Guyana Ouabi Mosque threatened by Hindus (French)
A number of independent UN experts have urged India to "end attacks on minorities" before elections scheduled to begin next April.
The experts commissioned by the Human Rights Council - who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations - expressed in a joint statement their concern “about continuing reports of attacks against religious and ethnic minorities, against women and girls... and against civil society, including human rights defenders and the media.”
They also expressed their fear that the situation would worsen with the approaching elections in this country with a population of one billion and 400 million people.
The experts pointed to acts of violence and hate crimes against minorities, inhumane speech and incitement to discrimination and violence, targeted and arbitrary killings, and the misuse of public services against political opponents.
They called on the Government of India to “fully fulfill its human rights obligations and set a positive example by reversing the erosion of human rights and responding to repeated concerns raised” by various UN mechanisms.
The signatories, who include the Special Rapporteurs on minority issues, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly, affirmed, “We are obligated to express our grave concern, especially in light of the need for an enabling environment to hold free and fair elections.”
Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, India has witnessed many acts of violence between the Hindu majority and the 200 million Muslim minority.
The Indian government is also accused of using the judicial system to target political rivals, while several opposition figures face criminal investigations.
Source: French