29 July 2011,
The Hague, The Netherlands
URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Ensure the security of human rights defender Mr. Shahanur Islam [UA-BA-27-07-2011]
ISSUES: Threats to human rights defenders, personal integrity, physical assault, looting
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Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is deeply concerned about the recent death threats received by our local observer and human rights defender Advocate Shahanur Islam on July 24, 2011.
These threats are linked to an incident earlier in January this year when Adv. Islam was attacked during a fact finding mission in Thakurgaon district. He and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened and had all their belongings looted. See GHRD’s earlier appeal here. One of the perpetrators of the January attacks has recently got out of jail custody and is said to be responsible for the death threats Adv. Islam is now experiencing.
This incident is one of many that have taken place over the past few years, when Mr. Islam has been exposed to threats and assault as a result of his work to protect minorities in the country. Human rights defenders are frequently subjected to harassment from authorities in Bangladesh. The incident must be investigated and GHRD urges for immediate government intervention to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and lawyers in their daily work in Bangladesh.
Case Details:
On July 24, 2011, Advocate Shahanur Islam received a threatening phone call from one of the co-accused in a criminal case, threatening death if he did not withdraw his police complaint. The caller was referring to an incident in January 2011 when Adv. Islam and his team were physically attacked during a fact finding mission in Thakurgaon district. See GHRD’s earlier appeal here.
According to Adv. Islam, the caller introduced himself as Hamidur Islam of Gorea, one of the co-accused in the January case. Mr Hamidur Islam was recently released from jail custody on bail, after spending five months in jail for his part in the attacks against Adv. Islam and his team. Adv. Islam identified Mr Hamidur Islam as his attacker in a police line up in March 2011.
The accused Hamidul Islam threatened to kill Adv. Islam if he does not immediately withdraw his case.
Mr Hamidur stated: “You have put me in jail for five months and now I am out of jail on bail. Now I want to see what can you do?”
He also said, “You have no idea about our power. So, you had showed your braveness to file case against us after being tortured and losing everything”. He again said, “if you want to be alive, you will withdraw the case by one week, otherwise we know how to compel you to withdraw the case.”
He further stated: “One time we left you after a little bit of torture and snatched everything, but if we reach you again, no body will find your dead body”.
Adv. Islam lodged a general diary (GD), notifying the police of these threats, being number 1734, dated 25/07/2011 at Mohammadpur Police Station under Dhaka Metropalitan Police.
These threats have been published in several Bangladesh newspapers; please see the following links for English language articles:
Recommendations
GHRD is very disturbed about the death threats made against human rights defender Adv. Shahanur Islam who fears for his life and safety. During the past few years he has been exposed to multiple threats and has been attacked on multiple occasions. Taking into consideration that this incident is not an isolated event but rather violations that occur frequently in Bangladesh, GHRD urges the authorities to:
1. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Mr. Islam;
2. Order a prompt and independent investigation into these threats and the January attacks, bringing those responsible to justice;
3. Ensure the respect and protection of the work of human rights defenders throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international standards;
4. Ensure that the human rights activities of Mr. Islam and other human rights defenders/organizations may proceed unhindered;
5. Comply with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.
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Sample letter:
In order to help, please print the following sample letter and send it to the relevant authorities found below:
Dear ___________,
I would like to express my concern for human rights defender Advocate Shahanur Islam, who has recently recieved threats against his life. According to information I received from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), these threats are linked to an incident earlier in January this year when Adv. Islam was attacked during a fact finding mission in Thakurgaon district. He and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened and had all their belongings looted. See GHRD’s earlier appeal here. One of the perpetrators of the January attacks has recently got out of jail custody and is said to be responsible for the death threats Adv. Islam is now experiencing.
This incident is one of many that have taken place over the past few years, when Mr. Islam has been exposed to threats and assault as a result of his work to protect minorities in the country. Human rights defenders are frequently subjected to harassment from authorities in Bangladesh. The incident must be investigated and I urge for immediate government intervention to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and lawyers in their daily work in Bangladesh.
Case Details:
On July 24, 2011, Advocate Shahanur Islam received a threatening phone call from one of the co-accused in a criminal case, threatening death if he did not withdraw his police complaint. The caller was referring to an incident in January 2011 when Adv. Islam and his team were physically attacked during a fact finding mission in Thakurgaon district. See GHRD’s earlier appeal here.
According to Adv. Islam, the caller introduced himself as Hamidur Islam of Gorea, one of the co-accused in the January case. Mr Hamidur Islam was recently released from jail custody on bail, after spending five months in jail for his part in the attacks against Adv. Islam and his team. Adv. Islam identified Mr Hamidur Islam as his attacker in a police line up in March 2011.
The accused Hamidul Islam threatened to kill Adv. Islam if he does not immediately withdraw his case.
Mr Hamidur stated: “You have put me in jail for five months and now I am out of jail on bail. Now I want to see what can you do?”
He also said, “You have no idea about our power. So, you had showed your braveness to file case against us after being tortured and losing everything”. He again said, “if you want to be alive, you will withdraw the case by one week, otherwise we know how to compel you to withdraw the case.”
He further stated: “One time we left you after a little bit of torture and snatched everything, but if we reach you again, no body will find your dead body”.
Adv. Islam lodged a general diary (GD), notifying the police of these threats, being number 1734, dated 25/07/2011 at Mohammadpur Police Station under Dhaka Metropalitan Police.
These threats have been published in several Bangladesh newspapers; please see the following links for English language articles:
Recommendations:
I am very disturbed about the death threats made against human rights defender Adv. Shahanur Islam who fears for his life and safety. During the past few years he has been exposed to multiple threats and has been attacked on multiple occasions. Taking into consideration that this incident is not an isolated event but rather violations that occur frequently in Bangladesh, I urge the authorities to:
1. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Mr. Islam;
2. Order a prompt and independent investigation into these threats and the January attacks, bringing those responsible to justice;
3. Ensure the respect and protection of the work of human rights defenders throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international standards;
4. Ensure that the human rights activities of Mr. Islam and other human rights defenders/organizations may proceed unhindered;
5. Comply with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.
I trust that you will take immediate action on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mrs. Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490
Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677
E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd
2. Mr. Md. Mozammel Haque
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building Fax: +880 2 7168557 (O)
Email: info@minlaw.gov.bd
4. Ms. Sahara Khatun MP
Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat,Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7169069 (O) Fax: +880 2 7160405, 880 2 7164788 (O)
E-mail: minister@mha.gov.bd
5. Mr. Mahbubey Alam
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Annex Building Tel: +880 2 956 2868
6. Prof. Mizanur Rahman
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
10th Floor, Gulfeshan Plaza
8, Journalist Selina Parvin Road
Mogbazar, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88 02 8331492
Fax: +88 02 8333219
E-mail: nhrc.bd@gmail.com
7. Mr. Hassan Mahmud Khandker
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters' Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 3362 / 956 3363
Tel: +880 2 956 2054 / +880 2 717 6451 / +880 2 717 6677
E-mail: ig@police.gov.bd
8. Mr. Asaduzzaman Mian
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
Dhaka Range
Office of the DIG of Dhaka Range
Shegun Bagicha
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