THE SOUTH ASIA COLLECTIVE
South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020
South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Minorities and Shrinking Civic Space
THE SOUTH ASIA COLLECTIVE South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Minorities and Shrinking Civic Space
Edited by a team at Social Science Baha, Kathmandu, consisting of 'HHSDNDSD, Ritika Singh and Shambhawi Poudel with Khem Shreesh and 6XGHVKQDDSD.
Cover design and graphics by Promina Shrestha and Animesh Maharjan. Text pages design and layout by Chiran Ghimire.
ौLVSXEOLFDWLRQZDVSURGXFHGZLWKWKHਭQDQFLDOVXSSRUWRIWKH(XURSHDQ Union and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). Its contents are the sole responsibility of the South Asia Collective and do not QHFHVVDULO\UHਮHFWWKHYLHZVRIWKH(XURSHDQ8QLRQRU1RUDG
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South Asia Collective Email: [email protected] Web: thesouthasiacollective.org )DFHERRN IDFHERRNFRPWKHVRXWKDVLDFROOHFWLYH Contents
Executive Summary vii Foreword xv Acknowledgements xix Note on the South Asia Collective xxiii Note on Contributors xxv Abbreviations and Acronyms xxxi Introduction: South Asia, Constrained xxxv Chapter 1 Shrinking Civic Spaces for Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan 1 Chapter 2 Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights 29 Chapter 3 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan 53 &KDSWHU Closing Civic Space in India: Targeting Minorities Amid 'HPRFUDWLF%DࠪVOLGLQJ 72 Chapter 5 Civic Space in Nepal 126 Chapter 6 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan 164 Chapter 7 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space 196 Chapter 8 State of South Asian Minorities 2020 230 Appendices Commentaries 259 Assessment of Civic Space in South Asia (online survey) 267
Executive Summary
Across South Asia, civil society is being increasingly constrained. It is either too nascent, due to late democratic development, or ZKHUHLWKDVKDGDOLिOHKLVWRU\RIJURZWKDQGQXUWXULQJLVIDFLQJ VWURQJ FKDOOHQJHV $QWLGHPRFUDWLF DXWKRULWDULDQ WHQGHQFLHV DQG greater securitisation of laws and practices appears to be the main GULYHUVRIWKLVQDUURZLQJWUHQGZLWKWKHPLGVDSSHDULQJWR be the period of convergence for this constriction in many of the countries. Democracy champions, human rights defenders (HRDs), and activists have been in the crosshairs of authorities everywhere IRUFKDOOHQJLQJVWDWHDFWLRQVDQGVSHDNLQJRXW$JUHDWGHDORIWKH narrowing of space for civil society concerns minorities, which is also due to the hardening of majoritarianism across the region. ौLVUHSRUWIRFXVHVRQWKHVWDWXVRIFLYLFVSDFHLQ6RXWK$VLD VSHFLਭFDOO\ IRU PLQRULWLHV $ FRPSUHKHQVLYH DQG LQFOXVLYH GHਭQLWLRQ RI FLYLF VSDFH LQFOXGHV VRFLDO PRYHPHQWV QDWLRQDO DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO QRQJRYHUQPHQWDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV 1*2V FLYLO VRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV &62V WKHPHGLDDFDGHPLFVDQGDFWLYLVWV among others. A functional civic space depends on the rights i) to associate, ii) assemble peacefully, and iii) freely express views and RSLQLRQV+HQFHHDFKFKDSWHURIWKHUHSRUWVHHNVWRH[SORUHWKH status of these three ‘basic freedoms’ in several ways. ौHFKDSWHUVUHOLHGRQGHVNUHVHDUFKZLWKDUHYLHZRISXEOLVKHG materials on civic space for minorities in the respective countries. ौH FKDSWHUV DOVR LQFOXGH DVVHVVPHQWV RI ODZV DQG SROLFLHV WR regulate civic space as well as the bills proposed over the years WRFDSWXUHWKHJHQHUDOPRRGRIWKHJRYHUQPHQWRYHUWLPHYLV¢ vis civic space and civil society. Some primary data was collected WKURXJKDQRQOLQHH[SHUWVXUYH\IRU$IJKDQLVWDQ,QGLD3DNLVWDQ and Nepal to assess the public perception on civic space there. :KLOH D VLPLODU VXUYH\ ZDV XQGHUWDNHQ LQ DOO WKH FRXQWULHV WKH pandemic as well as other factors led to a very low number of
vii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020
UHVSRQGHQWVPDNLQJWKHDQDO\VLVPRRWौHSDQGHPLFDOVRUHVXOWHG LQWKHUHVHDUFKIRULQGLYLGXDOFKDSWHUVEHLQJPRVWO\FRQਭQHGWR materials available online.
Key Findings ौHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWVRIIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQDVVRFLDWLRQDQG assembly in all the countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, \KDYH EHHQ LQFUHDVLQJOیQGLD 1HSDO 3DNLVWDQ DQG 6UL /DQND, violated by superseding legislation introduced by the respective JRYHUQPHQWVZLWKLQWKHODVWGHFDGHRUVR2QHSURPLQHQWH[DPSOH LV WKH LQFUHDVHG UHJXODWLRQ RI UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI &621*2V $V D consequence, civic space is becoming more restrictive over time, FUHDWLQJDKRVWLOHHQYLURQPHQWIRU&62V1*2VSURJUHVVLYHPHGLD entities and human rights defenders.
i. Freedom of Expression: ौH UHJLRQ KDV VHHQ D FXUWDLOPHQW of freedom of expression. Some examples include the ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RYHQDQW RQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV $FW EHLQJ GHSOR\HG WR FXUE IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ DQG VLOHQFH FULWLFV LQ 6UL /DQND UDWKHU WKDQ DUUHVW SHUVRQV LQFLWLQJ HWKQLFUHOLJLRXV WHQVLRQV ,Q $IJKDQLVWDQ WKH 0DVV0HGLD/DZ ZDVPHDQWWRFRQVROLGDWHIUHHGRP of expression but instead contains clauses that require the upholding of Islam, which has been steadily weaponised by the government in recent years. Freedom of expression is DOVRDਬHFWHGLQ%DQJODGHVKSDUWLFXODUO\LQOLJKWRI'LJLWDO 6HFXULW\$FWXQGHUZKLFKSRVWLQJIDOVHSURYRFDWLYH indecent or sensitive information on websites or any HOHFWURQLFSODWIRUPVWKDWLVFRQVLGHUHGGHIDPDWRU\RUOLNHO\ to disrupt the country’s law and order situation, or harm UHOLJLRXV VHQWLPHQWV LV D SXQLVKDEOH RਬHQFH ,Q %KXWDQ XQGHUWKH1DWLRQDO6HFXULW\$FW VSHHFKWKDWFUHDWHVRU ۑKDWUHGDQGGLVDਬHFWLRQDPRQJWKHSHRSOHېDिHPSWVWRFUHDWH or ‘misunderstanding or hostility between the government and people’ can be punished with imprisonment. In India, there have been several instances of censorship of TV news channels, with channels that have broadcast views viii Executive Summary
critical of the government being banned. In Nepal, there has been an amendment proposed to the Media Council %LOODERXWMRXUQDOLVWVUHTXLULQJDOLFHQFHWRZRUNZKLOHWKH &ULPLQDO&RGHRIFDQSXQLVKMRXUQDOLVWVIRUSXEOLVKLQJ ۑFRQਭGHQWLDOېLQIRUPDWLRQGHHPHG ii. Freedom of Association: ौH FRXQWULHV DUH ZLHOGLQJ WKH power to deny registration or renewal of registration RI &62V1*2V WR DिHPSW WR UHJXODWH WKHP ,Q %KXWDQ &62VDUHUHOXFWDQWWRHQJDJHLQDGYRFDF\HਬRUWVIRUIHDU VۑRI KDYLQJ WKHLU UHJLVWUDWLRQ FHUWLਭFDWHV UHYRNHG ,QGLD civil society actors—its human rights lawyers, activists, protesters, academics, journalists, liberal intelligentsia—in IDFW DOO WKRVH ZKR KDYH VSRNHQ XS DJDLQVW JRYHUQPHQW excesses and majoritarianism, have increasingly been under DिDFN $ORQJVLGH WKH )RUHLJQ &RQWULEXWLRQ 5HJXODWLRQ Act, which regulates foreign donations to entities in India, has been further weaponised against progressive and PLQRULW\1*2V,Q%DQJODGHVKXQGHUWKH)RUHLJQ'RQDWLRQ 9ROXQWDU\ $FWLYLWLHV 5HJXODWLRQ $FW UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI1*2VKDVEHHQPDGHPDQGDWRU\IRUUHFHLYLQJIRUHLJQ GRQDWLRQV ,Q 3DNLVWDQ 1*2V DQG ,1*2V DUH VXEMHFW WR extensive regulation involving multiple, lengthy procedures of registration, security clearance, and approvals for IXQGLQJौHHQWLUHSURFHVVLVFKDUDFWHULVHGE\DQDEVHQFH of transparency and limited civilian oversight, resulting in DUELWUDU\ UHMHFWLRQV RI 1*2 DSSOLFDWLRQV ZKLFK VHYHUHO\ curtails their ability to function. In Nepal, existing laws are cumbersome already, while new bills proposed will ensure severe curtailment of the civic space. In Afghanistan, the FODXVH ۑUHUHJLVWUDWLRQې 2V ODZ LQFOXGHV D EXUGHQVRPH*1 which implicitly allows the government to refuse to register DVSHFLਭF1*2OHDGLQJWRLWVDXWRPDWLFUHPRYDO iii. Freedom of Assembly: Violence against religious minorities is being used strategically to implement fundamentalist and supremacist national rhetoric. In Afghanistan, the Assembly /DZSODFHVVLJQLਭFDQWUHVWULFWLRQVRQJDWKHULQJVSURWHVWV and demonstrations, a serious concern for HRDs. In India, in
ix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020
RUGHUWRIRUHVWDOODQ\GLVVHQWDJDLQVWDQWLPLQRULW\SROLFLHV VQXਯQJیDXWKRULWLHV KDYH LPSRVHG HਬHFWLYH PDUWLDO ODZ یRXWFLYLFVSDFHFRPSOHWHO\LQ0XVOLPPDMRULW\.DVKPLU but also severely limiting it to Muslims and other groups SURWHVWLQJ DQWLPLQRULW\ SROLFLHV DQG SUDFWLFHV HOVHZKHUH 3XEOLF SURWHVW LV QRW DQ RXWOHW DYDLODEOH WR UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHVLQ3DNLVWDQDVPRVWIHDUYLROHQFHDQGUHWDOLDWLRQ E\H[WUHPLVWVDQG&KULVWLDQVFDQQRWHਬHFWLYHO\JDWKHUDQG pray because of the increasing opposition to the existence RIFKXUFKHVLQQRQPHWURSROLWDQDUHDV,Q1HSDO&KULVWLDQ IDLWKEDVHG1*2VDOVRUHSRUWIDFLQJLQFUHDVHGVFUXWLQ\,Q 6UL/DQNDWKHSHULRGD़HUWKH(DVWHUDिDFNVRI$SULO saw Muslims subjected to discrimination, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention, and even violence. iv. Targeting of Religious Minorities: Civic space for religious PLQRULWLHVWRRKDVEHHQFXUWDLOHG,Q3DNLVWDQODZ\HUVZKR ZRUNDVKXPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWVHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHGHIHQGLQJ cases of minorities related to blasphemy, but also Christian and other minority lawyers continue to face threats for the ZRUNWKH\GRौH%ODVSKHP\/DZKDVEHHQXVHGWRHQDEOH YLROHQFHDJDLQVWUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVLQ3DNLVWDQौHUHKDYH EHHQUHSRUWVRI&KULVWLDQVEHLQJGHSULYHGRIVWDWHEHQHਭWV in Bhutan. India has become a dangerous and violent space IRU0XVOLPPLQRULWLHV,Q'HFHPEHU DQDPHQGPHQW in the Citizenship Act was passed which opened a pathway IRUDFDWHJRU\RILOOHJDOLPPLJUDQWVVSHFLਭFDOO\OHDYLQJRXW 0XVOLPV,QWKHUXQXSWRWKHOHJLVODWLRQWKHJRYHUQPHQW also declared its intentions to create a National Register of Indian Citizens, which would have the potential to render many Muslims stateless. v. Targeting of HRDs ,Q$IJKDQLVWDQVLQFH+5'VFLYLO society activists, and journalists have been constantly exposed to threats, harassment, intimidation, detention, DQGNLOOLQJVE\ERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUVौHUHLVDQ DGYHUVH HQYLURQPHQW IRU &62V DQG +5'V LQ %DQJODGHVK with the Digital Security Act used to suppress freedom of R़HQیVSHHFKDQGKDUDVVZULWHUVDFWLYLVWVDQGMRXUQDOLVWV x Executive Summary
IRU WKHLU IHHGEDFN RQ VRFLDO PHGLD ,Q ,QGLD +5'V KDYH also reported being subjected to a campaign of threats and intimidation, by state agencies and ideological groups DOLJQHGWRWKHP,Q3DNLVWDQMRXUQDOLVWVZULWHUVDQGKXPDQ rights activists who raise a voice and advocate for the rights RIPLQRULWLHVRUVLPSO\WDONDERXWIUHHVSHHFKDUHEHLQJVHHQ DVYRLFHVWREHVXSSUHVVHG,Q6UL/DQNDWRRWKHUHKDVEHHQ an adverse environment for HRDs, the pinnacle of which is the government announcing the country’s withdrawal from +XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO5HVROXWLRQDQG vi. Covid-19 Pandemic:ौH&RYLG SDQGHPLFKDVUHVXOWHGLQ DIXUWKHUDिDFNRQFLYLOOLEHUWLHVLQPDQ\RIWKHFRXQWULHV :KLOH VWDWHV KDYH XQGHUPLQHG WKH UROH RI 1*2V LQ WKH country through undue control over them or questioning WKHLU UROH LQ KDQGOLQJ WKH SDQGHPLF &RYLG KDV DOVR presented opportunities for governments to carry out reprisals and punitive actions against political opponents WKURXJK VHOHFWLYH IDXOWਭQGLQJ DQG UHWDOLDWRU\ DFWLRQV ,Q PRVW RI WKH FRXQWULHV WKH SDQGHPLF KDV WDNHQ DZD\ WKH OLYHOLKRRG RSSRUWXQLWLHV RI GDLO\ ZDJH ZRUNHUV DQG ORZ income families, most of whom are disproportionately PLQRULWLHVLQWKHLUFRXQWULHV3URWHVWVIURPWKHFLYLFVSDFH on their government’s handling of the coronavirus have been suppressed.
It becomes very clear that in the region, civic space for minorities, VSHFLਭFDOO\ UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV LV VKULQNLQJ ौH QDWLRQDO JRYHUQPHQWV KDYH WDNHQ YDULRXV VWHSV WR FXUWDLO IUHHGRPV RI expression, association and assembly, including by means of UHVWULFWLYHODZVDQGUHJXODWLRQVौHUHKDVEHHQVSHFLਭFWDUJHWLQJ RI +5'V DQG UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV ौH &RYLG SDQGHPLF KDV further restricted civic space, as governments exert undue control RYHURUJDQLVDWLRQVDQGLQGLYLGXDOVौHUHLVWKHORRPLQJWKUHDWWKDW the measures in place to combat the pandemic could carry over LQWRWKHIXWXUHLQGHਭQLWHO\VHYHUHO\VKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHIXUWKHU
xi South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020
Key Recommendations
For national governments i. Abide by international commitments agreed upon by the country. ii. Remove all legal contradictions existing in various laws of the country and adjust them to international treaties to which it is a signatory. LLL 6SHFLਭFDOO\ UHPRYH SURYLVLRQV IURP H[LVWLQJ ODZV WKDW PDNHLWGLਯFXOWIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQVWRUHJLVWHU UHUHJLVWHURUIXQFWLRQLQWKHFRXQWU\ iv. Recognise minorities in the constitution, if not done so already, and ensure constitutional provisions to criminalise discrimination of all forms against minorities. Y ,PSURYHWKHHQDEOLQJHQYLURQPHQWDQGGHYHORSDQHਬHFWLYH protection mechanism for HRDs and civil society actors in FORVH FRQVXOWDWLRQV ZLWK DOO VWDNHKROGHUV LQFOXGLQJ &62V and human rights organisations. YL ,PSOHPHQW HਬHFWLYH DQG KROLVWLF DFWLRQ WR HOLPLQDWH WKH underlying motives for threats to religious minorities and civic space for minorities, and to combat growing funda mentalist voices threatening a free and democratic society. YLL 7DNHVZL़DFWLRQWRWDFNOHULVLQJWHUURULVPDQGYLROHQFH ensuring impartial investigations and the prosecution of WKRVHUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDिDFNVDJDLQVWUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHV in order to end the culture of impunity around these crimes. viii. Implement all the recommendations the countries receive on the circumstances of HRDs provided by the UN Special Rapporteur and other relevant reports. L[ (QVXUHWKDWWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFGRHVQRWUHVXOWLQORQJ term curtailment of civic space in any way.
For the international community L (QVXUH JUHDWHU DिHQWLRQ E\ 81 DQG RWKHU LQWHUQDWLRQDO entities on civil and political rights violations in South Asia. ii. Facilitate the development of South Asian regional initia xii Executive Summary
tives and mechanisms to address various forms of restric tions of civic space in the region.
For civil society/minority groups L )RVWHUJUHDWHUUHJLRQDOFLYLOVRFLHW\LQLWLDWLYHVWRSXVKEDFN again restrictions by national entities. ii. Enable channels for greater solidarity across borders, and expressions of support for victims of targeting in individual countries. iii. Facilitate and participate in greater sharing and learning between various groups across borders.
xiii
Foreword
ौLV WLPHO\ UHSRUW KLJKOLJKWV VHYHUDO IDPLOLDU DQG DODUPLQJ themes, including how Human Rights Defenders standing in GHIHQFH RI KXPDQ ULJKWV RI PLQRULWLHV R़HQ EHDU WKH EUXQW RI UHVWULFWLRQV DQG WDUJHWLQJ /DZ\HUV LQ 3DNLVWDQ GHIHQGLQJ FDVHV of blasphemy particularly against minority religions and sects, DQGDOOWKRVH1*2VDQG+5'VVSHDNLQJIRUULJKWVDQGIUHHGRPV RI PLQRULWLHV IDFH WKUHDWV WR WKHLU ZRUN $XWKRULWLHV LQ 1HSDO WDUJHW1*2VKLULQJ&KULVWLDQVWDਬ,Q$IJKDQLVWDQ+5'VUHPDLQ XQGHUWKUHDWIURPVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV,Q%DQJODGHVKWKH cybercrime law enables the targeting of HRDs. In India, HRDs and religious minorities protesting discriminatory laws and practices have faced restrictions, violence, criminal defamation, detention DQG KDUDVVPHQW $QG LQ 6UL /DQND WKHUH KDV EHHQ ZRUVHQLQJ V ZLWKGUDZDO LQۑHQYLURQPHQW IRU +5'V LQFOXGLQJ 6UL /DQND )HEUXDU\IURP+XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO5HVROXWLRQVDQG PHDQWWRSURPRWHUHFRQFLOLDWLRQDFFRXQWDELOLW\DQGKXPDQ rights in the country. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet rightly describes civic space as ‘the lifeblood of any healthy democracy XWFLYLFVSDFHLVXQGHUDिDFNDOORYHUWKHZRUOGZLWK%ۑ\DQGVRFLHW core civic freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly widely denied. Restrictive legislative and administrative provisions KDYHEHHQKDOOPDUNVRIUHSUHVVLRQZLWK+XPDQ5LJKWV'HIHQGHUV R़HQ WKH SULPH WDUJHWV ौHUH LV QR PRUH GLUHFW WKUHDW WR FLYLF space that the targeting of HRDs. ौLV LPSRUWDQW UHSRUW UHPLQGV XV DOO WKDW 6RXWK $VLD KRPH to a fourth of humanity, mirrors these global trends. A recent V SRSXODWLRQ OLYHV LQۑ SHU FHQW RI WKH UHJLRQ UHSRUW FODLPHG MXVWDWLHUEHिHUWKDQۑUHSUHVVHGېFRQGLWLRQZKHUHFLYLFVSDFHLV ौURXJKRXWWKHUHJLRQVWDWHVDUHLQFUHDVLQJO\UHVRUWLQJۑFORVHGې to censorship, imposition of restrictive laws, criminal defamation,
xv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 harassment and detention of protesters, and the targeting of HRDs WRVXSSUHVVSHDFHIXOSURWHVWVb Despite protections enshrined in international law and national constitutions, people continue to be excluded on the basis of their LGHQWLWLHV ZLWK PLQRULWLHV VXਬHULQJ GLVSURSRUWLRQDWHO\ ौHVH WUHQGVDUHURRWHGLQEDFNVOLGLQJRIGHPRFUDF\DQGWKHUXOHRIODZ and a surge in populism. South Asia Collective’s South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020: Minorities and Shrinking Civic Space, exposes how this ZLWKDIRFXVRQWUHQGVیHURVLRQLVWDNLQJSODFHDFURVVWKHUHJLRQ and consequences for South Asia’s sizeable minorities, religious as ZHOODVHWKQLFOLQJXLVWLFDQGFDVWHौHਭQGLQJVRIWKHUHSRUWDUH sobering. We will do well to dwell on them. ौHUHSRUWQRWHVWKDWwhile some states—including Bhutan—have yet to see much civic space emerge, the general trend across the region is of constitutional guarantees of freedoms of association, DVVHPEO\DQGH[SUHVVLRQEHLQJGLOXWHGRYHUWKHSDVWGHFDGHौLV LQFOXGHV WKH LQFUHDVHG UHJXODWLRQ RI 1*2V DQG WKHLU DFFHVV WR foreign funding. Another common trend—seen for example in LVWRGHQ\1*2VUHJLVWUDWLRQRUیIJKDQLVWDQ3DNLVWDQDQG,QGLD$ renewal of licenses. 2WKHU UHFHQW OHJLVODWLRQ OLPLWV IUHHGRP RI RSLQLRQ DQG H[SUHVVLRQLQWKHJXLVHRISUHYHQWLQJGLVKDUPRQ\DQGGLVDਬHFWLRQ Authorities are resorting to Internet shutdowns, including in ,QGLD3DNLVWDQ6UL/DQNDDQGLQ%DQJODGHVKVSHFLਭFDOO\DJDLQVW Rohingya refugees. $VHOVHZKHUHLQWKHZRUOGWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFKDVSURYLGHG a pretext for limiting freedoms, with authorities introducing further restrictions on HRDs, and securitisation of laws in the name of FRPEDWLQJWKHSDQGHPLFDQGXQGHUWDNLQJHPHUJHQF\UHVSRQVH Most South Asian nations constitutionally guarantee freedoms of association, assembly and expression. All South Asian countries H[FHSW%KXWDQ KDYHDOVRUDWLਭHGWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RYHQDQWRQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV ,&&35 DQG RWKHU LQVWUXPHQWV WKDW guarantee ‘basic freedoms’. But restrictions on these freedoms are ZLGHVSUHDGLQWKHUHJLRQDQGJURZLQJौHWDUJHWLQJRI+5'VLV becoming more common. xvi Foreword
:H QHHG WR UHWKLQN KRZ VRFLHWLHV FDQ EHिHU IXQFWLRQ GXULQJ DQG D़HU WKH SDQGHPLF +5'V PXVW EH DW WKH FHQWUH RI WKHVH discussions. Healthy civic spaces can help build strong, healthy democracies in the region. And the South Asia Collective can have DNH\OHDGHUVKLSUROHLQWKLVE\FRQWLQXLQJLWVGRFXPHQWDWLRQDQG advocacy, and by continuing to press for the protection of HRDs.
Mary Lawlor Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
xvii
Acknowledgements
:HZRXOGOLNHWRH[WHQGRXUVLQFHUHVWJUDWLWXGHDQGDSSUHFLDWLRQ to the following individuals and organisations for their support DQGHQFRXUDJHPHQWLQSXिLQJWRJHWKHUWKH0LQRULW\5HSRUW
Afghanistan &LYLO6RFLHW\DQG+XPDQ5LJKWV1HWZRUN &6+51 IRUSURYLGLQJ UHVRXUFHV VSHFLਭFDOO\ 6D\HG +XVVDLQ $QRVK WKH ([HFXWLYH Director; Hassan Ali Faiz, Research Director; and Massoud $GUDNKVK&RPPXQLFDWLRQ2ਯFHUZKRVKDUHGWKHLUH[SHULHQFH DQGJHQHURXVO\SURYLGHGFRPPHQWVRQWKHGUD़+DVVDQ5DKD6LE\O DQG=DPDQ6ROWDQLIRUWDNLQJWKHWLPHWRUHYLHZWKHUHSRUWDQG VKDULQJWKHLUYLHZVDQGRSLQLRQV6HYHUDOH[SHUWV&62VDFWLYLVWV and researchers, Afghan and foreign, for granting interviews and providing a great deal of information.
Bangladesh ौHFRPPXQLWLHVDQGLQGLYLGXDOVZKRKHOSHGDQGFRQWULEXWHGWRWKH UHSRUWौHRUJDQLVDWLRQVFRQVXOWHGIRUWKHUHSRUWZHUH%DQJODGHVK Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM), Bangladesh Dalit Women Federation, Council of Minorities, Maulavibazar Cha Jonogosthi Adivasi Front, Uddipto Nari Unnayan Sangstha, Adivasi 3DUKLVKDGDQG-DWL\R$GLYDVL3DULVKDGौHLQGLYLGXDOVZHUH.KDOLG +RVVDLQ-R\RQWL5DELGDV.KRNRQ6XLWHQ0XUPX6KLSRQ5DELGDV 7DPDQQD6LQJK%DUDLN3DULPDO6LQJK%DUDLN6XQLO.XPDU0ULGKD 8िDP.XPDU%KDNWDDQG0RQL5DQL'DV6DOHKGRI%DQGKX6RFLDO :HOIDUH6RFLHW\DQG6DQMHHE'URQJ*HQHUDO6HFUHWDU\%DQJODGHVK Adivasi Forum for their review of the report.
