Indian rights situation “massive, systematic, dangerous": UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
Cites study noting 786% increase in hate crimes against minorities between 2014-2018
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes, has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating rights situation in India, labeling it as "massive, systematic, and dangerous."
Speaking at a hearing on policy options for advancing religious freedom in India organized by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in Washington DC on September 20, 2023, Varennes emphasized the alarming scale and gravity of violations and abuses targeting religious and other minorities in India, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and others.
Varennes stated, "India risks becoming one of the world's main generators of instability, atrocities, and violence because of the massive scale and gravity of the violations and abuses targeting mainly religious and other minorities. It is not just individual or local; it is systematic and a reflection of religious nationalism."
He cited a study that noted a 786% increase in hate crimes against minorities between 2014 and 2018, highlighting the surge in attacks, rapes, lynchings, and discriminatory policies and laws against religious minorities.
Furthermore, Varennes expressed deep concern about the prevalence of hate speech and incitement to violence against religious minorities on social media platforms in India. He noted that such content is widespread, vitriolic, and often involves incitement to violence and even calls for genocide. The failure of Indian authorities to address this issue effectively contributes to the escalation of violence with religious undertones.
Varennes drew attention to several specific issues of concern, including the discriminatory citizenship determination process in Assam. He expressed fears that this process, coupled with the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which fast-tracks Indian citizenship for individuals unless they are Muslims, could be part of an effort to establish a religious and discriminatory test for Indian citizenship.
He also pointed out the disenfranchisement of millions, mainly Muslims, through the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. This move placed the region under the direct control of the central Indian government, erasing local political representation and participation rights.
“The disenfranchisement of millions, again mainly Muslims because of their religion, through the revocation in 2019 of the special status or autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir. Now under the direct control of the central Indian government, discarding locally elected bodies, the right of political participation and representation, effectively stripping mainly Muslim and other minority residents of many of their previous political rights,” he added.
Varennes referred to the violence in Manipur as a warning sign of the potential for further unrest. He emphasized that India ranks as the eighth country at the highest risk of mass killings, primarily due to the targeting of religious and other minorities. This situation reflects a widespread scapegoating and dehumanization of Muslims and religious "others," increasing the risk of horrific atrocities.
He said: “The violence in Manipur is also a warning of the dangers of inaction. The danger is that left alone many more ‘Manipur’ may erupt. India ranks as eighth country at the highest risk of mass killings. This is mainly because of the targeting of religious and other minorities, and is symptomatic of large-scale scapegoating and dehumanising of Muslims and religious ‘others’ that could lead to a slide towards horrific atrocities.”
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
