The open official bullying of courageous human rights defenders
The open official bullying of courageous human rights defenders
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF TEESTA SETALVAD
We the undersigned express our profound dismay and disquiet at the continued official harassment by the central government of leading human rights defenders Teesta Setalvad and Jawed Anand.
Since the installation of the BJP led government in Delhi in May 2014, the country has witnessed open strenuous official efforts to foist a large variety of charges of financial irregularity on them, to harass them, to tarnish their reputations, and to secure their arrests.
Fortunately the interventions of the higher judiciary have protected them so far.
However the latest raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation into their home and offices in Mumbai on 14 July 2015 are signs of continuing open misuse of official bodies to harass these human rights defenders.
It is well-known that Teesta Setalvad and Jawed Anand have fought an unrelenting battle not only to bring to book criminals who committed gruesome hate crimes against Muslims in the carnage of 2002, but also to expose the role of the Gujarat government in enabling, abetting and even organising these crimes. They have been fearless in charging the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently the country’s Prime Minister, with direct criminal culpability for these crimes. For this they have assisted the widow of a former MP who was slaughtered in the carnage Zakia Jafri to fight a brave court battle in which the first accused is the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. They are also appealing against court orders to free on bail prominent political leaders of the BJP convicted of the worst massacre in Naroda Patiya, Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangi.
What we are witnessing is crude and defiant misuse of official bodies to beat down these human rights defenders so as to silence their voices, break their morale and divert them from their unrelenting battles in defence of justice which charge the country’s current leadership with complicity in hate crimes. The veracity of their charges will be decided in the country’s courts. But their right to fight for justice on behalf of the survivors of one of the most shameful communal carnages in the history of free India is protected by India’s democracy.
The open official bullying of courageous human rights defenders even as persons charged with a range of serious crimes walk free are brazen official attempts to diminish Indian democracy. These must be powerfully resisted by all democratic voices in the country.
Released by : Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD
July 15, 2015 5pm
Endorsed by :
A R F Viegas, Engineer, NGO · Abhay Shirekar, St. Michael's Church, Vasai, Maharashtra · Achin Vanaik, Delhi · AC Michael · Ajaya Kumar Singh, Social Activist, Odisha Forum for Social Action · Ajay Skaria, historian, University of Minnesota· Ajith Pillai, journalist · Ali Javed (Gen. Secretary, All India Progressive Writers Association, Delhi) · Amalendu Upadhyaya, Editor- hastakshep.com/old · Amar Kanwar, Filmmaker, New Delhi · Amina Niloufer Hussain, social worker, Hyderabad· Amitadyuti Kumar, APDR, Kolkata · Amit Bhaduri, Prof Emeritus, JNU, New Delhi · Amit Sengupta, Journalist and academic · Amita Buch, academician, Gujarat · Anand Patwardhan, filmmaker, Mumbai · Anand Swaroop Verma, Delhi · Angela L Viegas, Professional, Mumbai · Anil Chamadia · Anil Nauriya, advocate, Delhi · Anita Ghai · Anoushka L Viegas, Graduate, Mumbai · Anu Chenoy, Professor, JNU · Anubha Rastogi, lawyer, Mumbai · Anuradha Kapoor · Anuradha Pati, Delhi · Apoorvanand, academician, Delhi · Arshia Ahmed Ayub, Counselling psychologist · Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) · Arundhati Dhuru NAPM · Ashis Nandy, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi · Ashok Bikram Jairu, Executive Director, NNSWA Central Office, Kanchanpur · Astrid Lobo, Satyashodhak · Atul Sood, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi · Aunohita Mojumdar, Editor, Himal Southasian, Kathmandu · Ayaz Siddiqui Communication engineer · Battini Rao, People's Alliance for Democracy and Seculariam (PADS) · Bhavna