Human Rights

NSS protest outside Kalyansinghpur PS on August 6.

Stop State Repression Against Protesters Against Bauxite Mining in Odisha

“The rule of law does not do away with the unequal distribution of wealth and power, but reinforces that inequality with the authority of law.  It allocates wealth and poverty in such complicated and indirect ways as to leave the victims bewildered.” – Howard Zinn Since the first week of August, in Raygada, Kalahandi and Koraput districts, there has been[Read More…]

by 15/09/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
An urgent inquiry be conducted into the attempted kidnapping of Prafulla Samantara

An urgent inquiry be conducted into the attempted kidnapping of Prafulla Samantara

It has been 13 days since Shri Prafulla Samantara, a prominent environmentalist, writer and socialist thinker of the state, was kidnapped from a hotel in Rayagada town on August 29. Of course, he was subsequently released on same day. Despite all the newspapers and electronic-media clearly indicated that the abductors were the state police themselves, it is neither being investigated[Read More…]

by 09/09/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Children in Police Watch Houses: A Nasty Queensland Experiment

Children in Police Watch Houses: A Nasty Queensland Experiment

They really are a brutal lot.  While the Queensland Labor Government croons on matters regarding rights, liberties and, it should be said, the plight of the First Nations Peoples, its policy, notably on youth detention, is a contradictory abomination.  This situation finds itself repeated across the country, though the Sunshine State, as it is sometimes called, does it better than[Read More…]

by 08/09/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
PUCL Condemns The Raid of the House of Seema Azad

PUCL Condemns The Raid of the House of Seema Azad

*The PUCL demands the closure and halting of investigation of the NIA FIR, RC-01/2023/NIA/LKW, based on which raids in 8 locations of 5 districts of UP were undertaken today* *All the devices and books of Seema Azad, National secretary of the PUCL and similarly of others seized by the NIA be returned immediately* *PUCL demands from the MHA to stop[Read More…]

by 06/09/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the NIA raid on Democratic, Farmer student and anti-displacement activists in East Uttar Pradesh

Condemn the NIA raid on Democratic, Farmer student and anti-displacement activists in East Uttar Pradesh

Since the morning of 5th September 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been raiding the offices of Bhagat Singh Students Morcha (BSM) in Benaras Hindu University. Simultaneously, NIA has raided the homes of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) State President Seema Azad, her partner and advocate Vishwavijay, advocate Soni Azad and organiser of a workers’ organisation Ritesh Vidyarthi[Read More…]

by 05/09/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NSS protest outside Kalyansinghpur PS on August 6.

Extend solidarity to the agitating Adivasis of South Odisha

A call to the people of India for solidarity with agitating Adivasis to halt repression by Police and Company Sponsored Goons in South Odisha *********** “Save Our Sacred Lands and Mountains!! Stop Their Destruction in the Name of Development!” In the wake of World Indigenous Day on 9th August, when local Adivasi and Dalit communities of the mountainous, bauxite-rich region of South Odisha, particularly, parts of undivided Koraput and[Read More…]

by 30/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan activist Nitin arrested in Burhanpur

Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan activist Nitin arrested in Burhanpur

In the continuing assault on Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, on 28.08.23, Nitin, an activist of Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan has been arrested after being implicated in a false case. This is the latest in a series of attacks by the Madhya Pradesh government against Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan over the past few months. The Sangathan, in addition to campaigning for[Read More…]

by 30/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NSS protest outside Kalyansinghpur PS on August 6.

UAPA cases on Niyamgiri adivasis and activists invites national outrage

Hundreds write open letter to Odisha CM: Call for revocation of arbitrary cases; Seek end to repression and corporate-loot   22nd Aug, 2023: Hundreds of well-known activists, citizens and people’s organizations from across the country expressed outrage at the imposition of UAPA cases against 9 adivasis and activists of the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti (NSS), which spearheaded the historic struggle against[Read More…]

by 24/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NSS protest outside Kalyansinghpur PS on August 6.

Condemn Slapping of UAPA on Activists of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti

Campaign Against State Repression strongly Condemns Slapping of UAPA on Activists of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti to suppress People’s movement against corporate loot On 6th August 2023, the Odisha police lodged an FIR against nine people associated with the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti (NSS) under charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the Indian Penal Code. The charges came a day[Read More…]

by 19/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
ID card of Arjun - Courtesy CJP

The killing of Arjun and a father’s bid for justice

  In a stirring speech to his fellow lawyers on the occasion of Independence Day, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, underscored the importance of eliminating the barriers to accessing justice and said the history of the Indian judiciary has been the history of the daily struggles of the Indian people…He said the “law exudes human interest and responds positively to[Read More…]

by 17/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NSS protest outside Kalyansinghpur PS on August 6.

Withdraw UAPA cases against leaders, activists and supporters of the movement led by Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti

SUB:  Withdrawal of UAPA cases against leaders, activists and supporters of the movement led by Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti and unconditional release of Krushna Sikaka. On 5th August, 2023 two youth activists, namely, Krushna Sikaka (village Patangpadar) and Bari Sikaka (village Lakhpadar) of Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti (NSS) had been to Lanjigarh haat of Kalahandi district. Their purpose was to meet villagers[Read More…]

by 12/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
PUDR welcomes the release of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on bail, but protests onerous  bail conditions

PUDR welcomes the release of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on bail, but protests onerous  bail conditions

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) welcomes the Supreme Court order granting bail on merits and release of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, two of the accused in the infamous Bhima Koregaon case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In a significant judgement, on 28 July 2023, the top court granted bail for two primary reasons: the fact that[Read More…]

by 06/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Time to observe August 7 as “GN Saibaba Day”

Time to observe August 7 as “GN Saibaba Day”

Let’s make the world’s so-called largest democracy accountable for incarcerating a disabled scholar. A wheelchair-bound former Delhi University Professor, who is struggling with multiple ailments, is serving a life sentence under trumped up charges, for merely questioning the power and standing up for the poor and marginalized, as well as for the religious minorities who are being persecuted in India.[Read More…]

by 06/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release A.Vasu Unconditionally

Release A.Vasu Unconditionally

The 94-year-old Ayinoor Vasu, a veteran communist, trade union leader and human rights activist has been arrested and sent to jail on July 29, 2023 in connection with a protest against the extrajudicial killings of two Maoists activists in Kerala seven years ago. The jailing of the nonagenarian activist better known as Vasu Ettan (Vasu the elder) in a seven-year-old[Read More…]

by 05/08/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
How prisoner-led organizing saved my life

How prisoner-led organizing saved my life

Joining the Black Prisoners Caucus helped me find direction and the opportunity to serve my community while serving a life-without-parole sentence. To survive in prison, inmates usually accept a “convict code” that demands toughness and makes us wary of others. To thrive in prison, I learned to embrace organizing for social change and discovered the rewards in thinking of others[Read More…]

by 31/07/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
After two years, Land Rights activist Comrade Batakrushna Swain is released from Jail!

After two years, Land Rights activist Comrade Batakrushna Swain is released from Jail!

Convenor of Upakuliya Jami o Jangal Surakhya Samiti (Coastal Land and Forest Protection Committee) and leading activist of Sipasarubali Land Rights Movement, Comrade Batakrushna Swain, was released after two years from Puri Jail in Odisha on July 22, 2023.  After being detained under 19 serious criminal charges and the National Security Act (NSA), Comrade Batakrushna Swain finally got bail in[Read More…]

by 27/07/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Ahead of Independence Day, India Should Release Several Wrongly Arrested Activists

Ahead of Independence Day, India Should Release Several Wrongly Arrested Activists

India has a very rich tradition of opposing wrongly arrested persons, going back to the days of the freedom movement, when hundreds of thousands of freedom fighters including such legendary leaders as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Badshah Khan and Subhash Bose were arrested time and again by colonial rulers. Despite all the repression and cruelty of colonial rule,[Read More…]

by 21/07/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop Criminalising Human Rights Work in Manipur: PUCL

Stop Criminalising Human Rights Work in Manipur: PUCL

PUCL Demands from the Manipur Government: Stop Criminalising Human Rights Work! Respect the fundamental rights of citizens to conduct Fact Finding Enquiries and publish their reports for public discussion.  Immediately withdraw FIR against Annie Raja, Nisha Siddhu & Deeksha Dwivedi of NFIW for releasing Fact Finding report after Manipur visit. Drop all criminal charges against Prof. Kham Khan Suan Hausing[Read More…]

by 10/07/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hiramani Munda (Asha Di) has been convicted with life imprisonment with fabricated charges

Hiramani Munda (Asha Di) has been convicted with life imprisonment with fabricated charges

Hiramani Munda (Asha Di) has been convicted with life imprisonment in the ‘NIA and ATS Special Court, Lucknow’ on 9th June 2023 under different sections of UAPA and section 120B, 121, 121A of IPC. Asha Di has been fabricated with charges of sedition. Aged 53, she integrated with the democratic and left movement from her very youth. Asha Di has[Read More…]

by 29/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Nauru’s Refugee Stain: Australia’s Continued Offshore Processing Regime

Nauru’s Refugee Stain: Australia’s Continued Offshore Processing Regime

The last refugee, for now, has left the small, guano-producing state of Nauru.  For a decade, the Pacific Island state served as one of Australia’s offshore prisons for refugees and asylum seekers, a cruel deterrent to those daring to exercise their right to seek asylum via the sea. Since July 2013, 3,127 people making the naval journey to Australia to[Read More…]

by 28/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Canada Decodes Law and Justice to Torture Prisoners in Solitary Confinement: The Case of Mohammad Momin Khawaja

Canada Decodes Law and Justice to Torture Prisoners in Solitary Confinement: The Case of Mohammad Momin Khawaja

Imagine that you are incarcerated for 20 years of which you had spent 1400 days in a solitary cell having no contacts with anyone except your prison guard. Imagine that while serving the time in a federal prison you were viciously attacked by fellow inmates in which major parts of your body got burned and yet no investigation was conducted[Read More…]

by 28/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fabricated charges on Brazil Peasant Leader Luzivaldo de Souza Araújo and brother Roelio  

Fabricated charges on Brazil Peasant Leader Luzivaldo de Souza Araújo and brother Roelio  

Democrats worldwide should in no uncertain terms defend the freedom of Brazilian peasant Luzivaldo de Souza Araújo, 42 years old, and his brother Robélio, 30 years old.They  are languishing behind in prison unjustly since 2019, being framed of staging a conspiracy, where the big landlords are in complete control of the region. Peasant Luzivaldo de Souza Araújo and his brother[Read More…]

by 28/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Human Rights’ Precise Violation in Sub-judice Matters: Some Reflections

Human Rights’ Precise Violation in Sub-judice Matters: Some Reflections

by Dr Mohit Kumar Gupta & Ashish Kumar Singh Human Rights are the ‘legal soul’ of an individual. If perhaps they could be made ‘soul’ only. The violation of these rights in any of the ways, be it either their brazen negligence by the State machinery or any loophole in their enforcement through the court of law necessarily carries consequences[Read More…]

by 27/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Blatant use of UAPA by Telangana Police to suppress dissenting voices

Blatant use of UAPA by Telangana Police to suppress dissenting voices

The draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has once again been invoked, this time in Tadwai, Telangana against an astonishing number of 152 activists and intellectuals, which includes retired Prof. G. Haragopal, Prof. Gaddam Laxman and Prof. Padmaja Shaw. What is more ridiculous and serious at the same time is that Late Justice H. Suresh also finds mention in the accused[Read More…]

by 21/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NAPM writes to Telengana CM to revoke the FIR filed against 152 activists  including a deceased judge

NAPM writes to Telengana CM to revoke the FIR filed against 152 activists  including a deceased judge

To, Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister, Telangana Hyderabad. Sub: Seeking closure of FIR No. 152/2022 and upholding the rights of democratic activists and movements in Telangana. Sir, We the undersigned, representing various people’s organizations and state chapters associated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), an all-india forum of social movements, are writing to you in the light[Read More…]

by 19/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release activists incarcerated in Bhima Koregaon Case

Release activists incarcerated in Bhima Koregaon Case

June 6th became a day of one of the most audacious attack by the Brahmanical Hindutva Fascist state on the Democratic rights and political activists and began new era of rampant use of UAPA and conspiracy cases, which was, although known to the working class, the peasantry and the oppressed, have been largely unknown to the Urban democratic movement. June[Read More…]

by 07/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Five years behind bars for five activists

Five years behind bars for five activists

Without bail, without charges being framed, without justice! Release all 15-surviving accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. June 6, 2023 will mark five years that five activists are behind bars. They include Mahesh Raut, an anti-displacement campaigner, Rona Wilson, a political prisoners’ campaigner, Shoma Sen, a feminist activist and professor, Sudhir Dhawale, a Dalit rights activist and Surendra Gadling, a[Read More…]

by 06/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Five Years Since The First Arrests In Bhima-Koregaon Case

Five Years Since The First Arrests In Bhima-Koregaon Case

6th June 2018. The nation’s conscience suffered yet another attack by the arrests of leading intellectuals and democratic rights activists by the Pune police in connection with the so-called Bhima-Koregaon (BK) case. These arrests snowballed into a series of arrests in subsequent months. Five years have passed, and barring a few activists out on bail, the arrested persons are still languishing in jail without a[Read More…]

by 06/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Inquiring into the action taken and justice delivered on the matter of police firing on protestors in Tuticorin

Inquiring into the action taken and justice delivered on the matter of police firing on protestors in Tuticorin

  To Mr. M. K. Stalin Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai Email ID: cmo@tn.gov.in Dear Sir, This memorandum is being submitted by the jury members of the fact-finding team, set up in the name of People’s Inquest, to inquire into the Tuticorin Police Firing, which resulted in the publication of a five-part report entitled, ‘The day Tuticorin[Read More…]

by 17/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
There is room for Fascism in Democracy: Siddique Kappan

There is room for Fascism in Democracy: Siddique Kappan

Siddique Kappan, a 43-year-old Malayali journalist and Delhi unit secretary of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists was arrested near Mathura toll plaza on October 5th, 2020, with student activists Atikur Rahman and Masood Ahmad, and the cab’s driver, Mohammad Alam. He was en route to Hathras to report on the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl (the[Read More…]

by 07/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Image Credits- Ye_Jinghan, Unsplash

Mental Health of Prisoners—An issue of Deep Concern but also Persistent Neglect

“Look here, Al, I’ll tell ya one thing– the jail house is jus’ a kind a way a drivin’ a guy slowly nuts. See? An’ they go nuts, an’ you see ‘em an’ hear ‘em, and pretty soon you don’ know if you are nuts or not. When they get to screamin’ in the night sometimes you think it’s you[Read More…]

by 05/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
World Press Freedom Day Rally held outside Indian visa office in Canada

World Press Freedom Day Rally held outside Indian visa office in Canada

A Metro Vancouver-based online magazine organized a demonstration to draw global attention to the ongoing suppression of press freedom in the world’s so-called largest democracy, in Surrey on Wednesday, May 3. Radical Desi had given the call for a protest rally outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center on World Press Freedom Day. The event was started with homage[Read More…]

by 05/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Dead Man Walking: One Poet’s Struggle for Freedom of Speech in Bangladesh

Dead Man Walking: One Poet’s Struggle for Freedom of Speech in Bangladesh

On the 26th of April 2023, Mohammad Mofijul Islam, the officer in charge of the Jatrabari police station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in Bangladesh, recorded a general diary alleging that I, William Gomes, a freelance journalist and Bangladeshi living in the UK, committed a crime under Section 21 of the DSA. The general diary accused me of engaging in propaganda[Read More…]

by 04/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the raid on activists in Jharkhand by NIA

Condemn the raid on activists in Jharkhand by NIA

CASR vehemently condemns the raid on anti-displacement activist Damodar Turi, Jailed Journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh and Majdoor Sangthan Samiti (MSS) activists Bacha Singh, Nageshwar Mahto, and Sanjay Turi. On 2th May 2023, NIA raided the houses of several activists in various places of Jharkhand. The series of raid started early morning around 5 am , with the first house being[Read More…]

by 04/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Human Rights Situation in the Indian Sub Continent

The Human Rights Situation in the Indian Sub Continent

An unabridged version of the Presentation made in the 36th session of UNHRC Mr.President, I come from a Tamil culture which proclaims to the world யா A ஊேர யாவ¶A ேகளnJ “Yaadhum Oore Yavarum KeLir”, meaning “the world is one and all are my kith and kin”. I also come from a sub continent which is proud of its diversity. Diversity[Read More…]

by 03/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Freedom of Expression: Driver for All other Human Rights

Freedom of Expression: Driver for All other Human Rights

Joseph Stiglitz, the 2001 Nobel Prize recipient in Economic Sciences said, “Free speech and a free press not only make abuses of governmental powers less likely; they also enhance the likelihood that people’s basic social needs will be met. Secrecy reduces the information available to the citizenry, hobbling people’s ability to participate meaningfully. Essentially, meaningful participation in democratic processes requires[Read More…]

by 03/05/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Disrespect to dead teenage girls by West Bengal police

Disrespect to dead teenage girls by West Bengal police

Condemn savage, abominable & shameful conduct of West Bengal Police towards the dead female bodies and repeated denial of violence on women by the State   Feminists in Resistance (FIR), a feminist group based in Kolkata, expresses condemnation and deep resentment at the brutal modus operandi that the State of West Bengal has adopted to tackle and bypass the public[Read More…]

by 28/04/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Jasvir Samar honoured with human rights journalism award

Jasvir Samar honoured with human rights journalism award

Radical Desi gave the visiting Indian journalist its second human rights journalism award, at a public rally held in Surrey on Thursday, April 13. Jasvir Samar is associated with the Chandigarh-based Punjabi Tribune. He has extensively written on human rights and social justice. He was presented with the award by its first recipient, Dr. Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, at the vigil[Read More…]

by 19/04/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Gautam Navlakha Immediately! Release all political prisoners

Release Gautam Navlakha Immediately! Release all political prisoners

Today, 14 April 2023 marks four years, seven months and eighteen days since Gautam Navlakha’s arrest on 28 August 2018. A well-known human rights activist, respected journalist and writer of long standing, Gautam has now been incarcerated for three years since 14 April 2020 when he surrendered at the NIA office in Delhi. Gautam went to jail when the pandemic[Read More…]

by 14/04/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Four years since the arrest and imprisonment of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange

Four years since the arrest and imprisonment of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange

April 11 marks four years since WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange was violently dragged from Ecuador’s London embassy and arrested by the British police. Since that time, Assange has been imprisoned, without interruption, in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison, described by some as “Britain’s Guantanamo Bay.” Assange’s ongoing detention, in a facility designed to hold terrorists and violent criminals, is[Read More…]

by 11/04/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop the Witch-hunt of Journalists and Human Rights Activists in Kashmir

Stop the Witch-hunt of Journalists and Human Rights Activists in Kashmir

Release Irfan Mehraj, Khurram Parvez as well as Aasif Sultan, Sajad Gul, and Fahad Shah The PUCL strongly condemns the arrest of Irfan Mehraj, a Srinagar based freelance journalist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 20th March, 2023 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The arrest of Irfan Mehraj was pursuant to an FIR registered in 2020, in[Read More…]

by 01/04/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Poor work conditions, non-compliance with Constitutional provisions seriously impact adolescent girls in workforce

Poor work conditions, non-compliance with Constitutional provisions seriously impact adolescent girls in workforce

 “We the People of India” – the Preamble to our Constitution begins with the promise that it represents the entire country. The ground reality, however, represents a stark contrast. The very people the laws in the Constitution stand for are facing discrimination and violations of rights. The adolescent girls in the workforce are one such section. An interaction with young[Read More…]

by 29/03/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Tribal woman murdered after rape in Rohtas and strong protest demanding punishment of culprits

Tribal woman murdered after rape in Rohtas and strong protest demanding punishment of culprits

A  tribal woman was murdered after rape in Nagatoli village of Rohtas by forest department officials and later murdered. A huge contingent of tribal women and men thronged  in the procession organized on the call of Kaimur Mukti Morcha demanding the arrest of the person responsible for the murders on Friday, March 24. The administration has banged every nail in[Read More…]

by 27/03/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop Criminalizing Journalism and Human Rights Activism: Release Irfan Mehraj and Parvez Khurram

Stop Criminalizing Journalism and Human Rights Activism: Release Irfan Mehraj and Parvez Khurram

PUDR strongly condemns the arrest of Irfan Mehraj, a Srinagar-based freelance journalist and researcher under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 20 March 2023 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the so-called ‘NGO Terror funding Case’ of October 2020. Irfan’s arrest is deeply condemnable as it shows the unrelenting executive crackdown on the valley’s scribes in the[Read More…]

by 24/03/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Trashing Asylum: The UK’s Illegal Migration Bill

Trashing Asylum: The UK’s Illegal Migration Bill

He was standing before a lectern at Downing Street.  The words on the support looked eerily similar to those used by the politicians of another country.  According to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Stop the Boats was the way to go.  It harked back to the same approach used by Australia’s Tony Abbott, who won the 2013 election on precisely[Read More…]

by 16/03/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Drone Aerial Bombing on the People of the  Country is an Act of Genocide!

Drone Aerial Bombing on the People of the  Country is an Act of Genocide!

Stop the Air War being waged by the Indian  Army against Tribal villages on the borders of Chhattisgarh and Telangana  CDRO Fact Finding Team At 11 AM on 11 January 2023, the air strikes continued. This attack was carried out in the villages of Madkanguda, Mettuguda, Bottethong, Sakleer, Madinaguda, Kannemerka, Pottemangam, Bottalanka, Rasappalli, Errapadu in Kishtaram and Pamed areas of[Read More…]

by 11/03/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn NIA raid on residence of Advocate Ansar Indori

Condemn NIA raid on residence of Advocate Ansar Indori

On the 18th of February 2023, Human Rights Lawyer Ansar Indori’s house was raided by NIA in Kota, Rajasthan. Ansar Indori has been targetted because he sought to provide legal defence and challenge an FIR (filed before the ban) against some former PFI members in Rajasthan High Court. Ansar has been working in civil rights field for a long time[Read More…]

by 22/02/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Humanity’s Secret War Against the Environment, Ourselves, and Our Children

Humanity’s Secret War Against the Environment, Ourselves, and Our Children

Inequitable family planning and illogical pro-growth policies are taking away every child’s right to a fair start in life. There is a conflict between ecocentric people struggling for freedom, and anthropocentric people threatening that freedom. This conflict, which happens beneath the surface of most media, constitutes a “secret war” for what the future of Earth will be. This secret war[Read More…]

by 18/02/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
From Past Till Present: Women Facing Sexual Violence By the Combatants During Wars and Armed Conflicts

From Past Till Present: Women Facing Sexual Violence By the Combatants During Wars and Armed Conflicts

Sexual violence and rape have always been used as the tactical and instrumental weapon of war against women. Unfortunately, women have always been the worst victims of such horrendous crimes during the wars of all times. From the First World War till contemporary armed conflict in South Sudan, the women have always faced the crimes, torture, and brutality in the[Read More…]

by 16/02/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Aerial Bombings in Chhattisgarh: CDRO Fact Finding Team Stopped

Aerial Bombings in Chhattisgarh: CDRO Fact Finding Team Stopped

Condemn the State’s undemocratic action of denying passage to CDRO Fact Finding Team for inquiry into Aerial Bombings in Chhattisgarh! Resist the attempt to create a war without witnesses in Chhattisgarh! Resist the attack on exercise of Democratic rights! A fact finding team of the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) comprising of 25 members from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West[Read More…]

by 03/02/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Voices of Minors working in Informal Sector from Maharashtra

Voices of Minors working in Informal Sector from Maharashtra

Rajani, a 17-year-old girl, who is one amongst the 3309 child workers, recorded recently in Maharashtra, works at a garment shop in Nanded. Like several other workers in informal sector, she is also subjected to unacceptable long hours of work, unhygienic and unsafe conditions. With a monthly income in the range of Rs 3000 to 4500 and a long hour[Read More…]

by 01/02/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Campaign against State Repression stages protest Meetings in Delhi

Campaign against State Repression stages protest Meetings in Delhi

The struggle of demanding the release of political prisoners framed under the yoke of laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act i.e. UAPA is intensifying day by day. Positive that intellectuals are coming to the forefront to raise their bold voices when perils of neo-fascism are threatening the country at an unparalleled scale. Such initiatives are the last straw in saving[Read More…]

by 14/01/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
“Democracy Dies in Darkness” Guantánamo at 21…

“Democracy Dies in Darkness” Guantánamo at 21…

In what has unfortunately become an annual event, activists today from Witness Against Torture and the National Religious Campaign Witness Against Torture held a Close Guantánamo vigil outside the White House marking the 21st anniversary of the extrajudicial prison’s opening at the U.S. Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Since it was first opened by the Bush administration on January 11,[Read More…]

by 12/01/2023 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Child abuse and its different forms in India: An analysis

Child abuse and its different forms in India: An analysis

                                                      Introduction Child abuse is harm to another person, whether an adult or a child, or neglect of a child. In all racial, national, and income groups, child violence exists. Abuse of children may be physical, mental – verbal, sexual or ignored. Abuse may cause the child to suffer serious injury and could even result[Read More…]

by 29/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn Torture of  Shiv Kumar , Demand Action

Condemn Torture of  Shiv Kumar , Demand Action

People’s Union for Democratic Rights welcomes the findings of the report submitted by the District and Sessions Judge, Faridabad into the illegal detention and brutal torture of labour rights activist, Shiv Kumar in January 2021 by the Haryana Police. Part of the findings ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the petition filed by Shiv Kumar’s father in[Read More…]

by 29/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Picture Credit/Northeast Today

No One Leaves Home, Until It’s a Mouth of Shark!

Maulana Bande Ali, in his poem on Miah Muslims of Assam, wrote: “Neither charuwa, nor pamua I am an Asomiya. Of Assam’s earth and air I am an equal claimant.” The sentiment conveyed in these lines is still representative of the ordeals faced by the Miah Muslims living in the char areas of Barpeta in Assam. Sharing a porous border[Read More…]

by 22/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Year of the Botched Execution

The Year of the Botched Execution

There was never anything going for it, except political mileage and the desire for crude retribution.  The putting to death of another human being by the legal sanction of a state has always been another way of justifying murder, effectively assassination by judicial fiat.  Such policies remain terrifying features of a number of penal systems, designed to terrorise more than[Read More…]

by 18/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Campaign against State Repression stage programme in Delhi demanding acquittal for Political Prisoners 

Campaign against State Repression stage programme in Delhi demanding acquittal for Political Prisoners 

  Over 30 rights organisations assembled  under the banner ‘Campaign against State Repression’ (CASR) in Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan in Delhi on Monday, December 5, to demand unconditional acquittal for professor G.N. Saibaba and others, who have been languishing within prison walls  for years for their alleged links with the outlawed Maoists. . Navneet gave the introductory note to the event[Read More…]

by 13/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Calendar dedicated to Desmond Tutu unveiled on World Human Rights Day

Calendar dedicated to Desmond Tutu unveiled on World Human Rights Day

Saturday, December 10 saw activists come together in Surrey to release a calendar featuring a towering leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Desmond Tutu passed away on the eve of 2022, at the age of 90, leaving behind a rich legacy of struggles for social justice. Close to his first death anniversary, Radical Desi, an online magazine in[Read More…]

by 11/12/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Supreme Court’s Widely- Praised Bail for Anand Teltumbde should be Followed by Wider Justice in Elgar Case

Supreme Court’s Widely- Praised Bail for Anand Teltumbde should be Followed by Wider Justice in Elgar Case

Supreme Court’s firmness in upholding the Bombay High Court’s order granting bail to Anand Teltumbde has been widely appreciated. However, we must also listen to what this 73 year old distinguished scholar activist, coming out  after spending 31 months in prison, had to stay regarding the case in which several other distinguished activists have also been implicated—“the sad thing is[Read More…]

by 28/11/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
UPR IV: Turns the talk of the commons

UPR IV: Turns the talk of the commons

                             In a clearly visible that, the word Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has been pronounced only by the UN member states and a  few Civil Society organizations who work with the United Nations since 2008. Due to lack of awareness  and exposure on the subject, neither the[Read More…]

by 20/11/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
COP27: Rainbow in the Dark — Alaa and Peaceful Dissenters!

COP27: Rainbow in the Dark — Alaa and Peaceful Dissenters!

It is the fall of 2022. Close to 33,000 delegates across the world are in Egypt. Not in Cairo, Giza, or Alexandria, but across the Gulf of Suez in Sharm El Sheikh. These delegates have failed to outnumber the 60,000 (reportedly, that is the number) incarcerated in their host’s prisons. If COP will ever be remembered, this one would be[Read More…]

by 15/11/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Supreme Court’s Concerns Regarding the Health of Gautam Navlakha Are Widely Shared

Supreme Court’s Concerns Regarding the Health of Gautam Navlakha Are Widely Shared

The concerns expressed by a Supreme Court Bench on November 9 regarding the health of an elderly political prisoner Gautam Navlakha have been widely appreciated in the country. Justice Hrishikesh Roy found it disturbing that hardly any progress had been made since the charge-sheet against him was filed in October 2020 ( over two years ago).  Justice K.M. Joseph  stated,[Read More…]

by 10/11/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Undemocratic inquiry of social-political activist Comrade Baban Thoke

Undemocratic inquiry of social-political activist Comrade Baban Thoke

Baban Thoke is an activist of Revolutionary Workers’ Party of India (RWPI), who has been active in the Mankhurd-Govandi region of Mumbai for last many years. He was the candidate of RWPI in the 2019 Loksabha and Vidhansabha elections. Baban has operated as a commited democrat, who was a major participant in the movements related to CAA-NRC-NPR, student and youth[Read More…]

by 06/11/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Legitimate Rights of Victims

Legitimate Rights of Victims

Time the ruling dispensation decides whether it is committed to rule of law and protection of rights of victims and survivors of heinous crimes or their perpetrators ? Truth has an uncanny ability of popping up suddenly when you are least aware of it. PM Modi and his closest confidant Amit Shah must be realising it of late. Thanks to[Read More…]

by 23/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Saibaba and Others

Release Saibaba and Others

Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) Strongly condemns the Supreme Court’s order to suspend the Acquittal of Saibaba and Others in Gadchiroli case pertaining to alleged ‘Maoist link’. “Our system is scared of those (people) who raise their voice against its injustice. It (system) is scared of the people’s voice. Students and activists, who expose failures of governments, are viewed as[Read More…]

by 19/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Appeal to Supreme Court of India to review and reconsider Saibaba’s and Others Case

Appeal to Supreme Court of India to review and reconsider Saibaba’s and Others Case

The Defense Committee for the Release of Saibaba felt that the Bombay High Court Judgment finally did Justice to Saibaba and others who have been incarcerated for the last almost seven years. The reversal of Judgment in great hurry is a reflection on the Justice system in India. The observation of the court that he has a powerful mind is[Read More…]

by 18/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Prof. Saibaba and the unjust SC judgement

Prof. Saibaba and the unjust SC judgement

SC Staying Acquittal of Prof. Saibaba and 5 others: A dangerous precedent which dilutes procedural safeguards and Compromises the right to personal liberty PUCL expresses its serious concern over the hurried manner by which the SC permitted the Government of Maharashtra to move an urgent appeal on Saturday 16th October, 2022 against the acquittal/discharge of Prof. Saibaba and 5 others[Read More…]

by 18/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Torture is unconstitutional in criminal jurisprudence

Torture is unconstitutional in criminal jurisprudence

Article 21 which is Part III of the Indian Constitution secures both Right to life as well as the Right to personal liberty stating “no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law”. These Rights, described by the Supreme Court as the heart of fundamental rights,are available to citizens and[Read More…]

by 17/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pathalgadi warrior Pawal Tuti arrested yet again

Pathalgadi warrior Pawal Tuti arrested yet again

Relying on the Cabinet’s decision and words of the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, pronounced on 29 December 2019, immediately after taking oath as the Chief Minister for the second time, to withdraw all the cases related to the “Pathalgadi” movement, became nightmare for the Pathalgadi warrior Paval Tuti. Khunti police arrested him once again and sent him to[Read More…]

by 14/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Annihilation of Human Rights in Indian Jails: The Demise of Altaf Ahmad Shah

Annihilation of Human Rights in Indian Jails: The Demise of Altaf Ahmad Shah

The unfortunate and avoidable demise of jailed Kashmiri leader Altaf Ahmad Shah is really shocking, sad and speaks volumes about the continued insensitivity of the Indian Govt towards political prisoners. Despite an SC order to get him shifted from RML to AIIMS for renal cancer treatment, the Govt delayed this and killed the possibility of any effective treatment that could[Read More…]

by 12/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Facing the Warmongers: An Assange Update

Facing the Warmongers: An Assange Update

On the latest slimed path Julian Assange has been made to trod, a few things have presented themselves.  The rusty sword of Damocles may be suspended above him (he, we are informed, has contracted COVID-19), but there are those, in the meantime, willing to defend him with decent conviction against his dispatch to the United States, where he is certain[Read More…]

by 11/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Is the UNHRC established to protect the Human Rights violators?

Is the UNHRC established to protect the Human Rights violators?

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. The slow and delayed actions by the UNHRC causes severe hardship to the victims affected by the state terrorism in Sri[Read More…]

by 06/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Shift Altaf Ahmad Shah to AIIMs Delhi immediately

Shift Altaf Ahmad Shah to AIIMs Delhi immediately

Altaf Ahmad Shah, a political undertrial prisoner lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2017, is currently battling for his life in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Delhi. His cancer diagnosis, its metastasis and other organ related deterioration was done on September 30, in the same hospital. Since October 2, Mr Shah has been on a ventilator in RML. The hospital[Read More…]

by 05/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
India’s   neo-Nazi  `Concentration  Camps’ 

India’s   neo-Nazi  `Concentration  Camps’ 

The  term  `Concentration  Camps’   was  used  to  describe  the  notorious  prisons  run  by  the  Nazis  in  the  1930-40  period  in  Dachau,  Buchenwald,  Auschwitz  and  other  places  in  Germany,  and  occupied  territories  in  Europe.  The  plight  of  the  prisoners  who  were  held  there  had  been  well  documented  by  later  researchers  who   delved  into  the  records  of  those  camps  and  interviewed  the [Read More…]

by 02/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Appeal to President of India: Set up a legal service authority to get speedy justice to undertrials

Appeal to President of India: Set up a legal service authority to get speedy justice to undertrials

An appeal for initiating action to set up a legal service authority to reach out to undertrials and secure access for them to legal assistance for enabling them to get justice To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, I had earlier addressed you vide my letter dated 25-7-2022 (which can also be readily accessed at[Read More…]

by 02/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Waging peace/Making war: Curious case of another extension to AFSPA

Waging peace/Making war: Curious case of another extension to AFSPA

The news of extension of AFSPA, w.e.f, 1 October 2022, though not surprising is, nonetheless, befuddling. Reports state that AFSPA has been extended for a period of six months in three out of the 26 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, viz., Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under Namsai & Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district. In the state of[Read More…]

by 01/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 UAPA: Criminalising Dissent and State Terror – Study of UAPA Abuse in India, 2009 – 2022

 UAPA: Criminalising Dissent and State Terror – Study of UAPA Abuse in India, 2009 – 2022

            We are happy in releasing to the public the first part of the study of how the Indian state has weaponised the UAPA law against anyone who dares to challenge the Indian state and assert their fundamental rights to information, association, dissent and democracy. As part of the Campaign to repeal the UAPA, we had undertaken to study the[Read More…]

by 01/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Ensuring Sri Lanka’s Compliance with UNHRC Resolutions

Ensuring Sri Lanka’s Compliance with UNHRC Resolutions

Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka and Tamils all over the world are very deeply concerned in relation to Sri Lanka’s past human rights violations including war crimes and the very minimal steps taken by Sri Lanka so far to uphold accountability and dispense justice to the victims which is long delayed and has been remaining in cold storage since the[Read More…]

by 25/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Apologising to Bilkis Bano

Apologising to Bilkis Bano

It is a matter of shame for us as a society that Bilkis Bano’s rapists have been released by a District level committee of Gujarat Government. Some people in the Hindutva family are also justifying the act by claiming that a few of the rapists are Sanskari Brahmans. If rapists and murderers will be called Sanskari, then we as a[Read More…]

by 25/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Urgent medical attention and bail sought for student leader Atiq-ur-Rehman

Urgent medical attention and bail sought for student leader Atiq-ur-Rehman

A Statement by Concerned Citizens and Representatives of Civil Liberties’ Organizations 20th Sep, 2022: More than 35 concerned citizens and representatives of civil liberties’ organisations in India have sought the urgent intervention of the authorities in Uttar Pradesh to ensure quality health care and medical bail for jailed student leader Atiq-ur-Rehman, struggling with partial paralysis and disorientation after a heart[Read More…]

by 20/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Brutalizing women political prisoners in the Philippines: A glimpse of the Marcos-Duterte spectacle of horrors

Brutalizing women political prisoners in the Philippines: A glimpse of the Marcos-Duterte spectacle of horrors

     In his classic “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,” Karl Marx amends Hegel’s quip on history repeating itself, first as tragedy and then as farce (1986 97). With the former Philippine dictator Marcos’s son in office, will farcical acts be the spectacle for the next six years?. Imagine the sons of Somoza, Trujillo or Batista returning to their banana[Read More…]

by 20/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Worldwide protests against incarceration of political prisoners in India  

Worldwide protests against incarceration of political prisoners in India  

The democratic community of Europe expressed its heartfelt condolences to the fascist repression unleashed on the Indian people, particularly on the untimely demise of Comrade Pandu Naroti, an Adivasi who stood by the working class, peasants and all oppressed and exploited people of India. It expressed its condolences to his family and friends in Mureweda village, a poor Adivasi community[Read More…]

by 18/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Petition: Stop Repression Against Villagers In Dhinkia, Odisha

Petition: Stop Repression Against Villagers In Dhinkia, Odisha

Writers, Artists, Human Rights Activists and Well-known Personalities. Demand Protection of Human Rights and Livelihood of the Local Villagers of Dhinkia, Odisha The South Korean Company POSCO backed out from Odisha due to a long struggle of the local communities. However, the Odisha state Government is allowing Jindal to take over the lands and livelihood of the same local villagers. The struggle for[Read More…]

by 15/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Vernon Gonsalves: Statement by Family Members of the Accused in the fabricated BK case

Vernon Gonsalves: Statement by Family Members of the Accused in the fabricated BK case

In yet another act of criminal negligence, the prison authorities of Taloja Central Jail, Maharashtra, have delayed medical treatment to Vernon Gonsalves, a prominent activist and one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case. Gonsalves, who is 65 years old, fell ill with fever on August 30th, and even though his condition was steadily deteriorating, he[Read More…]

by 12/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Vernon Gonsalves: Stop Denying Political Prisoners the Right to Healthcare in Jails

Vernon Gonsalves: Stop Denying Political Prisoners the Right to Healthcare in Jails

On 8th September Vernon Gonsalves, one of the 16 undertrials in the Bhima Koregaon case lodged in the anda cell of Taloja Central Jail, was diagnosed with dengue and likely pneumonia. Gonsalves age 65, had been suffering from fever since 30th August, but it took an appeal from his lawyer and the intervention of the Court for the Taloja Jail[Read More…]

by 12/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Activist Vernon Gonsalves on immediate Medical bail

Release Activist Vernon Gonsalves on immediate Medical bail

Statement by Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy – a campaign of 40+ civil society groups MRSD is distressed to learn about the health situation of 65 year old activist, poet, and writer Vernon Gonsalves, incarcerated since 2018 in the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case. Gonsalves started developing several symptoms, such as fever, cough, dizziness, and nausea starting on August 30, as[Read More…]

by 12/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Is the U.S. Legal System at War With Its People?

Is the U.S. Legal System at War With Its People?

Incarcerations, brutality, and torture are common in the U.S. Activists claim that this amounts to a war waged against racially marginalized, poor, and working-class people. The very laws and government agencies created to protect the people in the United States are increasingly being weaponized against those who are often marginalized in society: people of color, the poor, and the working[Read More…]

by 02/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Flag of Atrocities—Caste, Present and Future: Bilkis Bano

Flag of Atrocities—Caste, Present and Future: Bilkis Bano

One thing is constant in India: violence. The perpetrators are the same; only the faces of those who encounter and resist the violence change. In India, or JatiIndia — my name for this nation of jatis/castes — the social hierarchical structure of jatiism/casteism and the inherent violence that goes with it stems from the country’s tree of systemic upper-caste supremacy[Read More…]

by 02/09/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
APDR condemns the rape culture and inexhaustible powers vested in BSF

APDR condemns the rape culture and inexhaustible powers vested in BSF

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) expresses its shock and horror at the order by the ASI S P Chero of Border Security Force (BSF) of 68 Battalion to rape a woman who was hiding with her baby daughter in the fields of spiny gourd (কাঁকরোল) while being caught in attempting to cross the Indo – Bangladesh border at[Read More…]

by 28/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
It’s All Political: Julian Assange Appeals his Extradition

It’s All Political: Julian Assange Appeals his Extradition

Julian Assange’s legal team has taken its next step along their Via Dolorosa, filing an appeal against the decision to extradite their client to the United States to face 18 charges, 17 based on the odious US Espionage Act of 1917. Since his violent eviction from the Ecuadorian embassy in April 2019, much to the delight of the national security[Read More…]

by 28/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pandu Narote’s death is a perfect illustration of neo-fascist murder by the State

Pandu Narote’s death is a perfect illustration of neo-fascist murder by the State

Pandu Narote, who was framed d along with former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for Maoist links, died on Thursday after contracting swine flu. He was imprisoned at the Nagpur Central Jail. One of the blackest days in post-1947 Indian history. Crushing of democratic dissent has touched volumes unprecedented, with[Read More…]

by 27/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CDRO condemns the double standard of the CPIM-led LDF Government in Kerala

CDRO condemns the double standard of the CPIM-led LDF Government in Kerala

Very recently, the CPIM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has moved the Supreme Court against the Kerala High Court quashing the UAPA cases filed against alleged Maoist leader Roopesh. The entire sequence of events, as explained below, brings out once again the double standard adopted by the CPIM in questions of implementation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).[Read More…]

by 24/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Lost Yet Connected in Time: Brown, Peltier, Melaku-Bello, Abu-Jamal, and Assange

Lost Yet Connected in Time: Brown, Peltier, Melaku-Bello, Abu-Jamal, and Assange

No, because the face of a little girl in Bangladesh, or a little boy in Cambodia, and the thought of a nuclear blast going off close enough to them for them to lose their life, is enough. Again, this is a love letter. This is a love letter to all the civilians of the planet. — Philipos Melaku-Bello, in response[Read More…]

by 21/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
When true patriots are being locked up, what is there to celebrate?

