Fabrication of charges

INDIA: Abduction and sexual abuse of an actress, and the cacophony so far exposes the putrid social culture in Kerala

Statement | India | 06-07-2017

On 17 February 2017, in Kerala, a criminal gang abducted and sexually assaulted an actress. The lady was travelling in a car, when a group of persons brought the car to a stop creating an accident, and forced themselves into the vehicle in which the lady was travelling. It is alleged that the men sexually […]

PAKISTAN: State sanctioned police brutality against women must stop

A video has recently surfaced in Pakistan, where a contingent of police officers can be seen baton charging a group of unarmed women mill workers protesting in Muzaffargarh, Punjab. The scuffle occurred inside the district court of Muzaffargarh in broad daylight, yet the judicial officer never took any action against the erring police officers, nor […]

NEPAL: Government and police collude in rotten power play

Statement | Nepal | 04-07-2017

For the past several years, the Asian Human Rights Commission has been reporting on the widespread practice of abuse of power by the Nepal Police. The extent of abuse of power and politicization within the police today is such that even senior police officers are targeted. On 24 April 2017, a team of police officers […]

INDIA: “This ADGP is a butcher in police uniform” claims the State Police Chief

Statement | India | 03-07-2017

Referring to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Mr. Tomin J. Thachankary, the former State Police Chief, Mr. Senkumar, has said that this officer is a butcher stationed at the state police headquarters. Allegations against Thachankary, one of the senior most officers in service in the state, is nothing new. The only difference this […]

SRI LANKA: Lakshan Dias Replies to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka

A letter by Lakshan Dias (Attorney at law) sent to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission 29.06.2017 Mr. Amal Randeniya Secretary to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mihindu Mawatha Colombo -12 Dear Mr. Randeniya Thank you for your emailed letter dated 25th June 2017. As a preliminary […]

WORLD: A New Book – Torture: as an entrenched part of Cruel, Inhuman & Degrading Legal Systems

A Study on the use of torture as a routine part of criminal investigations in developing countries; lessons from the situation in Sri Lanka Basil Fernando The Asian Human Rights Commission is happy to present its latest publication which is now available in print and as an e-book. The book is based on over 20 […]

AHRC TV: Torture within the region in JUST ASIA, Episode 177

This week Just Asia focuses on the situation of torture in Asia, in commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Beginning with Pakistan, the UN Committee Against Torture has condemned the widespread practice of torture in the country and called on the government to enact urgent reforms. The government however, is […]

INDIA: Weed out the rogues in uniform rather than trivialising rape

by Avinash Pandey ‘Why do armed women cut off a particular organ of Indian soldiers engaged in combating armed insurgencies across India, be it Punjab, Kashmir, Arunachal, Assam, Bengal or Jharkhand?’ asked senior opposition leader Azam Khan. The insinuation was unmistakable, and it had a basis: armed Maoists had indeed chopped off private parts of Central Reserve […]

SRI LANKA: I am on unequal ground : Lakshan Dias

An article from “I am on unequal ground”, written by Dhaneshi Yatawara and published in the ‘Daily Mirror’ issue of 28th June 2017. forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Daneshi Yatawara Following a statement made during a TV talk show highlighting attacks on a religious minority group, human rights lawyer Lakshan Dias faced allegations […]

SRI LANKA: Lawyers state that the Daily News Report on Lakshan Dias issue is false

A news item was published in the Daily News today under the title – Alleged attack on 160 Churches – BASL asks lawyer to come clean. In this news item, it refers to an order made on the basis of a decision at the Bar Council calling on Mr. Lakshan Dias, Attorney-at-Law, to explain the statement made by […]

SRI LANKA: “ශ්‍රී ලංකාව/ ලෝකය: ලෞකික රාජ්‍යයේ සීග්‍ර කඩා වැටීම”

A Statement “Rapid Collapse of the Secular State “ translated by Yahapalanaya Lanka issued and forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. SINHALA Version English Version Read HERE 2017 ජුනි 24 වෙනි දා‘ ආසියානු මානව හිමිකම් කොමිසම‘ මගින් ප්‍රකාශයට පත් කරන ලද “ශ්‍රී ලංකාව/ ලෝකය: ලෞකික රාජ්‍යයේ සීග්‍ර කඩා වැටීම” නමැති මේ සමග අමුණා ඇති ලිපිය සිංහලට පරිවර්තනය කලේ ‘යහපාලන ලංකා‘ අනුග්‍රහයෙනි. එය ඔබට ප්‍රයෝජනවත් […]

PAKISTAN: Government before UN committee reluctant to make law against torture

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture The government of Pakistan has stated before the UN Committee on the Convention against Torture (CAT) that it does not intend to set-up legislation against torture and ill-treatment. On May 13, 2017 during the UN review, […]

AHRC TV: Hong Kong to withdraw from UN Convention against Torture in JUST ASIA, Episode 176

This week, to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, celebrated annually on June 26, Just Asia has a special report on Hong Kong’s plan to withdraw from the UN Convention against Torture. The reason for such a withdrawal is a misguided attempt to address the rise in torture protection claimants in […]

SRI LANKA/WORLD: Rapid collapse of the secular state

The events that unfolded this week shockingly foretells the story of the very rapid collapse of the secular state in Sri Lanka. Although, the events around which a new melodrama unfolded in Sri Lanka were some trivial events of several warrants issued against one Buddhist monk, in which the Sri Lankan state finally proved that […]

NEPAL: Police continue using torture as the only resort in the year 2017

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture ‘“As a last resort,” wrote a Nepalese Inspector, “torture is practical and necessary.”’ This was reported 43 years ago in certain newspapers in the United States, in articles titled “Chilling views on torture tactics” […]

SRI LANKA/WORLD: Rapid collapse of the secular state

The events that unfolded this week shockingly foretells the story of the very rapid collapse of the secular state in Sri Lanka. Although, the events around which a new melodrama unfolded in Sri Lanka were some trivial events of several warrants issued against one Buddhist monk, in which the Sri Lankan state finally proved that […]

SRI LANKA: An Open Letter to the Minister of Justice

An Open Letter from Professor A.N.I Ekanayaka, Ph.D (Lond.), DDPH.RCS (Eng.), BDS Emeritus Professor, University of Peradeniya forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) 91, Epitamulla Road, Pita Kotte, Kotte June 22, 2017 Hon Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha PC Minister of Justice Dear Dr Rajapaksha, Arrogant and Foolish Attempt to Deny the Persecution of Christians […]

SRI LANKA/WORLD: UN Rapporteurs point to glaring system failures in the Sri Lankan Justice system

READ Report on Independence of Judges and Lawyers  READ Report on Torture The Asian Human Rights Commission strongly endorses the reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of Judges and Lawyers, Ms. Monica Pinto and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Dr. Juan E Mendez. For […]

NEPAL: Police resume crackdown on protests and conduct mass arrests in Nepal’s Tarai

Statement | Nepal | 19-06-2017

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is alarmed by the Nepal police’s unjustified use of force and arbitrary arrests of protesters in various Tarai districts. The AHRC also condemns the acts of surveillance by security personnel against the leaders and cadres of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) in various districts. The RJPN has been demanding for […]

SRI LANKA: In support of religious minorities, rule of law and Lakshan Dias

An Article “ In support of religious minorities, rule of law and Lakshan Dias”,written by Ruki Fernando and published in Groundviews on 18th June 2017, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Ruki Fernando Religious minorities in Sri Lanka – particularly Muslims and Evangelical Christians – faced serious persecution under the Rajapakse Government, which has […]