ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-138-2017
September 27, 2017
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NEPAL: Women’s rights activist accused of being a ‘witch’ and beaten
ISSUES: Women’s rights, Human rights defenders, police negligence, and impunity
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-138-2017
27 September 2017
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NEPAL: Women’s rights activist accused of being a ‘witch’ and beaten
ISSUES: Women’s rights, Human rights defenders, police negligence, and impunity
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that 55-year-old Mrs. Raj Kumari Upadhaya, resident of Birgunj Metropolitan city, has been accused of being a witch. She was beaten by her neighbors Sarita Shrestha (20), her sister Sonu Karki (24), Sonu’s husband Yogendra Karki, who is a Constable at the Armed Police force (APF), Pritee Gurung (35), her husband Sunil Magar, and her daughter Jiya Gurung (15). Raj Kumari is an active women rights activist and also Chairperson of the District Women Rights Forum, Parsa. She has been working in women’s rights for more than 15 years, and has rescued hundreds of women from domestic violence, polygamous marriages, and witch-craft.
CASE DETAILS:
The AHRC has been informed that Raj Kumari Upadhaya who is an active women’s rights activist was accused of being a witch, and assaulted by her neighbors at around 1 a.m. on 24 September 2017. Raj Kumari was sleeping after taking medicine for her blood pressure, when she heard people banging on her door. When she opened the door, 4-5 persons called her a witch and sprinkled rice-vermillion on her hair. The group misbehaved with her and started beating her. They locked her daughter-in-law Jaylaxmi Dhakal and even shot a video recording.
Sarita pulled her hair and slapped her several times. They took her to Sarita’s room and forcefully poured oil and vermillion into her ears. The group blamed Raj Kumari for practicing witchcraft on 15-year-old Jiya, as she was constantly falling sick. Raj Kumari could not protest, as she was alone and surrounded by the angry group.
The group forced her to admit to being a witch, and they tortured her mentally and physically. Raj Kumari was rescued after around 2 hours, after her daughter-in-law informed her son Bandesh Dhakal who was out of town while the incident happened. Bandesh telephoned his friend Aftab Hawari. When Aftab reached the apartment, he witnessed the group scolding Raj Kumari and forcing her to accept being a witch. Only when Aftab shouted at them to stop, did they allow Raj Kumari to go.
After she was able to go out of the room, Raj Kumari made calls to her relatives and friends. They telephoned the District Police Office, Parsa. The police came and arrested the group at around 4 a.m.
The police tried to hush-up the incident, as there is involvement of an APF officer. The APF even tried to settle the incident but Raj Kumari denied to go for a settlement and registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the police office.
The AHRC demands a prompt and proper investigation into this case. If human rights activists are accused of being witches, and are not safe, one can imagine the status of women in the country. The victim and her family must be provided safety and security. The perpetrators must be punished as per The Anti-witchcraft (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2014, and other related laws. The guilty must be punished so that others are deterred from practicing witchcraft and gender based discrimination.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities calling on them to take necessary action.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in that context, for his intervention into this matter.
To support this appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear __________,
NEPAL: Women’s rights activist accused of being a ‘witch’ and beaten
Name of victims: Raj Kumari Upadhaya
Alleged Perpetrators: Sarita Shrestha, her sister Sonu Karki, Sonu’s husband Yogendra Karki, Pritee Gurung, her Husband Sunil Magar, and her daughter Jiya Gurung
Date of incident: 24 September 2017 to present
Place of incident: Panitanki, ward no. 8, Birgunj Metropolitan city, Parsa District
I am writing to voice my deep concern as 55-year-old Mrs. Raj Kumari Upadhaya, resident of Birgunj Metropolitan city, has been accused of being a witch. She was beaten by her neighbors Sarita Shrestha (20), her sister Sonu Karki (24), Sonu’s husband Yogendra Karki, who is a Constable at the Armed Police force (APF), Pritee Gurung (35), her husband Sunil Magar, and her daughter Jiya Gurung (15).
Raj Kumari was sleeping after taking medicine for her blood pressure, when she heard people banging on her door at around 1 a.m. on 24 September 2017. When she opened the door, 4-5 persons called her a witch and sprinkled rice-vermillion on her hair. The group misbehaved with her and started beating her. They locked her daughter-in-law Jaylaxmi Dhakal and even shot a video recording.
Sarita pulled her hair and slapped her several times. They took her to Sarita’s room and forcefully poured oil and vermillion into her ears. The group blamed Raj Kumari for practicing witchcraft on 15-year-old Jiya, as she was constantly falling sick. Raj Kumari could not protest, as she was alone and surrounded by the angry group.
The group forced her to admit to being a witch, and they tortured her mentally and physically. Raj Kumari was rescued after around 2 hours, after her daughter-in-law informed her son Bandesh Dhakal who was out of town while the incident happened. Bandesh telephoned his friend Aftab Hawari. When Aftab reached the apartment, he witnessed the group scolding Raj Kumari and forcing her to accept being a witch. Only when Aftab shouted at them to stop, did they allow Raj Kumari to go.
After she was able to go out of the room, Raj Kumari made calls to her relatives and friends. They telephoned the District Police Office, Parsa. The police came and arrested the group at around 4 a.m.
The police tried to hush-up the incident, as there is involvement of an APF officer. The APF even tried to settle the incident but Raj Kumari denied to go for a settlement and registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the police office.
I demand a prompt and proper investigation into this case. If human rights activists are accused of being witches, and are not safe, one can imagine the status of women in the country. The victim and her family must be provided safety and security. The perpetrators must be punished as per The Anti-witchcraft (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2014, and other related laws. The guilty must be punished so that others are deterred from practicing witchcraft and gender based discrimination.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
P.O. Box: 23312
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4211000
Fax: +977 1 4211086
Email: info@opmcm.gov.np
2. Mr. Janardan Sharma
Home Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286
Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np
3. Mr. Anupraj Sharma
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 55 47973
Tel: +977 1 5010015
E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org or nhrc@nhrcnepal.org
4. Mr. Basant Ram Bhandari
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Ramshah Path, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394
Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051
Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np
5. Mr. Prakash Aryal
Inspector General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 4415593
Tel: +977 1 4412432
Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)