About human rights in Iran and response from UN

From: ALNSOUR Mohammad Ali
Sent: 31 January 2018 12:53
To: 'lenin@apvchr.asia' <lenin@apvchr.asia>
Cc: Gurdip Sangha <gsangha@ohchr.org>; COCCO Katherine <kcocco@ohchr.org>
Subject: your letter to SG

Dear Mr. Raghuvanshi,

Thank you for your letter dated 29 January 2018 addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General.

The Secretariat of the United Nations, through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights continues to monitor the situation in Iran including in relation to the fate of the individuals who were involved in the protests and who were arrested in conjunction with the protests. The Office welcomes available information to further inform its understanding of the situation, which will be considered in line with its reporting and monitoring methodology.

Both the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner issued statements in early January and will continue to advocate for the release from detention of anyone who was arbitrarily deprived of their liberty for peacefully expressing their views. As noted in the Press release of 3 January 2018, the High Commissioner stated that “Peaceful protests must not be criminalised.” and  that “[t]hey are a legitimate part of the democratic process,”. On 5 January, Assistant Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun briefed the Security Council.

The links to the relevant statements are set out below for your consideration:

www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22571&LangID=E

https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2018-01-03/statement-attributable-spokesman-secretary-general-islamic-republic

http://www.un.org/undpa/en/speeches-statements/05012018/iran

Thank you again for reaching out,

Mohammad Ali Alnsour Chief Middle East and North Africa Section Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights E-mail:malnsour@ohchr.org Tel: + 41 22 917 9745 Web: www.ohchr.org Street Address: Avenue Giuseppe Motta 48, CH-1202 Geneva 10

My letter:

Dear Secretary-General

Since the last days of 2017, the world has witnessed massive and courageous protests by Iranian people throughout the country against the regime ruling Iran and for the liberation and establishment of a democratically elected government.  The world community has supported the demands of the people of Iran for freedom and has condemned the suppressive measures taken by the Iranian regime against its citizens.

Reports indicate that the Revolutionary Guards and the security forces have killed at least 50 people and arrested thousand people. On January 9, 2018 in a statement, Amnesty International reported that at least five of those who were arrested following an anti-government rally have died in detention centers.

On January 5, 2018 the UN Human Rights experts in Geneva, in a statement, expressed their extreme concern regarding the Iranian regime's approach to demonstrators. “The Government’s instruction to the Revolutionary Guards to hit hard against the protesters, and the judiciary’s threats of harsh punishment, are unacceptable." the experts said.

The “Supreme leader” of the regime, Ali Khamenei, and Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iranian regime, blamed the opposition inside Iran, PMOI/MEK for organizing the demonstrations, and threatened to act severely against them. The Minister of Intelligence threatened with a quick response to the organizers of the uprising.

In 1989, in a short period of time the Iranian regime executed many political prisoners, based on a religious decree of Khomeini, the regime’s Supreme leader at the time. The authorities in charge of that massacre are still in power in Iran enjoying impunity and involved in the killings of protesters on the streets.

While declaring our support for the demonstrations and the legitimate demands of the brave people in Iran, we urge you to condemn violations of human rights and suppression of the demonstrators in Iran through a Secretary-General’s statement. We also urge you to use your good offices at the United Nations for effective measures to release those arrested during the recent demonstrations, and imposing sanctions on officials and organs involved in killing people in Iran, and exporting  extremism abroad.

With kindest regards,

Lenin Raghuvanshi

Founder and CEO

People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

An initiative of Jan Mitra Nyas ISO 9001:2008

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi - 221002 India

Urgent intervention against communal riots, killing, illegal detention, and disappearances in Kasganj , UP India

Please write letter to Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi cr.nhrc@nic.in, NHRC - Chairperson <chairnhrc@nic.in> and  CM of Uttar Pradesh cmup@up.nic.in, cmup <cmup@nic.in>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi <lenin@pvchr.asia>
Date: Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 10:55 AM
Subject: Fwd: Urgent intervention in Kasganj , UP India
To: cr.nhrc@nic.in, NHRC - Chairperson <chairnhrc@nic.in>, US-C <covdnhrc@nic.in>, jrlawnhrc <jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in>, covd@nhrc.nic.in

To, 

The Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi

Dear Sir, 

I am writing this letter with the request for Urgent intervention in Kasganj , UP India.  We wrote letter to Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh (Please find the given below email) to take urgent action on the following demands:

·        To order for the judicial enquiry on Kaganj communal riots and killing.

