Asma Jahangir

Winner of the 1995 Martin Ennals Award
for Human Rights Defenders

Asma Jahangir is a prominent lawyer and Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, one of the leading human rights non-governmental organisations of the country.

She heads her own law firm, employing ten lawyers, runs the largest free legal-aid centre, and is also a founding member of Women’s Actions Forum. She has refused two invitations from former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to occupy a woman’s seat in the National Assembly and to become the first woman judge. She felt that occupying such posts would be dishonest as she would have to defend laws that are contradictory to human rights (e.g. laws against women or soft on child labour).

She has led campaigns for the restoration of democracy, against persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and for women and children’s rights. In the fight against religious and other forms of obscurantism, Asma Jahangir, in the face of constant threats, stands out as the most courageous woman lawyer in Pakistan. She received world-wide recognition through her courageous stand in the defence of a 14-year old boy and his uncle in a blasphemy case.

Today, Asma is also the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions.

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