Category: Asia

  • Is Junaid Hafeez Condemned Forever?

    Junaid Hafeez, a former professor of English Literature at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), has spent more than a decade in solitary confinement, trapped in a legal limbo that epitomizes Pakistan’s intolerance, judicial inefficiency, and state apathy. His case—initiated in 2013 on controversial blasphemy charges—has become a glaring example of how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are weaponized, often leading to severe miscarriages of justice.

    For Usama Asghar, the writer and analyst who has followed Hafeez’s case closely, this issue is deeply personal. Recalling his early teenage years, Asghar remembers how his father, a police officer, warned him about the dangers of expressing opinions freely on the internet. “He often backed his advice up with examples, frequently citing a case involving a young professor who was arrested by the police on blasphemy charges in the town of Rajanpur,” Asghar shares. Years later, he would realize that this very case was that of Junaid Hafeez.

    Hafeez’s ordeal began when students accused him of making blasphemous remarks and sharing controversial content online. The situation quickly escalated, culminating in his arrest on March 13, 2013. His trial, marred by irregularities, saw key evidence mishandled and his defense lawyer, Rashid Rehman, gunned down after receiving open threats in court. In 2019, Hafeez was sentenced to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, with additional life imprisonment under Section 295-B and a further ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 295-A.

    The handling of his case has been a travesty of justice, highlighting the dangerous climate of religious extremism in Pakistan. “Junaid Hafeez is not only suffering for the intolerance in the country that put false blasphemy charges on him but also for the ineffectiveness and selfishness of our justice system,” Asghar asserts. The trial’s prolonged nature has left Hafeez in solitary confinement, his mental and physical well-being deteriorating, while the state remains an apathetic bystander.

    Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, particularly Section 295-C, have long been criticized for their vagueness and potential for abuse. Even unverified allegations can lead to deadly consequences, as seen in the recent lynching of a local tourist in Swat. The unchecked power of radical elements has instilled fear in lawmakers and judges alike, making fair trials nearly impossible in blasphemy cases.

    Asghar paints a bleak picture of the country’s trajectory. “Over time, this country has made it evident that it is not for people like Junaid Hafeez, who stand for knowledge and tolerance, but for blood-seeking, ruthless mobs to dominate and do whatever they will,” he laments. His hope is for a Pakistan where freedom of thought and religious plurality are respected, but the reality of Hafeez’s case fills him with despair.

    The call for reform is urgent. “If there is an ounce of shame and humanity left in our lawmakers, they should abolish the cruel blasphemy laws,” Asghar urges. However, in a country where mob justice often prevails over legal processes, Hafeez’s future remains uncertain. His name, honored at Jackson State University in the USA, starkly contrasts with his fate in Pakistan—a scholar silenced in solitary confinement, waiting for justice in a system that has failed him.

    The question remains: Is Junaid Hafeez condemned forever? Until Pakistan confronts its intolerance and reforms its blasphemy laws, the answer appears tragically clear.

  • GHRD’s UN Side Event: Human Rights in Pakistan

    On October 2, 2024, GHRD hosted a side event at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was chaired by GHRD’s Mariana Mayor Lima and featured three key speakers: Professor Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Ammarah Balouch, Sindhi lawyer, activist and UN Women UK delegate, and Jamal Baloch, a political activist from Balochistan and previous victim of an enforced disappearance orchestrated by the Pakistani State.

    Professor Levrat highlighted that, while human rights are formally universal, they are not de facto enjoyed equally in all countries, which is also the case in Pakistan. He emphasized that it is first and foremost the responsibility of States who are signatories to human rights treaties to implement their obligations and thereby guarantee human rights. Each treaty has its own treaty body which reports to the Human Rights Council. Additionally, there is the Universal Periodic Review, which allows the Human Rights Council to go beyond human rights as specifically stipulated in the treaties, and the special procedures, most prominently the UN Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts who can conduct country-specific or thematic investigations. Professor Levrat’s mandate derives from Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which lays down States’ obligation to respect and protect minorities in their country. In his function, he has recently met the permanent mission of Pakistan in Geneva and requested access for a country visit. Beyond this, Professor Levrat highlighted that NGOs play a pivotal role in protecting human rights through awareness raising, alerting and documenting, but also through the exchange of best practices.

