Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has heard that the violent campaign waged by Muslim radicals against a human rights lawyer who defends minorities has intensified in Faisalabad.
It would also like to make an amendment to previously issued information, to note that while the Daily Pavel printed a fatwa that named advocate Rao Zafar Iqbal, the Daily Express published a general fatwa to those who directly or indirectly slander the prophet, and one that named a client of Iqbal’s, currently detained on blasphemy charges.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Officials have continued to refuse Rao Zafar Iqbal and his family police protection, despite an attempt on his life and death threats made against him (please see UAC-115-2009). Iqbal defends minority people charged under the blasphemy law (a law which carries the death penalty). According to our sources, two masked, armed men broke into his house during the day on 10 August, badly beat Iqbal’s housemate and attempted to harm his relatives. The defense of the family fell to neighbours, who chased the men away. Though the police later registered a First Information Report (FIR, necessary to lodge criminal cases), they were not on hand to offer the family protection, despite Iqbal’s numerous requests.
The Asian Human Rights Commission repeats its call for the authorities to give immediate protection to Rao Zafar Iqbal and his family, and to investigate those charged with inciting the violence against him. It would also like to register its continuing outrage that newspapers are able to freely publish and profit from items that clearly advocate religious hatred and commend acts of murder.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please support our original call for the protection of Rao Zafar Iqbal and for an investigation of the newspapers who published the fatwas against him.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
