. 571; UN Committee against Torture, “Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture with respect to the Russian Federation”, 6 February 2007, para. 22; Reporters without Borders, “Six months after ‘Novaya Gazeta’ reporter Anna Politkovskaya’s murder, RSF awaits findings of investigation”, press release, 9 April 2007. 16 Case of Hrant Dink (Turkey), Amnesty International, press release, AI index EUR 44/001/2007, 19 January 2007. The Government of Turkey points out that it swiftly condemned this act and that the alleged perpetrator and seven alleged accomplices were apprehended and charged shortly after the incident. 7