    Ammarah Balouch presented the alarming reality of forced conversions and marriages of Sindhi girls in Pakistan. In the year 2018 alone, there have been at least 1,000 cases of abducted Sindhi girls who were forced to convert to Islam and subsequently married. Generally, an estimated 40% of Pakistani girls are married below the age of 18. On top of being members of religious minorities, the victims often come from economically marginalized backgrounds. The cases show gender, class and socio-economic status are deeply entangled with religion when it comes to violations of human rights of Sindhis. Furthermore, girls and their families face serious obstacles in accessing justice due to biases in the police and judiciary. To end the practice of forced conversion and marriage, Ammarah Balouch emphasized that the Sindh Criminal Law Protection of Minorities Bill needs finally to be passed into law and wide-spread education is needed to reform cultural and societal attitudes.

    The last presentation was given by Jamal Baloch who delivered a strong testimony on the practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances are prominently used to silence political dissent and those speaking out in favor of human rights. Like his father before him, at the age of 17 Jamal Baloch was arbitrarily arrest, detained and tortured for his work as a human rights defender, which has left him with a significant trauma. He described enforced disappearances as an inhuman practice, mostly targeting young activists and students of the Baloch community who speak up for their people’s right to self-determination in order to make them withdraw their beliefs. Apart from the dehumanization in detention, the families of disappeared persons are often humiliated. Just yesterday, a group of five students as young as 13 was forcibly disappeared. According to Jamal Baloch, the situation is especially dire because the voices of victims cannot be heard due to the recent media blackout.

    The panel concluded that there is an urgent need for cooperation between different minorities in Pakistan who find their human rights violated. In addition to urging States parties to human rights treaties to uphold their obligations, it is of vital importance for human rights defenders and NGOs to promote the universality of human rights. Lastly, accountability for perpetrators needs to be ensured by the international community, to the extent of which an independent UN fact-finding mission should be established and the request of the Special Rapporteur answered in the positive.

  • The EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief on mission in Pakistan

    The EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mr Frans van Daele, is on the eve of carrying out a fact-finding mission in Pakistan. The dates announced two months ago were 8-11 September and it was quite recently confirmed that he would be in Islamabad this week. At this stage, it is not known who will be his interlocutors as there was no official announcement about his mission, his program and his objectives.

    However, it can be expected that he will raise a number of issues concerning the egregious human rights violations particularly affecting local religious minorities and it is to be hoped that he will collect useful and concrete information for the European Commission in relation with the commercial privileges of the GSP+ status granted by the EU to Pakistan. Last but not least, we would recommend him that he visit a person imprisoned on blasphemy allegations. This would be an encouragement to all the religious prisoners of conscience – over 50 of them, according to the Database of documented cases of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom – and to Pakistani civil society.

    Human Rights Without Frontiers has contacted representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Catholic associations, Ahmadi groups, lawyers and human rights activists in Pakistan but they were unaware of that visit or said they had not received any invitation for a meeting. A number of talks will certainly take place in the premises of the EU Delegation to Pakistan.

    The commercial privileges linked to the GSP+ status

    Pakistan is a country of high concern for its systematic and serious religious freedom and other human rights’ violations.

    The GSP+ – Generalised System of Preferences – is an EU scheme which grants privileged access (reduced or zero duties) to the EU market to products from certain less developed countries. When the eligible country gets GSP+ status, its products across approximately 66% of all EU tariff lines enter the EU market with 0% duties BUT to become and to remain a beneficiary of the GSP+ status, the beneficiary country must demonstrate a tangible progress on the implementation of27 international treaties regarding labor rights, good governance, climate and environment, and human rights (including freedom of religion and other rights pertaining to religious minorities and their members).

    The GSP+ status, religious freedom and human rights

    On 29 April 2021, the European Parliament called on the Commission and the European External Action Service to immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of recent human rights abuses, as “the government systematically enforced blasphemy laws and failed to protect religious minorities from abuses by non-state actors, with a sharp rise in targeted killings, blasphemy cases, forced conversions, and hate speech against religious minorities (…); whereas abduction, forced conversion to Islam, rape and forced marriage remained an imminent threat for religious minority women and children in 2020, particularly those from the Hindu and Christian faiths”.

    On 16 January 2023, six UN Special Rapporteurs expressed alarm at the reported rise in abductions, forced marriages and conversions of underage girls and young women from religious minorities in Pakistan and called for immediate efforts to curtail these practices and ensure justice for victims.

