Rule of law

In an unprecedented move, the government of Pakistan has abruptly closed down 28 Turkish schools and colleges, issuing deportation orders for the 108 teaching and administrative staff to leave the country within three days. This arrangement was adopted on the orders of the Turkish government, prior to the arrival of Turkish president Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan […]

A Press Release from Network Against Killings in the Philippines (NAKPhilippines) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). NAKPhilippines Says Duterte Has Brought Human Rights Crisis to New, More Dangerous Level (MANILA, Nov. 22, 2016) – The Philippine government should hold accountable members of law enforcement agencies implicated in the extrajudicial killings of civilians […]

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, where terrorist attacks continue despite the Pakistan army’s various anti-terror operations. In the latest attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the crowded courtyard of Sufi Saint Shah Noorani’s shrine on November 12, killing some 60 persons and injuring 156. The Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan’s Hub […]

Amir Murtaza Violence has always been an integral part of human history, in all parts of the world. It is roughly estimated that each year more than a million people lose their lives, and many more suffer non-fatal injuries, as a result of self-inflicted, interpersonal or collective violence. The World Health Organization defines violence as, […]

A Statement from the International Peace Observers Network (IPON) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. The International Peace Observers Network (IPON) expresses its deep concern about the precarious security situation and the continuing criminalization of human rights defenders (HRD) in the Philippines. Against this background, IPON welcomes the decision of the German Member of […]

The Pakistan desk of Asian Human Rights Commission has this time comes out with animated video on custodial torture which is discussing the menace of torture in the country. This video covers the practice of torture and ill-treatment in three parts. Human rights can be rooted in a society only when the ethical and moral […]

The weekly Times column, Focus on Rights, titled ‘More (Legal) Horrors of Sri Lanka’s Counter-Terror Draft’ by Kishali Pinto Jayawardena, in the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka, on 06 November 2016, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Kishali Pinto Jayawardena The Government’s proposed draft on a new counter-terror law for Sri Lanka is rather like a thoroughly unpleasant […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). For more information, please contact:  Thai Lawyers for Human Rights  109 Soi Sitthichon Suthisarnwinichai Rd.  Samsennok, Huaykwang Bangkok 10310  Thailand  Tel: +6696-7893172 or +6696-7893173  E-Mail: tlhr2014@gmail.com,  Website: http://www.tlhr2014.com/ Thank you. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian Human […]

Media Release ‘Police Shooting of Two Jaffna University Students in Jaffna:Friday Forum Calls for Reflection on Process of Demilitarisation’issued by the Friday Forum, on 10 November 2016, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Friday Forum 2, Greenlands Avenue, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka E-Mail; chandraj111@gmail.com Telephone; 0773634444 Fax; 2504181 10th November 2016 Media Release Police […]

Javeria Younus In one of the worst incidents that has occurred at plot number 54 Gadani ship-breaking yard, in Balochistan, 26 people have lost their lives and more than 100 are reported to missing and feared dead. It is likely those missing had their bodies burned to ashes and washed away by the water used […]

This week Just Asia begins with Hong Kong, where more than 2000 lawyers marched silently in black on Tuesday, protesting against Beijing’s interpretation of the Basic Law, to prevent two elected activists from taking up their seats in parliament. Prominent advertisements in Tuesday morning papers read ‘Beijing destroys rule of law—Hong Kong world city no […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding on-going judicial harassment of three human rights defenders who support and protect torture victims in Thailand. On 26 July 2016, Mr. Somchai Homlaor, Ms. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet and Ms. Anchana Heemmina, co-editors of a torture report, reported to the inquiry officer at the Muang […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that in retaliation to locals refusing to supply arms to the international terrorist organisations Taliban and Al-Qaida, Army officers have blown up a two-storey business centre, which had more than 150 shops and four commercial halls. This incident has occurred in Wana City, the headquarters of […]

Dear Friends, The Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) has informed the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that 4 police officers attached with Maruwahi Police Post Mahottari District brutally tortured Mr. Ganga Mahato (45), resident of Ward number 4, Bathanaha Village Development Committee (VDC) Mahottari District. Victim Ganga Mahato is in serious condition. He is […]

Dear Friends, According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Mr. Sumesh Jeevantha Kumara (17) and his mother, Mrs. Herath Mudiyanselage Podi Kumari (49) residents of 20/237, Puja Nagaraya, Mahiyanganaya in Badulla District, have been continuously harassed by police officers attached to the Mahiyanganaya Police Station. Sumesh was illegally arrested, detained, and […]

Dear friends, Mrs. Hashika Shashi Kanthi of Palugasdamana, Saliya Wewa in Puttalam District, was tortured by four policemen attached to the Saliya Wewa Police Station. At 10 pm on the night of 23 July 2016, they forcibly entered her home while her husband was away. At that time, she was 29 weeks pregnant, expecting her […]

Avinash Pandey The fact that the Madhya Pradesh state government has shed even the pretence of fair-trial, a cornerstone of the rule of law, has emerged as the only uncontested truth four days after the incredulous police encounter that resulted in the killing of 8 under-trial jail escapees. The circumstances of the reported jailbreak from […]

Bangladesh’s Government and its law-enforcement agencies have earned a reputation for refusing to take responsibility for the crimes they commit institutionally or that agency personnel commit in their individual capacity. The Bangladesh Government and its law-enforcement agencies have been shamelessly denying their involvement in enforced disappearances despite over 300 people having been disappeared by Bangladesh […]

Beginning with Thailand this week, the Provincial Court of Songkhla read the verdict of Appeals Court Region 9 regarding the case of Mr. Anat Hayeemasae, former member of the Satun Provincial Administration Organization (PAO). He had appealed the order of the Court of First Instance, which had sentenced him to 22-years-and-six-months-imprisonment for an offence against […]

Sadly, in an atrocious system where innocents spend decades behind bars awaiting justice to be served on them, instead death penalties are handed down as state sanctioned murder. The lack of justice sector reforms coupled with near-collapsed institutions of criminal justice has yet again caused a grotesque miscarriage of justice. In a shocking revelation on year after […]