A Statement from Front Line Defenders forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
On 5 January 2015, the transgender human rights defender Adnan (also known as Adnany), was shot and critically wounded near the Pir Zakori Bridge in the city of Peshawar.
Adnan is a transgender human rights defender and co administrator of theTransAction Page, an online platform of the TransAction Alliance, which works for the promotion and protection of the rights of the transgender community in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The shooting took place during the night of 7 January 2015, as Adnan, along with two friends, was travelling by car to Karkhano Market from Tarnab Farm, within the jurisdiction of Chamkani police station in Peshawar. As they were travelling, two motorcyclists drew close to the car and opened fire upon it. Adnan was shot in his side, and critically wounded. She was subsequently rushed to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, where before being operated on to have the bullet removed, she was allegedly refused treatment by doctors for approximately 3 hours, due to her being a person of transgender.
Investigations by police into the two alleged perpetrators of the shooting, both of whom had reportedly been threatening Adnan for several months prior to the attack, are reported to have been initiated.
Front Line Defenders expresses grave concern at the shooting of Adnan, which it believes to be directly related to her peaceful and legitimate work for the promotion and protection of the rights of the transgender community.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Pakistan to:
- Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Adnan, and all transgender human rights defenders in Pakistan, including through ensuring their unhindered access to necessary medical treatment;
- Ensure the progression of an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the shooting of Adnan, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Pakistan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
