Durbin Urges the Release of Political Prisoners, Including Consortium Scholar Gubad Ibadoghlu
The Office of Dick Durban, U.S. Senator for Illinois
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2026
Contact: Maddie Carlos
202-224-7115
***FTP, VIDEO & AUDIO***
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted the plight of political prisoners in five nations and called for their immediate and unconditional release. These political prisoners have been outspoken in their support for democracy, freedom of the press, human rights, and basic political freedoms.
Durbin began his speech by highlighting one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) top human rights defenders, Ahmed Mansoor, who tragically just marked nine years in jail. Mr. Mansoor was arrested under the guise that his social media posts that advocated for human rights threatened social harmony.
Durbin said, “Despite the dismal conditions of his incarceration, Mr. Mansoor has remained steadfast in his commitment to human rights—even conducting multiple hunger strikes in protest of jail conditions. We have strong ties and many shared interests with the UAE, but its continued involvement in the horrific Sudanese civil war and jailing of Mr. Mansoor complicate that relationship. Adding to this strain is Emirati Ambassador Otaiba’s persistent and bewildering refusal to engage on these issues. I appeal to him [and] UAE’s President to finally release Mr. Mansoor.”
Durbin then spoke about anti-corruption researcher and advocate, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu in Azerbaijan. In 2023, Dr. Ibadoghlu and his wife were forcibly dragged from their vehicle and severely beaten.
Durbin continued, “His dubious arrest was a tragic result of writings about the rampant corruption stemming from Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry. While eventually placed under house arrest in 2024, he has still been denied a trial and medical care, and his family continues to suffer harassment. In fact, his son Emin, who desperately hopes to reunite with his father, is here today in the Senate Gallery. He [Dr. Ibadoghlu] is one of many wrongfully detained individuals in Azerbaijan who should be fully released.”
Durbin then spoke about the number of cases in China including Gulshan Abbas, a doctor serving a 20-year sentence—likely a result of her sister’s advocacy on Uyghur issues; Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai who has been jailed since 2020; and Pastors Jin Mingri and Gao Quanfu, and Gao’s wife Pang Yu, who were arrested amid a crackdown on religious freedom.
Durbin said, “The Chinese have worked with my office on such cases in the past and made some important gestures, but it’s time to do something—release these individuals. I urge President Trump to raise [their cases] with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits China.”
Durbin then spoke on Sonia and Ramla Dahmani—sisters from Tunisia.
“Last July, I came to the floor to call for the release of prominent Tunisian lawyer and political commentator Sonia Dahmani. She was arrested in May 2024 for peaceful radio and television political commentary and subjected to appalling prison conditions. Her sister, Ramla, was also sentenced in absentia to two years in prison, simply for publicly advocating for her sister’s release,” Durbin continued.
“While I am glad Sonia was conditionally released late last year, the government is still harassing her with nonsense charges. I urge President Saied to end this vendetta against Sonia and Ramla, and to take steps to restore press freedoms in Tunisia, once a symbol of great democratic hope after the Arab Spring,” Durbin said.
Durbin lastly spoke about human rights advocate Joaquin Elo Ayeto who had been arrested in 2019 in Equatorial Guinea, an oil rich nation with a history of repression and growing ties with the Russian military. While he was eventually released a year later and visited with Durbin’s office shortly thereafter, he was unfortunately re-arrested in 2024.
Durbin said, “It’s time to end the harassment of Mr. Ayeto. I urge President Mbasogo to show the same compassion displayed in 2020 and release him without delay on humanitarian grounds.”
Durbin concluded, “What we do here really matters. My friend and jailed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara Murza often reminded me that a political prisoner’s worst nightmare is the thought that people forgotten them. So, let me remind Ahmed, Gubad, Gulshan, Jimmy, Pastors Jin and Gao, Pang, Sonia, Ramla, and Joaquin—you are not forgotten and we will continue to speak out for your freedom.”
Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.