I have rarely been quoted in the media, but apparently when I have, it's been decently substantive! So, with much pleasure, I'd like to share some articles where the authors either interviewed me or just asked for general comments.
1) India Currents article on thoughts after attending a Homeland Security roundtable on post-9/11 civil liberties and human rights issues.
2) PBS Newshour feature on thoughts after an Americans for Informed Democracy conference in 2006.
3) CUNY Graduate Center colleague Mr. Marriah Star's article on social entrepreneurship.
4) The Nation contributor and friend/writer/journalist Jayati Vora's piece on the youth-led movement to restore democratic rule in Pakistan.
As always, feedback much appreciated!
Showing posts with label human rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human rights. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Resources on State of Emergency in Pakistan
My email inbox has been overflowing with different resources on the State of Emergency in Pakistan, declared last weekend by General Musharraf. It would be a great travesty if I didnt share them. Please do feel free to leave comments with more resources and I can update later. And also please feel free to give any feedback - constructive and/or destructive! - and it will be accepted with gratitude.
Long live the voice of the people!
=====
From my friend Salman Ahmed Usman:
=====
NYT blog entry comparing Musharraf and Abe Lincoln: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/musharraf-and-lincoln-in-their-own-words/
=====
Petitions being circulated:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/15064.html
http://www.avaaz.org/en/emergency_pakistan
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/legalcourts/
=====
Some anti-Musharraf articles in the Columbia Spectator (Columbia University newspaper):
Pakistan and the U.S.: a Devious Relationship
Some blogs with regular updates:
http://pakistanmartiallaw.blogspot.com/
http://emergepakistan.blogspot.com/
www.PakistanPolicy.com
======
For those of you based in New York, you can sign on to a google group for regular updates at: http://groups.google.com/group/emergency_newyork?hl=en
Long live the voice of the people!
=====
From my friend Salman Ahmed Usman:
Some internet news sources on Pakistan :
www.pkpolitics.com is updated almost round the clock with latest news and videos of news bulletins and political talk shows. The website is currently also providing full coverage of Emergency Plus in Pakistan in audio format at pkpolitics.com/audio/emergency/ . This includes latest analysis of various hosts from Geo and ARY, including Dr. Shahid Masood and Kashif Abbasi. Also check sister website http://pklatest.com/
Live Geo news (audio only) on www.geo.tv
A number of Pakistani channels at www.jpjc.de. After registering, scroll down to the 'Live TV Channels' section.
Geo TV/ ARY live streaming at www.pakistanvision.com. Click 'Live stream 1' or 'Live stream 2' link on the left hand side.
Geo News live streaming at: http://watchgeotv.info/
Live streaming of Aljazeera English at: http://english.aljazeera.net
DawnNews live streaming link on their website www.dawn.com
=====
NYT blog entry comparing Musharraf and Abe Lincoln: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes
=====
Petitions being circulated:
http://www.gopetition.com
http://www.avaaz.org/en
http://www.ipetitions.com
=====
Some anti-Musharraf articles in the Columbia Spectator (Columbia University newspaper):
Pakistan and the U.S.: a Devious Relationship
Pakistan and the American Dream
=====Some blogs with regular updates:
http://pakistanmartiallaw
http://emergepakistan.blogspot
www.PakistanPolicy.com
======
For those of you based in New York, you can sign on to a google group for regular updates at: http://groups.google.com/group/emergency_newyork?hl=en
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
2/10 Film screening - Outlawed: Extraordinary Rendition, Torture, and Disappearances in the ‘War on Terror’
OUTLAWED:
Extraordinary Rendition, Torture, and Disappearances in the ‘War on Terror’
Join other concerned students and citizens for a film screening, discussion, and advocacy campaign.
Refreshments provided.
Saturday, February 10, 3-5 PM
CUNY Graduate Center, Room 5414
The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309
Outlawed tells the stories of Khaled El-Masri and Binyam Mohamed, two men who have survived torture by the U.S. government working with various other governments wo rldwide. It features relevant commentary from Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, U.S. President George W. Bush, Michael Scheuer, the chief architect of the rendition program and former head of the Osama Bin Laden unit at the CIA, and Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State.