When true patriots are being locked up, what is there to celebrate?

It was Sunday, July 31, when some of us gathered outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center in Surrey, BC. The occasion was the martyrdom day of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. Singh was executed on July 31, 1940 in London for assassinating the former Lt. Governor of Punjab, Michael O’ Dwyer, who was instrumental behind the circumstances leading to[Read More…]

by 11/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
AFDR Protest in Sangrur on Black Laws and demanding unconditional release of political Prisoners

AFDR Protest in Sangrur on Black Laws and demanding unconditional release of political Prisoners

The Association for Democratic Rights Punjab launched a protest in Sangrur on  August 8th, comprising around 50 persons, condemning the state sponsored blacklaws.A march was led upto the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Swaranjeet Singh spoke about how the rulers were intruding in all independent areas to seize power and trod on the people’s rights.The manner the organs of democracy[Read More…]

by 09/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A clarion call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners

A clarion call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) rose to the very need of the hour by staging a protest meeting for release of political prisoners. Even if not such large numbers, an event of most qualitative significance in light of neo-fascism sharpening it’s fangs day by day. It was a stepping stone in dealing with the question of incarceration of[Read More…]

by 03/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally for Teesta Setalvad held on Udham Singh’s martyrdom day in Canada

Rally for Teesta Setalvad held on Udham Singh’s martyrdom day in Canada

On Sunday, July 31, South Asian activists came together outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center in Surrey, BC, to raise their voices for a detained journalist and human rights defender Teesta Setalvad was recently arrested on trumped up charges at the behest of the right wing Hindu nationalist BJP government in New Delhi for advocating for justice to[Read More…]

by 01/08/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Why Injustice to Himanshu Kumar Will be Exceptionally Harmful for Democracy

Why Injustice to Himanshu Kumar Will be Exceptionally Harmful for Democracy

The case of social activist Himanshu Kumar is attracting widespread concern as it is widely believed that something exceptionally unjust has happened, even when judged by recent standards. To capture the events so far very briefly, as a social activist working in Dantewada, Chattisgarh, Himanshu Kumar petitioned the Supreme Court in 2009 ( with co-petitioners) regarding an independent inquiry into[Read More…]

by 27/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fascist interrogation of Revolutionary Intellectuals in the name of curbing ‘Maoists’ in Andhra Pradesh

Fascist interrogation of Revolutionary Intellectuals in the name of curbing ‘Maoists’ in Andhra Pradesh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday, July 19 conducted intense search operations at the residences of alleged Communist Party of India-Maoist sympathisers and the widow of Maoist leader Ramakrishna in Andhra Pradesh. The searches were conducted in Alakurapadu village of Tangutur mandal. The officials of NIA raided the residence of G Kalyan Rao, a poet and leader of Viplava[Read More…]

by 26/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
When Accused Become Innocent And Innocent Are Made Accused

When Accused Become Innocent And Innocent Are Made Accused

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathu Ram Godse. There are some people subscribing to Hindutva ideology who idolize Godse. Various leaders, activists associated with the Hindutva ideology from time to time have portrayed Godse as a patriot. Question is Gandhi was the tallest leader of India’s freedom movement and even before India achieved independence Godse was making an attempt to[Read More…]

by 23/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Arrest of Rupesh Kumar and legal action against Himanshu Kumar is illustration of ascendancy of neo-fascism

Arrest of Rupesh Kumar and legal action against Himanshu Kumar is illustration of ascendancy of neo-fascism

Jharkhand’s Saraikella Police arrested journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh from his house on July 17th, 2022 at noon. The police force along with magistrate attacked the house of Rupesh’s at Ramgarh, and his family members were interrogated in the name of search. Though police had search and arrest warrant, arrest warrant was not shown in anticipation of public resistance. Later, he[Read More…]

by 19/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Railways plans to use tech to tighten vigil on child trafficking

Railways plans to use tech to tighten vigil on child trafficking

But are privacy rights coming in the way of reuniting lost children with families? In the backdrop of international development agencies such as International Labour Organisation (ILO) warning an imminent rise in incidence of child-trafficking during the pandemic, the Railway Police Force aims to use technology to outsmart unscrupulous elements trafficking children. It is rolling out a new set of[Read More…]

by 19/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The hard-hearted state

The hard-hearted state

A Chhattisgarh court on July 14, 2022 acquited 121 tribals in an UAPA case after 5 years in jail. The accused were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly assisting Maoists in the 2017 Burkapal attack, which killed 25 CRPF personnel. Of the 121 accused, seven were minors who were released earlier and one died during the[Read More…]

by 18/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Announcement seeking Nominations for Kandhamal Human Rights (KHR) Awards

Announcement seeking Nominations for Kandhamal Human Rights (KHR) Awards

The National Solidarity Forum (NSF) is pleased to announce the call for 2022 nominations for Kandhamal Human Rights Awards: Kandhamal Human Rights Award for Individual category- It carries a cash award of INR 25,000 and a Plaque Kandhamal Human Rights Award for Institutional category- It carries a Plaque and Citation attesting the works. About KHR Awards: The National Solidarity Forum has instituted these[Read More…]

by 13/07/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Journalist Mohammad Zubair

Release Journalist Mohammad Zubair

Indian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohammad Zubair, and cease harassing him in retaliation for his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. In the evening of Monday, June 27, officers with the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of the Delhi police arrested Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News, after summoning him for questioning, according[Read More…]

by 28/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CDRO strongly condemns the arrest of prominent rights activist Teesta Setalvad

CDRO strongly condemns the arrest of prominent rights activist Teesta Setalvad

Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO), strongly condemns the false implication and detention of prominent human rights activist Teesta Setalvad in a  criminal case. An FIR has been registered against her along with R. B. Sreekumar, a former Director General of Gujarat Police, and Sanjiv Bhatt, another IPS officer currently sentenced to life imprisonment. Teesta Setalvad and her organisation, Citizens[Read More…]

by 27/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Salute Association for Democratic Rights (APDR) on turning 50

Salute Association for Democratic Rights (APDR) on turning 50

Today we commemorate the 50th birth anniversary of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) of West Bengal which is one of the oldest human rights organisations in India. A truly landmark day in the history of the civil liberties movement in India. Positive that today inspite of all ups and down it is shimmering it’s torch . It[Read More…]

by 26/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Crises of migrants and refugees–where should homeless millions go?

Crises of migrants and refugees–where should homeless millions go?

The history of humankind of the past hundred years have thrown up a gamut of emotions and heart-wrenching crises.  An accentuating challenge is the displacement of millions upon millions of peoples throughout the planet.  People are forced to flee or migrate from their homeland or places of birth for a variety of reasons.  At the international level United Nations High[Read More…]

by 22/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
New Brooms, Old Stories: The Australian Labor Party and Julian Assange

New Brooms, Old Stories: The Australian Labor Party and Julian Assange

After having a few lunches with Australia’s then opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, John Shipton felt reason to be confident.  Albanese had promised Assange’s father that he would do whatever he could, should he win office, to bring the matter to a close. In December 2019, before a gathering at the Chifley Research Centre, Albanese also referred to Assange.  “You don’t[Read More…]

by 03/06/2022 1 comment Human Rights
Journalists killed and missing in Sri Lanka

Journalists killed and missing in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka it is a very serious concern that even after the government’s declaration of war victory and end of war, intimidation and harassment of media and journalists continue with increasing ferocity. People of Sri Lanka are deprived of their right to information and media and journalists are forced to practice an unprecedented level of self censorship. 34 Journalists[Read More…]

by 03/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Election Gambit: Australia, Sri Lanka and Politicising Asylum

Election Gambit: Australia, Sri Lanka and Politicising Asylum

When it comes to the tawdry, hideous business of politicising the right to asylum, and the refugees who arise from it, no country does it better than Australia.  A country proud of being a pioneer in women’s rights, the secret ballot, good pay conditions and tatty hardware (the Hills Hoist remains a famous suburban monstrosity) has also been responsible for[Read More…]

by 31/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hunger Strikes by Two Political Prisoners Draw Attention to Violation of Their Human Rights

Hunger Strikes by Two Political Prisoners Draw Attention to Violation of Their Human Rights

In recent days reports of hunger strikes by two political prisoners Sagar Gorkhe and G.N.Saibaba have deeply hurt the conscience of a nation preparing to celebrate its 75th independence day. During the freedom movement several political prisoners had gone on very valiant hunger strikes taken up in very difficult conditions. These included such great freedom fighters as Bhagat Singh, Jatindranath[Read More…]

by 27/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Supreme Court upholds fundamental rights of sex workers to be treated with dignity and respect

Supreme Court upholds fundamental rights of sex workers to be treated with dignity and respect

Police should not abuse Sex Workers, media should not publish their pictures of raid and rescue operations The Supreme Court of India directed that the police should treat sex workers with dignity and should not abuse them, verbally or physically. The State governments have been asked to ensure this through adequate sensitisation of the police. In addition, those sex workers[Read More…]

by 27/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Immediately resolve the hunger strike Demands of Dr. G.N. Saibaba and save his life in the jail

Immediately resolve the hunger strike Demands of Dr. G.N. Saibaba and save his life in the jail

Dr. G.N. Saibaba, a 90% physical disabled person languishing in Nagpur central Jail started a hunger strike for the second time from Saturday 21st May 2022 seeking immediate resolution of his demands. Dr. G.N. Saibaba, also sat on hunger strike one and half years ago during lockdown in the jail demanding the immediate handover of medicines supplied by his family[Read More…]

by 26/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Historic Supreme Court decision on sedition law

Historic Supreme Court decision on sedition law

In the Supreme Court today, a bench headed by the present Chief Justice NV Ramana heard that four former Chief Justices J.S. Against the backdrop of the tenure of Khehar, Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi and SA Bobade, a historic verdict has been passed that a law of treason should be enacted. Will not be used until reconsidered. Should go The[Read More…]

by 12/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
10 day Ordeal of Jignesh Mewani Exposes Wider  Trend to Crush Democratic Dissent

10 day Ordeal of Jignesh Mewani Exposes Wider  Trend to Crush Democratic Dissent

All those committed to protecting democracy, and more specifically to stopping the  recent trend of highly undemocratic assaults on political opponents, will feel greatly relieved by the happy ending of the 10 day ordeal of Jignesh Mewani on April 29 by the acceptance of his bail by the Barpeta district and sessions court. As a bonus gain for the democracy[Read More…]

by 01/05/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Appeal to demand to end brutal police repression in Dhinkia

Appeal to demand to end brutal police repression in Dhinkia

It is a matter of great concern that mindless mining and aggressive industrialization in Odisha, has become the root cause of deprivation of thousands of innocent people who have been depending on natural resources for generations for sustaining their life and livelihood. Absence of collective political will to take up people’s causes has further added to the worries of the[Read More…]

by 28/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Re-arrest of Jignesh Mevani is a mockery of law

Re-arrest of Jignesh Mevani is a mockery of law

It is disgusting that the day Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani got bail at the CJM’s court,he was re-arrested on patently trumped-up charges of obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties and ‘outraging the modesty of a woman police officer’ by a police team from a different district of Assam. In both these cases the police are obviously the sole[Read More…]

by 26/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Bernard Collaery’s War Against Secret Trials

Bernard Collaery’s War Against Secret Trials

In terms of labyrinthine callousness and indifference to justice, the treatment of lawyer Bernard Collaery by the Australian government must be slotted alongside that of another noted Australian currently being held in the maximum-security facility of Belmarsh, London.  While Collaery has not suffered the same deprivations of liberty as publisher extraordinaire Julian Assange, both share the target status accorded them[Read More…]

by 22/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Petition asking for Nobel Prize for GN Saibaba launched

Petition asking for Nobel Prize for GN Saibaba launched

A Vancouver-based online magazine has started another campaign for the jailed Indian scholar. Radical Desi had previously initiated a petition for the release of Prof. G.N. Saibaba, who is being incarcerated under brutal conditions in spite of being disabled below the waist. Now it has begun an online petition ( https://www.change.org/p/nobel-prize-for-gn-saibaba) asking for the Nobel prize in recognition of his[Read More…]

by 19/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Obscene Outsourcing: The UK-Rwandan Refugee Deal

Obscene Outsourcing: The UK-Rwandan Refugee Deal

This month, the government of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined an ignominious collective in announcing a refugee deal with Rwanda, seedily entitled the UK-Rwanda Migration Partnership.  The fact that such terms are used – a partnership or deal connotes contract and transaction – suggests how inhumane policies towards those seeking sanctuary and a better life have become. In no[Read More…]

by 19/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Foisting of Fresh Charges on Comrade Batakrushna Swain Is A Grave Travesty of Justice

Foisting of Fresh Charges on Comrade Batakrushna Swain Is A Grave Travesty of Justice

          Jan Adhikar Manch, a coalition of trade unions, democratic rights groups and other progressive forces in Odisha, strongly condemns the manner in which Comrade Batakrushna Swain was arbitrarily foisted with fresh charges by the state police on 12 April 2022 as he was ready to leave the Puri jail. Comrade Batakrushna Swain, the Convenor of Upakuliya Jami o Jangal[Read More…]

by 19/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Update on the persecution of Christians in India

Update on the persecution of Christians in India

In 365 days of 2021 Christians witnessed 502 incidents of violence In first 103 days of 2022 Christians witnessed 127 incidents of violence New Delhi – 15 April 2022: Today, over two thousand years ago Jesus Christ was persecuted or believed to be crucified on this day. Followers of Jesus are even today being persecuted in certain parts of the[Read More…]

by 16/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release All Political Prisoners

Release All Political Prisoners

A Great Way of Celebrating 75th Anniversary of Independence is to Release All Political Prisoners. Campaign Should Start Now to be Effective by August 1 In the course of India’s long and very courageous freedom movement, India became from time to time the country with perhaps the largest number of political prisoners in the world. These included many highly distinguished[Read More…]

by 14/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
When the Process becomes the Punishment

When the Process becomes the Punishment

Tomorrow, 14th April 2022 marks the completion of two years of PUDR activist Gautam Navlakha’s surrender before the NIA. One of sixteen accused in the infamous Bhima Koregaon case, Gautam has been imprisoned in Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai since 25 May 2020.  For more than six months now, since 12 October 2021, the nearly 70 years old Gautam, an[Read More…]

by 14/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protest against the arrest of political prisoners

Protest against the arrest of political prisoners

On April 8th at Sangrur the Kirti Kisan Union, Punjab Students Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Commitee raised a protest demanding unconditional release of all the political prisoners who have been framed by the Indian state. A march was staged of around 100 persons to the District Collectors office. It comprised of students, youth, intellectuals farmers dalit[Read More…]

by 11/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The fate of the enforced disappeared and the mass graves in Sri Lanka

The fate of the enforced disappeared and the mass graves in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the issue of people going missing during the country’s long civil war is an open wound as evinced by the struggle of Tamil mothers seeking news about their loved ones. For the past five years Tamil mothers have been protesting in the North and Eastern Provinces in hot sun dust and rain demanding to know what happened[Read More…]

by 10/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Arbitrary travel bans on Rana Ayyub and Aakar Patel

Arbitrary travel bans on Rana Ayyub and Aakar Patel

PUCL condemns the arbitrary travel bans on Rana Ayyub and Aakar Patel, prominent critics of the Government.  On 6th April, 2022, Aakar Patel, well known human rights activist and journalist, was prevented by Immigration authorities in Bengaluru airport from catching  a flight to the US and forced to turn back. Aakar Patel was on his way to speak at various[Read More…]

by 07/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Darkness of Daylight

Darkness of Daylight

Recent reports on Gautam Navlakha’s appeal to change his jail term when the case just drags on on health grounds once again revive nagging doubts on the fabulous Maoist conspiracy case against a miscellaneous group of lawyers,social activists and human rights workers on the basis of documents allegedly retrieved from the laptop of some of the accused.The case is hanging[Read More…]

by 07/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022 attempts to make India a Police State

Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022 attempts to make India a Police State

The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, intends to link demographic and biometric information with the identification of citizens in an attempt to make all the natural citizens of India to be looked at as ‘suspects.’ The law is draconian and against the principle of civil liberties human right and against the tenets of Indian constitution. It is apparent that with[Read More…]

by 06/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Shocking Truth of Prison Life

Shocking Truth of Prison Life

I had been in different jails, first in Sorda Sub-Jail, then in Brahmapur Circle Jail and later in Bhanjanagar Special Sub-Jail of Odisha, from mid-2011 to 2015, approximately three and half years, under false charges of ‘sedition’. I was arrested again in 2019 for the second time in connection to an eight-year-old case that was utterly false and fabricated and[Read More…]

by 06/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Solidarity with Prof Walden Bello in the face of attack

Solidarity with Prof Walden Bello in the face of attack

Dear Colleagues, comrades and friends, We are writing to you on an issue of urgent concern regarding Professor Walden Bello. Recently, a political party founded by Sara Duterte (daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte), incumbent Mayor of Davao City, and now vice-presidential candidate for the 2022 national elections—unfoundedly and maliciously labeled Walden as a “narco-politician.”This attack is clearly intended to silence dissent[Read More…]

by 04/04/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A Nine-Year Obscenity: The Australia-NZ Resettlement Deal

A Nine-Year Obscenity: The Australia-NZ Resettlement Deal

Obscenities occupy the annals of State behaviour, revolting reminders about what governments can do.  One of Australia’s most pronounced and undeniable obscenities is its continuing effort to gut and empty international refugee law of its relevant foundations.  Instead of being treated as a scandal, populists and governments the world over have expressed admiration, even envy: If they can get away[Read More…]

by 31/03/2022 1 comment Human Rights
Er Rashid: J&K’s Aam Aadmi is Now A Forgotten Hero 

Er Rashid: J&K’s Aam Aadmi is Now A Forgotten Hero 

Once a popular leader, Er. Rashid has almost disappeared from news, particularly from mainstream media. Rashid comes from Langate area of Kupwara, a border district in Kashmir valley . Rashid was arrested in 2019 at the time of repeal of Article 370 by NIA in a terror funding case for which he had been questioned in 2017 also. When Rashid[Read More…]

by 25/03/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rotten Rulings: Julian Assange and the UK Supreme Court

Rotten Rulings: Julian Assange and the UK Supreme Court

Julian Assange, even as he is being judicially and procedurally tormented, has braved every legal hoop in his effort to avoid extradition to the United States.  Kept and caged in Belmarsh throughout this farce of judicial history, he risks being extradited to face 18 charges, 17 based on the US Espionage Act of 1917. District Court Judge Vanessa Baraitser initially[Read More…]

by 15/03/2022 1 comment Human Rights
Pathetic plight of the elderly mothers and relatives of missing persons in Sri Lanka

Pathetic plight of the elderly mothers and relatives of missing persons in Sri Lanka

For the past 1390 days, the elderly mothers and relatives have been engaged in a series of struggles, especially amid the great epidemic threat, “78 parents of the missing relatives have lost their lives in the ongoing series of struggles for justice, “The 78 parents who fought for justice with us in past years are not with us today. The[Read More…]

by 05/03/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
UN: Protectors of human rights or silent watchers of war crimes?

UN: Protectors of human rights or silent watchers of war crimes?

The United Nations is a global organization that brings together its member states to confront common challenges, manage shared responsibilities and exercise collective action in an enduring “quest for a peaceful world.” One of the main purposes of the United Nations is to maintain world peace and security. At present there are 193 member states in the UN. Of the[Read More…]

by 04/03/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the Re-arrest of Fahad Shah, Editor Kashmirwallah

Condemn the Re-arrest of Fahad Shah, Editor Kashmirwallah

The re-arrest of Fahad Shah, Editor of The Kashmir Walla, in politically motivated cases  is another sign of the deepening crackdown on media freedom in Kashmir. Fahad Shah, a prominent Kashmiri journalist, was arrested on 4 February under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other offences including sedition for allegedly “uploading anti-national content, including photographs, videos and posts[Read More…]

by 01/03/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Samyukta Kisan Morcha extends support to Struggling Farmers in West Bengal and Odisha

Samyukta Kisan Morcha extends support to Struggling Farmers in West Bengal and Odisha

PROTESTERS AGAINST BIRBHUM COAL PROJECT IN WEST BENGAL MUST BE RELEASED AND CASES WITHDRAWN STOP POLICE AND STATE REPRESSION ON PEASANTS OF DHINKIA IN ODISHA Samyukt Kisan Morcha expresses deep concern at police repression against farmers in Birbhum in West Bengal and Dhinkia in Odisha. These farmers have been protesting against land acquisition for coal mining and industry, respectively, without[Read More…]

by 27/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fabricated cases against people defending their right to livelihood in Dhinkia 

Fabricated cases against people defending their right to livelihood in Dhinkia 

People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) expresses serious concern over the malafide action of the police in implicating local villagers and human rights defenders with fabricated cases following the incident that happened on 19th February, 2022 in Dhinkia. It needs to be noted that in response to a number of PILs about the police repressions in Dhinkia and requesting the[Read More…]

by 23/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
UNHRC is duty bound to find justice to the oppressed Tamils in Sri Lanka

UNHRC is duty bound to find justice to the oppressed Tamils in Sri Lanka

The United Nations, UN Human Rights Council and the International Community will now understand Sri Lanka’s policy of non-compliance of any recommendations of the UN or UNHRC. The following long standing core issues still to be investigated and perpetrators punished, On the evening of January 02, 2006, amid New Year’s celebrations at Trincomalee beach Sri Lankan security forces shot and[Read More…]

by 20/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Forgive Thyself and Others: Reparations Now!