Bhutan ौHSHUVRQVZKRKDYHEHHQYHU\EUDYHWRWDONDERXWWKHLUUHOLJLRQ practice and current predicament as Christians in Bhutan. Vyas
xix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020
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Nepal %LVKQX6DSNRWD&KLHIRI3DUW\,QQRYDWLRQVIRU6RFLDO$FFRXQWDELO LW\&DPERGLDDQG&KDQGUD'%KDिD6HQLRU3URJUDPPH2ਯFHU DW)ULHGULFK(EHUW6WL़XQJ1HSDOIRUUHYLHZLQJWKH1HSDOFKDSWHU 0HPEHUVRIWKHDGYLVRU\FRPPLिHH0RKQD$QVDUL Pakistan 6DQD6DOPDQDQG$MZD1DGHHP Sri Lanka 1LGD $GPDQL IRU UHVHDUFK DVVLVWDQFH DQG GUD़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xx Acknowledgements FRPPHQWDULHVRQWKHUHSRUW 3RRQDP-RVKLDQG'HDQQH8\DQJRGD IRUWKHLUIHHGEDFNRQWKHLQWURGXFWLRQ DQG0LQRULW\5LJKWV*URXS ,QWHUQDWLRQDO /RQGRQ DQG 6KLNKD 'LODZUL 1DXPDQD 6XOHPDQ and Ifra Asad for their support throughout the production of the report. ौH6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYH 2FWREHU xxi Note on the South Asia Collective A group of human rights activists and organisations that dream of a just, caring and peaceful South Asia came together VۑLQ 'HFHPEHU WR GRFXPHQW WKH FRQGLWLRQ RI WKH UHJLRQ minorities—religious, linguistic, ethnic, caste and gender, among KRSLQJWKLVZRXOGKHOSLQEHिHULQJRXWFRPHVIRU6RXWKیRWKHUV V PDQ\ PDUJLQDOLVHG JURXSV :H FDOO RXUVHOYHV ौH 6RXWKۑVLD$ Asia Collective. :H KDYH VLQFH EHHQ DEOH WR UDOO\ RWKHU OLNHPLQGHG JURXSV DQG platforms to our cause. Building on this initial success, we have DOVR EHJXQ H[SHULPHQWLQJ ZLWK VPDOOVFDOH SUDFWLFDO VXSSRUW WR PLQRULW\JURXSVDFURVVERUGHUVWRQXUWXUHWKHLUFDSDFLW\IRUEHिHU RXWFRPHVIRUPLQRULW\FRPPXQLWLHVZRUNLQJDWORFDODQGUHJLRQDO OHYHOVौLVFRPLQJWRJHWKHURIOLNHPLQGHGJURXSVLVSDUWLFXODUO\ gratifying given the otherwise fraught political environment in WKH UHJLRQ ZKLFK PLOLWDWHV DJDLQVW DQ\ VHULRXV UHJLRQDO HਬRUW E\ VWDWH SDUWLHV RQ PLQRULW\ DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV ,W KDV EHHQ OH़ to civil society initiatives to try to pave the way in the hope for PRUH IRUPDO HਬRUWV JRLQJ IRUZDUG (YHQWXDOO\ ZH ZDQW WR VHH the establishment of a South Asia charter of minority and human rights, and regional and national mechanisms to enforce those. ौHPHPEHUVRIौH6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYHDUH \&RPPXQLW\(PSRZHUPHQW6RFLHW RUPDWLRQ$ZDUHQHVV( ۚ )$&(6 3DNLVWDQ/DKRUH /67 &RORPER 6RFLHW\7UXVW DZ/ ۚ 0LQRULW\5LJKWV*URXS,QWHUQDWLRQDO/RQGRQ ۚ 1DJRULN8GG\RJ'KDND ۚ 6RFLDO6FLHQFH%DKD.DWKPDQGX ۚ LWL]HQV$JDLQVW+DWH,QGLD& ۚ xxiii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 xxiv Note on the Contributors Elaine Alam, a development and human rights practitioner who KDV ZRUNHG LQ WKH VHFWRU VLQFH LV D IRXQGHUPHPEHU DQG 6HFUHWDU\*HQHUDORI)$&(63DNLVWDQ6KHKDVH[WHQVLYHH[SHULHQFH in poverty reduction programmes and community development in both policy and practice and specialises in development PDQDJHPHQW6KHLVDOVRFXUUHQWO\RQHRIWKHNH\DFWRUVSURYLGLQJ technical support to human rights policy and implementation DXWKRULWLHVLQ3XQMDE3URYLQFH6KHDOVRZRUNVZLWKWKH:RUNLQJ *URXSRQ)UHHGRPRI5HOLJLRQ %HOLHIDQGKDVUHFHQWO\DGYRFDWHG for recommendations to the Single National Curriculum, forced FRQYHUVLRQVVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHWKHULJKWVRIWUDQVJHQGHUVWKH rights of women especially religious minorities as well as climate justice. Jeevan Baniya is Assistant Director at Social Science Baha, .DWKPDQGX+HFRPSOHWHGKLV3K'LQ3ROLWLFDO6FLHQFHIURPWKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 2VOR +H DOVR WHDFKHV LQWHUQDWLRQDO UHODWLRQV DW Tribhuvan University. His academic expertise and interest include SXEOLFSROLF\VWDWHVRFLHW\UHODWLRQVGHPRFUDF\DQGGHYHORSPHQW labour and migration, disasters, etc. S.M. Masum Billah LV $VVRFLDWH 3URIHVVRU RI /DZ -DJDQQDWK 8QLYHUVLW\ %DQJODGHVK +H HDUQHG KLV 3K' IURP 9LFWRULD University of Wellington, New Zealand. An alumnus of Rajshahi 8QLYHUVLW\ 'U %LOODK ZDV D VKRUWWHUP YLVLWLQJ IHOORZ DW WKH 6$5&3/6WHOOHQERVFK8QLYHUVLW\6RXWK$IULFD+HLVWKHDXWKRU of Ainer Vab O Ovab ौH$UWDQG,QHUWRI/DZ +HLVDFWLYHO\ HQJDJHG ZLWK WKH +XPDQ 5LJKWV 6XPPHU 6FKRRO LQ 'KDND UXQ E\ WKH (PSRZHUPHQW WKURXJK /DZ RI WKH &RPPRQ 3HRSOH +LV research interests include human rights, constitutional property and legal history. xxv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Sajjad Hassan is an Indian human rights researcher and trainer, and the convenor of the South Asia Collective. QLWLDWLYH,ۑ&LWL]HQV Zakir HossainKHDGVWKH1DJRULN8GG\RJ DKXPDQULJKWVRUJDQLVDWLRQZRUNLQJWRSURPRWHKXPDQULJKWV DFFHVV WR MXVWLFH DQG JRRG JRYHUQDQFH LQ %DQJODGHVK =DNLU KDV EHHQ DQ DFWLYH YRFDO DQG ZHOONQRZQ KXPDQ ULJKWV DQG environmental activists in Bangladesh for the past 25 years. He contributes to mobilise Dalits and socially excluded communities LQ%DQJODGHVK$VDQDFWLYLVWWKHDUHDRIKLVSUHVHQWZRUNLQFOXGHV access to justice, labour rights, human rights, advocacy, campaigns, reporting and building social movement through empowering the communities. Monjurul Islam is a human rights activist, actively involved with the rights of socially excluded people and Dalit community members. +HKDV\HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHLQZRUNLQJZLWKGHYHORSPHQWDQG human rights and has contributed to a good number of research SXEOLFDWLRQV DUWLFOHV ZRUNLQJ SDSHUV SROLF\ EULHIV DQG VR RQ &XUUHQWO\ KH ZRUNV ZLWK 1DJRULN 8GG\RJ DV 3ROLF\ $GYRFDF\ Coordinator and engages with national, regional and international advocacy to promote the rights of Dalit, indigenous peoples and other minorities. Shahnaaz KhanKDVDEDFNJURXQGLQSHDFHDQGFRQਮLFWVWXGLHV DQGKDVZRUNHGRQLVVXHVRILGHQWLW\EDVHGYLROHQFHDQGPLQRULW\ rights, including the South Asia: State of Minorities Report 2018. She LVFXUUHQWO\ZRUNLQJLQWKHHGXFDWLRQVHFWRUWRZDUGVWUDQVIRUPLQJ curriculum and pedagogy to address identity, power, and marginalisation within India’s education system. Saroj K. Nepal, a Bhutanese citizen, is a social scientist. In a career VSDQQLQJ\HDUVKHZRUNHGIRUWKH5R\DO*RYHUQPHQWRI%KXWDQ DV D VRFLRORJLVW DQG ZLWK 'DQLGD IRU WZR \HDUV DV 3URJUDPPH 2ਯFHUIRU+HDOWKDQG*RRG*RYHUQDQFH6HFWRU3URJUDPPHVDQGDV a Social Development Consultant. He has completed assignments on social themes and issues in a range of sectors, with unilateral xxvi Note on the Contributors DQGELODWHUDOGRQRUVDQGGHYHORSPHQWEDQNV+HDOVRKDVGHYHORSHG SURMHFWSURSRVDOVDQGXQGHUWDNHQPRQLWRULQJDQGHYDOXDWLRQ+H UHFHQWO\WRRNXSDQHZSRVLWLRQDV([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRU ,QWHULP of the Centre for Research on Bhutanese Society (CRBS) that he FRIRXQGHGLQ+HKDVHQJDJHGZLWKWKH6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYH VLQFH ZLWK FRQWULEXWLRQV WR WKH DQQXDO SXEOLFDWLRQV DQG GLVFXVVLRQVKHOGRQVLWHLQWKHUHJLRQ Shambhawi Paudel is a Research Associate at Social Science Baha. She is a human rights lawyer with research interest in FURVVVHFWLRQDODSSOLFDWLRQRIKXPDQULJKWVVWDQGDUGVLQVRFLHW\ 6KH FRPSOHWHG KHU //0 LQ +XPDQ 5LJKWV /DZ VSHFLDOLVLQJ LQ international justice, from the Central European University, Hungary. Her master’s thesis was a study on the right to access abortions and sex selection in China, India and Nepal. She KDV ZRUNHG LQ GLਬHUHQW JRYHUQPHQWDO DQG QRQJRYHUQPHQWDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV RQ LVVXHV VXFK DV UHSURGXFWLYH ULJKWV /*%7,4 advocacy, state transparency and accountability, and arms control. Ambika SatkunanathanLVDQ2SHQ6RFLHW\)HOORZ )URP 2FWREHU WR 0DUFK VKH ZDV D &RPPLVVLRQHU DW WKH +XPDQ 5LJKWV &RPPLVVLRQ RI 6UL /DQND 3ULRU WR WKDW VKH IXQFWLRQHGDVWKH/HJDO&RQVXOWDQWWRWKH812ਯFHRIWKH+LJK &RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWVLQ6UL/DQND+HUUHVHDUFKDQG advocacy have focused on transitional justice, custodial violence, prison reform, militarisation, gender and Tamil nationalism. Her publications include contributions to the Oxford Handbook RI *HQGHU &RQठLFW, the Routledge Handbook on Human Rights in South Asia, and Contemporary South Asia. She is Chairperson RI WKH 1HHODQ 7LUXFKHOYDP 7UXVW DQ 6UL /DQNDQ JUDQWPDNLQJ RUJDQLVDWLRQDQG9LFH&KDLUSHUVRQRI8UJHQW$FWLRQ)XQG$VLD 3DFLਭFDUHJLRQDOIHPLQLVWJUDQWPDNLQJRUJDQLVDWLRQ$PELND KROGVD0DVWHURI/DZV +XPDQ5LJKWV GHJUHHIURPWKH8QLYHUVLW\ RI 1RिLQJKDP ZKHUH VKH ZDV D &KHYHQLQJ 6FKRODU DQG KDV \//%%$ IURP 0RQDVK 8QLYHUVLW V GHJUHHVۑHDUQHG EDFKHORU Australia. xxvii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Ritika Singh is a researcher based in Kathmandu. Her research LQWHUHVWVLQFOXGHODERXUDQGPLJUDWLRQVRFLDOFRQVWUXFWLRQRIJHQ der relations and inequalities, social inclusion, and representative SROLF\PDNLQJ 6KH HDUQHG KHU 0$ LQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HODWLRQV *OREDO *RYHUQDQFH DQG 6RFLDO ौHRU\ IURP %,*666 D MRLQW programme between Jacobs University and University of Bremen, *HUPDQ\ 6KH KDV EHHQ ZRUNLQJ LQ WKH GHYHORSPHQW VHFWRU LQ Nepal in various capacities for more than a decade. Currently, she is a Research Associate at Social Science Baha, where she is primarily engaged with research on minorities in South Asia, and RQ1HSDOLPLJUDQWZRUNHUV Abhimanyu Suresh is a researcher with the South Asia Collective. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial and Investment Analysis from the University of Delhi and a master’s in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. $EKLPDQ\XZRUNVRQLVVXHVRIH[FOXVLRQDQGPDUJLQDOLVDWLRQDQG accountability. 6XGHVKQDࢌDSDLVDKXPDQULJKWVODZ\HUDQGKROGVDQ//0LQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO+XPDQ5LJKWV/DZIURP/XQG8QLYHUVLW\6ZHGHQ 6KH KDV SUHYLRXVO\ ZRUNHG DV D 5HVHDUFK $VVLVWDQW WR WKH 81 Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxics, involved, among others, in research related to the human rights implications of exposure to toxic and hazardous substances on minorities. She is FXUUHQWO\D5HVHDUFK2ਯFHUDW6RFLDO6FLHQFH%DKDZKHUHVKHLV primarily involved in research and writing on issues pertaining to 1HSDOLPLJUDQWZRUNHUV6KHZULWHVUHJXODUO\RQDUDQJHRIVRFLR legal issues including minority rights and social inclusion. Abdul Rahman YasaLVD3ROLF\DQG5HVHDUFK2ਯFHUZLWK&LYLO 6RFLHW\ DQG +XPDQ 5LJKWV 1HWZRUN +H KDV DQ 0$ LQ 3ROLWLFV DQG 6HFXULW\ IURP WKH 26&( $FDGHP\ LQ %LVKNHN DQG D %$ LQ 3ROLWLFDO 6FLHQFH $EGXO KDV VHUYHG ZLWK GLਬHUHQW QDWLRQDO DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ +H KDV ZRUNHG DV D consultant with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and as a Development Trainer with Creative Associates xxviii Note on the Contributors ,QWHUQDWLRQDO,QF+LVZRUNDVD*RYHUQPHQW3ROLF\2ਯFHUZLWK ,QGHSHQGHQW'LUHFWRUDWHRI/RFDO*RYHUQDQFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQDQG as Civilian Consultant with the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan EHWZHHQDQGKDVSURYLGHGKLPZLWKWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WR ORRNDWJRYHUQDQFHSUDFWLFHVDQGFKDOOHQJHVLQDEURDGUDQJHRI LQVWLWXWLRQDO LVVXHV +LV IRFXV LV GHPRFUDWLF GHYHORSPHQW DQWL corruption, research, women and peacebuilding, human rights, and security studies (Central Asia). xxix Abbreviations and Acronyms $%93 $NKLO%KDUDWL\D9LG\DUWKL3DULVKDG $)63$ $UPHG)RUFHV6SHFLDO3RZHUV$FW AIHRC Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission $,/ $FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ/DZ AMU Aligarh Muslim University ARA Association Registration Act DWۑKOH6XQQDW:DO-DPD$ -:$6 $:3 $ZDPL:RUNHUV3DUW\ %$6/ %DU$VVRFLDWLRQRI6UL/DQND %-3 %KDUDWL\D-DQDWD3DUW\ %13 %DQJODGHVK1DWLRQDOLVW3DUW\ CA Constituent Assembly CAA Citizenship Amendment Act CBI Central Bureau of Investigation CERD Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination CHRI Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative &+7 &KLिDJRQJ+LOO7UDFWV CIC Chief Information Commissioner CID Criminal Investigation Department &-3 &HQWUHIRU-XVWLFHDQG3HDFH CM Chief Minister 0RYHPHQWIRU'HPRFUDF\DQG3HDFHۑLWL]HQV& 3'0& &36& &HQWUHIRU3URPRWLRQRI6RFLDO&RQFHUQV CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child &U3& &RGHRI&ULPLQDO3URFHGXUH &53' &RQYHQWLRQRQWKH5LJKWVRI3HUVRQVZLWK'LVDELOLWLHV &6+51 &LYLO6RFLHW\DQG+XPDQ5LJKWV1HWZRUN &62 &LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQLVDWLRQ DMC Disaster Management Centre DSA Digital Security Act xxxi South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ($' (FRQRPLF$ਬDLUV'LYLVLRQ ED Enforcement Directorate )$7) )LQDQFLDO$FWLRQ7DVN)RUFH FCRA Foreign Contribution Registration Act FIA Federal Investigation Agency *'3 *URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFW *63 *HQHUDOLVHG6FKHPHRI3UHIHUHQFHV HC High Court +5&3 +XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQ HRD Human Rights Defender ,&&35 ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RYHQDQWRQ&LYLODQG3ROLWLFDO5LJKWV ,&1/ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URਭW/DZ ,-, ,VODPL-DPKRRUL,िHKDG ,1*2 ,QWHUQDWLRQDO1RQ*RYHUQPHQW2UJDQLVDWLRQV INSAF Indian Social Action Forum ,3 ,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOH ,3& ,QGLDQ3HQDO&RGH ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and Syria IT Act Income Tax Act JCC -DPLD&RRUGLQDWLRQ&RPPLिHH JNU Jawaharlal Nehru University D]O(یDPLDW8OHPDH,VODP- (,-8 -93 -DQDWKD9LPXNWKL3HUDPXQD /*%7,4 /HVELDQ*D\%LVH[XDO7UDQVJHQGHU,QWHUVH[DQG ोHVWLRQLQJ /77( /LEHUDWLRQ7LJHUVRI7DPLO(HODP 00/ 0DVV0HGLD/DZ MoEC Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan 1&($6/ 1DWLRQDO&KULVWLDQ(YDQJHOLFDO$OOLDQFHRI6UL/DQND NCM National Commission for Minorities NDA National Directive Act NDS Afghan Intelligence Agency NEFIN Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities 1*2 1RQ*RYHUQPHQWDO2UJDQLVDWLRQV NHRC National Human Rights Commission NRC National Register of Citizens NRIC National Register of Indian Citizens xxxii Abbreviations and Acronyms NSA National Security Act NSC National Security Council 18* 1DWLRQDO8QLW\*RYHUQPHQW NWAB National Women’s Association of Bhutan 2+&+5 2ਯFHRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU Human Rights 203 2ਯFHRQ0LVVLQJ3HUVRQV 3&3 3DNLVWDQ&HQWUHIRU3KLODQWKURS\ 3), 3RSXODU)URQWRI,QGLD 3,/ 3XEOLF,QWHUHVW/LWLJDWLRQ 36$ 3XEOLF6DIHW\$FW 362 3XEOLF6HFXULW\2UGLQDQFH 37$ 3UHYHQWLRQRI7HUURULVP$FW 37, 3DNLVWDQ7HKUHHNH,QVDI 370 3DVKWXQ7DKDIX]0RYHPHQW 52 5HOLJLRXV2UJDQLVDWLRQ RSF Reporters Sans Frontier 5631 5R\DO6RFLHW\IRU3URWHFWLRQRI1DWXUH 566 5DVKWUL\D6ZD\DPVHYDN6DQJK RTI Right to Information SC Supreme Court 6(&3 6HFXULWLHV([FKDQJH&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQ 6/33 6UL/DQND3RGXMDQD3HUDPXQD 661&& 6RFLDO6HUYLFHV1DWLRQDO&RRUGLQDWLRQ&RPPLिHH SWC Social Welfare Council 7/3 7HKUHHNH/DEEDLN3DUW\ TNA Tamil National Alliance V)URQWۑ7DPLO1DWLRQDO3HRSOH (713 8$3$ 8QODZIXO$FWLYLWLHV 3UHYHQWLRQ $FW UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights 81&$7 8QLWHG1DWLRQV&RPPLिHHDJDLQVW7RUWXUH 81'3 8QLWHG1DWLRQV'HYHORSPHQW3URJUDPPH 83 8िDU3UDGHVK V'HPRFUDWLF)URQWۑ8QLWHG3HRSOH ('83 835 8QLYHUVDO3HULRGLF5HYLHZ USCIRF United States Commission for Religious Freedom :+2 :RUOG+HDOWK2UJDQLVDWLRQ xxxiii Introduction South Asia, Constrained 3HRSOH3RZHU8QGHU$ࡇDFN , the most recent report by the civil society alliance CIVICUS, observed that civil society is ‘under LQPRVWFRXQWULHVDURXQGWKHZRUOGौLVWKHUHSRUWQRWHGۑDिDFN has resulted in a situation where only 3 per cent of the world’s population are now living in countries where their fundamental freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly are in general, protected and respected. In South Asia, home to around a quarter of humanity, four countries—Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal FLYLF ۑREVWUXFWHGې DUH JUDGHG DV FRXQWULHV ZLWKیDQG 6UL /DQND space, while India has recently joined Afghanistan, Bangladesh FRXQWULHVۑUHSUHVVHGېVۑDQG3DNLVWDQDPRQJWKHUDQNVRIWKHZRUOG SHU FHQW RI VHFRQGORZHVW JUDGH ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV ۑ86&,9,& South Asia’s 1.85 billion inhabitants now live in conditions where DQGFLYLOVRFLHW\PHPEHUVۑVLJQLਭFDQWO\FRQVWUDLQHGېFLYLFVSDFHLV VXUYHLOODQFH KDUDVVPHQWې ZKR TXHVWLRQ WKRVH LQ SRZHU ULVN intimidation, imprisonment, injury and death’. While the repression of civic space has increasingly been recognised as a growing global issue, such restrictions are not new to minorities—religious, linguistic, ethnic, sexual—and to those ZKRDGYRFDWHIRUPLQRULW\ULJKWV)RUWKHPWKHUDPLਭFDWLRQVRI WKHVH UHVWULFWLRQV WHQG WR EH SDUWLFXODUO\ VHYHUH DQG WDNH SODFH ZLWKJUHDWHUIUHTXHQF\ौHLPSDFWRIVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHFDQ also be seen through restrictions on freedom of religion or belief. As outlined by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, states have the ‘propensity for imposing very tight restrictions on the legal status, funding, autonomy and political activities of religious actors and institutions for the purposes of limiting the role of religion, generally, in public and, at times, private life’. In this way, the treatment of minorities, and xxxv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 of those who advocate for their rights, are critical indicators of the state of democracy. In South Asia, too, a region that has historically witnessed the systemic marginalisation of minorities and majoritarian impulses have recently been on a renewed ascendancy, PLQRULWLHVKDYHEHHQEHDULQJWKHEUXQWRIWKHVKULQNLQJRIFLYLF space. Across the region, those advocating for minority and human ULJKWVKDYHEHHQLQFUHDVLQJO\IDFLQJSXVKEDFNIURPVWDWHDQGQRQ VWDWHDFWRUV6XFKFKDOOHQJHVDUHR़HQIXUWKHUH[DFHUEDWHGIRUWKRVH who face intersectional discrimination, for whom multiple forms of oppression operate alongside one another such as minority and indigenous women. In her report on the criminalisation of LQGLJHQRXVKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVLQ6SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXURQ WKH ULJKWV RI LQGLJHQRXV SHRSOHV 9LFWRULD 7DXOL&RUSX] SRLQWHG WKDWLQGLJHQRXVZRPHQKXPDQۑJHQGHUHGLPSDFWVېWRWKHVSHFLਭF rights defenders who are criminalised face, including defamation. ौLVUHSRUWSouth Asia State of Minorities 2020: Minorities and Shrinking Civic SpaceVHHNVWRKLJKOLJKWWKHVWDWHRIFLYLFVSDFH across the region, and in particular the challenges faced by those engaged in the advocacy of minority rights. 'Hक़QLWLRQV5HVHDUFK'HVLJQDQG5HSRUWLQJ Civic Space and Civil Society $FFRUGLQJWRWKH2ਯFHRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHU for Human Rights, ‘civic space’ is ‘the environment that enables civil society to play a role in the political, economic and social life of our societies.bIn particular, civic space allows individuals and groups to FRQWULEXWHWRSROLF\PDNLQJWKDWDਬHFWVWKHLUOLYHVLQFOXGLQJE\ accessing information; engaging in dialogue; expressing dissent or disagreement; and joining together to express their views.’ Conceptually, civic space or the public sphere1 is constructed by agencies, events, political reforms or interactions between state DQGFLWL]HQVDQGWKHPDUNHWDOOORRVHO\FDOOHGFLYLOVRFLHW\ौH\ 1 As defined by Habermas. See: Jurgen Habermas, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: an Inquiry Into a Category of Bourgeois SocietyWUDQV7KRPDV%XUJHUDQG)UHGHULFN/DZUHQFH &DPEULGJH 3ROLW\3UHVV xxxvi Introduction can emerge through various routes and under various conditions. Historically, they have been created largely through resistance and struggles. Civic space rights are guaranteed by the International Covenant FRQWDLQHG LQ $UWLFOHی ,&&35 RQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV (everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression), Article 21 (right to peaceful assembly), and Article 22 (right to freedom ULJKWV DUH ۑEDVLF IUHHGRPVې RI DVVRFLDWLRQ ZLWK RWKHUV ौHVH fundamental for citizens and civil society organisations to be able WRFODLPWKHLUULJKWVDQGLQਮXHQFHWKHSROLWLFDODQGVRFLDOVWUXFWXUHV DURXQGWKHP:KLOHWKHUHDUHQXPHURXVRWKHUIDFWRUVWKDWLQਮXHQFH WKHHਬHFWLYHIXQFWLRQLQJRIFLYLOVRFLHW\LWLVWKHVHWKUHHIUHHGRPV that provide the foundation for civil society advocacy. ौH ULJKW WR WKH IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ KDV EHHQ GHਭQHG DV including: WKHULJKWWRDFFHVVLQIRUPDWLRQFULWLFDOO\HYDOXDWHDQGVSHDN۞ RXW DJDLQVW WKH SROLFLHV DQG DFWLRQV RI VWDWH DQG QRQVWDWH DFWRUVDQGSXEOLFO\GUDZDिHQWLRQWRDQGFDUU\RXWDGYRFDF\ actions to promote shared concerns, without fear of retribution from any quarter.2 ौHULJKWWRWKHIUHHGRPRISHDFHIXODVVHPEO\KDVEHHQGHਭQHGDV …the right of citizens to gather publicly or privately and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common LQWHUHVWVौLVULJKWLQFOXGHVWKHULJKWWRSDUWLFLSDWHLQSHDFHIXO DVVHPEOLHVPHHWLQJVSURWHVWVVWULNHVVLWLQVGHPRQVWUDWLRQV DQGRWKHUWHPSRUDU\JDWKHULQJVIRUDVSHFLਭFSXUSRVH3 ौHULJKWWRWKHIUHHGRPRIDVVRFLDWLRQKDVEHHQGHਭQHGDV …the right of any citizen to join a formal or informal group WRWDNHFROOHFWLYHDFWLRQौLVULJKWLQFOXGHVWKHULJKWWRIRUP 86DFFHVVHG6HSWHPEHUKWWSV&,9,&ۑ"KDWLV&LYLF6SDFH:ې PRQLWRUFLYLFXVRUJZKDWLVFLYLFVSDFH. 