Bangladesh: Stop Reprisals Against Victims, Activists

For Immediate Release

Bangladesh: Stop Reprisals Against Victims, Activists
Instead Prioritize Accountability for Human Rights Abuses

April 8, 2022

Bangladesh authorities have responded to US Treasury Department sanctions on the notoriously abusive Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) by retaliating against victims’ relatives, human rights defenders and their families, and human rights organizations, twelve organizations said today.

The US imposed the sanctions on the paramilitary unit and several of its current and former officials on December 10, 2021 in response to credible and widespread allegations of serious human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.

100 Days of Arbitrary Detention of Khurram Parvez: AFAD demands immediate release

Manila, 02 March 2022—The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly reiterates its call for the immediate release of its Chairperson Khurram Parvez from arbitrary detention. The Government of India has detained Khurram without charges for exactly 100 days today.

Khurram, a prominent human rights defender who is also the programme coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) based in Kashmir, was arrested by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), following raids on his home and office in Srinagar on 22 November 2021. He was apprehended under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) allegedly for his involvement in terror-related activities. Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, was quick to come to Khurram’s defense publicly and emphatically stating that, “He’s not a terrorist, he’s a Human Rights Defender”.

UN Human Rights Council and OHCHR must adopt a new mandate on Bangladesh to collect evidence of gross human rights violations

A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Mayer Daak and Odhikar on International Human Rights Day, 2021

Manila, Dhaka, 09 December, 2021: AFAD, Mayer Daak and Odhikar pay tribute to all victims of human rights violations and stand in solidarity with the victims’ families in Bangladesh and across the world while commemorating International Human Rights Day. This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to “Equality” and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. International Human Rights Day 2021 is being observed with the theme of ‘equality’ at a time when the human rights situation in Bangladesh is in dire straits.

Stop persecuting human rights defenders! Release Khurram Parvez now!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 AFAD Statement on Kashmir Raids and the Arrest of Khurram Parvez

 Stop persecuting human rights defenders! Release Khurram Parvez now!

24 November 2021, Manila, Philippines - The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) calls on the Government of India to immediately and unconditionally release prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, Khurram Parvez. We also call for the Government of India to ensure Khurram’s safety from torture or any cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment while in detention.