Dissidents

Protesters
Objectors
Agitator

Nature

Dissidents reject the established majority way. Dissidents are almost invariably see as trouble-makers. The creative role of dissidence is rarely acknowledged.

Background

In mediaeval Europe people who strayed away from Catholicism were called dissidents. Later the term came to refer to all those who did not belong to Catholic or Protestant state religion.

Incidence

Dissidents continue to face persecution, imprisonment, and violence in numerous countries, with reports from organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting thousands of cases annually. The suppression of dissent is particularly acute in authoritarian regimes, but also occurs in democracies, affecting journalists, activists, and political opponents. The global scale of the problem is underscored by the increasing use of digital surveillance and restrictive laws to silence critical voices, making the plight of dissidents a persistent and widespread human rights concern.
In 2022, the arrest and subsequent sentencing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny highlighted the ongoing repression of dissidents in Russia. Navalny, a prominent critic of the government, was detained upon returning to Moscow and later sentenced to lengthy imprisonment on charges widely condemned as politically motivated by international observers.

Claim

The persecution of dissidents is a grave and urgent problem that threatens the very foundation of free societies. Silencing those who challenge authority stifles progress, breeds fear, and enables unchecked abuses of power. When dissent is crushed, truth and justice are the first casualties. The world must recognize that protecting dissidents is not just a moral imperative—it is essential for democracy, human rights, and the advancement of civilization itself. Ignoring this issue is unconscionable.