Death penalty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2010 AHRC-OLT-011-2010 An Open Letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse President Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka C/- Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle Road Colombo 3 SRI LANKA Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657 secretary@presidentsoffice.lk Your Excellency, SRI LANKA: Rizana Nafeek — Death […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and other rights groups about brutal form of torture to the prisoners. The male organ of three prisoners were taped for many hours in such a way that they could no longer urinate. Each was then forced […]

One of the most disturbing features of modern times is the claim of some security agencies of their right to decide on the death sentence and assertion of their right to carry it out. Such claims implies the following: These security agencies steal a judicial power; reasons to death sentence is moved from legal grounds […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from CNN. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from CNN forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission IRAN: Son pleads for help as mother awaits stoning (CNN) — Sajjad Mohammedie Ashtiani travels to a Tabriz jail in Iran every Monday to […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information concerning the case of 84-year-old Mr. Masaru Okunishi, who has been detained on Japan’s infamous death row for the past 41 years. Okunishi was accused of murder in 1961 and acquitted by the trial court in 1964 yet was sentenced to capital punishment […]

A noted Human Rights Activist Ansar Burney on Monday said the trust he runs would provide legal and moral help to 17 Indians who allegedly killed a Pakistani man in Sharjah. Terming the death sentence as “shocking” and “against justice”, Burney said, “As per media reports 17 Indian nationals were accused of being the leaders […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to first of all express our deep condolence to the family members whose children have been abused recently in South Korea. The AHRC has no doubt that such cases would be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agencies and the criminals be punished in accordance with law. According […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-STM-216-2009 17 October, 2009 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission INDIA: World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Do not give food, give the ‘right to food’ India is a country moving too slowly to ensure food and health security to malnourished children. The Global Hunger […]

On the 10th September, 2009 the Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Bill, 2009 was placed before parliament. This bill attempts to bring Bangladeshi law in conformity with the international law. This bill has come to the parliament by way of a private member¡¦s bill proposed by Saber Hossain Chowdhury, one of the members for Dhaka […]

The case of Rizana Nafeek, the underaged Sri Lankan housemaid who was found guilty of the death of a Saudi infant in May 2005, has taken a new turn. The court in Dawadmi where Nafeek was initially tried has referred the case once again to the Supreme Judicial Council in Riyadh. The referral is accompanied […]

(Hong Kong, June, 2, 2009) As President Obama is to visit the Saudi Arabian authorities tomorrow the Asian Human Rights Commission has issued an appeal for him to intervene on behalf of Rizana Nafeek whose appeal against the death sentence has been pending for several months now. Rizana Nafeek who was a 17-year-old girl from […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned to report that a Sri Lankan girl charged with the death of a baby in her care still faces the death penalty in a Saudi prison, despite strong flaws in her case and her pardoning by one of the baby’s parents. Rizana Nafeek has now […]

The AHRC wishes to thank President Asif Ali Zardari for staying the execution of Mr. Umer Khan, due to be hanged on October 29, 2008 at Mian Wali Prison, Punjab province (see: http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1746/ ) Mr. Khan has been given a two-month stay. In a previous statement the AHRC reported that Khan (23) had been pardoned by the […]

The only way to prevent the three convicted Sri Lankans in Saudi Arabia from facing public execution by beheading is to lodge an appeal within 30 days from the date of conviction and this can only be done if the Sri Lankan government provides legal fees for lodging appeals on their behalf through the Sri […]

On the occasion of the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to thank and congratulate the federal government of Pakistan for stepping in at the eleventh hour to stay the execution of condemned prisoner Zulfiqar Ali, son of Rasheed Khan, despite the president’s earlier refusal to do so. Had […]

To the recipients of communications through the AHRC network, Rizana Nafeek is a familiar name. The 17-year-old girl from a poor family from a conflict ridden area with a passport indicating her age as 18 arrived in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper. Within two weeks this young girl was accused of the murder of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received an appeal about the impending execution of a man which is scheduled to be carried out on October 8. The ‘red warrant’ has been issued after the final appeal for commutation was rejected by the President of Pakistan. His final meeting with his daughters will […]

(The Asian Human Rights Commission reproduced below a petition from the condemned prisoners from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, which we received from the NNI news agency of Pakistan). To, Mr Yousaf Raza Gillani, Prime Minister of  Pakistan Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Mr Asif Ali Zardari,Co Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (the ruling party) RESPECTFULLY […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the police allegedly ordered parents to pay a bribe of 150000 riels (US$37.5) each if their sons were not to be arrested after these youths had damaged a party sign in Soeung commune, Bor Keo district, Rattankiri province. On 2 July 2008, they arrested […]

(This is the second reply to a columnist of the Sunday Leader who wrote his column on May 11, 2008 referring to the Asian Human Rights Commission and its Executive Director, Mr. Basil Fernando). May 12th 2008 Mr. Lasantha Wickramatunga – The Editor The Sunday Leader Leader Publications (Pvt) Ltd. 24, Katukurunduwatte Road, Ratmalana  Sri […]