This event is organized by the Americans for Informed Democracy Chapter at CUNY Grad Center and supported thanks to a generous grant from the JEHT Foundation. The film is produced by Witness.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Conference on Guantanamo Bay, human rights and civil liberties - 2/10
Dear friends,
I'm writing to inform you of a conference that will be taking place this Saturday, February 10 at the CUNY Graduate Center (365 Fifth Avenue, between 34th and 35th sts.) from 1-3 P.M. (followed by a video screening of the documentary "Outlawed"). I would appreciate it if you could forward the information to students or anyone else you think may be interested.
The focus of the event is Guantanamo Bay and post-9/11 civil liberties in America. Adem Carroll of the Muslim Consultative Network and Lynne Kates from the Center for Constitutional Rights will be speaking on their work with the Guantanamo issue and civil liberties in general as well as giving advice to students interested in careers in the field. In addition to this specific topic, we want to address the disconnect between expert opinion on these types of issues and actual U.S. policy, in an attempt to learn how to make our careers as influential as possible.
The conference will be open to 20-25 qualified students, giving them a chance to have all of their questions answered and ideas critiqued, as well as offering great networking opportunities.
An invitation is below, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward it to students you think may be interested.
Thank you in advance for your support,
Zeeshan Suhail
===========================================
Saturday, February 10, 2007
1 PM
at the CUNY Graduate Center
Guantanamo Bay & Post-9/11 Civil Liberties in America
Who are the most influential figures when it comes to U.S. decisions affecting civil liberties? How do we balance civil liberties with national security concerns after the 9/11 attacks? How can we impact positive, meaningful change when states are listening less and less to their citizenry?
Adem Carroll (Muslim Consultative Network) will speak on infringement on rights and liberties of Muslims after 9/11
Lynn Kates (Center for Constitutional Rights) will speak on the state of affairs of civil liberties and human rights at Guantanamo Bay (and elsewhere) after 9/11
A brief panel discussion will be followed by an open dialogue between the experts and attendees. Come share your views on Guantanamo and civil liberties in America and find out how to have the most impact on U.S. security policy.
Please RSVP with a short bio to clmadden@gmail.com for details.
I'm writing to inform you of a conference that will be taking place this Saturday, February 10 at the CUNY Graduate Center (365 Fifth Avenue, between 34th and 35th sts.) from 1-3 P.M. (followed by a video screening of the documentary "Outlawed"). I would appreciate it if you could forward the information to students or anyone else you think may be interested.
The focus of the event is Guantanamo Bay and post-9/11 civil liberties in America. Adem Carroll of the Muslim Consultative Network and Lynne Kates from the Center for Constitutional Rights will be speaking on their work with the Guantanamo issue and civil liberties in general as well as giving advice to students interested in careers in the field. In addition to this specific topic, we want to address the disconnect between expert opinion on these types of issues and actual U.S. policy, in an attempt to learn how to make our careers as influential as possible.
The conference will be open to 20-25 qualified students, giving them a chance to have all of their questions answered and ideas critiqued, as well as offering great networking opportunities.
An invitation is below, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward it to students you think may be interested.
Thank you in advance for your support,
Zeeshan Suhail
==============================
Saturday, February 10, 2007
1 PM
at the CUNY Graduate Center
Guantanamo Bay & Post-9/11 Civil Liberties in America
Who are the most influential figures when it comes to U.S. decisions affecting civil liberties? How do we balance civil liberties with national security concerns after the 9/11 attacks? How can we impact positive, meaningful change when states are listening less and less to their citizenry?
Adem Carroll (Muslim Consultative Network) will speak on infringement on rights and liberties of Muslims after 9/11
Lynn Kates (Center for Constitutional Rights) will speak on the state of affairs of civil liberties and human rights at Guantanamo Bay (and elsewhere) after 9/11
A brief panel discussion will be followed by an open dialogue between the experts and attendees. Come share your views on Guantanamo and civil liberties in America and find out how to have the most impact on U.S. security policy.
