South Asia Citizens Web

Lahore, 2 October 2025. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Women’s Action Forum (Lahore), Shirkat Gah-Women’s Resource Centre, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, Simorgh, and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) strongly condemn a recent advertisement sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that depicts journalists, NGO workers and ‘freelance’ researchers as potential instruments of ‘enemy propaganda.’ Framing civil society actors and independent media as part of an information war is deeply irresponsible and undermines the very freedoms that sustain a democratic society.

Trump’s latest plan for a ceasefire in Gaza has both a short and a longer term purpose. What it currently does is to not just divert attention away from Israel’s continuing genocide but to help absolve Israel from being even seen as punishable for what it has done let alone demanding that it be so punished in any serious way. This ‘agreement’ – finalised between the US President and Israel’s Prime Minister with no negotiating input whatsoever from Hamas – in demanding that must be accepted as it stands, seeks to legitimise the continuation of this genocide by Israel should Hamas refuse to accept the plan.

• Release Sonam Wangchuk and the other detainees and withdraw all charges foisted against them unconditionally.
• Resume a meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh on all their legitimate and democratic demands, including the immediate grant of sixth schedule status under the Constitution and statehood.

The Feminist Collective for Economic Justice, Sri Lanka hears the harrowed cries of the birds, the land and the people of Mannar. One of the darkest days of this government has come to pass on the night of September 26th 2025, with the brutal attack by hundreds of police officers of peaceful protestors in Mannar.

Report by Ali Hussaini BBC Afghan The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

Some 140 books by women - including titles like "Safety in the Chemical Laboratory" - were among 680 books found to be of "concern" due to "anti-Sharia and Taliban policies". [ . . . ]