Forgive Thyself and Others: Reparations Now!

The question of Reparations for the historical crime of slavery is not primarily about money. Rather it is about spiritual cleansing and healing. It is about recognizing the fact that systemic physical and mental torture have long hands that stretch out across time and space. It is about acknowledging the attempted physical and spiritual destruction of a people and the[Read More…]

by 19/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fahad Shah and the Tragic Fate of Journalism in Kashmir

Fahad Shah and the Tragic Fate of Journalism in Kashmir

The recent arrest of Fahad Shah, editor of Kashmir Walla, under S 13 of UAPA and S 124 A and 505 of IPC for ‘uploading anti-national content’ raises a debate about the fate of journalism in times of conflict. Shah was arrested as he had uploaded Inayat Ahmad Mir’s family’s protest over the police’s claim that Mir was a “hybrid[Read More…]

by 07/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Aafia Siddiqui, Political Prisoner

Aafia Siddiqui, Political Prisoner

The media coverage of the hostage-taking at a synagogue in Texas has been predictably hysterical, Islamophobic and inaccurate about Aafia Siddiqui, the apparent political cause of the hostage-taker Malik Faisad Akram.         According to his family in England he has “mental health issues.” He was “said to have” weapons and explosives. He was “said to have” threatened[Read More…]

by 18/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
NCHRO condemns the actions of the authoritarian police in Dhinkia village

NCHRO condemns the actions of the authoritarian police in Dhinkia village

NCHRO condemns the actions of the authoritarian police in Dhinkia village, Odisha and the government’s attempt to displace its local populace In the Dhinkia village in Odisha, the collusion of corporations and government is being manifested in the routinely egregious manner. The people there have been protesting against the attempts to displace them and hand over the land to the[Read More…]

by 18/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hands off peasant land! Hands off Dhinkia!

Hands off peasant land! Hands off Dhinkia!

We the undersigned strongly condemn the brutal police violence by Odisha Police that continued for hours on the villagers of Dhinkia in Jagatsinghpur district on January 14.  The villagers of the entire region have been carrying out a protest against land acquisition by the district administration for Jindal Steel Work Utkal Limited. On January 14, as people were gathering for[Read More…]

by 17/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Copies of unjust Indian laws burnt in Canada on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday

Copies of unjust Indian laws burnt in Canada on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday

On the night of Sunday, January 16, members of the Indian Diaspora came together to denounce draconian laws of the world’s so-called largest democracy. To mark the 93rd birth anniversary of the towering US civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr., they burnt copies of the contentious Indian laws, such as Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Armed Forces[Read More…]

by 17/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Julian Assange: A Thousand Days in Belmarsh

Julian Assange: A Thousand Days in Belmarsh

Julian Assange has now been in the maximum-security facilities of Belmarsh prison for over 1,000 days.  On the occasion of his 1,000th day of imprisonment, campaigners, supporters and kindred spirits gathered to show their support, indignation and solidarity at this political detention most foul. Alison Mason of the Julian Assange Defence Committee reiterated those observations long made about the imprisonment[Read More…]

by 13/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
“2021: Year of Fear for Indian Christians” | Dr. John Dayal Interview

“2021: Year of Fear for Indian Christians” | Dr. John Dayal Interview

PF: Hi, this is Pieter Friedrich, and today I’m speaking with Dr. John Dayal. Dr. John Dayal, who is 74, is a former newspaper editor, a researcher and author, and one of India’s senior human rights and freedom of faith activists. We are going to be discussing the issue of persecuted Christians in India. So, thank you for joining me, Dr.[Read More…]

by 10/01/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Sharjeel Imam; IIT Bombay, JNU and everything in between

Sharjeel Imam; IIT Bombay, JNU and everything in between

by Vaibhav Sorte & Jayanth Tadinada A frail figure, sporting a beard with a kurta and pyjama hung on him, scuttling with determination and head always held high is how one would have noticed Sharjeel Imam in the hostel 4 of IIT Bombay. It seemed he was unstoppable but if you managed to get his attention and asked something, a[Read More…]

by 07/01/2022 4 comments Human Rights
Speaking Out! 

Speaking Out! 

How is anyone responsible for being born where he/she has been and the identity attached to his/her personality primarily because of his/her birth? Whatever is any person’s identity, why is any bias being practiced towards him/her primarily because of this? But this is still happening at this very moment. Prospects of this inhumane trend coming to an end in near[Read More…]

by 31/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Voices of Concern: Aussies for Assange’s Return

Voices of Concern: Aussies for Assange’s Return

With Julian Assange now fighting the next stage of efforts to extradite him to the United States to face 18 charges, 17 of which are based on the brutal, archaic Espionage Act, some Australian politicians have found their voice.  It might be said that a few have even found their conscience. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was sufficiently exercised[Read More…]

by 23/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Tamils all over the world welcome United States action against alleged war criminals

Tamils all over the world welcome United States action against alleged war criminals

Tamils all over the world [85 million] appreciate and thank the US State Department for their sanctions on two Sri Lankan Military Officials. Those military personnel were: Chandana Hettiarachchi, a Sri Lankan naval intelligence officer, for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely, the flagrant denial of the right to liberty of at least eight “Trincomalee 11” victims,[Read More…]

by 19/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Arsenal Report No. 4 Confirms Pegasus Attack on IPhone of Rona Wilson, Key BK Accused

Arsenal Report No. 4 Confirms Pegasus Attack on IPhone of Rona Wilson, Key BK Accused

In a detailed report released today, 17th December, 2021, Arsenal Consulting, the Boston-based forensic investigation firm assisting the defense lawyers in the Bhima Koregaon (BK) case, and Amnesty Tech Security Lab, have confirmed that the iPhone of one of the key accused, Mr. Rona Wilson, was attacked multiple times by the Pegasus spyware. This has been simultaneously reported in the[Read More…]

by 17/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 Flags mark the spot where the remains of over 750 children were buried at former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, June 25 © AFP / GEOFF ROBINS

What Does It Mean for the Dispossessor to “Compensate” the Dispossessed?

Settlers enjoyed a seeming free permission: to dispossess natives at will of all the best land, turn them out of traditional fishing locations, disrespect elders, women, children and religion, leave whole communities without political representation and punish men for breaking laws which they could have no means of knowing existed. It was inconceivable that all this change could happen overnight[Read More…]

by 17/12/2021 1 comment Human Rights
American Sanctions on Human Rights Violators in Bangladesh: A Backlash to Bangladesh or China?

American Sanctions on Human Rights Violators in Bangladesh: A Backlash to Bangladesh or China?

The frustration of those who lost hope of any retaliatory action against human rights violators in Bangladesh has finally been eased, at least partially, by the recent US Treasury Department’s action against a few law-enforcers in the country, well-known for gross human rights violations. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has designated[Read More…]

by 16/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The execution of Julian Assange

The execution of Julian Assange

He exposed empire as a criminal enterprise. He documented its lies, its callous disregard for human life, its rampant corruption, and its innumerable war crimes. But, as history shows, empires kill those who inflict deep wounds. Let us name Julian Assange’s executioners. Joe Biden. Boris Johnson. Scott Morrison. Theresa May. Lenin Moreno. Donald Trump. Barack Obama. Mike Pompeo. Hillary Clinton.[Read More…]

by 14/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Julian Assange suffered stroke during High Court appeal for extradition

Julian Assange suffered stroke during High Court appeal for extradition

Doctors have confirmed that Julian Assange suffered a “mini stroke” inside Belmarsh Prison during a High Court appeal in October, his fiancée Stella Moris revealed over the weekend. She made clear that a pseudo-legal conspiracy by the US and UK governments to secure Assange’s extradition is pushing the WikiLeaks publisher to breaking point. Moris spoke to the Daily Mail on Saturday, just[Read More…]

by 13/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Assange nullifies the “freedom” imperialism propagates

Assange nullifies the “freedom” imperialism propagates

Julian Assange, a standard-bearer of freedom, has effectively nullified the “freedom” imperialist media propagates round the clock. Today, the imperialist “freedom” is on the dock. Voices across continents are calling to defend the freedom Assange stands for – the freedom to information, the freedom to know facts related to thousands of innocent civilian lives in countries, the freedom to present[Read More…]

by 11/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally for jailed Indian scholars held on International Human Rights Day

Rally for jailed Indian scholars held on International Human Rights Day

In spite of rain and cold weather, South Asian activists gathered outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center in Surrey on Friday, December 10 to raise their voices for political prisoners being incarcerated by the world’s so-called largest democracy. Organized by Radical Desi, the rally started with a moment of silence for 14 civilians killed by the Indian army[Read More…]

by 11/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Dr. G.N. Saibaba

Release Dr. G.N. Saibaba

Dr. G N Saibaba, former Professor of English at University of Delhi continues to languish in the Anda cell of Nagpur Central Jail, Maharashtra since more than four and a half years. Dr Saibaba was arrested under fabricated charges and sentenced to life imprisonment by Gadchiroli Session Court under UAPA. He campaigned for the rights of exploited and oppressed sections[Read More…]

by 10/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
British Court Rules Assange Can Be Extradited to US

British Court Rules Assange Can Be Extradited to US

A British court ruled Friday that WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange can be extradited to the United States to face charges of violating the Espionage Act, a decision that rights groups say poses a profound threat to global press freedoms. “This is an utterly shameful development that has alarming implications not only for Assange’s mental health, but also for[Read More…]

by 10/12/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Human Rights Day in class context

Human Rights Day in class context

Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day. The slogan of The Human Rights Day 2021 is All Human, All Equal. The slogan, the message the slogan carries, the spirit the slogan upholds – all are lofty, noble, beautiful. This year’s Human Rights Day theme, according to a UN release (Human Rights Day 10 December, https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day), is related to “Equality” and Article 1[Read More…]

by 10/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CDRO condemns the murder of Naga civilians and demands immediate repeal of AFSPA

CDRO condemns the murder of Naga civilians and demands immediate repeal of AFSPA

  On 4th December 2021, the Indian armed forces ambushed and killed 13 daily wage labourers who work in the coal mines of Tiru, bordering the state of Assam. These coal miners from the Mon district were on their usual journey home from the coal mine to spend Sunday with their families before returning for duty on Monday. Besides these 13[Read More…]

by 09/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
PUCL Welcome Bail for Sudha Bharadwaj

PUCL Welcome Bail for Sudha Bharadwaj

 The PUCL welcomes the short order of the Supreme Court  yesterday, 07th December, 2021, dismissing the SLP filed by the NIA which challenged the grant of statutory bail to Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj, a committed activist lawyer and member of PUCL. The PUCL sees this important order and the order of the Bombay High Court which was under challenge, as a[Read More…]

by 08/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 The Mon Massacres in Nagaland!

 The Mon Massacres in Nagaland!

PUCL DEMANDS from the Government of India: Immediately Prosecute Military Officials for Murder! Publicly Declare: No Immunity from Prosecution  u/s 6 of AFSPA, Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA)!!!   PUCL strongly condemns the tragic and brutal killing on Saturday, 4th December, 2021 of 6 unarmed civilians (belonging to the Konyak tribe), in a military ambush in an[Read More…]

by 08/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Beyond English Channel Tragedy! 

Beyond English Channel Tragedy! 

Death of migrants in the English Channel has hit headlines as “worst disaster on record” with France and United Kingdom’s “war of words” marking a “low point” in their ties, a “humanitarian crisis” and so forth. Who is to be blamed for this tragedy? Little importance has been given to the hard reality that increase in migrants being desperate for[Read More…]

by 03/12/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Open Letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Open Letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

 “Selective” advocacy of Rights violations?” “When daily incidents of hate crimes, lynchings, caste atrocities  and state violations become common place, Every egregious violation deserves our attention” Dear Sir, You had in your speech on the 28th NHRC foundation programme on 12th October, 2021 made four assertions on human rights to which the PUCL, as one of the oldest civil liberties[Read More…]

by 27/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Grant bail to Atiq-ur-Rehman on health grounds

Grant bail to Atiq-ur-Rehman on health grounds

The PUCL is monitoring with extreme concern the precarious health condition of Atiq Ur Rehman who was unjustly accused and arrested by the UP police in early October, 2020 for daring to go with journalist Siddique Kappan to Hathras (UP) to report on the rape incident of a 19-year old Dalit woman. Atiq, Kappan and 2 others were charged under[Read More…]

by 25/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CDRO condemns the arrest of Khurram Parvez

CDRO condemns the arrest of Khurram Parvez

Khurram Parvez, a leading human rights defender and President of the Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), was arrested yesterday, on the 22nd of November 2021. The arrest was carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after the day-long raid carried out at the JKCCS office in Amira Kadal and Parvez’s house in Sonwar, Srinagar Kashmir. Parvez[Read More…]

by 25/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez

Release Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez

PUCL calls for the immediate release of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez, who was arrested on 22nd November 2021, by the National Investigating Agency under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Indian Penal Code. PUCL condemns the relentless use of UAPA by the Indian Government to arrest, detain and jail human rights defenders for long periods[Read More…]

by 24/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
An open letter from Sahba Husain

An open letter from Sahba Husain

Gautam Navlakha, nearly 70, is one of the oldest of the Bhima Koregaon arrestees, who was shifted to the “Anda Circle” (high security) from the barracks on October 12, 2021. Additionally, his telephone calls to me and his lawyers, his lifeline to the outside world, have been discontinued on the pretext that physical mulaquats have resumed in jail. I, his[Read More…]

by 22/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Who Decides Whose Rights And Life, Anyway?

Who Decides Whose Rights And Life, Anyway?

Little Muthu was used to her mother returning late and narrating issues and causes that none of her friends mothers are even aware of. She was slowly and steadily understanding the meaning and reason for her mother to be near the oppressed and the needy. This time she closely followed the issue because it involved the rights of a baby[Read More…]

by 19/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
BUJ and DUJ Condemn Arrest of Journalists in Tripura

BUJ and DUJ Condemn Arrest of Journalists in Tripura

BUJ and DUJ Condemn Arrest of Journalists in Tripura; Welcome Bail; Demand Withdrawal of all Cases and End to Intimidation of Journalists covering Tripura violence The Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists (BUJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) have strongly condemned the arrest of Samriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha, two journalists from HW News Network, by Tripura police on Nov[Read More…]

by 15/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Nativist Drama

Nativist Drama

The Assam Human Rights Commission closed on 10.3.2021 the case filed by Hirak Jyoti Bora,former General Secretary,Cotton College Students’ Union and now a member of the Assamese nationalist party AJP ,against the allegedly unprovoked police firing during the night of 12 December 2019 in Assam that had killed Sam Stafford and four other youthful protesters against the passing of CAA.[Read More…]

by 14/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
South Asian media fraternity in Canada raises voice for Gautam Navlakha

South Asian media fraternity in Canada raises voice for Gautam Navlakha

The members of Punjabi Press Club of British Columbia (PPCBC) have unanimously condemned the continued incarceration of the journalist and author under inhuman conditions in the Indian jail. Gautam Navlakha was arrested on trumped up charges in April 2020, and is currently lodged in jail near Mumbai. His only crime is daring to question the powerful, and always standing up[Read More…]

by 12/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Jai Bhim in Bolpur

Jai Bhim in Bolpur

In the town of  Bolpur, in the land of Tagore’s Shantiniketan, there lived a  28-year-old Raju Thandar from Dalit (Dom) Community at his in-laws’ house at Muchipara/ Darjipara with his wife and a girl child. Raju was a native of Durgapur in Burdwan district, 60 km away from Bolpur. Since 2006, Raju settled in Bolpur and made his living through[Read More…]

by 11/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the targeting of lawyers exposing anti-Muslim violence in Tripura!

Condemn the targeting of lawyers exposing anti-Muslim violence in Tripura!

Withdraw the charges against the Fact-Finding team and social media users and prosecute the perpetrators of violence in Tripura! On November 3rd, the Tripura Police sent notices to four Delhi based lawyers charging them under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). These lawyers, Advocate Ansar Indori, secretary of National Confederation[Read More…]

by 08/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Sudha Bhardwaj and Gulab Kaur (right)

Sudha Bharadwaj is a true patriot and heir of the Ghadar movement

Currently incarcerated under trumped up charges in the world’s so called largest democracy, Sudha Bharadwaj is one of the dozens of scholars and activists locked up in the Indian jails. Bharadwaj, who turned 60 on November 1, is a lawyer who has been advocating for the rights of the poor and marginalized, especially Adivasis or the Indigenous peoples of India[Read More…]

by 07/11/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Tripura UAPA Case – Don’t criminalise Fact-Finding Enquiries

Tripura UAPA Case – Don’t criminalise Fact-Finding Enquiries

   The PUCL strongly condemns the Tripura Police for registering a FIR dated 03rd November, 2021 under the UAPA and other draconian provision of the IPC against a team of advocates from Delhi, the “Lawyers for Democracy”, for conducting a Fact Finding Enquiry into communal violence incidents in Tripura in mid-end October, 2021. It is clear that the police have[Read More…]

by 06/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Revoke UAPA And Other Criminal Charges Against Tripura Fact-Finding Team Members

Revoke UAPA And Other Criminal Charges Against Tripura Fact-Finding Team Members

The invocation of UAPA charges against members of a fact-finding team shortly after they released its findings on the communal violence in Tripura, is shocking and condemnable. Besides S. 13 of UAPA (punishment for ‘unlawful activity’), a slew of IPC offences has also been invoked: 153 A and B of IPC (promoting enmity and anti-national activities), 120 B, 503, 504[Read More…]

by 06/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally for the release of Gautam Navlakha held in Canada

Rally for the release of Gautam Navlakha held in Canada

On the 37th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide, South Asian activists gathered in Surrey to raise their voices for a jailed Indian scholar, who was behind documenting the tragedy and exposing those involved. Gautam Navlakha was arrested on trumped up charges in April 2020, and is currently lodged in jail near Mumbai. His only crime is daring to question[Read More…]

by 01/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

Sudha Bharadwaj marks her fourth birthday in prison today

Sudha Bharadwaj marks her fourth birthday in prison today, November 1st, 2021, when she completes 60 years. She has been in jail along with the other BK-16 accused as undertrials, with the state neither commencing the trial nor releasing her on bail. Sudha’s life is a testament to a passionate concern to redressing injustice and redressing injustice is nothing, if[Read More…]

by 01/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Human Rights are for Everyone! Including Julian Assange

Human Rights are for Everyone! Including Julian Assange

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people … The General Assembly, Proclaims this Universal[Read More…]

by 31/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
System of solitary confinement, ‘Anda Cell’, inside the jail be stopped

System of solitary confinement, ‘Anda Cell’, inside the jail be stopped

How a human rights activist could be a challenge to the jail authority? On what way could solitary confinement of undertrial prisoner help him/her to avail justice? From various press releases, letters and media reports, Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan, Odisha (GASS) got information that the some of the human rights activists, arrested on Elgar Parishad – Bhima Koregaon case, have[Read More…]

by 29/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Who is afraid of APDR?

Who is afraid of APDR?

