FRIENDS of an internationally-renowned human rights lawyer have paid tribute to her in York to mark International Women’s Day.

Egyptian lawyer Azza Soliman met Patricia Bartley - from the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York - and Margot Brown of Books for Amnesty, when she lived in York in 2013.

Azza now works to defend victims of torture, arbitrary detention, domestic violence and rape in Egypt, but her actions have led her to be labelled a threat to the country’s national security. Her assets have been frozen, and she is banned from travelling.

A special window display including a portrait of Azza was put up at the Books for Amnesty shop in Goodramgate for the York International Women’s Festival, where Amnesty International Newsletters were handed out containing articles about Azza, and details of a petition to request her human rights are respected.

Sue Cooke, former Sheriff of York, said: “I was inspired by my meetings with Azza, she is a brave woman doing vital work for and with her country women, she deserves our help to continue this important work.”