Skip to content Skip to navigation

UN experts urge India to release protest leaders

GENEVA (26 June 2020) – UN experts* today called on India to immediately release human rights defenders who have been arrested for protesting against changes to the nation’s citizenship laws.

“These defenders, many of them students, appear to have been arrested simply because they exercised their right to denounce and protest against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), and their arrest seems clearly designed to send a chilling message to India’s vibrant civil society that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated,” the experts said.

One of the most alarming cases concerns pregnant Delhi student Safoora Zargar, who was detained for over two months having allegedly been kept in conditions equating to solitary confinement, denied regular contact with her family and legal representative, and having not been provided adequate medical care or diet. She was finally granted bail on 23 June 2020, in her sixth month of pregnancy, on humanitarian grounds.

The CAA provides expedited and simplified access to citizenship for people from specific religious minorities from several neighbouring countries but it excludes Muslims. Its adoption in December 2019 provoked nationwide protests by Indians from diverse faiths – including Hindus – who believe it violates the secular foundations of India’s constitution.

Many of the 11 individual cases* include serious allegations of human rights violations, several relating to due process failings during arrest and detention, as well as allegations of torture and ill-treatment.

“Authorities should immediately release all human rights defenders who are currently being held in pre-trial detention without sufficient evidence, often simply on the basis of speeches they made criticising the discriminatory nature of the CAA,” they said.

The experts also highlighted their concern that the authorities’ response to the protests seemed discriminatory. It appears they have not similarly investigated allegations of incitement to hatred and violence made by CAA supporters, some of whom are reported to have chanted “shoot the traitors” at counter-rallies.

The experts further flagged their concern that authorities were invoking counter-terrorism or national security legislation, and using procedural police powers, to deny bail to protesters and issue charges carrying heavy sentences.

“Although demonstrations ended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and India’s Supreme Court issued a recent order to decongest jails because of health concerns related to the pandemic, protest leaders continue to be detained. The reported spread of the virus in Indian prisons makes their immediate release all the more urgent,” the experts said.

They are in contact with the Government on this matter.

* Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Khalid Saifi, Shifa Ur Rehman, Dr. Kafeel Khan, Sharjeel Imam, Akhil Gogoi.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

A tense situation unfolded at Gauhati University today as students staged a fierce protest against the alleged misbehavior of the university’s examination controller. The demonstration escalated when Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nani Gopal Mahanta, instead of calming the students, was seen sitting on the ground and shouting, “Hit me, hit me!” in a dramatic display of defiance. This behavior further provoked the students, intensifying the unrest on campus. According to sources, the protest erupted after Examination Controller Kandarpa Sharma reportedly mistreated a section of students earlier today, sparking outrage among the Postgraduate Students’ Union (PGSU). During the agitation, the Vice-...
Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar, a journalist associated with a local digital media outlet, has been re-arrested by the Guwahati Police from Central Jail and taken to the Panbazar Police Station. This is in connection with Case No. 111/25, where multiple charges have been filed under sections 329, 324(4), 351(3), 309(4), and 115 of the Indian Penal Code. Notably, Section 309(4) is non-bailable, carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. Additionally, a robbery case has been filed against him for allegedly fleeing with crucial documents from the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank. On March 25, the bank authorities lodged two FIRs, but initially, only one was disclosed by the police....
The state of Assam's healthcare system has come under intense scrutiny following a tragic incident in Nagaon, where a father lost his daughter due to alleged medical negligence. Dr. Surajit Kumar Bhagwat, a spokesperson for Nagaon Medical College, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission after his 21-year-old daughter, Angana Bhardwaj, passed away due to a lack of timely medical care. On December 16, 2024, Angana suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness. Dr. Bhagwat rushed her to a private clinic, Kapili Nursing Home in Nagaon, where treatment was started immediately. However, her condition worsened rapidly, and the clinic, lacking essential emergency equipment like an ECG...
After being released on bail, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Mahbubul Haque, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), at the Chief Minister's residence. This was the first meeting of Sangma after his release from custody. During their meeting, it is reported that the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, discussed the use of unethical methods in examinations. Following the meeting, Haque described the discussion as "important and insightful," noting that the Chief Minister had provided valuable advice. After spending nearly a month in custody, Haque expressed his intention to focus on the education sector at USTM. He emphasized...
In a significant development, six developed countries have imposed travel restrictions on Assam and Northeast India, citing concerns over the region's law and order situation. The countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland. This alarming information was shared by Assam's Tourism Minister, Ranjit Kumar Das, in response to a query by Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed during the Assam Legislative Assembly session on Tuesday. According to the Minister, the decision to impose the ban is primarily due to concerns over the law and order situation in the region. However, he assured that efforts are underway, in coordination with the...
Diabetes is a condition that affects millions, often leaving people tethered to medications and strict blood sugar monitoring for life. At its core, diabetes occurs when the body struggles to transport glucose into muscle cells, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. This can result in serious complications like nerve damage, vision loss, and kidney failure. While conventional treatments focus on controlling blood sugar, a growing movement argues that Type 2 diabetes—the most common form—can be reversed, not just managed. By addressing the root cause, insulin resistance, through diet and fasting, it’s possible to break free from the cycle of medication and reclaim your health....
Senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar was granted bail on Wednesday after being arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (Kamrup) granted the bail, and Mazumdar is expected to be released on Thursday after furnishing the required bonds. Mazumdar was detained late on March 25 after questioning Assam Cooperative Apex Bank’s Managing Director, Dambaru Saikia, during a protest against alleged financial irregularities. His arrest, based on allegations of abusing a security guard, sparked widespread condemnation, with media organizations and opposition parties accusing the BJP-led government of suppressing dissent. Journalists staged...
The Congress party has alleged that an "undeclared emergency" is prevailing in Assam under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government. Speaking at a press conference at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati, AICC Secretary in charge of Assam, Manoj Chauhan, accused the Chief Minister of suppressing constitutional rights and using police forces to target journalists, MPs, and opposition leaders. Chauhan stated that the Congress party will launch a public movement against the oppression and alleged that Sarma has been exerting pressure on all sections of society. “In his obsession with power, the Chief Minister is violating basic rights. The more he tries to suppress dissent, the stronger the...
The Assam Police have arrested senior digital media journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar in Guwahati’s Panbazar, triggering widespread criticism. Allegations suggest that he was arrested after attempting to question Assam Co-operative Apex Bank’s Managing Director Dambaru Saikia regarding a multi-crore recruitment scam. Sequence of Events: The National Youth Power, a youth wing associated with the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP),** was protesting against the alleged scam in the bank. Journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar arrived at the bank premises to cover the protest. He attempted to question the bank’s Managing Director about the scam. Later, the police summoned him to the...
Assam actively participated in Earth Hour 2025 on Saturday, March 22, by switching off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., aligning with the global movement for environmental awareness. The event, organized by WWF-India in collaboration with local partners, also emphasized the importance of water conservation under the theme #BeWaterWise, marking the convergence of Earth Hour with World Water Day. Prominent landmarks across the state, including the Assam Legislative Assembly, Gauhati High Court, Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Dibrugarh, and historical sites like Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, and Charaideo Maidam, participated in the symbolic switch-off. In Guwahati, notable...