Idris Khattak | |
---|---|
Born | Pakistan |
Disappeared | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
Status | Imprisoned after a conviction by military court |
Nationality | Pakistani |
Known for | Being kidnapped |
Children | 2 |
Idris Khattak is a Pakistani human rights activist.[1][2][3][4] In early December 2021 a military court has sentenced Khattak to 14 years in prison for espionage.[5]
Life
Idris Khattak had previously worked for Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch on a wide range of topics including people illegally disappeared by the military. He holds a PhD in anthropology from Saint Petersburg.
Abduction
Khattak was abducted by four individuals on the Swabi motorway interchange in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 13 November 2019.[6]
Khattak has two daughters: Shumaisa and Talia.[7] His movements between 2019 and 2021 are unclear, although in February 2021 Amnesty International reported the Peshawar High Court had denied Khattak's appeal to be tried in a civilian court and that his hearing would instead take place in a military court.[8] [9]
Conviction
He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in a secret military court trial in late-2021, not being allowed to defend his case.[10] Human Rights Watch condemned the sentencing, saying that "Pakistan's security forces have with impunity long carried out enforced disappearances" and calling for him to tried publicly in a civilian court.[11] Amnesty International called the sentencing "the culmination of a shameful two-year process that has been unjust from start to finish" and saying that "enforced disappearances must, once and for all, be put to an end."[12]
See also
References
- ↑ Falah Gulzar (30 April 2020). "Pakistan: Human rights activist Idris Khattak missing since last year, Pakistanis demand action from government". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ "Human-rights activist Idris Khattak goes 'missing' in Swabi". nation.com.pk. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ Huma Yusuf (4 May 2020). "Missing rights". dawn.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ Sirajuddin (18 November 2019). "Rights activist Idris Khattak abducted by unidentified men at karak Interchange, says driver". dawn.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ "Military court convicts rights activist of espionage". 5 December 2021.
- ↑ "Human Rights Commission of Pakistan". hrcp-web.org. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ↑ "Where is Idris Khattak?". amnesty.org. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ↑ "Pakistan: Further Information: Human Rights Defender Denied Civilian Court Trial: Idris Khattak". amnesty.org. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ "PHC allows trial of rights activist by military court". The Express Tribune. 1 February 2021.
- ↑ "Military court convicts rights activist of espionage". Dawn. 5 December 2021.
- ↑ Gossman, Patricia (6 December 2021). "Pakistan Sentences Rights Defender to 14 Years in Prison". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ↑ "Pakistan: Family of enforced disappearance victim Idris Khattak must be given clarity". Amnesty International. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
External links
- BBC News interview with Khattak's daughter, Talia
- November 2020 Amnesty International article pertaining to the kidnapping of Idris Khattak