New Delhi: Two boys, Mohammed Sameer and Mohammed Saif, were shot in 2020, during deadly riots in the Indian capital territory of Delhi.
They were 15 and 16 years old, two of the hundreds of victims of Delhi’s worst anti-Muslim violence in more than 30 years.
On the eve of 23rd February, three years have passed since deadly riots broke out in Northeast Delhi between Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and pro-CAA protestors.
The violence took a communal turn and led to the death of over 60 people over the course of next 10 days. More than 200 people were injured. Shops and houses were burnt down and even places of worship were attacked.
Hate speeches by right-wing leaders sparked the riots but police have taken no action against them. Amnesty International has made responsible Indian police “committed serious human rights violations” during deadly religious riots in Delhi 2020.
Police had arrested civil rights activists, teachers and students, most of them Muslim. “Not even a single political leader that made hate speeches, which advocated violence in the build-up to the riots has been prosecuted.”
Amnesty report recommended an independent inquiry into the allegations. Several other reports had also raised questions over police conduct during the riots. A report by the Delhi Minorities Commission exposed that Police allowed Muslim homes and shops to be targeted by mobs.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed concern over the Delhi riots and requested India to give protection to people, no matter which faith they belonged to. Turkish President Erdogan criticized the violence, saying: “India right now has become a country where massacres are widespread. What massacres? Massacres of Muslims. By who? Hindus”. Delhi riots attracted heavy criticism from various members of Parliament from House of Commons of UK.
They criticized Modi government on Delhi violence and CAA. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also asked Indian government to confront extremist Hindus and their parties and stop massacre of Muslims of India in order to prevent India’s isolation from the world of Islam.
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