    On Jan. 17, 2023, the Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously voted to expand the country’s laws on blasphemy extending the punishment to those deemed to have insulted the Muhammad ‘s wives, family and companions, with 10 years in prison or life imprisonment. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has asked the Government, through its police, to deal more carefully with blasphemy cases and avoid the misuse of blasphemy laws (*), in a process in August 2022.

    About the desperate situation of the Ahmaddiyya community in Pakistan

    The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan is enduring an alarming rise in violence and systemic persecution in 2024, with a disturbing trend of targeted murders, desecration of mosques and graves, and the continued denial of basic civil rights.

    In January 2024, Punjab police desecrated 65 Ahmadi tombstones in Musay Wala, claiming to act on orders from a local official known for persecuting Ahmadis. These acts of desecration not only violate the sanctity of the community’s religious sites but also send a chilling message that their existence is unwelcome in Pakistan.

    This year, up to July 2024 alone, four Ahmadi Muslims have been brutally murdered in religiously motivated attacks. These include the killing of Tahir Iqbal, the president of the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Bahawalpur, who was gunned down by motorcyclists in March. In June, a 16-year-old madrassa student murdered two Ahmadi men, Ghulam Sarwar and Rahat Ahmad Bajwa, in separate incidents in Mandi Bahauddin, citing religious motives. The violence continued in July when Zaka ur Rehman, a 53-year-old dentist, was shot dead in his clinic in Lala Musa, Gujrat. These heinous acts reflect the extreme vulnerability of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who are routinely targeted for their faith, with little accountability for the perpetrators.


    The violence against the community extends beyond physical attacks to the systematic desecration of Ahmadi Muslim mosques and graves. In February 2024, extremists armed with guns, hammers, and shovels attacked an Ahmadi mosque in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir,destroying its minarets and brutally beating worshippers. In June, during Eid celebrations, a mob of 150 people attacked another Ahmadi mosque in Kotli and across Pakistan more than 30 Ahmadis were arrested – including a 13 year old boy – for celebrating the Islamic festival of Eid.

    About the desperate situation of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan

    Christians have been repeatedly victims of mob violence following blasphemy allegations.

    On 16 August 2023, a violent mob of hundreds of people ransacked and torched nearly two dozen churches, attacked the homes and businesses of the Christian community, and the office of the local assistant commissioner in Jaranwala. According to estimates compiled by Faisalabad’s district administration, at least 22 churches and 91 houses were ransacked by mobs.

    As per police and local sources, the violence erupted after some locals alleged that several desecrated pages of the Holy Quran were found near a house at Cinema Chowk in Jaranwala, where two Christian brothers resided.

    On early July 2024, it was reported that Ehsan Shan, a Christian in his early 20s, had been put put on death row for reposting on his TikTok account an image of the text of the Qu’ran damaged in Jaranwala on 16 August 2023. Ehsan Shan, though not a party to the desecration, was sentenced under numerous articles of the Pakistan Penal Code, to 22 years’ “rigorous imprisonment” and fined 1 million Pakistan Rupees (UK£2,830).

    Over the decades, hundreds of people have been falsely accused and many killed in targeted sectarian attacks.

    There is no comparison when it comes to deciding which form of violence based on religious intolerance is worse. While forced conversion and targeted sectarian killings have affected millions in the country, misuse of blasphemy laws, vigilantism, lynching, personal vendettas, burning down entire communities, and destroying places of worship are all human rights crises and symptomatic of collective social disorder.

    Christians, Sikhs, and Ahmadis have also been killed in sectarian hate crimes outside any accusation of blasphemy and justice is rarely delivered.

    Young rural girls of the Hindu community from Pakistan’s southwestern province of Sindh have reportedly been abducted and forced into religious conversion and marriage.

    According to data compiled by the Centre for Social Justice in Pakistan, 202 cases of abduction, forced marriage and forced conversion were recorded and documented in 2021-2022: 120 Hindu women and girls, 80 Christians and 2 Sikhs. Almost all of them took place within the Sindh and Punjab provinces.

    Beyond the data, it is also worth highlighting the concrete case of an 18-year old Hindu woman named Pooja Kumari who resisted an abduction attempt and was shot by her aggressors on 21 March 202 in a city in the Sindh province.

