ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-068-2017
July 03, 2017
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BANGLADESH/INDIA: Bangladeshi and Indian authorities must work together to locate missing Bangladeshi poet, Farhad Mazhar and ensure his safety
ISSUES: Dissent, Threat to life, Disappearance, Human rights defenders
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-068-2017
03 July 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BANGLADESH/INDIA: Bangladeshi and Indian authorities must work together to locate missing Bangladeshi poet, Farhad Mazhar and ensure his safety
ISSUES: Dissent, Threat to life, Disappearance, Human rights defenders
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from noted writer and poet, Farhad Mazhar has disappeared and been reported missing from Dhaka in Bangladesh since the early hours of 3rd July 2017.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The Asian Human Rights Commission(AHRC) has received updated information regarding the disappearance of Mr. Farhad Mazhar, a renowned poet, columnist and political analyst. We have been informed by sources that he was taken away by unidentified persons early this morning (03 July 2017) at around 5:10 am. His family and friends informed that the police are tracking his location through his cell phone and at present, his location appears to be somewhere near the India-Bangladesh border. According a news report, Mr. Farhad Mazhar participated in a press conference on July 2nd with Mahmudur Rahman, the Acting Editor of the daily Amad Desh. The conference was organised to condemn the public lynchings of some Muslims by ‘cow vigilante’ groups in India.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
News reports are emerging regarding the disappearance of Mazhar and the BBC has reported that his wife, Farida Akter has received a ransom demand of 3.5 million Taka. Another report suggests that he may be in Khulna and that Rapid Action Battalion members are trying to trace him. As the case is unfolding, more information is emerging but it is imperative that the Indian and Bangladeshi Authorities work together to locate Mazhar and ensure his safety. Disappearances, killings and abductions are becoming more and more common in Bangladesh where a culture of intolerance for dissent and criticism is emerging and fast becoming the norm.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the following authorities in India and Bangladesh and persuade them to take urgent action and work together and close the border post Mazhar is headed towards, arrest the perpetrators and ensure his safe return. The AHRC is writing separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders
To support this appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ___________,
BANGLADESH/INDIA: Bangladeshi and Indian authorities must work together to locate missing Bangladeshi poet, Farhad Mazhar and ensure his safety
Name of victim: Farhad Mazhar
Names of alleged perpetrators: Unknown
Date of incident: July 3, 2017
Place of incident: Dhaka, Bangladesh
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the disappearance of Mr. Farhad Mazhar, a renowned poet, columnist and political analyst. I have learnt that according to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission(AHRC) that he was taken away by unidentified persons early this morning (03 July 2017) at around 5:10 am. His family and friends informed that the police are tracking his location through his cell phone and at present, his location appears to be somewhere near the India-Bangladesh border. According to a news report, Mr. Farhad Mazhar participated in a press conference on July 2nd with Mahmudur Rahman, the Acting Editor of the daily Amad Desh. The conference was organised to condemn the public lynchings of some Muslims by ‘cow vigilante’ groups in India.
News reports are emerging regarding the disappearance of Mazhar and the BBC has reported that his wife, Farida Akter has received a ransom demand of 3.5 million Taka. Another report suggests that he may be in Khulna and that Rapid Action Battalion members are trying to trace him. As the case is unfolding, more information is emerging but it is imperative that the Indian and Bangladeshi Authorities work together to locate Mazhar and ensure his safety. Disappearances, killings and abductions are becoming more and more common in Bangladesh where a culture of intolerance for dissent and criticism is emerging and fast becoming the norm.
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid
President of People’s Republic of Bangladesh
President's Office
Bangabhaban, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9568041-50
Fax: +88-02-9585502 Secretary
Email: president@bangabhaban.gov.bd
2. Mr. Surendra Kumar Sinha
Chief Justice of Bangladesh
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Dhaka 1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 5058, +880 2 7161344
Tel: +880 2 956 2792
E-mail: chief@bdcom.com or supremec@bdcom.com
3. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
BTMC Bhaban 8th Floor
7-9 Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave, Kawran Bazar
Dhaka-1215, BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 55013713
Fax: +880 2 55013725
E-mail: nhrc.bd@gmail.com
4. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
Block-C, G.P.O. Complex, INA
New Delhi-110023
Email: cr.nhrc@nic.in
5. Shri Rajnath Singh
Minister of Home Affairs
Room no 104, North Block, Central Secretariat
New Delhi – 110001
INDIA
Tel: +9111 23092462
Fax: +9111 23094221
Email: jscpg-mha@nic.in
6. Smt. Sushma Swaraj
Minister of External Affairs
South Block, Cabinet Secretariat,
Raisina Hill, New Delhi, 110 011
Tel: 23011127, 23011165
Email: eam@mea.gov.in
7. Shri K.K. Sharma
Director General
Border Security Force (BSF)
HQr DG BSF, Block No. 10
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003
Tel: 011-24364851
Email: edpdte@bsf.nic.in
8. Mr. David Kaye
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: freedex@ohchr.org
9. Michael Forst
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Palais Wilson
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)