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Stop state abductions – Release Amar Fayaz

Stop state abductions – Release Amar Fayaz

Comrade Amar Fayaz was abducted last month by Pakistani forces. Since then his whereabouts have been unknown, yet no charges have been brought against him. Join the campaign to fight for Amar's release. Release Amar Fayaz!

Comrade Amar Fayaz was abducted last month by Pakistani forces. Since then his whereabouts have been unknown, yet no charges have been brought against him. Join the campaign to fight for Amar’s release. Release Amar Fayaz!

On 8 November at around 1:30am, men in two jeeps, along with three police cars, abducted comrade Amar Fayaz in Jamshoro, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. He was sitting near the gate of Liaqat Medical University in Jamshoro when this incident happened. No one has known his whereabouts since then.

Fayaz is a supporter of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), which is involved in the struggle for free education, the restoration of student unions and for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. He has also been translating Marxist books into the Sindhi language, including his translation of the book The Relevance of Marxism Today by Alan Woods.

The police have been unwilling to explain his abduction and no charges have been brought against Fayaz. However, if he has committed a crime then he should be presented before a court of law and a legal case should be registered against him.

In the eyes of the Pakistan state authorities, the crime committed by Fayaz is exposing the rottenness and corruption of the ruling class and capitalism! This cannot be allowed by the ruling class, and explains why they have targeted Fayaz.

In recent months, abductions of political workers have become routine, with victims being severely tortured during abductions and kept in inhuman conditions. Many have died during this ordeal, for which no one is ever punished. We condemn this barbarism of the secret services in Pakistan, who are allowed to act with impunity.

International solidarity campaign

In response, demonstrations have been held across the world as part of an international solidarity campaign. Thousands of messages of solidarity and letters demanding his release have been sent from throughout the international labour movement.

In Canada, the President of the Amalgamated Transit Union wrote a letter to the Pakistan High Commissioner in Ottawa demanding information of Fayaz’ whereabouts and his immediate release.

In Germany, signatures from socialist and trade unionists from Die Linke, the SPD and several major trade unions signed a letter. After a demonstration held by comrades from Der Funke the letter was handed to the Ambassador at the Pakistan Embassy in Berlin.

At their recent Marxist School, hundreds of Marxists in the US expressed their solidarity with the struggle of Pakistani comrades. The antifascist group in the New York City branch of the Democratic Socialists of America also declared their support.

In Mexico, where left wing activists are often attacked and sometimes killed by reactionary gangs – such as the heinous murder of Alexis Alejandrina last month – comrades from La Izquierda Socialista extended their solidarity.

In addition, comrades from the IMT in Sweden, Brazil, France, South Africa, India, Taiwan and countless other countries have all joined the campaign to demand the release of Amar Fayaz, as well as here in Britain.

Efforts in Britain

In Britain, the campaign to release Amar Fayaz has gained support from several MPs, including left Labour MP Apsana Begum, who wrote to the Pakistani High Commissioner in London. She and other Labour MPs including John McDonnell, Ian Lavery, Ian Byrne, Dan Carden, and Jeremy Corbyn have supported a motion to discuss his abduction in the House of Commons.

On 3 December, Socialist Appeal supporters and students from the Marxist Student Federation demonstrated outside the Pakistan High Commission in London. Comrades made speeches highlighting the brutal oppression of Marxists in Pakistan who dare challenge the corruption of the capitalist class.

A petition of over 4,000 signatures and a letter demanding Fayaz’s release and information of his whereabouts was handed to the High Commission. Although officials claimed to not know about his disappearance – despite them being contacted and informed by British MPs – activists were able to gain a signature from officials confirming they would assist in our efforts to find and release Amar Fayaz.

With an international solidarity campaign from across the workers’ movement, we are hopeful that we can save the life of our comrade, as we have successfully done in the past for many others. Join the campaign in aid of Fayaz’ release and in solidarity with the students and workers of Pakistan!

Long live the solidarity of the working class!

Release Amar Fayaz!

How can you support Amar Fayaz?

1. Sign and share this petition

2. Download and adapt this motion to propose in your union branch or CLP. If you need a speaker for your meeting to speak on the workers’ struggle in Pakistan please email contact@socialist.net

3. Post a picture or video in solidarity using the hashtag #ReleaseAmarFayaz

4. Send an email (template letter) to the Pakistan High Commission, Embassy or consulate in your country (for contact details, use the Country Office list at http://mofa.gov.pk/mission-abroad/).

5. Send an email (template email) to the Director-General of Rangers help@pakistanrangerssindh.org, Minister of Interior, Islamabad secretary@interior.gov.pk and ds.admn.moi@gmail.com, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan info@pmo.gov.pk, and cc the PTUS Campaign contact@pakistansolidarity.org.

6. Organise a protest in front of Pakistan embassies or consulates in your city and present a letter to the embassy.

7. Donate to Pakistan Trade Union Solidarity campaign – Appeal.

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