A/HRC/13/40/Add.1
2.
Communication sent on 20 November 2009 as a follow-up to the Special Rapporteur’s
country visit to Nigeria in February/March 2005
192. In a follow-up letter of 20 November 2009, the Special Rapporteur reiterated her
appreciation for the cooperation of the Government in relation to her visit to Nigeria from
27 February to 7 March 2005. She emphasized that follow-up to country reports was of
central importance to the cooperation and dialogue between mandate holders and States.
Referring to her previous report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/10/8, para. 17), the
Special Rapporteur indicated that the aim of such follow-up letters after country visits was
to receive updated information about the implementation of the recommendations at the
national level.
193. For ease of reference, the Special Rapporteur also transmitted a table containing the
conclusions and recommendations in the related mission report (E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.2) as
well as follow-up information from relevant United Nations documents, including from the
Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies.
The Special Rapporteur asked the Government to provide her with updated information on
the consideration given to these recommendations, the steps taken to implement them, and
any constraints which may prevent their implementation. This table, including any
information provided by the Government, is available online on the Special Rapporteur’s
website (www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/visits.htm).
R.
1.
(a)
Pakistan
Urgent appeal sent on 4 March 2009 jointly with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the
Working Group on arbitrary detention
Allegations transmitted to the Government
194. The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government
information they had received regarding five members of the Ahmadiyya community
residing in Chak 172/TDA, Layyah district. On 28 January 2009, Mr. M. I. (aged 14), Mr.
Tahir Imran (aged 19), Mr. Tahir Mehmood (aged 19), Mr. N. A. (aged 16) and Mr.
Mubashif Ahmad (aged 50), were arrested at their respective homes. They were all charged
for “use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet” under section 295-C of
the Pakistani Penal Code, according to which a person may be subject to either death
penalty or life imprisonment. They were accused of having desecrated the name of Prophet
Muhammad by writing it on the walls of the latrines of the Gulzar-e-Madina mosque.
195. Despite the absence of witness or evidence of the Ahmadis’ involvement in the
alleged case of blasphemy, they were arrested before any investigation was carried out.
Family members of the five people arrested were told that the police was under pressure of
certain political and religious groups to take action against these people. These groups
would have reportedly threatened to seal the whole city and attack the houses of Ahmadis, if
the five people were not arrested.
196. The Special Procedures mandate holders asked the Government to provide the
details and where available, the results, of any judicial investigation, or any criminal
charges and other inquiries carried out in relation to this case. They also asked the
Government to indicate the legal basis for the arrest and detention of Mr. M. I., Mr. Tahir
Imran, Mr. Tahir Mehmood, Mr. N. A. and Mr. Mubashif Ahmad and how these measures
are compatible with applicable international human rights norms and standards as
stipulated, inter alia, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, where applicable,
the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
47