An Appeal for Help From SAJAforum.org - new desi stuff daily http://www.sajaforum.org http://www.sajaforum.org/2007/05/request_ghufran.html
In late April award-winning journalist and filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid
(Discovery, NYT TV, PBS, etc) sent out a plea about the unusual case of
Ghufran Haider, a young man who saved hundreds of lives in a Karachi by
stopping a suicide bomber. He was badly injured and also in danger because
of testimony he gave in court and so he went to <st1:City><st1:place>Dubai </st1:place></st1:City>on a visitor's visa.
Now Sharmeen has written again (see below), saying the visa expires on May
19 and that he unless is he able to go to a third country or get asylum,
he will be killed in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Please read both letters at
http://www.sajaforum.org/2007/05/request_ghufran.html
If you have any ideas, please share them with Sharmeen -
sharmeenobaid[at]hotmail.com and CC saja@columbia.edu. You are welcome to
post general comments at the blog but please don't leave sensitive
messages for Sharmeen there.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 07:42:23 -0400
From: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy <SHARMEENOBAID@HOTMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: SAJA DISC <SAJA-DISC@LISTS.JRN.COLUMBIA.EDU>
To: SAJA DISC <SAJA-DISC@LISTS.JRN.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Subject: [saja-disc] Urgent: Ghufran update
Dear All,
I wrote to you a few weeks back asking for your help...Ghufran Haider, the
young man who stopped a suicide bombing in Pakistan and whose testimony led to
one of the accomplices being awarded the death penalty in Karachi, needs help
more than ever.
He is currently in <st1:City><st1:place>Dubai</st1:place></st1:City>, his visa expires on the 19th and he has nowhere to
go...The UAE government is not granting him an extension. I am feeling hopeless
now...He will fly back to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> because he feels he has exhausted all his
options. UAE does not recognize refugee status and they will arrest and deport
him if he overstays his visa.
He has registered with UNHCR but its slow moving...If he does fly home on the
19th, he will be killed. Already his family are being harrassed daily, his
brother has been threatened as has his ailing grandfather...To top it all off,
he has no money in Dubai...He has only 4 days left...
I know that between us we can help him, so im reaching out to see if any of you
can get him help from a third country soon...We must help Ghufran, his voice
should not be silenced...
Please get in touch with me immediately...
Thank you
Sharmeen
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
www.sharmeenobaidfilms.com ATTACK ON ART: Nationwide protest. See Report Dharna against Pathrakkadavu Project
Pro. Sobeendran, noted environmentalist and Vriksha Mitra Award Winner,
inaugurated the Dharna held by NAPM Kerala unit at Thiruvananthapuram demanding cancellation of the Cabinet nod for the Pathrakkadavu Project. Pro. Sobeendran called up on the people of Kerala to resist any attempt to reintroduce Silent vally project through the back door. NAPM wanted the Pathrakkadavu project to be dropped completely.
Vilayodi Venugopal (Plachimada struggle leader), Adv.Joshy Jacob (
Samajwadi Janparishad), Vinod Payyada ( NAPM ), T.Peter ( Kerala
Swathanthra Malsya Thozhilaly Federation ), Suresh George ( NAPM ),
George Jacob ( Rashtra Sevadal ), R.Sreekumar (Greens), Saroop Roy (Equations), Adv.Sheriff Ullath (Kerala Samskarika Parishad ), M.Mehboob
(Solidarity), Krishnankutty (Janadhikara Rashtriyasamithi), Freeska Kurisappan, Eldho, and Anto Elias also spoke.
B. R. P. Bhaskar has left the Board of Trustees of Vigil India Movement. See Resignation. Call for judge to clear his name before taking over as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. See Judiciary. Swami Agnivesh selected for M.A.Thomas National Human Rights Award
Noted human rights activist Swami Agnivesh has been selected for the M A Thomas National Human Rights Award-2006 instituted by the Vigil India Movement, national president K Pratap Reddy said in Hyderabad on June 24, 2006. The award comprising a citation and a cash prize would be presented to Swami Agnivesh at Thiruvananthapuram on August 4, 2006. Swami Agnish, who had spearheaded several social justice movements was unanimously selected by a jury of Mr Justice K T Thomas, former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Boppanna, member, board of directors, Vigil India and former judge of Karnataka High Court and Mr Akbar Mirza Khaleeli IFS, former Indian ambassador to Austrlaia. Human Rights Workshop for Police Officers Vigil India Movement organised a three-day Workshop for Inspectors of Police of Karnataka at the Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) at Whitefield, Bangalore, from April 11 to 13, 2005. The State police deputed about 20 officers, drawn from police stations in different districts, to attend the workshop. It was the second such workshop organised by Vigil Indian Movement in the State. Mr. N. Y. Hanumanthappa, MP and former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, inaugurated the workshop. Dr. M. J. Joseph, Director of ECC, presided. Mr. M. Lakshman, Inspector-General of Police (Training), delivered the keynote address. Dr. S. Krishnamurthy, former Director-General of Police, who has a doctorate in human rights,. Mr. B. R. P. Bhaskar, member of the Vigil Board of Trustees, Mr. Saji Thomas, Programme Coordinator, and Mr. Ashok Panikkar, who has specialised in alternative dispute resolution techniques, were among the resource persons. Dr. Krishnamurthy stressed the need for police officers to work within the parameters set by the law. Mr. Bhaskar examined the reason why the police force, conceived as the first line of defence of human rights, fails all too often. (For text of paper, please see POLICE & HR.) Mr. Panikkar outlined non-violent dispute resolution methods, which police officers could employ.
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