The Association for Protection of Democratic Right, better known as APDR was going to hold its belated (due to pandemic related restrictions) 28th biannual State Convention (রাজ্য সম্মেলন / राज्य सम्मेलन) at Surendranath Vidya Niketan at Sheoraphuli on 23rd & 24th October, 2021. They were forced to suspend the meet under extreme pressure and intimidation by Administration at the last[Read More…]

by 28/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Israel outlaws six Palestinian human rights groups, branding them “terrorist organisations”

Israel outlaws six Palestinian human rights groups, branding them “terrorist organisations”

On Friday, Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz signed a military order declaring six of the most prominent Palestinian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the occupied Palestinian territories “terrorist organizations.” The decree is an attack on Palestinian human rights activists and the communities they represent, and on the local and international public’s right to information about the situation in the occupied territories.[Read More…]

by 26/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn The Solitary Confinement And Continuing Harassment Of Bhima Koregaon Prisoners

Condemn The Solitary Confinement And Continuing Harassment Of Bhima Koregaon Prisoners

The high handedness of the Taloja Central Jail administration was evident in the events leading to the death of the octogenarian Bhima Koregaon undertrail, Stan Swamy on July 5, 2021. Almost immediately, the remaining BK undertrials protested the arbitrary jail conditions imposed by the then Superintendent, Kaustabh Kurlekar by observing a one-day hunger strike. However, far from bringing such persecution[Read More…]

by 26/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Press freedom groups call for charges against Assange to be dropped ahead of US appeal

Press freedom groups call for charges against Assange to be dropped ahead of US appeal

A coalition of over two dozen press freedom and human rights organisations has called on the Biden administration to drop all charges against Julian Assange. This is ahead of a US appeal that will be heard next week, challenging a British court decision that blocked the WikiLeaks publisher’s extradition. The statement, delivered last week to Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland,[Read More…]

by 24/10/2021 2 comments Human Rights
Sacrilege or blasphemy: The dirty attempt to cover up the caste prejudices against Dalits

Sacrilege or blasphemy: The dirty attempt to cover up the caste prejudices against Dalits

There is no doubt in the fact that Sikhism actually was a revolt against the Brahmanical system and superstition. Guru Granth Saheb is perhaps the only holy book which contains matters from different religions as well as those of various Sufi Saints including Kabir, Ravidas, Baba Farid and others. The aim of Sikhism was to create an egalitarian society and[Read More…]

by 23/10/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Custodial Death Is Not Just A Murder

Custodial Death Is Not Just A Murder

In a democratic country like India, custodial death, being a regular occurrence, raises question of our system.  Custodial Violence is never acceptable in our civilized society. But it is a matter of regret that our educated and civilised masses are not concerned about it in any way. Further, while the allegations of custodial death are rising in the state day[Read More…]

by 23/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Christians under Attack in India

Christians under Attack in India

Joint Fact-Finding Report by: Association for Protection of CivilRights|United Christian Forum | United Against Hate Series Of Attack On Christians The violence against Muslims in India which has now become pan Indian needs to be seen with the violence and vendetta against Christians. Unfortunately the media tends to ignore the violence against Christian. Human rights groups which monitor atrocities against[Read More…]

by 23/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fate Of Anti-War Journalism Lies in Upcoming Assange Hearings

Fate Of Anti-War Journalism Lies in Upcoming Assange Hearings

Within just a few days, the United States will once again make its case in a UK court that it has a right to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be tried under the Espionage Act, in what remains this century’s most dangerous attack on global press freedom. These hearings, taking place on October 27 and 28, are an attempt[Read More…]

by 22/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
“Undertrials” for how long? Guilty till proven innocent?

“Undertrials” for how long? Guilty till proven innocent?

The plight of the undertrials in the jails: The majority of the undertrials in India belong to the disadvantaged sections of the society. The offences alleged to have been committed by them may be minor ones but they are forced to languish in jails without a trial for years, as the criminal justice system in the country is a slow-moving[Read More…]

by 19/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Commemoration to mark 1961 Paris massacre of Algerians

Commemoration to mark 1961 Paris massacre of Algerians

Commemorations were held on Oct 17 to mark the 60th anniversary of a bloody Paris police crackdown on a demonstration by Algerians that occurred during the final year of the struggle for independence from the colonial power France. Human rights and anti-racism groups as well as Algerian associations staged a tribute march in Paris on Sunday and called on authorities[Read More…]

by 19/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
19,000 Children Cross the Dangerous Darien Gap this year, says UNICEF

19,000 Children Cross the Dangerous Darien Gap this year, says UNICEF

The number of migrant children who cross the Darien Gap on foot has hit an all-time high, UNICEF warned today. The Darien Gap is an extensive and inhospitable strip of tropical forest that divides Panama and Colombia, considered one of the most dangerous places for migrants attempting to reach North America. On their trek north towards the U.S., some 19,000[Read More…]

by 13/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Heroes or Parasites: Europe’s Self-serving Politics on Refugees

Heroes or Parasites: Europe’s Self-serving Politics on Refugees

Language is politics and politics is power. This is why the misuse of language is particularly disturbing, especially when the innocent and vulnerable pay the price. The wars in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries in recent years have resulted in one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes, arguably unseen since World War II. Instead of[Read More…]

by 13/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hundreds come together across India to demand freedom for Gulfisha and all Political Prisoners from UAPA and incarceration

Hundreds come together across India to demand freedom for Gulfisha and all Political Prisoners from UAPA and incarceration

Feminists, jan sangathans, mass organizations, collectives, students, trade unionists, farm workers, fisher people, members of Adivasi, Dalit and Muslim communities, displaced persons, civil liberties activists, journalists, academics, youth, as well persons facing political persecution joined the events held across States and expressed their solidarity with Gulfisha Fatima. Numerous cities and towns across the country were part of this solidarity action,[Read More…]

by 09/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Murders passed off as Deaths

Murders passed off as Deaths

We call Gandhi as Father of our nation, who preached non-violence, but police stations remain mothers of custodial violence throughout the country. *** During 17 years till 2018, 1727 persons died in custodial violence in India. Just they were killed. According to data released by National Crime Records Bureau NCRB, 26 policemen were convicted. Some critics described only 26 are[Read More…]

by 07/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Britannia Turns Back The Boats

Britannia Turns Back The Boats

Pushing people back across borders; turning asylum seekers away from shores.  When such tactics were openly adopted and used with impunity by Australia’s navy and border force, it caused outrage and concern in the maritime community and pricked the interest of border protectionists the world over. Disgust and outrage have, in time, been replaced by admiration at the sheer chutzpah[Read More…]

by 03/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Prominent leader’s assassination highlights the plight of Rohingya Muslims

Prominent leader’s assassination highlights the plight of Rohingya Muslims

A prominent Rohingya Muslim leader has been shot dead in a refugee camp in southern Bangladesh. Mohibullah, who was in his late 40s, led one of the largest of several community groups to emerge since more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar after a military crackdown in August 2017, Al Jazeera reported. He was talking with other refugee leaders outside[Read More…]

by 03/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CIA plan to poison Assange wasn’t needed. The US found a ‘lawful’ way to disappear him

CIA plan to poison Assange wasn’t needed. The US found a ‘lawful’ way to disappear him

A Yahoo News’ investigation reveals that, through much of 2017, the CIA weighed up whether to use wholly extrajudicial means to deal with the supposed threat posed by Julian Assange and his whistleblowers’ platform Wikileaks. The agency plotted either to kidnap or assassinate him. Shocking as the revelations are – exposing the entirely lawless approach of the main US intelligence[Read More…]

by 01/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Murderous Fantasies: The US Intelligence Effort Against Assange

Murderous Fantasies: The US Intelligence Effort Against Assange

If there was any reason to halt a farcical train of legal proceedings, then the case against Julian Assange would have to be the standard bearing example.  Since last year, the efforts by the US government to pursue his extradition to the vicious purgatory of American justice has seen more than a fair share of obscene revelations.  While prosecutors for[Read More…]

by 30/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Child Labor: Which Side are Democracies On?

Child Labor: Which Side are Democracies On?

Two years ago, when Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro favorably promoted the idea of labor for children as young as eight or nine, his minister for Human Rights, Family, and Women shot back: “Let us be clear that for children to work is a violation of their rights, something that cannot be allowed.” The Brazilian National Forum for the Prevention and Eradication of[Read More…]

by 29/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Fallout and Lessons Learnt from HRC and UN September 2021 Sessions

The Fallout and Lessons Learnt from HRC and UN September 2021 Sessions

The 48th UN Human Rights Council’s sessions has evoked much interest for Sri Lanka’s Human Rights activists and Government coupled with mixed signals from the Human Rights Commissioner. While the Commissioner appreciates Sri Lanka’s moves which are apparently opportunistic and face saving farcical measures, she has also issued a warning to Sri Lanka that it will remain in the watch[Read More…]

by 28/09/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Increasing spread of virus infection in Byculla prison is worrisome: Friends & Family of Sudha Bharadwaj

Increasing spread of virus infection in Byculla prison is worrisome: Friends & Family of Sudha Bharadwaj

Friends and Family of Sudha Bharadwaj are extremely worried over the alarming and disturbing news of the rising Covid-19 infection in Byculla women’s jail forcing the authorities to seal the premise. Last week, in a prison supervised phone conversation Koel Sen had with her mother Shoma Sen, former professor of English from Nagpur University, arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case[Read More…]

by 26/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Arrest of Seven villagers in Mali Hill area of Odisha

Arrest of Seven villagers in Mali Hill area of Odisha

We, members of Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan (Odisha), are deeply shocked and enraged with the vindictive attitude of the government of Odisha towards the tribals of the state. The government of Odisha has started hounding tribal leaders of Mali Hill defying statutory and constitutional provisions as well as time to time verdict of the Apex court. The arrests are happening[Read More…]

by 25/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Hangman’s Noose

The Hangman’s Noose

Does the death penalty work ? Or is it an anachronism which is long past its “use by” date ? But still continues to remain in use ? According to Amnesty International,  there are 106 countries where use of the death penalty is not allowed by law and 8 countries which permit the death penalty only for serious crimes in[Read More…]

by 22/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A Questionable ‘Suicide’ In Rule Of Law

A Questionable ‘Suicide’ In Rule Of Law

Raju’s death and version of suicide, in Telangana on September16 , is questioned by human rights activists, women groups, public spirited lawyers as also by the mother and wife of the killed suspect. It may not be just a coincidence, but dead body was found within a day after a Minister declared that certainly the suspect will be ‘encountered’ following[Read More…]

by 22/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
ABVA’s tryst with activists, lawyers & judges before, during and after its anti-sodomy law petition was filed

ABVA’s tryst with activists, lawyers & judges before, during and after its anti-sodomy law petition was filed

ABVA members wearing black T-shirts addressing the press at the Ashoka hotel, New Delhi during the Second Asia Pacific AIDS conference, November 1992 In April 1994 ABVA filed a Civil Writ Petition no. 1784 of 1994 titled AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan vs. Union of India and others in the Delhi High Court (DHC) asking for striking down inter alia entire[Read More…]

by 17/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Making Sense of the Eviction Crisis

Making Sense of the Eviction Crisis

The Land of the Free, Where So Many of the Brave Are Homeless. Resisting Evictions Amid a Pandemic Over the past weeks, multiple crises have merged: a crisis of democracy with the most significant attack on voting rights since Reconstruction; a climate crisis with lives and livelihoods upended in the Gulf Coast and the Northeast by extreme weather events and in the West by[Read More…]

by 16/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Image Credits- Ye_Jinghan, Unsplash

‘Jailed’ Children

Conditions in all spheres of life is going from bad to worse. On September 13, ‘political prisoners’day was observed. On that day, Jatin Das, friend of Bhagat Singh and member of Hindustan Republican Socialist Association, passed away after 63 days of hunger strike. He demanded ‘political prisoners’ status to those who have been jailed by the State. Even 92 years[Read More…]

by 16/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Radical Desi honours Sikh temple president for standing up for Indigenous peoples

Radical Desi honours Sikh temple president for standing up for Indigenous peoples

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was presented with a medal on Sunday, September 12 at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. Vancouver-based online magazine Radical Desi, which covers alternative politics, gives out medals to individuals who speak out and stand up against injustice and repression anywhere in the world. Nijjar was honoured for organizing special prayers for the indigenous children whose unmarked[Read More…]

by 14/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Source: Shutterstock

Rethinking Sustainable Solution to Rohingya Crisis: Limits of World Bank’s Proposal

Washington-based global lender the World Bank, through concessional lending arms, has gone to bat for Bangladesh to foster its development initiatives since 1972; committing more than $30 billion by backing priorities in economic, social and infrastructural development. Since 2018, this UN affiliated multilateral body, largest source of financial assistance to developing nations, has committed a total $590 million grant to[Read More…]

by 11/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Batakrushna Swain

Release Batakrushna Swain

The Hon. Naveen Patnaik Chief Minister, Odisha Sub: Request for the release of Upakuliya Jami o Jangala Surakhya Samiti member Mr. Batakrushna Swain Honorable Sir, We the undersigned people, regret to convey our dissatisfaction regarding the change in the definition of crime in our state. Though the drought situation is not new in the state, however, the increase in the[Read More…]

by 04/09/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Devalued Accountability And Justice In Sri Lanka

Devalued Accountability And Justice In Sri Lanka

Minister of Justice Ali Sabry at a Zoom discussion on 30 August 2021 disclosed that the President in Cabinet meetings and outside has again and again stressed to us his following stand on the issue of disappeared persons. ” If anyone disappeared, there is no need to investigate the reasons for his disappearance.  Do not try to find out if[Read More…]

by 04/09/2021 3 comments Human Rights
Canadian municipality proclaims Gauri Lankesh Day

Canadian municipality proclaims Gauri Lankesh Day

The City of Burnaby has declared September 5 as a day to honour a slain Indian journalist. Daring editor Gauri Lankesh was allegedly murdered by right wing extremists in Bengaluru, on the ill-fated date in 2017. She consistently wrote against superstition and growing fanaticism under the current Hindu nationalist BJP government in New Delhi. Attacks on religious minorities and political[Read More…]

by 28/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fleeing Conflict

Fleeing Conflict

The distressing images coming from Afghanistan following the call of withdrawal of US forces is yet another poignant reminder of the humanitarian crisis facing millions of people around the world. According to the United Nations refugee agency more than 70 million people worldwide were displaced in 2018. In the past three years more numbers have been added to this tally.[Read More…]

by 25/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Save The Life Of Abimael Guzman

Save The Life Of Abimael Guzman

A sustained or protracted campaign has to be launched to save the life or Dr.Abimael Guzman or Chairman Gonzalo.He is on the verge of dying with continuous deterioration of health. The reactionary State cites untreated skin cancer which has now metastasized as the cause for Gonzalo’s admission to the hospital. Chairman Gonzalo’s condition is easily diagnosed and treatable at an[Read More…]

by 22/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The ‘Sedition Act’: When it is done by the government, only ‘British Raj’ comes to mind!

The ‘Sedition Act’: When it is done by the government, only ‘British Raj’ comes to mind!

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court N.V. Ramana recently asked the Attorney General of the Central Government, “Is there a need for a law of ‘treason’ which reminds us of the remnants of colonialism after 75 years of independence?” According to the court, section 124 (a) of the Act is being grossly misused. The ‘Sedition Act’ was enacted by the[Read More…]

by 21/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
How will the UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill affect migration across the English Channel?

How will the UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill affect migration across the English Channel?

For various reasons, marginalised people like myself and vulnerable asylum seekers arriving by boat to UK shores are rarely heard from. Nevertheless, we have a lot to say to you. The UK government’s proposed Nationality and Borders Bill is politically expedient, not principled. I attempt to put myself in the shoes of those desperate asylum seekers who put their life[Read More…]

by 20/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hundreds of Palestinian women participated in a rally in besieged Gaza to protest Israel's annexation plan. (Photo: Fawzi Mahmoud, The Palestine Chronicle)

Reformism vs. Radicalism: On the Possibility of (Not) Creating Change within the Settler Colonial State

“Having Palestinians, Africans, Asians, Latinx, Muslims, LGBTQIA folks, etc., in the NYCP Dept. doesn’t make it less brutal, violent or corrupt,” writes Mawusi Ture, sister of the late Kwame Ture/Stokely Carmichael and organizer for Black Alliance for Peace (BAP). Ture’s words refer to the promotion of Palestinian American Filastin Srour to captain, making her the first woman of Arab descent[Read More…]

by 20/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Are We Out of Options on Myanmar?

Are We Out of Options on Myanmar?

In late August of 2017, Rohima Kadu’s idyllic village of Chin Khali, Rakhine was visited by Myanmar’s much dreaded military, the Tatmadaw and its local Buddhist militia associates. A helpless Rohingya widow of 50, Rohima was at a loss. Her eldest daughter, with whom she was living at that time, was bedridden with malaria and too weak to run. So,[Read More…]

by 19/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Kandhamal Human Rights Award Instituted

Kandhamal Human Rights Award Instituted

Preamble Every human being is born with intrinsic rights which recognise and protect her or his life and dignity. As civilization progressed,  and  specially with the formation of the  United Nations after World War II, many international charters and covenants were formulated to define and  codify these rights, and enjoin on member States to protect them. India with its plural[Read More…]

by 19/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Government Of India Must Replace The UAPA With Legislation That Fights Terrorism While Safeguarding Personal Liberties

Government Of India Must Replace The UAPA With Legislation That Fights Terrorism While Safeguarding Personal Liberties

 By Constitutional  Conduct  Group Dear Citizens of India, We are a group of retired officers of the All India and Central Services who have worked with the Central and State Governments in the course of our careers. As members of the Constitutional Conduct Group, we believe in impartiality, neutrality and commitment to the Indian Constitution and in safeguarding its values.[Read More…]

by 18/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A Day in the Death of British Justice

A Day in the Death of British Justice

I sat in Court 4 in the Royal Courts of Justice in London yesterday with Stella Moris, Julian Assange’s partner. I have known Stella for as long as I have known Julian. She, too, is a voice of freedom, coming from a family that fought the fascism of Apartheid. Today, her name was uttered in court by a barrister and[Read More…]

by 15/08/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Targeting the Medical Evidence: The US Challenge on Assange’s Health

Targeting the Medical Evidence: The US Challenge on Assange’s Health

The desperate attempt by the US imperium to nab Julian Assange was elevated to another level on August 11 in a preliminary hearing before the UK High Court.  The central component to this gruesome affair was the continuing libel of the expert witness upon which District Justice Vanessa Baraitser placed so much emphasis in her January 4 decision not to[Read More…]

by 12/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 Flags mark the spot where the remains of over 750 children were buried at former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, June 25 © AFP / GEOFF ROBINS

Canada is Waging an All-Front Legal War Against Indigenous People

Canada is developing a new image: one of burning churches, toppling statues, and mass graves. There are thousands more unmarked graves, thousands more Indigenous children killed at residential schools, remaining to be unearthed. There can be no denying that this is Canada, and it has to change. But can Canada transform itself for the better? If the revelation of the[Read More…]

by 10/08/2021 1 comment Human Rights
The Rehabilitation Policy for Khori Gaon is not ready, The orders of Supreme Court are not being followed

The Rehabilitation Policy for Khori Gaon is not ready, The orders of Supreme Court are not being followed

In Khori Gaon, hundreds of families have been displaced and thousands of houses are being brutally demolished each day. After the completion of the demolition drive, the destitute working-class residents are being forced to live without any shelter. They are also being immediately and forcibly removed from the area and being threatened with police action. Despite the order of the[Read More…]

by 08/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Framed to Die: The Case of Stan Swamy

Framed to Die: The Case of Stan Swamy

PUDR’s report, Framed to Die: The Case of Stan Swamy, offers an exhaustive account of what lay behind Stan Swamy’s death in judicial custody in a private hospital on 5 July 2021. As is known, he was arrested from his room in Bagaicha ATC campus on 8 October 2020 under S. 120 B, 121 A, 124 A and 34 of[Read More…]

Fighting Malta’s Rule of the Jungle: The Daphne Caruana Galizia Inquiry

Fighting Malta’s Rule of the Jungle: The Daphne Caruana Galizia Inquiry

The Public Inquiry into the murder of the resourceful journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia handed down its findings on July 29.  Firm aim was taken at the Maltese State, which had “to shoulder responsibility for the assassination because it created an atmosphere of impunity, generated from the highest levels in the heart of the administration of the Office of the Prime[Read More…]

by 04/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
24 Muslim Brotherhood members sentenced to death in Egypt

24 Muslim Brotherhood members sentenced to death in Egypt

An Egyptian kangaroo court on Thursday sentenced 24 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death in two separate cases, the daily Sabah reported. The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper said the Damanhour Criminal Court ordered the death penalty for 16 defendants affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, including Mohamed Sweidan, a regional leader of the organization, for their involvement in the bombing of a[Read More…]

by 01/08/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Julian Assange’s Ecuadorian citizenship revoked

Julian Assange’s Ecuadorian citizenship revoked

Ecuador has stripped Julian Assange of his citizenship. The move is another outrageous assault on the WikiLeaks founder’s democratic rights, made in preparation for his extradition to the United States on charges under the Espionage Act. He is currently held in the UK’s Belmarsh maximum security prison, pending a case in the High Court. The decision to revoke citizenship was[Read More…]

by 29/07/2021 1 comment Human Rights
The Political in ‘Political Prisoner’

The Political in ‘Political Prisoner’

It has been 500 days since Khalid Saifi’s incarceration, and 300 since Umar Khalid’s, in false UAPA cases; and a week since the custodial demise of Fr. Stan Swamy in the bogus Bhima Koregaon case. Both the Delhi riots and Bhima Koregaon cases are very important instances to explore the category of ‘political prisoner’ in contemporary Indian politics. They illustrate[Read More…]

Remove unconstitutional sections from statute

Remove unconstitutional sections from statute

“There were 1,307 cases registered by the police, in the last 6 years, under Section 66A of Information Technology Act, 2000, after Supreme Court declared it as unconstitutional… … The police and prosecutors, who are perpetuating this abuse, should be jailed for contempt of court. There should be a severe disciplinary action against the magistrates for framing charges under this[Read More…]

by 29/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pegasus: On the Trail of a Flying Horse

Pegasus: On the Trail of a Flying Horse

I have been persuaded by Noam Chomsky’s luminous and lucid insight that the politics we are familiar with simply befogs and obfuscates simple moral questions of right or wrong,just or unjust,good or evil.The questions that the Pegasus controversy raises are also basically moral ones,if you clean up all the usual confusing clutter. This is dismissed by vested and extremely partisan[Read More…]

by 29/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Corruption of Police Devastates Human Lives

