Map of Kohistan

On 13 June 2012, Mr '''Maulvi Karimdad''' gave an interview to The Express Tribune, a local newspaper in Pakistan, regarding a recent meeting of local Muslim scholars held in Badakot Kamela Villa.

Maulvi Karimdad is a local cleric and a son of former Member of National Assembly (MNA) and religious leader Mr Maulana Abdul Haleem. The meeting was attended by over 85 prayer leaders from Kohistan district and discussed video footage of four women singing at a wedding with men.

During the interview, Maulvi Karmidad stated that clerics blamed non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers for launching a campaign against Kohistani customs and Islamic codes. Maulvi Karmidad further stated that another meeting will be held on 29 June after which they will give a final warning to NGOs operating in Kohistan to leave the district or else face severe consequences.

Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of human rights defenders operating in Kohistan in light of this threat. On 10 May 2012, Front Line Defenders released an urgent appeal after Maulana Abdul Haleem issued a fatwa on 4 May warning that women working in NGOs will not be allowed to enter Kohistan and that violators would be forcibly married off to locals. For more information, please see the urgent appeal at https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/18280.

Front Line Defenders reiterates its call on the authorities in Pakistan to take necessary measures to guarantee the protection and security of human rights defenders and NGOs operating in Pakistan, in particular the district of Kohistan.

Front Line Defenders also calls on the authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders and NGOs in Pakistan are allowed to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work free of all restrictions, including threats and intimidation.

You can find additional information on the situation for human rights Defenders in Pakistan [[http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/pakistan| Here]]. [[path:../pakistan| HERE]]