Please RSVP with a short bio to clmadden@gmail.com for details.
Friday, January 12, 2007
U.S. Has Lost Credibility On Rights: HRW; Ban echoes Annan on Gitmo closure
Gitmo has gotten next to no media coverage this week, even though there was really no other international crisis to report on; it was essentially business as usual for the media monster, yet they still didn't jump on the opportunity to cover such an important anniversary/commemoration.
After yesterday's column and numerous blog postings on the topic of Guantanamo Bay, I was heartened to see Human Rights Watch come out with a scathing report on human rights violations by countries the world over. But the criticism directed at the US had me in raptures because, along with it, came a recommendation that the EU take a lead in the promotion of human rights and civil liberties - since the US obviously has veered off the track on this point.
I've said enough, and can say more, but instead, will direct your attention to two articles. One on HRW's report in today's Washington Post, and the other in the Washington Times regarding the United Nations' new Secretary-General's call to close the camp. He's not saying anything new; his reiteration of his predecessors call for the closure of the camp is honorable and appropriate at this time, but what I found interesting was that the author of the article was present at the SG's press conference where he made those statements, and of all the things she could have covered in the article (at least 15 issues), she chose Ban's call for the closure of the camp (a 2 minute segment of the press conference). The Washington Times is a conservative newspaper that doesn't always report on the good stuff the UN does and so this came as a pleasant surprise in some ways. Then again, they could be implicitly pitching Ban against the US. With the media, you never know!
Happy reading!
After yesterday's column and numerous blog postings on the topic of Guantanamo Bay, I was heartened to see Human Rights Watch come out with a scathing report on human rights violations by countries the world over. But the criticism directed at the US had me in raptures because, along with it, came a recommendation that the EU take a lead in the promotion of human rights and civil liberties - since the US obviously has veered off the track on this point.
I've said enough, and can say more, but instead, will direct your attention to two articles. One on HRW's report in today's Washington Post, and the other in the Washington Times regarding the United Nations' new Secretary-General's call to close the camp. He's not saying anything new; his reiteration of his predecessors call for the closure of the camp is honorable and appropriate at this time, but what I found interesting was that the author of the article was present at the SG's press conference where he made those statements, and of all the things she could have covered in the article (at least 15 issues), she chose Ban's call for the closure of the camp (a 2 minute segment of the press conference). The Washington Times is a conservative newspaper that doesn't always report on the good stuff the UN does and so this came as a pleasant surprise in some ways. Then again, they could be implicitly pitching Ban against the US. With the media, you never know!
Happy reading!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
My article: "Guantanamo: the terror lives on"
January 11th marks the day when Gutananamo Bay received its first inmates five years ago. Just a few months ago, we commemorated the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and now, on a much smaller level, a much smaller group of people are commemorating the demise of human rights and civil liberties in the nation that championed those causes for centuries.
I have been extremely depressed and distressed at the situation at hand. After reading numerous books on Gitmo, and after having finished one just last night, I find myself in a constant state of anxiety and suffer from mild headaches every now and then. How can this country let such an atrocity go on? My anger at American human rights violations knows no bounds. The only thing that can anger me more is the double standards we continue to propagate the world over.
I can go on and on and invite comments - constructive and destructive - but will instead draw your attention to the article I've copied below which was published in the Pakistani newspaper I write a column for, The Post.
Waiting for a miracle - or a revolution?
Guantanamo: the terror lives on
I have been living in the US for several years now, but have failed to understand the recent and highly disturbing trend that can be observed in this country regarding human rights violations. The country that once prided itself on being a beacon for those seeking the protection and enjoyment of those rights is today the same country that blatantly violates them. The US is no longer a harbinger of hope for those who are persecuted the world over; instead, it inspires deadly fear and anxiety and has lost the stature it once held in a world already plagued with countless wrongs.
