India: Authorities trampling on human rights in crackdown on electoral roll protests
Responding to the imposition of prohibitory orders, the detention of hundreds of protesters, and the suspension of internet and public transport services in Delhi and Mumbai amid peaceful protests demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Aakar Patel, Chair of Board, Amnesty International India, said:
“The right to protest is not dependent on government approval. It is protected by the Indian Constitution and international human rights law.
“Prohibitory orders like Section 163 of India’s criminal procedure law, which grant temporary emergency powers to restrict gatherings in the name of public order, have become a convenient way for authorities to routinely prevent peaceful protests.
“Detaining people simply because they intend to protest is a blatant attack on the rights to liberty and freedom of peaceful assembly. Detentions must have a lawful basis and cannot be arbitrary or discriminatory. Those arbitrarily detained for solely exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be released at once, and authorities must guarantee their right to protest.