    In May 2022, two Sikh traders, Ranjit Singh (42) and Kuljeet Singh (38), were peacefully sitting in front of their shops in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on May 15, when two men arrived on a motorbike, opened fire, and killed them. (*) http://www.fides.org/en/news/72797-ASIA_PAKISTAN_The_Supreme_Court_more_attention_to_blasphemy_cases_to_protect_the_innocent_and_guarantee_a_fair_trial

  • Sri Lanka received an Election Observation Mission from the European Union

    Following an invitation by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, the European Union has decided to deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Sri Lanka to observe the Presidential Election scheduled for 21 September 2024. The EU has a long history of accompanying electoral processes in Sri Lanka and has deployed EOMs on six occasions, the last in 2019, reflecting the EU’s commitment and partnership with the country.

    The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, has appointed Nacho Sánchez Amor, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer.

    The High Representative stated: “The deployment of the Election Observation Mission in Sri Lanka this year confirms our long-standing commitment to supporting credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in the country. For the EU, observing the election is a way to support the Sri Lankan people and their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, in line with our multidimensional and sustainable partnership with the country”.

    The Chief Observer declared: “I am honoured to lead the EU EOM to Sri Lanka. The forthcoming presidential election will give a new impetus to democracy following to the 2022 political and economic crisis. This election is important for Sri Lanka to continue making progress on its path of reforms and lasting recovery, in full respect of democratic values”. 

    Background

    The EU EOM is deployed at the express invitation of the host country and is led by a Chief Observer. It is comprised of different groups of observers. The Core Team consists of a Deputy Chief Observer and nine election experts who will arrive in Colombo on 13 August 2024. Later in August, 26 long-term observers will join the mission and be deployed across the country to follow the election campaign. Thereafter, 32 short-term observers will reinforce the mission on election week, also deployed throughout the country. The EU EOM will remain in the country until the completion of the electoral process.

    In line with the EU methodology on election observation, the mission will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Colombo after the election. A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented and shared with national authorities and stakeholders after the finalisation of the entire electoral process.

  • Repression against Christians in China is increasing

    Persecution of Christians in China is increasing and spreading to Hong Kong, Release International has warned on the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

    The Tiananmen massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989 brought a brutal end to pro-democracy protests and marked an increase in anti-Christian repression.

    Thirty-five years later, Christians in China face the worst level of persecution since the Cultural Revolution, a trend that has spread to Hong Kong, where draconian national security laws further restrict free speech and religious freedom .

    The organization, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, said the new law could force Roman Catholic priests in Hong Kong to reveal the secrets of confession. According to Art. 23, passed in March, priests can be jailed for up to fourteen months if they refuse to reveal so-called “crimes of treason” shared during confession.

    Increasing anti-Christian repression forced many Christians to leave Hong Kong and emigrate to the United Kingdom. Christian rights activists say Britain has a moral obligation to uphold religious freedom in its former colony.

    “The people of Hong Kong expect the UK to stand firm in defense of their religious freedom and stand up for them, and to take all necessary measures to protect those fleeing persecution,” they said.

    A new report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) claims that China is increasingly repressing practicing Christians. The report says that religious freedom is the cornerstone of all freedoms and that the current crackdown on Christians in China is the most severe since Mao Zedong’s “Cultural Revolution.” These include harassment and deprivation of rights, disruption of services, baptisms and even online services to intimidate Christians. Heavy fines are imposed on people who rent out Christian places of worship to discourage Christians from gathering for prayer. In 2022, for example, Huang Yuanda, a Christian from Xiamen, was fined 100,000 yuan (about $14,500) by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau for renting a house to the church school. Numerous anti-Christian regulations have been introduced to monitor Christian information in cyberspace.

    Dr. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid spoke about this issue recently on The Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s podcast, Closer to the Fire.

    He says Chinese censorship efforts especially target Christian youth.

    “For the first time, millions of Chinese children were forced to sign a form – these are Christian children – to renounce their faith in public.”

    Communist leaders also continue to remove crosses from church buildings. “Even the government-sanctioned churches have been targeted for persecution,” says Fu. “Those pastors who refuse to voluntarily destroy, remove, and demolish their crosses have been facing huge risks of persecution.”

    Furthermore, Chinese Christians know their every move is increasingly watched as China embraces digitalized social monitoring.

