New Delhi: Amnesty International said on Tuesday that India must immediately end its “malicious” crackdown on Islamic people on the streets to protest remarks about the ruling party’s prophet Mohammed.
Last week, two demonstrators were killed and hundreds were arrested in a national protest over comments.
Images of bulldozers destroying the homes of those arrested or identified as protesters have since spread on social media.
Authorities are “selectively and maliciously cracking down on Muslims who dare to speak against the discrimination they face,” Amnesty International’s Aker Patel said in a statement.
“The crackdown on protesters with excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, and disciplinary demolition of houses … is a complete breach of India’s commitments under international human rights law.”
More than 300 people were arrested in northern Uttar Pradesh for attending a rally last week.
The state’s prime minister, firefighter Yogi Aditianas, is one of India’s most prominent Hindu nationalist politicians and is known for his inter-denominational rhetoric against India’s 200 million strong Muslim minorities. Has been done.
Adityanas has repeatedly called on authorities to destroy the homes of those accused of crimes. Critics of the recommendation state that they violate the constitutional and human rights law prohibitions on collective punishment.
Amnesty International demands “immediate and unconditional release” of detained protesters, and Patel states that arrest and demolition are “part of the alarming escalation of state measures for Muslims.” Stated.
Since taking office nationwide in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been accused of supporting discriminatory policies against Islam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has proposed a controversial law that gives Indian refugees prompt citizenship, but not for Muslims. Meanwhile, the state’s BJP government has passed a law that makes marriage between religions difficult.
There were quite a few demonstrations in cities around India on Friday, with crowds burning portraits of BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma, whose comments on the television debate caused the turmoil.
Sharma was suspended by a party that issued a statement of respect for all religions, but governments in nearly 20 Muslim-dominated countries called on India’s envoy to register disapproval.
On Friday, there were also massive protests in neighboring countries, and police estimated that more than 100,000 people were mobilized across Bangladesh after noon prayers.
An additional 5,000 people went to the streets of the Pakistani city of Lahore, demanding that their government take stronger action against India in response to their comments.
