Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a human rights defender is under death threats from retired army men for arranging a love marriage for a girl from a higher caste with a person from a lower caste. The police of the area could not provide security for the couple and the human rights activist because of the involvement of retired army officials. The family members of the upper caste group had already announced that the three persons are liable to be killed in the name of honour. This would be carried out as a right in order to discourage the girls to marriage on their own choice. Furthermore, the house of the mother of the bride is under siege by her uncles and armed men. She cannot leave her house and is under continuous threat.
CASE DETAILS:
Miss Shabiran Naz, 22, daughter of Ustad Rukhsar, is a resident of Tehsil Kahota, Rawalpindi district, belonging to the Sudan tribe, an upper caste of Pakistani Kashmir. She has been in love for the past one year with Afzaal 22, son of Haji Mohammad Rafiq, a shop keeper who sells shoes. He belongs to the Gakhar caste which is regarded as a low caste in the Sudan tribe. Miss Nazs father died and he willed property to her amounting to millions of Rupees. Her grandfather, Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, chairperson of the Human Rights Association of Azad Kashmir, was aware of the love between the two people.
On 3 January 2010, Mr. Razzak Inquilabi facilitated the marriage of Shabrian Naz and Afzaal by registering it before the Magistrate’s Civil Court at Tehsil Kahota. This action infuriated the family of Miss Shabiran Naz. The paternal and maternal uncles of Miss Naz sought the help of some retired army men, namely Subedar Sardar Habib, son of Mr. Mohammad Azam, Subedar Anwar Khan, and Commander Khalid Ahmed. They run a gang of unscrupulous persons.
On January 11, a Jirga, an illegal court run by powerful persons, was held. Naz’s eldest uncle presided. He decided that if the girl was not returned to her family by January 20, 2010 then she and her husband, Mr. Afzaal, were to be killed. The Jirga also decided that Mr. Inquilabi, the grandfather of Miss Naz, also will not be spared as he arranged the marriage which is against the familys traditions. The couple, along with Mr. Inquilabi, is in hiding in another city but still receiving death threats on their cell phones.
On the same day, late in the evening, Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi was allegedly attacked by Subedar Sardar Habib and other persons. He sustained injuries but was saved by passersby. On January 12, an item was published in some newspapers by the uncles of the bride. They declared that she has no connection with the family. Therefore, she cannot be a share holder in the property left to her by her father. The news item also says that Mr. Inquilabi has no further part in the family. The Subedar Sardar Habib announced in Kahota that if Mr. Inquilabi enters the city, he should be killed. He has caused a bad name to be attached to his Sudan tribe and its traditions.
Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi has filed two complaints in the Kahota police station regarding threats made to him and the couple. Up to this time, no investigation or action has been taken by the police.
The police gave the excuse that because retired military men are involved, they cannot proceed further. Mr. Inquilabi cannot go to his office as he is under continuous threat. The fundamentalist Muslims of Pakistani-held Kashmir, were unhappy with Mr. Inquilabis work on human rights. Several times he had come under attack from the fundamentalists and this caused him to leave the Kashmir and settle in Kahota, Rawalpindi district.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities to provide protection to Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, the human rights defender, and the couple, from death threats by retired army men and family members of the bride. Please also urge the authorities to take action against the police for not following up on their legal responsibilities.
