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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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MARCH 11, 2002 PRESS RELEASE

Vigil to Protest Genocide in India

Over a thousand people have been killed in anti-Muslim violence in the Indian state of Gujarat since 27 February 2002. This is just the latest example of communal violence encouraged by and often supported by the ultra-rightwing Hindu government of the BJP.

In recent years there have been pogroms and attacks against various minorities, most notably but not solely Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Lower caste Hindus have also found themselves bearing the brunt of violence and discrimination as religious and racial prejudice permeates the institutions of government in India.

Police and army are deployed to areas of high tension only to stand idly by as organized right-wing mobs terrorise and massacre the local population. In Gujarat last week, people were hacked to pieces and burned alive, as security forces watched. (See Luke Harding. Observer 3rd March 2002, ”India’s lawmen offered little protection against Hindu gangs massacring Muslim neighbours”)

A vigil is being held outside the Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA, UK on Monday 11th March 2002, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. This vigil is organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and the North London Muslim Community.

For more information, please contact IHRC on the numbers below.

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Islamic Human Rights Commission
Tel: +44-20-8902-0888
Fax:+44-20-8902-0889
email: info@ihrc.org
web: www.ihrc.org
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