EU faces demand to stop India’s "bulldozer justice" and protect minorities Human rights defenders' call to action

Human rights groups have called on the European Union to intensify pressure on the Indian government to address severe human rights abuses occurring in the country.

Urgent action is needed to stop the widespread violations, Caliber.Az reports citing a statement published on the official webpage of Amnesty International.

The groups are demanding that India repeal discriminatory laws targeting Muslims, Christians, and other minorities. They also call for an end to restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly and for the release of human rights defenders and journalists detained for exercising their basic rights.

The EU is urged to advocate for the protection of freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion in India. The Indian government should also address the rising incidents of racism and xenophobia in Europe, particularly against migrants and minorities.

Following the re-election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in June, there has been a troubling increase in hostility towards marginalized groups, particularly Muslims. During the campaign, Modi and other BJP leaders made inflammatory statements that incited violence.

The Modi administration has implemented laws that disproportionately affect religious minorities, such as amendments to the Citizenship Act which exclude Muslim asylum seekers. State governments have also been accused of demolishing Muslim homes, businesses, and places of worship without due process, in what some BJP officials have termed "bulldozer justice." This post-election violence has resulted in at least 28 attacks on religious minorities, leading to the deaths of 12 Muslim men and one Christian woman.

The EU is called upon to demand the repeal or amendment of oppressive laws used to target minorities and suppress dissent, publicly condemn attacks on religious groups, instruct state governments to cease arbitrary punitive measures, and ensure accountability for human rights abuses committed by security forces.

As a priority, the EU should press the Indian government to repeal or amend repressive laws that target minorities and suppress dissent both online and offline. The EU should also publicly condemn attacks on religious minorities, demand that state governments cease arbitrary and collective punishment, including the so-called "bulldozer justice," and ensure accountability for security forces involved in human rights violations.