DATE=4/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248066
TITLE=EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS REPORT SAYS EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY, OR
ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS ARE INCREASING AND OCCUR IN EVERY COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS A U-N SPECIAL
INVESTIGATOR CITES THE GROWING NUMBER OF SO-CALLED HONOR KILLINGS
-- WOMEN WHO ARE MURDERED BECAUSE FAMILY MEMBERS BELIEVES THEY
DISHONORED THEM.
TEXT: THE REPORT SAYS EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY, AND ARBITRARY
EXECUTIONS ARE NOT PECULIAR TO ANY SPECIFIC PART OF THE WORLD
NOR TO ANY PARTICULAR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. BUT IT SAYS THE WORST
EXCESSES OCCUR IN COUNTRIES WITH DESPOTIC GOVERNMENTS.
A SPECIAL U-N INVESTIGATOR, ASMA JAHANGIR, SAYS THAT IN THE PAST
YEAR, SHE SENT APPEALS ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 23-HUNDRED PEOPLE
TO 40 GOVERNMENTS. SHE CALLS THIS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
AND SAYS SHE BELIEVES THIS NUMBER DOES NOT REFLECT THE TRUE
EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.
MS. JAHANGIR SAYS PEOPLE WHO ARE TARGETS OF EXTRAJUDICIAL
KILLINGS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. SHE SAYS THERE IS A
GROWING TENDENCY TO THREATEN AND OFTEN KILL PEACE ACTIVISTS,
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, JOURNALISTS, ABORTION SUPPORTERS, AND
HOMOSEXUALS.
/// JAHANGIR ACT ONE ///
WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE REPORTS OF TRADE UNION
LEADERS BEING KILLED, MORE AND MORE REPORTS OF LAWYERS
BEING KILLED. AND I SAY THEY ARE ALL HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS. THEY ARE NOT VICTIMS BECAUSE THEY ARE
KILLED IN THE KIND OF PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS AND BELIEFS
THAT THEY PURSUE.
/// END ACT ///
MS. JAHANGIR IS A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER IN PAKISTAN. SHE SAYS SHE
HAS RECEIVED MANY DEATH THREATS HERSELF IN CONNECTION WITH HER
WORK. MOST RECENTLY, SHE SAYS SHE WAS THREATENED BY ISLAMIC
RADICALS BECAUSE OF HER OUTSPOKEN CONDEMNATION OF SO-CALLED HONOR
KILLINGS.
MS. JAHANGIR SAYS SOME OF THE WORST CASES OF HONOR KILLINGS OCCUR
IN TURKEY, PAKISTAN, AND JORDAN. SHE SAYS THAT EVERY WEEK, ABOUT
FOUR OR FIVE WOMEN ARE KILLED IN PAKISTAN. SHE SAYS SOME COURT
RULINGS IN HER COUNTRY HAVE ENCOURAGED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
/// JANHANGIR ACT TWO ///
FOR EXAMPLE, PAKISTANI COURTS HAVE SAID HONOR KILLINGS
ARE ABSOLUTELY ACCEPTABLE UNDER OUR TRADITION. THEY
HAVE EVEN QUOTED SOME TRADITIONS, ISLAMIC TRADITIONS TO
JUSTIFY IT, AND IT IS ALWAYS THE SENTENCE UNDERGONE,
MEANING ONE YEAR AND ONE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AND THE PERSON
IS RELEASED. THAT REALLY GIVES A SIGNAL THAT GIVES A
LEADERSHIP TO THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.
/// END ACT ///
THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS SHE FEARS HONOR KILLINGS WILL INCREASE
AS MORE AND MORE WOMEN STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS. SHE URGES
GOVERNMENTS TO PASS LAWS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF WOMEN.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
14-Apr-99 9:30 AM EDT (1330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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