    Fu says, “The government-sanctioned churches, every church pulpit and the four corners of the church have to install face recognition cameras so that they can monitor the congregation – whether there’s any children, there’s any youth under 18 years old, any Communist Party member, any Communist Youth League member, any civil servant, or any police or military service member. These are all forbidden to even enter into the church building.”

  • Bangladesh under Fire: A Call for Justice and Accountability

    Recent developments in Bangladesh have raised significant alarm within the international community, particularly regarding the announcement of a controversial “shoot on sight” policy. As violence escalates, the High Representative’s statement during the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting sheds light on the urgent need for accountability and justice. This blog post examines the troubling situation in Bangladesh, the implications for human rights, and the necessary steps toward restoring peace and order.

    A Growing Concern: Shoot on Sight Policy

    The alarm bells began ringing on July 27, 2024, when the High Representative conveyed serious concerns to Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Bangladesh’s former Foreign Minister, regarding the government’s newly declared “shoot on sight” policy. This directive, coupled with the unlawful killings reported in recent days, has sparked widespread condemnation and fear among citizens and international observers alike.

    The repercussions of such a policy are both immediate and profound, threatening to erode trust in law enforcement and escalating an already volatile situation. The potential for human rights abuses is alarmingly high, and the High Representative’s statement reflects a strong stance against the government’s actions, underscoring the need for restraint and adherence to human rights standards.

    Rising Violence and Accountability Demands

    The situation in Bangladesh is exacerbated by reported violence, including attacks on law enforcement officers, torture, mass arrests, and widespread damage to property. These acts not only disrupt societal harmony but also propel the nation into a spiral of fear and distrust. The High Representative has called for thorough investigations into these acts, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.

    Accountability is vital in restoring public faith in the justice system. The need for an impartial investigation into these unlawful killings and violent acts cannot be overstated. Importantly, all individuals arrested must receive their due process, reflecting fundamental democratic principles and respect for human rights.

    Protecting the Innocent: A Human Rights Crisis

    Amidst the turmoil, it is crucial to highlight the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has swept across Bangladesh. Reports indicate that protesters, journalists, and even children have not been spared from excessive and lethal force employed by law enforcement. Such disproportionate responses are not only a blatant violation of human rights but also a significant threat to individual freedoms and civil liberties.

    The High Representative’s statement underscores an essential truth: protection of the innocent should be paramount. The international community must stand in solidarity with the victims and advocate for a framework that prioritizes human rights, allowing Bangladesh to emerge from this crisis with renewed commitment to justice and equality.

    The Path Forward: EU-Bangladesh Relations

    As the High Representative pointed out, the developments in Bangladesh will be closely monitored, taking into consideration the fundamentals of EU-Bangladesh relations. The European Union has historically engaged with Bangladesh to promote sustainable development, human rights, and stability. However, these recent actions pose a significant challenge to the integrity of that relationship.

    Moving forward, it is crucial for the Bangladeshi authorities to realign their approach, emphasizing respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and encourage reforms that can enable Bangladesh to navigate this crisis while maintaining its commitment to human rights.

    A Hope for Justice

    The unfolding events in Bangladesh are a stark reminder of the delicate balance between governance and human rights. The High Representative’s concerns encapsulate the urgent need for an end to violence, accountability for wrongful acts, and the protection of civilian lives.

    As the international community watches closely, it is essential for Bangladesh to reassess its approach, ensuring that all citizens can enjoy their rights without fear of retribution. Only through genuine commitment to justice and accountability can Bangladesh hope to restore public trust and pave the way for a peaceful and prosperous future. The world stands ready to support this journey towards achieving true justice and respect for human rights for all Bangladeshi citizens.

  • EU Intensifies Pressure: Six-Month Extension of Russia Sanctions

    Brussels, [Current Date] – The European Council has chosen to extend its ranging sanctions, against Russia, for an additional six months due to the ongoing aggression and destabilizing actions by Russia in Ukraine. These measures, which were initiated in 2014 and amplified after Russia’s aggression in February 2022, will remain effective until January 31, 2025.

    These sanctions are among the responses ever crafted by the EU. They cover sectors such as trade, finance, technology, dual use goods, industry, transport and luxury items. A key measure involves prohibiting the import or transfer of oil and specific petroleum products from Russia to the EU. This significantly impacts the revenue for funding military activities.

