UN urges India to drop UAPA charge against Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain

Amid the furore over the slapping of the contentious UAPA on Book Prize winner and human rights activist Arundhati Roy and former professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain, the United Nations Human Rights Office, led by High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, has called on the Indian government to withdraw the charges.

The charges stem from comments made by the duo in 2010 regarding the contentious issue of Kashmir.

Expressing deep concern over the use of the UAPA to silence critics, the UN Human Rights Office reiterated its demand for a review of the law and the release of human rights defenders detained under it.

"We are concerned by use of #UAPA anti-terror law to silence critics. Repeat call for review of law & release of human rights defenders detained under it. Urge authorities to drop cases against Arundhati Roy & Sheikh Showkat Hussain over comments on India-admin Kashmir," the office stated.

Earlier this month, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the prosecution of Roy and Hussain under the UAPA. This anti-terror law, known for making bail difficult to secure for the accused, has faced widespread criticism. Over 200 academics, activists, and journalists have demanded the withdrawal of the prosecution sanction.

The UAPA's invocation permits the government to sidestep the statute of limitations associated with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections involved. Section 13 of the UAPA, under which the prosecution is sought, includes phrases akin to those used in sedition law, broadening the scope of "unlawful activities."

On Thursday, Roy received the PEN Pinter Prize 2024, awarded to a "Writer of Courage," recognizing her defence of freedom of expression despite personal risk.