·        For the immediate release of human rights defender Rahul Yadav, Atul Yadav.

·        To ensure the safety of Nishant Yadav and his father Raju Yadav and immediate action on their disappearances.

With kindest regards

(Lenin Raghuvanshi)

Founder and CEO

Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi- 221002

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi <lenin@pvchr.asia>
Date: Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Subject: Urgent intervention in Kasganj , UP India
To: cmup@up.nic.in, cmup <cmup@nic.in>
Cc: csup@up.nic.in, DIG Police ComplaintCell Lucknow <digcomplaint-up@nic.in>, UP Police Computer Cetre Lucknow <uppcc-up@nic.in>

To,                                                                           30 January,2018

The Chief Minister

Government of Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow

Dear Sir,

We are writing this letter on the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi ji.  

We urge for promoting Gorakhnath’s inclusive and plural legacy in Uttar Pradesh such as follows:

“hindu dhyavai dehura, musalamana masita.
yogi dhavai paramapada, jaha dehura na masita
hindu akhai ramaṃ kun, musalamanaṃ khudai
yogi akhai alaka kun tahan ram achai na khudai.”

Hindus pray in the temple. Muslims worship in a mosque
Yogis worship in the ultimate reality, where there is neither temple nor masjid.
Hindus praise Ram. Muslims praise Khuda.
Yogis praise the indescribable, which is beyond Ram and Khuda.[i]

Yesterday mid night i.e. 29 January, 2018 around 2 AM, we received call and whatapps message from PVCHR unit in Kasganj that Rahul Yadav, Atul Yadav and Nishant Yadav and his father Raju Yadav resident of Railway road Sahab Bala Pench, Kasganj,UP, India were detained by police of Kashganj, UP.  As being informed that the above mentioned people had opposed the rioters who were burning the shop in his lane.

As being informed in morning that Rahul and Atul Yadav are kept in Kasganj police station but still there is no information about Nishant and his father Raju Yadav. We are concerned about their disappearance.   

We were also informed by senior journalist based in Delhi, who recently visited Kasganj for the reporting of grass – root reality of the whole incidence. Few day before one young person alerted on twitter to Government of Uttar Pradesh, UP police, Home Minster of India and District police about the situation of Kasganj. But there is no action and which resulted in the killing of one young citizen Shri Chandan Gupta and communal riots.

Therefore it is a kind request to take urgent action on the following demands:

·        To order for the judicial enquiry on Kaganj communal riots and killing.

·        For the immediate release of human rights defender Rahul Yadav, Atul Yadav.

·        To ensure the safety of Nishant Yadav and his father Raju Yadav and immediate action on their disappearances.

With kindest regards

(Lenin Raghuvanshi)

Founder and CEO

Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi- 221002

With support from

·        Shruti Nagvanshi, Convenor of Savitri Bai Phule Women Forum

·        Dr. Mahendra Pratap, Historian and President of Governing Board of PVCHR

·        Professor Kamal Chenoy, Emeritus Professor, Jawahar Lal Nehru University wrote: Fully with you! Please include my name in your appeal to the UP government to release Rahul, Atul and Nishant Yadav. PVCHR has complete support in your human rights and pro-people activities.