    Financial Isolation and Media Restrictions

    An aspect of the sanctions is isolating the economy financially. Several major Russian banks have been disconnected from the SWIFT payment system to disrupt transactions and economic stability, in Russia.
    In addition, the European Union has taken action, against media outlets supported by the Kremlin that play a role in spreading information, suspending their broadcast licenses to limit the circulation of misleading narratives across Europe.

    Moreover, the sanctions are crafted to be flexible and resilient against any attempts to evade them. Specific strategies have been implemented to detect and prevent any endeavors to work around the imposed limitations, ensuring that the sanctions remain effective over a period.

    Continued Violations and International Law

    The European Council has stressed that it is justifiable to uphold these sanctions as Russia persists in actions that violate international law, particularly regarding the prohibition on using force. These actions represent a breach of standards and responsibilities warranting an ongoing and possibly escalated response from the global community.

    Historical. Broadening Measures

    The initial set of sanctions began with Decision 2014/512/CFSP approved on July 31, 2014 in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, such as the annexation of Crimea. Over time, these measures have expanded to encompass a range. In addition to sector sanctions, the EU has imposed controls on economic dealings with Crimea, Sevastopol and areas in Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions not, under government control.

    Sanctions, like freezing assets and imposing travel restrictions, have been enforced on various individuals and organizations connected to the actions.

    Since February 24, 2022, the EU has implemented 14 sets of sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These actions are notably extensive and intense, reflecting the seriousness of the situation and the EU’s dedication to countering aggression.

    EU’s Support for Ukraine

    In its conclusions from June 27, 2024, the European Council reaffirmed its backing for Ukraine‘s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within recognized boundaries. The EU’s support encompasses financial, economic, humanitarian aid along with diplomatic assistance. The Council strongly condemned Russia’s escalated attacks targeting civilians and critical infrastructure like energy facilities.

    The European Union’s choice to extend sanctions highlights its position against activities that threaten global peace and security. By prolonging these measures, the EU aims to maintain pressure on Russia while advocating for a resolution in line, with law.

  • Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice

    The European Union takes good note of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in respect of the “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”, reaching the following conclusions:

    • the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and needs to be brought to an end as rapidly as possible;
    • the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    • all States are under an obligation not to recognise as legal this situation and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by this unlawful presence.

    These conclusions are largely consistent with EU positions, which are themselves fully aligned on UN resolutions regarding the status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reafirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions in a consistent manner, irrespective of the subject in question.

    The ICJ Advisory Opinion will need to be analysed more thoroughly, including in view of its implications for EU policy.

  • Uyghur Community and Supporters Rally in Amsterdam to Commemorate Urumqi Massacre

    Amsterdam, Netherlands – On July 6, 2024, from 15:00 to 17:00, approximately 150 members of the Uyghur community and their supporters gathered at Dam Square in Amsterdam to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Urumqi Massacre and to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in the occupied Uyghur homeland, East Turkistan (so-called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China).

    The peaceful demonstration brought together Uyghur activists, community leaders, human rights advocates, and representatives from various organisations. The event featured poignant speeches and personal testimonies, including those from individuals who lost loved ones in the 2009 massacre. The massacre resulted in an estimated 200 deaths, 1,700 injuries, and tens of thousands of disappearances during mass arrests over the following year, during which the region experienced an internet blackout lasting nearly 12 months.

    Protesters called for global action against the reported human rights violations in East Turkistan, where several million Uyghurs are allegedly detained in internment camps. Former detainees have reported widespread abuses, including torture, forced labor, sexual violence, forced sterilisation, and organ harvesting.

    The demonstration resonated with powerful slogans that encapsulated the protesters’ demands:

    • “Free East Turkistan!”
    • “China, Stop the Genocide!”
    • “China Lies, Uyghurs Die!”
    • “Justice for Uyghurs!”
    • “We Want Freedom!”
    • “China, Go Home!”
    • “Release the Detainees!”
    • “Remember July 5th! China to the ICC!”

    These chants emphasised the demonstrators’ call for freedom, justice, and an end to the ongoing genocide. The slogan “China to the ICC” specifically called for holding China accountable at the International Criminal Court for its actions.

    The event aimed to keep international attention focused on the plight of the Uyghur people and urged world leaders to take concrete steps to address the situation in East Turkistan. Organisers highlighted the importance of remembering the Urumqi Massacre as a pivotal moment that underscores the ongoing struggle of the Uyghur people.

    For more information, please contact:

    Uyghur Community

    +31 6 5176 2336


    Supported by GHRD