3 Ibid. xxxvii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 a new group and join an existing group. Associations can LQFOXGH FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV FOXEV FRRSHUDWLYHV QRQ governmental organisations, religious associations, political parties, trade unions, foundations and online associations, as ZHOO DV OHVV GHਭQHG DQG QHZ IRUPV RI JURXSV VXFK DV VRFLDO PRYHPHQWV ौHUH LV QR UHTXLUHPHQW WKDW WKH DVVRFLDWLRQ EH registered in order for the right of the freedom of association to apply. Under the right to the freedom of association, groups have the right to access funding and resources. ौHFLYLFVSDFHULJKWVDQGDिDFNVRQWKHPZLOOEHWKHIRFXVRIRXU DिHQWLRQDVZHH[SORUHWKHQDUURZLQJFLYLFVSDFHLQ6RXWK$VLD HVSHFLDOO\IRULWVPLQRULWLHV2XUIRFXVKDVEHHQWKHSDVWWKUHHIRXU \HDUV DOWKRXJK VSHFLਭF FRXQWU\ DFFRXQWV GUDZ RQ GHYHORSPHQW over the longer term. 5HVHDUࠫ'HVLJQ ࠭HVWLRQV0HWKRGRORJ\DQG'DWD&ROOHFWLRQ ौLV UHSRUW RQ WKH VKULQNLQJ FLYLF VSDFH LQ 6RXWK $VLD DQG LWV PLQRULWLHVVHHNVWR a. identify emerging trends concerning civic space in each country in South Asia, and regionally, as a whole; b. analyse the factors driving the trends, and examine how constitutional and legal safeguards in each country have withstood the changes; and F GRFXPHQWWKHLPSDFWVRIWKHVHWUHQGVZLWKVSHFLਭFUHIHUHQFH to minorities and those involved in minority rights advocacy. $OOWKHFRXQWU\VWXGLHVHPSOR\HGDTXDOLWDWLYHUHVHDUFKPHWKRGROR J\WRGRFXPHQWFKDQJHVRYHUWLPHDQGVSDFHGUDZLQJRXWSDिHUQV DQGWUHQGVDOVRXQGHUVWDQGLQJLPSDFWौHUHVHDUFKUHOLHGPRVWO\ on secondary material, reviewing media reports, civil society IDFWਭQGLQJVDVVHVVPHQWVDQGURXQGXSVDQGRਯFLDOGRFXPHQWV DYDLODEOHLQWKHSXEOLFGRPDLQ,QWHUYLHZVZLWKNH\UHVSRQGHQWV DQGDUHYLHZRIOHJDOGRFXPHQWVZHUHXQGHUWDNHQDVZHOOPDNLQJ ,ELG xxxviii Introduction XS WKH EXON RI WKH SULPDU\ UHVHDUFK $ VHSDUDWH RQOLQH RSLQLRQ survey conducted in some of the countries added to the analytical PDWHULDO &RURQDYLUXVUHODWHG ULVNV DQG PRYHPHQW UHVWULFWLRQV prevented more reliance on primary material—which remains a limitation of the report. Structure of the Report ौHUHVWRIWKLVLQWURGXFWRU\FKDSWHURIWKHUHSRUWLVVWUXFWXUHGDV IROORZVौHQH[WVHFWLRQSUHVHQWVRXUNH\ਭQGLQJVRQFLYLFVSDFH restrictions in South Asia as a whole, using a regional lens, reporting WUHQGVRQHDFKRIWKHWKUHHFLYLFVSDFHULJKWVDQGWKHLUVSHFLਭF LPSOLFDWLRQVIRUPLQRULWLHVDOVRLQWKHFRQWH[WRI&RYLG ौLVLV followed by summaries of the civic space situation by country, for $IJKDQLVWDQ %KXWDQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD 3DNLVWDQ DQG 6UL /DQND along with a set of recommendations from a regional perspective. ौLV FKDSWHU LV IROORZHG E\ VHYHQ VHSDUDWH FRXQWU\ FKDSWHUV providing more granular accounts of civic space restrictions in each, the implications of that for their respective minorities, each IROORZHGE\FRXQWU\VSHFLਭFUHFRPPHQGDWLRQV Civic Space in South Asia: Key Findings Democratic development has historically been limited in South $VLD,QGLDDQG6UL/DQNDKDYHHQMR\HGHOHFWRUDOGHPRFUDF\VLQFH their emergence as sovereign nations—although punctuated by prolonged civil wars, creating ‘zones of exceptions’. Citizens of other South Asian countries have experienced constitutional monarchies, military dictatorships, and civil wars, along with VSHOOVRISRSXODUJRYHUQPHQWVौLVKDVUHVXOWHGLQFLYLOVRFLHW\ being historically constrained across much of the region. All South Asian countries have since the turn of the century seen developments that served as major turning points in the course of their civic space trajectories: In Afghanistan, the collapse of the 7DOLEDQUHJLPHLQDQGWKHHQDFWPHQWRIWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQRI FUHDWHGWKHVSDFHIRUWKHHPHUJHQFHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\+RZHYHU WKHDVVXPSWLRQRISRZHUE\WKH$VKUDI*KDQLOHG1DWLRQDO8QLW\ *RYHUQPHQW DQG WKH GLVEDQGLQJ RI WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6HFXULW\ $VVLVWDQFH)RUFH ,6$) ERWKLQKDYHEHHQIROORZHGE\WKH xxxix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 imposition of severe restrictions on civic space. In Bhutan, a PRQDUFK\WKHHQDFWPHQWRIDPRGHUQ&RQVWLWXWLRQLQFUHDWHG IRUWKHਭUVWWLPHDQRSHQLQJIRUFLYLFVSDFHDQGJXDUDQWHHGFLYLO liberties to its citizens. But the space for civic action—particularly regarding political and religious freedoms—has continued to be heavily constrained. Bangladesh saw the return of electoral GHPRFUDF\ LQ D़HU D EULHI SHULRG RI PLOLWDU\ LQWHUIHUHQFH ौH FRQFHQWUDWLRQ RI SRZHU ZLWK WKH $ZDPL /HDJXH D़HU WKH V SULQFLSDO RSSRVLWLRQۑ\ER\FRिHG E\ WKH FRXQWUیHOHFWLRQV parties—has, however, resulted in a steady deterioration of FLYLO DQG SROLWLFDO ULJKWV ौH PRVW DODUPLQJ UHFHQW H[DPSOH RI GHPRFUDWLF EDFNVOLGLQJ KDV EHHQ LQIndia, where the rise to SRZHURIWKH+LQGXQDWLRQDOLVW%KDUDWL\D-DQDWD3DUW\ %-3 D़HU JHQHUDOHOHFWLRQVLQKDVOHGWRWKHKDUGHQLQJRIDXWKRULWDULDQ tendencies and a historically vibrant civil society has come under VXVWDLQHGDिDFNZLWKJUDYHLPSOLFDWLRQVIRULWVPLQRULWLHVौH UHHOHFWLRQ RI WKH %-3 LQ KDV LQWHQVLਭHG WKLV WUHQG PRVW QRWDEO\LQWKHKLJKO\PLOLWDULVHG,QGLDQDGPLQLVWHUHGKashmir, ZKHUHFLYLFVSDFHKDVQRZEHHQDOPRVWFRPSOHWHO\HUDVHGD़HU VOLPLWHGDXWRQRP\LQ$XJXVWۑWKHUHYRFDWLRQRIWKHUHJLRQ In Nepal, civil society played a critical role in the dismantling of the Hindu monarchy and the establishment of a democratic UHSXEOLF LQ %XW VLQFH DURXQG WKHUH KDYH EHHQ VXVWDLQHG HਬRUWV WR FXUWDLO FLYLF VSDFH ,QPakistan, despite an XQSUHFHGHQWHGWZRVXFFHVVLYHSHDFHIXOWUDQVIHUVRISRZHULQ DQGWKHPLOLWDU\FRQWLQXHVWRZLHOGLQਮXHQFHLQNH\FLYLOLDQ PDिHUVOLPLWLQJWKHVFRSHIRUFLYLFDFWLRQ,QSri Lanka, where civic space has been precarious due to its history of violent ethnic FRQਮLFWWKDWHQGHGLQ WZRUHFHQWHYHQWVKDYHQDUURZHGWKH VFRSHIRUFLYLFDFWLRQ WKH(DVWHU6XQGD\WHUURUDिDFNVDQGWKH resultant declaration of Emergency, and the assumption of power E\3UHVLGHQW*RWDED\D5DMDSDNVDERWKLQ Across the region, these developments have been followed by precipitous changes in the scope for enjoyment of the three basic freedoms, despite domestic and international recognition of these rights as fundamental. Simultaneous to this creation of a hostile environment for the functioning of civil society—particularly xl Introduction YLROHQFH DQG RWKHU IRUPV RIیIRU PLQRULW\ ULJKWVIRFXVHG DFWRUV WDUJHWLQJ DJDLQVW PLQRULWLHV KDYH DOVR VHHQ D VSLNH LQ D UHJLRQ WKDWLVLQFUHDVLQJO\EHVHWE\ULVLQJPDMRULWDULDQLVPौHRQVHWRI WKH &RYLG SDQGHPLF KDV SURYLGHG IXUWKHU LPSHWXV WR PDQ\ governments across the region to extend their stranglehold over civil society. How does South Asia perform on each civic space right? And what of its minorities? Recent Trends Concerning Freedom of Expression $िHPSWV WR VLOHQFH FULWLFDO DQG GLVVHQWLQJ YRLFHV KDYH EHHQ REVHUYHGLQHDFKFRXQWU\LQ6RXWK$VLDE\ERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWH DFWRUVौLVKDVWDNHQWKHIRUPRIWKUHDWVDQGKDUDVVPHQWSK\VLFDO DिDFNVGRFWRUHGSURVHFXWLRQDQGLQFDUFHUDWLRQ1HZSURYLVLRQV and legislations restricting the space for free expression have also been rolled out in several countries in recent years, adding to a host of draconian measures already in place. Restrictions on the access to the internet were reported from across the region, as was WKHHYHUSUHVHQWSKHQRPHQRQRIVWDWHVXUYHLOODQFH 3K\VLFDODिDFNVRQPHGLDSHUVRQQHOKDYHEHHQUHSRUWHGIURP HDFK FRXQWU\ ,Q MXVW WKH ਭUVW QLQH PRQWKV RI NLOOLQJV RI MRXUQDOLVWVZHUHUHSRUWHGIURP$IJKDQLVWDQ,QGLDDQG3DNLVWDQDOO of whom are among the worst performers in international indices RISUHVVIUHHGRP,QGLDQDGPLQLVWHUHG.DVKPLUIRULQVWDQFHKDV been perilous for journalists in recent years, with several instances RI SK\VLFDO DिDFNV LQFOXGLQJ E\ VHFXULW\ IRUFHV DVVDVVLQDWLRQV of prominent media voices, and fabricated prosecution of critical MRXUQDOLVWVLQYRNLQJGUDFRQLDQDQWLWHUURUDQGSUHYHQWLYHGHWHQ WLRQSURYLVLRQVWRR2WKHUSDUWVRI,QGLDWRRKDYHZLWQHVVHGVXFK PHGLDKRXQGLQJPRVWUHFHQWO\XQGHUWKHFRYHURIWKH&RYLG ORFNGRZQ ,Q PXUGHU FDPSDLJQV RI KLJKSURਭOH FULWLFV RI WKH dominant ideology were reported from both India and Bangladesh, where adherents of Hindutva and Islamism, respectively, have EHHQ HQMR\LQJ D JURZLQJ OHYHO RI LPSXQLW\ 3DNLVWDQ WRR KDV ZLWQHVVHGKLJKSURਭOHDVVDVVLQDWLRQVLQUHFHQW\HDUVRIYRLFHVWKDW \VSRZHUIXOPLOLWDUۑ\KDYHEHHQNQRZQWREHFULWLFDORIWKHFRXQWU xli South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 establishment. In Afghanistan, clauses upholding Islam in the ZKLFKVRXJKWWRLQVWLWXWLRQDOLVHIUHHGRPی 0DVV0HGLD/DZRI of expression in the country—have been weaponised and misused by the state, leading to instances of journalists being charged with blasphemy. Blasphemy laws have continued to be weaponised in 3DNLVWDQDVZHOODQGWRDOHVVHUGHJUHHLQ%DQJODGHVK Two recent examples of states imposing extremely restrictive provisions upon the media—and dissenting voices in general— ZHUHREVHUYHGLQ,QGLDQDGPLQLVWHUHG.DVKPLUDQGLQ6UL/DQND WKHORQJHVWHYHUیSURORQJHGEODQNHWFRPPXQLFDWLRQVEORFNDGH$ ZDV LPSRVHG LQ .DVKPLUیREVHUYHG LQ DQ\ GHPRFUDWLF VHWXS D़HUWKHUHYRFDWLRQRIDXWRQRP\LQ$XJXVW /DWHUDKLJKO\ UHVWULFWLYH0HGLD3ROLF\ZDVDQQRXQFHGIRUWKHUHJLRQDOORZLQJ authorities to control what content could be published and ZKR FRXOG EH HPSDQHOOHG DV D MRXUQDOLVW $QG LQ 6UL /DQND WKH SURPXOJDWLRQRI(PHUJHQF\5HJXODWLRQVD़HUWKH(DVWHU6XQGD\ ERPELQJVRI UHVXOWHGLQWKHLPSRVLWLRQRIVHYHUDOSURYLVLRQV restricting the freedom of expression, including on the possession and publication of material deemed detrimental to national security. Some other recent examples of the enforcement of restrictive provisions related to free expression included Bangladesh’s Digital 6HFXULW\ $FW RI XQGHU ZKLFK DQ\RQH FDQ EH SHQDOLVHG IRU propagating online content deemed to be false, provocative or V XSGDWHG &ULPLQDO &RGH RI ZKLFKۑVHQVLWLYH DQG 1HSDO VWLSXODWHV WKDW MRXUQDOLVWV FRXOG EH ਭQHG RU LPSULVRQHG IRU Q%KXWDQWKH0HGLD&RXQFLO,ۑFRQਭGHQWLDOLQIRUPDWLRQېSXEOLVKLQJ ۑKDUPIXOېDQGۑRਬHQVLYHېHVWDEOLVKHGLQKDVEHJXQPRQLWRULQJ content. ,QGLDDQG3DNLVWDQERWKZLWQHVVHGUHFHQWLQVWDQFHVRISURPLQHQW television channels critical of powerful establishment interests EHLQJWHPSRUDULO\EHLQJWDNHQRਬWKHDLU*LYHQWKDWJRYHUQPHQW ۑDGYHUWLVHPHQWVDFFRXQWIRUDVXEVWDQWLDOFKXQNRIPHGLDKRXVHV revenues throughout South Asia, the press across the region is highly susceptible to governments exercising implicit control over content published or broadcast. Instances of surveillance RI MRXUQDOLVWV ZHUH DOVR UHSRUWHG IURP DFURVV 6RXWK $VLD 6HOI xlii Introduction censorship is, therefore, the norm in many countries. Social media and other online spaces, though more open than other public avenues, have also come increasingly under state scrutiny in each country. Internet shutdowns have also become common, most QRWDEO\LQ,QGLDZKLFKKDVHPHUJHGDVWKHZRUOGOHDGHULQFXिLQJ RਬDFFHVVWRLQWHUQHWVHUYLFHVLQRUGHUWRTXHOOIUHHH[SUHVVLRQDQG as a tool to silence dissent. Academic freedom has also come under DिDFNZLWKUHFHQWLQVWDQFHVRIOLEHUDODQGSURJUHVVLYHDFDGHPLF ਭJXUHVLQ,QGLDDQG3DNLVWDQIDFLQJLQWLPLGDWLRQLQFDUFHUDWLRQDQG YLROHQWDिDFNVDWWKHKDQGVRIERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV Recent Trends Concerning Freedom of Peaceful Assembly ौH ULJKW WR SHDFHIXO DVVHPEO\ FRQWLQXHV WR EH YLRODWHG DFURVV South Asia, with security forces in several countries resorting to the deliberate use of violent means to target protesters, leading to GHDWKVLQPDQ\FDVHVौHUHKDYHDOVREHHQRWKHUOHJLVODWLYHDQG H[HFXWLYHHਬRUWVLQPDQ\FRXQWULHVWRHQIRUFHIXUWKHUUHVWULFWLRQV RQ SHDFHIXO JDWKHULQJV HYHQ EHIRUH WKH ORFNGRZQV SXW LQ SODFH DFURVVWKHUHJLRQGXHWRWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLF Some of the most recent examples of peaceful protesters being met with excessive force were in India, where protesters against WKH UHFHQW FKDQJHV WR LWV FLWL]HQVKLS ODZ ZHUH NLOOHG LQ SROLFH DFWLRQ LQ WKH VWDWHV RI $VVDP DQG 8िDU 3UDGHVK LQ DQG SURWHVWHUVVHHNLQJVHOIGHWHUPLQDWLRQZHUHNLOOHGLQ.DVKPLUौH ULJKWWRSHDFHIXODVVHPEO\LQ.DVKPLUKDVEHFRPHYLUWXDOO\QRQ existent, where authorities continue to impose regular curfews ۑOHVV OHWKDOې DQG RWKHU ۑ3HOOHW ਭULQJ VKRWJXQVې DQG ORFNGRZQV and ‘lethal’ weapons continue to be used with impunity against FLYLOLDQV LQ .DVKPLU 3DNLVWDQ DQG $IJKDQLVWDQ WRR KDYH LQ UHFHQW\HDUVZLWQHVVHGLQVWDQFHVRIVHFXULW\IRUFHVRSHQLQJਭUHDW SHDFHIXOSURWHVWHUV3URWHVWHUVLQPDQ\FRXQWULHVKDYHDOVRFRPH XQGHUDिDFNE\QRQVWDWHDFWRUVPDLQO\E\UHOLJLRXVH[WUHPLVWV ,Q 6UL /DQND WKH (PHUJHQF\ 5HJXODWLRQV HPSRZHUHG WKH 3UHVLGHQW WR SURKLELW SXEOLF SURFHVVLRQV DQG PHHWLQJV OLNHO\ WR GLVWXUESXEOLFRUGHURUSURPRWHGLVDਬHFWLRQV6LPLODUSURYLVLRQV DOODULVLQJIURP6HFWLRQیH[LVWLQ,QGLD3DNLVWDQDQG%DQJODGHVK DQGFRQWLQXHیRIWKHVDPHFRORQLDOHUD&ULPLQDO3URFHGXUH&RGH xliii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 to be routinely abused, most recently and profusely across several locations in India, including Kashmir. In Afghanistan, a move is DIRRWWRUHKDXOLWV$VVHPEO\/DZZKLFKFRXOGVHULRXVO\UHVWULFW the right to organise and participate in gatherings, protests and demonstrations. Recent Trends Concerning Freedom of Association Across South Asia, the legal environment for the functioning of civil society has become increasingly hostile, despite the presence of constitutional guarantees of the right to association. Restricting DFFHVVWRIRUHLJQIXQGVKDVFRQWLQXHGWREHDNH\WRROWRVWLਮHFLYLO society, and alleged proselytisation remains a particularly sensitive topic for governments across the region. In almost every country, there have been moves in recent years WKDWKDPSHUWKHIUHHGRPRIDVVRFLDWLRQ,Q$IJKDQLVWDQVRXJKW WRLQWURGXFHUHVWULFWLRQVWKDWFRXOGUHTXLUHDOO1*2VWRUHUHJLVWHU WKHPVHOYHVHYHU\WKUHH\HDUV,QGLDLQHQDFWHGFKDQJHVLQLWV WD[ODZVWKDWZLOOKDYHVLPLODUHਬHFWVRQ1*2VDOEHLWHYHU\ਭYH یHDUV,Q%KXWDQWKHIHDURIUHYRFDWLRQRIUHJLVWUDWLRQFHUWLਭFDWHV\ ZKLFK KDYH WR EH UHQHZHG DQQXDOO\ DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH &62 $FW KDVUHVXOWHGLQ&62VRSWLQJWRFRPSOHWHO\UHIUDLQIURPیRI advocacy on political issues. In Bangladesh, a government circular LVVXHGLQ WKUHDWHQHGWRFDQFHOWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQFHUWLਭFDWHVRI LQWKHLUQDPHۑLQGLJHQRXVېRUۑDGLYDVLې2VWKDWXVHGWKHZRUGV*1 ,QRWKHUFRXQWULHVWRR&62VFRQWLQXHGWREHVXEMHFWWRH[WHQVLYH DQG R़HQ DUELWUDU\ UHJXODWLRQV ZLWK FRPSOH[ SURFHGXUHV IRU registration, security clearance, and gaining approvals for funding. Foreign funding of civil society actors seems to be a particularly VRUH SRLQW 5HFHQW H[DPSOHV RI JRYHUQPHQWV PRYLQJ WR FKRNH VۑWKH DFFHVV RI 1*2V WR IRUHLJQ IXQGV LQFOXGHG %DQJODGHVK )RUHLJQ'RQDWLRQ 9ROXQWDU\$FWLYLWLHV 5HJXODWLRQLQDQG )&5$ LQ 5HJXODWLRQ $FW V )RUHLJQ &RQWULEXWLRQۑQGLD, 5HVWULFWLYHFODXVHVWR)&5$LQWURGXFHGE\WKHSUHYLRXV&RQJUHVV OHG JRYHUQPHQW LQ KDYH VLQFH EHHQ IXUWKHU WLJKWHQHG DQG ZHDSRQLVHG E\ WKH %-3OHG JRYHUQPHQW UHVXOWLQJ LQ D VLWXDWLRQ where access to foreign funds is subject to periodic license renewals, caps on how the funds can be used, and, among other xliv Introduction WKLQJVDQXQGHUWDNLQJQRWWRHQJDJHLQUHOLJLRXVFRQYHUVLRQV$ IXUWKHU DPHQGPHQW HDUOLHU LQ 6HSWHPEHU KDV PDGH LW HYHQ PRUH GLਯFXOW IRU JURXSV WR SXUVXH KXPDQ DQG PLQRULW\ ULJKWV ZRUN'HVSLWHIUHHGRPRIFRQVFLHQFHDQGIDLWKJXDUDQWHHGLQPRVW South Asian constitutions, religious conversion remained a touchy subject in other countries as well, including Nepal and Bhutan, ZKHUHSURVHO\WLVDWLRQLVEDQQHGDQG1*2VUHFHLYLQJIRUHLJQIXQGV are not allowed to engage in religious activities. In an alarming V ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 'HYHORSPHQW &RRSHUDWLRQۑ 1HSDO PRYH LQ 3ROLF\GLUHFWHGIRUHLJQ1*2VWRIXQGGHYHORSPHQWZRUNLQVWHDGRI religious and political institutions. Minority and Human Rights Defenders Across South Asia, the recent resurgence of majoritarianism— KDV EHHQیLQ GLਬHUHQW IRUPV DQG GHJUHHV LQ GLਬHUHQW FRXQWULHV D FHQWUDO UHDVRQ EHKLQG WKH UDSLG VKULQNLQJ RI FLYLF VSDFH VۑFFRUGLQJO\ WKH UDPLਭFDWLRQV KDYH EHHQ GLUHVW IRU WKH UHJLRQ$ religious, ethnic, caste, gender and sexual minorities, who have all KLVWRULFDOO\IDFHGYDULRXVNLQGVRIVXEMXJDWLRQDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ and also for those who have advocated for their rights. Christians KDYH IDFHG YLROHQW DिDFNV LQ DOO 6RXWK $VLDQ countries, with the most notable recent example being coordinated VXLFLGH ERPELQJV RI FKXUFKHV LQ 6UL /DQND LQ (OVHZKHUH sporadic instances of violence against Christians continue to EH UHSRUWHG R़HQ XQGHU WKH FRYHU RI OHJLVODWLRQ LQ SODFH LQ many countries that restrict proselytisation. Hindus have faced GLVFULPLQDWLRQDQGYLROHQWDिDFNVLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ%DQJODGHVKDQG 3DNLVWDQDOORIZKLFKFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\SULYLOHJH,VODPDVWKHVWDWH religion. Dalits, too, have faced caste discrimination wherever WKH\DUHSUHVHQWLQFOXGLQJDQGSDUWLFXODUO\LQWKH+LQGXPDMRULW\ nations of India and Nepal. Muslims have increasingly come XQGHUDिDFNLQ,QGLDLQWKHIRUPRIERWKKDWHFULPHVDQGVWDWH led discriminatory measures, including legislations and policies. 0XVOLPV LQ ,QGLDQDGPLQLVWHUHG .DVKPLU KDYH DOVR FRPH XQGHU UHQHZHG VWDWHOHG DिDFN DQG D FRPSOHWH HUDVXUH RI FLYLO DQG SROLWLFDO ULJKWV 0XVOLPV KDYH VXਬHUHG UHVXUJHQW DिDFNV DQG VXUYHLOODQFHLQ6UL/DQNDDVZHOOLQUHFHQW\HDUV,QMXVWWKHODVWWZR xlv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 \HDUVERWK6UL/DQNDDQG,QGLDZLWQHVVHGPDMRUDQWL0XVOLPULRWV in which state security forces were allegedly complicit, in May DQG )HEUXDU\ UHVSHFWLYHO\ $W WKH VDPH WLPH 0XVOLP PLFURPLQRULWLHV VXFK DV Shias have faced frequent and severe DिDFNVLQ3DNLVWDQDQG$IJKDQLVWDQDVKDYHAhmadiyas, who are FRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\GLVFULPLQDWHGDJDLQVWLQ3DNLVWDQ ौH VSDFH IRU PLQRULWLHV WR DGYRFDWH IRU WKHLU ULJKWV UHPDLQHG constricted across much of South Asia due to the constant fear of YLROHQFHDQGRWKHUIRUPVRIWDUJHWLQJE\VWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV $FURVVWKHUHJLRQWKHUHKDYHEHHQLQQXPHUDEOHLQVWDQFHVRIDिDFNV harassment, prosecution, abductions, and murder of minority and KXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVौHWDUJHWLQJRIULJKWVGHIHQGHUVKDVDOVR WDNHQ WKH IRUP RI WKH PDOLFLRXV LQYRFDWLRQ RI VWULQJHQW QDWLRQDO security laws that are in place in every country. Defamation, sedition, DQWLWHUURU DQG EODVSKHP\ ODZV KDYH EHHQ IUHTXHQWO\ PLVXVHG to target rights defenders. Several countries have also recently observed increased and sustained militarisation, with military and LQWHOOLJHQFHIRUFHVNHHSLQJSDUWLFXODUO\FORVHWDEVRQKXPDQULJKWV activism. It is common for intelligence agencies to use intimidatory WHFKQLTXHVDJDLQVWKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVSDUWLFXODUO\LQ,QGLDQ DGPLQLVWHUHG.DVKPLU3DNLVWDQDQG6UL/DQND Further Shrinking of Civic Space during the Covid-19 Pandemic Civic space in South Asia has come under renewed stress during WKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFZLWKDOOFRXQWULHVLQWKHUHJLRQLPSRVLQJ measures that have resulted in the further erosion of basic freedoms, UDLVLQJIHDUVWKDWVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHPD\HQGXSEHLQJIXUWKHU entrenched in the region. Restrictions on movement and assembly ZHUHSXWLQSODFHLQHDFKFRXQWU\LQWKHIRUPRIORFNGRZQVौH ORFNGRZQV YDULHG LQ JHRJUDSKLFDO VSUHDG VHYHULW\ DQG GXUDWLRQ VGD\QDWLRQZLGHORFNGRZQEHLQJۑDFURVVWKHUHJLRQZLWK,QGLD described as among the world’s most stringent. India saw several LQVWDQFHVRIORFNGRZQYLRODWRUVEHLQJDVVDXOWHGE\VHFXULW\IRUFHV While no country in South Asia declared a formal state of emergency, the cover of the pandemic was used by multiple governments to impose fresh restrictions on expression, association and assembly. India was the most systematic suppresser of free xlvi Introduction expression, with dozens of reports from across the country of journalists being harassed, threatened, assaulted, arrested and prosecuted for their coverage of the government’s handling of the pandemic. Arrests for allegedly publishing false information about &RYLG ZHUHDOVRUHSRUWHGIURP6UL/DQND ौH ,QGLDQ JRYHUQPHQW DOVR XVHG WKH &RYLG ORFNGRZQ WR dismantle protest sites that had come up in opposition to the &LWL]HQVKLS $PHQGPHQW $FW &$$ RI DQG ODWHU EHJDQ D FDPSDLJQ RI DUUHVWLQJ DQG FULPLQDOLVLQJ SURPLQHQW DQWL&$$ protesters and activists, mostly