Torture

SRI LANKA: When the law ceases to be a command that must be obeyed

By Basil Fernando A lawyer practicing in Negombo was abducted on the night of 12 July 2017 and taken to a deserted field. There six persons, two of whom were wearing camouflaged uniforms, beat him thoroughly on his back and his head, threatening him that, “you should not be messing with us,” and “you should […]

INDIA: Two Sikkimese domestic workers stranded, tortured in Saudi Arabia

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding two Sikkimese women, employed as domestic workers, who are stranded in Saudi Arabia, They have made an emergency call to their family begging to be rescued, alleging that they are being tortured, their passports confiscated and that they are confined to a […]

PAKISTAN: State failure allows jirga to order ‘revenge rape’

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is horrified by the news of the rape of a 17-year-old on the orders of a jirga (tribal council). The girl from the Rajpur area of Multan, Punjab province, was raped to avenge the rape committed by her brother. When a jirga was convened and informed that Umer sexually […]

AHRC TV: Bangladesh rights defender detained by Malaysian authorities and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 181

This week Just Asia begins with the case of Bangladeshi lawyer and human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan, who was detained by Malaysian immigration authorities for more than 12 hours at Kuala Lumpur airport last week. Without giving any reasons for the detention, the authorities finally deported him back to Dhaka. Just Asia speaks to […]

INDIA: Police file a false case and torture a man in Kerala

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from Nervazhi, our partner organization in Kerala, regarding the filing of a false case, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to a man in Kollam, Kerala. CASE NARRATIVE: Dineshan and a women were in a relationship, and the woman’s disapproving […]

BANGLADESH: Police gouge eyes of a man in custody

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Khalishpur police of the Khulna Metropolitan city has gouged eyes of a detainee for failing to pay bribe. The victim, Mr. Mohammad Shah Jalal (Jibon). The Khalishpur police arrested him from the street near Boalkhali of the Khulna city when he went […]

BANGLADESH: Police tear shell blinds university student in Dhaka

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Dhaka police shot tear shells at protesting university students, blinding one student as a result. On 20 July 2017, 23-year-old Md. Siddiqur Rahman, a third year Honours student was protesting against the lack of exam schedules by the University of Dhaka, after […]

PAKISTAN: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Areesar appeals for the safe recovery of disappeared persons from Sindh province

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-A (MQM-A).  For more information, please contact: Dr. Meer Alam Mari, Chairman, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Areesar (JSQM-A), he can be contacted at meeralam23@yahoo.com Thank you.  Urgent Appeals Desk  Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)  ———————————————————————– PAKISTAN: Jeay Sindh Qaumi […]

INDIA: Poor farmer tortured and shot at by Border Security Force personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from MASUM, its partner organization in West Bengal, regarding the alleged torture of a poor farmer by the Border Security Force Personnel in Rajanagar, West Bengal. CASE NARRATIVE: Jaharlal Sheikh is a resident of Murshidabad, living in the Rajangar police station limits. A […]

INDIA: Woman in Kerala shamed by police when reporting a case of molestation

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from Nervazhi, our partner organization in Kerala, regarding the abusive behaviour of the police towards a woman who complained about sexual assault in Thrissur, Kerala. CASE NARRATIVE: The complainant S, (40), is a social worker who fights for issues related to women’s rights. […]

INDONESIA: Army officers torture indigenous Papuan with no consequences

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the local network in Papua about torture against Mr. Niko Hisage, committed by army Sergeant Major Lucas and two other army personnel from the sub-district military command of Wamena city. Without any evidence, the military accused Mr. Niko, an indigenous Papuan, of selling […]

SRI LANKA: Arrest of another DIG indicates a serious crisis in the state’s machinery

DIG Lalith A Jayasinghe was arrested and is now being remanded for harbouring an offender and aiding the escape of the chief suspect Swiss Kumar, for the gang rape and the murder of 18 year old Sivaloganathan Vidya on 13 May 2015. The DIG is suspected of having committed an offence punishable under Section 209 […]

PAKISTAN: Young woman gang raped and blackmailed into marriage by traffickers

Dear Friends The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the gang rape of a young woman. The rape was recorded and she was blackmailed into marriage. The perpetrators have links to a trafficking gang operating under the patronage of the Gujrat city administration and police. The modus operandi of the gang […]

SRI LANKA: Young man tortured by Kantale Police

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Kariyawasam Wickramarachchilage Milan Saman Wickramasinghe (21) permanent resident of Kantale Police Division. He was severely tortured by two Police Officers attached to the Kantale Police Station and two other assailants who allegedly participated in the torture following the instructions of the Police. […]

PAKISTAN: Family of extra-judicially killed Bhutto brothers needs protection

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the abduction of a minor from the Bhutto family home. Previously, two brothers from this family were abducted, disappeared and extra-judicially killed. A video of their sister went viral on social and electronic media. She was narrating how persons from military intelligence […]

INDIA: Poor lottery ticket seller tortured by police in Thrissur, Kerala

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from its partner organization in Kerala, Nervazhi, regarding the torture and violence meted out to a poor lottery ticket seller by the Thrissur police on a false charge. CASE NARRATIVE: Sajeevan is a lottery seller and his wife goes for domestic work. On […]

INDIA: Muslim youth allegedly tortured to death by Border Security Force personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from MASUM, its partner organization in West Bengal, regarding the alleged torture and custodial death of a Muslim villager by the Border Security Force Personnel in Nadia, West Bengal. CASE NARRATIVE: A 22-year-old Muslim villager, Safikul Mondal, was allegedly tortured to death by […]

SRI LANKA: How some lawyers trivialise legal proceedings

“Fr. Nandana Manatunga tortured the victim…” claims President’s Counsel, Mr. Nalin Ladduwahetty in his defence of a police constable in a torture case. The case of torture of Mr. Daundalage Pushpakumara came up today at the Court of Appeal in Sri Lanka. The court was considering a petition filed by Pushpakumara, seeking leave to appeal in […]

SRI LANKA: Can a torture victim receive justice from the Sri Lanka Legal System?

Sanjeewa Weerawickrama [1] Torture is an act, a form of punishment, a horrible experience, causing severe physical pain and mental suffering. It uses force to make a person confess to a crime he did not do. [2]. A person has the fundamental right not to be tortured. Freedom from torture is covered in the next two examples […]

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 […]