UN Experts Condemn 17-Year Sentences for Pakistani Lawyers in Free Speech Case
The united Nations has voiced serious concerns over the conviction and lengthy sentencing of two Pakistani lawyers, Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The case has sparked fears of a broader crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society within Pakistan.
Geneva, Switzerland – UN human rights experts on Wednesday condemned the conviction of Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, lawyers and human rights defenders, who were sentenced to 17 years in prison on multiple criminal charges.The sentences stem from their online activity and advocacy work, raising alarms about the suppression of dissent and the erosion of legal protections in Pakistan.
According to a statement released by the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the convictions represent a dangerous conflation of legitimate expression wiht criminal conduct, particularly terrorism. “Lawyers, like other individuals, are entitled to freedom of expression,” a UN expert stated. “The exercise of this right should never be conflated with criminal conduct,especially not terrorism.”
The legal proceedings began on August 22, 2025, with the initiation of a criminal prosecution against Mazari-Hazir for a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ali Chattha was later prosecuted for sharing and reposting her content. On January 24, 2026, both lawyers were convicted under sections 9 (glorification of an offence), 10 (cyber-terrorism), and 26-A (false and fake details) of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.
Each lawyer received multiple concurrent sentences totaling 17 years, with a 10-year sentence specifically for cyber-terrorism. they were also each fined 36 million Pakistani rupees. This is not the first time the two lawyers have faced legal challenges; as 2022, they have been subjected to 10 criminal complaints, though they had never been previously convicted of wrongdoing.
The UN experts highlighted a concerning pattern of prosecutions, suggesting an “arbitrary use of the legal system as an instrument of harassment and intimidation” aimed at punishing the lawyers for their advocacy on behalf of alleged human rights violation victims. “States must ensure lawyers are not subject to prosecution for any professional action, and that lawyers are not identified with their clients,” the statement emphasized.
The speed at which the proceedings unfolded also raised red flags. Mazari-Hazir and Ali Chattha reportedly faced inadequate time to prepare their defense, were denied full access to counsel of their choosing, and were subjected to testimony from prosecution witnesses in their absence.”International standards provide a set of procedural guarantees that must be made available to persons charged with a criminal offence, but these appear to have been undermined in this case,” the experts noted.
These procedural violations, they argued, “seriously threaten the fairness of the trial and conviction.” The UN experts have reportedly contacted Pakistan
officials to seek clarification on the convictions and to urge for a review of the case. The UN’s concerns underscore the growing anxieties surrounding the rule of law in Pakistan, particularly for those working to defend human rights. The case is highly likely to draw increased international scrutiny and fuel calls for the release of Mazari-Hazir and Ali Chattha.
Why did this happen? Imaan Mazari-Hazir was initially prosecuted for a post on X (formerly Twitter) in August 2025. Hadi Ali Chattha was then prosecuted for sharing her content. The convictions stemmed from charges under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, specifically sections related to glorifying offenses, cyber-terrorism
