(v.): When a group of powerful people use organizations and/or states under their control to actively persecute, marginalize or imprison a dissident, whistleblower or journalist by using psychological
torture, false accusations and manipulating vagaries in the laws of the involved nations and international treaties (Lawfare) to silence the individual.
The desired effect is to dissuade others from following in their footsteps and take attention away from embarrassing
information, corruption or high
level crimes exposed or publicly opposed by the person targeted.