Rule of law

AHRC TV: Inter-caste marriage ends in murder and other stories in JUST ASIA Episode 132

This week’s episode begins with the murder in Nepal of 18-year-old Ajit Mijar. Ajit married his non Dalit girlfriend Kalpana Parajuli on July 9, and the couple were forcibly separated by police and Kalpana’s family on July 11. On July 14, Ajit was found hanging near Phurke Khola, Dhading district. To learn more, Just Asia […]

PAKISTAN: Is racial discrimination an issue in Pakistan?

The extent to which Pakistan has complied with human rights standards set out in the International Convention of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), will be assessed by a United Nation’s expert committee in Geneva on August 16-17, this year. The committee will look at a report to be presented by the government of Pakistan, […]

INDIA: Turning cows into man-eaters

Article | India | 20-07-2016

Avinash Pandey Gujarat is simmering again. Dalits are agitating over criminals indulging in criminality. These criminals, who are fondly referred to as “cow vigilantes” by the mainstream media, have recently stripped and flogged four Dailit youth in Una. The resultant protests have claimed two lives: a policeman has reportedly been killed in stone pelting in […]

INDONESIA: Racism and assaults against indigenous Papuans ignored by government in Yogyakarta province

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns racism, insults and assaults against indigenous Papuan students in the Papuan students dormitory at the Kamasan I Jalan Kusumanegara, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Since Friday morning, July 15, police officers have surrounded and forcibly closed the Papuan students’ dormitory. Inside there were approximately 100 Papuan students. The police did […]

INDIA: Cycles of violence and revenge must end

On 8 July 2016, the Supreme Court, in the case of Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM) & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr., ruled that victims of extrajudicial executions have the right to know the truth. The AHRC’s partner organization in Manipur, Human Rights Alert, was the second petitioner in this important […]

PAKISTAN: Use of anti-terror laws against peasants’ movement

By Farooq Tariq The Pakistani state’s black brush is being used to paint any dissenting voices as terrorists under the National Action Plan. It is now been directed towards the ongoing peasants’ movement in the heart of Punjab province. Enabling conditions in the security framework has allowed the state to create an atmosphere of repression […]

INDIA: Gang rape survivor gang raped by the same accused again

Statement | India | 19-07-2016

In a rule of law jurisdiction, the story of a victim of gang rape being raped by the same accused against whom court proceedings continue, might be outlandish. But, in India today, these are the common stories that confront anyone willing to see reality: A Dalit gang rape survivor has allegedly been gang raped again […]

PAKISTAN: Journey from Pakistan to Al-Bakistan

Nida Paras Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister, once said, “Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.” Mohtarma, being a part of that environment, was well aware of it, where religious […]

AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 130

This week’s episode begins with the death of Abdul Sattar Edhi, a philanthropist known as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa”. Edhi died after a prolonged illness on July 8. Edhi spent his life building up an organization that has fed, clothed, offered medical services, and provided shelter to many Pakistanis. From a single ambulance, the Edhi Foundation’s […]

SRI LANKA: 14 year old rape victim reveals that a woman constable beat her at the police station

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information revealed by the young victim herself, which we wish to bring to your notice. On the 7th of July when she went to the Haputale Police station, a police woman constable, had beaten the young girl, and told her that when she is […]

SRI LANKA: Suspect in rape of 14-year-old girl released without proper investigation

Dear Friends, According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a 14-year-old girl was abducted and raped by her school bus driver on 19th June 2016. Later, she was threatened to keep quiet or her parents and other family members would be killed. Despite the family members filing a complaint with the […]

PAKISTAN: Mob threatens to burn Christian homes while a Christian family is taken hostage by police

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two Christian sisters, with an 18-month baby were taken hostage by the Sarai Alamgir police, Punjab, for the production of their brother, Mr. Nadeem James, who has eloped with a Muslim girl, the daughter of a local Muslim cleric. A Muslim mob attacked […]

SRI LANKA: Ganemulla Police illegally arrests and severely tortures innocent man based on mistaken identity

Dear Friends, According to the information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Mr. Nihal Aruna Shantha, resident of Kirindivita, Ganemulla in the Gampaha District, was baselessly arrested on 1st July 2016. Having being misidentified as the suspect, he was severely tortured and detained by the officers attached to the Ganemulla Police Station. Later, […]

SRI LANKA: Police harass entire family for complaining to DIG

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mrs. Maladeniyegedara Padma Irangani and her two sisters were all illegally arrested by the Katugastota police officers, in revenge for Padma complaining and seeking justice from the Deputy Inspector General of Kandy. After Padma complained about her husband’s illegal arrest, Padma and her […]

PAKISTAN: The richest poor man is no more

The Asian Human Rights Commission condoles the sad demise of Abdul Sattar Edhi and pays tribute to the country’s most loved social worker for his dedication and selfless service to humanity. It is not every day that one comes across a man like Edhi. A legend in his own right, he was a philanthropist who […]

SRI LANKA: An innocent couple arrested by the TID in Oddusudan

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 5 July 2016, Mr. Kethesawaran and his wife Savithri, residents of Sivanagar in Oddusuddan, Mulativu have been arbitrarily arrested by police officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) and their whereabouts are unknown. The police deny any such arrest, and their […]

NEPAL: State silence on Ganga Maya Adhikari screams murder

Statement | Nepal | 08-07-2016

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned about the negligence of the Government of Nepal. The State has shown utter indifference towards Ganga Maya Adhikari, surviving wife of late Nanda Prasad Adhikari and mother to late Krishna Prasad Adhikari. Maoists at Bakulahar Chowk of Ratnanagar, Chitwan allegedly murdered her son, Krishna Prasad, in June […]

SRI LANKA: ASPs hold the key to change at police stations

By Basil Fernando The media reported a speech made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara., wherein he stated quite openly and categorically that the police should make use of the present opportunity and take steps to change. This is a welcome statement in a climate where any kind of positive development in […]

SRI LANKA: Innocent couple abducted, detained, and tortured by Weeraketiya Police

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. L.A.L. Charlis and Mrs. R. Indrani of 271/D, Kattappuwa Galhinna, Ankumbura, Kandy District, were abducted by group of men and later arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured by police officers attached to the Weeraketiya Police Station. The victims state that they were subjected […]

SRI LANKA: Police fail to investigate the abduction of a businessman in Vavuniya

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Shanmugam Selvarajah from Velikkulam in Vavuniya was abducted by an unknown group of persons on 21 June 2016. He was later found near the Settikulam area in Varikuttiyar in Vavuniya. Repeated complaints by relatives to the Vavuniva Headquarters Police Station seeking immediate […]