Date
Type
Case No
Country
SWE 2/2013
02/05/2013 Sweden
JUA
Mandate(s)
Summary of the allegation transmitted
Freedom of
expression;
Human rights
defenders;
Summary
executions;
Torture;
Alleged imminent deportation of a journalist asylum-seeker, who may be at risk of being 14/06/2013
tortured and killed by the Taliban, if forcibly returned to Afghanistan. According to the
information received, Mr. Saif Ur Rahman Shirzad was forced to flee to Pakistan in
2008 after receiving death threats from the Taliban due to his journalistic activities. He
applied for asylum in Sweden on 18 April 2011, but the application was rejected on 14
December 2011. The appeal was rejected on 15 November 2012. Before fleeing to
Sweden, Mr. Shirzad, along with his brother Mr. Noor Rahman Shirzad, had reported on
the Afghan-Pakistan border region, which caused the Taliban to threaten to kill him. It is
reported that his family received protection and were relocated to the United States of
America by the UNHCR in 2009, and his brother has been granted asylum in Sweden.
Mr. Shirzad could be deported any time.
GBR 1/2013
Minority issues;
02/05/2013 United Kingdom Racism;
JOL
of Great Britain
and Northern
Ireland
Reply
New amendment to introduce anti-caste legislation in the UK. According to the
information received, on 4 March 2013, the House of Lords of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland voted in favour of amendment number 37 to the
House of Lord Bill 95, which called for caste to be recognized among other forms of
discrimination in the Equality Act, 2010. On 23 April 2013, the House of Commons
voted in favour. It is reported that caste-based discrimination exists in the United
Kingdom and specifically within the Indian community and there is no official data on
the Dalit population in the UK who constitute the main victims of caste based
discrimination. Reportedly the introduction of the amendment would be instrumental in
addressing the existing legal protection gap for victims of caste-based discrimination
and harassment.
A/HRC/24/21
49
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents