International Advocacy: Demand for Liberation of Activist Martha Lía Grajales – Led by Venezuelan Associations and Global Intellectuals
Human Rights Activist Martha Lía Grajales Arbitrarily Detained in Venezuela
Human rights lawyer Martha Lía Grajales was arbitrarily detained in Caracas on August 8, 2025, following her participation in a demonstration. She was charged by the Attorney General’s Office on August 11 with incitement of hatred, conspiracy with a foreign government, and criminal association.
The initial days of Grajales' detention were shrouded in uncertainty, with authorities denying knowledge of her whereabouts despite visits by her partner and human rights representatives to multiple detention centers. Grajales was held incommunicado at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the PNB in Maripérez, denied contact with her own lawyer and family.
On August 12, 2025, Martha Lía Grajales was conditionally released, but the charges against her were not dropped. The Public Prosecutor's announcement reiterated ongoing legal proceedings and allegations against her. Following her release, some pro-government sources and propaganda campaigns accused her of being an infiltrator working against the revolution from within, and aligned with opposition groups, attempting to discredit her activism.
In response to her detention and charges, Venezuelan social movements, activists, and international human rights organizations mobilized to demand her release and denounce the criminalization of human rights defenders. Around 100 people gathered in La Vega, Caracas, showing solidarity and support for Grajales. Groups like PROVEA and Front Line Defenders criticized her detention as arbitrary and part of a wider pattern targeting human rights defenders after the 2024 presidential elections.
Grajales' case is highlighted alongside other detained defenders, urging the Venezuelan government, particularly President Nicolás Maduro, to release all arbitrarily detained individuals and guarantee their rights to fair trial, family visits, and medical care. An online petition calling for Grajales' liberation and respect for due process gathered over 800 signatures in under 48 hours.
Notable signatories of the petition include Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Miguel Mazzeo, Michael Lowy, and Alba Carosio. The Venezuela chapter of Pacto Histórico voiced its backing for Grajales, who helped set up the chapter and mobilize the Colombian diaspora in support of Petro.
Grajales had previously helped found the La Vega organization to defend five young men from the neighborhood who were arrested in 2021. The committee mobilized to defend the innocence of the five men, exposing irregularities and delays in the judicial process. Four of the five men were freed in 2023, while the fifth passed away after suffering health complications in prison.
The mothers' committee had expressed its desire to meet with TSJ officials and expedite the remaining cases. Friday's rally followed a Tuesday vigil before the Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) in Caracas, where the committee denounced an attack allegedly carried out by "para-police" groups. The Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth organized a demonstration in front of the United Nations headquarters on Friday, which Martha Lía Grajales attended shortly before her detention.
Araña Feminista and Frente Cultural de Izquierda are among Venezuelan grassroots initiatives voicing support for Martha Lía Grajales. Georgina Castillo, a member of the La Vega Committee for the Defense of People's Rights, praised Grajales' work in defense of Venezuelan working-class communities.
Venezuela's Ombudsman's Office condemned the "acts of violence" and urged the victims to file a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated that he requested the release of 2000 prisoners for trial outside detention, but only 1767 cases have been processed.
The situation remains uncertain as Grajales continues to face charges and calls for her release continue to grow. The international community and human rights organizations will closely monitor the situation and advocate for justice and respect for due process.
- The ongoing arbitrary detention of Human Rights Activist Martha Lía Grajales, in the heart of Caracas, is garnering increased attention in general-news and politics, as well as the Crime-and-Justice sector, due to the controversy surrounding her charges and the questionable treatment she has endured.
- International Human Rights organizations have rallied, escalating their calls for the release of Martha Lía Grajales, as her detention is seen as a part of a broader pattern targeting human rights defenders in the context of political disputes, raising questions about justice, fair treatment, and the rule of law in Venezuela.
