human rights defender
Koet Saray
Actions and Campaigns
Koet Saray
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Urgent support needed
Legal assistance and humanitarian support
Organization affiliation
- Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (“KSILA”)
HRD's year of birth
1992
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- NGO member
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Economic, social and cultural rights
- Environmental rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
In prison (sentenced)
HRD's bio and work
Mr. Koet Saray, born in Soutr Nikum District, Siem Reap Province, began his career as a monk and later pursued law studies. While at university, he engaged in natural resources and human rights protection activities. In 2018, he joined the Mother Nature Movement, advocating for sustainable development and human rights. In early 2020, he co-founded the Khmer Thavrak Youth Group to promote human rights and social justice.
Saray is the Director of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), which focuses on education, capacity building, and the promotion of democracy, human rights, and environmental protection.
In September 2020, Saray was arrested for planning a peaceful demonstration, resulting in charges of incitement and imprisonment. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to defending human rights and encourages others to strive for social change.
Human Rights Defender Profile: https://bit.ly/4eHHhmL
Detained since
Apr 5, 2024
Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Other
Sentence
Four years in prison for Committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for a misdemeanor and incitement to disturb social security under article 88 articles 494 and 495.
Latitude: 11.557900560316286
Longitude: 104.73238975595758
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: South-eastern Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Phnom Penh
Location of detention - Facility
Correctional Center 1 in Phnom Penh
Recent case update / evolution
In November 2024, Koet Saray was sentenced to four years in prison for Committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for a misdemeanor and incitement to disturb social security under article 88 articles 494 and 495. On 26 January 2026, the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Koet Saray. On 3 July 2026, the Supreme Court issued a final verdict upholding Saray's conviction, meaning he must serve his full four-year sentence in prison. By the time of this final ruling, Saray had spent nearly 27 months behind bars.
Any other relevant documents
Social media campaign to call for unconditional release and drop charges against Koet Saray: FB link
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's year of birth
- 1992
- HRD's Gender
- Man
- Type of HRD
- NGO member
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Economic, social and cultural rights
- Environmental rights
- Organization affiliation
- Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (“KSILA”)
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Mr. Koet Saray, born in Soutr Nikum District, Siem Reap Province, began his career as a monk and later pursued law studies. While at university, he engaged in natural resources and human rights protection activities. In 2018, he joined the Mother Nature Movement, advocating for sustainable development and human rights. In early 2020, he co-founded the Khmer Thavrak Youth Group to promote human rights and social justice.
Saray is the Director of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), which focuses on education, capacity building, and the promotion of democracy, human rights, and environmental protection.
In September 2020, Saray was arrested for planning a peaceful demonstration, resulting in charges of incitement and imprisonment. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to defending human rights and encourages others to strive for social change.
Human Rights Defender Profile: https://bit.ly/4eHHhmL
- HRD's geographical origin
- Urban
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Asia: South-eastern Asia
- Location of detention - City/Town
- Phnom Penh
- Location of detention - Facility
- Correctional Center 1 in Phnom Penh
- Geolocation of detention
Latitude: 11.557900560316286
Longitude: 104.73238975595758
- Geolocation of detention
- Detained since
- Apr 5, 2024
- Current Status
- In prison (sentenced)
- Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Other
- Sentence
Four years in prison for Committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for a misdemeanor and incitement to disturb social security under article 88 articles 494 and 495.
- Recent case update / evolution
In November 2024, Koet Saray was sentenced to four years in prison for Committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for a misdemeanor and incitement to disturb social security under article 88 articles 494 and 495. On 26 January 2026, the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Koet Saray. On 3 July 2026, the Supreme Court issued a final verdict upholding Saray's conviction, meaning he must serve his full four-year sentence in prison. By the time of this final ruling, Saray had spent nearly 27 months behind bars.
- Protection actions and campaigns
- Urgent support needed
Legal assistance and humanitarian support
- Any other relevant documents
Social media campaign to call for unconditional release and drop charges against Koet Saray: FB link
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
sorted by
Date added
9 relationships, 8 entities