A constant reminder of this negative role the US is now playing in the realm of human rights is none other than the very existence of Guantanamo Bay. I have written about Guantanamo numerous times before in this column space. It has mostly been because all, if not the vast majority, of the detainees are Muslims of Arab or South Asian heritage. In solidarity, I stood with them, writing articles like the one you are reading right now, hoping someone, somewhere would read it and contact an influential member of their social circle or community, and help spread the word about the atrocities going on in the name of national security and protection of civilians.
But alas, today, Americans are no better protected than they were before 9/11. In fact, the world is an even more treacherous place, perhaps more so because of the blatant human rights violations going on in places like Guantanamo. These gross injustices give fuel to the fire of terrorism that threatens to rip across the Muslim world if we do not contain it soon.
And yet, the American authorities do not realize how simple it is to both uphold these sacred values they helped enshrine, and to still wage a much-needed war against terrorism and terrorists. If only these officials knew that this process begins with respect; respect for life, for civilization, for values. In its blind quest for superiority and supremacy in anything and everything, the US forgot that greed and selfishness can only harm those who indulge in these acts.
Guantanamo is the antithesis of everything Americans hold sacred. Yet today, as we commemorate the day it received its first inmates five years ago, it stands tall and proud as the tarnished image of what the new US has come to reflect: double standards, hypocrisy and the alarming disrespect for things the civilised world holds in high esteem. While over 500 Muslim men languish in conditions we shudder to think of, the US continues to export torture to other countries. In the 21st century, torture has officially become an exportable commodity, the product of a few decades of poor policy that remains unchanged. As if it was not bad enough that Americans are indulging in this horrific act, they are coercing other countries to pursue similar policies.
Guantanamo has, for many months, been eliminated from the international agenda. We no longer see human rights experts calling for its closure, or for the due trial of its inhabitants. Instead, Britney Spears’ misdeeds are splashed all over the pages of newspapers and sensationalism regarding anything that can potentially harm Americans is drilled into our heads as a credible “threat” to our lives. What the American authorities do not realize in their haste to protect their people is that they can do their countrymen a much better service by not only advocating social justice and fairness, but also by proving that they hold these principles close to their hearts for those of other nationalities as well.
Five years after Guantanamo received its first prisoners, I walk the streets of New York City in perpetual fear; Fear that, one day, out of nowhere, I can be picked up off the street, never to be seen again. My tranquility will forever be snatched from me and my dreams will forever be shattered. If places like Guantanamo exist to show us what our future can be, then I will never be able to sleep peacefully at night. If places like Guantanamo exist to ensure my safety and security, then the terror it inspires in my heart must be curbed.
President Bush, I hope you are reading this.
I have been extremely depressed and distressed at the situation at hand. After reading numerous books on Gitmo, and after having finished one just last night, I find myself in a constant state of anxiety and suffer from mild headaches every now and then. How can this country let such an atrocity go on? My anger at American human rights violations knows no bounds. The only thing that can anger me more is the double standards we continue to propagate the world over.
I can go on and on and invite comments - constructive and destructive - but will instead draw your attention to the article I've copied below which was published in the Pakistani newspaper I write a column for, The Post.
Waiting for a miracle - or a revolution?
Guantanamo: the terror lives on
I have been living in the US for several years now, but have failed to understand the recent and highly disturbing trend that can be observed in this country regarding human rights violations. The country that once prided itself on being a beacon for those seeking the protection and enjoyment of those rights is today the same country that blatantly violates them. The US is no longer a harbinger of hope for those who are persecuted the world over; instead, it inspires deadly fear and anxiety and has lost the stature it once held in a world already plagued with countless wrongs.
A constant reminder of this negative role the US is now playing in the realm of human rights is none other than the very existence of Guantanamo Bay. I have written about Guantanamo numerous times before in this column space. It has mostly been because all, if not the vast majority, of the detainees are Muslims of Arab or South Asian heritage. In solidarity, I stood with them, writing articles like the one you are reading right now, hoping someone, somewhere would read it and contact an influential member of their social circle or community, and help spread the word about the atrocities going on in the name of national security and protection of civilians.
