Freedom of religion

INDONESIA: Increasing attacks on religious groups demands central government action

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Amnesty International, KontraS, Imparsial, Elsam, Setara Institute, ICRP, HRWG, ANBTI, ILRC and Wahid Institute. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Amnesty International, KontraS, Imparsial, Elsam, Setara Institute, ICRP, HRWG, ANBTI, ILRC and Wahid Institute forwarded by the Asian Human […]

INDONESIA: Rule by violence

Bombing of NGO office following religious standoff while US Congress urges President to revoke decrees Following a series of violent incidents against religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyah community, two regional administrations in Indonesia had issued local decrees banning the Ahmadiyah followers. On February 6, in Cikeusik Banten for example three Ahmadiyah followers were killed and […]

INDONESIA: Revoke provincial decrees to ban a faith

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Human Rights Watch. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Human Rights Watch forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Religious Affairs Minister Should be Removed for Promoting Discrimination (New York, March 15, 2011) — President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia […]

INDONESIA/PAKISTAN: Pakistanization of Indonesia?

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from Jakarta Post written by Moh Yasir Alimi. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from Jakarta Post forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Moh Yasir Alimi, Canberra Jakarta Post, March 07, 2011-The anti-Ahmadiyah decrees in Pandeglang West Java and […]

PAKISTAN: The brutal assassination of Minister Shahbaz Bhatti exposes the nexus between the security agencies and the Taliban

Pakistan, the Asian Human Rights Commission and the world at large has lost a great advocate in the cause of human rights in general and religious minorities in particular by the brutal assassination of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Religious Minorities. Mr. Bhatti, the only Christian minister, was shot to death while traveling […]

PAKISTAN: Pakistan Peace Council terms the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti an attempt on the parliament’s right to debate legislative issues

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Pakistan Peace Council. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Pakistan Peace Council forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Karachi, March 04, 2011: The Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) strongly condemns the brutal murder of the Federal Minister for Minorities […]

SOUTH KOREA: A man is awaiting imprisonment for his beliefs

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from ‘World Without War’, a non-governmental organization that Mr. MOON Myungjin, who refused to do compulsory military service based on his beliefs and conscience, is about to receive rigorous imprisonment through legal procedure. We wish to draw your attention to the fact that his […]

INDONESIA: Theological Declaration of Churches in Papua

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from a Group of Papuan Church Leaders. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from a Group of Papuan Church Leaders forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission LEADERS OF PAPUAN CHURCHES Dear brothers and sisters We, Papuan Church leaders send you […]

THAILAND/PAKISTAN: Another 24 Ahmadiya Pakistani asylum seekers, including children and pregnant women, are at risk of deportation

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that another 24 Ahmadiya Pakistani asylum seekers, who are applying for an asylum status in Thailand to escape from religious persecution, are at risk of being deported after they were illegally arrested from their homes in Bangkok on February 20, 2011. The group, which […]

BANGLADESH: Government fails to protect freedom of religion and assembly of Ahmadiyya community

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the administrative authorities of Gazipur district cancelled permission for the holding of the 87th Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh, a religious community having conflicting identity with the majority Muslims, on 6 February 2011 in a sudden decision without any prior notice. […]

WORLD: End violent religious intolerance — Uphold human rights for all

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from WUNRN. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from WUNRN forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission WUNRN-http://www.wunrn.com http://www.stop-stoning.org/node/1554 The Global Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women in the name of ‘Culture’ condemns the recent attacks against and between religious groups […]

INDONESIA: Religious violence result of authorities consent in past cases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-STM-028-2011 February 8, 2011 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission INDONESIA: Religious violence result of authorities consent in past cases The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges a full investigation into the killings of at least three followers of the Ahamadiyah Islamic minority sect that occurred on Sunday February 6, […]

PAKISTAN: Education officials of Karachi must be prosecuted for filing a blasphemy case against a student

A case of blasphemy has been registered against 17-year-old Syed Samiullah, an intermediate student and resident of Mujtaba Colony Malir Halt. The charge was registered in the Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan Police Station, Karachi, Sindh province. The incident was reported to the police by Professor Agha Akbar, the controller of examinations of the Intermediate Board of Education, […]

EGYPT/PAKISTAN: A vote for sanity in Egypt — a lesson for Pakistan

The act of solidarity by Egyptian Muslims towards Egyptian Copts is a glowing example for countries and communities around the world. And it must be particularly noted that Pakistan could be one of the main beneficiaries of this attitude. As Egyptian Copts prepared to attend mass at churches across the country, thousands of Muslims, including […]

SRI LANKA: Police torture as an indicator of the constitutional degradation of the Rule of Law

Sofie Rordam Sri Lankan citizens are protected against torture and arbitrary arrest in sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. In addition Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment in 1994. While the legislation is there, the effectuation is not. The gap between […]

PAKISTAN: Government must file FIRs for attempted murder against the religious leaders calling for the killing of innocent persons

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission received information that on 9 January 2011 according to police officials over 40,000 people gathered in the streets of Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province for a rally. The speakers of the rally announced over their public address system that anyone showing support for the amendments to the […]

ASIA: Christmas and New Year Wishes from the Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. In all countries of Asia, this Christmas and new year will be celebrated in very difficult conditions. We extend our wishes to all families who are struggling in the midst of these difficulties to fight for their rights. We particularly […]

PAKISTAN: Appeal to amend the Blasphemy Laws

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the introduction of a private member’s bill to the National Assembly Secretariat that would end the death penalty for blasphemy, curtail abuse of the blasphemy laws for the purpose of harassing and victimising religious minorities and take steps to ensure equal protection for […]

PAKISTAN: A doctor is arrested on a blasphemy charge after the protest of multi-national companies

The misuse of the blasphemy laws is not restricted only with the fundamentalist Muslim groups or leaders but is being misused by multinational pharmaceutical companies as well. They take advantage of the law when they are not happy with doctors that do not prescribe their pharmaceuticals. This relatively new misuse of the blasphemy laws was […]

PAKISTAN: Appeal for international intervention in Balochistan

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following open letter from Baloch Human Rights Council (UK). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ——- An Open Letter from Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) His Excellency Ban Ki-moon Secretary General United Nation […]