Muslims, accusing them of LQVWLJDWLQJWKH)HEUXDU\ULRWVLQ'HOKL Summary of Country Chapters Afghanistan &LYLOVRFLHW\HPHUJHGD़HUWKHFROODSVHRIWKH7DOLEDQUHJLPHDQG ZDVDEOHWRIXQFWLRQXQGHUWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQRI$ORQJZLWKD commitment to form civil society void of oppression, the constitution DQ\ NLQG RI GLVFULPLQDWLRQ DQGې RI $IJKDQLVWDQ KDV IRUELGGHQ distinction between citizens of Afghanistan’. In practice, however, the civic environment remains highly precarious for human rights GHIHQGHUV +5'V LQWKHFRXQWU\ौHFLYLFVSDFHVLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ KDYHEHHQJUDGXDOO\UHSUHVVHGVLQFHौH+5'VFLYLOVRFLHW\ activists, and journalists are constantly exposed to growing threats, KDUDVVPHQWLQWLPLGDWLRQGHWHQWLRQDQGNLOOLQJVE\ERWKVWDWHDQG QRQVWDWHDFWRUV Constitutional Context V &RQVWLWXWLRQ SURYLGHV FLWL]HQV WKH ULJKW WRۑIJKDQLVWDQ$ form associations and freely express their thoughts and opinions WKURXJK GLਬHUHQW PHDQV RI SXEOLFDWLRQ ,Q SUDFWLFH WKRXJK WKH VLWXDWLRQ LV GLਬHUHQW IRU ZKLOH WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ UHTXLUHV WKH government to observe all the international treaties and charters to which Afghanistan is a state party, on the other hand, it resists any law that ‘contravenes the tenets and provisions of the holy religion of Islam’, a general and ambiguous legal phrase, creating leeway for exploitative interpretation. xlvii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Mass Media Law )URPOLPLWHGRUQRPHGLDRXWOHWVSULRUWRWKHFRXQW\QRZKDV hundreds of private radio and television stations and a panoply RIPDJD]LQHVDQGQHZVSDSHUVFLUFXODWLQJRQDUHJXODUEDVLVौH new media outlets play an increasingly critical role in Afghanistan, including facilitating public debate and shaping public opinion on VGLਬHUHQWDVSHFWVRIOLIHۑ\WKHFRXQWU ,Q WKH$IJKDQSDUOLDPHQWDSSURYHGWKH0DVV0HGLD/DZ which while a promising step toward consolidating freedom of expression, still contains clauses that require the upholding of Islam. And with an increasing deterioration in the security situation over the last decade, Afghanistan has become a very dangerous country IRUMRXUQDOLVWVOHDGLQJWRVHOIFHQVRUVKLSLQWKHPHGLD ,Q WKH $IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQW DिHPSWHG WR DGG VRPH UHVWULFWLYHSURYLVLRQVWRZDUGV1*2VZKLFKKDGLWEHHQSDVVHGE\ WKHSDUOLDPHQWZRXOGKDYHUHTXLUHGDOO1*2VWRUHUHJLVWHUHYHU\ WKUHH\HDUVौHJRYHUQPHQWFRXOGUHIXVHWRUHJLVWHUDQRUJDQLVDWLRQ DQG ZKHQ KROGLQJ WKHLU DQQXDO *HQHUDO ۑWHFKQLFDO UHDVRQVې IRU $VVHPEO\&62VZRXOGKDYHEHHQUHTXLUHGWRLQYLWHDJRYHUQPHQW representative as well. Access to Information Law ौHHQDFWPHQWRIWKH$FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ/DZ $,/ LQLV DSURPLVLQJVWHSIRUZDUGEXWLPSOHPHQWDWLRQLVODFNLQJौH$,/ KRZHYHU LV WKH ਭUVW OHJLVODWLYH PRYH RI LWV NLQG LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 3XUVXDQW WR WKLV ODZ VWDWH LQVWLWXWLRQV DUH UHTXLUHG WR PDNH LQIRUPDWLRQDYDLODEOHWRWKHDSSOLFDQWVDQGWKHJHQHUDOSXEOLF ࡳH/DZRQ*DWKHULQJV6WULNHVDQG'HPRQVWUDWLRQV Afghanistan’s Constitution protects the right of citizens to freedom of assembly and association to peacefully express their demands xlviii Introduction and concerns, but in practice security forces have deliberately WDUJHWHG SURWHVWHUV LQFOXGLQJ ZRXQGLQJ DQG NLOOLQJ PDQ\ ौH $VVHPEO\ /DZ DOVR SODFHV VLJQLਭFDQW UHVWULFWLRQV RQ JDWKHULQJV protests, and demonstrations in Afghanistan, which is a serious FRQFHUQIRU+5'V8QGHUWKH$IJKDQ3ROLFH/DZZKHQDVXVSHFW does not comply with police warnings, the police can resort to IRUFH E\ VKRRWLQJ DW WKH VXVSHFW $ QHZ GUD़ RI WKH $VVHPEO\ /DZWKRXJKQRW\HWSDVVHGE\WKH$IJKDQSDUOLDPHQWKDVPDQ\ restrictive provisions, including the use of military equipment, JLJDQWLF FRQWDLQHUV IRU EORFNLQJ WKH URDGV WR SK\VLFDO DVVDXOW arrests, and deliberate shootings of protesters. (FRQRPLF(QYLURQPHQWIRU&62V 3RVW UHGXFWLRQ LQ IRUHLJQ DLG KDV VHYHUHO\ LPSDFWHG WKH VXVWDLQDELOLW\RIWKHPDMRULW\RI&62VRSHUDWLQJLQWKHFRXQWU\,Q addition, heavy taxation on the media has crippled a large number of TV stations, radio airwaves and print media, mostly based in the provinces of Afghanistan. :KLOH&62VSOD\DFUXFLDOZDWFKGRJUROHLQLQIRUPLQJFLWL]HQV about their rights and entitlement and improving service delivery DQG GHYHORSPHQW SURMHFWV WKH ਭQDQFLDO FULVLV IDFLQJ &62V ZDV H[DFHUEDWHG E\ WKH &RYLG SDQGHPLF $V D UHVXOW ORZLQFRPH &62VZLWKOLिOHVXSSRUWIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWDQGLQWHUQDWLRQDO FRPPXQLW\DUHQRZDWWKHEULQNRIFROODSVH 3ROLWLFDO(QYLURQPHQWIRU&62V According to several human rights reports, the political environment for civil and human rights activists has been unfavourable for the last two decades. According to Afghan journalists, freedom of the press and expression are on a ‘downward spiral’, with increasing LQWLPLGDWLRQDQGYLROHQFHIURPERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUVODFN of support from the Afghan government, and waning international assistance. 6HFXULW\(QYLURQPHQWIRU&62V 2YHUDOO ODFN RI VHFXULW\ DV FRQVWDQW WKUHDWV LQWLPLGDWLRQ KDUDVVPHQWNLOOLQJNLGQDSSLQJDQGRWKHUIRUPVRIYLROHQFHDUH xlix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 the most common trends that HRDs, especially women human rights activists, have been facing in Afghanistan. Death threats are commonplace as well. ,Q3UHVLGHQW$VKUDI*KDQLSURPLVHGWRSURWHFW+5'VDQG RIKLVۑ\VROHUHVSRQVLELOLWېFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLVWVE\SXिLQJWKLVDVWKH government. However, the government itself has been responsible for threats, intimidation, and harassment of human rights activists. ौH 867DOLEDQ DJUHHPHQW LQ 4DWDU LQ HDUO\ VHW WKH terms for the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and for negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government WRZDUGV D SROLWLFDO VHिOHPHQW 1HYHUWKHOHVV &62V +5'V DQG Afghan minority groups are concerned about the decline in civic space and the loss of gains made over the past two decades as a result of the peace process and the arrival of the Taliban. Bangladesh $SDUW IURP WKH DOOHJDWLRQV RI H[WUDMXGLFLDO NLOOLQJV DUELWUDU\ arrests and enforced disappearances, the government has over the last two decades introduced controversial legal measures, many provisions of which limit civic space, such as the Information and &RPPXQLFDWLRQ 7HFKQRORJ\ $FW WKH 'LJLWDO 6HFXULW\ $FW DQG WKH )RUHLJQ 'RQDWLRQ 5HJXODWLRQ $FW ौHUH DUH examples in the recent past where the law has been applied from DSROLWLFDORXWORRNZLWKRSSRVLWLRQDOSROLWLFDOYLHZVMRXUQDOLVWLF reports critical of the government, or rights activism targeted. Because of the appointment procedure, judicial independence, too, appears undercut by the executive organ of the state. ौH HQYLURQPHQW LV DGYHUVH IRU &62V DQG +5'V &LYLO DQG political rights in Bangladesh are deteriorating due to the absence of strong opposition political parties and absolute power being ZLHOGHGE\WKHSUHVHQWUXOLQJSDUW\,QIDFWWKHVKULQNLQJRIFLYLF VSDFHFDQEHWUDFHGWRWKHQDWLRQDOHOHFWLRQRIWKDWEURXJKW the party to power. 5HOLJLRXV0LQRULWLHV %DQJODGHVK H[SHULHQFHG UHJLPHV OHG E\ QRQHOHFWHG PLOLWDU\ JRYHUQPHQWIRU\HDUVDQGWKHPLOLWDU\MXQWDR़HQXVHUHOLJLRQWR l Introduction stay in power. While secularism was erased from the constitution LQ E\ WKH PLOLWDU\ JRYHUQPHQW ,VODP ZDV GHFODUHG DV WKH VWDWH UHOLJLRQ LQ WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ LQ E\ DQRWKHU PLOLWDU\ UXOHU,QWKH%DQJODGHVKL6XSUHPH&RXUWUHMHFWHGDSHWLWLRQ challenging Islam’s status as the state religion. 3ROLWLFDO SDUWLHV XVH UHOLJLRXVO\ GLYLVLYH ODQJXDJH DQG RQ occasion, act in ways that exacerbate rather than diminish religious and communal tensions. Violent assaults on religious minority FRPPXQLWLHVDUHR़HQQRWLQYHVWLJDWHGRUSURVHFXWHG Heiner Bielefeldt, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion RU EHOLHI PHQWLRQHG LQ KLV SUHOLPLQDU\ ਭQGLQJV WKDW GLVSXWHG property is one of the issues of violence against religious PLQRULWLHVौH9HVWHG3URSHUW\$FW ZDVWXUQHGWR9HVWHG 3URSHUW\ 5HWXUQ $FWLQDQGWKHQ9HVWHG3URSHUW\5HWXUQ $PHQGPHQW $FWLQौH$FWKDVWKHSURYLVLRQWRਭOHFODLPV E\DਬHFWHGLQGLYLGXDOVWRUHFODLPWKHLUFRQਭVFDWHGSURSHUW\%XW the trial process was so slow that, according to a government UHSRUWFDVHVZHUHSHQGLQJZLWKWKH9HVWHG3URSHUW\5HWXUQ Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal regarding disputes over nearly PLOOLRQDFUHV FPLOOLRQKHFWDUHV RIODQG'LਬHUHQWVRXUFHV report continuous grabbing of Adivasi and religious minorities’ land, including houses and places of worship. Such incidents are R़HQSUHFHGHGE\YLROHQFHWRHYLFWWKHIDPLOLHVIURPWKHODQGDQG properties. 'DOLWVDQG([FOXGHG*URXSV ौRXJK WKH UHDOLW\ RI FDVWH GLVFULPLQDWLRQ LQ %DQJODGHVK LV concealed by silence, even outright denial, the Dalit community experiences multiple forms of social, political and economic GLVFULPLQDWLRQौHLUSUHGLFDPHQWHQDEOHGE\WKHWDFLWDFFHSWDQFH of the government, is in violation of Bangladesh’s fundamental KXPDQ ULJKWV REOLJDWLRQV ौRXJK UHFRJQLVHG DV FLWL]HQV RI WKH country, Dalits’ continued stigmatisation on account of their caste and professional identity can leave them in a situation of de facto statelessness. ,Q$SULOWKH1DWLRQDO+XPDQ5LJKW&RPPLVVLRQVHQWWKH GUD़RIWKH(OLPLQDWLRQRI'LVFULPLQDWLRQ$FWWKUHH\HDUVD़HUWKH li South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 V UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV +RZHYHU LW KDV UHPDLQHGۑDZ &RPPLVVLRQ/ XQGHUUHYLHZFDXVLQJIUXVWUDWLRQDPRQJWKHVWDNHKROGHUV 6WDWXVRI,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOH ौHLQGLJHQRXVSHRSOHV ,3V RI%DQJODGHVKDUHQRWFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\ UHFRJQLVHGौURXJKWKHWK$PHQGPHQWWRWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQLQ WULEHVېWKH*RYHUQPHQWFKRVHWRWHUPLQGLJHQRXVSHRSOHVDV ERXW,3VVSHDNLQJ$ۑPLQRUUDFHVHWKQLFVHFWVDQGFRPPXQLWLHV more than 35 languages live in Bangladesh, yet, Bangladesh abstained from voting for the UN Declaration on the Rights of ,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHVLQ ौH,3V LQ WKHFRXQWU\HQJDJHG LQ GHIHQGLQJFLYLFULJKWVDQG promoting democratic norms live in constant fear and insecurity. ,QFLGHQWVOLNHHQIRUFHGGLVDSSHDUDQFHXQODZIXONLOOLQJVDUELWUDU\ arrest, harassment, and framing them in false and fabricated cases, UHVWULFWLRQRQIUHHGRPRIVSHHFKDQGULJKWWRDVVHPEO\WDNHSODFH on a regular basis. V %XUHDX RI 1*2 $ਬDLUVۑ WKH JRYHUQPHQW Q 'HFHPEHU, XQGHUWKHRਯFHRI3ULPH0LQLVWHU SXEOLVKHGDFLUFXODULQIRUPLQJ LQWKHLURਯFLDOQDPHWRۑLQGLJHQRXVېRUۑDGLYDVLېWKH1*2VZLWK change it within a month. Failure to comply would lead to the revocation of their registration. 6H[XDO0LQRULWLHV +RPRVH[XDOLW\ LQ %DQJODGHVK LV SURKLELWHG ौHUH DUH H[SOLFLWO\ 6HFWLRQRIWKH3HQDO&RGHFULPLQDOLVHVیGLVFULPLQDWRU\ODZV ौH*RYHUQPHQWRIۑFDUQDOLQWHUFRXUVHDJDLQVWWKHRUGHURIQDWXUHې Bangladesh opposed the idea of providing rights to gender diverse communities, stating that it is not a generally accepted norm of the country. 5LJKWVRI8UGXVSHDNLQJ3HRSOH )ROORZLQJD+LJK&RXUWGHFLVLRQLQ8UGXVSHDNLQJSHRSOH or Biharis, have been recognised as citizens of Bangladesh and HQWLWOHG WR 1DWLRQDO ,GHQWLW\ &DUGV DQG YRWLQJ ULJKWV ौH\ VWLOO IDFHGGLVFULPLQDWLRQLQGLਬHUHQWDVSHFWVRIOLIHVXFKDVJHिLQJD SDVVSRUW SXEOLF VHUYLFH HPSOR\PHQW DQG WUDGH OLFHQFHV ौHLU lii Introduction FDPSV DUH DOZD\V XQGHU WKUHDW RI HYLFWLRQ ौH 8UGXVSHDNLQJ community does not yet have state recognition as a linguistic minority of Bangladesh. 'LJLWDO6HFXULW\$FW Freedom of speech and expression is being trampled upon in %DQJODGHVKSDUWLFXODUO\ZLWKWKH'LJLWDO6HFXULW\$FW8QGHU this Act, intentionally posting false, provocative, indecent or sensitive information on websites or any electronic platforms that is defamatory, and is construed as disrupting the country’s law and order situation, or harming religious sentiments, is a punishable RਬHQFH6LQFHWKH$FWDOORZVDWKLUGSDUW\WRਭOHDFDVHDJDLQVW any person, updating a status on social media, writing a blog, or running a news portal could be found to be in violation of the DSA. ौH$FWKDVEHHQURXWLQHO\XVHGWRVXSSUHVVIUHHGRPRIVSHHFKDQG R़HQIRUWKHLUIHHGEDFNیKDUDVVZULWHUVDFWLYLVWVDQGMRXUQDOLVWV on social media. Bhutan ौH&RQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH.LQJGRPRI%KXWDQJXDUDQWHHVWKH ULJKWVRIFLWL]HQVWRFLYLOOLEHUWLHVौH&RQVWLWXWLRQDOORZVIUHHGRP of expression, association and the right to follow one’s religion. ौHPHGLDKDVGHYHORSHGVSRUDGLFDOO\D़HUZLWKVHYHUDOQHZ newspapers and radio stations. Formal civil society has begun GHYHORSLQJZLWKWKHHQDFWPHQWRIWKH&LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQLVDWLRQV &62 $FWLQ ौHUHDUHFXUUHQWO\&62VLQ%KXWDQ+RZHYHUWKHUHDUHQR &62VZLWKWKHPDQGDWHWRSURWHFWPLQRULW\ULJKWVRUHYHQKXPDQ ULJKWV2UJDQLVDWLRQVSURPRWLQJWKHLQWHUHVWVRIFHUWDLQUHOLJLRXV JURXSV DUH UHJLVWHUHG XQGHU WKH 5HOLJLRXV 2UJDQLVDWLRQV $FW +HQFHPLQRULW\LVVXHVGRQRWUHFHLYHDQ\DिHQWLRQDQGHYHQZKHQ issues rise in the public domain, there are no civil society groups WKDWFDQHਬHFWLYHO\WDNHXSDQGDGYRFDWHRQWKHLVVXHV 2YHU WKH \HDUV &62V KDYH IDFHG VHYHUDO FRQVWUDLQWV GXH WR OHJLVODWLRQ ZKLFK GHWHUV &62V IURP WDNLQJ XS FHUWDLQ DFWLYLWLHV )RUH[DPSOHWKH&62$FWLVVLOHQWDERXWWKHDGYRFDF\IXQFWLRQ DQGUROHRI&62V0RUHRYHUDQ\DGYRFDF\WDNHQXSE\&62VPD\ liii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 DFWLYLW\ZKLFKLVQRWSHUPLिHGौLVۑSROLWLFDOېEHFRQVWUXHGDVD ODFN RI FODULW\ KDV PHDQW WKDW &62V DUH UHOXFWDQW WR HQJDJH LQ DGYRFDF\IRUIHDURIKDYLQJWKHLUUHJLVWUDWLRQFHUWLਭFDWHVUHYRNHG &HUWLਭFDWHV DUH UHQHZDEOH HDFK \HDU D़HU SD\PHQW RI D IHH ,Q LVVXHVVXFKۑVDIHېUHFHQWWLPHV&62VKDYHHQJDJHGLQDGYRFDF\RI DVDJDLQVWGRPHVWLFYLROHQFHVXSSRUWIRUSHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9 AIDS, people dependent on drugs and alcohol, the environment, VLVVXHV/*%7,4DPRQJRWKHUVۑZRPHQ Although there are multiple media houses all are dependent on government for advertising revenue, resulting in a high degree RI VHOIFHQVRUVKLS LQ WKH PHGLD &ULWLFV DUH DOVR VLOHQFHG E\ WKH SRZHUIXOZKRLQYRNHGHIDPDWLRQODZV$0HGLD&RXQFLOWRRKDV EHHQ HVWDEOLVKHG ZKLFK DPRQJ RWKHUV PRQLWRUV RਬHQVLYH DQG harmful content. However, there are fears that the Council will HURGHIUHHGRPDQGLQGXFHJUHDWHUVHOIFHQVRUVKLS)XUWKHUXQGHU WKH1DWLRQDO6HFXULW\$FWVSHHFKWKDWFUHDWHVRUDिHPSWVWRFUHDWH PLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJېRUۑKDWUHGDQGGLVDਬHFWLRQDPRQJWKHSHRSOHې or hostility between the government and people’, among other RਬHQFHVFDQEHSXQLVKHGZLWKLPSULVRQPHQW As a fundamental right, the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and that no person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means RI FRHUFLRQ RU LQGXFHPHQW ौH 5HOLJLRXV 2UJDQLVDWLRQV $FW RI %KXWDQUHLQIRUFHVWKLVULJKWLQHਬHFWEDQQLQJSURVHO\WLVDWLRQ ौHUHKDYHEHHQUHSRUWVRI&KULVWLDQVEHLQJKDUDVVHGDQGGH SULYHGRIVWDWHEHQHਭWVVXFKDVJRYHUQPHQWVXEVLGLVHGDJULFXOWXUDO LQSXWVHVSHFLDOO\LQUXUDODUHDVौH\KDYHDOVRQRWEHHQDOORिHG burial grounds. Christians have been denied registration as a religious organisation. Despite this, the response of Christians in DVVHUWLQJWKHLUULJKWVDVDPRYHPHQWKDVEHHQODUJHO\DEVHQWौLV is probably due to the small number of Christians in the country, and the fragmented nature of organisation among Christians of GLਬHUHQWGHQRPLQDWLRQVDQGSURKLELWLRQRIGLVVHQW India ौH ULJKWV L WR DVVRFLDWH LL DVVHPEOH SHDFHIXOO\ DQG LLL freely express views and opinions are guaranteed by the Indian liv Introduction Constitution, subject to ‘reasonable restrictions’. India’s civil VRFLHW\ DFWRUV KDYH KRZHYHU LQFUHDVLQJO\ EHHQ XQGHU DिDFN particularly since the assumption of power by the Bharatiya Janata 3DUW\ %-3 LQ ौHVLWXDWLRQHVFDODWHGLQ ZKHQWKH%-3 ZDVUHHOHFWHGGHVSLWHLWVSUHYLRXVDVVDXOWVRQFLYLOOLEHUWLHVDQGLWV heightened targeting of minorities. 1DUURZLQJ&LYLF6SDFHLQ,QGLD ौHUHJXODWRU\UHJLPHIRU&62VLQ,QGLDLVGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHDQG GLVFULPLQDWRU\2ISDUWLFXODUFRQFHUQWRPRVW&62VLVWKH)RUHLJQ Contribution Registration Act (FCRA) which regulates the terms DQGFRQGLWLRQVRQZKLFK&62VFDQUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJौH ODZਭUVWLQWURGXFHGLQ DQGDPHQGHGLQE\WKHSUHYLRXV &RQJUHVVOHG JRYHUQPHQW UHTXLUHV &62V WR VHHN UHQHZDO HYHU\ ਭYH\HDUVRIWKHLUOLFHQFHVWRUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJौHODZDOVR RQ WKHی ORZHUHG VLJQLਭFDQWO\ LQ 6HSWHPEHUیSODFHV D FDS proportion of foreign funds that can be used for administrative H[SHQVHV HVVHQWLDOO\ DOORZLQJ WKH VWDWH WR FRQWURO KRZ 1*2V spend their money. %-3UXOHKDVEHHQFKDUDFWHULVHGE\WKHRSHQWDUJHWLQJRIVHYHUDO KLJKSURਭOH1*2VZLWKIRUHLJQIXQGLQJIUHH]HVEHLQJWKHZHDSRQ RIFKRLFH,Q WKH%-3JRYHUQPHQWIXUWKHUWLJKWHQHGWKH)&5$ UXOHVUHTXLULQJLQGLYLGXDORਯFHEHDUHUVRI1*2VWRGHFODUHRQFH HYHU\ਭYH\HDUVWKDWWKH\KDGQRWEHHQSURVHFXWHGRUFRQYLFWHGIRU SURPRWLQJUHOLJLRXVFRQYHUVLRQVDQGWKDWWKH\ZHUHQRWOLNHO\WR engage in ‘propagating sedition’. A new tool for administrative harassment is the introduction LQ RI QHZ UHJXODWLRQV PDNLQJ 1*2 UHJLVWUDWLRQ XQGHU WKH ZKLFK PHDQV 1*2V PXVW VHHNیQFRPH 7D[ $FW QRQSHUPDQHQW, UHJLVWUDWLRQ HYHU\ ਭYH \HDUV ौH %-3 JRYHUQPHQW KDV DOVR XVHG India’s enforcement agencies including the Enforcement Directorate DQGWKH&HQWUDO%XUHDXیZKLFKLQYHVWLJDWHVਭQDQFLDOFULPHVی ') of Investigation (CBI)—the country’s premier criminal investigative WRWDUJHWHVSHFLDOO\KLJKSURਭOH1*2V$ORQJZLWKDिHPSWVی\DJHQF WRSUHYHQWJURXSVZRUNLQJRQFULWLFDOLVVXHVKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUV have also reported being subject to threats and intimidation by state agencies and ideological groups aligned to them. lv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौHVSDFHIRUIUHHH[SUHVVLRQKDVDOVRQDUURZHGXQGHU%-3UXOH $ UHFHQW UHSRUW UHYHDOHG WKDW MXVW GXULQJ WKH QDWLRQDO &RYLG ORFNGRZQEHWZHHQ0DUFKDQG0D\DWOHDVW,QGLDQ journalists faced arrest, physical assaults, destruction of property, WKUHDWV RU UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI ),5V 2Q 0D\ WKH (GLWRUV *XLOG RI JURZLQJSDिHUQRIPLVXVHRIFULPLQDOODZVWRېQGLDFRQGHPQHGD, ۑ\LQWLPLGDWHMRXUQDOLVWVLQGLਬHUHQWSDUWVRIWKHFRXQWU $FFHVVWRLQIRUPDWLRQKDVDOVREHHQDਬHFWHGZLWKWKH'HOKL EDVHG6R़ZDUH)UHHGRP/DZ&HQWUHUHSRUWLQJWKDW,QGLDKDVVHHQ D GUDPDWLF ULVH LQ \HDUO\ LQWHUQHW VKXWGRZQV IURP VL[ LQ WRLQ ौH,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQWKDVUHSRUWHGO\VXEPLिHG WKH PRVW QXPEHU RI FRQWHQW WDNHGRZQ UHTXHVWV WR VRFLDO PHGLD ZHUHDUUHVWHGیPRVWO\0XVOLPVیSODWIRUPVDQGDWOHDVWSHRSOH IRUVRFLDOPHGLDSRVWVLQMXVWDQGDORQH Instances of censorship of TV news channels have also come to light, with bans on channels that broadcast views critical of the JRYHUQPHQWौHUHKDYHQRWEHHQDQ\LQVWDQFHVRIVLPLODUDFWLRQV EHLQJ WDNHQ DJDLQVW SUR%-3 FKDQQHOV WKDW UHJXODUO\ EURDGFDVW hateful content. Universities, especially those that have a reputation for IRVWHULQJHQTXLU\DQGLQGHSHQGHQFHKDYHDOVREHHQWDUJHWHGौLV has coincided with the continuing rise of the RSS’ student wing, WKH$NKLO%KDUDWL\D9LG\DUWKL3DULVKDG $%93 ZKLFKKDVR़HQ unleashed violence in university campuses. Beyond such overt VۑWDUJHWLQJWKHUHKDVDOVREHHQDFRQFHUWHGHਬRUWWRVWDUYH,QGLD WUDGLWLRQDOO\OH़OHDQLQJSXEOLFXQLYHUVLWLHVRIIXQGV India has several ordinary laws and provisions that have KLVWRULFDOO\ DOORZHG JRYHUQPHQWV LQ SRZHU WR FUDFN GRZQ RQ GLVVHQWौH\VLWDORQJZLWKFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWVRIIUHHH[SUHVVLRQ association and peaceful assembly, which courts have interpreted 2EVHUYHUVVD\WKDWۑUHDVRQDEOHUHVWULFWLRQVېDVDOOEHLQJVXEMHFWWR although no new laws have been enacted, there is now a greater LQFOLQDWLRQWRZDUGVWKHDEXVHRIH[LVWLQJRQHV6LQFH,QGLD has seen several examples of the state—particularly in provinces ZKHUHWKH%-3LVLQSRZHURUZKHUHWKH%-3KDVFRQWURORYHUSROLFH \FUDFNLQJGRZQRQSHDFHIXOSURWHVWVLQFOXGLQJSURWHVWVEیIRUFHV Dalits over lynching. lvi Introduction 'UDFRQLDQ ODZV KDYH R़HQ EHHQ GHSOR\HG E\ DXWKRULWLHV DJDLQVWGLVVLGHQWVDQGKXPDQULJKWVZRUNHUVPRVWQRWDEO\WKH 8QODZIXO $FWLYLWLHV 3UHYHQWLRQ $FW 8$3$ DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO LVیVSULQFLSDODQWLWHUURUODZۑQGLD,ی16$ 8$3$ 6HFXULW\$FW H[WHUPLQDWHERWKېVJRWRWRROLQLWVTXHVWWRۑVHHQDVJRYHUQPHQW JLYHV QDPHQGPHQWWRWKHODZLQ$ۑGLVVHQWDQGGLVVHQWHUV the state the authority to declare individuals as terrorists and seize their properties even before their guilt had been established E\DFRXUWRIODZ8$3$SURYLVLRQVKDYHEHHQLQYRNHGWRGHWDLQ GLVVHQWHUVSURWHVWLQJDJDLQVWDQWL'DOLWDQG$GLYDVLDWURFLWLHVDV ZHOODVWKH&$$DPRQJRWKHUVR़HQMXVWIRUPDNLQJSHDFHIXO speeches. ࡳH&ORVLQJRI&LYLF6SDFHIRU0LQRULWLHV If civic space has been narrowing for the country as a whole, for religious minorities—especially for India’s Muslims and those LW LV HਬHFWLYHO\ FORVHG 3DUW RI WKH SUREOHPیZRUNLQJ ZLWK WKHP historically has been the poor policy focus for ‘Muslim’ outcomes, even though there is enough evidence to show poor performance on all counts of development. Muslim representation has always IURP WKH 3DUOLDPHQW WKH EXUHDXFUDF\ DQG 6XSUHPHیEHHQ SRRU &RXUW WR WKH ERDUGV RI WRS FRUSRUDWLRQV EDQNV SXEOLF VHFWRU enterprises, as well as media houses. WDNLQJWKHیDWHFULPHVDJDLQVWPLQRULWLHVKDYHVHHQDVSLNH+ form of mob lynching and vigilante violence against Muslims, &KULVWLDQVDQG'DOLWVौH%-3DOVRVWUHQJWKHQHGDQGH[SDQGHG a series of discriminatory laws and measures that target UHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVौHVHLQFOXGHDQWLFRQYHUVLRQODZVEODPHG for empowering Hindutva groups to ‘conduct campaigns of harassment, social exclusion and violence against Christians, DZV/ۑ\0XVOLPVDQGRWKHUUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVDFURVVWKHFRXQWU ostensibly meant for the protection of cows continue to provide LQVWLWXWLRQDOEDFNLQJIRUVLPLODUFDPSDLJQVDJDLQVW0XVOLPVDQG 'DOLWV,Q$VVDPWKHSXEOLFDWLRQRIWKHGUD़1DWLRQDO5HJLVWHU WKURXJK DQ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHVVی \RI &LWL]HQV LQ -XO rife with discriminatory procedures and practices, aimed OH़RYHUPLOOLRQSHUVRQVIDFLQJیۑIRUHLJQHUVېDWZHHGLQJRXW lvii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 the possibility of mass disenfranchisement. Muslims were IHDUHGWREHWKHSULQFLSDOYLFWLPVौHVLWXDWLRQKDVH[DFHUEDWHG ۑ\EUXWHPDMRULWېVLJQLਭFDQWO\VLQFH%-3UHWXUQHGWRSRZHUZLWKD LQ0D\ ,Q 'HFHPEHU DQ DPHQGPHQW LQ WKH &LWL]HQVKLS $FW was passed which opened the pathway for a category of illegal LPPLJUDQWV OHDYLQJ RXW 0XVOLPV VSHFLਭFDOO\ ,Q WKH UXQXS WR the legislation, the government also declared its intentions to create a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), with senior IXQFWLRQDULHVDQGSDUW\OHDGHUVPDNLQJPXFKRIWKHLUDVVXUDQFHWR WKRVHZKRZRXOGEHH[FOXGHGIURP15,&WRPDNHXVHRIWKH&$$ ZRXOG ۑ0XVOLP LQਭOWUDWRUVې WR UHFODLP ,QGLDQ FLWL]HQVKLS ZKLOH EHGHWDLQHGDQGGHSRUWHGौHSRWHQWLDOGDQJHURIWKH&$$15,& combination galvanised India’s Muslims and led to widespread protests against these measures across the country. Demonstrating WKHWUDGLWLRQDOKRVWLOLW\DJDLQVW0XVOLPDVVHUWLRQWKH6WDWHKLWEDFN DJDLQVWGLVVHQWZLWKDQLURQਭVW,Q$VVDPWKHਭUVWVWDWHWRZLWQHVV DQWL&$$SURWHVWVDWOHDVWਭYHSHUVRQVZHUHNLOOHGLQSROLFHਭULQJV ,Q8िDU3UDGHVKSHRSOHZHUHVKRWGHDGRQDVLQJOHGD\6XFK trends continued throughout the nation. /HJLVODWLYHDVVHPEO\HOHFWLRQVLQ'HOKLLQ)HEUXDU\SURYLGHG WKH%-3ZLWKDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRGHOHJLWLPLVHWKHDQWL&$$SURWHVWV WKURXJKFRPPXQDOSRODULVDWLRQौURXJKRXWWKHFDPSDLJQSHULRG %-3OHDGHUVLQFOXGLQJVHQLRUPLQLVWHUVDQG03VUHVRUWHGWRFUXGH GRJ ZKLVWOLQJ VHHNLQJ YRWHV IRU WKH SDUW\ E\ UHYLOLQJ 0XVOLPV ۑWUDLWRUVېۑDQWLQDWLRQDOVېDQGUHIHUULQJWRDQWL&$$SURWHVWRUVDV ौRXJK WKH SDUW\ ORVW WKH HOHFWLRQV EDGO\ WKH ۑWHUURULVWVې DQG Islamophobic tenor of the campaign created a fertile ground for the further targeting of Muslims. 8QGHUWKHFRYHURIWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFWKH,QGLDQJRYHUQ ment has begun systematically targeting Muslim youth and other prominent activists using draconian security laws and preventive GHWHQWLRQPHDVXUHVौHDिHPSWKDVEHHQWRVLOHQFHWKHGHPRFUDWLF YRLFHVWKDWKDGVRUHPDUNDEO\HPHUJHGDPRQJ0XVOLPVDQGFLYLO VRFLHW\LQ,QGLDWRFKDOOHQJHWKHGHPRFUDWLFEDFNVOLGLQJWKDW&$$ UHSUHVHQWHG lviii Introduction (UDVHG&LYLF6SDFHLQ.DVKPLU Civic space in Kashmir has historically been restricted. Authorities KDYH UHOLHG RQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ ODZV LQFOXGLQJ WKH 3XEOLF 6DIHW\ DQGWKH8$3$ WRGHWDLQDFWLYLVWVDQGSURWHVWHUVLPSRVHG$36یFW$ VHFWLRQRI&RGHRI&ULPLQDO3URFHGXUH &U3& LQGLVFULPLQDWHO\ and frequently resorted to Internet shutdowns—recording at least LQVWDQFHV RI LQWHUQHW EORFNDGHV VLQFH ौH\ KDYH DOVR ZHDSRQV DJDLQVW SURWHVWHUV ۑOHWKDOې DV ZHOO DV ۑOHVVOHWKDOې XVHG including against children. Extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of civilians have been common. All these measures have been aimed at crushing dissent. 2Q$XJXVW ,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQWDEUXSWO\DQGXQLODWHUDOO\ UHYRNHG$UWLFOHVWULSSLQJ-DPPXDQG.DVKPLURILWVQRPLQDO DXWRQRP\DQGUHPRYHG$UWLFOH$WDNLQJDZD\JXDUDQWHHVIRU VLQGLJHQRXVSRSXODWLRQौLVKDVEHHQDORQJVWDQGLQJۑWKHVWDWH IRUIRUFLEOHLQWHJUDWLRQRIWKHUHVWLYHSURYLQFHRYHUی%-3DJHQGD which India has fought several wars. GHWHQWLRQۑSUHYHQWLYHې\EURJDWLRQRI$UWLFOHZDVIROORZHGE$ of thousands of persons, particularly politicians, community leaders, business associations, civil society members and the youth. ौHLGHDEHKLQGWKLVVHHPVWREHWRUHPRYHDWRQHJRWKHHQWLUH FLYLFOHDGHUVKLSRIWKHVWDWHDQGDQ\RQHDEOHWRLQਮXHQFHSXEOLF opinion, organise populations and raise voice. Freedom of press has come under serious threat, with the JRYHUQPHQW LVVXLQJ D PHGLD SROLF\ LQ -XQH WKDW VHHNV WR regulate media reporting, empowering authorities to decide what QHZV DQG SUHVFULELQJ DFWLRQV ۑDQWLQDWLRQDOې DQG ۑDQWLVRFLDOې LV against outlets deemed to be publishing ‘objectionable’ news. 2QFH EODFNOLVWHG RXWOHWV IDFH D EDQ RQ UHFHLYLQJ JRYHUQPHQW advertisement as well as potential criminal proceedings. 'HVSLWH DिHPSWV WR SUHYHQW GLVVHQW SURWHVWV KDYH VXFFHVVIXOO\ been conducted to which authorities have responded by tear gassing, SHSSHUVSUD\LQJEHDWLQJDQGFKDVLQJDZD\SURWHVWHUVौHUHLVDOVR an absence of judicial relief, as despite mass arbitrary detentions, both the High Court and Supreme Court (SC) have been unenthusiastic DERXWWDNLQJXSKDEHDVFRUSXVDSSOLFDWLRQVਭOHGE\WKRVHVHHNLQJ IUHHGRPV 6LPLODUO\ WKH 6& KHDULQJ D 3XEOLF ,QWHUHVW /LWLJDWLRQ lix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 VHHNLQJLQTXLU\LQWRWKHLOOHJDOLQFDUFHUDWLRQRIFKLOGUHQE\VHFXULW\ IRUFHVVLQFH$XJXVW GLVPLVVHGWKHSHWLWLRQLQ'HFHPEHU FRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHUHKDGEHHQQRLOOHJDOGHWHQWLRQDWDOOौLVZDVLQ WKHIDFHRIDVHDRIHYLGHQFHWRWKHFRQWUDU\LQFOXGLQJDUHSRUWਭOHG by the police that itself reported minors in detention. Nepal Civic space in Nepal has played a critical role in movements and opposition to the government in various points in its history. While the civic space contributed to the overthrow of the PRQDUFK\LQFLYLOVRFLHW\VRRQORVWLWVLQਮXHQFHDQGLQVWHDG experienced fragmentation and party politicisation. Since then a QXPEHURIDिHPSWVKDYHEHHQPDGHE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWWRFXUWDLO FLYLFDFWLYLVPDOWKRXJKZLWKRXWVXFFHVVVRIDUौH6RFLDO:HOIDUH DQG'HYHORSPHQW$FWGUD़HGLQZDVQRWSDVVHGEXWKDGLWLW would have had a number of provisions that could have constituted violations of freedom of association. A new law, the proposed $FW5HODWHGWR6RFLDO$VVRFLDWLRQVDQG2UJDQLVDWLRQV LVDOVR repressive since, apart from other restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles, it severely curtails the spontaneous emergence of actors WRSURWHVWDJDLQVWRUPRELOLVHIRUDFDXVHौH1DWLRQDO,QWHJULW\ 3ROLF\SURSRVHGLQDOVRVWUHVVHGVWURQJYLJLODQFHRYHUQRQ government and private sectors, along with burdensome reporting and procedural requirements, increased restrictions on the scope of activities as well as access to funding. 6LPLODU DिHPSWV DW FRQWUROOLQJ WKH PHGLD KDYH DOVR EHHQ DिHPSWHGVXFKDVWKHDPHQGPHQWWRWKH0HGLD&RXQFLO%LOOਭOHG ۑOLFHQFHۑMRXUQDOLVWVېZLWKDSURSRVDOWRLQFOXGH LQ6HSWHPEHU which would require all journalists to pass an exam, widely interpreted as another obstacle to the functioning of free press in WKHFRXQWU\ौH&ULPLQDO&RGHRIDOVRWKUHDWHQVMRXUQDOLVWLF practices as journalists could face up to three years in prison and ۑFRQਭGHQWLDOېPRQHWDU\ਭQHVLIWKH\SXEOLVKLQIRUPDWLRQGHHPHG ,PSHGLPHQWVWR&LYLF6SDFHIRU5HOLJLRXV0LQRULWLHV ौHUH DUH SROLFLHV WKDW LPSHGH WKH IXQFWLRQLQJ RI RUJDQLVDWLRQV ौH,QWHUۑUHOLJLRXVLQWHUHVWVېEDVHGRQWKHDVVXPSWLRQRIWKHLU lx Introduction QDWLRQDO 'HYHORSPHQW &RRSHUDWLRQ 3ROLF\ GLUHFWV IRUHLJQ 1*2VWRIXQGGHYHORSPHQWZRUNLQDFOHDUDिHPSWWRNHHSIRUHLJQ IXQGLQJDZD\IURPSURVHO\WLVDWLRQHਬRUWVौHSROLF\LVVWLOOPRUH MDUULQJZKHQWDNLQJLQWRFRQVLGHUDWLRQWKDWDSDUWIURP%XGGKLVW PRQDVWHULHVDOORWKHUUHOLJLRXVJURXSVKDYHWRUHJLVWHUDV1*2V RUQRQSURਭWHQWLWLHVWRRSHUDWHOHJDOO\ौLVFUHDWHVDQLQKHUHQW SUREOHPDVUHOLJLRXVJURXSVPXVWIXQFWLRQDVDQ1*2\HW1*2V WKDWUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJFDQQRWXQGHUWDNHUHOLJLRXVDFWLYLWLHV &KULVWLDQ IDLWKEDVHG 1*2V DOVR UHSRUW IDFLQJ LQFUHDVHG VFUXWLQ\LQWKHLUKLULQJSUDFWLFHVHVSHFLDOO\ZKHQWKH\VHHNWRKLUH PHPEHUVRIWKH&KULVWLDQIDLWKIRUWDVNVWKDWUHTXLUHNQRZOHGJHRI the religion and its practice. Contradictory laws that disadvantage certain communities over others also still exist in Nepal such as the criminalisation of slaughtering of cows, animals that are sacred only in Hinduism. 5HVSRQVHWR$WWHPSWVWR&XUWDLO&LYLF6SDFH ौHUHKDVEHHQZLGHVSUHDGRSSRVLWLRQWRWKHDिHPSWWRSDVVODZV that could systematically ramp up curtailment on civil liberties in WKHFRXQWU\ौH1*2)HGHUDWLRQLQSDUWLFXODUKDVWDNHQXSWKH VDिHQWLRQWRWKHRYHUO\UHVWULFWLYHۑPDQWOHWREULQJWKHJRYHUQPHQW SURYLVLRQV RI WKH GUD़ 1DWLRQDO ,QWHJULW\ 3ROLF\ VXFK DV WKH UHTXLUHPHQWWKDW,1*2VJHWDSSURYDOIRUWKHLUDQQXDOSURJUDPPHV and budget from the Finance Ministry, and that they should not send their reports to the country they are headquartered in ZLWKRXWSHUPLVVLRQIURPWKH1HSDOJRYHUQPHQW,QIRXU81 Special Rapporteurs expressed their reservations on the proposed VRPHRIWKHSURYLVLRQVRIې1DWLRQDO,QWHJULW\3ROLF\DUJXLQJWKDW WKH,QWHJULW\3ROLF\ZRXOGKDYHDVHULRXVQHJDWLYHHਬHFWRQWKH activities of civil society and restrict the freedom of expression and freedom of association’. &LYLF6SDFHGXULQJ&RYLG ौH*RYHUQPHQWRI1HSDOKDVGLVSOD\HGFRQWURORYHUFLYLFVSDFH during the pandemic, from inconsistency in their approach toward &62VDQGVXSSUHVVLQJSHDFHIXOSURWHVWRUVLQWKHWLPHSHULRGRID FRXSOHRIPRQWKVWRDिHPSWLQJWRVLOHQFHDOOIRUPVRIFULWLFLVP lxi South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौHJRYHUQPHQWDOVRFKRVHWRXVHIRUFHWRUHSUHVVSHDFHIXOSURWHVWV by the masses against the government’s passive handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including over corruption in purchase of medical supplies, perceived nonchalance to the plight of migrant ZRUNHUVDEURDGDQGORZLQFRPHKRXVHKROGVLQWKHFRXQWU\DिHPSWV by the government to pass repressive measures of surveillance amidst the pandemic, and mismanagement of quarantine facilities. 0HDQZKLOHWKH:RPHQDQG6RFLDO&RPPLिHHRIWKH+RXVHRI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHVVWDWHGWKDWWKHPRELOLVDWLRQRI1*2VLQFRPEDWLQJ the pandemic has been less than expected and directed the government to enable proper utilisation of the resources and tools WKDWDUHDYDLODEOHWRWKHVHRUJDQLVDWLRQV3DUOLDPHQWDULDQVVWDWHG WKDW1*2VPXVWEHRIXVHWRWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQGXULQJVXFK disasters. Pakistan V WUDQVLWLRQ WRZDUGV HOHFWRUDO GHPRFUDF\ LQ ZDVۑ3DNLVWDQ V SROLWLFDO KLVWRU\ 6LQFH WKHQۑ\D ODQGPDUN HYHQW LQ WKH FRXQWU ی DQG ی3DNLVWDQ KDV H[SHULHQFHG WKUHH HOHFWLRQV and seen two stable transfers of power from one political party WR DQRWKHU +RZHYHU WKH TXDOLW\ RI 3DNLVWDQL GHPRFUDF\ KDV deteriorated over the past few years. In particular, liberal democracy KDVIDLOHGWRWDNHURRWLQ3DNLVWDQ ZLWKLWVH[WHQVLYHLQWHUQDODQGH[WHUیHQWUDOLVDWLRQRISRZHU& nal security challenges—compelled the political leadership to DVVHUWFRQWURORYHUWKHFRXQWU\DQGVWHHUSROLF\ौHWKUHDWRI,QGLD DVZHOODVFRORQLDOKHULWDJHSOD\HGDVLJQLਭFDQWUROHLQIDFLOLWDWLQJ FHQWUDOLVDWLRQ RI SRZHU &LYLOLDQ JRYHUQPHQWV LQ 3DNLVWDQ DOVR failed to institutionalise democratic principles and uphold civil OLEHUWLHV DQG WKH UXOH RI ODZ ौH SROLWLFDO V\VWHP LQ 3DNLVWDQ UH FRQTXHVW RI NHHSV RVFLOODWLQJ EHWZHHQ WKH VXSSUHVVLRQ DQGې \V LQFHVVDQW VHFXULWۑYHQ WLOO WKLV GD\ 3DNLVWDQ) ۑSXEOLF OLEHUWLHV fears, whether real or imagined, run counter to the wider project of encouraging the growth and maturation of liberal democracy. Moreover, cycles of military and civilian rule generated political LQVWDELOLW\ WKDW ZDV LQLPLFDO WR HਬHFWLYH IXQFWLRQLQJ RI SROLWLFDO processes. lxii Introduction 3ROLWLFVRI5HOLJLRQ ौH FRQVWLWXWLRQUHWDLQHG,VODPLFSURYLVLRQVWKDWXQGHUPLQHG certain progressive clauses included in the constitution for the SURWHFWLRQ RI UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV ,W PDGH ,VODP WKH RਯFLDO UHOLJLRQ UHVWULFWHG WKH RਯFH RI 3UHVLGHQW DQG 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU WR Muslims, and contained clauses that called for bringing all laws LQWR FRQIRUPLW\ ZLWK ,VODP 2WKHU ODZV ODWHU LQWURGXFHG IXUWKHU violated the fundamental rights of religious minorities—such as the passage of the Second Amendment declaring members of WKH $KPDGL\D VHFW DV QRQ0XVOLPV LQ UHVSRQVH WR WKH SUHVVXUH exerted by religious parties. Another piece of legislation with dire implications for minority rights was the constitutional amendment NQRZQDVWKH%ODVSKHP\/DZVौHVHDUHDVHWRIFODXVHVFRQWDLQHG LQ WKH 3DNLVWDQ 3HQDO &RGH DQG RVWHQVLEO\ GHVLJQHG WR SURPRWHWKHSURWHFWLRQRIDOOUHOLJLRQVLQ3DNLVWDQ,QUHDOLW\WKH law explicitly discriminates against Ahmadiyas since parts of it criminalise public expression of Ahmadiya beliefs and prohibit Ahmadiyas from calling themselves Muslims, praying in Muslim VLWHVRIZRUVKLSDQGSURSDJDWLQJWKHLUIDLWKौHEODVSKHP\ODZV are used for persecuting religious minorities over trivial issues and false claims. ौHHOHFWRUDOODZIRUFHV$KPDGL\DVWRFKRRVHEHWZHHQWKHLUIDLWK and their right to vote: to be eligible to practise their democratic right in choosing electoral representatives, they have to publicly VۑGHFODUHWKHPVHOYHVWREHQRQ0XVOLPV2Q0D\3DNLVWDQ cabinet established the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and announced that Ahmadiya representatives would not IDOO LQ WKH GHਭQLWLRQ RIې EH LQFOXGHG DUJXLQJ WKDW WKH\ GLG QRW minorities’. Although factually inaccurate, this decision was not opposed by any cabinet member. Human Rights Watch noted that ‘[t]’he Ahmadis are among the most persecuted communities in 3DNLVWDQDQGWRH[FOXGHWKHPIURPDPLQRULW\ULJKWVFRPPLVVLRQ is absurd’. 3XEOLFSURWHVWLVQRWDQRXWOHWDYDLODEOHWRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHV DV PRVW IHDU YLROHQFH DQG UHWDOLDWLRQ E\ H[WUHPLVWV ौH ULJKW to associate, assemble, and express is also hindered through the communal clamping down of churches. Christians cannot lxiii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 HਬHFWLYHO\JDWKHUDQGSUD\EHFDXVHRIWKHLQFUHDVLQJRSSRVLWLRQWR WKHH[LVWHQFHRIFKXUFKHVLQQRQPHWURSROLWDQDUHDV $़HU $KPDGL\DV WKH PLQRULW\ VHFW RI 6KLD 0XVOLPV KDV DOVR become a target of religious extremism. International human rights observers have noted that the Shia Hazara community of 3DNLVWDQKDVIDFHGVHYHUHYLROHQFHDWWKHKDQGVRIPLOLWDQWVDQG D UHSRUW E\ WKH 1DWLRQDO &RPPLVVLRQ IRU +XPDQ 5LJKWV 3DNLVWDQQRWHGWKDWPRUHWKDQ+D]DUDVKDYHEHHQNLOOHGLQ WKHSUHYLRXV\HDUVLQ3DNLVWDQ Violence is also perpetuated against vulnerable members of WKH +LQGX FRPPXQLW\ +LQGX JLUOV LQ 6LQGK R़HQ XQGHUDJH are abducted by Muslim men, coerced to convert to Islam and marry their abductors. In the process, they face both physical and psychological violence and are forced to cut ties with their families. ौHUHKDYHDOVREHHQFDVHVRI+LQGXWHPSOHVEHLQJFRQYHUWHGWR schools and science laboratories with the local Hindus too afraid to report cases even anonymously. A considerable section of the Hindu community inside Sindh are Scheduled Caste Hindus, who PDNHXSDVLJQLਭFDQWSRUWLRQRIERQGHGODERXULQ6LQGK$OWKRXJK ERQGHGODERXULVSURKLELWHGWKURXJKWKH%RQGHG/DERXU$EROLWLRQ $FW SUDFWLFHVJRXQFKHFNHGLQQXPHURXVDUHDVRI6LQGKDQG authorities are hesitant to intervene fearful of retributive action by powerful ruling families. 3ROLWLFVRI6HFXULW\ :LWK WKH PLOLWDU\ RYHUORRNLQJ JRYHUQDQFH SROLWLFV DQG SROLF\ HVSHFLDOO\QDWLRQDOVHFXULW\DQGIRUHLJQDਬDLUVWKHUHLVFRQVWDQW VXUYHLOODQFHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\3HUFHLYLQJ&62VDVWKUHDWVWRVWDELOLW\ and security, the establishment obstructs their activities in the name 2V DQG ,1*2V DUH VXEMHFW WR H[WHQVLYH*1 ۑQDWLRQDO LQWHUHVWې RI regulation involving multiple, lengthy procedures of registration, security clearance, and approvals for funding. 6HFWLRQ $ RI WKH 3DNLVWDQیौH QRWRULRXV VHGLWLRQ ODZ LV IUHTXHQWO\ GHSOR\HG WR DUUHVW DQG LQFDUFHUDWHی3HQDO &RGH WKRVH GHPDQGLQJ VRFLDO DQG SROLWLFDO UHIRUPV ौHUH KDYH DOVR been innumerable cases of enforced disappearances, rapes, and H[WUDMXGLFLDONLOOLQJVRIDFWLYLVWV lxiv Introduction Journalists, writers and human rights activists who advocate IRU WKH ULJKWV RI PLQRULWLHV DQG IRU IUHH VSHHFK RU RਬHU OLEHUDO perspectives are being curbed increasingly in the country. Media outlets, small and large, as well as independent writers have H[SHULHQFHG JURZLQJ EDFNODVK KDUDVVPHQW LQWLPLGDWLRQ DQG FULPLQDOLVDWLRQ$3DNLVWDQL%DORFKMRXUQDOLVW6DMLG+XVVDLQ%DORFK ZDVIRXQGGHDGLQ6ZHGHQLQ0D\D़HUKHKDGJRQHPLVVLQJLQ 0DUFK +XPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ ZRUNHUV DUH increasingly facing questioning at airports about their reasons for international travel and participation at international conferences. 3URJUHVVLYHDQGOLEHUDOXQLYHUVLW\SURIHVVRUVIDFHLQWLPLGDWLRQ from students as well as conservative administration and faculty PHPEHUV LQ WKH IRUP RI GLVPLVVDOV DQG HYHQ DUUHVWV /DZ\HUV defending human rights, including cases of minorities related to blasphemy, and Christian and other minority lawyers continue to IDFHWKUHDWVIRUWKHZRUNWKH\GR Sri Lanka ,QWKH lxv South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 HPSRZHUHG WKH 3UHVLGHQW WR SURKLELW SXEOLF SURFHVVLRQV RU OLNHO\WRFDXVHDGLVWXUEDQFHRISXEOLFRUGHURUSURPRWHېPHHWLQJV PHUJHQF\5HJXODWLRQDOORZHGDSROLFHRਯFHURU)ۑGLVDਬHFWLRQ member of the security forces to require a person or persons to be removed from any public space but did not stipulate reasonable grounds upon which such an order may be issued. Regulations include restrictions of publications by the competent authority if it ‘might be prejudicial to the interests of national security or preservation of public order’; criminalisation of possession of a \OLNHOېERRNGRFXPHQWRUSDSHUWKHFRQWHQWVRIZKLFKDUHGHHPHG to be prejudicial’ to national security or preservation of public ZKLFKLVOLNHO\WRDURXVHHQFRXUDJHRUSURPRWHIHHOLQJVېRUGHURU ۑRUKDWUHGRUFRQWHPSWWRWKH*RYHUQPHQW A related factor that enabled the retention of the national VHFXULW\IUDPHZRUNLQZKLFKDGHTXDWHDQGHਬHFWLYHKXPDQULJKWV SURWHFWLRQVZHUHDEVHQWDQGZKLFKKDVGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHO\DਬHFWHG 7DPLOVDQGIURP$SULO 0XVOLPVLVWKHIDLOXUHWRUHSHDOWKH 3UHYHQWLRQ RI 7HUURULVP $FW 37$ DQG UHSODFH LW ZLWK D KXPDQ ULJKWVEDVHGQDWLRQDOVHFXULW\IUDPHZRUNौH37$KDVEHHQਮDJJHG for decades as a law that violates crucial human rights, in particular due process rights, and denies the accused the right to a fair trial. $NH\H[DPSOHRIWKH ौH JULHYDQFHV RI WKH 7DPLO FRPPXQLW\ UHPDLQHG ODUJHO\ XQDGGUHVVHGE\WKH 3RVW 3UHVLGHQWLDO(OHFWLRQV $़HUWKHHOHFWLRQRI*RWDED\D5DMDSDNVDDVSUHVLGHQWOLNH6LULVHQD before him, he began to call out the armed forces to maintain law and order. Militarisation, which had been temporarily frozen GXULQJ WKH ,PSDFWRI&RYLG ौHDUUHVWRIWKRXVDQGVRISHUVRQVDQGVHL]XUHRIWKRXVDQGVRI vehicles for violating a curfew that did not legally exist during the SDQGHPLFLVLOOXVWUDWLYHRIWKHVWDWHWDNLQJSXQLWLYHDFWLRQDJDLQVW citizens and depriving them of liberty even in instances when WKH\DUHQRWOHJDOO\HPSRZHUHGWRGRVRौHLPSOHPHQWDWLRQRI WKHGHIDFWRFXUIHZZDVXQGHUWDNHQLQDVHOHFWLYHDQGDUELWUDU\ PDQQHU )RU LQVWDQFH WKRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH ZKR DिHQGHG WKH funeral of former Minister of Community Empowerment and (VWDWH,QIUDVWUXFWXUH'HYHORSPHQWDQGWKH/HDGHURIWKH&H\ORQ :RUNHUV &RQJUHVV $UXPXJDP ौRQGDPDQ ZHUH QRW DUUHVWHG In contrast, former opposition member of parliament Ranjan lxvii South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 5DPDQD\DNH ZDV DUUHVWHG ZKLOH GLVWULEXWLQJ UDWLRQV WR SHUVRQV ZKRZHUHDGYHUVHO\LPSDFWHGE\WKH&RYLG ORFNGRZQ ौH&RYLG UHVSRQVHKDVDOVREHHQPLOLWDULVHGZLWKPLOLWDU\ SHUVRQQHO LQ SRVLWLRQV LQ WKH YDULRXV WDVN IRUFHV IRU GLVDVWHU management and the provision of relief. Measures were also WDNHQE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWWRFXUWDLOFLYLOOLEHUWLHVXQGHUWKHJXLVH of responding to the pandemic. An example of this is the notice ۑFULWLFLVHېLVVXHGWKDWVWULFWDFWLRQLVWREHWDNHQDJDLQVWWKRVHWKDW VFROGې RU ۑPLQRU VKRUWFRPLQJVIDLOXUHVې VWDWH RਯFLDOV SRLQW RXW \VWDWH RਯFLDOV SHUIRUPLQJ WKHLU GXWLHV ZKLFK DGYHUVHO ۑFKDVWLVH impacts on the freedom of expression, in particular the expression of dissent. 