Pakistan: Attack and death threats against human rights defender Parvez Aslam Choudhry

Your Excellency,

On 8 April 2008, at approximately 12.00 midnight, Parvez Aslam Choudhry received an anonymous telephone call threatening both him and his family. Parvez Aslam Choudhry was reportedly told he was to be killed because he was a Christian lawyer defending a Christian person accused of blasphemy. Similar threats were also made against him inside the court by witnesses. The case in question concerns a former Christian who converted to Islam before marrying Muslim woman.

On 6 April 2008, Parvez Aslam Choudhry was attacked by a large mob when he arrived at court for the bail hearing. His car was damaged and the mob threatened to kill him. Parvez Aslam Choudhry's application for the court to take legal action was accepted but action has reportedly yet to be taken.

Parvez Aslam Choudhry has previously been the subject of death threats. I believe that the attack and death threats against Parvez Aslam Choudhry are an attempt to dissuade him from continuing with his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. I am concerned for his security and physical and psychological integrity, as well as that of his family members.

I urge the Pakistani authorities to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the reported attack and death threats against Parvez Aslam Choudhry, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice; 2. Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Parvez Aslam Choudhry, as well as that of his family members; 3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Pakistan, including lawyers, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw your attention to Article 9 (1): ”In the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms including the promotion and protection of human rights as referred to in the present Declaration, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to benefit from an effective remedy and to be protected in the event of the violation of those rights”, to Article 11: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession (...),” and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, 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.”

Yours sincerely,