Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a journalist was attacked and beaten by Muslim fundamentalists for watching television and listening to some religious music which were against the particular sect of the attackers. Police refused to take action because of the involvement of a powerful Islamic seminary. His neighbours are worried about the increasing intimidation and death threats in the name of actual image of Islam which does not allow music and songs. The elected members from the community are refusing to support the people from their electoral constituency.
It has become difficult if not dangerous for young people, particularly women of the community to move about freely as they are constantly being watched by the extremists. The ongoing impotency of the authorities to reign in the extremist activities of the zealots will only encourage them and one day, sooner rather than later, there will be carnage in the streets carried out in the name of Islam.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Mr. Zainul Abedin, son of Khalid Bin Abdul Qadir, resident of A-305, block 2, Gulsha-e-Iqbal, Karachi, the op-ed editor of The News, was attacked and beaten on August 27, at around 11 pm, by four persons when he was in his own house relaxing with his younger sister. He heard noises outside his house and noticed four men kicking at the gate and hurling abuse. As he opened the gate to talk to them he was surrounded and grabbed, with one of the men saying: “You are very fond of watching television and Qawalis, (a mystic and religious song), but you will not be so after today”. When he enquired who they were and why they should have a problem with how he lives in his own house unless it affected them in any way, one of them said They do have a problem with these things particularly about the mystic songs and then they threatened that they will teach him a lesson for not following their instructions.
After that they started beating him without allowing him to explain his position as being a journalist he was obliged to watch the television for ‘breaking news’. One of them punched his face breaking the spectacles which he was wearing, which caused mild bleeding from the upper, outer part of his nose. As they delivered more kicks, slaps and blows, they kept saying, they will not let him go unless he repents and says he will not turn his TV on and will stop listening to any kind of music, even if it is Qawali (mystic songs). Then each one asked him to promise that he will not watch television from that day. The threats in urdu language were“Butaa, ub TV dehke ga, suney ga Qawali? Meanwhile his younger sister, the only other occupant of the house, had come out. As he was struggling to take her inside and close the gate, the men tried to enter in his house but Abedin quickly closed the gate. After injuring him they went away shouting abuse and threats such as “Next time it will be worse.”Do not turn on your TV and no songs and Qawalis here”. “You will not live if it happens again.” “You people and this house will be no more.” “We will not break the windows, we will shoot you, kill you.” (Phir thumarrey ghur per firing hogi, hum sheeshey nai thoren gay, thmuney jaan se maar den gey. Thumaara ye ghar nehi rehe ga).”
At this moment some neighbours from their houses watched the whole scene but they were so afraid that they did not interfere to stop the attack.
The landlord of the house, the next day, told him that the attackers live in the same area and are dangerous people with some twisted notions of right and wrong about the performance of religious rituals. . His neighbours told him on the condition of anonymity that the attackers were from a particular sect of Islam and usually go door to door and pressure the neighbours to not watching television and listen to music. From time to time they check the houses by keeping their ears to the walls. These people are known for their intolerance of ‘obscenities’ such as music. His younger sister later told him that a fortnight or so ago, in his absence, two men (one of them now identified as one Mehboob) had come to his house and preached that TV, and music in particular, were Haraam (prohibited as a sin) in Islam and that good Muslims should avoid them.
The culprits have identified by the eye witnesses as Riaz, Fahad, Ohaad and Sa-ad son of Mehboob. In fact, the neighbours have complained to the elected representatives of the area that the extremists are constantly telling them how to live and dress and act. But as is typical in these cases the nothing has been done out of fear of upsetting them. It has become difficult if not dangerous for young people, particularly women of the community to move about freely as they are constantly being watched by the extremists.
Mr. Abedin, the victim, reported to the area police station, the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station, on the same night and they replied that as it was already night and too late they would look into it the next morning. The next evening the police came to enquire after several repeated calls by the victim. The police party questioned him and his landlord but blatantly avoided visiting the attackers’ residence.
He submitted another application to the police identifying the attackers and adding details of what he had discovered about them. The SHO and the police officials who had met him earlier were not available and to-date the police have not started any kind of investigation and have refused to file the First Information Report (FIR).
The younger sister of the victim has had to shift from the house and her education has suffered.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the given authorities calling them to provide protection to the victim and his sister from the religious fundamentalists who are imposing their sectarian rules on the people by threatening them and beating for watching the television programs and listening the music. Please also urge them to take action against the officials of the Gulashan-e-Iqbal police station, Karachi for not protecting the citizens from the religious vandalism and providing support to the seminary people for their militancy. Also urge them to provide life security to the journalists at large from the htreats and intimidation.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression for his intervention into this matter.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: A journalist was manhandled by religious fanatics for watching television programmes considered unsuitable by a particular sect
Name of victim:
Mr. Zainul Abedin, son of Khalid Bin Abdul Qadir, resident of A-305, block 2, Gulsha-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1.Riaz, activist of Darul-Tahrir, a Muslim seminary, resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
2.Fahad, activist of Darul-Tahrir, a Muslim seminary, resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
3.Ohaad activist of Darul-Tahrir, a Muslim seminary, resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
4.Sa-ad son of Mehboob. activist of Darul-Tahrir, a Muslim seminary, resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
5.Station Head Officer (SHO) of Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station, Karachi, Sindh province
Date of incident: August 27, 2012
Place of incident: Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the attack and violence against a journalist by Muslim fundamentalists over the issue of watching television at home and listening to Qawali, a mystic song. He was beaten at his door step and the police refuse to file the FIR as the attackers are from a Jihadi seminary.
