Torture

PAKISTAN: Police officers exonerated in the case of death by custodial torture on the plea that there were no witnesses

The police allegedly demanded Rs. 500,000/= for the release of a young man but as the amount was not paid on time he was tortured severely which resulted in his death. A young man of 18 years died in police custody after being tortured in a private torture cell run by the police. However the […]

SRI LANKA: Officers of the Karandeniya police torture and threaten to sodomize businessman, insulting him about his ‘low’ caste origin

Several police officers from the Karandeniya police illegally arrested Chandila Padmakumara Gurusinghe of Kiripedda, Babuwo Kanda, Karandeniya in Galle District, apparently on the instigation of a cinnamon trader. He was arrested without being informed of the reason for his arrest and he learned it only after he was brought to the police station by listening […]

SRI LANKA: Stop the use of chili by the police during interrogations

An Open Letter from the AHRC to the President of Sri Lanka: Stop the use of chili by the police during interrogations (The following letter was sent to His Excellency, President Mahinda Rajapaksa) His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle Road, Colombo 3, […]

BURMA: Innocent man was sentenced life imprisonment for alleged bomb plot

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the case of a young man whom the authorities in Burma have accused of involvement in a bombing nearby government offices. Police alleged that Kyaw Swa Lin was involved merely because he was found to have a diary in his house with some […]

PAKISTAN: Ahmadis are once again persecuted even as the new government is formed

For some time now anti-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiya (Jaamat) activities have been escalating all over Pakistan and particularly in Lahore. The members of Jamaat have been mercilessly tortured and rebuked in public over fake and felonious accusations. They have been threatened physically and mentally tortured and now live in fear of their lives. They have even been harassed […]

WORLD: When we are dreaming of a torture free society

Statement | World | 30-05-2013

Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives – Volume 2 Number 01, just issued Torture is endemic! Every moment of every day torture takes place somewhere in the world which shows us the gravity of the social destruction and disorder. Having a dream for a torture free society is not an illusion but something that is attached […]

HONG KONG/PHILIPPINES: Daughter of falsely charged activists to speak on fabrication of charges at a forum

(Hong Kong, May 29, 2013) Twenty-three year old Nicolette ‘Nikki” Gamara, whose parents have been laid with fabricated charges, will speak at a public forum tomorrow, May 30 from 7–9pm (please see below for the details of the venue), about the ongoing and systematic practice of fabricating charges against human rights and political activists in […]

SRI LANKA: Three officers of the Department of Excise severely tortured and laid fabricated charges on an innocent man

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Dewasundaralage Thushar was illegally arrested, detained, brutally tortured and laid with fabricated charges. Thushara has been falsely charged with obstructing officers of the Department of Excise and having illegal liquor. The officers concerned asked Thushara to identify the person who was manufacturing […]

SRI LANKA: A man was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a bombing and sentenced to death after a sham trial

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Krishnaswami Ramachandran was arrested on suspicion of his involvement in the bomb blast at Daladha Maligawa in 1998. He was tortured and the charges were based on the confession he was forced to give under duress. In 2003 he was sentenced to […]

INDONESIA: Lenient punishment for police officers who tortured and shot a young man to death

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the punishment of three police officers who tortured and shot a 23-year-old man, Yusli, in 2011. The court sentenced two of the officers to two years of imprisonment and the other one to five years. It found the officers were responsible for […]

SRI LANKA: Ganeshan Nimalaruban case: Chief Justice Mohan Peiris denies petitioner’s lawyers right to see replies filed by Attorney General

The Fundamental Rights case of Ganeshan Nimalaruban was taken before the Supreme Court yesterday. The Bench consisted of: Mohan Peiris CJ, P. A Ratnayake PC J and S Hettige J. In the course of submissions by the petitioner’s lawyers, Chief Justice Mohan Peiris made the following remarks: “When the prison is under siege do you […]

SRI LANKA: Negambo police continuously harass a victim after torture and inhuman treatment

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Amarasinghege Priyantha Samanthilake was severely tortured by police officer P.C 51752 Jayasiri who is attached to the Negambo Police Station. On 27 April 2013, at about 9.30 am, Samanthilake was returning home after taking his daughter to her tuition class. Police Constable […]

BANGLADESH: Collapsed criminal justice system compounds violence against women

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Odhikar on the occasion of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women’s visit in Bangladesh Two female Members of Parliament of the Opposition were ill-treated by Police on 7 March 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh Introduction: 1. Bangladesh has been ruled alternately by two women […]

INDIA: A human rights defender and a musician arrested for complaining against torture of villagers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from Human Rights Alert (HRA) regarding the illegal arrest of a human rights defender and a musician from Manipur for they dared to complain against an incident of torture of villagers and members of their troupe. The arrest, allegedly on fabricated charges, is believed to […]

INDIA: What else was expected other than Sanaullah’s murder?

Statement | India | 09-05-2013

Children are conceived, some born, others grow, and many die in Indian prisons. There is nothing particular about this, since such incidents happen in prisons across the world. However, what is unique to India is that custodial violence, of which many resulting in deaths, is no more news. Yet, the assault upon Mr. Sanaullah Ranjay, […]

BANGLADESH: A massacre of demonstrators

News reports from Bangladesh allege that a series of attacks on demonstrators have taken place, at around 3am today, May 6, 2013. The extent of the injuries and death is difficult to be ascertained at the moment. The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper, gave the figure of deaths as 5. However, several internet reports have mentioned that the […]

PAKISTAN: Twenty four separatists were extrajudicially killed in Sindh and Balochistan provinces after their abduction

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that twenty four activists from separatist groups were extrajudicial killed in Sindh and Balochistan provinces while they were campaigning against the general elections. Among the dead many bodies were found with bullet and torture marks. Most of the bodies were found on the same […]

PAKISTAN: A young man was tortured with an electric drill machine; the Chief Minister announces the formation of a medical board after three months of his death

Dear friends, The case of a young man from the province of Punjab exposes the lethargic and arrogant attitude of the government, the doctors and the influence of police. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a young man of 29 years was abducted by five police informers kept him for nine […]

BANGLADESH: Detained editor tortured in police remand

The authorities in Bangladesh, yesterday, shifted the Interim Editor of Daily Amar Desh, Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzib Medical University (BMSSU). Rahman is detained at the Kashimpur Central Jail since 17 April 2013. The court had allowed Rahman to be detained in police remand for six days, before the police handed him over […]

PAKISTAN: A young Shia is charged with blasphemy — the judge and police demanded bribes for his release

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a young man is facing trial on blasphemy charges as he did not pay a bribe to the police and a judge of the anti-terrorism court (ATC). The witnesses in the case have not identified him as the main accused and even the […]