Amsterdam & Partners LLP Participates in International Democracy Union Forum, Speaks up for Tundu Lissu and Others Wrongfully Detained

Washington, DC, December 14, 2025 – Amsterdam & Partners LLP participated last week at the International Democracy Union (IDU) Forum in Washington DC, where a representative of the firm condemned the continued detention of Tundu Lissu, who leads the IDU’s member party in Tanzania – CHADEMA. Allocated a speaking slot at the Executive Meeting as their representative, focus was placed on the wider topic of political prisoners and those wrongfully detained.

“The holding of political prisoners is a key indicator of democratic backsliding – not only in Africa but elsewhere, too", the firm’s representative noted, speaking at length about Mr. Lissu and those protesting the October 2025 Tanzanian general election, against whom the state has launched a deadly and brutal crackdown.

In addition to Mr. Lissu, the detention of Samvel Karapetyan for criticising the crackdown by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration on the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the fight for justice for Sara Saleem, who in the past was kidnapped by an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq, were cited as examples of wrongful detention to which the IDU should urge governments worldwide to develop a principled and consistent response.  

The 5 December meeting, which was followed by a series of closed-door conversations, was chaired by former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and attended by New Zealand Attorney General Judith Collins, who also represents her country at the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (FVEY), former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and senior members of the European Parliament, among others.

The IDU is a global alliance of centre-right parties, including the Republicans (US), Conservatives (UK and Canada), the Christian Democratic Union - CDU (Germany) and 80 others.

Amsterdam & Partners LLP is an international law firm specialised in human rights, based in Washington, DC and London. For more information about the firm, see www.amsterdamandpartners.com. Media enquiries may be directed to contact@amsterdamandpartners.com.