Mangaluru: Abdulla Monu Moideen, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, was honored with the ICC Long Term Resident Award 24 by the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Qatar.

The award ceremony took place at the Museum of Islamic Art Park in Doha, Qatar, where Abdulla Monu, the Managing Director of Euro Group in Qatar, was recognized for his outstanding community service during his over 48-year residency in Doha.

Expressing his gratitude, Abdulla Monu said, "I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition award from ICC Qatar and the Embassy of India. These past 43 years living in Qatar have been nothing short of amazing for me and my family. We are grateful for the opportunities and the wonderful life this beautiful country has given us."

He continued, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this recognition, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to this great nation. Thank you all, and Insha Allah, we will have more wonderful times here."

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Geneva: India’s human rights accreditation status is under scrutiny as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) prepares to review the country’s processes this week. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) faces potential downgrading from its current “A status” due to concerns raised in 2023, including the lack of pluralism, the appointment of police officials and ruling party members to the NHRC, and the absence of gender and minority representation.

The decision on India's accreditation status will impact its ability to vote at the UN Human Rights Council and some UNGA bodies. The Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of GANHRI will conduct the review, which occurs every five years for each member of the 114-member alliance. India, which has been accredited since 1999, had its status deferred in 2016 but restored after a year.

The NHRC has defended its composition, stating that the presence of government officials, including the Secretary-General and CEO, enhances its effectiveness. However, criticisms include the involvement of police officers in investigations, lack of gender and minority representation, and political affiliations of some members with the ruling party.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has engaged with countries involved in the review process to present India's case diplomatically. Despite confidence in restoring its A status, the government emphasizes that it does not focus on "external certifications" of India's human rights record.

International civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and CIVICUS, have raised concerns about increasing restrictions on civil society and discrimination against minorities in India. They urge GANHRI-SCA to amend the NHRC's rating to reflect its failure to comply with the Paris Principles and address the deteriorating human rights situation in India.

The Ministry of External Affairs has criticized the U.S. State Department's latest human rights report on India as biased and reflective of a poor understanding of the country. It further stated that it attaches no value to the report and urges others to do the same.