ASK: Mob terrorism, persecution of journalists and minorities has increased in the country

Staff Correspondent

The human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has said that incidents of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arrests, deaths in custody, violence against women and minorities, and torture of journalists continue in the country. In a statement released on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of Yunus’ interim government, the organization said that the human rights situation in the country has become more critical and is taking a new form of repression.

In the statement, ASK mentioned that the demands of the protesters in July-August last year were for an accountable and humane state system. But a year later, that spirit is being largely ignored today.

ASK said that due to the failure of law enforcement agencies, ordinary people are taking initiatives to establish ‘justice’ themselves, resulting in an alarming increase in incidents of ‘mob terrorism’ or mass beatings. Political tensions and social divisions are playing a role behind this violence, which has claimed the lives of many innocent people.

The report also said that violence against religious minorities has increased. Although there have been attacks, looting and arson attacks on minority homes on false charges of blasphemy, the lack of visible punishment for the perpetrators has increased fear and insecurity among minority communities.

Violence against women is taking a structural form

ASK believes that violence against women is no longer an isolated incident. Rather, it is taking the form of a structural violence. The statement mentioned that there has been an increase in cases of rape, domestic abuse, physical abuse, social humiliation and boycott of women due to dress or expression of opinion.

Freedom of expression has also been curtailed in educational institutions. The educational environment is being disrupted through expulsions, threats and unfair treatment of students, which ASK has warned is a threat to democratic values.

Pressure and harassment on the media and journalists continues. There are arrests in connection with cases, closures of newspapers, threats to block advertisements, and cyber harassment. This proves that the government is still not sensitive enough to the issue of media freedom, the organization said.

In the statement, Asak Yunus called on the government to take effective steps to stop extrajudicial killings and disappearances, ensure the safety of minorities and women, protect freedom of the media and expression, and establish accountability for every human rights violation.