Nearly ten civil society organizations in Cambodia have issued a joint appeal urging the government to immediately and unconditionally release human rights activist Seng Theary. The call comes after Theary completed a 14-day hunger strike in prison to protest what she described as an unjust three-year detention.
Six of the organizations, including the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), expressed deep concern for her deteriorating health. In a joint statement issued today, they confirmed that Theary had refused food from June 1 to June 14.
The hunger strike, they said, was a peaceful act of protest to draw attention to her ongoing imprisonment and to call for the release of all political activists and human rights defenders who remain in custody under what they describe as unjust conditions.
The civil society groups warned that the hunger strike could have serious and lasting impacts on Theary’s physical well-being. They added that the continued detention ordered by the court is further exacerbating her health situation.
These organizations expressed hope that Theary’s hunger strike would help bring about justice for all political prisoners and rights defenders who have been detained unfairly in recent years. They affirmed their continued support for Seng Theary and vowed to stand with her.
Seng Theary, a Cambodian-American human rights advocate and international lawyer, was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to six years in prison on June 14, 2022. She was convicted on charges of incitement and conspiracy to commit treason. Theary had been protesting peacefully outside the courthouse at the time of her arrest, rejecting the charges as politically motivated.
Since her conviction, Theary has carried out four hunger strikes between 2022 and 2025 while being held at a prison in Preah Vihear province.
In connection with her case, Freedom House has classified Cambodia as an authoritarian state, grouping it alongside countries such as Myanmar, China and Russia. The designation highlights what the organization describes as systematic suppression of civil liberties and political freedoms in the country.
The situation continues to raise concerns among international rights monitors and foreign governments, as calls grow louder for greater transparency and respect for human rights within Cambodia’s justice system.