5LJKWVRI0LQRULWLHV ौHVWLJPDWLVDWLRQDQGVFDSHJRDWLQJRI0XVOLPVKDVWDNHQPDQ\ IRUPV LQFOXGLQJ VHQLRU VWDWH RਯFLDOV EODPLQJ WKH FRPPXQLW\ IRUWKHVSUHDGRI&RYLG DQGWKHFRPPXQLW\EHLQJGHQLHGWKH ULJKWWREXU\WKRVHZKRGLHRI&RYLG 2QHRIWKHPHDQVXVHG to delegitimise complaints of discrimination or marginalisation LV E\ SRUWUD\LQJ 0XVOLPV DV VHHNLQJ RU HQMR\LQJ H[FHSWLRQDO privileges, despite which they continue to unfairly claim they are GLVFULPLQDWHGौHLQFLWHPHQWRIKDWUHGDQGYLWULROE\PHGLDRXWOHWV FRQWLQXHVXQDEDWHG)RUH[DPSOH0XVOLP&RYLG SDWLHQWVZHUH LGHQWLਭHGE\WKHLUIDLWKXQOLNHRWKHUSDWLHQWVDQGEODPHGE\WKH media for spreading coronavirus. ौHUH LV KLJKHU OHYHO RI VFUXWLQ\ LQ WKH QRUWK RI WKH FRXQWU\ In one instance, the police cited quarantine requirements and obtained a court order to prevent members of the Tamil National 713) IURP KROGLQJ D FRPPHPRUDWLRQ HYHQW LQ V )URQWۑ3HRSOH -DਬQD 2Q WKH VDPH GD\ WKRXJK WKH JRYHUQPHQW KHOG DQ HYHQW with the participation of certain members of the government, the armed forces, and some families of soldiers to commemorate War +HURHV'D\LQ&RORPERौH5DMDSDNVDJRYHUQPHQWGHFUHHGWKDW the national anthem would not be sung in the Tamil language on ,QGHSHQGHQFH'D\GHVSLWH7DPLOEHLQJDQRਯFLDOODQJXDJH,W should be noted that the denial of the right to use the Tamil language ZDVRQHRIWKHURRWFDXVHVRIWKHHWKQLFFRQਮLFWLQ6UL/DQND lxviii Introduction Key Recommendations For national governments i. Abide by international commitments agreed upon by the country. ii. Remove all legal contradictions existing in various laws of the country and adjust them to international treaties to which it is a signatory. LLL 6SHFLਭFDOO\ UHPRYH SURYLVLRQV IURP H[LVWLQJ ODZV WKDW PDNHLWGLਯFXOWIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQVWRUHJLVWHU UHUHJLVWHURUIXQFWLRQLQWKHFRXQWU\ iv. Recognise minorities in the constitution, if not done so already, and ensure constitutional provisions to criminalise discrimination of all forms against minorities. Y ,PSURYHWKHHQDEOLQJHQYLURQPHQWDQGGHYHORSDQHਬHFWLYH protection mechanism for HRDs and civil society actors in FORVH FRQVXOWDWLRQV ZLWK DOO VWDNHKROGHUV LQFOXGLQJ &62V and human rights organisations. YL ,PSOHPHQW HਬHFWLYH DQG KROLVWLF DFWLRQ WR HOLPLQDWH WKH underlying motives for threats to religious minorities and civic space for minorities, and to combat growing fundamentalist voices threatening a free and democratic society. YLL 7DNH VZL़ DFWLRQ WR WDFNOH ULVLQJ WHUURULVP DQG YLROHQFH ensuring impartial investigations and the prosecution of WKRVHUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDिDFNVDJDLQVWUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVLQ order to end the culture of impunity around these crimes. viii. Implement all the recommendations the countries receive on the circumstances of HRDs provided by the UN Special Rapporteur and other relevant reports. L[ (QVXUHWKDWWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFGRHVQRWUHVXOWLQORQJ term curtailment of civic space in any way. For the international community L (QVXUH JUHDWHU DिHQWLRQ E\ 81 DQG RWKHU LQWHUQDWLRQDO entities on civil and political rights violations in South Asia. ii. Facilitate the development of South Asian regional lxix South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 initiatives and mechanisms to address various forms of restrictions of civic space in the region. For civil society/minority groups L )RVWHUJUHDWHUUHJLRQDOFLYLOVRFLHW\LQLWLDWLYHVWRSXVKEDFN again restrictions by national entities. ii. Enable channels for greater solidarity across borders, and expressions of support for victims of targeting in individual countries. iii. Facilitate and participate in greater sharing and learning between various groups across borders. lxx Shrinking Civic Spaces for Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan Abdul Rahman Yasa Background/Problem Analysis $़HUWKHFROODSVHRIWKH7DOLEDQUHJLPHLQDUHODWLYHO\EHिHU democratic environment for civil society and human rights began to emerge in Afghanistan. In spite of the massive challenges of general insecurity, civil society and human rights institutions started their journey to assess the status of rights of various sections of society and institutionalise democratic values as a V QDVFHQW FLYLO VRFLHW\ DOVR EHJDQ ZRUNLQJۑ\ZKROH ौH FRXQWU ZLWKDOHJDODOELWHGHਭFLHQWEDVHZKLFKEHFDPHHQVKULQHGLQWKH IRUP D FLYLOې FRQVWLWXWLRQ RI $ORQJ ZLWK D FRPPLWPHQW WR DQ\NLQGRIېWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQIRUEDGHۑVRFLHW\YRLGRIRSSUHVVLRQ discrimination and distinction’ among citizens of Afghanistan.1 In practice, however, the civic environment remains highly precarious for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in the country. ,QWKH/DZRQ3URWHVW$VVHPEOLHVDQG6WULNHZDVGUD़HG E\ WKH ,VODPLF 7UDQVLWLRQDO *RYHUQPHQW RI $IJKDQLVWDQ ZKLFK guaranteed the mechanisms for civic protest. However, public space IRU FLYLO VRFLHW\ DQG WKH +5'V KDV EHJXQ WR VKULQN D़HU DV \DिHPSWHGWRUHVWULFWWKHULJKWWRSHDFHIXODVVHPEOېWKHJRYHUQPHQW DQGWRFUDFNGRZQRQSURWHVWVDQGGHPRQVWUDWLRQVE\DPHQGLQJWKLV LQDGUD़ELOO2ौLVDिHPSWVXEVHTXHQWO\IDFHGFRQGHPQDWLRQۑODZ from civil society and human rights activists and is now pending 1 The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, The Constitution of Afghanistan (Kabul: 7KH,VODPLF5HSXEOLFRI$IJKDQLVWDQ-DQXDU\ KWWSV ELWO\[F$XO$. MandgarۑUDIW/DZRQ3URWHVW$VVHPEOLHVDQG6WULNH'ې\0DQGJDU'DLO Daily, -XO\KWWSV ELWO\*]XO1. 1 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 EHIRUH WKH SDUOLDPHQW ,Q DOWKRXJK 3UHVLGHQW $VKUDI *KDQL promised the protection of the HRDs as the ‘sole responsibility’ of his government, his government itself has been responsible for intimidation, harassment, and threats against them.3 During this time, E\H[DJJHUDWLQJۑ\IHDUPRQJHULQJSROLFېWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDVXVHGD the level of threat and engineering the security situation in order to prevent the people from holding protests in the future. 0RUHRYHU QRQVWDWH DFWRUV LQFOXGLQJ $IJKDQ SRZHUEURNHUV DQG WHUURULVW JURXSV VXFK DV WKH 7DOLEDQ DQG WKH VHOIGHFODUHG Islamic State (ISIS), too, have posed serious threats to the HRDs LQ WKH FRXQWU\ )RU H[DPSOH WKH NLOOLQJ RI 6DPDG $PLUL WKH Acting Director of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights &RPPLVVLRQ LQ 6HSWHPEHU E\ WKH 7DOLEDQ LV RQH RI WKH hundreds of examples of violence against HRDs in the country. ौH RWKHU JURZLQJ FRQFHUQ LQ WKH FRQWH[W RI WKH OHJDO DQG regulatory environment for HRDs and civil society groups is the decline of freedom of expression. Both the constitution enacted in DQGWKH0DVV0HGLD/DZRI JXDUDQWHHWKLVULJKW+RZHYHU LQSUDFWLFHLWKDVEHFRPHLQFUHDVLQJO\GLਯFXOWLQUHFHQW\HDUVWR exercise it freely. Despite legal protection, the environment for freedom of expression has become precarious in recent years as JRYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOVLOOHJDODUPHGJURXSVSROLWLFLDQVWKH$IJKDQ VHFXULW\IRUFHVDQGPDਭDJURXSVFRQWLQXHWRULGHURXJKVKRGRYHU WKLVULJKW,QWKHਭUVWVL[PRQWKVRIFDVHVRIYLROHQFHDJDLQVW journalists were recorded, the highest in recent years.5ौLVWUHQGKDV DVDPHDQVRIVXUYLYDOۑVHOIFHQVRUVKLSېFDXVHGDVLJQLਭFDQWOHYHORI IRUPRVWUHSRUWHUVHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHZRUNLQJLQUHPRWHSURYLQFHV6 As in many South Asian countries, discrimination against PLQRULWLHVKDVEHHQKLVWRULFDOLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ+RZHYHUUHਮHFWLQJ 3 Amnesty International, ‘Afghanistan: Human Rights Defenders Under .ELWO\GNK)J KWWSV Amnesty International,$XJXVWۑWWDFN$ $IJKDQLVWDQ,QVWLWXWHIRU&LYLO6RFLHW\The State of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Afghanistan (Kabul: Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society, 6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ELWO\DL93V. 5 Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, Six-Month Report (Jan-June 2017) Afghanistan, a Dangerous Country for Journalists and Media (Kabul: Afghan -RXUQDOLVW6DIHW\&RPPLWWHH KWWSV ELWO\ H.X . Human RightsۑV0HGLD6HOI&HQVRUVWR6XUYLYHۑIJKDQLVWDQ$ې0DULDP$PLQL Watch, $SULO KWWSV ELWO\-N/;I. 2 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan on the issue of minority rights is a new phenomenon. Due to the VHQVLWLYLW\ RI WKH WRSLF FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV &62V DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV DUH QRW FXUUHQWO\ ZRUNLQJ LQ WKH DUHD RI minorities and not much literature has been produced on the VXEMHFW RYHU WKH SDVW \HDUV ौHUHIRUH WKLV FKDSWHU LQWHQGV to examine the civic space for HRDs in Afghanistan in general, PDLQO\D़HU$GGLWLRQDOO\LWZLOOH[SORUHWKHOHJDOHFRQRPLF security, and political measures that have been used to place restrictions on certain civic freedoms, including freedom of H[SUHVVLRQDVVRFLDWLRQDQGDVVHPEO\ौLVZLOOEHGLVFXVVHGLQWKH context of the ongoing Afghan peace process with the Taliban and its implications for HRDs and civil society activists if any political agreement is reached. Research Objective and Design ौH RYHUDOO REMHFWLYH RI WKLV SDSHU LV WR H[DPLQH WKH GZLQGOLQJ civic space for HRDs and human rights activists in the time period IURP WLOO HDUO\ LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ ZKLOH DOVR SURYLGLQJ D OLVW RI UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV WR WKH $IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQW &62V DQG international donors. ौHVWXG\ZLOOLQSDUWLFXODU SORUHWKHOHJDOHFRQRPLFSROLWLFDODQGVHFXULW\HQYLURQ]) ۚ ment for HRDs in Afghanistan; QDO\VHWKHLPSOLFDWLRQRIGLਬHUHQWSROLFLHVDQGOHJLVODWLRQV$ ۚ of the Afghan government on freedom of expression, association, and assembly; SORUHGLਬHUHQWFDVHVRIVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHIRU+5'VDQG]) ۚ threats against them; SORUHWKHSDVWDQGSUHVHQWHQYLURQPHQWIRU+5'VLQWKH]) ۚ FRQWH[WRIWKHRQJRLQJ$IJKDQ7DOLEDQSHDFHWDONV DQG 3URYLGH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV RQ SURWHFWLRQ PHFKDQLVPV WR EH ۚ established to improve civic space for HRDs. ौHFKDSWHULVEDVHGRQWKHXVHRITXDOLWDWLYHPHWKRGVFRPELQLQJ FRQWHQWDQDO\VLVDQGLQGHSWKLQWHUYLHZVौHUHYLHZRIVHFRQGDU\ literature involved exploring and examining reports, research 3 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 papers, the country’s laws, and international human rights GRFXPHQWV,QDGGLWLRQVHYHUDOLQGHSWKLQWHUYLHZVZHUHFRQGXFWHG ZLWK $IJKDQ H[SHUWV DQG NH\ LQIRUPDQWV VXFK DV PHPEHUV RI civil society, legal experts, and journalists. Content analysis of GDWD LV H[SHFWHG WR JHQHUDWH H[SHUWLVHEDVHG LQVLJKWV DQG D ULFK understanding of the environment for HRDs in Afghanistan. +5'VLQ'LॗHUHQW/HJDO(QYLURQPHQWV VQHZSROLWLFDOۑHUWKHIDOORIWKH7DOLEDQLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ़$ RUGHU SURYLGHG URRP IRU &62V DV DQ LQWHJUDO HOHPHQW RI D IUDJLOH GHPRFUDF\ ौH HPHUJHQFH RI WKH +5'V LV DQ LPSRUWDQW DFKLHYHPHQWRIWKHSDVW\HDUVDQGHYHQZLWKDOOLWVVKRUWFRPLQJV the establishment of the legal system provides the foundation to regulate civic and human rights activities. However, the process has neither been smooth nor gone unchallenged throughout this SHULRG/HJDOKXUGOHVHFRQRPLFFKDOOHQJHVVHFXULW\DQGSROLWLFDO problems continue to impact civic space, especially for minorities, in Afghanistan. Constitutional Context &62VDUHUHFRJQLVHGLQYDULRXV$IJKDQODZV+RZHYHULQSUDFWLFH the space is very narrow for civil society activists and the HRDs. ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ SURYLGHV WKH FLWL]HQV ZLWK WKH ULJKW WR form associations and freely express their thoughts and opinions ZH WKHې WKURXJK GLਬHUHQW PHGLD ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ QRWHV WKDW people of Afghanistan…form a civil society void of oppression, atrocity, discrimination as well as violence, based on rule of law, social justice, protecting the integrity and human rights, and UWLFOH$7ۑIUHHGRPV DQG IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKWV ۑDिDLQLQJ SHRSOHV also stipulates that ‘freedom of expression is inviolable … [and] every Afghan has the right to express his thought through speech, writing, illustration, or other means, by observing the provision’ of the constitution.8 Freedom of expression is further underpinned by Article 7, which requires the government to abide by international 7 The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, The Constitution of Afghanistan (Kabul: 7KH,VODPLF5HSXEOLFRI$IJKDQLVWDQ-DQXDU\ KWWSV ELWO\[F$XO$. 8 Ibid. Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan conventions to which Afghanistan is a signatory, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Although the constitution appears to be progressive, it remains FDXWLRXVO\DQGSDUDGR[LFDOO\FRQVHUYDWLYHौXVZKLOHLWUHTXLUHV the government to observe all the international treaties and charters to which Afghanistan is a state party, Article 3 of the constitution resists any law that ‘contravenes the tenets and provisions of the ۑWHQHWVRIWKHKRO\UHOLJLRQRI,VODPېौH holy religion of Islam’. is also a general and ambiguous legal phrase, creating leeway and EHLQJRSHQWRPLVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV:KLOH$UWLFOHVDQGJUDQWWKH right to freedom of expression, Article 3 unequivocally restricts it. 'HVSLWHWKHIDFWWKDWWKH$IJKDQJRYHUQPHQWKDVFRPPLिHGLWVHOI WRREVHUYLQJWKH8'+5$UWLFOHLVLQGLUHFWFRQਮLFWZLWK$UWLFOH 18 of the Declaration, which endows the people with ‘freedom of thought and religion.’ Article 6 of the constitution requires the government to protect human rights; however, no mechanism that can safeguard the lives of the HRDs has been established. Many observers believe that ‘as the Afghan government is busy with many basic challenges, protection of HRDs has not been a priority.’11 ौHUHIRUHWKHVHREYLRXVFRQWUDGLFWLRQVDQGVKRUWFRPLQJVLQWKH constitution demonstrate a failure to protect the individual rights to freedom of expression, religion, belief, and further violates international human rights standards. Mass Media Law As a part of the unfolding democratic process, the rise of the media LQ$IJKDQLVWDQKDVEHHQDVLJQLਭFDQWDFKLHYHPHQWRIWKHSRVW UHFRQVWUXFWLRQHਬRUWV)URPOLPLWHGRUQRPHGLDRXWOHWVSULRUWR WKHFRXQW\QRZKRVWVKXQGUHGVRISULYDWHUDGLRDQGWHOHYLVLRQ stations and a panoply of magazines and newspapers circulating RQ D UHJXODU EDVLV ौH QHZ PHGLD RXWOHWV SOD\ DQ LQFUHDVLQJO\ critical role in Afghanistan, including facilitating public debate and VKDSLQJSXEOLFRSLQLRQRQGLਬHUHQWDVSHFWVRIOLIHLQWKHFRXQWU\ $UWLFOHLELG 8QLWHG1DWLRQVUniversal Declaration of Human Rights *HQHYD 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV'HFHPEHU KWWSV ELWO\%/FYS. $QRQ\PRXVRQHDLGRUJDQL]DWLRQLQWHUYLHZE\$EGXO5DKPDQ 5 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ,Q WKH$IJKDQSDUOLDPHQWDSSURYHGWKH0DVV0HGLD/DZ 00/ ZKLFK LV FRQVLGHUHG WR EH D SURPLVLQJ VWHS IRUZDUG LQ consolidating freedom of expression. However, there are serious restrictive clauses and ambiguous terms in the law that increase concerns about squeezing freedom of expression. For example, the introduction part places emphasis on the role of religion by UHFDOOLQJ$UWLFOHRIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQZKLFKPDNHVLWLPSRVVLEOH for any law to contradict the principles of Islam.12$OVR&KDSWHU of the law prohibits publication of certain materials that contains ambiguities and limitations. Restrictions on materials ‘contrary OLEHOORXVې FRQVLGHUHG ۑLQVXOWLQJې ۑWR WKH SULQFLSOHV RI ,VODP defamatory’ or ‘promoting religion other than Islam’13 are not only LQFRQਮLFWZLWKWKHVSLULWRIWKH8'+5EXWDOVRFRQWUDGLFW$UWLFOH RI WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RYHQDQW RQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV LQWKHODZFDQۑOLEHOORXVېRUۑLQVXOWې9DJXHWHUPVVXFKDV 35&&, DOVREHRSHQWRGLਬHUHQWLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV,QSUDFWLFHWKLVJLYHVODZ enforcement agencies the opportunity to interpret this article in ways to restrict freedom of press and expression. Moreover, Afghanistan has been the most dangerous place for journalists with increasing deterioration of security in recent years. Due to the existence of a culture of impunity and failure of law enforcement, any allusion to sensitive issues, including corruption, land grabbing, violence against women, and human ULJKWV YLRODWLRQV EHFRPHV OLIHWKUHDWHQLQJ HQRXJK WR IRUFH MRXUQDOLVWVLQWRVHOIFHQVRUVKLS Although the stated purpose of ULJKWWRIUHHGRPRIWKRXJKWDQGۑWKH00/LVWRJXDUDQWHHFLWL]HQV H[SUHVVLRQWKRVHZKRVWULYHWRSURPRWHWKLVULJKWDUHQRWVDIHौLV LVHVSHFLDOO\WUXHZKHQWKH00/ODFNVWKHPHFKDQLVPWRSURWHFW journalists and media activists, and safeguard conditions for the free operations of mass media. ौH 00/DOVRLQFOXGHGDSURYLVLRQIRUWKHHVWDEOLVKPHQW of the Media Complaint Commission within the Ministry of Information and Culture. Chaired by the minister, the commission 12 Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, Mass Media Law (Kabul: Ministry of -XVWLFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQ-XO\ KWWSV ELWO\$O28'. 13 Ibid. Human Rightsۑ0HGLDXQGHU$WWDFN IJKDQLVWDQ$ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Watch,-DQXDU\KWWSV ELWO\GIX:8. 6 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan largely served as a ‘cudgel’ to intimidate the press and control the media streams under the pretext of violating media regulations.15 ,QIROORZLQJDJURZLQJFRQFHUQDQGDQJHUDPRQJMRXUQDOLVWV and media outlets across the country, the government decided to dissolve the commission. Non-Governmental Organisations Law $़HU D ODUJH QXPEHU RI QRQJRYHUQPHQWDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV 1*2V HPHUJHG WR VWUHQJWKHQ GHPRFUDWLF YDOXHV DQG VXSSRUW GHYHORSPHQWSURJUDPPHVLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ6XEVHTXHQWO\LQ WKH$IJKDQJRYHUQPHQWSDVVHGDODZRQ1*2VZLWKWKHDLPRI promoting professionalism and accountability as well as legalising DQG UHJXODWLQJ WKHLU DFWLYLWLHV ,Q KRZHYHU WKH $IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQWPDGHDQDिHPSWWRFKDQJHWKLVODZE\EULQJLQJVHYHUDO SURYLVLRQVWKDWVWLUUHGXSFULWLFLVPDQGRSSRVLWLRQIURP&62VDQG human rights activists, which called the new amendment highly restrictive and problematic.16ौHFKDQJHVSURSRVHGLQFOXGHGWKH following: OO 1*2V VKDOO UHUHJLVWHU WKHLU RUJDQLVDWLRQV HYHU\ WKUHH$ ۚ years; ौH JRYHUQPHQW FDQ UHIXVH WR UHJLVWHU DQ RUJDQLVDWLRQ IRU ۚ ‘technical reasons’; and KHQ KROGLQJ WKHLU DQQXDO *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ &62V PXVW: ۚ invite the representative of the Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan (MoEC).17 ौH DPELJXLWLHV DQG LVVXHV WKDW HPHUJH IURP WKH SURSRVHG changes provide grounds for misuse and confusion. In addition FODXVHۑUHUHJLVWUDWLRQېWRDEXUGHQVRPHEXUHDXFUDWLFSURFHVVWKH DOORZVWKHJRYHUQPHQWWRDUELWUDULO\UHIXVHWRUHUHJLVWHUD&62 DUG)RXJKW9LFWRU\IRU$IJKDQ0HGLD+$ېIJKDQLVWDQ-RXUQDOLVWV&HQWHU$ Media Complaint Commission Dissolved’, Afghanistan Journalists Center, May 6, KWWSV ELWO\0G.JU+. 16 Zaman Sultani, South Asia Researcher for Amnesty International, interview E\$EGXO5DKPDQ 7 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 leading to its automatic removal. Similarly, the issue of ‘technical reasons’ is not only vague but also authorises the government to avoid registering an organisation.18 By sending their representative, WKH JRYHUQPHQW LQWHQGHG WR NHHS PDLQWDLQLQJ LWV LQਮXHQFH RQ &62V ौH HQVXLQJ RXWFU\ KRZHYHU IRUFHG WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR withdraw the bill. Access to Information Law ौHHQDFWPHQWRIWKH$FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ/DZ $,/ LQLV a promising step forward to consolidating the freedom of press and expression and improving transparency and accountability. +RZHYHU ZLWKRXW HਬHFWLYH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ WKLV ODZ OLNH PDQ\ RWKHUIRUPVRIOHJLVODWLRQZLOOKDYHOLिOHRUQRHਬHFW3ULRUWRLWV UDWLਭFDWLRQ$IJKDQMRXUQDOLVWV&62VDQG+5'VZHUHFRQWLQXRXVO\ being denied access to information from government bureaucrats DQGRਯFLDOVौH\ZHUHDQGFRQWLQXHWREHVXEMHFWHGWRWKUHDWV intimidation, and violence while reporting. *RYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOV used to deny journalists access to government documents over IHDURIGLVFORVXUHRIFRUUXSWLRQVFDQGDOVौH$,/FKDOOHQJHVWKRVH ZURQJGRHUVDQGSRZHUEURNHUVLQWKHJRYHUQPHQWDQGIRUFHVWKHP to abide by the rules. $UWLFOHRIWKH$IJKDQ&RQVWLWXWLRQJXDUDQWHHVFLWL]HQVWKH ULJKWWRDFFHVVLQIRUPDWLRQIURPVWDWHGHSDUWPHQWVDQG$UWLFOH provides the right to freedom of expression.