- Category: Statements
It’s been three years after the brutal torture and murder of Aminul Islam and the climate of impunity continues in Bangladesh.
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) deeply condemns the murder of Aminul Islam, a human rights defender who helped garment factory workers demand their basic human rights and challenge the unjust system.
Abducted, Aminul Islam was brutally tortured and murdered as a direct result of his work to improve the working conditions for Bangladeshi garment workers. Apparently, this form of human rights violation sent a direct clear message to those working in the industry of what their future would hold if they attempt to exercise their labor rights and make demands for humane and better working conditions.
- Category: Open Letters
We, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), would like to express our deep concern over the disappearance of Mr. Salah Uddin on the evening of March 10, 2015. Uddin is the joint secretary general and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
According to Salah Uddin’s wife, Hasina Ahmed, a group of plainclothes policemen identified as members of the Detective Branch barged into a relative’s apartment in Uttara Sector-3 around 10:15 on Tuesday night. The policemen tied up the house helper who was present at the time and handcuffed Salah Uddin before whisking him away to one of the vehicles parked outside the apartment building.
- Category: Press Releases
Today, it was reported, that ex-SSP Ashiq Bukhari had made unequivocal and strong allegations against ex-Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah. First, that on hearing of the 2010 arrest of Muslim League leader Masarat Alam, Omar Abdullah asked on phone why he had been arrested and not bumped off. Second, that in addition to the official Rs. 10 lacs given to Ashiq Bukhari, an additional Rs. 15 lacs were given by Omar Abdullah “from his own pocket” Third, that Omar Abdullah had paid him Rs. 1.5 crore four times by cheque for outstanding work.
- Category: Statements
March 12, 2004 – March 12, 2015
Today, 12th March, marks the 11th anniversary of the disappearance of Khun Somchai Neelapaijit, but, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. His family’s anguish and the intense pain of waiting in uncertainty has been and continues to be a torment. Being uncertain on his fate has been devastatingly difficult for his family, friends and the Justice for Peace Foundation, who, despite the many grave threats received, have been unwavering in their search for truth and justice for Khun Somchai and other victims of enforced disappearances in Thailand.
- Category: Open Letters
To: His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General of the United Nations
1st Avenue and 46th Street
New York, NY 10017 U S A
Re: AFAD Appeals to take Measure on Bangladesh over Gravely Alarming Human Rights Situation
Your Excellency Ban Ki-Moon,
The worsening political crisis in Bangladesh has led to the gravely alarming human rights situation in the country.
The Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) is deeply concerned with the rising and unabated of human rights violations occurring in Bangladesh. It has become an almost daily phenomenon for law enforcement agencies to arrest people, resulting in human rights violations such as torture, ill treatment, extrajudicial deaths and enforced disappearance.
Enforced disappearances allegedly perpetrated by the security forces of Bangladesh has become an almost daily occurrence, mostly centering on the current political confrontations between the ruling Awami League and the BNP led 20-Party Alliance over free, fair, credible and participatory national elections under a neutral interim government. The administration’s refusal to the holding of such an election has resulted in widespread violence and human rights violations in Bangladesh.
- Category: Press Releases
Paris – Geneva - Copenhagen, 19 February 2015 – The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, along with the Euro- Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and the Euro-Med Federation against Enforced Disappearances (FEMED), condemn the raid on the premises of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (Association marocaine des droits humains – AMDH) and the assault against one of its members by the Moroccan security forces.
- Category: Statements
(Bangkok/Dhaka, 10 February 2015) - The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), express deep concern over the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances by the security forces of Bangladesh, centering on the current confrontations between the ruling Awami League (and its 14-party Alliance) and the BNP-led 20- Party Alliance over free, fair, credible and participatory national elections under a neutral interim government, which has resulted in large scale violence and human rights violations all over Bangladesh.
- Category: Open Letters
Amina Masood Janua - mother of three – searching for her disappeared husband Masood Janjua since 2004 – founder of the NGO Defence for Human Rights in Pakistan. To express her solidarity with Shui Meng, the wife of Magasaysay award winning development worker Sombat Somphone who disappeared on 15th December 2012, wrote a letter to her. Both have never met each other. They have been introduced to each other by AFAD.
We are sharing their letters to give you a glimpse of their love and their commitment to truth and justice.