August 30 is the International Day of the Disappeared. Join the call to: #BringThemHome

Enforced disappearance is when someone is taken away by the government, usually by security forces like the military or police. This act is followed by the denial or concealment of a person’s custody or whereabouts, in effect removing them from the protection of law and society.

All of these disappeared persons belong to families who are in pain, they will continue to search until their lost loved ones are found and brought home.

We believe that every case of disappearance is an attack against families, homes and societies where they exist.

Why Should We Bring Them Home?

AFAD Congratulates Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice (HAK)

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) congratulates the women and men of “Hukum, Hak, AsasidanKeadilan” (HAK) Association [Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice] during your 17th year anniversary celebrations!

We salute your steadfastness and perseverance to rise above a difficult past as a people, where one third of your population was lost to the Indonesian invasion and ensuing struggle for independence from 1975-1999. Through firm determination and dedication to human rights and justice, you have been able to help victims of human rights violations particularly political detainees and victims of enforced disappearances in their quest for justice.

Afad Calls For UN Intervention on the Continued Detention of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan and the Seizure of Odhikar Documents and Computers

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) calls on the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene on the continued detention of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan of Bangladesh by the government of Sheikh Hasina. AFAD believes international pressure is important in a situation where the State, through its security forces, are in wanton disregard of its obligations to respect, protect and uphold the human rights of its citizens.

Not content with the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Khan, the Detective Branch of the Police searched their office from 8:20- 9:00 p.m. last night and seized three laptops and two Central Processing Units (CPUs), Odhikar reports stated.

Immediately Release Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan and Protect His Right not to be Tortured!

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) condemns the arbitrary arrest of its Council Member, Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan in his residence in Dhaka last night, 10 August 2013. AFAD also calls on the government to respect his right from torture and to immediately release him.

Based on reports received from Odhikar, AFAD member organization in Bangladesh as well as reports from the Asian Human Rights Commission, Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan was with his family and children when arrested without warrant by about 8-10 plainclothes men just as his vehicle entered the family compound. The security guard on duty tried to prevent the men from entering but to no avail. Upon the demand of Mr. Adilur Khan, the men who surrounded his car informed him that they were from the Detective Branch of Bangladesh Police. He was forced into a white microbus vehicle reportedly from United Commercial Bank and a blue and silver Mitsubishi Pajero.

Mr. Adilur Khan was arrested without warrant and his family was not informed of where they were taking him. Members of the Gulshan Police Station when approached by Odhikar at 2:00 a.m. this morning denied that a case was filed against Mr. Khan. It was learned later, through a media interview of DB Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman that Khan is being held at the DB Headquarters in Mintu Road for violations of the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006 - Section 57 which prohibits the “publication of fake, obscene or defaming information in electronic form.” He supposedly distorted facts about Hefazat-e-Islam and distorted photographs using Photoshop.