South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, condemns the violence taking place in Delhi where the Muslim community has been especially targeted for the past four days and urges the Central and Delhi Governments to take immediate action to curb the situation, restore peace and bring the perpetrators before the law.
SAHR is alarmed at the mounting death toll, the thousands who have been injured and numerous destruction of private and public property and assets due to the clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) factions. During these incidents journalists have been harassed and there are reports on the inaction of the police force, aiding and abetting the perpetrators and using force against sections of civilians.
SAHR expresses serious concerns over the silence of the central government as well as the Delhi government which in turn has given a wrong signal to the perpetrators to continue with the mayhem.
Millions of people have demonstrated and widespread protests erupted across the country killing more than 25 people and leaving thousands in police detention since the CAA was passed in December, which provides a route to citizenship to members of six religious minority communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—but not for Muslims. The new law is a grave threat to India’s traditions as a secular and inclusive nation and has made India an unsafe place for marginalised communities and human rights workers.
Therefore, we call upon both the Central and Delhi governments to take immediate action against the perpetrators, prevent further attacks on minorities, investigate deliberate police inaction and immediately take steps to repeal the CAA.
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights,
Sultana Kamal
Chairperson
Mohamed Latheef
Co-chairperson
27.02.2020