Ibn Abdur Rehman, also known as I.A. Rehman (1 September 1930 – 12 April 2021) was a Pakistani peace and human rights advocate, a veteran communist and a journalist.[1]
Early life
Rehman was born on 1 September 1930 in Haryana, British India.[1] He grew up in both a "religious and secular" household, and his father and grandfather were landowners.[2]
Career
A protégé of the great Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he became chief editor of the Pakistan Times newspaper in 1989. He was the founding chair of the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy. He was also a director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) since 1990, and a prominent human rights activist.[3] Rehman was influential for promoting peace in the Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts and in Kashmir conflict as well as for other human rights issues in Pakistan.[1]
In November 2007, on a visit to India, he told The Hindu "I've been working to defend people's human rights all my life. And, I will continue to do so."[3]
In 2015, many human rights activists including I.A. Rehman urged the Pakistani government to 'criminalise child labour in hazardous environments'. According to Dawn, one activist doctor said, "I have seen cases where children have contracted tuberculosis because they worked in hazardous environments. Making children work such jobs should be criminalized."[4]
Death
Awards and recognition
- Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 2004[2][3]
- Nuremberg International Human Rights Award in 2003[2][5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Zohra Yusuf. "Ibn Abdur Rehman (1930 - 2021) - Remembering Rehman Sahib". Dawn newspaper website. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- 1 2 3 Darr, Amber (7 August 2018). ""If the state starts to see sense, then people will follow. But I think this will take time" – Ibn Abdur Rehman". London School of Economics. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- 1 2 3 (Ananth Krishnan) Profile of journalist I. A. Rehman on The Hindu newspaper Published 16 November 2007, Retrieved 17 September 2023
- ↑ Criminalise child labour in hazardous environments Dawn newspaper, Published 20 November 2015, Retrieved 17 September 2023
- ↑ I. A. Rehman gets Nuremberg International Human Rights Award in 2003 Dawn (newspaper), Published 7 October 2002, Retrieved 17 September 2023
External links
- Raza Naeem (29 April 2021). "Farewell I.A. Rehman (1930 – 2021): Pakistan's Awakener Who Fell Asleep". Outlook India.