Asma Jahangir

Asma Jahangir
NI HI
عاصمہ جہانگیر
Jahangir in 2013
United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion or Belief
In office
1 November 2016[1] – 11 February 2018
Preceded byAhmed Shaheed
Succeeded byJavaid Rehman
President of Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan
In office
27 October 2010 – 31 October 2011
Preceded byQazi Anwar
Succeeded byRasheed A Rizvi
Head of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
In office
1987–2011
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byZohra Yusuf
Personal details
Born
Asma Jilani

(1952-01-27)27 January 1952
Lahore, West Punjab, Pakistan[2]
Died11 February 2018(2018-02-11) (aged 66)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Cause of deathBrain hemorrhage[2]
SpouseTahir Jahangir
Children3, including Munizae
RelativesHina Jilani (sister)
ResidenceLahore
Alma materPunjab University (LL.B.)
Kinnaird College (BA)
ProfessionLawyer, Human Rights Activist
AwardsNishan-e-Imtiaz (2018) (Posthumously)
Right Livelihood Award, United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights (2018)
Right Livelihood Award (2016)
Légion d'Honneur (2014)
Stefanus Prize (2014)
North-South Prize of the Council of Europe (2012)
Four Freedoms Award (2010)
Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2010)
Ramon Magsaysay Award (2005)
Leo Eitinger Award (2002)
Martin Ennals Award (1995)

Asma Jilani Jahangir (Urdu: عاصمہ جہانگیر, romanized: ʿĀṣimah Jahāṉgīr; 27 January 1952 – 11 February 2018) was a Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist who co-founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and AGHS Legal Aid Cell.[3] Jahangir was known for playing a prominent role in the Lawyers' Movement and served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and as a trustee at the International Crisis Group.[4][5][6]

Born and raised in Lahore, Jahangir studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary before receiving her B.A. from Kinnaird and LLB from the Punjab University Law College in 1978 and joined the chamber of Barrister Ijaz Hussain Batalvi. In 1980, she was called to the Lahore High Court, and to the Supreme Court in 1982. In the 1980s, Jahangir became a democracy activist and was imprisoned in 1983 for participating in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy against the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq. In 1986, she moved to Geneva, and became the vice-chair of the Defence for Children International and remained until 1988 when she returned to Pakistan.[7]

In 1987, Jahangir co-founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and became its Secretary-General. In 1993, she was elevated as the commission's chairperson.[8] She was again put under house arrest in November 2007 after the imposition of emergency. After serving as one of the leaders of the Lawyers' Movement, she became Pakistan's first woman to serve as the President of Supreme Court Bar Association, she presided over a Seminar to pay homage to Barrister Ijaz Hussain Batalvi organised by Akhtar Aly Kureshy Convenier Ijaz Hussain Batalvi Foundation.[9][10] She co-chaired South Asia Forum for Human Rights and was the vice president of International Federation for Human Rights.[11] Jahangir served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion from August 2004 to July 2010, including serving on the U.N. panel for inquiry into Sri Lankan human rights violations and on a United Nations fact-finding mission on Israeli settlements.[12][13] In 2016, she was named as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, remaining until her death in February 2018.[14][15]

Picture of Asma Jahanghir with picture of Ijaz Hussain Batalvi in shadow of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Lahore High Court.

Jahangir is the recipient of several awards including the 2014 Right Livelihood Award (along with Edward Snowden) for "defending, protecting and promoting human rights in Pakistan and more widely, often in very difficult and complex situations and at great personal risk", 2010 Freedom Award, Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2010, Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2005, 1995 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, and the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights. She was awarded a Legion of Honour by France, and in 2016 the University of Pennsylvania Law School awarded her an honorary degree.[16][17][18] Her writings include The Hudood Ordinance: A Divine Sanction? and Children of a Lesser God.[19]

Jahangir was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2018, the highest degree of service to the state, and for services to international diplomacy by Mamnoon Hussain.[20][21]

  1. ^ "Appointment of UN special rapporteur unacceptable: Larijani". 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b Malik, Adnan; Shakir, Riaz (11 February 2018). "Human rights icon Asma Jahangir passes away in Lahore". Geo News. Jang Group of Newspapers. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Leading human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir passes away in Lahore". DAWN.COM. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. ^ Ijaz, Saroop. "Asma Jahangir (1952-2018): The human rights icon from Pakistan was a feisty street fighter". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. ^ Asma Jahangir's victory is a cause for celebration Archived 25 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Asma Jahangir: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek". Businessweek.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  7. ^ "DCI calls for the release of political prisoner, Ms Asma Jahangir, former member of DCI's International Executive Council" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Google Groups". groups.google.com. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. ^ Agencies (24 September 2014). "Asma Jahangir, Snowden honoured with 'alternative Nobel'". www.dawn.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  10. ^ Exclusive, Herald (25 January 2011). "Herald exclusive: An interview with Asma Jahangir". www.dawn.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  11. ^ Asma Jahangir- World Economic Forum Archived 21 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 16 March 2016
  12. ^ "International Fact-Finding Mission". www.ohchr.org. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  13. ^ UN appoints panel for inquiry into Sri Lankan human rights violations Archived 28 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Work of UNSR on Iran » About Asma Jahangir". iransr.org. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Pakistani human rights champion dies". BBC News. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  16. ^ Fighting for rights: Asma Jehangir receives French honour Archived 4 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Asma Jahangir – Laureate of the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights 2010 Archived 8 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Penn Law to Award Honorary Degree to Asma Jahangir | South Asia Center". www.southasiacenter.upenn.edu. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Asma Jahangir: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". investing.businessweek.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014.
  20. ^ "Asma Jahangir, Junaid Jamshed, Afridi, Misbah among 141 nominated for Civil Awards". The News.
  21. ^ "Pakistan set to honour Asma Jahangir, Fidel Castro on March 23 | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.