Asma Jahangir's Long History of Activism for Women

While numerous Pakistani leaders have been released, human rights activist Asma Jahangir remains under house arrest. As the Washington Post reports, Jahangir’s record of activism is quite inspiring,

“Jahangir, her sister and several other women founded the first
all-female law firm in Pakistan. At the outset, her most highly
publicized cases involved women accused of adultery, a crime once punishable by 10 years in jail and public whippings.

After years of being belittled, she finally won the respect of men in her profession through hard work, compassion and victory in numerous cases, activists said. She has received international acclaim and several awards for her work with women seeking divorces from abusive husbands and with teenagers on death row, as well as her efforts against extremism.

Jahangir said she has been inspired by the many imprisoned women she has met. For instance, she became close friends with a blind woman who was charged with adultery after being gang-raped. Jahangir filed a protest and sent stories about the case around the world. The woman was released.

“She’s an extraordinary leader, beloved in a place where there are few heroes,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch. “And Musharraf wants to silence anyone like her who will question his rule.”"

Women Living Under Muslim Law (WLUML) has an excellent list of addresses to which you can write to protest Jahnagir’s continued house arrest and the ongoing harassment of activists in Pakistan:

Ms. Louise Arbour
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for Human Rights Defenders
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Leandro Despouy
Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Rudi Muhammad Rizki
Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Martin Scheinin
Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights While Countering Terrorism
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Causes and Consequences
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Mr. Paul Hunt
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006