Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the systematic discrimination faced by a Christian teacher in Lahore. She has now been threatened by the principal of the school and the chief security guard of the housing scheme which runs the school (For further details, please see our original appeal: AHRC-UAC-113-2010). The police officer assigned to conduct an inquiry was also threatened by the school authorities. She has been told that Christians have no future in Pakistan. It is feared that she would be charged for blasphemy for creating problems for the school authorities.
The police inquiry was conducted inside the premises of the housing scheme and the chief security guard allegedly stopped the police officer to conduct inquiry but he himself conducted the inquiry and dictated it to police. Later on, the police officer was transferred on the intervention of the owner of a private housing project.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Ms. Julia Austin, aged 32, comes from an educated Christian family of Lahore and studied Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. She has been teaching mathematics for 11 years and has been employed at Bahria Town School, a private educational institute in Lahore since February 1, 2007. On 22 June 2010, she was dismissed by her principal, Ms. Naghmana Ambreen. Ms. Ambreen, a Muslim woman known for her hatred for Christians, repeatedly abused Ms. Austin since 2007. In addition to the humiliating treatment, notably in front of her students, Ms. Austin suffered an unjustified downgrading.
After the issuance of an Urgent Appeal (AHRC-UAC-113-2010) by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) an inquiry was ordered by the Inspector General Police (IGP), Punjab province, and an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), Mr. Khadim Hussain of Sundus Police station, Lahore, was assigned to conduct the inquiry. The ASI asked the principal Ms. Naghmana for her comments on the UA of the AHRC and the principal agreed that the inquiry should be held inside Bahria Town, a private housing scheme, on 31 August. On the day of inquiry the principal refused to attend but the teacher, Julia Austin, was present. The chief security officer of the Bahria Town, Colonel Hamid, a retired army officer, stopped the police officer from record any statements and started threatening the victim to retract her claim, otherwise being a Christian lady she would face drastic consequences.
The ASI was told that he could not record the statement of the principal and subsequently filed a report that as Principal Naghmana was not available the inquiry was not possible. These remarks infuriated the principal and she complained to Mr. Riaz Malik, the owner of Bahria Town about the police inquiry. Mr. Malik being an influential personality, allegedly used his connections to have the inquiry officer transferred. The ASI had suggested to the school authorities that the termination of Ms. Austin was not according to legal process therefore she should be either restored to her position or be paid all her dues. The new inquiry officer, ASI Mumtaz Ali has still not started his inquiry.
The principal, Ms. Naghmana, also threatened Ms. Austin her and her parents that if she does not apologise then, being Christian, the family would face severe consequences. Through Ms. Naghamana’s cell phone (number +92 3009413468) some unknown persons also threatened Ms. Austin and again emphasised the fact that she is a Christian and therefore vulnerable. On 7 August, a person who identified herself as Ms. Ruksana, a lawyer, called using the same cell phone called Ms. Austin’s mother and threatened her for 12 minutes and 40 seconds that if she (Ms. Austin) did not write an apology letter by 10 August in favor of Ms. Naghmana, then she would be in “big trouble”.
After receiving continuous threats it occurred to Ms. Austin and her parents that they may be charged under the blasphemy law which is frequently used against members of the religious minorities in Pakistan.
