India: UN rights office urges release of ‘arbitrarily detained’ protesters
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has voiced concern over reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists, before and during large-scale protests in Delhi on Saturday.
The demonstration was called by a youth-led movement that is seeking electoral reforms ahead of state elections, with its chief demand being the resignation of the official heading India’s election commission.
Protesters have criticised the body’s revision of the national voter roll, which has reportedly removed tens of millions of names in a bid to avoid duplicates and discrepancies.
Political opponents argue it is an exercise to keep the ruling nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in power.
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Police refused permission for Saturday’s protest to take place at the movement’s planned venue in the capital, and heavy security and road closures were reported.
Media reports say the movement’s leaders were among those detained.
Right to peaceful assembly
UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan called on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is “fully respected and fulfilled”.
“Restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality,” he said.
He urged law enforcement officers to show “utmost restraint” in responding to peaceful protesters, in keeping with India’s democratic traditions and its human rights obligations.
Immediate and unconditional release
Mr. Al-Kheetan said that anyone arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.
He also encouraged the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue to address what he described as broadly held concerns.
