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Amnesty International
urgent action - Uighurs in Pakistan
PUBLIC
AI Index: ASA 33/008/2003
UA 216/03 Possible “disappearance”/ Fear of forcible
return
17 July 2003
PAKISTAN Abdulwahab Tohti (m)
Muhammed Tohti Metrozi (m)
Abdulwahab Tohti and
Muhammed Tohti Metrozi, two ethnic Uighur Chinese
nationals, have gone missing in Rawalpindi, northern
Pakistan. Their current whereabouts are unknown, but
they are believed to have been detained by the
Pakistani authorities. Amnesty International is
concerned that they are at risk of forcible return to
China where they would be at risk of torture and
possible execution.
Both men reportedly went missing on 16 July. Little is
known about Abdulwahab Tohti’s “disappearance”, but
Muhammed Tohti Metrozi went missing after receiving a
telephone call at around 2pm, which was apparently
from an official at the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau.
Muhammed Tohti Metrozi left his home shortly
afterwards to meet the official, and has not been
heard from since.
Muhammed Tohti Metrozi was recognised as a refugee by
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) in December 2002. He was awaiting resettlement
to Sweden and was due to travel there at the beginning
of August. Abdulwahab Tohti had not applied for
asylum. Little is known about his background or
situation in Pakistan, but he is believed to have
travelled there for religious studies.
Last year, three Uighur asylum seekers, Abdul Latif
Abdulqadir (also known as Ablitip Abdul Kadir), Ilham
Tukhtam (also known as Elham Tohtam) and Enver Tohti
(also known as Enver Dawut) were forcibly returned to
China from Rawalpindi. All are believed to have been
detained secretly by the Intelligence Bureau in
Rawalpindi before their deportation. Unofficial
sources suggest that they are currently imprisoned in
Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
(XUAR). There is no further information about their
current legal status, treatment or state of health.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Following the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA,
China has intensified its political crackdown in the
XUAR, branding those in favour of independence for the
region as “ethnic separatists” or “terrorists”.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that China has put
significant political pressure on neighbouring
countries, including Pakistan, to return those it
suspects of being involved in “separatist” activities.
Any Uighur asylum seekers or refugees suspected of
being involved in pro-independence groups or
activities are at risk of serious human rights
violations, including torture, unfair trials and
possibly the death penalty if they are forcibly
returned to China.
Even though Pakistan is not a state party to the 1951
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, it is
still bound by the principle of non-refoulement. This
principle is a norm of customary international law,
i.e. binding on all states, and prohibits the forcible
return of a person to a country where they would be at
risk of serious human rights abuse, such as torture.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive
as quickly as possible, in English or your own
language:
- urging the authorities to guarantee that they will
not send Abdulwahab Tohti and Muhammed Tohti Metrozi
back to China;
- asking where the two men are being held, and the
reasons for their detention, and urging the
authorities to ensure that they have immediate access
to UNHCR, lawyers, their families and medical
treatment should they require it;
- calling on the authorities to immediately release
Muhammad Tohti Metrozi with a view to facilitating his
resettlement to Sweden;
- urging the authorities to release Abdulwahab Tohti
immediately unless he is to be charged with a
recognisably criminal offence;
- urging the authorities to ensure that no Chinese
nationals are deported to China without due process
and access to UNHCR;
- reminding the authorities of their obligations under
international law not to forcibly return anyone to a
country where they might be at risk of serious human
rights violations, including torture.
APPEALS TO:
Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad, Pakistan
Telegram: Foreign Affairs Minister, Islamabad,
Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 9202518 / 9224205 / 9224206
E-mail: pak.fm@usa.net
Salutation: Dear Minister
Faisal Saleh Hayat
Minister for the Interior
Block R,
Federal Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Telegram: Interior Minister, Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: + 92 51 9202624
E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk
Salutation: Dear Minister
Pervez Musharraf
President
Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Telegram: President Pervez Musharraf, Islamabad,
Pakistan
Fax: + 92 51 9224768
email: CE@pak.gov.pk
Salutation: Dear President
COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of
Pakistan accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the
International Secretariat, or your section office, if
sending appeals after 28 August 2003.
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