Corruption of Police Devastates Human Lives

by Advocate Mohammad Shoaib and Sandeep Pandey That corruption is rampant in police department is a common experience. However, there is another form of corruption which devastates lives of individuals and their families. It has now emerged as a common phenomenon that police more often than not register false cases because of which individuals have to spend number of years[Read More…]

by 26/07/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Medical Complicity With Torture In Israel

Medical Complicity With Torture In Israel

Introduction This paper concerns torture and medical complicity in its practice. In 2015, Amnesty International noted that 157 states had ratified the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), but 141 states surveyed in the previous 5 years had used torture. Torture is a form of terrorism. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998 defined torture as a crime[Read More…]

by 26/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Khori Gaon residents: Victims not ‘encroachers’

Khori Gaon residents: Victims not ‘encroachers’

Since 14th July, the Haryana Government has been brutally demolishing houses built by Khori Gaon residents who have been living on this land for decades. Along with the bulldozers the residents have also been dealing with police violence and harassment simultaneously. The Municipal Corporation of Faridabad framed a draft policy for rehabilitation of Khori Gaon residents 5 weeks after the[Read More…]

by 25/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Disturbing Trend on the Rise of Harassment Against Asian-Americans

Disturbing Trend on the Rise of Harassment Against Asian-Americans

Trump supporter revealed it was Miles Yu who planned the anti-Asian policy. Recently, a screenshot of Trump supporters discussing Miles Yu’s anti-Asian policy in the Telegram group has been widely disseminated on social media. Such a criminal act of deliberately creating racial tensions and tearing American society apart has been criticized by netizens. In the screenshot of the telegram chat[Read More…]

by 25/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Sedition: Antithesis Of Freedom Of Speech And Expression

Sedition: Antithesis Of Freedom Of Speech And Expression

“…these are fundamental rights from a police constable’s point of view and not from the point of view of a free and fighting nation. Here whatever right is given is taken away by a proviso. Sardar Patel would punish us if we make a speech, but Rajaji would punish us even before we have made the speech…”- Somnath Lahiri, during[Read More…]

by 23/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pegasus Spyware: Need For Thorough Investigation

Pegasus Spyware: Need For Thorough Investigation

To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, Kindly refer to my letters dated 31-3-2019, 31-10-2019 & 19-7-2021 addressed to you (copies forwarded here) on the possible use/misuse of Pegasus in India. I wish to draw your attention to a press conference held by the Chattisgarh Chief Minister, as indicated in a news report, “Pegasus: Chhattisgarh CM[Read More…]

by 22/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protest held in Canada against the custodial death of Father Stan Swamy and incarceration of scholars

Protest held in Canada against the custodial death of Father Stan Swamy and incarceration of scholars

On the birthday of jailed Indian scholar Anand Teltumbde, activists gathered outside the Visa and Passport Application Center of the world’s so called largest democracy in Surrey to raise their voices for his release, as well as others detained under draconian laws. Teltumbde, who turned 71 on July 15, was arrested last year on trumped up charges for merely questioning[Read More…]

by 22/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Khori Gaon Demolitions Public Hearing: Panel alarmed at human rights violations

Khori Gaon Demolitions Public Hearing: Panel alarmed at human rights violations

20th July, 2021: This public hearing was organised to hear the affected citizens of Khorigaon and understand the status of implementation of the Supreme Court’s order of 7 June 2021. The Jury members included Environmentalist Ashish Kothari, Environmentalist Claude Alvares, Social Activist Ms. Anjali Bhardwaj, Adv. Tripti Poddar, Housing Right Activist, Prof. Amita Bhide from TISS, Mumbai and Prof. Bittu K.[Read More…]

by 20/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Migration Is Not the Crisis: What Washington Could Really Do in Central America

Migration Is Not the Crisis: What Washington Could Really Do in Central America

Earlier this month, a Honduran court found David Castillo, a U.S.-trained former Army intelligence officer and the head of an internationally financed hydroelectric company, guilty of the 2016 murder of celebrated Indigenous activist Berta Cáceres. His company was building a dam that threatened the traditional lands and water sources of the Indigenous Lenca people.  For years, Cáceres and her organization, the Council[Read More…]

by 19/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
John Lewis from the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge

The March Is Not Yet Over

Today is the first anniversary of the loss of John Lewis, a civil rights crusader. At the time of his death, Lewis was one of the last Selma-era civil rights leaders. In 1965, Selma, Alabama became a battle ground in an effort to guarantee Blacks the right to vote. During that time, a system of racial apartheid was in the[Read More…]

by 17/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
India must halt mass eviction that threatens to leave 100,000 homeless – UN experts

India must halt mass eviction that threatens to leave 100,000 homeless – UN experts

GENEVA (16 July 2021) – UN human rights experts* today called on India to halt evictions of some 100,000 people – including 20,000 children – that began this week in the midst of monsoon rains. Demolition of homes began on Wednesday, 14 July, in a village in Haryana State built on protected forest land, even though the forest was actually[Read More…]

by 16/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Justice minus humanity is injustice

Justice minus humanity is injustice

After NIA’s contentions, the special court has rejected the request for sipper. The judge did not ask NIA to prove the genuineness of their claim that nothing was confiscated by them..and without asking why you need 20 days to say yes or no to sipper request? Is it because a sipper in the hands of Parkinson patient is threat to[Read More…]

by 16/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Around 1000 Houses Demolished In Khori Gaon

Around 1000 Houses Demolished In Khori Gaon

Delhi and Haryana governments cannot shy away from the responsibility of the Khorigaon people. Without a feasible rehabilitation plan, stop the demolition in the midst of monsoon.  Demolition continued in Khori village during the first monsoon rains in Delhi. Sitting in the comfort of her office, Garima Mittal, the commissioner of Faridabad Municipality, carried out the demolition drive. On July[Read More…]

by 15/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
More than 100 activists write to Deccan Herald regarding vilifying and unethical advertisement

More than 100 activists write to Deccan Herald regarding vilifying and unethical advertisement

To, Mr. Sitaraman Shankar, Acting CEO, TPML, Editor, Deccan Herald CC: Mr B.S Arun, Deputy Editor 15 July 2021 We would like to draw your attention to the State page (Page 5) of E-Paper/Newspaper, released on 15 July 2021. The Deccan Herald’s (DH) Visual Connect ad on the page is not just factually incorrect, but also in appalling taste. Advertising[Read More…]

by 15/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
BK16: Why Is The Judiciary Still Sleeping?

BK16: Why Is The Judiciary Still Sleeping?

The Bhima Koregaon15 spending a single additional night in jail is a travesty of justice. The third report by Arsenal Consulting on evidence planting became public on July 6, with even more damning evidence corroborating the first two reports in February and April that confirmed extensive evidence planting on Rona Wilson’s hard drive, the first of the arrestees in the[Read More…]

by 14/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
No room for Dissent 

No room for Dissent 

In the post world war era, when the first wave of decolonisation happened and many countries were given their independence, India was the most prominent of those let go. Most prominent in the sense that India was considered the crown jewel of the British empire and the British King was separately designated too as the emperor of India. India’s independence [Read More…]

by 13/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
154 Incidents Of Violence Against Christians In India In The First Six Months Of 2021

154 Incidents Of Violence Against Christians In India In The First Six Months Of 2021

Perhaps, a new ministry of cooperation may bring in better understanding of others’ faith, especially those who oppose the practice of Christian faith. This year, 2021, hasn’t been any difference to Indian Christians in practicing their faith in their own country except that Indian Christians across globe came together to establish an exclusive day for themselves on July 3rd and[Read More…]

by 12/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Build a nationwide anti-fascist democratic movement as a true tribute to Fr Stan Swamy

Build a nationwide anti-fascist democratic movement as a true tribute to Fr Stan Swamy

The present rulers of the country and state institutions have imprisoned Fr. Stan Swamy for a crime he did not commit, and killed him without being given proper treatment in time and without bail, to prove their allegiance to fascist corporate capitalism. He fought for the democratic rights of thousands of tribal in Jharkhand who were imprisoned under black laws[Read More…]

by 10/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Akhil Gogoi: A case of abuse of terrorist law

Akhil Gogoi: A case of abuse of terrorist law

Almost all anti-CAA protestors are terrorists according to the Government of India and Governments of the states ruled by BJP or NDA coalition partner… the police in this state or that state go on registering false cases and make the innocent citizen to suffer the trauma of appeals up to Supreme Court. Specific directions from the Supreme Court that such[Read More…]

by 10/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Arrest of Medha Patkar, Jagdish Khairalia and others

Arrest of Medha Patkar, Jagdish Khairalia and others

Condemn the arbitrary arrest of workers of the Century Workers Union as well as activists Medha Patkar, Jagdish Khairalia and others : Call Maharashtra Police to Free All Arrested State & Company Management must Dialogue with Workers and Withdraw the forced VRS policy: Uphold Right to Livelihoods of Workers 9th July, 2021: NAPM condemns the arbitrary manner in which protesting[Read More…]

by 09/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protest in lambi in Punjab

Stan Swamy Murder Has Lit A Spark Turning Into A Prairie Fire In Challenging Proto-Fascism

It is most heartening how the masses of India are not taking the custodial murder of Father Stan Swamy lying down. We must congratulate all the sections be it of the workers, peasants, youth or students who have collectively galvanised forces to crystallise resistance against neo-fascism. A spark is virtually being turned into a Prairie fire. In the last few[Read More…]

by 08/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The US Appeals the Assange Ruling

The US Appeals the Assange Ruling

It took over half a year, but the US government’s case against Julian Assange continues its draining grind.  Even the Biden administration, which claims to tolerate a free press and truthful dialogue with the fourth estate, has decided to exhaust its legal options in seeking the publisher’s scalp. On July 7, the UK High Court of Justice agreed to hear[Read More…]

by 08/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fr. Stan Swamy’s institutional murder must lead to a nation-wide movement

Fr. Stan Swamy’s institutional murder must lead to a nation-wide movement

Fr. Stan Swamy’s institutional murder must lead to a nation-wide movement against draconian, anti-people laws and state repression. NAPM joins citizens and democratic groups across the globe remembering the  life and struggle of Stan Swamy with pain and pride  7th July, 2021: The news of the cold-blooded killing of Fr. Stan Swamy by all the institutions that held him arbitrarily in[Read More…]

by 07/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fr Stan Swamy has expired: But, his questions haven’t

Fr Stan Swamy has expired: But, his questions haven’t

In the death of Fr Stan Swamy on July 5, 2021, who was an “under trial” detainee languishing in the custody of the authorities, India has lost a courageous campaigner for adivasi rights. The manner in which the 84-year old Jesuit priest was forced to die has shaken the conscience of the nation. What hurts the feelings of any one[Read More…]

by 07/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
From Bujha Singh to Stan Swamy

From Bujha Singh to Stan Swamy

From Bujha Singh to Stan Swamy, the Indian state has proved that it doesn’t care for seniors when it comes to suppressing any voice of dissent July 5, 2021 will go down as another black day in the history of the world’s so-called largest democracy. It was then that an 84-year-old Roman Catholic priest, Stan Swamy, died in the custody[Read More…]

by 07/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pedestrians in Washington, D.C. walk past an image of Daniel Hale projected on a D.C. building on June 26, 2021 - Photo credit:  Nick Mottern

Why Daniel Hale Deserves Gratitude, Not Prison

 The whistleblower acted on behalf of the public’s right to know what is being done in its name “Pardon Daniel Hale.” These words hung in the air on a recent Saturday evening, projected onto several Washington, D.C. buildings, above the face of a courageous whistleblower facing ten years in prison. The artists aimed to inform the U.S. public about Daniel[Read More…]

by 07/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
New forensic report on Bhima Koregoan accused finds more evidence of planted files, this time on Surendra Gadling’s hard drive

New forensic report on Bhima Koregoan accused finds more evidence of planted files, this time on Surendra Gadling’s hard drive

Planting of files on Bhima Koregaon accused Surendra Gadling’s system follows a similar pattern as that on Rona Wilson’s system, new forensic report finds The already weakened case against the 16 accused in the Bhima Koregaon case was dealt a final blow by a third digital forensic report released earlier this afternoon by NDTV and the Washington Post. The report[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Father Stan Was Martyred For Standing Against Proto-Fascism

Father Stan Was Martyred For Standing Against Proto-Fascism

Without doubt one of the great democrats or crusaders against proto- fascism has perished. Few activists in such a considerable degree voiced the very soul of the opressed masses of Jharkhand as Father Stan Swamy.He was a living illustration that regardless of age the relentless spirit is never lost in the quest for liberation from the clutches of tyranny. Father[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fr. Stan Swamy Will Be Remembered Always for His Deep Commitment to Justice and His Courage

Fr. Stan Swamy Will Be Remembered Always for His Deep Commitment to Justice and His Courage

The death of Fr. Stan Swamy in extremely tragic circumstances on July 5 will be mourned by all those who believe in the most basic human values. He will be remembered by countless people for his very strong commitment to justice and for standing up for his beliefs and values with great courage. He will be remembered as a champion[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Institutional Murder of Fr. Stan Swamy

The Institutional Murder of Fr. Stan Swamy

A statement by the family members and friends of the BK-16 We, the friends and family members of those accused in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy case, are deeply pained and shaken to the core by the loss of Father Stan Swamy. This is not a natural death, but the institutional murder of a gentle soul, committed by an inhuman state.[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stan Swamy: Capital Punishment without trial

Stan Swamy: Capital Punishment without trial

The death of Father Stan Swamy in Custody is a reminder of how India’s criminal justice system has collapsed and is being used by the party in power to criminalise the activists, writers, dissenters and political opponents. One need not to think too much of it but a sequence of events since 2014 after Narendra Modi government took power. Right[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hold All Those Responsible For Stan Swamy’s Death Accountable

Hold All Those Responsible For Stan Swamy’s Death Accountable

Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest, and human rights advocate died in custody Monday at the age of 84 after 270 days of arbitrary confinement. Despite his precarious health condition, advanced age, and positive Covid-19 test, the authorities consistently denied him parole and necessary treatment. I urge an unbiased and transparent investigation into Mr. Swamy’s death in order to hold all[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stan Swamy: A Murder In Judicial Custody

Stan Swamy: A Murder In Judicial Custody

  CDRO salutes Fr. Stan Swamy, an activist and a champion of the rights of the tribal and marginalised people. CDRO believes that his death is nothing but a murder in judicial custody and urges all democratic people to protest against the death Fr. Stan Swamy’s death is nothing but a blatant murder in judicial custody. Modi-government and the Judiciary[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fr. Stan is dead! Salutes to an extraordinary rights fighter!!

Fr. Stan is dead! Salutes to an extraordinary rights fighter!!

PUCL is extremely saddened and anguished by the death of Fr. Stan Swamy today, 5th July, 2021 in the Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, where he was undertaking treatment pursuant to an interim order of the Bombay High Court in his bail petition in the Bhima Koregaon case. What is most tragic is that even as the High Court Division Bench[Read More…]

by 06/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A Prophet is a Threat to the Powerful: A Tribute to Stan Swamy

A Prophet is a Threat to the Powerful: A Tribute to Stan Swamy

No prophet is recognised by the powerful. Prophets are killed because they are a threat to the powerful. That was the message of the Gospel read at masses in Catholic churches on Sunday, 4th July. Stan Swamy was bearing witness to it on the same day by being critical and he left us today, 5th July, a martyr of the[Read More…]

by 05/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A defaced statue of Queen Elizabeth II lies after being toppled during a rally outside the provincial legislature in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, July 1, 2021. ©  Reuters / Shannon VanRaes

1,100 Children Graves in Canada found, Queen Elizabeth II and Victoria statues toppled, 7 Churches lighted

Statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria were torn down by protesters in Winnipeg, Canada. The latest acts of protests followed a spree of attacks on Catholic churches built on First Nation lands. At least seven churches have caught fire in recent weeks, since the grim discovery of more than 1,100 unmarked graves at sites where Catholic-run residential schools used to[Read More…]

by 05/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CCTV could have prevented custodial murder

CCTV could have prevented custodial murder

The rule of law is under a serious challenge since the inception of Constitution of India, as far as killings in police custody are concerned. The Supreme Court recently ordered installation of CCTV cameras in every place of custodial activity under the control of the police. But it appears no state or no police personnel have taken a serious note[Read More…]

by 05/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stan Swamy’s Health: Open Letter To Chief Justice Of Bombay High Court

Stan Swamy’s Health: Open Letter To Chief Justice Of Bombay High Court

Respected Sir, This is to bring to your notice the irreversibly deteriorating condition of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy, an undertrial prisoner accused in the Elgar Parishad case and lodged at Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra. He has been under intensive care at the Holy Family Hospital at Bandra, Mumbai, after he was directed to be hospitalized on 28 May. Today,[Read More…]

by 05/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Urgent need for bail and specialised medical treatment for critical Stan Swamy

Urgent need for bail and specialised medical treatment for critical Stan Swamy

Statement by Jharkhand Jan Adhikar Mahasabha 84-year old Priest Stan Swamy’s health has deteriorated and he has been put on a ventilator at the Holy Family hospital. His situation is said to be critical. The NIA and central government are solely responsible for the sufferings of this elderly person and the current state of affair. The NIA court also played[Read More…]

by 04/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
American Slavery and Global Capitalism

American Slavery and Global Capitalism

Edward Baptiste’s The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism attempts to provide a material analysis of the development of Slavery in the United States leading up to the Civil War. In doing so he reveals the origin of capitalism, and Western Economic Supremacy, to be the Southern Slave Plantations, who provided Northern and English Capitalists with[Read More…]

by 04/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Police arrest activists and protestors at Khori village

Police arrest activists and protestors at Khori village

Not too far from the border of Delhi, Haryana’s Khori village has been the site of an unwavering protest movement. After a Supreme Court order on June 07, 2021 mandated the demolition of the slums of Khori village, the residents of the village took to protesting to save their houses. Most of the residents at the village are migrants from[Read More…]

by 02/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Chhattisgarh government must restore health and human rights of people in Bastar

Chhattisgarh government must restore health and human rights of people in Bastar

by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh Right to Food Campaign (RTFC) Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) and Right to Food Campaign (RTFC), Chhattisgarh are writing to the Chhattisgarh government to bring attention to the poor status of human rights and health rights of people living in the Bastar Region. For years the people of Bastar have been denied decent[Read More…]

by 01/07/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally for jailed Indian scholars held in Canada

Rally for jailed Indian scholars held in Canada

Close to the birthday of George Orwell and the 46th anniversary of Emergency in the world’s so called largest democracy, activists came together in Surrey on Sunday, June 27, to raise their voices against the incarceration of thinkers by the Indian authorities. Organized by Radical Desi publications, the rally was held right outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center.[Read More…]

by 28/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Fire Words for Canada Day

Fire Words for Canada Day

Dear Paleface, Let’s make things right for the longstanding Indigenous inhabitants of this land. Following the late May discovery of 215 concealed burials of First Nations children at a former residential school in Canada there was a post from a Jewish group on Facebook basically saying ‘Yes, this is an example of genocide.’ I am sure there are other Jews[Read More…]

by 27/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Killing of Bramhadev Singh of Piri (Latehar) by security forces

Killing of Bramhadev Singh of Piri (Latehar) by security forces

On June 12, 2021, many online news portals reported an exchange of fire that took place between security forces and Maoists in Kuku-Piri forest, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Garu police station of Latehar (Jharkhand). According to reports, one Naxalite was killed and guns were found. The next day, many local newspapers highlighted that 24-year-old Bramhadev Singh of[Read More…]

by 23/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The UAPA Noose

The UAPA Noose

It is now out in the open.There seems to be quite a lot of dissatisfaction in the higher judiciary about the burden placed on their shoulders by the rising number of UAPA cases.The phrasing of the act is so wide and sweeping that it gives a government powers to practically put under arrest and detain anyone it finds inconvenient or[Read More…]

by 21/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Together A Cry For Justice

Together A Cry For Justice

Aisha Sultana, a native of Lakshadweep’s Chetlat island, is today one of India’s visible faces in the cry for justice! She is a well-known actor and director and an activist. Lakshadweep, a Union Territory, is an archipelago of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea: a paradise with pristine beauty. Its 70,000-strong population is predominantly Muslim (with smaller percentages of Hindus[Read More…]

by 21/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protests in Punjab on arrests of intellectuals and social activists

Protests in Punjab on arrests of intellectuals and social activists

A most encouraging phenomena has emerged in Punjab in the last week with 4most qualitative protests engulfing Punjab  in Bathinda , Amritsar ,Sangrur  and Nawanshahr against the detention of the intellectuals fabricated as Maoists. The speakers at the very core exposed link between saffron Hindutva politics and the patronage to corporate groups like Ambani or Adani.They portrayed how the trend[Read More…]

by 19/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop Unjust Evictions of 10 thousand households in Khori Gaon, Faridabad

Stop Unjust Evictions of 10 thousand households in Khori Gaon, Faridabad

 NAPM Condemns the unjustifiable order of the Supreme Court to Evict around One Lakh Residents of Khori Gaon, Haryana, without Rehabilitation in the Middle of the Pandemic Right to Housing of Working-Class people Living in Precarious Conditions is inalienable: ‘Environmental Protection’ cannot be an excuse to deprive vulnerable people of shelter 15th June, 2021: National Alliance of People’s Movements denounces[Read More…]

by 15/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Publicity and Exploitation: Fortress Australia and the Family from Biloela

Publicity and Exploitation: Fortress Australia and the Family from Biloela

Australian officials and paper mad types are running out of ideas as to how to be cruel towards refugees.  We need to give them some credit: for years they have tried to do what most autocratic and murderous regimes do in a heartbeat: ignore international law, treat it with disdain and use those feeble excuses in the service of sovereignty.[Read More…]

by 15/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Justice to Sanitation Workers Must Move Beyond Verbal Appreciation

Justice to Sanitation Workers Must Move Beyond Verbal Appreciation

Q-Who are the workers who perform the most essential tasks, also earn the highest appreciation but get the least justice? Ans. -Sanitation workers. Since historical times, sanitation workers have suffered the most injustice in India. Perhaps oppressor sections thought that the most effective, even though highly unjust , means to ensure the ready availability of this essential service at a[Read More…]

by 15/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Screening bodies, mobilising consent

Screening bodies, mobilising consent

Undergoing the process of having to screen our bodies invaded by an external touch also makes us vulnerable to unidentified sexual perversion. But does having to undergo the same if exercised by people of our respective genders make us any less vulnerable? Established heterosexual foundations so far has led to the screening of women and men bodies by their gender[Read More…]

by 14/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
WANTED: Immediate Justice in the Bhima-Koregaon Conspiracy

WANTED: Immediate Justice in the Bhima-Koregaon Conspiracy

It was the virtual ‘midnight knock’! The irony was that the knock took place in broad daylight, and expectedly in a blatantly unjust, uncivilised and unconstitutional manner. On 6 June 2018, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson were arrested from their residences in various parts of the country. The arrests of others then continued in[Read More…]

by 13/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Prominent international figures urge release of human rights defenders in India

Prominent international figures urge release of human rights defenders in India

Over 50 eminent international figures including members of several European parliaments academics, lawyers, Nobel laureates, civil society leaders, and diasporic organisations have signed a joint statement urging the Indian government to show compassion and responsibility in the current Covid emergency, and call upon the authorities to release all arrested human rights defenders into safe conditions in the light of the[Read More…]

by 11/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Composite photo of dual nationals being held as prisoners in Iran.