In another development, seven teachers of the Bahria school and 27 parents of the students who attend that school have written letters to the school authorities that the attitude of the principal Naghmana is not good and that she does not have a good relationship with the teachers. In their letter they demand that Ms. Naghmana is replaced as principal.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities urging that a Christian teacher, who was terminated illegally, was threatened by officials of a private housing project that being a Christian would face trouble in the future. Please request the authorities to provide protection to the teacher and her family. The principal of the school should be investigated and prosecuted for their role in dismissing and intimidating the teaching and members of her family.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Independent Expert on Minority Issues of the United Nations.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
UPDATE (Pakistan): A teacher is warned that Christians have no future in the country by school principal and chief security guard of a housing project
Name of victim: Ms. Julia Austin, 32, resident of Lahore
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Ms. Naghmana Ambreen, principal of Bahria Town School, Lahore
2. Colonel (retired) Hamid, Chief Security Guard, Bahria School, Lahore, Punjab province
Date of incident: August 2010
Place of incident: Bahria Town. Lahore
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the case of Ms. Julia Austin, a teacher in Lahore, who suffered systematic discrimination at work because of her religious beliefs. She has been teaching mathematics for 11 years and has been employed at Bahria Town School, Lahore. She was illegally terminated on 22 June 2010, by her principal, Ms. Naghmana Ambreen. Since then she has been threatened by the authorities and principal of the school and Bahria Town, a private housing project, that being a Christian she would face trouble in future if she does not withdraw her complaint against her illegal termination.
I am deeply concerned to know that, after the issuance of an Urgent Appeal by the Asian Human Rights Commission AHRC-UAC-113-2010 an inquiry was ordered by Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab police, and a Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), Mr. Khadim Hussain of Sundus Police station, Lahore, was assigned to conduct the inquiry. The ASI asked the principal Ms. Naghmana to record her comments on the UA of AHRC, and the principal agreed that the inquiry should be held inside the Bahria Town, on 31 August. On the day of inquiry the principal refused to come but Ms. Austin, attended. The chief security officer of the Bahria Town, Colonel Hamid, a retired army officer, stopped the police officer from record any statements and started threatening the victim to retract her claim, otherwise being a Christian lady she would face drastic consequences.
The ASI was told that he could not record the statement of the principal and subsequently filed a report that as Principal Naghmana was not available the inquiry was not possible. These remarks infuriated the principal and she complained to Mr. Riaz Malik, the owner of Bahria Town about the police inquiry. Mr. Malik being an influential personality, allegedly used his connections to have the inquiry officer transferred. The ASI had suggested to the school authorities that the termination of Ms. Austin was not according to legal process therefore she should be either restored to her position or be paid all her dues. The new inquiry officer, ASI Mumtaz Ali has still not started his inquiry.
The principal, Ms. Naghmana, also threatened Ms. Austin her and her parents that if she does not apologise then, being Christian, the family would face severe consequences. Through Ms. Naghamana’s cell phone (number +92 3009413468) some unknown persons also threatened Ms. Austin and again emphasised the fact that she is a Christian and therefore vulnerable. On 7 August, a person who identified herself as Ms. Ruksana, a lawyer, called using the same cell phone called Ms. Austin’s mother and threatened her for 12 minutes and 40 seconds that if she (Ms. Austin) did not write an apology letter by 10 August in favor of Ms. Naghmana, then she would be in “big trouble”.
After receiving continuous threats it occurred to Ms. Austin and her parents that they may be charged under the blasphemy law which is frequently used against members of the religious minorities in Pakistan.
I am shocked to discover how it is possible that a teacher belonging to a religious minority can be so openly threatened by a principal and how a police investigation, ordered by the Inspector General of Police can be brought to a halt by a civilian security guard. Further to this the officials of the private housing project have used their influence and got succeeded in transferring the police officer who was conducting the inquiry very independently.
I am very much concerned about the security of Ms. Julia Austin and her family members and urge you to provide protection to her and her parents. I also urge you to instigate an independent inquiry against the illegal actions of the principal and the officials of the Bahria Town for their violent and discriminating behaviour.
Finally, there is a very real fear that Ms. Austin may be falsely charged in a Blasphemy case by the authorities of School and Bahria Town and I sincerely urge you to ensure that this is avoided at all costs.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: 92-51-9207458
Tel: +92 51 9204801 9214171
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. 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
3. Mr. Salman Taseer
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
4. Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore, Punjab province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
5. Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore, Punjab province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
6. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
7. Mr. Tariq Saleem
Inspector General of Police, Punjab
Police Head Office
Lahore, Punjab province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99210064
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
