Fijian Human Rights Defender Acquitted

Fijian Human Rights Defender Acquitted

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand (AIANZ) welcomes the Fijian High Court’s decision to throw out all charges against Fijian lawyer Imrana Jalal, announced today.

“We are very relieved that Imrana has been cleared of all charges,” says Patrick Holmes, CEO of Amnesty New Zealand. “We have always maintained that Imrana was persecuted for views because she is a prominent advocate for human rights in Fiji, the Pacific and internationally.”

“The international human rights community had closely monitored Imrana’s case and we are pleased that she can now continue to courageous work without this trumped-up trial hanging over her head,” adds Holmes.

Amnesty International has consistently raised its concerns about the human rights abuses that have occurred in Fiji since the abrogation of the country’s constitution last April, and the introduction of the Public Emergency Regulations.

The organisation continues to call on the Fijian Government to immediately cease the threats, harassment, intimidation and persecution of all critics of the Fijian Government, and all other measures aimed at suppressing peaceful dissent.

Background: Prominent human rights lawyer Imrana Jalal had been persecuted, under legal pretexts, by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Amnesty International believes that the prosecution of Jalal was to punish her for her strong public stance against human rights violations perpetrated by the military since its overthrow of the Laisenia Qarase-led government in December 2006.

On 1 January, FICAC officers served Jalal with seven misdemeanour charges relating to the Public Health (Hotels, Restaurant and Refreshment Bars) Regulations, the Food Safety Act and the Penal Code. The charges related to a business operated by a company of which she and her husband are directors. Amnesty International believes that these charges, related to minor regulatory infractions, were politically motivated.

ENDS