---

[i] http://thewirehindi.com/4546/muslim-yogi-and-gorakhnath-math/

#kasganj #up #yogi #u4humanrights

Consultation on Torture, narrative therapy, and justice

https://www.facebook.com/events/2095449767368099/

Consultation on Torture, narrative therapy, and justice

"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind" Mahatama Gandhi

Consultation on Torture, narrative therapy, and justice in emerging corporate fascist state of India is going to organize by PVCHR with support of International Rehabilitation Council on Torturum Victim (IRCT), Oak Foundation and United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

It is gathering of youths, activists, therapists and survivors to discuss paper of Dr. Jeremy Rinker titled "Narrative Reconciliation as Rights Based Peace"https://pvchr.blogspot.in/2018/01/narrative-reconciliation-as-rights.html
Please find few links for your kind perusal:

https://www.academia.edu/8655001/Repression_despair_and_hope
https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/india/session_27_-_may_2017/pvchr_upr27_ind_e_main.pdf
http://differenttruths.com/human-rights/advocacy/resilience-based-on-hope-honour-and-dignity/
https://www.academia.edu/16167215/RESILIENCE_BASED_ON_HOPE_HONOUR_AND_DIGNITY
https://www.facebook.com/events/1905122466181168/

Place: Hotel KamesHut,27/111 Jagatganj, Varanasi, India 221001

Date: 15 February 2018, 11 AM to 4 PM

Please confirm your participation and please, write an email at pvchr.india@gmail.com

Looking forward your participation for torture free India and better world.

With kindest regards,

Lenin Raghuvanshi

B.A.M.S.
Founder 
PVCHR
www.pvchr.asia

#pvchr #IRCT #endtorture #endimpunity #u4humanrights 

Compensation to police torture victim

Narrative Reconciliation as Rights Based Peace

Narrative #Reconciliation as Rights Based Peaced

Praxis: Custodial Torture, Testimonial Therapy, and Overcoming Marginalization

Jeremy Rinker

This paper looks at how marginalized communities utilize discursive practices to contest against an unresponsive state malfeasance and hegemonic bureaucracy to ensure basic rights and state services for the marginalized. Focusing on the People’s Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (#PVCHR), a member based human rights movement in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,the paper aims to tell the unique story of PVCHR’s work to combat custodial #torture through an innovative method called “testimonial therapy.” The testimonial therapy process is aimed at producing both legal testimony and cathartic release of suffering among torture survivors. In underscoring the importance of attention to narrative practices, the paper, while not overlooking narrative’s risks, focuses on the practical opportunities that narrative practices create for peace-builders.
http://www.peaceresearch.ca/pdf/48/PRJ_48_1-2_Jeremy_Rinker.pdf

#u4humanrights #TT #dignity

https://www.scribd.com/document/369459408/Narrative-reconciliation

Narrative reconciliation by Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human rights on Scribd

Folk school on Torture & Human Dignity

On the occasion of ‘International Human Rights Day’, Acharya Mritunjay Tripathi and Mufti Haroon Rashid inaugurated the new block of ‘Helma Ritscher Centre for Human Dignity’ constructed by PVCHR / Jan Mitra Nyas and equipped on latest standard with help of  “Engagement Global gGmbH - Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen Deutschland weit und international” and “ Indo-German Society e.V. Affiliate Remscheid (DIG Deutsch-Indische Gesellschaft Remscheid / Germany)”.

Event on facebook and other sites:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1650815334962632/

https://allevents.in/events/inauguration-of-helma-ritscher-center-for-human-dignity/1650815334962632

https://www.evensi.com/inauguration-of-helma-ritscher-center-for-human-dignity/235729654

The newly from PVCHR built “Helma Ritscher Centre for Human Dignity“ on top of the “Savitri Bai Phule Women Centre” offers new and progressive chances for further training for the members of the Dalit community, especially girls and women, and it will strengthen their awareness for their rights to education. Furthermore the Centre offers up-to-date facilities with the most modern media and adequate furnishings in a dignified atmosphere.

The spatial union of the „Savitri Bai Phule Women Centre“ and the new Centre is a symbol for building a bridge between the past and the modern in order to promote access to education and the universal application of human rights.

Whereas the Women-Centre focuses on girls and women, the new Centre offers trainings for all members oft he Dalit community regardless of their age and gender. Thus this Centre also serves as a model of Dalit youth education as it offers training and access to the modern digital world and opens chances for further acceptance in society and the job market.

I’d like to especially mention and honour one supporter from DIG Remscheid, Mr. Hans-Gerd Grote-Beverborg, who died last year. He and his wife had always shown great interest and support for the plight of the Dalit. Even beyond his death he considered „our Dalit friends“ in his last will. His wish was that instead of any grave offerings people should donate to the “Women Centre”. In coordination with his wife and Dr. Lenin, Ms. Helma Ritscher decided to utilise his “gift beyond death” for purchasing computers for the Centre. A wonderful gesture towards our Dalit friends! 

