Rule of law

PAKISTAN: Lack of direction more worrying than the crisis confronting state: HRCP

Lahore, October 14: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has voiced concern at the absence of clarity and direction in dealing with the many pressing crises confronting the state. In a statement issued at the conclusion of its autumn meeting on Sunday, the HRCP executive body said: “The Executive Council of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan […]

PAKISTAN: A reference against three judges of the Supreme Court has been filed before the Supreme Judicial Council

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), the largest bar association of the country, in a general body meeting has passed a resolution against the conduct of three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan including the Chief Justice, Iftekhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The resolution has demanded that a reference be filed against them before the […]

PAKISTAN: Persecution of Ahmadis in September 2013

(Hong Kong, October 17) Following are excerpts from the press release of the Ahmadyya Jamat Report on the Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, September 2013. The full report may be seen here. In the month of September persecution against Ahmadis continued in Pakistan. In Orangi Town on September 18, Mr. Ijaz Ahmad Kiyani was shot dead […]

SOUTH KOREA: Would the government treat land owners in Gangnam* in the same manner as they do the Miryang villagers?

The situation in Miryang is deeply alarming and appears to be deteriorating. The police are carrying out arbitrary arrests and detention, threat and harassment towards villagers and human rights defenders including violence and indiscriminate photo-taking and videotaping without warrants with concealment of the police identity. These actions have been taking place since the Korea Electronic […]

SRI LANKA: In Ganeshan Nimalaruban’s case the de facto CJ holds that inquiry into a prison death will encourage prisoners to riot

The case of Ganeshan Nimalaruban, a Tamil prisoner whose death in prison evoked local and international expressions of concern last year was taken up on October 14 before the Supreme Court and the de facto Chief Justice, Mohan Peiris, refused to grant leave to proceed in the fundamental rights case. The de facto CJ refused […]

SRI LANKA: An Appeal for the Early Publication of the Inquiry Reports on the Welikada and Vavuniya Prison Riots

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from the Friday Forum. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE AHRC-FPR-046-2013 A Press Release from the Friday Forum forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: An Appeal for the Early Publication […]

SRI LANKA: Sadistic tendencies of the police

The following interview was originally printed in the latest issue of the Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives. An Interview with Dr. Sunil Cooray on Torture in Sri Lanka Dr. Sunil Cooray is a senior lawyer who is very well known in Sri Lanka. He has been in legal practice for 46 years. He is the […]

BANGLADESH: Adilur’s release carries comprehensive message for civil society

Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, globally known to have critiqued the incumbent government of Bangladesh against its human rights abuses, has been released from prison today, October 11, 2013, after 62 days of prolonged arbitrary detention. It was back in August 10 that officers from the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrived at Adilur’s Dhaka […]

SRI LANKA: A book that tells the story of human tragedy

The following review was originally printed in the latest issue of the Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives. by Eran Wickramaratne Basil Fernando’s well researched book documents state perpetrated torture reaching back to 1998 and tells a harrowing narrative of the willingness of state machinery to resort to the most egregious violations of personal security and dignity […]

WORLD: The human rights movement strongly recommends Malala Yousafzai for the Nobel Peace Prize

In this age where women and girl children do not receive the protection promised to them by the constitutions of so many countries the challenge for the human rights community in this century is to uplift their rights and lives. The struggle must include equality for women and justice for the violence perpetrated against them. […]

WORLD: Why Torture Is Wrong

Article | World | 09-10-2013

The following interview was originally printed in the latest issue of the Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives. An exclusive conversation with Dr. Nora Sveaass Born in Oslo, Norway, in December 1949, Dr. Nora Sveaass is a clinical psychologist who has been engaged in various parts of the world in relation to human rights and rehabilitation after […]

WORLD: The laws of war, belligerent reprisal and Gandhian Nonviolence

The following interview originally appeared in the latest issue of the Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives. Norman Finkelstein is an American scholar, political activist, and author. He is an expert on the Israel-Palestine Conflict, the politics of the Holocaust, and the life and beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi. He earned his Ph.D in Political Science from Princeton University […]

BANGLADESH: Attorney General plays key role to deny Adilur’s bail granted by High Court

Bangladesh’s authorities are trying to block the process of releasing the human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan, today, October 9, 2013. A Division Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh granted six months interim bail to Adilur Rahman Khan yesterday, 8 October 2013. Nearly after two months since the detention […]

SRI LANKA: A security officer is falsely accused of theft and tortured to confess by the Headquarters Inspector of Teldiniya

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information on the arrest of Mr. Jayantha Aberatne, a security officer who was falsely charged with theft and tortured to confess by the Headquarters Inspector of Teldiniya. This case is an example of the inability of the Sri Lankan police to conduct proper criminal investigations […]

INDONESIA: Perjuangan kakak korban penyiksaan berlanjut pasca putusan PT Banten

UNTUK DITERBITKAN SEGERA SIARAN PERS AHRC-PRL-016-2013-ID (Hong Kong, 8 Oktober 2013) Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) telah merilis videowawancara dengan Yeni, kerabat dari Yusli yang disiksa dan ditembak hingga tewas oleh tiga anggota kepolisian pada Desember 2011. Sebelumnya pada bulan Maret tahun ini, Pengadilan Negeri Tangerang menghukum dua polisi bernama Ricky Sembiring dan Hermanto ke dua tahun penjara dan seorang […]

SRI LANKA: The arrest, detention and torture of an innocent man by officers of the Vavuniya and Colombo TID

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about Mr. Balasundaram Jeyamagudam who was arrested by the TID on the charge of being associated with the LTTE four years after the civil war ended. Mr. Balasundaram had never had any connection with the LTTE and his wife believes that the reason for […]

SRI LANKA: An innocent man is arrested by the TID and tortured in custody at the Bogambara Remand Prison

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Velu Yogarasa was arrested and detained in Bogambara remand prison by the TID in August, 2008 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He was severely tortured in custody on several occasions by the prison officers. CASE NARRATIVE: Mr. Velu Yogarasa (26) of […]

SOUTH KOREA: Vicarious administrative execution is not legitimate without just and fair consultation of Miryang villagers

It is unavoidable that dissent, regardless of its severity, arises between the authorities and the people affected from national plans such as construction and redevelopment. It is reported that a nuclear plant has been being built in Busan in order to supply electricity to Seoul and for this reason, 69 transmission towers for the 765 […]

PAKISTAN: An Islamic country cannot protect its minors from sexual assault and the perpetrators enjoy impunity

Cases of sexual assault on minors have increased in the country during the recent months. During the month of September alone, a number of such cases were registered, however, there are many cases which were not reported because of the fear of a backlash from powerful persons and the police, also some of the cases […]

SOUTH KOREA: Stop repression in South Korea

Democracy in South Korea is under attack. The ruling Saenuri Party of President Park Geun-hye and the National Intelligence Service have launched a witch hunt to purge progressive voices from the political process. On August 28, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), formerly known as the Korean CIA, raided the offices and homes of the Unified […]