NEW YORK: The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Sri Lanka to halt the deportation process of over a hundred Pakistanis who belong to minority communities, as they are believed to be at risk in Pakistan.
During police raids in June 2014 in Sri Lanka, roughly 142 Pakistanis belonging to minority communities, were detained and will possibly be deported, HRW said in a report.
The detained Pakistanis fled to Sri Lanka in search of asylum since they belong to minority communities, including Ahmedis, Shias and Christians.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has not been given access to the detainees, who are being held in the Boosa detention center.
HRW has requested that UNHCR be given complete access to the detained people and fully understand their need for asylum before deporting them.
HRW insisted that until UN refugee agency studies the needs of those detained, the Sri Lankan controller general of immigration should not go ahead with deportation process.
Immigration Controller Chulananda Perera said that the government can deport the detained Pakistanis because they were not given permission to register asylum claims, media reports said.
“Sri Lankan authorities are threatening Pakistani minority group members with deportation at the very time when persecution of these groups is escalating in Pakistan,” said Bill Frelick, HRW's refugees director.
“Preventing asylum seekers from lodging claims in no way absolves Sri Lanka from its duty not to return them to possible persecution.”
He further said, “Sri Lankan authorities should know that Pakistan fails to protect its minority communities from persecution, Sri Lanka must honor its international obligations, and allow UNHCR access to ensure that no detainee is deported to face the risk of persecution or torture.”
As per the principle of nonrefoulement in international law, governments cannot forcibly deport refugees back to their original places where they would be at severe risk of persecution or other serious harm, the report claimed.
Authorities claimed the reason behind the arrests, which began on June 9 in the city of Negombo, was due to security concerns.
UNHCR has 1,500 refugee claims of Pakistanis registered in Sri Lanka as of 2013, the report added.
Minority communities in Pakistan have been under grave danger and have witnessed several devastating attacks.
Attacks on Shias
Attacks against Pakistan’s Shia community have been on the rise since the 1980s, but targeted killings reached unprecedented levels in 2013, with some 700 Shias murdered.
In a recent attack on Shias, nearly two dozen people were killed and many more injured in a suicide attack on a hotel hosting Shia pilgrims in Taftan, a district on the border with Iran on June 9.
Attacks on Ahmadis:
A member of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was shot dead in Chenab Nagar on May 26, allegedly because of his faith.
On occasions, members of Ahmadi community have also been prohibited from doing business. In August 2013, a man, living in Lahore, was forced to abandon his woodworking business and flee Gujranwala with his family after his erstwhile friends and neighbours discovered that he was an Ahmadi.
Attack on Christians:
On September 22, 2013, a twin suicide bombing killed at least 78 people at a church service in Peshawar. It is believed to be the country’s deadliest attack on Christians.
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Surprisingly in Indian, famous muslim actors can not buy properties in hindu neighbourhood
@Roshan: Good point. why Kashmiri only, no minority community from India is seeking asylum on the grounds of threat to their lives and property etc.
@Roshan:
Because it is very difficult for them to get a passport.
Just to let you know, the 1.5 million Kashmiri refugees mentioned in the Freedom House report went to Pakistan right after independence in 1947. During the 1965 and 1971 wars, 50,000 additional Kashmiris moved to Pakistan. Most of these Kashmiris have now taken up Pakistani citizenship and are living in other parts of Pakistan.
More information can be found in the 2005 book "Internal Displacement In South Asia".
@Bewildered: Arrey no..we're not talking about the attendees in the Training Camps..
@Roshan: Because they are happy there, Terrorism is neighbors sponsored.
@Roshan:
"Why no kashmiri seeks asylum out side India?"
Your are very mistaken. This is what Wikipedia entry on "Jammu and Kashmir" says:
"There are roughly 1.5 million refugees from Indian Administered Kashmir in Pakistan Administered Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan.[58]". For you Indians ignorance (read deception) may be bliss, but for the world is not.
When ever such news items appear the discussion boards become silent. Take the case of all those Pakistanis who are rotting in refugee camps in Bangladesh no one speaks a word. Those who cry hoarse about minority communities in India suddenly become quiet. Muslims themselves like Shias and Aghakhanis have become minorities. I feel that people of Pakistan should come together and strongly protect minorities and stand for all Pakistanies. It will bring peace and progress.
Why no kashmiri seeks asylum out side India?
Time to self examine "ALL POLICIES" & for the God sake don't bring India in this.