Teesta Setalvad's arrest: UN official says deeply concerned
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Teesta Setalvad.
United Nations: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, said that she was deeply concerned about the arrest of Teesta Setalvad, Scroll In reported.
Lawlor tweeted, "Teesta is a strong voice against hatred and discrimination. "Defending human rights is not a crime. I call for her release and an end to persecution by the Indian state."
Deeply concerned by reports of #WHRD Teesta Setalvad being detained by Anti Terrorism Sqaud of Gujarat police. Teesta is a strong voice against hatred and discrimination. Defending human rights is not a crime. I call for her release and an end to persecution by #Indian state.
— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) June 25, 2022
Meanwhile, the Indian American Muslim Council severely condemned the arrests of Setalvad, RB Sreekumar and ex-IPS Sanjay Bhatt.
"In several high-profile cases related to the Gujarat pogrom, the perpetrators have either been acquitted by the infamous and compromised Special Investigations Team or granted bail after being convicted. "Meanwhile, activists such as Teesta Setalvad, RB Sreekumar, and Sanjiv Bhatt, who demonstrated exemplary courage in pursuing justice for the victims, are being hounded by the police and subject to harassment by the state under false and fabricated charges," Scroll In quoted the council.
Further, it is alleged that the Indian judiciary is reflecting the judiciary of an authoritarian regime while all the pillars of democracy in the country have collapsed. It alleged that the action against Setalvad was retaliation for her activism, Scroll In reports.