PVCHR CEO Dr. Lenin said: Helma Ritscher is the chairperson of Indo-German Society e.V. Affiliate Remscheid, Germany, and that the Centre has been established with its active cooperation. The Centre is dedicated to protecting the human dignity of the marginalised sections, he said. The land for the Centre has been donated by Urmila Singh, the mother of the organisation’s managing trustee Shruti Nagvanshi. He further informed that PVCHR / Jan Mitra Nyaas’s office would come up on the first floor of the new building. It may be recalled that the Savitri Bai Phule Mahila Kendra was established in 2012. (Project 01-11/ GIZ/DIG/PVHR)

After the inauguration ceremony, a seminar on ‘Atrocities and Human Dignity’ was held under the aegis of PVCHR , IRCT and Sanjha Sanskriti Manch. The chief guest of the seminar, Yogesh Dubey, state commissioner Hindustan Scouts and Guides and special executive officer (Maharashtra government) said the Human Rights Day should be observed as a national festival. He said as human beings, we should be aware of human rights and always strive to protect it for ourselves and others, so that every person lives with dignity as provided under the Constitution. Besides to propagate its concept in society, the government should compulsorily introduce it in the academic curriculum. Others present in the seminar viz. Ballabhacharya Pandey, Dr Mohd Arif, Sandhya Jha, Dr Mahendra Pratap, Lal Bahadur Ram, Prof Saina Rizvi, Ragib Ali, Dr Iftekhar, Idrish Ansari, Lallan Jaiswar, Rajendra Kumar etc also shared their views on human rights and stressed its protection. 

After the seminar, a joint meeting of the PVCHR /Jan Mitra Nyaas Board of Trustee, Governing Board and Management Committee was held, wherein the financial report and activities of the previous year was put before the members of the Board. Action plan for the coming year was also discussed and prepared. 

Senior officials of the health and labour departments posted in Varanasi district participated in the inauguration ceremony and seminar. In his written message, German Member of Parliament Sven Wolf congratulated the Social Democratic Party’s regional chapter of the German state of Rhine-Westphalia and noted the Centre would be pivot to human rights protection. 

Helma Ritscher said the occasion was emotionally moving for her. The Centre would  is touted to becoming the focal point of the joint social activities and educational projects of PVCHR / Jan Mitra Nyaas , community of Varanasi and Baghvanala and Indo-German Society of Remscheid (Germany).

Helma Ritscher’ son Axel Ritscher observed his mother, was a living example of espousing deep human values. “I call her ‘Mahatma Ma’ for her continuous and unabated work in India,” he said.

The UN Human Rights Commission has coined the slogan of ‘Stand for Human Rights’ on the 70th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To commemorate 21 years of PVCHR and 20 years and Janmitra Nyas, the two organisations are celebrating 2018 as ‘Human Rights Protection Year’. 

Their contributions to society include 7-room school and a three-room community-centre in the temple courtroom at Baghanvala in Varanasi , two community centres and an aanganwadi centre at Belva, an aanganwadi centre in Mushar locality at Aayar village, a room in Shivrampur primary school, two toilets and a pumping set in a Mushar settlement at Anai village, an aanganwadi centre in Mushar locality at Barhikala village. Besides, a 4-room centre and a toilet was constructed at Raup Ghasiya locality in Sonbhadra district, apart from installing a pumping set,  in the memory of senior journalist late Sushil Tripathi. An aanganwadi centre also operated there. A 2-room centre and a pumping set were gifted to the Mushar community at Sakra village in Jaunpur district. 

Under the joint aegis of PVCHR / Jan Mitra Nyaas and Insec Nepal, Bablu Ram, a resident of Sarai village in Varanasi, has become the first person from the Mushar community to be selected under the F K Fellowship of Norway. He would take part in the International Youth Camp at Oslo Norway in January 2018. Manish Kumar of Baghvanala slums and Anamika Sonkar would also accompany him.