HRCP assails foolish curbs on rights

Lahore, February 25: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed disgust and alarm at the introduction of restrictions by Islamabad for Pakistanis traveling to India, coming into effect from March 15, and called the move contrary to basic human rights and a bid to put the clock back.

A statement issued by HRCP on Friday said: “According to an official statement, the government has made the decision to regulate visits abroad of public servants, artists and journalists ‘in the interest of Pakistan’s security and to safeguard the country’s prestige’. The government has also said that the rule will apply to students going abroad on scholarship. Ridiculous decisions such as this are precisely why the security and prestige of the country are where they are. Not only is the decision bound to be counterproductive in a region where the people have long suffered because of the iron curtain that regional borders have become, but the mandatory requirement to obtain no-objection certificate from the Interior Ministry before being allowed to travel abroad also violates basic human rights, particularly provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

While a good many other measures may be in order to restore the prestige of the country, the curbs on international travel are bound to further dent it. HRCP urges the government to reconsider the move instead of misinterpreting any single incident to put the clock back.”
 
  
Dr Mehdi Hasan
Chairperson

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Libyan League for Human Rights (LLH)

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Libyan League for Human Rights (LLH)

Joint press release Massacres in Libya –

 The International community must respond urgently http://www.fidh.org/Massacres-in-Libya-The-international-community Paris, Monday February 21 – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Libyan League for Human Rights

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(LLHR) call on the international community to urgently mobilize in response to the growing risk that Gaddafi will use chaos as a strategy to stifle the protest movement that has spread throughout the country. “The threats made by Seif al-Islam, the son of President Gaddafi ‘to spill rivers of blood” are shocking,” said Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President.

“The whole international community must speak loud and clear on the situation in Libya. Extremely serious crimes are being committed, that would fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if it was seized. The Security Council must consider this issue urgently” she added. The violent crackdown has killed at least 300 to 400 people since February 15, 2011 according to LLHR, an FIDH member organization. The toll is also likely to rise because of the shortage of medicine which the country is facing. According to reports, major political and military personalities have rallied with demonstrators including some ambassadors from Libya, the interior minister and the military leadership of the Benghazi region and western Libya. Furthermore, a significant number of security forces are said to have rallied with the population in several cities and in some neighbourhoods of Tripoli.

The Libyan regime is apparently using mercenaries from Chad, Niger, Zimbabwe and some former henchmen of the former dictator Charles Taylor. “The situation is extremely worrying. We are also concerned that migrants are being taken as scapegoats and will be subject to retaliation,” said Sliman Bouchiguir, LLHR president. Indeed, migrants account for 1.3 million people, or about 20% of the population in Libya. FIDH and LLHR urge in particular States having maintained extensive relations with the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, to use all their influence to stop the massacres and encourage a peaceful transition. They call on the UN Secretary General to strongly condemn the massive violations of human rights perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime, and call on the Security Council to urgently review the situation and consider its referral to the ICC.

FIDH and LLHR also call for the immediate suspension of Libya from the UN Human Rights Council. Finally, FIDH and LLHR urge the African Commission to urgently seize the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.

Press contacts: Karine Appy: +33 1 43 55 14 12 / +33 6 48 05 91 57 Arthur Manet: +33 1 43 55 90 19 / +33 6 72 28 42 94

Libya – Towards a bloody revolution

International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)
Libyan League for Human Rights (LLH)

Joint press release

Libya – Towards a bloody revolution

http://www.fidh.org/Libya-Towards-a-bloody-revolution

February Friday 18, 2011 – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Libyan League for Human Rights (LLH) strongly condemn the violent crackdown by security forces against the opponents to the Libyan regime protesting in cities across the country since Tuesday, February 15, 2011 .

This violent repression would have resulted in at least 30 dead and dozens wounded in north-eastern Libya, according to information gathered by human rights organizations. The number of dead and wounded is difficult to confirm as human rights defenders, forced into exile, do have to work from abroad and Libya remains largely closed to foreign media and international human rights organizations.

The “day of anger” on February 17, the anniversary of an earlier event which had caused 12 fatalities in 2006, has resulted in violent confrontations between the regime’s opponents, who call for the establishment of a constitution and the rule of law in the country, and security forces which did not hesitate to fire live ammunition.

