Asma Jahangir

Asma Jahangir – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

: Asma Jahangir (1952–2018) was a courageous Pakistani human rights lawyer and activist. Explore her life, struggles for justice, key milestones, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Asma Jilani Jahangir (27 January 1952 – 11 February 2018) was one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights defenders, a fearless lawyer and activist who fought tirelessly for women’s rights, religious minorities, freedom of speech, and rule of law.

Her advocacy transcended national boundaries: she held UN special rapporteur posts, challenged authoritarian regimes, and inspired generations of rights activists around the world. Her life is a testament to moral courage, perseverance, and the conviction that legal structures must protect the most vulnerable.

Early Life and Family

Asma Jahangir was born on 27 January 1952 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Her younger sister, Hina Jilani, would also become a leading human rights lawyer and work closely with Asma in legal and advocacy efforts. Their familial environment fostered a sense that justice, dissent, and service were not optional but essential.

Youth and Education

Asma was educated initially at the Convent of Jesus & Mary, Lahore, a school known for its long-standing presence in the city and for educating many women of influence.

She then pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree at Kinnaird College, Lahore, before studying law at the Punjab University Law College, obtaining her LLB in 1978.

During her student years and early adulthood, she was exposed to the political turbulence of Pakistan under military rule. Her awareness of injustices under authoritarian regimes sharpened, and she resolved to use the law as a tool for defending rights.

Legal Career & Activism

Early Practice & Pioneering Moves

In 1980, Asma and her sister Hina, along with other women lawyers, established AGHS Legal Aid Cell — a pioneering women-run legal practice providing legal aid, especially to marginalized women and minorities.

That same period saw the founding of the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), a pressure group mobilizing resistance against discriminatory legislation — such as the Proposed Law of Evidence (which would reduce the evidentiary weight of women’s testimony) and the Hudood Ordinances (laws that, among other effects, criminalized adultery/fornication in ways critics argued victimized women).

Asma’s legal practice was not just symbolic. She took on high-stakes human rights cases, defended women accused under discriminatory laws, and challenged state actions before courts.

Leadership in Human Rights Organizations

In 1987, Asma co-founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), serving first as Secretary-General and later as its Chairperson. Under her leadership, it became one of Pakistan’s most credible civil society institutions.

She also engaged internationally: Asma took on roles in global networks, contributed to UN panels, and served in UN special rapporteur positions. From 2004 to 2010 she was the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and later she was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran (in 2016) until her death.

Confronting Repression & Mobilizing the Long Fight

Asma’s activism subjected her to persecution: arrests, house arrest, threats, attacks, and harassment were recurring hazards. Under General Pervez Musharraf’s emergency in November 2007, she was placed under house arrest.

She was a leading figure in the Lawyers’ Movement, which resisted undue executive interference in the judiciary and advocated for rule of law.

Asma also consistently challenged discriminatory laws — such as blasphemy laws and the Hudood Ordinances — and defended victims of honor killings, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial actions.

Notably, she defended a 14-year-old Christian boy wrongly accused of blasphemy, securing his freedom, and later faced violent backlash for doing so.

She also spearheaded legal challenges to family laws, protection of children, religious minorities, and constitutional safeguards.

Historical Context & Challenges

• Asma’s career spanned decades when Pakistan oscillated between civilian and military rule, with repeated suppression of dissent, limitations on the judiciary, and intense pressures on civil society.

• The Islamization policies under General Zia-ul-Haq (1977–1988) introduced legislation (e.g. Hudood laws) that disproportionately affected women and religious minorities; Asma’s advocacy directly contested those.

• The rise of extremism, sectarian violence, and use of blasphemy laws created a perilous environment for rights defenders.

• The weakening of institutional checks (judiciary, media, independent oversight) made her legal challenges even more vital—and dangerous.

Amid all that, Asma worked not just as a reactive defender, but attempted to build institutions and legal norms that would outlast any one government.

Legacy and Influence

Asma Jahangir’s legacy is vast:

1. Human Rights Icon
   She is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s most visible and courageous human rights advocates.

2. Institution Builder
   The AGHS Legal Aid Cell and HRCP continue their work, carrying forward models of legal aid, documentation, and advocacy.

3. Global Recognition & Awards
   Throughout her lifetime, Asma received numerous international honors:

   • Ramon Magsaysay Award (2005)

   • Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (1995)

   • UNESCO / Bilbao Prize for Human Rights

   • Hilal-i-Imtiaz (a high civilian honor in Pakistan, conferred in 2010)

   • Posthumously, awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award (2018)

4. Inspiration for Activists
   Her life continues to inspire human rights defenders in South Asia and beyond—her courage in the face of threats remains a moral example.

5. Continuing Forums & Memorials
   The Asma Jahangir Conference, organized by AGHS Legal Aid Cell, is one of the region’s largest rights and legal conferences, drawing experts, lawyers, journalists, and activists.

Personality, Traits & Approach

• Fearlessness & Tenacity: Her readiness to take on unpopular causes, powerful interests, and entrenched structures, even at personal risk, defined her public persona.

• Legalistic yet Compassionate: She combined rigorous legal reasoning with deep empathy for the marginalized.

• Bridge Builder: She worked across religious divides, defended minorities, and insisted that religious laws not be used to silence dissent or target vulnerable groups.

• Witty & Sharp Tongue: Many who encountered her legal arguments or public speeches noted her crisp logic and sharp repartee, even in high-stakes confrontations.

• Resilience: Repeated threats, violence, and repression did not deter her; she continued working until her last days.

Famous Quotes by Asma Jahangir

Here is a selection of memorable quotes reflecting her convictions and spirit:

“If state protects the rights of people, they start respecting the state.”

“I cannot bear to live where there is so much injustice and I cannot do something about it. What kind of a torturous life is that?”

“In bonded labour cases, judges would ask me why I had brought those people to the courts who stank. ‘You are here precisely for them,’ I would respond.”

“There have always been difficult situations for activists in Pakistan.”

“When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first … that said they would not accept the Musharraf regime.”

“A lot of people stop short … they say, ‘Right I’m old, and I’m going to retire,’ and then they dwindle into nothing.” (Though often attributed differently, versions of this sentiment circulate among her public remarks.)

These statements show her insistence that rights are meaningful only when enforced, that justice requires personal commitment, and that public institutions must be accountable.

Lessons from Asma Jahangir

From her life and work, some key lessons emerge:

1. Courage with purpose
   Standing up for the marginalized often requires risking reputation, safety, and comfort. Asma’s life shows that moral purpose can sustain that courage.

2. Law as a tool for justice
   She demonstrated how legal training and institutions, when deployed with conviction, can challenge power and effect change—even in sluggish or hostile systems.

3. Institutional longevity matters
   Beyond individual cases, she built lasting institutions (HRCP, AGHS) that continue the work beyond her lifetime.

4. Intersectionality of issues
   She did not limit herself to any single cause: gender rights, religious freedom, children’s rights, due process, minority protection—all these interconnected issues were part of her portfolio.

5. Voice must accompany action
   She matched her public voice (speeches, criticism, advocacy) with ground-level legal work. She never allowed her activism to be mere posturing.

Conclusion

Asma Jahangir remains a towering figure in the struggle for human dignity. In a world where speaking truth to power can be a dangerous act, she invested her intellect, moral clarity, and personal risk into defending those silenced by laws or by society. Her legacy endures in the lives she touched, the institutions she forged, and the ideals she held fast to even in adversity.