ौH$,/KRZHYHULV WKHਭUVWOHJLVODWLYHPRYHRILWVNLQGLQWKHFRXQWU\3XUVXDQWWRWKLV ODZVWDWHLQVWLWXWLRQVDUHUHTXLUHGWRPDNHLQIRUPDWLRQDYDLODEOH upon request to the general public.21 /LNHZLVH WKH ODZ UHTXLUHV the government to ‘ensure people can access all the information necessary to realise their human rights and hold the authorities accountable for their actions in the spirit of transparency’ and to curb corruption.22 'HVSLWH ZKDW LV ODLG GRZQ LQ WKH $,/ WKH 18 Ibid. ,PSOHPHQW$FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ IJKDQLVWDQ$ېPQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO$ .ELWO\%O4T(G Amnesty International)HEUXDU\KWWSVۑDZ/ 0LQLVWU\RI-XVWLFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQAccess to Information Law (Kabul: 0LQLVWU\RI-XVWLFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQ0DUFK KWWSV ELWO\JR'6Y$. 21 Ibid. 22 Amnesty International, ‘Afghanistan: Implement Access to Information 8 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan VVHYHUHUHVWULFWLRQVRQVWDWHRZQHGLQIRUPDWLRQKDVۑJRYHUQPHQW and continues to be a problem.23 Moreover, under this law, the government has to protect those individuals who disclose cases and information related to corruption, mismanagement, and human rights abuses. Since the law still fails to outline mechanisms to SURWHFWVXFKZKLVWOHEORZHUVLWFDQEHDGLVFRXUDJHPHQWDJDLQVW VSHDNLQJRXW $QRWKHU FKDOOHQJH WR HਬHFWLYH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH $,/ LV WKHODFNRISXEOLFDZDUHQHVVDERXWWKHH[LVWHQFHDQGVLJQLਭFDQFH RI WKHODZ 0DQ\SHRSOHKDYH OLिOHRU QR LGHD RI HQIRUFHG ODZV LQWKHFRXQWU\ौLVPHDQVWKDWHYHQZKHQWKH\IDFHFKDOOHQJHV and obstacles, they cannot exercise their legal rights. To handle WKLVSUREOHPULJRURXVSXEOLFDZDUHQHVVUDLVLQJSURJUDPPHVDUH needed to highlight on the existence and importance of this and other relevant laws. H/DZRQ*DWKHULQJV6WULNHVDQG'HPRQVWUDWLRQV ौH$IJKDQFRQVWLWXWLRQSURWHFWVWKHULJKWRIFLWL]HQVWRIUHHGRP of assembly and association and to peacefully express their demands and concerns. According to Article 36, people can achieve their legitimate demands peacefully by holding unarmed .ELWO\%O4T(G Amnesty International)HEUXDU\KWWSVۑDZ/ \IJKDQ0HGLD:DWFKGRJ&DOOVIRU,QIRUPDWLRQ3ROLF$ېDVHHE0DXGRRGL+ Enforcement’, BBC, )HEUXDU\KWWSV ELWO\;MP8. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 demonstrations.ौHHQGRUVHPHQWRIWKHQHZ/DZRQ*DWKHULQJV 6WULNHVDQG'HPRQVWUDWLRQVLQ KHUHLQD़HU$VVHPEO\/DZ IXUWKHUFRUURERUDWHVWKHHਬRUWVWRSURPRWHKXPDQULJKWVDQGVSDFH of openness in the country. According to this law, ‘the government VKDOO HQVXUH WKH VHFXULW\ DQG VDIHW\ RI JDWKHULQJV VWULNHV DQG demonstrations’.25 In practice, however, security forces have not only refrained from providing necessary security, but they have deliberately targeted protesters, leaving several dead and wounded LQ PDQ\ FDVHV )RU H[DPSOH PRUH WKDQ ਭYH SHRSOH ZHUH NLOOHG LQ.DEXOLQ-XQHD़HUWKHSROLFHRSHQHGਭUHRQSURWHVWHUV who had been demanding the government to step down.26 And LQ0D\WKHSROLFHNLOOHGDWOHDVWIRXUFLYLOLDQVLQFOXGLQJD MRXUQDOLVWDQGLQMXUHGRWKHUVLQWKHFHQWUDO*KRUSURYLQFH27ौH LQFLGHQWWRRNSODFHD़HUGR]HQVRIFLYLOLDQVKDGJDWKHUHGRXWVLGH VRਯFHWRSURWHVWDJDLQVWWKHQHJOLJHQFHRIۑWKHSURYLQFLDOJRYHUQRU WKHORFDODGPLQLVWUDWLRQWRZDUGVSRYHUW\VWULFNHQIDPLOLHVGXULQJ WKH&RYLG SDQGHPLF ौH HQDFWHG $VVHPEO\/DZ VWLOO SODFHVVLJQLਭFDQW UHVWULFWLRQV on gatherings, protests, and demonstrations in Afghanistan, which LV D VHULRXV FRQFHUQ IRU +5'V $UWLFOH RI WKH $VVHPEO\ /DZ VSHFLਭHVWKDWLIDSODFHRIJDWKHULQJLVQRWGHHPHGVDIHRUVHFXUH demonstrators and their leaders will have to immediately evacuate the place once ordered by the police or face prosecution.28ौHLVVXH with this Article is that the term ‘security reasons’ is ambiguous DQGRSHQWRLQWHUSUHWDWLRQVDQGZLOOOLNHO\EHPLVXVHGE\WKHSROLFH WROLPLWWKHULJKWWRSURWHVWE\SURVHFXWLQJSURWHVWHUV$UWLFOH RI WKH $VVHPEO\ /DZ SURYLGHV WKH SROLFH ZLWK WKH DXWKRULW\ WR 7KH,VODPLF5HSXEOLFRI$IJKDQLVWDQThe Constitution of Afghanistan .DEXO 7KH,VODPLF5HSXEOLFRI$IJKDQLVWDQ-DQXDU\ KWWSV ELW O\[F$XO$. 25 Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, The Afghan Law on Gatherings, Strikes, and Demonstrations .DEXO 0LQLVWU\RI-XVWLFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQ0DUFK KWWSV ELWO\76MD/D. 3URWHVWHUV6KRW'HDGLQ0DUFKLQ$IJKDQ DEXO%RPE.ې6HFXQGHU.HUPDQL Capital’, BBC, -XQHKWWSV EEFLQ0P80Z8. \VOA, 0DۑIJKDQ3URWHVWHUV.LOOHGLQ&ODVKHVZLWK3ROLFH$ېD]*XO\$ KWWSV ELWO\3, D. 28 Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, The Afghan Law on Gatherings, Strikes, and Demonstrations .DEXO 0LQLVWU\RI-XVWLFHRI$IJKDQLVWDQ0DUFK KWWSV ELWO\76MD/D. Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan resort to force. 8QGHU WKH $IJKDQ 3ROLFH /DZ ZKHQ D VXVSHFW does not comply with police warnings, the police can resort to VKRRWLQJWKHVXVSHFW+RZHYHUWKRXJKSXEOLFJDWKHULQJVVWULNHV and demonstrations are one’s political right, resorting to force or shooting at the protesters is an outright violation of international human rights laws to which Afghanistan is a signatory. Moreover, QRERG\ VKDOOې SXUVXDQW WR $UWLFOH RI WKH $VVHPEO\ /DZ RUJDQL]HJDWKHULQJVGHPRQVWUDWLRQVDQGVWULNHVGXULQJWKHVWDWH of emergency’. And yet, the term ‘state of emergency’ is vague, general, and interpretable, i.e., the police can practically stop any demonstration and protest under this pretext. 'XULQJWKH1DWLRQDO8QLW\*RYHUQPHQW 18* VHYHUDOGHPRQ VWUDWLRQV WRRN SODFH LQ .DEXO DQG RWKHU SURYLQFHV WR FKDOOHQJH government policies.31 ौH )DUNKXQGD GHPRQVWUDWLRQ LQ 0DUFK WKHVRFDOOHG7DEDVXP0RYHPHQWLQ1RYHPEHUWZR PDVV SURWHVWV RI WKH (QOLJKWHQPHQW 0RYHPHQW LQ DQG WKH 8SULVLQJ IRU &KDQJH LQ GHਭHG WKH JRYHUQPHQW ौHVH protests, and the government’s inability to peacefully control them, enabled the National Security Council (NSC) of Afghanistan ۑWRPXOORYHUFKDQJLQJWKH$VVHPEO\/DZDQGUHVWULFWWKHFLWL]HQV ULJKWWRSURWHVW,QWKH16&RUGHUHGWRUHQHZWKH$VVHPEO\ /DZ ZKLFK SURSRVHG VLJQLਭFDQW FKDQJHV :KHQ D FRS\ RI WKH QHZ GUD़ OHDNHG WR WKH PHGLD LW IDFHG VWURQJ SXVKEDFNV IURP &62VDQGFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLVWV32ौH$IJKDQLVWDQ,QGHSHQGHQW +XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQVHYHUDO&62VDQG+5'VPDLQWDLQHG WKDW WKH QHZ FKDQJH WR WKH $VVHPEO\ /DZ ZRXOG SODFH PRUH restrictions on civic space to organise and participate in protests and demonstrations. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH QHZ GUD़ WKH SROLFH UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR WHFKQLFDOEDUULHUVWREORFNDGHWKHURXWHWRGHPRQVWUDWRUVDVېXVH WHFKQLFDOې ौH WHUPV 33ۑ\VHFXULW\ RਯFLDOV LGHQWLI\ WKHP QHFHVVDU ,ELG ,ELG /LPLWLQJ V1HZ/DZRQ)UHHGRPRI$VVHPEO\ۑIJKDQLVWDQ$ېKVDQ4DDQH) the Space to Demonstrate’, Afghanistan Analysts Network, $XJXVW KWWSV ELWO\FGZVJ. 32 Ibid. 33 Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and Civil Society 11 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ۑ\DVVHFXULW\RਯFLDOVLGHQWLI\WKHPWREHQHFHVVDUېDQGۑEDUULHUV DUHQRWFOHDUDQGFDQEHRSHQWRLQWHUSUHWDWLRQौLVZLOOLQFUHDVH WKHFKDQFHRILWVPLVXVHE\VHFXULW\IRUFHVWREORFNWKHURDGVWR SURWHVWRUV ौH QHZ GUD़ DOVR VWLSXODWHV WKDW WKH GHPRQVWUDWLRQ RU SURWHVW FRPPLिHH FRQVLVWLQJ RI WKUHH PHPEHUV GHHPHG responsible for the protest, will be held accountable for any illegal actions during the demonstration. ौH OHJDO FODXVH LV DW direct odds with Article 26 of the constitution, which reiterates that ‘crime is a personal act’ and that ‘investigation, arrest, and detention of an accused, as well as penalty execution, shall not incriminate another person.’ Hence, the government is not RQO\ YLRODWLQJ $UWLFOH RI WKH FXUUHQW HQIRUFHG $VVHPEO\ /DZ which requires the government to ensure security and safety of gatherings but is also trying to restrict civic space for HRDs and FLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLVWVौLVLVDQRXWULJKWHYDVLRQRIUHVSRQVLELOLW\ of the Afghan government to protect the public during gatherings DQG SURWHVWV 0RUH VXUSULVLQJO\ $UWLFOH RI WKH QHZ GUD़ SURKLELWVDQ\JDWKHULQJVVWULNHVGHPRQVWUDWLRQVDQGVLWLQVEDVHG on ethnicity, religion, region, and actions that harm the national economy or disrupt public order.35 In a democratic environment, ethnic, religious, or other underprivileged segments of the society are able to question the government’s discriminatory policies by KROGLQJSURWHVWVRUVLWLQVWRUDLVHWKHLUOHJLWLPDWHYRLFHVौHUHIRUH ۑHQIRUFLQJVXFKDODZZLOOFOHDUO\FKRNHPDQ\HWKQLFPLQRULWLHV YRLFHVVXFKDV$IJKDQ+LQGXV6LNKVDQGRWKHUGLVVLGHQWVIURP raising legitimate concerns. It also goes against the domestic and international human rights obligations of the Afghan government. $OWKRXJKWKHQHZGUD़RIWKH$VVHPEO\/DZKDVQRW\HWEHHQ formally passed by the parliament, the government has, in practice, DOZD\V VRXJKW WR OLPLW FLYLF VSDFH ौHVH UHVWULFWLRQV UDQJH IURP EORFNLQJ WKH URDGV XVLQJ PLOLWDU\ HTXLSPHQW DQG VKLSSLQJ containers to physical assault, arrests, and even deliberate shooting of protesters. In the face of deteriorating security situation, the V&RQVXOWDWLYH0HHWLQJZLWK&62VWR5HYLHZWKH'UDIWۑ&5+,$ې2UJDQLVDWLRQV Afghanistan IndependentۑDZRQ*DWKHULQJV6WULNHVDQG'HPRQVWUDWLRQV/ Human Rights Commission, -XO\KWWSV ELWO\;NFFN. ,ELG 35 Ibid. 12 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan FUDFNGRZQRQFLYLOLDQSURWHVWVKDVKDGVXFKDGHYDVWDWLQJHਬHFW that no one in Kabul dares to hold mass protests anymore. Civil VRFLHW\ DFWLYLVWV DUH FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH JUDGXDO VKULQNLQJ RI FLYLFVSDFHE\XVHRIOHJLVODWLRQHVSHFLDOO\WKHODWHVWGUD़ODZRQ demonstration. Zia Moballegh, a human rights activist, described the situation as such: XQIRUJHिDEOH OHVVRQV IURP WKH KRUULਭF ۑLYHQ WKH FLWL]HQV* history of Afghanistan, people do not accept such repressive laws, especially freedom of expression, […], and deprivation of meaningful civic participation because the participation of the people guarantees the current republican system and protects WKH HOHFWHG JRYHUQPHQW ,VRODWLRQ RI WKH VWDWH DQG DिHPSWV to confront citizens by resorting to any means, especially to suppressing civic participation and closing the sphere of democratic activities, are the early stages of the decline that ZLOOKLJKO\OLNHO\OHDGWRDQDEVROXWHGLFWDWRUVKLSRUIDOOLQWR possibly civil war.36 Economic Environment :LWK DQ LQਮX[ RI UHFRQVWUXFWLRQ IXQGLQJ LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ D tremendous amount of money has been spent in the country. Several international philanthropic organisations and foreign embassies, WRJHWKHU ZLWK WKH 81DਯOLDWHG RUJDQLVDWLRQV EHJDQ VXSSRUWLQJ $IJKDQ &62V ZLWK ਭQDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH LQFOXVLRQ LQ SROLF\ DQG GHFLVLRQPDNLQJ SURFHVVHV DQG WKHLU UHODWLRQ ZLWK WKH $IJKDQ government.372YHUWKHODVWWZRGHFDGHV&62VKDYHSOD\HGFULWLFDO roles in various areas of human rights, women empowerment, SHDFH FDSDFLW\EXLOGLQJ DGYRFDF\ DQG JRYHUQDQFH $QG \HW FRQFHUQVDERXWWKHFKDOOHQJHV&62VDUHIDFLQJLQ$IJKDQLVWDQDUH LQFUHDVLQJ6LQFHWKHLUULVHLQWKHSRVWHUD$IJKDQ&62VDV the government itself, have been heavily dependent on foreign DLGौXVZLWKWKHVHFXULW\WUDQVLWLRQWR$IJKDQVHFXULW\IRUFHV 36 Zia Moballegh, ‘New Bill on Demonstration, Deliberate and Restrictive Ambiguity of Citizenship Rights’, Rah-e-Madanyat Newspaper, -XO\ KWWSV ELWO\; 13 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 LQWKHUHZHUHIHDUVRIDGHFUHDVHLQLQWHUQDWLRQDOIXQGLQJWR $IJKDQLVWDQWKDWKHOGEDFNWKHPDMRULW\RI&62VRSHUDWLQJLQWKH country.38 2YHUWKHSDVW\HDUVLQWHUQDWLRQDOGRQRUVKDYHIROORZHGWZR GLਬHUHQWDLGSURYLVLRQPHFKDQLVPVIRU$IJKDQLVWDQ RQEXGJHW DQG RਬEXGJHW ौHIRUPHULVGLVEXUVHGWKURXJKWKH$IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQW EXGJHWDU\ SURJUDPPHV DQG WKH ODिHU FKDQQHOOHG through development partners other than the Afghan government VXFK DV WKH 81 DJHQFLHV DQG 1*2V RSHUDWLQJ LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ 6LQFHWKHVKULQNLQJRIIRUHLJQDLGDQGWKHWUHQGWRPRYHD ODUJHSURSRUWLRQRIRਬEXGJHWDLGWRRQEXGJHWKDYHOH़$IJKDQ &62VFRQFHUQHGRYHUDYDLODELOLW\RIਭQDQFHVWRLPSOHPHQWWKHLU activities. *LYHQ WKH QDWXUH RI IRUHLJQDLG GHSHQGHQF\ DQG SURMHFWGULYHQ LQFRPH DQ\ ਮXFWXDWLRQ LQ H[WHUQDO DLG ZLOO DOVR DਬHFWWKHSRVLWLRQDQGDFWLYLWLHVRI&62VLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ *LYHQ WKH ਭQDQFLDO FRQVWUDLQWV PHQWLRQHG DERYH KHDY\ WD[DWLRQ RQ PHGLD ZLWK OLिOH JRYHUQPHQW VXSSRUW HVSHFLDOO\ GXULQJ WKH 18* KDV FULSSOHG D ODUJH QXPEHU RI 79 VWDWLRQV radio stations, and print media, mostly those based in the SURYLQFHV RI $IJKDQLVWDQ $V RI $XJXVW PRUH WKDQ WZR KXQGUHGPHGLDRXWOHWVPRVWO\SULQWZHUHFORVHGGXHWRਭQDQFLDO problems. Many journalists called on the Afghan government WR IXOਭO LWV FRQVWLWXWLRQDO FRPPLWPHQW WR VXSSRUW WKH PHGLD with tax exemption or tax reduction, as most of the print media, LQ SDUWLFXODU KDYH OLिOH RU QR SHUPDQHQW VRXUFH RI LQFRPH 0RUHRYHUGXHWRਭQDQFLDOFULVLVDWWKHWLPHDODUJHQXPEHURI &62VDQGQHWZRUNVZHUHHLWKHUGRZQVL]HGRUFORVHGDOWRJHWKHU $'HFDGHRI3URJUHVVDQG LYLO6RFLHW\LQ$IJKDQLVWDQ&ې0DULDP6DIL Challenges’, Peace Insight, 'HFHPEHUKWWSV ELWO\8L5IH. URP6HFXULW\6HFWRU5HIRUPWR(QGHPLF&RUUXSWLRQ(ېEGXO5DKPDQ Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan ौH FRQWLQXHG WUHQG OH़ QHJDWLYH LPSOLFDWLRQV RQ IUHHGRP RI expression in the absence of substantial assistance. :KLOH &62V DUH SOD\LQJ FUXFLDO UROHV IURP IXQFWLRQLQJ DV watchdogs and informing citizens about their rights and entitlement to improving service delivery and development projects, the surge RI &RYLG SDQGHPLF KDV H[SRVHG &62V WR ਭQDQFLDO SUREOHPV 0DQ\OHVVHUIXQGHG&62VZLWKOLिOHVXSSRUWIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQW DQGLQWHUQDWLRQDOFRPPXQLW\DUHQRZRQWKHEULQNRIFROODSVH7R PLQLPLVHWKHLPSDFWRIWKHSDQGHPLFRQWKHSULYDWHVHFWRU1*2V have requested the Afghan government to provide them with support through mechanisms such as tax adjustment. Political Environment At the political level, civil society activists and HRDs receive OLिOHVXSSRUWIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWDSSDUDWXVHVZKLFKKDVEHHQ DQG FRQWLQXH WR EH RQH RI WKHLU PDLQ FKDOOHQJHV E\ DਬHFWLQJ WKH HQDEOLQJ HQYLURQPHQW IRU FLYLO VRFLHW\ LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ 2YHU the last two decades, Afghanistan has reportedly been the most unfavourable environment for civil society and human rights activists. Journalists, civil society activists, and HRDs have been XQGHUFRQVWDQWWKUHDWIURP$IJKDQRਯFLDOVSRZHUKROGHUV03V LQਮXHQWLDO OHDGHUV LOOHJDO DUPHG JURXSV PDਭDV DQG WHUURULVW QHWZRUNVVXFKDVWKH7DOLEDQDQG,6,6PHPEHUV$PLGWKHSRVW VHFXULW\GHWHULRUDWLRQWKHUHKDVEHHQDGUDPDWLFGHFOLQHLQ WKH FLYLF VSDFH IRU KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV $FFRUGLQJ WR D UHSRUWE\WKH(8ODFNRIVXSSRUWIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWਭQDQFLDO FRQVWUDLQWV DQG FRQਮLFW KDYH EHHQ DPRQJ WKH PRVW SUHVVLQJ challenges civil society has faced. *LYHQ WKDW IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ KDV EHHQ D SLYRWDO achievement of the last two decades, the growing threats against journalists, media, and civil society activists are jeopardising this gain. According to Afghan journalists, freedom of the press and ۑ5LVN IJKDQ(8(QYR\V6HHNLQJ:D\VWR0LWLJDWH&29,'$ې7ROR1HZV Tolo News, $SULOKWWSV ELWO\$[D%\/. +XPDQ5LJKWV'HIHQGHUVXQGHU IJKDQLVWDQ$ېPQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO$ .ELWO\F=P;JE KWWSV Amnesty International,$XJXVWۑWWDFN$ 7KH(XURSHDQ8QLRQAfghanistan: EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society %UXVVHOV (8$XJXVW KWWSV ELWO\H7JZV. 15 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Figure 1: Main Challenges to an Enabling Environment for Civil Society Lack of support from the government 47% Lack of resources 34%0% Insecurity and conflict 32% Low public trust 18% Lack of coordination 12% Conservatism 11% Discrimination in access to funding 3% Lack of support from international community Source: The European Union, Afghanistan: EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society;ƌƵƐƐĞůƐ͗ h͕ƵŐƵƐƚϮϲ͕ϮϬϭϴͿ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬďŝƚ͘ůLJͬϯĞdϴŐǁƐ͘ expression is currently in a ‘downward spiral’ with increasing LQWLPLGDWLRQ DQG YLROHQFH IURP ERWK VWDWH DQG QRQVWDWH DFWRUV ODFN RI VXSSRUW IURP WKH $IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQW DQG ZDQLQJ international assistance. Shah Hussein Murtazavi, a former LQېMRXUQDOLVWDQGFXUUHQWDGYLVRUWR3UHVLGHQW*KDQLRQFHDUJXHG all our investigative reports, there is a minister, a governor, or an 03LQYROYHG$OORIZKRPKDYHDUPHGPHQ6RPHKDYHJXDUGV ۑDQG>IRUPHGLDZLWKIHZRUQRJXDUGV@HYHU\VWRU\LVDULVN Many believe that the Afghan government is afraid of granting freedom of expression to their citizens because it can provide an enabling space to expose what the political leaders have been doing. For example, there will be the possibility of cases of corruption, ODQGJUDEELQJKXPDQULJKWVDEXVHDQGRWKHUPDOIHDVDQFHEHLQJ DLUHGWRWKHSXEOLF$FFRUGLQJWRRQHLQWHUYLHZHHZKRVSRNHRQ condition of anonymity: As human rights defenders put forward sensitive topics and civil society functions as a ‘watchdog’ of the performance of Humanۑ7KUHDWVWR0HGLD)UHHGRPLQ$IJKDQLVWDQې3DWULFLD*RVVPDQ Rights Watch, -DQXDU\KWWSV ELWO\<%\. LQWHUYLHZE\6KDKۑ0HGLDXQGHUDWWDFN IJKDQLVWDQ$ې3DWULFLD*RVVPDQ Hussain Murtazavi, The Human Rights Watch, -DQXDU\KWWSV ELW O\<]6=GS. 16 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan the government which will challenge the system as a whole. ौHGDQJHURIFRXUVHZLOOFRPHIURPDQ\RQHZKRVHLQWHUHVWV DUH WKUHDWHQHG LQFOXGLQJ WKH JRYHUQPHQW RਯFLDOV UHOLJLRXV cultural, and political leaders. $V PHQWLRQHG HDUOLHU GXULQJ WKH UXOH RI WKH 18* VHYHUDO PDVV SURWHVWV LQFOXGLQJ WKH VRFDOOHG 7DEDVXP 0RYHPHQW LQ (QOLJKWHQPHQW0RYHPHQW LQ DQG WKH 8SULVLQJIRU &KDQJH VRXWULJKWIDLOXUHLQۑ0RYHPHQWLQH[SRVHGWKHJRYHUQPHQW managing the protests. In response, severe restrictive steps have EHHQWDNHQE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWWRQDUURZGRZQFLYLFVSDFHIRUDQ\ SRWHQWLDOSURWHVWLQWKHIXWXUH$VWKHਭUVWPRYHWKHJRYHUQPHQW VRXJKWWRUHGUD़WKH$VVHPEO\/DZVKRUWO\D़HUWKHVHPRYHPHQWV As a result of which, several limiting articles and clauses were DGGHGWRWKHGUD़RIWKHODZ,QDQXQSUHFHGHQWHGPRYHWKH$IJKDQ government banned WhatsApp and Telegram messaging services IRUGD\VLQ1RYHPEHUौHJRYHUQPHQWODEHOOHGWKLVDVD security measure to stop the Taliban and other insurgent groups IURP WKHVH HQFU\SWHGPHVVDJLQJ VHUYLFHV ौLV DFWLRQ IXUWKHU stirred growing concerns over censorship of freedom of expression LQWKHFRXQWU\ौHVHSROLWLFDOO\PRWLYDWHGPHDVXUHVVDZSXVKEDFN IURP &62V DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV ौH :KDWV$SS EDQ ZDV VXEVHTXHQWO\OL़HGEXWWKHQHZGUD़RIWKH$VVHPEO\/DZLVVWLOO pending before the parliament. ,Q $OL0RKDTLT1DVDEDPDJD]LQHHGLWRUZDVDUUHVWHGE\ LPSULVRQPHQWौHۑWKH$IJKDQSROLFHDQGVHQWHQFHGWRWZR\HDUV court in Kabul had convicted Nasab of blasphemy to Islam. Nasab had published articles, among others, that ‘criticised the practice RISXQLVKLQJDGXOWHU\ZLWKODVKHVDQGDUJXHGWKDWPHQDQG women should be considered as equals under Islamic law’.51 Under the Afghan constitution, any sentiments and belief against the SULQFLSOHVRI,VODPDUHVWULFWO\SURKLELWHG,QDVLPLODUFDVHLQ $QRQ\PRXVRQHDLGRUJDQL]DWLRQLQWHUYLHZE\$EGXO5DKPDQ 17 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Zaman Ahmadi was sentenced to twenty years in prison for his unpublished article which was considered apostasy and blasphemy to the principles of Islam.52 In a highly conservative society, it is GLਯFXOWWRGHYHORSDQGLQVWLWXWLRQDOLVHIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQ Among other things, a deeply engrained culture of impunity V DOUHDG\ LQHਬHFWLYHۑ\LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ KDV FULSSOHG WKH FRXQWU MXGLFLDU\ DQG OHJDO V\VWHP /DZ HQIRUFHPHQW ERGLHV DUH HLWKHU incapable of executing the law or unwilling to do so. Increased YLROHQWDिDFNVDQGWKUHDWVDJDLQVW+5'VFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLVWV DQGMRXUQDOLVWVJRXQLQYHVWLJDWHG$VDUHVXOWVHOIFHQVRUVKLSKDV EHFRPHDPHDQVRIVXUYLYDOERWKOLWHUDOO\DQGਭJXUDWLYHO\0DQ\ journalists prefer not to report on sensitive topics, including FRUUXSWLRQODQGJUDEELQJDQGKXPDQULJKWVDEXVHVDVDPHDQV WRPLQLPLVHVDIHW\ULVNV53 5HਮHFWLQJWKHODZDQGRUGHUVLWXDWLRQD&,9,&86DVVHVV ment reported that the environment in Afghanistan remains ULVN\ IRU +5'V DQG &62V ZKLFK ZDV KLJKOLJKWHG WKURXJK WKH 8QLYHUVDO 3HULRGLF 5HYLHZ 835 EXW WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDV IDLOHG to fully implement its recommendations. ौH IDLOXUHV LQFOXGH LQDELOLW\ WR HQVXUH HਬHFWLYH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ DQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\ RI violations against journalists, threats against HRDs and media, and the dominant culture of impunity.55 Consequently, civic space UHਮHFWLQJWKHWUHPHQGRXVۑUHSUHVVHGېLQ$IJKDQLVWDQLVUDWHGDV constraints placed on civil society’s fundamental freedoms.56 Security Environment Aside from the regulatory and political constraints encountered E\ FLYLO VRFLHW\ ODFN RI VHFXULW\ UHPDLQV WKH NH\ FKDOOHQJH IRU IJKDQ0DQ6HUYHV 18 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan &62VDQG+5'VRSHUDWLQJLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ)RUWKHSDVW\HDUV DQGHVSHFLDOO\VLQFH$IJKDQLVWDQKDVEHHQRQHRIWKHPRVW dangerous countries in the world for civil society activists, HRDs, DQGDLGZRUNHUV&RQVWDQWWKUHDWVLQWLPLGDWLRQKDUDVVPHQWNLOOLQJ NLGQDSSLQJDQGRWKHUIRUPVRIYLROHQFHDUHFRPPRQO\IDFHGE\ HRDs, especially female human rights activists in the country.57 6WDWH DQG QRQVWDWH DFWRUV LQFOXGLQJ JRYHUQPHQW RਯFLDOV 03V SRZHUEURNHUV LQਮXHQWLDO DQG UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV WKH 7DOLEDQ DQG the ISIS have been the obstacles to enabling civic spaces. Despite public promises to safeguard the HRDs, the government is the main culprit for threats, intimidation, and harassment of KXPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWV,Q-XQHWKH.DEXOSROLFHFDUULHGRXW D EUXWDO FUDFNGRZQ RQ D FLYLO VWULNH E\ GHSOR\LQJ KHDY\ IRUFHV NLOOLQJ VHYHUDO SURWHVWHUV58 $V PHQWLRQHG HDUOLHU WKH 18* UXOH has been heavily criticised by the public due to their restrictive SROLFLHV7RVXSUHVVFLYLOSURWHVWVLQDZHOOFRRUGLQDWHGSODQWKH JRYHUQPHQWSRVLWLRQHGRYHUQLJKWVKLSSLQJFRQWDLQHUVWREORFNRਬ all routes leading into Kabul city centre, preventing anyone from entering the area. ,QWKH&LYLO6RFLHW\DQG+XPDQ5LJKWV1HWZRUN &6+51 LQFROODERUDWLRQZLWKDJURXSRI&62VFRPSLOHGDVKDGRZUHSRUWRQ WRUWXUH%HIRUHVXEPLिLQJWKHUHSRUWWRWKH81&RPPLिHHDJDLQVW 7RUWXUH 81&$7 &6+51UHFHLYHGWKUHDWVYLDDQRQ\PRXVSKRQH FDOOVDVWKHUHSRUWLQFOXGHGWKHQDPHVRIVHQLRUJRYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOV 2QH RI WKH UHVSRQGHQWV LQ WKLV UHVHDUFK ZKR ZDV LQYROYHG LQ GHYHORSLQJWKH81&$7VKDGRZUHSRUWGHVFULEHGWKHVWRU\DVVXFK )RUਭQDODSSURYDOZHKDGVHQWRXWWKH81&$7VKDGRZUHSRUW WRWKH&6+51PHPEHUVDQGSDUWQHURUJDQLVDWLRQV-XVWD़HU three hours, we got an anonymous call with a threat. ‘If you GRQRWWDNHRXWWKHFDVHGHVFULEHGRQSDJH>RIWKHVKDGRZ UHSRUW@ WKH &6+51 RਯFH ZLOO QRW EH VDIH DQ\PRUH IURP 57 Amnesty International, Defenceless Defenders: Afghanistan’s Human Rights Community under Attack /RQGRQ $PQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO KWWSV ELW O\YEW4N. 58 Ibid. RYHUQPHQW6KXWV'RZQ.DEXO&LW\%ORFNV5RDGVZLWK*ې7ROR1HZV Containers’, Tolo News,0D\KWWSV ELWO\KW.5':. