The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights concerning the egregious case of Junaid Hafeez and his sentence to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. The News Release that was issued by the OHCHR is below. Pakistan blasphemy death sentence for Junaid Hafeez is “travesty of justice”- UN experts GENEVA (27 December 2019) – UN human rights ... Continue Reading>>
Hafeez Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy Charge
A gifted scholar was arrested for Blasphemy in Pakistan and spent six years in jail awaiting trial. His first attorney was threatened in open court by the prosecutor, saying he would not live for the next hearing. Shortly, thereafter, an assassin entered his office and killed him. Following the murder, getting a new attorney to take the case was difficult, and getting a judge to hear the case ... Continue Reading>>
Pakistan Academic Still Incarcerated for Blasphemy for the Past Five Years
Junaid Hafeez has been confined in solitary confinement for the past 5 years on a charge of blasphemy for posting he made on Facebook. He is in danger while confined - so much so that his first attorney was murdered for defending him, threatened by the prosecutor of the case. The case has been continued and transferred from one court to another for the past five years. CCS has written the ... Continue Reading>>
Dr. Hasan Arif, 70-year-old Retired Philosophy Professor, Detained in Pakistan
Dr. Hasan Zafar Arif has been detained in Pakistan for allegedly "inciting public disorder". He has not had legal representation or medical care since his arrest at the Karachi Press Club in October 2016. Dr. Arif has a heart condition, and his health is at risk. ... Continue Reading>>
Lecturer and Fulbright Scholar in Pakistan Charged with Blasphemy, Lawyer Murdered
Junaid Hafeez, a lecturer of English Literature at Bahauddin Zakariya University, respected writer and scholar, has been jailed for the past three years and charged with blasphemy. The charge carries the possibility of a death sentence. During the trial his attorney was threatened by the prosecutor in open court; and was actually murdered. Hafeez’ new lawyer has requested the trial be moved to a ... Continue Reading>>
2014 Annual Report
During 2014, the Committee of Concerned Scientists continued to advocate on behalf of scientists, academics, engineers and physicians. We wrote in concern for more than 30 individuals or groups of individuals, located in 11 countries. We generally addressed our letters to the heads of state, as well as to the ministries or local authorities with jurisdiction over the case when we were able to ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Calls for Immediate Investigation of Assassination of Counsel in Blasphemy Case
After repeated threats called to the attention of Pakistani authorities, attorney and human rights advocate Rashid Rehman was assassinated on May 7, 2014. Rehman was defense counsel for Junaid Hafeez, an adjunct lecturer at the Bahuddin Zakariya University, who had been detained on blasphemy charges for over a year. CCS called for immediate investigation of the unknown assailants and further ... Continue Reading>>
Pakistani academic murdered
Nazima Talib, assistant professor of media and journalism in the Department of Mass Communications at the University of Balochistan in Questta, Pakistan, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, and died before she could receive medical attention. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a nationalist organization seeking secession from Pakistan, has reportedly claimed responsibility ... Continue Reading>>