Judicial harassment of human rights lawyer and woman human rights defender Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir
On 2 September 2023, woman human rights defender and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (Imaan Mazari) was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad. Imaan Mazari had been jailed since 20 August 2023 on serious offences including sedition and offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The woman human rights defender was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court on 28 August 2023, but was re-arrested a few hours later in a separate case, before finally being released on 2 September 2023.
Imaan Mazari is a human rights lawyer and woman human rights defender who has been active in supporting victims of violence and persecution to seek legal redress. She is a vocal advocate for the rights of persecuted religious and ethnic communities and against human rights violations and abuse, especially perpetrated by the Pakistani military and security forces.
On 2 September 2023, woman human rights defender and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (Imaan Mazari) was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad. Imaan Mazari had been jailed since 20 August 2023 on serious offences including sedition and offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The woman human rights defender was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court on 28 August 2023, but was re-arrested a few hours later in a separate case, before finally being released on 2 September 2023.
Imaan Mazari is a human rights lawyer and woman human rights defender who has been active in supporting victims of violence and persecution to seek legal redress. She is a vocal advocate for the rights of persecuted religious and ethnic communities and against human rights violations and abuse, especially perpetrated by the Pakistani military and security forces.
Imaan Mazari was released on 2 September after being granted bail through court. The woman human rights defender continues to fight the charges against her. On 28 August 2023, Imaan Mazari was granted bail in a case which had been filed against her containing charges of terror and sedition, which raised hopes for her release. However, Pakistani police re-arrested the woman human rights defender on the same day in a separate case which includes allegations of funding terrorist activities under the Anti-Terror Act, effectively preventing her release. On 22 August 2023, Imaan Mazari had been granted bail by a judicial magistrate in the case filed against her under the Penal Code of Pakistan, but she remained in jail due to the additional FIR containing charges of terror and sedition.
On 20 August 2023, Imaan Mazari was arrested by the Islamabad Police at 3:30am from her house without being shown an arrest warrant or being given a reason for arrest. It is reported that the woman human rights defender was not even allowed to change her clothes before she was taken away. Moreover, she reported that the CCTV camera in her house was broken and her residence was raided. The woman human righst defender’s arrest comes after a speech she gave at a public rally organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) rights group in Islamabad on 18 August 2023 during which she criticised the Pakistani military for abuses and human rights violations.
As a result of her speech, two cases have been filed against Imaan Mazari, including on allegations of terorrism and sedition by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). In addition to Imaan Mazari, former lawmaker and PTM activist Ali Wazir has also been arrested under cases filed by the CTD. Ali Wazir, who was a founding member of the PTM, has recently spent over two years in prison on separate sedition charges. Following his recent arrest, Ali Wazir remains in jail and has been denied bail.
The First Information Report (FIR) against Imman Mazari filed by Islamabad's CTD include terror charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act and serious offences under the Penal Code including: sedition (section 124A ); incitement to riot (sections 148, 149, 153); promotion of enmity between groups (section 153A); and criminal intimidation (sections 506).
A further FIR filed against Imaan Mazari accuses the woman human rights defender of attempting to “Interfere in State Affairs” and cites offences under the Penal Code including: rioting armed with a deadly weapon (Section 148); assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty (section 353); mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt (section 440); criminal intimidation (506ii); dacoity (section 395); wrongful restraint (section 341); unlawful assembly (section 149); obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions (section 186); and disobedience of an order by a public servant (188). The practice of filing multiple legal cases is intended to obstruct the course of justice and prolong the incarceration of human rights defenders by any means
Front Line Defenders condemns the wrongful arrest and prolonged imprisonment of Imaan Mazaari as a reprisal for her human rights work documenting military abuse and human rights violations in Pakistan. While Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of the woman human rights defender on 2 September 2023, it remains deeply concerned about the treatment of the woman human rights defender and the ongoing legal cases against her.
