Many members of the civil society all over India are pouring in to condemn the police action on the protesters for justice for Asifa. We are producing a joint statement issued by concerned citizens:
`The Kerala police arrested close to a thousand people on April 16, 2018 in connection with the harthal seeking Justice for Asifa. Several youths have been arrested and charged with non-bailable offences. Arrested youths belonged to various organizations including CPM, Muslim League, Congress and SDPI and many others did not belong to any organization.
The effort was to highlight the rape of Asifa and democratically protest against the Sangh Parivar forces seeking for justice. Accusing the protesters of creating communal tension is highly condemnable. While it is understood that the law must be upheld during harthals, accusing the protesters of communal polarization and arresting them on non – bailable charges is discriminatory and unethical.
It is evident that the leaders of political parties in Kerala including the CPI(M) are backing the Sangh Parivar notions that the protest for Asifa is against the Hindu society. There is an apparent lack of democratic growth to accept protests and gatherings that are conducted outside the conventional organizational frameworks or political backing. The Sangh Parivar forces have exaggerated the reports of violence during the day of harthal, and as such there needs to be an immediate release of all the accused arrested in the Malabar region during the last two days. Reducing democratic protests and gatherings as mere tools for political gains, and demonizing people’s protest is dangerous. We demand that the state and police will rely on evidence on such matters, and withdraw from violating the human rights and freedom of expression of the citizens’
Endorsed by:
1.BRP Bhaskar, writer/journalist
2. Dr. TT Sreekumar, EFLU
3. Abdurahman, Editor
4. C.P. John, Former MLA
5. Dr. AK Ramakrishnan, Professor, JNU
6. Dr. B. Rajeevan, Writer
- J. Devika, Researcher
- NP Chekkooty, Writer
- CK Abdul Aziz
- K. Ambujakshan, Activist.
- CR Neelakandan, Aam Admi Party
12. Shaik Muhammad Karakkunnu, Spiritul leader - Jithendrian Charvakan, Media Activist
- B.S. Sherin
- K.K. Baburaj
16. GRO Vasu, Human Rights Activist - P. Baburaj, Film Maker
18. Jeny Rovina - Hamid Vaniambalam, Writer
20. Binu Mathew, Editor,
21. Prof. MT Ansari
22, Salina Prakkanam
23. Rekha Raj, Human Rights Activist
24. Geethanandan, Activist
25, Sudesh M. Raghu
26. Prof. Hani Babu
27. Sreeja Neyyattinkara
28. Dr. Narayanan M. Shankaran
29. Anoop V.R.
30. Advocate K.K. Preetha
31. Dr. Varsha Basheer
32/ A. S. Ajith Kumar
33. S. Irshad
34. Roopesh Kumar
35. Afida Ahammed
36. M. Joseph John
37. P.M. Swalih
38. Gopal Menon, Film Maker
38, Nikhila Henri, Jounalist
40. C.T. Suhaib
41. M. Jisha, Film Activist - Abhilash Padacheri
- Dr. Ranjith Thankappan , Professor, EFL University
- Susie Tharu , Professor, Anveshi Research Centre, Hyderabad
- Ansar Abubakar, National president, Fraternity Movement, New Delhi
46, Muthuvel, Writer and Translator, Chennai
- Nikhila Henry, Journalist , Hyderabad
- K P Sasi, Film Maker
- Prof. Jeny rowena
- Prof. M t ansari
- Sreerag Poickadan, President, Students Union, University of Hyderabad
- Ashique Rasool , Joint Secretary, Students Union , University of Hyderabad
- Sannaki Munna , President, Ambedkar Students Association
- Natasha Khan, Law Student, Chattisgarh.
- Sowmya Dechamma, Associate Professor, university of Hyderabad
- Abdullah Asim , Vice President, Students Union , Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
- Srutheesh Kannadi, General Secretary, Ambedkar Students Association
- Nadeem Khan, United Against Hate, New Delhi
- Ansar Abubakar, National president, Fraternity Movement, New Delhi
- Mrudula Bhavani, Activist, Kerala
- Abhijith , Research Scholar, Cultural Studies, EFLU Hyderabad
- Dr Narayanan M Shankaran, Lecturer, WMO College Wayanad, Kerala
- Praveena Thaali, Research Scholar, University of Hyderabad
- Dontha Prashanth , Research scholar, University of Hyderabad
65, Thahir Jamal, Research scholar,
University of Hyderabad
66, Manasi , Research scholar, University of Hyderabad
- Alice Abraham, Research scholar,
University of Hyderabad - Anas Vithura, Research Scholar, University of Hyderabad
69, Shyamolie Singh, Research scholar, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Dr. B Ravichandran, Post – Doctoral Fellow, University of Western Cape, South Africa
- Thalleppalli Praveen , President, Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, JNU, New Delhi
- Heba Ahmed, Convenor, Youth for Discussions and Welfare Activities, JNU, New Delhi
- K Ashraf , Research Scholar, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Ummul Fayiza, Research Scholar, Centre for Political Studies, JNU, New Delhi
- AP Muhammed Afsal, Journalist, Qatar
- Shaheen K Moidunny, University of Leads, UK
- 78. K K Suhail, Quill Foundation, New Delhi
- Thalleppalli Praveen, President, Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, JNU
- Umar Khalid , JNU
- Heba Ahmed, Convenor, Youth for discussions and Welfare Activities, JNU
- Asad Ashraf , Senior Journalist, New Delhi
- Arpita Jaya, Research Scholar, University of Hyderabad
- Nahas Mala, President, Students Islamic Organization of India