UN experts call for immediate release of Imaan and Hadi, dropping 'unfounded charges' against the couple
United Nations experts called for the immediate release of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, on Wednesday and expressed alarm over their re-arrest. On January 24, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in jail on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in a case pertaining to social…
United Nations experts have urged for the immediate release of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, following their re-arrest on terrorism-related charges. The couple was previously sentenced to 17 years in jail on January 24 over social media posts, but their sentences were suspended in September and they were granted bail.
However, they were arrested again hours later on unrelated terrorism charges. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders stated that the couple must be released immediately and the unfounded criminal and terrorism charges against them dropped. The experts believe that the re-arrest is an attempt to punish and intimidate them for their freedom of expression and human rights advocacy.
They also criticized the use of vague and overbroad counter-terrorism provisions to restrict human rights lawyers from promoting, protecting, and defending human rights. International standards, they emphasized, should protect lawyers from intimidation, harassment, prosecution for carrying out recognized professional duties, and the right to freedom of expression.
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