Independent Int’l Experts: Muslims became persecuted minority in India

A panel of independent international experts (The Panel) consisting of three renowned international law experts, including Sonja Biserko, Marzuki Darusman and Stephen Rapp, launched their report on serious human rights violations against Muslims in India since 2019.

The Panel found that there is credible evidence to suggest that a wide range of international human rights of Muslim communities have been violated by the authorities in India. The Panel further found that some of the violations may amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and incitement to commit genocide.

It stated that the killings and torture of civilians in the ongoing non-international armed conflict in Jammu and Kashmir may amount to war crimes.

It found that most of the abuses and violations have remained unaddressed by domestic institutions, leaving victims with no effective remedy. No steps have been taken to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators, allowing impunity to flourish.

The Panel called upon the U.N. Human Rights Council to establish an independent fact-finding body to investigate human rights violations against Muslims in India and a territorial mandate of Special Rapporteur on religious minorities in India.

It further called upon the Government of India to amend the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, to remove discriminatory provisions, and to ensure effective, independent and impartial investigations of the atrocities, among others.

The Panel called upon social media companies to take proactive steps against hate speech, and among others, launch early warning system to protect vulnerable minorities.