Dear friends
It has come to the attention of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that a cleric, Qari Mohammad Noor, arrested last week for suspected al-Qaeda links has died in custody in controversial circumstances. While the post-mortem reports have not been disclosed to the public, human rights groups claim that there were marks of torture on Noors body.
AHRC is gravely concerned by the increased use of torture in Pakistan by the police and security forces, as well as the articulation of national security and terrorism as justification for state violence and suppression. Your urgent action to demand an impartial investigation into Noors death with the subsequent prosecution and punishment of those responsible is required.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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CASE DETAILS:
Qari Mohammad Noor was detained in a raid on an Islamic school in the city of Faisalabad for alleged links to the al-Qaeda network last week, and officials have said he has since died in custody. The police confirmed Mr. Noors death on Wednesday 18 August 2004 and said that he died of a heart attack. However, Noors post mortem reports have not been made public and human rights groups have said that there were marks of torture on his body, which is of immense concern.
It is also not known whether Noor was in police custody when he died or in that of another state agency. Sources at the private hospital in Faisalabad where the post mortem took place say that Mr. Noor’s body arrived under a police escort from Lahore.
Noor was arrested with two other people, Faisalabad city president of the MMA, Obaidullah Gormani, and another Islamic cleric, Imam Din, both of whom have been released.
A statement read out by a religious political party spokesman in Faisalabad alleged that Mr Noor was beaten in detention and had nearly 180 marks on his body.
City police chief Abid Saeed told Reuters news agency that details of Mr Noor’s death would be released later. Saeed also said that Noor was suspected of involvement in anti-state activities.
Torture under any circumstances is a crime under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. AHRC urges the Government of Pakistan to sign the Convention and introduce corresponding domestic legislation.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the following authorities expressing your concern over this case.
1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail:
CE@pak.gov.pk2. Syed Sultan Shah
Joint Secretary for Law, Justice and Human Rights
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 920 3464
Fax: +92 51 9203119
3. Mr. Sahadat Ullah Khan
Inspector General of Police of Punjab
Telephone: +92 42 921 0062
Fax: +92 42 921 0028, 921 0064
4. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9016
5. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
c/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +92 42 5763 234
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 / +92 42 5763 236
Email:
webadmin.hchr@unog.ch or
asmalaw@brain.net.pk6. Mr. Robert K. Goldman
Independent Expert on the protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
c/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
RE: A cleric dies in custody after being detained for suspected al-Qaeda links
I am writing in concern at the death of Qari Mohammed Noor, a cleric, while being detained for suspected al-Qaeda links. Noor was allegedly tortured while in detention, as suggested by the reported torture marks on his body.
I urge you to make his post-mortem reports available to the public and to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into his death, with the subsequent prosecution and punishment of those responsible. Torture is increasingly being used by the police and armed forces in Pakistan, which is a violation under the Convention against Torture.
There is also an increase in the spouting of national security and terrorism as justifications for state violence and suppression, which violate fundamental human rights. Such a situation serves to further deteriorate the rule of law in Pakistan, which consequently increases human rights violations. Therefore, I urge the Government of Pakistan to ratify the Convention against Torture and introduce the corresponding domestic legislation to prevent the abuse of power by state and law enforcement agencies.
Yours sincerely,
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
