USCIRF has also condemned “religious violence” against protesters in UP and across India
India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 24— International human rights groups have strongly condemned use of unnecessary lethal force against demonstrators protesting a law that discriminates against Muslims. They have specifically named Uttar Pradesh where at least 16 people have been killed during protests against controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and NRC exercise in the last one week.
“The Indian authorities should cease using unnecessary lethal force against demonstrators protesting a law that discriminates against Muslims,” said Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday.
Since protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act began on December 12, 2019, at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds have been arrested, the rights group said.
“Police have used excessive force only against demonstrators protesting the law, including many students. All the deaths have occurred in states governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): 18 in Uttar Pradesh, 5 in Assam, and 2 in Karnataka. Most of those killed have been Muslims, including an 8-year-old boy in Uttar Pradesh. Scores of police officers have been injured. The authorities have also used a colonial-era law, internet shutdowns, and limits on public transportation to prevent peaceful anti-citizenship law protests. The police have, however, not interfered with demonstrators supporting the law, including ruling party leaders who have advocated violence,” said HRW.
“Indian police, in many areas, have been cracking down on anti-citizenship law protests with force, including unnecessary deadly force,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director of HRW. “The authorities should prosecute violent protesters, but they also need to hold police officers to account for using excessive force.”
“Most of the violence by protesters and the police has been in Uttar Pradesh state. There, the chief minister vowed “revenge” against protesters, saying, “All properties of those involved in damaging public assets will be seized and auctioned to compensate for the losses.” Soon after, the state authorities cracked down on Muzaffarnagar district and sealed nearly 70 shops without providing a legal basis.”
On December 21, Uttar Pradesh police said that they had arrested over 700 people and preventively detained more than 4,500 others, who were released after warnings. Several others have been arrested since then. Those arrested face serious charges including attempted murder, rioting armed with a deadly weapon, unlawful assembly, assaulting public servants, and criminal intimidation.
“Uttar Pradesh police have detained several activists, including Mohammad Shoaib, a Lucknow-based lawyer, and S R Darapuri, a retired police officer. The Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey was placed under house arrest. His wife, Arundhati Dhuru, and activists Meera Sanghamitra and Madhvi Kukreja were detained for several hours when they went to the police station to inquire about Shoaib. On December 21, the Allahabad High Court, acting on a habeas corpus petition for Shoaib’s release, ordered the state police to produce arrest documents as well as proof that Shoaib was medically examined as per the legal procedures,” the HRW said.
Govt. Should Revoke CAA, Demands HRW
“Indian authorities should ensure that security forces comply with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The government should also revoke the Citizenship Amendment Act, which violates India’s international obligations to prevent deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin as found in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other human rights treaties,” it said.
“The Indian government should address the legitimate concerns over the citizenship law and national register of citizens that will be used to target marginalized groups,” Ganguly said. “The often violent repression of those critical of government undermines any claims that the authorities are responding to the situation in an impartial manner.”
Stop Criminalizing Peaceful Protests: Amnesty
Amnesty International has also condemned the new citizenship law and police crackdown on protests against it.
“Dear Government of India, stop criminalizing peaceful protests. Start listening to your citizens, the world is watching,” Amnesty said.
On December 19 when protests in UP turned violent and police used excessive force against the protesters, the rights group said: “The Citizenship Amendment Act is a bigoted law that legitimises discrimination on the basis of religion. The people of the country have the right to protest against this law peacefully and express their views. However, rather than respecting, protecting and promoting this right, the Central government in Delhi and various state governments are clamping down on protestors by using repressive laws.”
Amnesty demanded: “Central and state governments across India must stop the crackdown on peaceful protestors who are protesting against the discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Dissent is our human right.”
Meanwhile on Tuesday, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also condemned “religious violence in UP and across India” and called on the Narendra Modi government officials and law enforcement agencies “to stop use of force on those exercising right to express concern about CAB, CAA and expansion of NRC.”
