New Delhi: Protests held in several Indian cities over the arrest of human rights activist Teesta Setalvad, who attempted to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared complicit in deadly sectarian riots in Gujarat 20 years ago.
Mumbai Press Club expressed “shock and dismay” at the arrest, calling for an end to the “politics of vengeance”. Human Rights Watch has urged Indian authorities to immediately release the prominent human rights activist Teesta Setalvad, drop all charges against her and stop their relentless attacks against her.
Director South Asia at Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly said, “These arrests are clearly reprisals for pursuing justice for victims of the Gujarat riots and attempting to hold those who were in power accountable.”
A Human Rights Watch 2002 report on the riots found that the Gujarat authorities failed to take adequate steps to end the violence and had interfered in investigations by targeting activists.
In 2005, US government denied Modi a diplomatic visa to visit US and revoked his existing 10-year business or tourist visa, citing violations of religious freedom.
UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor described Setalvad as “a strong voice against hatred and discrimination”.
Lawlor reiterated that defending human rights was not a crime as she urged the Indian authorities to release Setalvad and put “an end to [her] persecution by Indian state”.
A collective of human rights organizations has said that India will have to face questions on its handling of human rights defenders, at the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva in November 2022.
Calling for the “immediate release” of activist Teesta Setalvad, Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) said that a number of UN Human Rights representatives had urged India to ensure the safety of human rights defenders.
A statement from the WGHR said, “As India is to appear before the UN Human Rights Council for its fourth review under the UN’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2022, the government will be required to respond to the comments and recommendations from UN member states on the issue of human rights defenders”. WGHR said, systematic targeting of human rights defenders by the Indian state must stop.” Web Desk
