Torture

I was amazed at how quickly the pieces of Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives fell into place, turning an idea for a magazine into a quality, finished product. When Nilantha Ilangamuwa, whom I’d previously worked with at the Sri Lanka Guardian, asked me to launch a magazine with him for the Asian Human Rights Commission, I knew […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following articles from the New Age, sent by ODHIKAR of Bangladesh. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A news report and an editorial from the New Age, sent by ODHIKAR, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Mock trial calls for prosecution of people involved […]

Full text of the speech delivered by Nilantha Ilangamuwa at the event jointly organised by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the University of Hong Kong on Freedom of Expression and torture prevention at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club (FCC), Hong Kong. June 25, 2012 Understanding the role of journalists on preventing torture and protection of […]

Yesterday the world celebrated the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Ironically, it was also yesterday the Government of Kerala reinstated nine police officers to office following their suspension for suspected involvement in an infamous case of custodial torture and murder. The case is still under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation […]

Press Release — International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Phnom Penh, June 26, 2012 Seven leading civil society organizations will mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with an event at the Sunway Hotel on June 26. Rehabilitation is the theme for this year’s 26 June campaign. Organizers […]

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the Occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, June 26, 2012 Torture in custody is a serious problem affecting the rule of law, used as the most common means to obtain confessional statements in Pakistan. It has become endemic and on many […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the torture of Mr Bharat Mondal by BSF personnel attached to Mourashi Camp of Chowski No. 2 under Outpost No. 2 of 105th Battalion of BSF on 30 December 2011. Unlawful arrest and detention, torture, caste-based discrimination and a culture of […]

[RE: AHRC-FPR-026-2012: THAILAND: Forwarded appeal — Call for observers–torture victim sued by Pol. Gen. Bhanupong Singhara for a complaint made in good faith] Dear friends, On 25 June 2012, at 9 am, the second of two pre-trial hearings in the case of Mr. Suderueman Maleh will take place at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road […]

(Hong Kong, June 20, 2012) On June 26, to commemorate the United Nations’ International Day in support of victims of torture, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and Centre for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL) at the University of Hong Kong are jointly organizing a series of public events to raise awareness about torture, and […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission has followed closely reports since March of the death in custody of a young woman, Nan Woh Phan, in Rangoon, Burma, followed in May by the arrest and detention of her partner for alleged illegal business activity. The commission is concerned that whereas by now the family of the victim […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that PG Amila Tharanga Thilakaratne (14) a Year 9 student of Mahanama College Geatambe in the Kandy District was severely tortured by his teacher, a Buddhist monk. Amila was persecuted on a religious basis and is thus a victim of religious intolerance. Amila has […]

The former Attorney General, Mohan Peiris, last November told the United Nations CAT Committee that he knew personally, through a reliable source that Prageeth Eknaligoda was living in a foreign country. However, last week when giving evidence before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court he said that he does not know whether Prageeth Eknaligoda was dead or […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture of 42 prisoners and detainees by prison guards at Abepura Correctional Facility on 30 April 2012 following an argument between one of the detainees, Selfius Bobii, and the Head of the Abepura Correctional Facility (Abepura Kalapas). The prisoners were beaten, kicked, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information concerning the corruption of a driver of ‘G’ Branch of ‘E’ Company of 152 Battalion of the BSF who had been bribed to permit smuggling and who, when in danger of being exposed, turned on the victim, Mr Abdul Karim Molla, and brutally […]

(Hong Kong, June 06, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to announce the release of its new bi-monthly magazine, Torture: Asian Perspectives. The first issue will be released on 26 June, on the occasion of the International Day against Torture and Illtreatment. The magazine is conceived to become an additional space to publish narratives and […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the illegal arrest, detention and custodial violence against three men in Murshidabad, West Bengal by police personnel of Salar Police Station. The victims are leaders of a local branch of the Indian National Congress party. While in the custody, the three victims were […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the torture of 40-year-old Krishna Mondal on 1 January 2012 in yet another case of Border Security Forces (BSF) brutality in West Bengal, India. Torture, extrajudicial killings, religious discrimination and a culture of impunity are features of everyday life for Indian […]

Today, June 4, in the Daily Mirror on line edition the police spokesperson, SP Ajith Rohana is quoted as saying “Generally as a practice torture never takes place in Lankan Police stations.” This police spokesperson, who is also said to be an Attorney-at-Law, is further quoted as saying, “Torture is often misconstrued by the Media […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the illegal arrest, detention and torture of Mr Jalil Sardar and Mr Ramjan Tarafdar by personnel from Swarupnagar Police Station, Baduria Police Station and Kaijuri BSF Camp. Unlawful arrest and detention, torture, religious discrimination, fabrication of charges and a culture of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a doctor who helped the American forces to locate Osama Bin Laden, the former chief of the Al-Qaida terrorist group in Pakistan, was illegally arrested and tortured to confess that he was working as a spy for the USA. He was held incommunicado […]