The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the judicial harassment of, and threats against, Ms. Marvi Sirmed, a journalist and political commentator, currently on a fellowship in the United States, who has been denouncing enforced disappearances in Pakistan for years.
According to the information received, on August 22, 2020, Ms. Marvi Sirmed posted a satirical tweet from her personal account [1] referring to the many enforced disappearances of human rights defenders and government critics in Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Since then, social media users have launched a series of online attacks against her with threats to kill and rape, deploring the agnostic nature of her comment and demanding her arrest for “blasphemy” under Article 295(c) of the Pakistan Penal Code [2].
On August 23, 2020, several individuals lodged separate complaints for “blasphemy” against Ms. Marvi Sirmed in different parts of the country including Lahore (in police stations Ravi Road, Faisal Town, and Garden Town), Punjab Province; Karachi, Sindh Province; Jhang (Kotwali police station), Punjab Province, and Islamabad with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The Observatory firmly condemns the threats, incitement to violence, and the judicial harassment of Ms. Marvi Sirmed, which seem to be only aimed at punishing her for the legitimate exercise of her right to freedom of opinion and expression and her right to freedom of religion or belief. The Observatory calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally put an end to any acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Marvi Sirmed and all human rights defenders in the country, especially given the recent surge in blasphemy allegations in Punjab Province, and the global incitement to violence against those suspected or accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.
How You Can Help
Please write to the authorities in Pakistan, urging them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Ms. Marvi Sirmed, her family members in Pakistan, and all human rights defenders in Pakistan;
ii. Put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Marvi Sirmed and all other human rights defenders in Pakistan;
iii. Call for an end to the online threats and incitement to violence against Ms. Marvi Sirmed and ensure she is able to carry out her legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals;
iv. Carry out an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the recent acts of incitement to violence against Ms. Marvi Sirmed in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law;
v. Develop policy measures to put an end to the abuse of blasphemy laws for silencing political dissent and human rights defenders;
vi. Comply with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular its Articles 1 and 12.2;
vii. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Pakistan.
Addresses
• Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan; Email: secretary@president.gov.pk
• Mr. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Minister in Charge for Interior and Narcotics
Control; Email: info@pmo.gov.pk
• Brig. (Retd) Ijaz Shah, Minister of State for Interior, Email:
interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
• Dr. Shireen Mazari, Minister of Human Rights of Pakistan, Email: minister@mohr.gov.pk, secretary@mohr.gov.pk ; Twitter: @ShireenMazari1 / @mohrpakistan
• Mr. Uzman Ahmed Khan Buzdar, Chief Minister of Punjab; Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk; Twitter: @CMPunjabPK
• Ambassador Farukh Amil, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva,
Switzerland; Email: mission.pakistan@ties.itu.int
Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Pakistan located in your country.
