Idris Khattak
 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (March 2023) |
Idris Khattak | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pakistan |
| Disappeared | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Status | Imprisoned after a conviction by military court |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Known for | Human rights work |
| Children | 2 |
Idris Khattak is a Pakistani human rights activist.[1][2][3][4] In early December 2021 a military court sentenced Khattak to 14 years in prison for espionage.[5][6]
Life
[edit]Idris Khattak was born in December 1963.[7] He had previously worked for Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch[8] on a wide range of topics including people illegally disappeared by the military. He holds a PhD in anthropology from Saint Petersburg.[9][10]
Khattak has two daughters, Shumaisa and Talia.[11][12]
Abduction
[edit]Khattak was abducted by four individuals on the Swabi motorway interchange in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 13 November 2019.[13]
He was kept in solitary confinement since November 2019 by military intelligence in Pakistan, 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.[14] [15]
Conviction
[edit]He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in a secret military court trial in late-2021, not being allowed to defend his case.[16] 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.[17] 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."[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ "Pakistan Sentences Rights Defender to 14 Years in Prison | Human Rights Watch". 6 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Times of India website, Strange case of Idris Khattak in ‘Gaibistan’ or the Land of the Disappeared, article by Ahmar Mustikhan dated Decdember 3, 2019
- ^ The News on Sunday website, The curious case of Idris Khattak, article by Farah Zia dated December 19, 2021
- ^ Muhammad Idris khatak. "Biography of Idris khatak" (PDF).
- ^ International Business Times, Who Is Idris Khattak? The Human Rights Activist Went Against Pakistan Over 'Forced Disappearances' , article by Gaurav Mishra dated July 2, 2020
- ^ "Where is Idris Khattak?". amnesty.org. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ BBC website, Idris Khattak: 'My father was taken and I don't know why' , article dated July 24, 2020
- ^ "Human Rights Commission of Pakistan". hrcp-web.org. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "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
[edit]- BBC News interview with Khattak's daughter, Talia
- November 2020 Amnesty International article pertaining to the kidnapping of Idris Khattak
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