Embedded The Kill List: The Dissident Club
Dec 12, 2023
Ahmed (Wakas) Goraya, a Pakistani human rights activist in exile, shares his harrowing experiences of abduction and torture as he discusses the haunting realities faced by dissidents abroad. He reveals the alarming threats he receives, including an alleged assassination plot in the Netherlands. The conversation extends to fellow exiles like Gulalai Ismail, who detail their struggles against Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. Together, they illustrate the fear permeating the diaspora, highlighting the tangible risks that shadow those who've sought refuge in the West.
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Kidnapping, Torture And Exile
- Ahmed (Wakas) Goraya recounts being kidnapped, tortured in Pakistan and fleeing to the Netherlands for safety.
- He later reported an assault in Rotterdam and was warned by Dutch police of an assassination plot against him in 2021.
Repeated Detentions Led To Asylum
- Gulalai Ismail describes multiple illegal detentions and torture that forced her to flee Pakistan.
- She says the UN warned Pakistan had placed her name on a state 'kill list' before she left the country.
Evidence Points To Targeted Campaigns
- Agnes Callamard and human rights reports show states maintain lists of targeted dissidents even if governments deny it.
- Evidence from NGOs and Pakistan's own Human Rights Commission supports targeted abductions and killings.