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Crisis Group Condemns Attack on Asma Jahangir |
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INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP - NEW MEDIA RELEASE
Crisis Group Condemns Attack on Asma Jahangir
Islamabad/Brussels, 20 May 2005: The International Crisis Group
strongly condemns the brutal police attack on Asma Jahangir and other
rights activists participating in a peaceful gathering in Lahore,
Pakistan, on 14 May 2005, and calls on the Pakistani government not to
interfere with tomorrow's planned march.
Crisis Group has repeatedly warned -- most recently in our 18 April 2005 report,
The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan -- that Islamabad's policy of
marginalising and repressing moderate and democratic voices, and
pandering to religious extremists, is destabilising the Pakistani state
and undermining regional and international security.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), of which Jahangir is a
founder member, and the Joint Action Committee for People's Rights, had
organised last Saturday's symbolic "mini-marathon" to challenge
arbitrary curbs placed by religious extremists on the participation of
women in public sports and to highlight rising trends of violence
against women in Pakistan.
Crisis Group Board Member Asma Jahangir, currently UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and previously the UN
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extra-judicial,
summary or arbitrary executions, was targeted by the police, as they
first barred the participants from proceeding with the rally and then
attacked them. Jahangir, HRCP Secretary General Iqbal Haider and UN
Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders Hina Jillani were
among the 40 participants who were dragged into police vans and
temporarily detained.
"President Pervez Musharraf's government and its security structures
should respect constitutionally sanctioned rights of freedom of
expression and association, and ensure there is no repetition of such
attacks", said Crisis Group President Gareth Evans.
The HRCP and the Joint Action Committee intend to hold another
"mini-marathon" tomorrow, 21 May 2005, and Crisis Group urges the
Pakistani government to ensure a peaceful demonstration is allowed to
take place.
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