“Unbearable”—The Lives of Iran’s Political Prisoners Hang in the Balance, June 13 – A Moment to Act

“Unbearable.” That’s the title of Reza Khandan’s gut-wrenching Ms. Magazine report from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s (IRI) Qarchak prison for women. Khandan is the husband of attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is imprisoned there for the “crime” of representing activists for human and women’s rights. What is so “unbearable”? “Entering these cells is like being transported back to the Middle Ages,” Khandan writes,[Read More…]

by 09/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
G.N Saibaba: Great Son of Our Land

G.N Saibaba: Great Son of Our Land

I am writing this tribute to Jailed Professor G.N.Saibaba, commemorating the third anniversary of the attack on the Urban intellectuals in Mumbai. Professor G.N.Saibaba is in my view today the best son of our land today. It is hard to visualize a physically impaired person face and resist the iron feet of oppression with the same magnitude. Professor G.N.Saibaba is[Read More…]

by 07/06/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Denmark Offshores the Right to Asylum

Denmark Offshores the Right to Asylum

This has been a fantasy of Danish governments for some time.  There have been gazes of admiration towards countries like Australia, where processing refugees and asylum-seekers is a task offloaded, with cash incentives, to third countries (Papua New Guinea and Nauru come to mind).  Danish politicians, notably a good number among the Social Democrats, have dreamed about doing the same[Read More…]

by 07/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Appointment of Justice Arun Mishra as Chairperson, NHRC: Another Move to Subvert & Destroy Democratic Institutions

Appointment of Justice Arun Mishra as Chairperson, NHRC: Another Move to Subvert & Destroy Democratic Institutions

We, the members of various Human Rights Organisations and Concerned individuals, condemn the appointment of former SC Judge, Shri Arun Kumar Mishra, as the next Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India by the selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister. What is troubling is that the decision to appoint Justice Arun Kumar Mishra as NHRC Head[Read More…]

by 02/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
India’s Ignorance of its Political Prisoners during Pandemic

India’s Ignorance of its Political Prisoners during Pandemic

The second wave in recent weeks has overwhelmed the healthcare system, leaving hospitals and people both struggling to cope with critical drugs and oxygen in short supply. The situation now seems a little under control with infections slowing down. Pandemic has revealed a lot of mismanagement on the part of the government. Many sections of the society have skipped the[Read More…]

by 02/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Australian Refugees – Corruption, Profits and Politics

Australian Refugees – Corruption, Profits and Politics

Written by Thomas Klikauer and Catherine Link At the end May 2021, Australian media reported on a multinational company receiving a $121 million contract to keep asylum seekers locked away on a remote island of Papua New Guinea (PNG) for good. Ever since Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations and even more so since Karl Marx’s Value, Price and Profits (1865),[Read More…]

by 02/06/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A system buried 215 children at a former residential school in Canada

A system buried 215 children at a former residential school in Canada

At the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Colombia, Canada, remains of 215 children were found buried. Some of the children were as young as three years old when they died, the First Nation said. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation hired a specialist in ground-penetrating radar to carry out the work and believes the deaths of the children are undocumented. Chief Rosanne[Read More…]

Facts and Fiction of Firing in Silger (Bastar)

Facts and Fiction of Firing in Silger (Bastar)

Written by Bela Bhatia and Jean Drèze Mass protests against the proliferation of CRPF camps have been happening all over Bastar during the last two years, without attracting much media coverage. It is only because of the death of three protestors in police firing on 17 May 2021 that the Silger protest came to light. Silger is a small adivasi[Read More…]

by 27/05/2021 1 comment Human Rights
PUCL Offers Condolence Message for Prof. Dinesh Mohan

PUCL Offers Condolence Message for Prof. Dinesh Mohan

PUCL feels a deep sense of loss over the sad demise of Prof. Dinesh Mohan on 21st May. Prof. Dinesh Mohan’s passing away marks the loss of a multifaceted personality: an outstanding academician, a visionary thinker, pioneer in the field of traffic studies and sustainable infrastructure development and a staunch champion of human rights. Prof. Dinesh Mohan was a member[Read More…]

by 27/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
US Extradition of Alex Saab is Illegal & Unfounded: Lawyers & Legal Experts

US Extradition of Alex Saab is Illegal & Unfounded: Lawyers & Legal Experts

Written by Saheli Chowdhury and Stephen Lalla Venezuelan businessman and diplomatic envoy Alex Saab, held in the African island nation of Cape Verde and facing extradition to the United States, is a victim of political persecution and his case is comparable to that of Julian Assange or Chelsea Manning. Saab, who had engaged in brokering deals that would evade the[Read More…]

by 25/05/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Urgent need to shift Stan Swamy to a good hospital

Urgent need to shift Stan Swamy to a good hospital

Stan Swamy, 84-year old Adivasi rights activist from Jharkhand, was arrested by NIA under UAPA in the Bhima Koregaon case on the 8th of October 2020 and has been lodged in Taloja jail, near Mumbai, Maharashtra. He has spent his entire life fighting for Adivasi rights and the rights of the underprivileged. Stan Swamy is a Parkinson’s disease patient with[Read More…]

by 20/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Political Prisoners

Release Political Prisoners

Though India is one of the worst hit covid affected countries in the world, the plight and plea of political prisoners under trial gets no attention from the state or central governments. So many people including students, activists, journalists, academicians, and political leaders are still behind the bars many of whom are tested Covid postive while some others got serious[Read More…]

by 20/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Two Crucial Reasons Why Fr. Stan Swamy Should Be Released at the Earliest

Two Crucial Reasons Why Fr. Stan Swamy Should Be Released at the Earliest

It is the duty of all patriotic citizens to protect the international reputation of their country. For the greater part of its post-independence period India has experienced a reasonably good reputation in terms of democracy and human rights. There were always some problems, things were never perfect, there were ups and downs, but on the whole there was a reasonably[Read More…]

by 17/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Increasing Worldwide Demand for Release of Political Prisoners in Covid  Times

Increasing Worldwide Demand for Release of Political Prisoners in Covid  Times

On May 13 Thailand released data of record increase in Covid cases, but perhaps even more worrying was the fact that over half of the new cases were reported  from two prisons located in Bangkok which also house quite a few political prisoners who had been arrested mainly for their protests against the government and the monarchy. This is just[Read More…]

by 16/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A  Daughter Struggles For the Release of Her Distinguished Imprisoned Mother Who Had Earlier Protected Poorest People From Injustice 

A  Daughter Struggles For the Release of Her Distinguished Imprisoned Mother Who Had Earlier Protected Poorest People From Injustice 

Till some time back Sudha Bharadwaj was known to many friends and admirers as a public interest lawyer who had  protected many vulnerable and poor persons, particularly workers from injustice. She also taught law at prestigious institutions and was a source of inspiration for many of her students. How have conditions changed? Now her only daughter Maaysha has been moving[Read More…]

by 16/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
A Strong Case For Withdrawing All Cases Against Natasha Narwal

A Strong Case For Withdrawing All Cases Against Natasha Narwal

Last week the academic community in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and other states was greatly distress by the news of the death of Dr. Mahavir Narwal. Many of his former students, particularly those in Hissar ,  were reduced to tears. He was remembered by teachers as well as students not only for his learning and teaching but also for the important[Read More…]

by 14/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hany Babu Tested COVID Positive

Hany Babu Tested COVID Positive

Hany Babu, an undertrial prisoner in the Bhima Koregaon case, who has been in custody since July 2020 without trial has now been diagnosed as COVID Positive. Hany had developed an acute eye infection in Taloja Jail. He has little or no vision in his left eye due to the swelling, which has spread to the cheek, ear and forehead[Read More…]

by 13/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Plea for release of the Bhima Koregaon (BK) detainees during COVID-19 pandemic

Plea for release of the Bhima Koregaon (BK) detainees during COVID-19 pandemic

Family and friends of activists arrested in Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case write to Hon’ble Chief Minister, Maharashtra state for immediate release of the Bhima Koregaon under trial detainees in light of the threats posed to their life and health due to the raging Covid 19 pandemic. Letter attached. —————–Letter——————— Date: 11/05/21 To, The Honorable CM, Maharshtra Mr. Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray,[Read More…]

by 12/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Hany Babu Suffering From Acute Eye Infection

Hany Babu Suffering From Acute Eye Infection

An Appeal to Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan Sir, Please Intervene… To The Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala Dear Sir, We, the family members of Hany Babu M.T., who is the 12th person to be arrested in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case (NIA Case No. RC-02/2020/NIA/MUM), write to you in desperation and to bring to your kind attention[Read More…]

by 12/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Cherry – Picking Human Rights Policy

Cherry – Picking Human Rights Policy

US Condemns China’s Uighur Policy, while Providing Billions in Foreign Aid to Israel Condemned for Apartheid Policies The US has a long-standing double standard when it comes to condemning nations for human rights violations, including state-terrorist acts, if it considers them enemies. At the same time, the US strongly supports and in some cases provides billions in foreign aid, guaranteed[Read More…]

by 11/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
BBC, Free Media, and Julian Assange

BBC, Free Media, and Julian Assange

A video in which Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev is interviewed by Orla Guerin has resurfaced; the interview took place in November 2020. (The BBC version.) Revealing is what is not seen in the BBC version. When Aliyev held up the mirror to Guerin’s “accusation” that there was no free media in Azerbaijan, the BBC responded by censoring Aliyev’s reference to[Read More…]

by 09/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Can Guantánamo Ever Be Shut Down?

Can Guantánamo Ever Be Shut Down?

Dealing with the Forever Prison of America’s Forever Wars The Guantánamo conundrum never seems to end. Twelve years ago, I had other expectations. I envisioned a writing project that I had no doubt would be part of my future: an account of Guantánamo’s last 100 days. I expected to narrate in reverse, the episodes in a book I had just[Read More…]

by 05/05/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Release Akhil Gogoi Immediately

Release Akhil Gogoi Immediately

One of the lesser known aspects of recent Assembly elections which deserves to be known more widely is that the well-known social activist Akhil Gogoi has won the election from Sivasagar constituency from Assam even though he fought the election from behind the bars as he had been arrested following his opposition to Citizens’ Amendment Act ( CAA). Despite being[Read More…]

by 04/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
African Human Rights Vs. Western Human Rights

African Human Rights Vs. Western Human Rights

If you ask those of us living in the Africa, almost all of us will tell you that the “human rights” that matter most are those that are basic to the right to life; food, water, shelter, medical care and education for your children. If you and you family are cold, hungry, sick and illiterate do you think “freedom of[Read More…]

by 04/05/2021 2 comments Human Rights
Image Credits- Ye_Jinghan, Unsplash

Question of Release of All Political Prisoners – Urgent need for another 1977-like PUCLDR National Convention on Political Prisoners

PART  I A Poem symptomatic of the Theme of Political Prisoners Let me invert the structure of this article a bit. I have referred to some of the poems in the anthalogy of poems “Dissenting Voices” (1977) which accompanied the 1977 – PUCLDR National Convention of Political Prisoners, at the end of this piece. However, let me begin with one[Read More…]

by 01/05/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Anatomy of a Solar Land Grab

Anatomy of a Solar Land Grab

Blatant Human Rights violations and forcible takeover of land in Mikir Bamuni Grant village for a 15MW Solar Power Project of Azure Power. State officials, especially form local and district administration, facilitated the illegal and unjust takeover of the land. The Land and Forests of Assam belong to the indigenous and adivasi people of Assam and must be returned back[Read More…]

by 30/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protest The Ban Of 16 Democratic Organisations In Telengana

Protest The Ban Of 16 Democratic Organisations In Telengana

CDRO strongly condemns the declaration of Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) and 15 other organisations by the Telangana state government as unlawful associations under Telangana Public security Act.  The Telangana Government, recently through a G. O. Ms.73 dt. 30-3-2021, declared that the following organisations, 1) Telangana Praja Front (TPF), 2.Telangana Asanghatitha Karmika Samkhya (TAKS), 3.Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TW), 4.Democratic Students Organisation[Read More…]

by 28/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Birthday Greetings, Dear Fr. Stan!

Birthday Greetings, Dear Fr. Stan!

  Dear Stan, It is rather unusual and certainly not normal to wish someone who is in prison “A Happy Birthday!” One’s birthday cannot be ‘happy’ in prison; however, in wishing you – we celebrate your life: your mission and your message and above all, those whom you have so closely identified with, all these years so “Birthday Greetings to[Read More…]

by 25/04/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Free Hidme Markam

Free Hidme Markam

1,000 + activists, academics, concerned citizens from 20+ states in India and across the globe write to Chief Minister Chhattisgarh. Call for immediate release of Hidme Markam and end state excess on adivasis in Bastar Deeply outraged by the arbitrary incarceration of Hidme Markam, an adivasi human rights defender and environmental activist, for over 40 days, more than a thousand[Read More…]

by 21/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
UN Special Rapporteur on Sanctions Alena Douhan press conference in Caracas (Photo Telesur)

US sanctions on Venezuela violate the human rights that they claim to protect, says UN Special Rapporteur on Sanctions

Written by Saheli Chowdhury and Stephen Lalla “You cannot claim to protect human rights by violating human rights,” asserted Alena Douhan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, while detailing the human cost of the unilateral sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the United States and its allies. Prof. Douhan,[Read More…]

by 21/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally in support of Ambedkar’s grandson-in-law held outside Indian Visa and Passport Application Center

Rally in support of Ambedkar’s grandson-in-law held outside Indian Visa and Passport Application Center

Close to the first anniversary of the arrest of a renowned Indian scholar, members of Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) held a demonstration in Surrey on Sunday, April 18. Anand Teltumbde, a well-known author and columnist, was arrested last year on April 14 under trumped up charges for merely questioning the power and standing up for the poor and[Read More…]

by 19/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pam Africa: As Mumia Awaits Heart Surgery, I am Issuing a Challenge to CNN’s Michael Smerconish and DA Larry Krasner

Pam Africa: As Mumia Awaits Heart Surgery, I am Issuing a Challenge to CNN’s Michael Smerconish and DA Larry Krasner

(PHOTO: Pam Africa presents the first issue of The Jamal Journal outside of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office on March 12, 2021. Pam has repeatedly attempted to meet with DA Krasner but he has always refused to meet with her.  Photo by Jamal Journal staff photographer Joe Piette) Ona Move! On Saturday April 17, Mumia called his wife Wadiya and[Read More…]

by 19/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Mumia Abu-Jamal is Scheduled for Open-Heart Surgery –Racism Remains the Greatest Medical Threat to Mumia’s Health

Mumia Abu-Jamal is Scheduled for Open-Heart Surgery –Racism Remains the Greatest Medical Threat to Mumia’s Health

(A new Medical Professionals for Mumia petition co-written by Dr. Alvarez is reprinted at the bottom of this article. Read “A Christmas Cage,” Mumia Abu-Jamal’s personal account of what happened to him on the morning of Dec. 9, 1981) As this article goes to press today, April 15th, Mumia is now scheduled for open heart surgery tomorrow. We only know that he has severe blockages[Read More…]

by 16/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rohingya Refugees on the move (Image for representational purpose only)

Rohingyas: The tale of an ill-decided fate

Written by Nizamuddin Ahmad Siddiqui & Abu Zar Ali The Supreme Court of India, by way of an order dated 8th April 2021, allowed the deportation of Rohingyas from the Indian territory. The Government of India had argued that these people were illegal migrants who had crossed the borders from the neighbouring state; and though they enjoyed the equal protection[Read More…]

by 11/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
PUCL condemns the Unprecedented Attack on Rights Activists by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh and the NIA

PUCL condemns the Unprecedented Attack on Rights Activists by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh and the NIA

(The Press release is by way of a chronicle of the NIA Witch-hunt of Rights Defenders and documents the ongoing saga of the State’s Conspiracy to Silence Dissent) In an unprecedented manner, on 31st March & 1st April, 2021, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the homes of at least 33 human rights and civil liberties activists, members of women’s[Read More…]

by 10/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Telugu community in Canada raises voice for GN Saibaba

Telugu community in Canada raises voice for GN Saibaba

Members of the Telugu Church in Vancouver came together on Tuesday, April 6, to denounce the incarceration of the disabled Indian scholar G.N. Saibaba. A former Delhi University Professor, Saibaba continues to face inhuman conditions in an Indian jail after being convicted in 2017. First arrested on trumped-up charges in 2014, for merely speaking out against the repression of religious[Read More…]

by 08/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
GASS condemns role of NIA to cover up the Vakapalli rape case

GASS condemns role of NIA to cover up the Vakapalli rape case

Bhubaneswar: The Ganatantrik Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan (GASS) condemns the witch-hunting of the National Investigation Authority (NIA) officials against the human and democratic rights activists from Andra Pradesh and Telangana in the name of so-called “Maoist links “. It is reported in various National dailies that the NIA officials conducted raids at 31 residential places of the human rights activist and arrested[Read More…]

by 03/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Activist KV Biju thrashed for campaigning against BJP in Kerala

Activist KV Biju thrashed for campaigning against BJP in Kerala

KV Biju, national coordinator of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, one of groups under the umbrella of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha that has been leading the farmer protests on the borders of the national capital, was among two people thrashed late night on March 30, 2021, while out pasting posters urging voters in Kerala to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates[Read More…]

by 02/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 NAPM condemns the fabricated FIRs and arbitrary raids on activists’ homes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

 NAPM condemns the fabricated FIRs and arbitrary raids on activists’ homes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) condemns in the strongest possible terms the high-handed manner of ‘raids’ by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) at the homes of over 16 activists of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, acting on dubious FIRs registered a couple of months back. We express our solidarity with all these activists and advocates who are long standing members[Read More…]

by 02/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
CDRO Condemns NIA Raids On Rights Activists

CDRO Condemns NIA Raids On Rights Activists

Co-ordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) is strongly condemning the raids of NIA(National Investigation Agency) on the houses of Rights Activists and activists belongs to various peoples organisations. NIA has raided the houses of nearly 16 Human Rights, Civil liberties, feminist activists and progressive writers in AP and Telangana. The raids began on 31st March evening and continued till the[Read More…]

by 02/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Draconian Sedition Law in Independent India

The Draconian Sedition Law in Independent India

The Indian Sedition Law owes its origin to The British Sedition Act of 1661, an Act of Parliament of England which was passed as an Act for safety and   Preservation of His Majesties Person and Government against Treasonable and Seditious practices and attempts. However Sedition was abolished in Great Britain through the Coroners and Justice Act of 2009. The Sedition Law in India was inserted into IPC[Read More…]

by 02/04/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
UNHRC Resolution 46/1 – A Welcome Development

UNHRC Resolution 46/1 – A Welcome Development

A welcome move for the United Nations, Security Council and International Community to uphold accountability and rein in Sri Lanka. At the 46th Session of UNHRC, the final Resolution on Sri Lanka was passed with 22 members voting for it with 11 opposing and 14 abstentions In this article some of the Resolutions’ vital recommendations can be  analyzed in the[Read More…]

by 01/04/2021 1 comment Human Rights
The Only Treatment is Freedom: Mumia Abu-Jamal and COVID

The Only Treatment is Freedom: Mumia Abu-Jamal and COVID

Johanna Fernández, author of The Young Lords: A Radical History and a leading member of the movement to bring Mumia Abu-Jamal and other political prisoners home, reports on Mumia’s COVID-19 diagnosis.  History is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that[Read More…]

by 31/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Wrongful detention or conviction: Victims’ compensation

Wrongful detention or conviction: Victims’ compensation

On March 03, 2021, The New Indian Express carried a news headline: ‘Falsely accused of rape, UP man freed after spending 20 years in jail’ – a very good news report indeed; he is free man finally. Then on March 06, 2021, Inquest News carried the following headline: ‘Surat court acquits 122 alleged SIMI members after 19 years of arrest’[Read More…]

by 30/03/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Fr Stan Swamy and the Ides of March

Fr Stan Swamy and the Ides of March

Sometime, just before Monday 22 March (the day the order in response to his bail application was scheduled to be pronounced), Fr. Stan Swamy sent a communication from the confines of the Taloja Prison where he has been incarcerated for near six months now. In that communication he said, “So, we await ‘the ides of March’” From the tone of[Read More…]

by 30/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
How many is too many?

