IHRC calls upon all campaigners to write to the UN to urge the Indian government stop its state-sanctioned violence against Muslims.
Background
Requested Action
Model letter
Recipient Addresses
Background
India has been gripped by anti-Muslim violence following the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act. The new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed at the end of 2019, has made religion as the primary criteria for acquiring Indian citizenship. The Act assures refuge to persecuted religious minorities, except Muslims, from the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This Act, read in conjunction with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National population Register (NPR) is discriminatory and dangerous. It is inevitable that the disciminatory policies adopted by the Indian government would lead to further escalation of the religious tension in India.
In July 2019, the Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, told the parliament that the “government will identify illegal immigrants living on every inch of country’s soil and deport them,” signalling the expansion of the NRC to the rest of India. During the 2019 general elections, the BJP claimed that “illegal immigrants”, or “termites” from Muslim majority Bangladesh have sneaked in and are living off the resources of Indian citizens. (Background courtesy Zulqarnain Banday from The Long View, Volume 2, issue 2, forthcoming). To find out more about the India campaign, please visit our campaign page here.
IHRC is asking campaigners to join this campaign demanding equal citizenship for all Indians regardless of religion or other factors.
Requested Action
IHRC calls upon all campaigners to write to the Secretary General of the UN to urge the Indian government to stop the state-sanctioned violence and persecution against Muslims.
Model letter
Dear Antonio Guterres,
I am deeply concerned about the situation of Muslims in India. The actions of the BJP government are amounting to genocide against Muslims. Modi’s government is currently presiding over a series of laws and policies that systematically targets Muslims, minorities and political dissidents across the country.
I am writing to you to ask the Indian government end its persecution against Muslims and other minorities and to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act and related policies immediately.
The world must act now before another genocide takes place.
[insert your name]
Recipient Addresses
Please write the Secretary General and cc/ in the UN High commissioner for human rights:
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, sgcentral@un.org
UN High commissioner for human rights, Michelle Jeria