Militia and groups pro-Gaddafi groups, armed with knives, would have also participated in the repression. The revolutionary committees, pillars of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi have threatened with violent retaliation those who call into question the principles of the Libyan revolution.

In addition, according to reports, the injured would be denied access to hospitals and ambulance transport. Blood transfusions are forbidden to people who took part in demonstrations.

Moreover, hundreds of journalists and political opponents were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Libyan security forces in the wake of these events.

FIDH and LLH condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force and fear that the situation is getting worse.

FIDH and LLH call on the security forces to immediately stop firing live ammunition against demonstrators. Our organizations urge the Libyan government to release those detained arbitrarily and call upon the authorites to respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.

Press contacts :
Karine Appy : +33 1 43 55 14 12 / +33 6 48 05 91 57
Arthur Manet : +33 1 43 55 90 19 / +33 6 72 28 42 94

IRAN: Detained Baha’i leaders in grave danger

PRESS RELEASE

IRAN: Detained Baha’i leaders in grave danger

 

February 18th 2010 – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for Human Rights (LDDHI) and the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights (CDDH) wish to draw your attention to the grave plight of the leaders of the Bahá’í community in Iran and request urgent action to be taken on their behalf in view of their alarmingly deteriorating situation.

To recall the facts, in August 2010, following proceedings that under no circumstances can be deemed a free and a fair trial, the seven Bahá’ leaders were transferred from Evin prison to Gohardasht prison in Karaj, a facility with appalling conditions of detention. Subsequent transfers and worsening conditions of detention lead us to believe that the well-being and lives of the detained Baha’i leaders are at risk and their ongoing arbitrary detention places them in a clear and present danger that requires urgent reaction.

Following a recent transfer, the two women prisoners were physically threatened by fellow inmates and their lives are clearly in danger. The five men have also been placed under harsher conditions.

Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate reminds the international community that “none of the prisoners were granted a fair trial and their continuing arbitrary detention is of grave concern, I call once again for their immediate release and a cessation of all harassment against the Bahá’í community”.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Iranian League for Human Rights (LDDHI) and the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights (CDDH) call for the immediate release of the Baha’i leaders and call upon the international community to act with urgency for their release.

List of prisoners requiring your urgent intervention:

Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi

Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani

Mr. Afif Naeimi

Mr. Saeid Rezaie

Mrs. Mahvash Sabet

Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli

Mr. Vahid Tizfahm

 

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Press contacts :
Karine Appy/Arthur Manet + 33 1 43 55 14 12 / + 33 1 43 55 25 18

-- 
Karine Appy
Chargée des relations presse
Press Officer 
FIDH
17 passage de la main d'or
75011 Paris
France
Tél : 00 33 1 43 55 14 12 / 00 33 6 48 05 91 57
Fax : 00 33 1 43 55 18 80
http://www.fidh.org

 

Iran confirms arrest of 1500 protesters

Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Radio Zamaneh/2011-02-15 – The Iranian judiciary today announced the names of 1,500 people arrested in yesterday’s demonstrations and transferred to Evin Prison, the Human Rights Reporters Committee reports.
 
Families of detainees gathered in front of the Revoutionary court, where the detainees’ files were being initiated, but they were attacked by Special Guards of the security forces and dispersed.

The authorities are refusing to inform families about what’s happening to individual detainees.
The announcement of the 1,500 names comes after security commander Ahmadreza Radan confirmed to the media that 150 people had been arrested. He said the protests had been carried out by a handful of seditionists.

Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejei, a spokesman for the judiciary and Iran’s prosecutor, told Fars news agency that yesterday’s events were “designed and supported by the U.S. and anti-Revolutionaries including the monafeghin.”
Iranian authorities refer to the dissident political group People Mojahedin Organization as monafeghin.
“In view of earlier warnings,” Mohseni Ejei said, “the judiciary will deal quickly and firmly with the main perpetrators and those who disturbed public order and peace.”

Yesterday Iranians took to the streets of Tehran and major cities in response to an opposition rally call. The mass demonstrations confirmed that post-election spirit of protest remains strong
Courtesy: National Movement of the Iranian Resistance ( NAMIR ), India Branch

namir.india@rediffmail.com
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