The AHRC wrote a separate letter to the UN special rapporteurs on the Question of human rights defenders and violence against women, calling for their intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PAKISTAN: A human rights defender faces death threats from retired army men for facilitating a love marriage
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, 65,
Chairperson, Human Rights Association, Azad Kashmir,
Resident of 494/A, Azad Kashmir road, Mohalah Mistri,
Kahota Tehsil, Rawalpindi district, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
2. Miss Shabiran Naz, 22, daughter of Ustad Rukhsar,
Resident of 494/A, Azad Kashmir road, Mohalah Mistri,
Kahota Tehsil, Rawalpindi district, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
3. Mr.Afzaal 22, son of Haji Mohammad Rafiq,
a shop keeper who sells shoes, Kahota Tehsil,
Rawalpindidistrict, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1. Subedar Sardar Habib (retired army official), son of Mohammad Azam,
Resident of Mohalla Mistriyan, Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
2. Subedar Anwar Khan (retired), son of Mohammad Taj,
Resident of Mohalla Mistriyan, Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
3. Mr. Wajid Razzaq son of Mohammad Razzaq,
Resident of Mohalla Mistriyan, Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
4. Mohammad Khalid, alias commander Khalid,
Resident of Mohalla Mistriyan, Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
5. Shahraiz Khan,
Resident of Mohalla Mistriyan, Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
6. Mr. Altaf,
Station head officer (SHO),
Kahota police station,
Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
7. Mr. Mohammad Basheer,
Assistant sub-inspector of police,
Kahota police station,
Thesil Kahota,
District Rawalpindi, Punjab province-PAKISTAN
Date of incident: January 3, 2010
Place of incident: Mohala Mistriyan, Kahota, Rawalpindi district
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the threats to the life of Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, chairperson of the Human Rights Association, Azad Kashmir, for arranging a love marriage between persons of two different casts. The perpetrators, former employees of the army and members of a powerful tribe, have allegedly attacked him once in a busy market place in Rawalpindi city. He escaped with the help of passersby. The perpetrators held a Jirga, an illegal tribal judicial system court. They declared that he and the newly-wed couple were to be killed.
I am shocked to know the details of this which are as follows. Miss Shabiran Naz, 22, daughter of Ustad Rukhsar, resident of Tehsil Kahota, Rawalpindi district, belongs to the Sudan tribe, an upper caste tribe of Pakistani Kashmir. A year ago she fell in love with Afzaal 22, son of Haji Mohammad Rafiq, a shop keeper who sells shoes and belongs to the lower Gakhar caste. Miss Nazs father died and left property to her amounting to millions of Rupees. Her grandfather, Mr. Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, chairperson of the Human Rights Association of Azad Kashmir, was aware of the love between the two people. On January 3, 2010, he facilitated their marriage by registering it before the Magistrate civil court, Tehsil Kahota. This action infuriated Miss Shabiran Nazs family. The paternal and maternal uncles of Miss Naz sought the help of some retired army men, Subedar Sardar Habib, Suberdar Mohammad Azam, Subedar Anwar Khan, and Commander Khalid Ahmed, who together run a gang of unscrupulous persons.
On January 11, 2010, a Jirga, an illegal court run by powerful persons, was convened. It was presided over by her eldest uncle. He decided that if the girl was not returned to her family by January 20, she and her husband, Mr. Afzaal were to be killed. The Jirga also decided that Mr. Inquilabi, the grandfather of Miss Naz, was also to be killed as he arranged the marriage which they said goes against family traditions. The couple, along with Mr. Inquilabi, was in hiding in another city, and was still receiving death threats on their cell phones.
On the same day, late in the evening, Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi was allegedly attacked by Subedar Sardar Habib and other persons. He sustained injuries but was saved by passersby. On January 12, an item was published in some newspapers by the brides uncles. They declared that as she has no connection with the family, she is not a shareholder in the property left to her by her father. The article also said that Mr. Inquilabi has no further part in the family. Subedar Sardar Habib announced in Kahota that if Mr. Inquilabi enters the city he also should be killed. He is seen as casting a bad name on his Sudan tribe and its traditions.
It is of great concern to me that the Kahota police have not responded to the two complaints filed by Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi regarding threats made to him and the newly-wed couple. No investigation or other action has been taken by the police. According to them, retired military men are involved so they cannot proceed further.
I urge you to protect the lives of Mr. Razzaq Inquilabi, the grandfather, Mr. Afzal, the groom, and Miss Shabbiran Naz, the bride, who entered into a legal marriage of their choice in the courts of Pakistan. Please also urge the police to take action against the perpetrators mentioned above and prosecute them according to the law.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr.Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
2. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
3. Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-42-99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
4. Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
5. Mr. Salman Taseer
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