But alas, today, Americans are no better protected than they were before 9/11. In fact, the world is an even more treacherous place, perhaps more so because of the blatant human rights violations going on in places like Guantanamo. These gross injustices give fuel to the fire of terrorism that threatens to rip across the Muslim world if we do not contain it soon.
And yet, the American authorities do not realize how simple it is to both uphold these sacred values they helped enshrine, and to still wage a much-needed war against terrorism and terrorists. If only these officials knew that this process begins with respect; respect for life, for civilization, for values. In its blind quest for superiority and supremacy in anything and everything, the US forgot that greed and selfishness can only harm those who indulge in these acts.
Guantanamo is the antithesis of everything Americans hold sacred. Yet today, as we commemorate the day it received its first inmates five years ago, it stands tall and proud as the tarnished image of what the new US has come to reflect: double standards, hypocrisy and the alarming disrespect for things the civilised world holds in high esteem. While over 500 Muslim men languish in conditions we shudder to think of, the US continues to export torture to other countries. In the 21st century, torture has officially become an exportable commodity, the product of a few decades of poor policy that remains unchanged. As if it was not bad enough that Americans are indulging in this horrific act, they are coercing other countries to pursue similar policies.
Guantanamo has, for many months, been eliminated from the international agenda. We no longer see human rights experts calling for its closure, or for the due trial of its inhabitants. Instead, Britney Spears’ misdeeds are splashed all over the pages of newspapers and sensationalism regarding anything that can potentially harm Americans is drilled into our heads as a credible “threat” to our lives. What the American authorities do not realize in their haste to protect their people is that they can do their countrymen a much better service by not only advocating social justice and fairness, but also by proving that they hold these principles close to their hearts for those of other nationalities as well.
Five years after Guantanamo received its first prisoners, I walk the streets of New York City in perpetual fear; Fear that, one day, out of nowhere, I can be picked up off the street, never to be seen again. My tranquility will forever be snatched from me and my dreams will forever be shattered. If places like Guantanamo exist to show us what our future can be, then I will never be able to sleep peacefully at night. If places like Guantanamo exist to ensure my safety and security, then the terror it inspires in my heart must be curbed.
President Bush, I hope you are reading this.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Event: Breakthrough Benefit Gala - Friday, 11/10
| Breakthrough's 2006 Benefit Gala | ||||
| November 10, 2006 | Greetings! Countdown to the benefit! If you haven't already, do send in your check or buy your tickets online. We can only accommodate table seating requests if we get your payment in on time. Donations of any amount would also be welcome. Thanks so much, Mallika | |||
| Let's Breakthrough Together! A benefit for building human rights culture 6:30 pm Cocktails | |||
| Breakthrough 4 West 37th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10018 | For table sponsorships, please contact Ellen Luo at ellen@breakthrough.tv | |||
Monday, October 16, 2006
Event: Tradition, laws, human rights and democracy in Pakistan - 10/26
Tradition, laws, human rights and democracy in Pakistan
Please come and listen to Asma Jehangir, Pakistani Human Rights
Defender, Internationally renowned human rights lawyer,
and Special rapporteur of UN commission on human rights,
and founder and chair person of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Thursday, October 26th, 2006
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location
Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Building
281 Park Avenue South, New York, NY
Corner of 22nd and Park Avenue South
Please come and listen to Asma Jehangir as she talks about the state
of human rights in Pakistan what can be done to improve the conditions
in Pakistan.
Please come and listen to Asma Jehangir, Pakistani Human Rights
Defender, Internationally renowned human rights lawyer,
and Special rapporteur of UN commission on human rights,
and founder and chair person of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Thursday, October 26th, 2006
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location
Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Building
281 Park Avenue South, New York, NY
Corner of 22nd and Park Avenue South
Please come and listen to Asma Jehangir as she talks about the state
of human rights in Pakistan what can be done to improve the conditions
in Pakistan.
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