Asma Jahangir, Fearless Pakistani Rights Activist, Dies at 66
- 6 years ago
Asma Jahangir, Fearless Pakistani Rights Activist, Dies at 66
Ms. Jahangir never minced words while defending democracy and human rights, despite threats to her life, both from military dictators and militants.
I disagreed with many of her political positions but respected the fact
that she clearly stood up for what she believed in In 2012, Ms. Jahangir said that an assassination plot against her had been hatched "at the highest level of the security establishment." She refused to leave the country despite the threats, however, and told the British newspaper The Telegraph that she would not follow other activists out of the country.
11, 2018
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Asma Jahangir, a leading Pakistani rights activist, fearless critic of the military’s interference into politics
and a staunch defender of the rule of law, died on Sunday in Lahore.
She championed the rights of religious minorities — especially those who were charged
under the country’s blasphemy laws — and women and men killed in the name of honor.
Ms. Jahangir, a human rights lawyer, had a reputation of speaking truth to power
and defending the weak and the marginalized, women and minorities against injustice.
Some Pakistanis accused her of looking the other way when it came to the corruption of two mainstream political parties — the Pakistan Peoples Party
and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — and of being single-mindedly focused on criticizing the military.
Ms. Jahangir worked for the rights of religious minorities and bonded laborers, especially brick kiln workers.
Ms. Jahangir never minced words while defending democracy and human rights, despite threats to her life, both from military dictators and militants.
I disagreed with many of her political positions but respected the fact
that she clearly stood up for what she believed in In 2012, Ms. Jahangir said that an assassination plot against her had been hatched "at the highest level of the security establishment." She refused to leave the country despite the threats, however, and told the British newspaper The Telegraph that she would not follow other activists out of the country.
11, 2018
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Asma Jahangir, a leading Pakistani rights activist, fearless critic of the military’s interference into politics
and a staunch defender of the rule of law, died on Sunday in Lahore.
She championed the rights of religious minorities — especially those who were charged
under the country’s blasphemy laws — and women and men killed in the name of honor.
Ms. Jahangir, a human rights lawyer, had a reputation of speaking truth to power
and defending the weak and the marginalized, women and minorities against injustice.
Some Pakistanis accused her of looking the other way when it came to the corruption of two mainstream political parties — the Pakistan Peoples Party
and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — and of being single-mindedly focused on criticizing the military.
Ms. Jahangir worked for the rights of religious minorities and bonded laborers, especially brick kiln workers.