Ramrakhiani, ACF, Gujarat · Biju Mohan, Executive Director, MBL Media School, Kozhikode · Brinelle D'Souza, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of S o c i a l S c i e n c e s . D e o n a r , M u m b a i · B R P B h a s k a r , j o u r n a l i s t , K e r a l a · Chinappan Swamydas · CV Vergis · C Drego, Private Employment, Mumbai, Maharashtra · D. W. Karuna, Historian, Chennai · Darryl D'Monte, Chairperson, Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI) · Deepa · Dhirendra Panda, Convener, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) · Dinesh Abrol, Delhi · Dilip Simeon · Dinesh Mohan, Professor IIT Delhi (Retired) · Dr. Abey George, State Coordinator, NCPRI Kerala · Dr. Anant Phadke, Pune · Dr Indra Munshi, Former Head and Professor, Dept of Sociology, University of Mumbai · Dr. Mohan Rao , Professor, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU · Dr Lubna Sarwath, sociopolitical activist, Hyderabad · Dr. Munish Alagh. Profession: Economist, Ahmedabad · Dr St Mohamed Nazeer, Professor, Chennai · Dunu Roy, Engineer, Hazards Centre, Delhi · Faiz Siddiqui Bank executive · Farah Naqvi, Writer and Activist, Delhi · Fr Maverick Fernandes, President, Council for Social Justice and Peace, Goa · Fr Sa v io F e rnande s , Ex e cuti v e Se c r e t a r y, Counc i l for Soc i a l Jus ti c e and Pe a c e , Goa · Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, Director, PRASHANT, Gujarat · Fr. Freddy Braganca, General Secretary, Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa · G.M. Sheikh, Artist, Gujarat · Gabriele Dietrich, NAPM I endorse this statement · Gautam Thaker, General Secretory PUCL Gujarat · Geeta Kapur, Independent Art Writer, Delhi · Geeta Seshu, Journalist, Mumbai, Maharashtra · Ghanshyam Shah, academician, Gujarat · Ghiasuddin Akbar, Member ; Apna Watan & Help Hyderabad · Githa Hariharan, Writer · Hanif Lakdawala, Social Activist, Gujarat · Harsh Kapoor · Harsh Mander, Aman Biradari · Helen Saldana · Henri Tiphagne, National Working Secretary , Human Rights Defenders Alert India · I A Siddiqui Retd engineer · Indira Chandrasekhar, Tulika Books, Delhi · Indira Jaising, Founder, Lawyer’s Collective, Delhi · Indu Prakash Singh, Social Activist, Forum Against Corruption & Threats (FACT) · Irfan Engineer, All India Secular Forum · Ishwarbhai Prajapati, Jan Sangharsh Manch, Ahmedabad, Gujarat · Jai Sen, CACIM · Jana Narya Manch · Jaya Mehta (Sandarbh Collective, Indore) · Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi · Jharna Pathak, Profession: Researcher, Ahmedabad Women's Action Group · Joe Athialy, Activist, New Delhi · John Dayal · John Paul Lobo, De Nobili College, Nagar Road, Ramvadi, Pune · Joy Sengupta, actor, Mumbai · Joy Karyampuram · Jyoti Punwani freelance journalist Mumbai · Kalpana Kannabiran, Council for Social Development · Kalpana Sharma · Kalyani Menon-Sen , Feminist Learning Partnerships, Gurgaon · Kamal Chenoy, Prof. JNU · Kamal Faruqi, FCA, Former Chairman Delhi Minorities Commission · Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Mumbai · Khalid Azam (United States) · Kiran Shaheen, Writer and Anti Poverty Activist · Kumar Ambuj (Member of Presidium, M. P. Progressive Writers Association) · Kumar Prashant, journalist, sarvodaya activist · Kumar Sundaram, India Against Hate · L Viegas, professional,Mumbai · Lalita Ramdas - Hyderabad· Lena Ganesh, Mumbai, Maharashtra · Lynette Gomes, Computer professional,Mumbai · Madhu Prasad, academician, Delhi · Md. Shafiquzzaman, Former Special Chief Secretary, Hyderabad · Mary Scaria · M Cherian Kunjumon, Bombay· Catholic Sabha, Mumbai · M. V. Ramana, Princeton University, USA · Mohamed Anas, Accountant, Tamil Nadu · Mallika Sarabhai, ARTIST, Gujarat · Manan Trivedi, social activist, Gujarat · Manisha Sethi, Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association · Manoranjan Siba Sankar Mohanty · Mazher Hussain, Social Activist, Hyderabad · Meenakshi Ganguly, Mumbai · Meera Samson, Collaborative Research and Dissemination, New Delhi · Meher Engineer, Independent Scientist, Kolkata, West Bengal · Mohammed Ashfaq · Mohd Aamir, social activist, Delhi · Mrs Praxedes Gomes, Sr Citizen & home maker, Mumbai · Mujahid Nafees, Education activist, Gujarat · Monisha Behal, Assam · M Joe Inigo · Myron J. Pereira , former director of Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai) · N.D.Jayaprakash, Social Activist, Delhi · NFIW · Nandini Rao, women's rights activist · Nandita Das, actor, director, Mumbai · Nandini Sundar, Professor, Delhi University · Naresh Fernandes, Journalist · Nasiruddin haider Khan, journalist, Delhi · Neeraj Jain, Lokayat, Pune and Socialist Party (India) · Naseeruddin Shah theatre and film actor and director · Nasreen Fazalbhoy, Mumbai Maharashtra · Navaid Hamid, MOEMIN, Delhi · Neha Shah, College teacher, Ahmedabad · Neshat Quaiser Dr., Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, New Delhi · Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)· Nilima Shaikh, artist, Vadodara, Gujarat · Nimisha, Vadodara · Nityanand Jayaraman, writer/social activist, Chennai· NoMore Campaign · Noorjahan Diwan, social activist, Gujarat · Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan· Ovais Sultan Khan, People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism · P. K. Datta - Teacher- Delhi University - Delhi· Pallab Sengupta, General Secretary, All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation · Pamela Philipose, journalist, Delhi · Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Journalist, Delhi · Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, JNU · Prabir Purkayashta · Pravin Joseph Philip, Healthy Neighborhood Communications, Kerala · Prem P Verma, Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas, Ranchi · Priya Pillai, Environmental Activist , Greenpeace India · Prof Aditya Mukherjee, Historian, JNU · Prof. Anjali Monteiro, TISS, Mumbai · Prof. K.P. Jayasankar, TISS, Mumbai · Prof Mridula Mukherjee, Historian, JNU · Prof P Koya, NCHRO · Prof Rooprekha Verma, Saajhi Duniya's , Former VC, Lucknow University · Prof. Shohini Ghosh, Academic, Delhi · Pushpa Iyer, Associate Profesor, California · Pyoli, Samajwadi Janparishad · R.T.Muthu, Poet, TN Progressive Writer progressive Association, Chennai · Radha Khan, Chairperson & Trustee DAJI , New Delhi · Rahul Pandey, entrepreneur and academic,Bangalore, Karnataka · Rajashri Dasgupta, Kolkata · Rajesh Shrivastava, IPTA, Chattisgarh · Rajmohan Gandhi · Ram Puniyani, writer, activist, Mumbai · Rammanohar Reddy, Economic & Political Weekly, Mumbai · Ramu Ramdas - Alibag · Ranjan Solomon, Badayl/Alternatives, GOA · Robin Viegas, Hon Secretary, Bombay Catholic Sabha, Kalina Unit· Romila Thapar, Academician · Roshmi Goswami · Roselle · Ruchir Joshi Film maker · Solomon, Counselor, Regina Mundi High School, Goa· Rtuparna Borah, New Delhi · S. Hasan Kamal, South Asians for Unity, Atlanta, GA, USA · Sadanand Menon – journalist, Chennai, Tamil Nadu · Saheli Women's Resource Centre · Sandeep Pandey Socialist Party · Sarika Shrivastava (NFIW, Madhya Pradesh) · Sarojini N.B.· Satish Deshpande, academician, Delhi · Satya Sivaraman, Journalist · Sehba Farooqui, AIDWA · Shabnam Hashmi, social activist, Anhad · Shabana Khan, advocate, Mumbai · Shahiuz Zaman Niaz AhmedShekhar Mallik · PWA, Ghatshila, Jharkhand · Shalini Gera,JagLAG, Chattisgarh · Shankar Singh, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) · Shariq Siddiqui Photography professional · Shashank Kela, Writer, Chennai · Shivani Taneja, Educationist, Bhopal, M.P. · Sigaram Senthilnathan, senior advocate, Madras High Court, Chennai · Siddharth Varadarajan, journalist, Delhi · Sofiya Khan, social activist, Gujarat · Sohail Hashmi, filmmaker, One Billion Rising /Dwarka, New Delhi · Sonia Jabbar, Delhi · Soumya Dutta, Convenor -Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, India · Subhash Anand · Subhash Gatade, New Socialist Initiative · Sudha Arora · Suhasini Mulay · Sukla Sen, social activist, EKTA (Committee for Communal Amity), Mumbai · Sumit Sarkar, Retired professor of History, University of Delhi · Suvrat Raju, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Bangalore · Syeda Hameed, former member, Planning Commission · T I Siddiqui Retd bank executive · Tauseef H. Mukadam, Profession: Airline Pilot, Karnataka · Tanika Sarkar, Retired professor of History, JNU · Tushar A. Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Maharashtra · Uma Chakravarty, academician, Delhi · Urvashi Butalia, publisher, Delhi · Vasantha Surya · Vena Gowda · Vijayesh Lal, EFIRLC · Yogendra Yadav · Wada Na Todo Abhiyan · Zolekha Jabin