I was shocked to learned that Mr. Zainul Abedin, son of Khalid Bin Abdul Qadir, resident of A-305, block 2, Gulsha-e-Iqbal, Karachi, the op-ed editor of The News, was attacked and beaten on August 27, at around 11 pm, by four persons when he was in his own house relaxing with his younger sister. He heard noises outside his house and noticed four men kicking at the gate and hurling abuse. As he opened the gate to talk to them he was surrounded and grabbed, with one of the men saying: “You are very fond of watching television and Qawalis, (a mystic and religious song), but you will not be so after today”. When he enquired who they were and why they should have a problem with how he lives in his own house unless it affected them in any way, one of them said They do have a problem with these things particularly about the mystic songs and then they threatened that they will teach him a lesson for not following their instructions.
After that they started beating him without allowing him to explain his position as being a journalist he was obliged to watch the television for 'breaking news'. One of them punched his face breaking the spectacles which he was wearing, which caused mild bleeding from the upper, outer part of his nose. As they delivered more kicks, slaps and blows, they kept saying, they will not let him go unless he repents and says he will not turn his TV on and will stop listening to any kind of music, even if it is Qawali (mystic songs). Then each one asked him to promise that he will not watch television from that day. The threats in urdu language were“Butaa, ub TV dehke ga, suney ga qawali? Meanwhile his younger sister, the only other occupant of the house, had come out. As he was struggling to take her inside and close the gate, the men tried to enter in his house but Abedin quickly closed the gate. After injuring him they went away shouting abuse and threats such as “Next time it will be worse.”Do not turn on your TV and no songs and qawalis here”. “You will not live if it happens again.” “You people and this house will be no more.” “We will not break the windows, we will shoot you, kill you.” (Phir thumarrey ghur per firing hogi, hum sheeshey nai thoren gay, thmuney jaan se maar den gey. Thumaara ye ghar nehi rehe ga).”
At this moment some neighbours from their houses watched the whole scene but they were so afraid that they did not interfere to stop the attack.
Furthermore, the landlord of the house, on next day, told him that the attackers live in the same area and are dangerous people with some twisted notions of right and wrong thing about the performance of religious rituals. . His neighbours told him on the condition of anonymity that the attackers were from a particular sect of Islam and usually go door to door and pressure the neighbours to not watching television and listen to music. From time to time they check the houses by keeping their ears to the walls. These people are known for their intolerance of ‘obscenities’ such as music. His younger sister later told him that a fortnight or so ago, in his absence, two men (one of them now identified as one Mehboob) had come to his house and preached that TV, and music in particular, were Haraam (prohibited as a sin) in Islam and that good Muslims should avoid them.
I am deeply shocked that the victim has positively identified the culprits as Riaz, Fahad, Ohaad and Sa-ad son of Mehboob and this was included in his FIR but typically, out of fear of the Jihadist seminaries no report was accepted and no action has been taken. Furthermore, as a result of the indifference of the authorities it has become difficult if not dangerous for young people, particularly women of the community, to move about freely as they are constantly being watched by the extremists.
It is also appalling that the innocent younger sister of the victim has had to move from the house and her education has suffered.
I call upon you to ensure that investigations are conducted into the inactivity of the police and that the culprits are rounded up, charged and punished under the law. The Constitution of Pakistan ensures religious freedom and it is up to the government to ensure that this is made available to the citizens. The ongoing impotency of the authorities will only encourage the extremist activities of the zealots and one day, sooner rather than later, there will be carnage in the streets carried out in the name of Islam.
Yours sincerely,
----------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9204801/9214171
Fax: +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Raja Pervez Ashraf
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
3. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
E-mail: pppsindh@yahoo.com
4. Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfaraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
5. Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs
& Criminal Prosecution Service
Sindh Assembly Building,
Court road, Karachi, Sindh province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9211982
E-mail: secy.law@sindh.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
7. Minister for Human Rights
Government of Sindh,
Pakistan secretariat, Barrack 92,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9207044
Tel: +92 21 9207043
E-mail: lukshmil@yahoo.com
8. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
9. Inspector General of Police
Police Head office, I. I. Chundrigar road
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9212051
E-mail: ppo.sindh@sindhpolice.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
