Torture

PAKISTAN: Culture and honor killings in patriarchal societies

Nida Paras Societies and cultures are man-made. Cultures play a vital role in national identities and their development. Rich cultures treat men and women More equally than ours with positive impact on the nation. Other cultures are terrible and full of fear with negative impact on the nation. In patriarchal societies, bad cultures are very […]

PAKISTAN: Release Kashmiri journalist, missing after arrest by ISI agents

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the arbitrary arrest and detention of Tanveer Ahmed, a Kashmiri freelance journalist and researcher on public policy. He was last seen in Pakistani Kashmir on August 15, when persons claiming to be ISI agents picked him up. Ahmed has been critical about […]

INDIA: For peace, end impunity in Kashmir

Statement | India | 19-08-2016

The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has seen curfew for the last 41 days. Sixty-six persons have been killed, as a result of the “actions” of government forces. Most of the channels of communication remain blocked. It is reported that the authorities have gagged the media. There are concerns that even essential supplies are […]

AHRC TV: Activist on hunger strike in Thailand and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 135

This week Just Asia begins with Thailand, where 25-year-old Jatupat Boonyapatraksa is continuing his hunger strike at Phu Khiao District Prison, Chaiyaphum province to protest against the country’s broken justice system. Jatupat was arrested on August 6 for distributing anti constitution flyers. The Resistant Citizen group have invited ordinary Thai people to write post cards […]

PAKISTAN: Gilgit Baltistan police control prosecution department so are free to torture

Police excesses and torture are not a new phenomenon in urban and remote regions of the country. A relatively peaceful and serene Chalat Bala District, Nagar Gilgit Baltistan region, has been chaotic since the establishment of the Chalat Police station. Instead of maintaining peace and order, the police officers have reportedly been extorting bribes from […]

PAKISTAN: The AHRC asks UN working group to re-open the case of Ehsan Arjumandi, missing since 2009

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been actively following the case of disappearance of human rights defender Ehsan Arjumandi, a dual national of Norway and Iran, who has been missing since August 2009. For the past seven years, after he was picked up by the Pakistani security agencies, the whereabouts of Mr. Ehsan are […]

THAILAND: State must act to end torture and harassment of those fighting it

Thailand acceded to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) on 2 October 2007. Nearly ten years later, on 26 May 2016, the Thai government issued a Cabinet Resolution stating that it will pass a Prevention of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act. However, the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

INDIA: Save yourselves, women of India, as the Republic will not

Article | India | 02-08-2016

Avinash Pandey Delhi, the national capital of India, has witnessed another gory incident involving the rape-murder of a minor. This time, a 16-year-old was allegedly raped, strangled, and then set on fire in her own house in East Delhi. The police reportedly tried to pass off the crime as suicide, filing a case of rape and […]

SRI LANKA: 1983: Betrayal of the Absolute Right to Justice

By Basil Fernando It has been 33 years since Black July, 1983. These 33 years have been part of our lifetime. We have witnessed not only the horrendously criminal acts of July 1983, but also what happened by way of justice after those serious crimes. I would like to illustrate my point in terms of […]

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 […]

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: Prosecute police officers that raped seven transgender citizens in illegal detention

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that seven transgender persons were arrested and reportedly sexually abused by the Cantonment police in Nowshera, KP Province. They were also kept in illegal confinement for almost 10 hours (whole night) and forced to dance in front of the policemen. The Inspector General […]

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 […]

INDIA: Innocent woman on her way to sell vegetables allegedly assaulted and tortured by Border Security Force Personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends, The AHRC has received the following information from its partner organization MASUM in West Bengal. A woman, about 40 years of age, was allegedly assaulted and tortured by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel while she was on her way to the Bithari market to sell vegetables.  CASE NARRATIVE: On 20.01.2016 at about 10 […]

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 […]

INDONESIA: Criminal suspect in custody tortured to death after a forced confession

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture death and fabricated case against Mr. Juprianto. These things were committed by the police officers of Luwu police station (Polres Luwu), in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi province. Police tortured Juprianto to death to get a confession that he had stolen a […]

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: Innocent man tortured by military officers in Mannar

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Santhiyogu Anton Dani, a resident of Mannar, was illegally arrested by military officers on 29th June 2016 at St. Peters Church in Mannar. He was continually tortured before being released without any charges and not being produced before a court of law. […]