How many is too many?

  The United States of America is victim of its own propaganda. Since being founded, the USA has always depicted itself as a beacon of democracy and liberty, a land of opportunity and hope where a person can accomplish rags to riches through hard work and initiative. For many the American Dream is viewed as a reality and can we[Read More…]

by 27/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
All India Catholic Union Demands Action On Vigilante Group, Police In Harassing Nuns In Train In Jhansi

All India Catholic Union Demands Action On Vigilante Group, Police In Harassing Nuns In Train In Jhansi

The All India Catholic Union, founded 101 years ago, has called upon the Prime Minister and the Home minister of India to take exemplary action against the vigilante group and the police involved in the harassment of two Sacred Heart Nuns and two student Nuns in a moving train near Jhansi. In Uttar Pradesh. The police, instead of warding off[Read More…]

by 25/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Injustice Industrial Complex, and the Human Miasma

Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Injustice Industrial Complex, and the Human Miasma

As his 67th birthday nears, and Pennsylvania political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal faces challenging and potentially fatal health crises, his legal case is still slowly winding its way through the arduous appellate court system. — New court filings for Abu-Jamal’s appeal, Workers World, March 22. Injustice is an industry in the United States of America, just like militarism and prisons. An[Read More…]

by 24/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
International Human Rights Organizations write to Rutgers University in support of Dr Audrey Truschke

International Human Rights Organizations write to Rutgers University in support of Dr Audrey Truschke

Over two dozen US and international civil and human rights organizations have expressed solidarity with Dr Audrey Truschke, Associate Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University against the ongoing systematic campaign of vilification against her including vile threats of extreme violence. In a remarkable build up of broad support for Dr. Truschke, the joint letter thanks Rutgers for unequivocally supporting[Read More…]

by 21/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rohingya Refugees on the move (Image for representational purpose only)

Children of No Land- Rohingya Refugees and Their Persecution in India

Driven out of homeland and in search of a shore to call as one’s own- the story of every refugee fits in this framework. Termed as the most persecuted people of 21st century, life of Rohingya refugees since decades has been all about striking a balance between series of uprooting and stay planted as long as they are on the[Read More…]

by 19/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Not even an iota of evidence to connect Disha to PJF

Not even an iota of evidence to connect Disha to PJF

Besides granting bail to Octogenarian poet Varavara Rao, one of the most important judicial actions that happened recently is grant of bail to Disha Ravi, who should be remembered on International Women’s Day of 2021. Disha and Varavara Rao were incarcerated for opposing the government’s policies, without proper evidence. The serious threat to personal liberty can only be averted with[Read More…]

by 15/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Immediately Release Dr. GN Saibaba!

Immediately Release Dr. GN Saibaba!

The Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr. GN Saibaba organised a press conference at the Press Club of India in Delhi which was addressed by writer Arundhati Roy, former Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha D Raja, General Secretary of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) Muralidharan, former President of DUTA Nandita Narain,[Read More…]

by 11/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Thangjam Manorama

JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Thangjam Manorama

On this International Women’s Day let’s take a moment to remember one of JatiIndia’s victims, 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama from Manipur, India who was hauled out of her home at night, brutally tortured, raped and then shot dead by Indian paramilitary forces — the 17th Assam Rifles — on July 11, 2004. There were bullet wounds found in her vagina and[Read More…]

by 08/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rally against state violence against women in India held in Surrey

Rally against state violence against women in India held in Surrey

On the eve of International Women’s Day, South Asian activists came together to raise their voices against gendered repression in the world’s so called largest democracy. Organized by the Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) on Sunday, March 7, the rally was held outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center in Surrey. The demonstration was mainly focussed on the[Read More…]

by 08/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Chhattisgarh SHRC Demands Action Taken Report On Attack On Adivasi Christians

Chhattisgarh SHRC Demands Action Taken Report On Attack On Adivasi Christians

In a complaint that was filed by the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations on December 7, 2020 against the mob violence on Madvi Muka and 27 other victims in Chhattisgarh, the SHRC, Chhattisgarh has ordered the police submission of an action taken report. The case came to light when a Hindutva mob attacked the people during the prayer that[Read More…]

by 07/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Free Malik! Save The Bay View Newspaper!

Free Malik! Save The Bay View Newspaper!

Sometimes a particular fight weaves together so many strands of the oppressive fabric of the USA that it is difficult to figure out what is key and where to begin. Such is the case with the fight to free Bay View Newspaper editor Malik Washington from the clutches of the private, COVID-wracked “halfway-house” prison in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Systemic[Read More…]

by 03/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
China challenges UN high commissioner: Come to Xinjiang, but not for ‘investigation based on guilty before proven’

China challenges UN high commissioner: Come to Xinjiang, but not for ‘investigation based on guilty before proven’

China has said that the door to Xinjiang “is always open” for UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, after she claimed Muslim Uighurs are suffering arbitrary detention and ill-treatment in the area. The statement was made on Tuesday by the Chinese delegation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in response to comments by Bachelet claiming an independent investigation needs[Read More…]

by 03/03/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Islam And Human Rights

Islam And Human Rights

Discussion of Islam in Western languages, and latterly much of it in the languages of the Islamic world as well, is bedeviled by polemic and reductionism. Islam itself always seems to be in the dock. One school of thought wishes to prove that Islam as such is responsible for all the abuses and cruelties to be found in the Islamic[Read More…]

by 27/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Nodeep Kaur Gets Bail, Release Shiv Kumar

Nodeep Kaur Gets Bail, Release Shiv Kumar

  PUCL is extremely pleased that the Punjab and Haryana High Court, restored the civil liberties of dalit labour activist Nodeep Kaur of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, by granting her bail on 26th February 2021.   PUCL demands that co-activist,  Shiv Kumar who is grievously  injured and visually challenged  also be released right away and till his release, he should be[Read More…]

by 26/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop the Witch Hunt! Drop all false & motivated Cases

Stop the Witch Hunt! Drop all false & motivated Cases

The PUCL welcomes the order of the Delhi Sessions Court on 23.2.21, granting bail to Disha Ravi, a 21 year old resident of Bengaluru who was unjustly incarcerated for offences under Sections 124A, 153A and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860. Ms. Ravi suffered a series of egregious violations including abduction by the Delhi police from her home[Read More…]

by 25/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Toolkit is not a terror manual

Toolkit is not a terror manual

The recent arrest of a young climate activist in India for her association with a guide to passive resistance movements has once again exposed the true colours of the world’s so called largest democracy. Twenty-one-year-old Disha Ravi was arrested by Delhi Police from Bengaluru under conspiracy charges. Her only fault is her link with a toolkit built by the Canada-based[Read More…]

by 22/02/2021 1 comment Human Rights
 Ensure the Constitutional Right to Dignified Housing for Migrant Labourers of Ahmedabad

 Ensure the Constitutional Right to Dignified Housing for Migrant Labourers of Ahmedabad

NAPM Stands with the Migrant Labourers of Ahmedabad Demanding Basic Living Facilities The past year has exposed the dire situation of migrant workers across India, who continue to work in precarious conditions. On 15th February, 2021, almost 1000 migrant labourers, members of the labour union Majur Adhikar Manch, gathered in Ahmedabad in front of the District Collector’s office, to submit a[Read More…]

by 21/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Assam: Violation of human rights of detainees under The Foreigners Act

Assam: Violation of human rights of detainees under The Foreigners Act

To Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Sir, I refer to my letters dated 4-1-2021 & 16-1-2021 on violation of human rights of the detainees under the the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Foreigners (Tribunals For Assam) Order, 2006 and the other related laws in force in Assam. I have enclosed here copies of the two letters for your ready reference.[Read More…]

by 21/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Stop Hounding Young Climate Activists

Stop Hounding Young Climate Activists

The 101-year-old All India Catholic Union [AICU] is deeply distressed and extremely worried at the hounding of young climate change and environment activists in the country. What makes it more critical is that this form of persecution comes from both State and non-state actors, and at a time when the nation is struggling to come out of the medical and[Read More…]

by 19/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Emergency rally for Professor Saibaba held outside Indian visa and passport application center in Canada

Emergency rally for Professor Saibaba held outside Indian visa and passport application center in Canada

Members of Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) came together on Sunday, February 14, to raise their voices for the jailed Indian scholar who is being incarcerated despite being disabled below the waist, and having been tested positive for COVID 19. A well-known human rights defender, former Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba is currently serving a life term after having[Read More…]

by 15/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Climate Activist Disha Ravi

Release Climate Activist Disha Ravi

News that Disha Ravi, a young woman and climate activist from Bengaluru, has been “picked up” – in what is referred to as a “closely guarded operation” of the Delhi police – is highly disturbing both for what appears to be its illegal nature and for the over-reaction of the State that it represents. Earlier today, Disha has been remanded to[Read More…]

by 14/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Munawar Faruqui

JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Munawar Faruqui

The intruder [Gaur] was referring not to a joke Faruqui had just made, but one that he’d uploaded on YouTube in April 2020. It referenced Rama, a widely worshipped Hindu deity, and his wife Sita. “O Lord, my beloved, has come home,” Faruqui starts, dropping lyrics from an enormously popular Bollywood song in which a woman celebrates the return of[Read More…]

by 13/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Is India’s social justice paradigm under threat? Stories of Fr. Stan Swamy and Sudha Bharadwaj

Is India’s social justice paradigm under threat? Stories of Fr. Stan Swamy and Sudha Bharadwaj

In a letter written by Fr. Stan Swamy SJ, from the prison, said, “Dear friends: Peace! Though I do not have many details, from what I have heard, I am grateful to all of you for expressing your solidarity support. I am in a cell approximately 13 feet x 8 feet, along with two more inmates. It has a small[Read More…]

by 13/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Bhima Koregaon Case: Evidence planted in accused Rona Wilson’s computer

Bhima Koregaon Case: Evidence planted in accused Rona Wilson’s computer

Activist Rona Wilson’s computer was compromised for over 22 months before the Pune Police raided his home in New Delhi and arrested him as co-accused in Bhima Koregaon violence, claimed the Massachusetts-based digital forensics firm Arsenal Digital. The firm in its report said that the 10 letters used first by Pune Police and later the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as[Read More…]

by 11/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Continuing Prosecutions: Assange and the Biden Administration

Continuing Prosecutions: Assange and the Biden Administration

With changes of presidential administrations, radical departures in policy are always exaggerated.  Continuity remains, for the most part, a standard feature.  It is precisely that continuity being challenged by groups fearful of the continuing prosecution of Julian Assange. The effort by the US Justice Department to extradite Assange from the UK on eighteen charges based on the Espionage Act and[Read More…]

by 11/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Release Nodeep Kaur

Release Nodeep Kaur

The Kisan Andolan has brought many new faces, young and dynamic activists full of ideological commitments as well as active on the ground which is a positive sign. When the movement started, many people asked me the question about the agricultural workers, Dalit, Adivasis. I was very clear that farmers have now realised that corporate culture is anti-farmer which is[Read More…]

by 09/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Sri Lanka’s Desperate Damage Control Exercise To Degrade Draft UNHRC Resolution

Sri Lanka’s Desperate Damage Control Exercise To Degrade Draft UNHRC Resolution

   Recently. President Gotabaya Rajapakshe appointed a three man Commission to study and find out if any human rights violations have been revealed in the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission [ LLRC] Paranagama and Udalagama Commissions by ignoring and rejecting the several Reports of the UN Special Rapporteurs including United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon’s Report which detailed comprehensive human rights[Read More…]

by 08/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
How alert shopkeeper brought missing child back home 

How alert shopkeeper brought missing child back home 

On February 3, 2021, Nitin Negi, who runs an electronics goods repair shop in Uttam Nagar, New Delhi, found a toddler outside his shop, no trace of his parents. The shopkeeper asked the little fellow what his name was, what his mother’s name was, and what his father was called. The toddler said he was Nana, his mother Anju and[Read More…]

by 06/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Immediately release Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar

Immediately release Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar

  Demand the immediate release of Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar and cessation of targeting of workers and peasants by the Haryana Police! WSS strongly condemns the arrest and custodial sexual violence perpetrated by the Haryana Police in Kundli Industrial Area against 24-year-old dalit worker Nodeep Kaur On January 12th 2021, the Haryana Police began firing at a workers’ rally[Read More…]

by 05/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the arrest of journalist Mandeep Punia by the Delhi Police!

Condemn the arrest of journalist Mandeep Punia by the Delhi Police!

Campaign Against State Repression demands the immediate release of Mandeep Punia and cessation of targeting of journalists! On January 30th, Mandeep Punia, a freelance journalist who worked for The Caravan magazine and Junputh, was dragged across the police barricades at Singhu Border and arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. While his whereabouts were unknown for a long[Read More…]

by 01/02/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Rosa Parks and Equal Rights

Rosa Parks and Equal Rights

Rosa Parks learned to stand her ground for which she was hauled off to jail. This incident wasn’t the first time, nor the last time, that an Afro-American would be incarcerated for an act of civil disobedience. Her arrest was due to this event: A bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama ordered her to give up her seat in the “colored”[Read More…]

by 31/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Protest against lapdog media held to mark Gauri Lankesh’s birthday in Canada

Protest against lapdog media held to mark Gauri Lankesh’s birthday in Canada

Members of Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) came together on Saturday January 30,to mark the birth anniversary of a slain journalist, outside the Indian visa and passport center in Surrey. Gauri Lankesh was a critic of the current right wing Hindu nationalist government. Born on January 29, 1962, she was assassinated in 2017 by suspected Hindu extremists. Her murder[Read More…]

by 31/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
PUCL and 100 Organisations demand the repeal of the UAPA

PUCL and 100 Organisations demand the repeal of the UAPA

Activists, Advocates and commoners came together virtually to discuss and demand the repeal of the UAPA and underlined the legal, socio-cultural issues around it in a consultation organised by the People’s Union of Civil Liberties.  ——– IN a session packed with human stories of abuse and misuse of law where activists and commoners were abused, the People’s Union for Civil[Read More…]

by 24/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Widespread Opposition of Arrest Warrant Against Eminent Journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta

Widespread Opposition of Arrest Warrant Against Eminent Journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta

On January 19, a court in Gujarat issued an arrest warrant against eminent journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta in a defamation suit filed by the Adani Group. Since then several leading media organizations and commentators have voiced strong opposition of this action against a senior journalist with many-sided achievements in print journalism,  TV and documentary films. Thakurta has also been working[Read More…]

by 23/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
400 + Days of Unjust Arrest: Free Akhil Gogoi

400 + Days of Unjust Arrest: Free Akhil Gogoi

National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) is deeply anguished at the continued incarceration of Akhil Gogoi, well-known peasant leader of Assam. The past two weeks have been particularly poignant, as one the one hand, it marked over 400 days of Akhil in jail, while on the other, his bail application, which came up for hearing after protracted delay was declined[Read More…]

by 22/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn Land Grab & State Excesses for ‘Green Energy’ Project in Assam: Release All Arrested Farmers of ‘Mikir Bamuni’

Condemn Land Grab & State Excesses for ‘Green Energy’ Project in Assam: Release All Arrested Farmers of ‘Mikir Bamuni’

NAPM condemns the police-state atrocities against Karbi and adivasi farmers of ‘Mikir Bamuni Grant’, protesting the ‘questionable purchase’ of their  cultivable land in the name of ‘Green Energy’. Stop arrests, police persecution and intimidation, violence against women & villagers: Release all arrested farmers immediately . Govt of Assam must recognize the tenancy rights of farmers under the Assam (Temporarily Settled[Read More…]

by 19/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Pluralism Does Not Justify The Violation Of Human Rights – India Are You Listening?

Pluralism Does Not Justify The Violation Of Human Rights – India Are You Listening?

   On October 2019 Delivering a lecture on the “Indian Economy: Challenges and Prospects” at the Deepak and Neera  Raj Centre on Indian Economic Policies , Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman , Finance Minister of the Modi Government , on being asked of the revocation of Article 370 and its economic impact on the state[Read More…]

by 17/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Condemn the arrest and custodial sexual violence faced by Nodeep Kaur!

Condemn the arrest and custodial sexual violence faced by Nodeep Kaur!

Campaign Against State Repression demands the immediate release of Nodeep Kaur and strict action against the Haryana Police for targeting workers in the Kundli Industrial Area! On January 12th, the Haryana Police barged into the Majdoor Adhikar Sanghatan (MAS) tent erected in solidarity with the protesting farmers and peasants at the Singhu Border and arrested a 24-year-old dalit woman, a[Read More…]

Violation of the human rights of an innocent family in Assam

Violation of the human rights of an innocent family in Assam

To Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) N.Delhi Sir, Kindly refer to my attached letter dated 4-1-2021 on arbitrary detention of Mohammad Nur Hussain, 34, a rickshaw puller in Guwahati who hails from Lawdong village in Assam’s Udalguri district, his wife Sahera Begum, 26, and their two minor children (Ages 7 & 5 years). In June, 2019, on a false charge[Read More…]

by 17/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Julian Assange, WikiLeaks and Australia’s Complicity

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks and Australia’s Complicity

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, said little in the statement from her department, which was a good thing, as it might have been dangerously useful.  The finding of a UK court on whether Julian Assange would be extradited to the United States was made “on the grounds of his mental health and consequent suicide risk.”  She does not care to[Read More…]

by 13/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Masrat Zahra

JatiIndia Flag of Atrocities Caste, Present and Future: Masrat Zahra

“Rescue us from the sub-jail – what you call the media ‘facilitation’ centre,” reads a sign held up by a pair of, what you, JatiIndia — my name for this country of jatis/castes — call “anti-national” hands. Who qualifies as a so-called anti-national? Anyone who resists and exposes JatiIndian supremacy within the boundaries of the country, and in occupied Kashmir.[Read More…]

by 10/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
 The US and UK may not will Assange’s death, but everything they are doing makes it more likely

 The US and UK may not will Assange’s death, but everything they are doing makes it more likely

There was a hope in some quarters after Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled on Monday against an application to extradite Julian Assange to the US, where he faced being locked away for the rest of his life, that she might finally be changing tack. Washington has wanted Assange permanently silenced and made an example of – by demonstrating to other journalists[Read More…]

by 08/01/2021 1 comment Human Rights
Proxy Jailor: Denying Assange Bail

Proxy Jailor: Denying Assange Bail

History, while not always a telling guide, can be useful.  But in moments of flushed confidence, it is not consulted and Cleo is forgotten.  A crisp new dawn can negate a glance to the past.  Having received the unexpected news that Julian Assange’s extradition to the United States for charges of breaching the Espionage Act of 1917 and computer intrusion[Read More…]

by 07/01/2021 1 comment Human Rights
“It’s not as bad as Iwo Jima, I suppose”: The Julian Assange Extradition Verdict

“It’s not as bad as Iwo Jima, I suppose”: The Julian Assange Extradition Verdict

The barrister-brewed humour of Edward Fitzgerald QC, one of the solid and stout figures defending a certain Julian Assange of WikiLeaks at the Old Bailey in London, was understandable.  Time had worn and wearied the parties, none more so than his client.  Fitzgerald had asked for water, but then mused that its absence could hardly have been as bad as[Read More…]

by 05/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
The Struggle To Free Julian Assange Is Not Finished

The Struggle To Free Julian Assange Is Not Finished

On January 4, 2021, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser gave a ruling wherein she blocked Julian Assange’s extradition to the US under Section 91 of UK’s Extradition Act (EA) 2003, citing health reasons.  The US government has decided to appeal this decision. Section 91 of EA 2003 prohibits extradition if “the physical or mental condition of the person is such that it would be unjust[Read More…]

by 05/01/2021 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Amnesty International: Modi gets stinker from three UN Special Rapporteurs

Amnesty International: Modi gets stinker from three UN Special Rapporteurs

UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan, and Special Rapporteur on the sit