URGENT ACTION APPEAL
---------------------------------- 3 June 2004 UA 189/04 Fear of torture/Ill-treatment / Fear of death sentence PAKISTAN Diwan Hashmat Hayat (m) Diwan Hashmat Hayat is being held in solitary confinement in Jhelum District Central Jail, Punjab, on charges which carry the death penalty. He has reportedly been beaten while in detention, and is being held in insanitary conditions, without sufficient food or appropriate medical treatment for his injuries. He is charged with blasphemy under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, because he asked a neighboring mosque to make less noise. The Code holds a sentence of death for the criminal offence of defiling the Prophet Mohammed, stating, ''Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to a fine''. On 3 April, Diwan Hashmat Hayat was attacked by a mob outside his house. Even though he sustained serious injuries he was arrested and taken to Jhelum District Central Jail where he was beaten, reportedly on the orders of the jail authorities. He was reportedly only given painkillers after his family agreed to pay a bribe of 3,000 rupees (USD $52), and is allegedly being denied sufficient food and clean bedding because his family could not pay a second bribe. He is still being denied medical treatment. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Pakistan's blasphemy laws are used for reasons which include religious oppression, professional jealousy, economic rivalry, political opposition or personal hostility. Many of those detained under the blasphemy laws have been assaulted or subjected to other forms of ill-treatment; some have been killed by fellow detainees or prison wardens. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases. It is the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a violation of the right to life, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - expressing concern that Diwan Hashmat Hayat has reportedly been beaten and otherwise ill-treated while held in Jhelum District Central Jail, Punjab; - condemning the harsh prison conditions in which he is being held, and urging that he is immediately provided with adequate food and clean bedding, and given appropriate medical treatment. - urging the authorities to hold a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations of beatings, ill-treatment and bribery, and bring those responsible to justice; - stating your opposition to the use of the death penalty and your concern that Diwan Hashmat Hayat has been charged under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which stipulates a sentence of death for the criminal offence of defiling the Prophet Mohammad. APPEALS TO: Chief Minister of Punjab: Chaudary Pervez Elahi Chief Minister of Punjab 7 Club Road G.O.R.I Lahore Pakistan Email: h...@punjab.gov.pk Punjab Minister for Prisons: Saeed Akbar Khan Punjab Minister for Prisons 202 Abbubakar Block New Garden Town Lahore Pakistan Punjab Inspector General of Prisons: Khawja Khalid Farooq Inspectorate of Prisons Jail Road Lahore Pakistan Fax: 011 92 42 920 0570 (ask in English to switch on the fax) COPIES TO: Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi Embassy of Pakistan 2315 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20008 Fax: 1 202 686 1544 Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after July 15, 2004. Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights. This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal. Urgent Action Network Amnesty International USA PO Box 1270 Nederland CO 80466-1270 Email: u...@aiusa.org http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/ Phone: 303 258 1170 Fax: 303 258 7881 ---------------------------------- END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL ----------------------------------