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौH FDVH RQ SDJH ZDV D VLWXDWLRQ LQۑWRPRUURZ RQZDUGV which a high government leader has been excused of torture LQDORFDOSULVRQ$़HUDORQJGLVFXVVLRQORRNLQJLQWRGLਬHUHQW options to deal with this situation, we decided that the case VKDOOEHPHQWLRQHGJHQHUDOO\LQWKHRਯFLDOUHSRUW KRZHYHUWKH GHWDLOHG VKDOO EH SXW DV D FRQਭGHQWLDO UHSRUW WR WKH 81&$7 FRPPLVVLRQLQ*HQHYD ,Q WZR KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV 0XVD 0DKPRXGL DQG Ehsanullah Hamidi, were arrested by the Afghan intelligence DJHQF\ 1'6 ौH WZR DFWLYLVWV ZKR ZRUNHG IRU WKH /RJDU $QRQ\PRXVRQHDLGRUJDQL]DWLRQLQWHUYLHZE\$EGXO5DKPDQ Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan VORQJUXQQLQJFRQਮLFW7RFRQWLQXHWKHLUZRUNMRXUQDOLVWVۑ\FRXQWU are required to remain neutral in such circumstance; otherwise, WKH\ DUH ERXQG WR EH WKUHDWHQHG E\ GLਬHUHQW DFWRUV PDLQO\ WKH 7DOLEDQDQG,6,62YHUWKHSDVW\HDUVWKH7DOLEDQKDVUHSHDWHGO\ warned the Afghan media to cease ‘broadcasting what they describe as government propaganda against the armed group’.,QWKH 7DOLEDQWDUJHWHG DEXVFDUU\LQJ HPSOR\HHVRI7ROR79 QHWZRUN NLOOLQJVHYHQMRXUQDOLVWVौHJURXSFDOOHGWKHDिDFNDUHWDOLDWLRQ against the propaganda in favour of the Afghan government and its international allies, which was broadcast by Tolo TV.65 Journalists and civil society activists are not the only ones WDUJHWHGE\VXFKWHUURULVWDिDFNV,Q-XO\DVXLFLGHERPELQJ WDUJHWHG WKH $IJKDQ 6LNK DQG +LQGX FRPPXQLW\ LQ -DODODEDG ZKLFK NLOOHG QLQHWHHQ SHRSOH LQFOXGLQJ 2िDU 6LQJK .KDOVD WKH RQO\ 6LNK FDQGLGDWH DOVR UHVSHFWHG E\ PLQRULW\ +LQGXV IRU WKH upcoming parliamentary elections at the time.66/LNHZLVHLQ $EGXO 6DPDG $PLUL D KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVW ZRUNLQJ IRU WKH SURYLQFLDORਯFHRIWKH$,+5&EDVHGLQ*KRUSURYLQFHZDVVKRW dead by the Taliban on his way home.67 ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR LQVHFXULW\ WKH H[LVWHQFH RI UDGLFDO DQG ROG fashioned views in society is also a major challenge, especially for women activists and journalists. For example, in western Afghanistan, Mawlavi Abdul Rahman Ansari, who casts himself ,Aljazeeraۑ7DOLEDQ0LVWDNHQO\.LGQDSV6L[$IJKDQ-RXUQDOLVWVېOMD]HHUD$ 6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ELWO\%R4GZ. 65 Ibid. ۑ\IJKDQ6LNKV/RVH.H\0HPEHURI7KHLU&RPPXQLW$ېXODEXGGLQ*KXEDU* Tolo News-XO\KWWSV ELWO\<\$V26. 67 Amnesty International, ‘Afghanistan: Killing of Human Rights Defender is .ELWO\G/MT KWWSV PQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO6HSWHPEHU$ۑDU&ULPH:$ 21 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 KDVEHHQSXEOLFO\RSSRVLQJZRUNRIIHPDOHېDVDUHOLJLRXVਭJXUH journalists and calling to suppress women’s presence in public’.68 $JDLQVWWKLVEDFNJURXQGZRUNLQJLQ$IJKDQLVWDQIRUMRXUQDOLVWV +5'VDQGFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLVWVUHPDLQVKLJKO\SUHFDULRXVौH current situation, which is characterised by a high level of culture RILPSXQLW\DQGDODFNRIDFOHDUFXWSURWHFWLRQPHFKDQLVPZLWK OLिOHVXSSRUWIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWUHਮHFWVDQXQFHUWDLQSDWKIRU WKRVHZRUNLQJWRHQVXUHGHPRFUDWLFYDOXHV As of this writing, the Afghan government has been trying WR NLFN Rਬ LQWUD$IJKDQ SHDFH QHJRWLDWLRQV LQ ZKLFK DOO SDUWLHV LQYROYHGZLOOZRUNWRJHWKHUWRUHDFKDSROLWLFDOVHिOHPHQWWRHQG V PDQ\ EORRG\ \HDUV RI FRQਮLFWौLV KDVEHFRPH Dۑ\WKH FRXQWU SRVVLELOLW\ IROORZLQJ WKH 867DOLEDQ DJUHHPHQW LQ 4DWDU HDUO\ LQ ौH DJUHHPHQW OH़ ERWK VLGHV ZLWK WHUPV RI FRQGLWLRQV to meet to set the stage for the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan and for the Taliban to start negotiating with the $IJKDQJRYHUQPHQWIRUDSROLWLFDOVHिOHPHQW1HYHUWKHOHVV&62V HRDs, and minority groups are concerned about the decline in civic space and the loss of gains made over the past two decades as a result of the peace process that will pave the way for arrival of the Taliban and its direct engagement in public sphere. $FFRUGLQJ WR &62V DQG DFWLYLVWV WKH 7DOLEDQ KDYH D KLVWRU\ RI GHHSURRWHG DQLPRVLW\ ZLWK +5'V DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ DFWLYLVWV mainly with female human rights defenders. During their rule in WKHODWH VWKH7DOLEDQVXSSUHVVHGDQGWRUWXUHGHWKQRUHOLJLRXV minorities and civil activists. Following the withdrawal of LQWHUQDWLRQDO VHFXULW\ IRUFHV LQ WKH WHQVLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH Afghan government and the Taliban escalated dramatically. As D UHVXOW WKH 7DOLEDQ WRRN FRQWURO RI .XQGX] DQG *KD]QL FLWLHV and a large part of Farah province. During this time, ‘all human ULJKWVRਯFHVLQWKHVHSURYLQFHVZHUHORRWHGDQGVHWRQਭUHE\WKH Taliban’.,Q LQDPHHWLQJKHOGLQ0RVFRZWKH7DOLEDQKDUVKO\ V ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV IRU VSUHDGLQJ LPPRUDOLW\ DQGۑDिDFNHG ZRPHQې 68 Zaman Sultani, South Asia Researcher for Amnesty International, interview E\$EGXO5DKPDQ 22 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan indecency’.716XFKYLOLਭFDWLRQKDVDOZD\VEHHQDFRPPRQQDUUDWLYH DJDLQVW+5'VIURPWKH7DOLEDQDQGRWKHUUDGLFDOਭJXUHV ौLV VKRZV WKDW WKH 7DOLEDQ KDV QRW FKDQJHG LWV YLHZV RQ human rights issues since the group was pushed from power in ,IWKHKDUGJDLQVRIWKHSDVWWZRGHFDGHVDUHQRWVXSSRUWHG DQGJXDUDQWHHGWKHGLVDSSHDUDQFHRIWKHVHDFKLHYHPHQWVD़HUWKH DUULYDORIWKH7DOLEDQLQWKHD़HUPDWKRIWKHSHDFHGHDOGRHVQRW VHHPXQOLNHO\ौHJURXSLVVWLOOUDGLFDODQGGRJPDWLF Conclusion ौLVUHSRUWKLJKOLJKWHGWKDWFLYLFVSDFHIRU+5'VDQGFLYLOVRFLHW\ DFWLYLVWVLQ$IJKDQLVWDQKDVVKUXQNPDLQO\D़HU$़HUWKH IDOORIWKH7DOLEDQLQWKHUHZDVJURZLQJKRSHIRUWKHFUHDWLRQ DQGJURZWKRIFRQGXFLYHFLYLFVSDFHIRUWKHZRUNRIFLYLOVRFLHW\ DQGKXPDQULJKWVRUJDQLVDWLRQVौLVKRSHHPHUJHGODUJHO\GXHWR WKHਭQDQFLDODQGSROLWLFDOVXSSRUWRIWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDOFRPPXQLW\ WR&62VLQ$IJKDQLVWDQ'XULQJWKLVSHULRGWKHVHFXULW\VLWXDWLRQ gradually improved because of the strong presence of foreign WURRSV :LWK WKH VLJQLਭFDQW UHGXFWLRQ LQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO WURRSV LQ KRZHYHU IRUHLJQ DLG WR $IJKDQLVWDQ DQG ORFDO &62V DOVR GHFUHDVHGVLJQLਭFDQWO\ौHZLWKGUDZDOQRWRQO\XQGHUPLQHGWKH $IJKDQ&62VSROLWLFDOO\DQGHFRQRPLFDOO\EXWDOVRZRUVHQHGWKH security situation for them. Amid the security deterioration and protracted political LQਭJKWLQJLQWKH18*OHGE\3UHVLGHQW*KDQLDQG&KLHI([HFXWLYH Abdullah Abdullah, supporting and protecting HRDs and civil society activists was not a priority for the government. In most VHQVLWLYH FDVHV ZKHQ KXPDQ ULJKWV DEXVHV FRUUXSWLRQ ODQG grabbing, or suppression of minorities have been put forward by +5'VDQG&62VWKH\KDYHEHHQFRQVWDQWO\WKUHDWHQHGKDUDVVHG DQGLQWLPLGDWHGE\ERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV 6LQFH GHVSLWH VRPH OHJDO LPSURYHPHQW VXFK DV WKH $FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ/DZZKLFKZDVSDVVHGE\WKHJRYHUQPHQW WKHUH KDV EHHQ VLJQLਭFDQW GHFOLQH LQ WKH ULJKWV WR IUHHGRP RI 7KH7DOLEDQ7RRNېPPD*UDKDP+DUULVRQDQG$NKWDU0RKDPPDG0RNRLL) Theۑ7KH$IJKDQ:RPHQ/LYLQJ8QGHUWKH6KDGRZRI:DU HDUVRI0\/LIH> Guardian)HEUXDU\ KWWSV ELWO\HPNHLN. 23 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 DVVHPEO\ IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ DQG IUHHGRP RI WKH SUHVV ौH \VXQGXHLQWHUIHUHQFHLQWKHZRUNRI&62VDUELWUDUۑJRYHUQPHQW arrest, harassment and intimidation of HRDs and activists by WKHJRYHUQPHQW03VLQਮXHQWLDOOHDGHUVDQGSRZHUEURNHUVDQG the use of excessive force by security forces during peaceful SURWHVWVUHਮHFWDVKULQNLQJRIFLYLFVSDFHGXULQJWKH18*3ODFLQJ restrictions on social media such as Telegram and WhatsApp PHVVDJLQJVHUYLFHVDQGUHGUD़LQJWKH$VVHPEO\ODZDQG1*2V ODZDUHDOOGHOLEHUDWHDिHPSWVPDGHE\WKH18*WRIXUWKHUFORVH civic space. Contradictions and ambiguities in the country’s HQDFWHG ODZV LQFOXGLQJ WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ DQG LWV FRQਮLFW ZLWK international laws, have restricted freedom of expression, on one hand, and undermined the Afghan government’s international human rights obligations on the other. Moreover, threats from various terrorist groups, including the 7DOLEDQDQGWKH,6,6SRVHDGGLWLRQDOULVNVWRVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFH As mentioned earlier, many HRDs and civil society activists are EHLQJ LQWLPLGDWHG DQG NLOOHG E\ DUPHG JURXSV DQG LQVXUJHQWV )HPDOHKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVKDYHEHHQYLOLਭHGE\WKH7DOLEDQ for promoting indecency and immorality, and journalists have EHHQ NLOOHG IRU SHUFHLYHG ZULWLQJV DJDLQVW WKH LQVXUJHQW JURXSV Meanwhile, despite the government’s pledge to protect HRDs and journalists from growing harassment, threats, and intimidation, DEVHQFHRISROLWLFDOZLOODQGODFNRIDSURWHFWLRQPHFKDQLVPH[SRVH them to threats more than ever. Finally, the Afghan peace process with the Taliban is underway WRਭQGDSROLWLFDOVHिOHPHQWWRWKHFXUUHQWFULVLV,IWKHFRQFHUQV DQG YRLFHV RI &62V KXPDQ ULJKWV RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG PLQRULW\ JURXSVDUHQRWWDNHQLQWRDFFRXQWWKHDFKLHYHPHQWVRIWKHODVWWZR decades may be compromised and will have been in vain. Recommendations To the Afghan government L 7DNH SUDFWLFDO VWHSV WR HQVXUH WKDW DOO UHSRUWHG FDVHV RI NLOOLQJV WKUHDWV KDUDVVPHQW DQG LQWLPLGDWLRQV DJDLQVW +5'VE\ERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUVDUHWKRURXJKO\DQG Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan impartially investigated and perpetrators held accountable. ii. Remove all legal contradictions existing in various laws of WKH FRXQWU\ DQG PDNH WKHP FRQIRUP WR DOO LQWHUQDWLRQDO treaties to which it is a signatory. LLL ,PSURYHWKHHQDEOLQJHQYLURQPHQWDQGGHYHORSDQHਬHFWLYH protection mechanism for HRDs in close consultations ZLWK DOO VWDNHKROGHUV LQFOXGLQJ &62V DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV organisations. LY 6WUHQJWKHQUXOHRIODZDWDOOOHYHOVE\ਭJKWLQJWKHFXOWXUHRI impunity. v. Implement all the recommendations the country receives on the circumstances of HRDs provided by the UN Special Rapporteur and other relevant reports. To civil society i. Request and support the government in establishing a protection mechanism for HRDs. LL 'HYHORS DQ LQFRPHJHQHUDWLQJ DFWLRQ SODQ WR GLYHUVLI\ income sources and reduce donor dependency. LLL 6WUHQJWKHQ LQWUD&62V FRPPXQLFDWLRQ WR ZRUN FORVHO\ WR LPSURYH HਬHFWLYHQHVV RI WKHLU DFWLYLWLHV DQG DGYRFDF\ HਬRUWVWKURXJKDFOHDUPHFKDQLVP LY :RUN WR LQਮXHQFH SROLF\PDNHUV DQG WKRVH LQ SRZHU WR prevent the squeeze on freedom of expression, the press, and assembly. To the international community i. Encourage the Afghan government to change its repressive approach to prevent the detention, intimidation, and harassment of HRDs in the country. LL 3UHVVXUH WKH $IJKDQ JRYHUQPHQW WR HQVXUH WKH VDIHW\ RI HRDs by establishing protection mechanism with strong OHJDOIUDPHZRUN LLL (PSRZHU DQG SURYLGH FRQWLQXHG ਭQDQFLDO DQG SROLWLFDO VXSSRUWWR$IJKDQ&62V LY 6ZLWFKIURPWKHFXUUHQWSURMHFWEDVHGDSSURDFKWRDPRUH SURJUDPPHRULHQWHGDSSURDFK 25 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Annex Assessment of Civic Space in Afghanistan: Survey Findings ौHRQOLQHVXUYH\RIFLYLFVSDFHLQ$IJKDQLVWDQLQFOXGHVD VDPSOHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWLYLWLHVDQG&62VPHPEHUV2IZKLFK two respondents were female and the remaining 15 were male DOODJHGEHWZHHQWR\HDUVROGZLWKSDUWLFLSDQWVIURPWKH PLQRULW\JURXSVौHVXUYH\ZDVVKDUHGZLWKUHVSRQGHQWVUHVLGLQJ LQ.DEXO0D]DUH6KDULIDQG+HUDW ौLVVHFWLRQRIWKHVXUYH\RQWKHDVVHVVPHQWRIFLYLOOLEHUWLHV showed that 35.3 per cent of the respondents believed that there ZDVGLVFUHSDQF\LQWKHHQMR\PHQWRIFLYLOOLEHUWLHVDFURVVGLਬHUHQW social groups, in terms of language, caste, ethnicity, race, region, DQG UHOLJLRQ ौH VXUYH\ DOVR VKRZHG WKDW SHU FHQW RI WKH respondents strongly disagreed that poor people enjoyed the same OHYHORIFLYLOOLEHUWLHVDVULFKSHRSOHLQWKHFRXQWU\,QDGGLWLRQ per cent of the respondents strongly disagreed that men, women, and sexual minorities enjoyed the same degree of civil liberties, implying that one’s sexual orientation and gender identity could impact their enjoyment of civil liberties. Social groups 17% 17% 6% 35% 23% Economic status Strongly agree 17% 12% 29% 41% Agree Gender Neither agree or disagree 17% 5% 23% 53% Disagree Sexual identity 17% 6% 6% 17% 53% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͗ŝǀŝů>ŝďĞƌƟĞƐ ŶũŽLJĞĚ ƋƵĂůůLJďLJŝīĞƌĞŶƚ'ƌŽƵƉƐ 2QZKHWKHUWKHVWDWHKDVSXWUHVWULFWLRQVRQUHJLVWUDWLRQDQG operation of civil societies, the responses were rather mixed. A total of 52 per cent of the respondents believed that the state DOORZHG GLਬHUHQW JURXSV LQFOXGLQJ SHRSOH IURP PDUJLQDOLVHG communities to form and register an organisation, while 18 per FHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVEHOLHYHGRWKHUZLVHDQGIXUWKHUFRQਭUPHG WKDW WKH VWDWH XQGXO\ LQWHUIHUHG LQ WKH ZRUN RI &62V WR FRQWURO 26 Shrinking Civic Spaces for HRDs in Afghanistan WKHPDFFRUGLQJO\0RUHRYHUWKHVXUYH\VKRZHGWKDWSHUFHQW RIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVYLHZHGDQLQFUHDVHLQDिDFNVDJDLQVWKXPDQ rights defenders and civil society activists in Afghanistan. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH VXUYH\ SHU FHQW RI WKH UHVSRQGHQWV believed that the media has a critical role in representing SROLWLFDO YLHZV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ +RZHYHU SHU FHQW RI WKH UHVSRQGHQWV DJUHHG WKDW PHGLD ZRUNHUV KDYH IDFHG WKUHDWV LQWLPLGDWLRQKDUDVVPHQWDQGHYHQNLOOLQJE\VWDWHDQGQRQVWDWH All groups have been allowed to form and register an association in order to advance collective interests 52% 12% 12% 18% 6% Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͗ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĐĐĞƐƐƚŽ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ Progressive court judgements on freedom of expression 12%29% 35% 23% No law introduced by the state to hinder freedom of expression 23%29% 35% 12% Freedom of religion in practice 12% 12% 53% 23% Public access to government information in practice 17% 17% 47% 17% Disadvantaged groups can freely express themselves 41%29% 23% 6% Free to express personal views on political and sensitive topics 12% 23% 17% 35% 12% No attempts by the state to restrict freedom of expression on social media/internet 23%23% 47% 17% Government’s statement directed at journalists and media shifted from negative to positive 6% 23%% 17% 35% 17% No evidence of self-censorship among journalists and CSOs Strongly agree 12% 12% 47% 29% Agree No instances of journalists being harrased by state and non-state actors Neither agree or disagree 12% 41% 47% Disagree Media represent a wide range of politcial perspectives 12% 64% 17% 6% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͗&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ džƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ actors, especially those who are reporting on sensitive subjects, IRUZKRPWKHVLWXDWLRQUHPDLQVKLJKO\SUHFDULRXV3XEOLFDFFHVV WRJRYHUQPHQWLQIRUPDWLRQUHPDLQVDVHULRXVLVVXHZLWKSHU FHQWRIWKHUHVSRQVHVLQGLFDWLQJWKDWPHGLDZRUNHUVFLYLOVRFLHW\ 27 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 activists, and other independent researchers are constantly facing GLਯFXOWLHVLQJHिLQJUHTXLUHGLQIRUPDWLRQIURPSXEOLFLQVWLWXWLRQV )XUWKHUPRUHSHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVDJUHHWKDWWKHUHLV freedom of assembly guaranteed in law in the country. According to the survey, 58.8 per cent of the respondents agree that the state KDVDOORZHGSHDFHIXOSURWHVWV+RZHYHUSHUFHQWEHOLHYHGWKDW the security forces have used physical violence to suppress the demonstrators. In addition, 35.3 per cent of the respondents agreed that protesters in the country faced arbitrary or illegal arrests during the demonstrations by the security forces. There is freedom of assembly in the country in law 3 47% 6% 23% 6% The state has allowed peaceful protests and demonstrations 5.6%6% 50% 59% 5.6% 38.9% 6% 6% 23% State security forces have not used physical violence against protestors 11.1%29% 44.4%23% 47% 22.2% 16.7% 5.6% Strongly agree State security forces have not made arbitrary or illegal arrests in violation of peaceful Agree assembly 23%44.4% 12% 29%22.2% 35%33.3% Neither agree or disagree There have been progressive court judgements related to the freedom of peaceful Disagree assembly 5.6%17 % 50% 29% 29% 27.8% 23% 16.7% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϰ͗&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨWĞĂĐĞĨƵůƐƐĞŵďůLJ 28 Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights Zakir Hossain, S.M. Masum Billah Monjurul Islam Introduction Context LYLF VSDFH LV WKH SROLWLFROHJDO DQG VRFLRFXOWXUDO HQYLURQPHQW&ې which enables citizens to come closer, share their interests and FRQFHUQV DQG DFW LQGLYLGXDOO\ DQG FROOHFWLYHO\ WR LQਮXHQFH DQG It encourages people to be aware of and 1ۑVKDSH SROLF\PDNLQJ SXUVXHPXOWLSOHSRLQWVRIYLHZ&LYLFVSDFHZRUNVPDLQO\RQWKH basis of certain human rights principles—freedom of assembly, right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and access to information. ‘A dynamic and plural civic space ensures that JRYHUQLQJERGLHVWDNHLQWRDFFRXQWLQWHUHVWVQHHGVDQGFRQFHUQV RI VRFLHW\ DW ODUJH 2Q WKH FRQWUDU\ ZKHQ FLYLF VSDFH VKULQNV JRYHUQPHQWV DQG LQVWLWXWLRQV DUH OHVV OLNHO\ WR EH UHVSRQVLYH WR citizens’ requests’.2 In this context, civic space in Bangladesh has EHHQ VKULQNLQJ LQFUHDVLQJO\ ZLWK PLQRULW\ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV LQ SDUWLFXODUIDFLQJVFUXWLQ\DQGEDFNODVKIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQW :KHQ%DQJODGHVKHPHUJHGDVDQLQGHSHQGHQWFRXQWU\LQ civil society had played a pivotal role in the country’s liberation. Among the reasons that triggered the movement for the country’s LYLF6SDFH:DWFKDFFHVVHG6HSWHPEHUKWWSV&ۑKDWLV&LYLF6SDFH:ې FLYLFVSDFHZDWFKHXZKDWLVFLYLFVSDFH. ۑ0RELOL]LQJWKH3RZHURI3HRSOHWR5HVKDSH&LYLF6SDFH 6SDFHWR%H+HDUGې 2[IDP%ULHILQJ1RWHDFFHVVHG-XO\KWWSV R[IDPLOLEUDU\RSHQUHSRVLWRU\ FRPELWVWUHDPKDQGOHEQVSDFHWREHKHDUGFLYLFVSDFH en.pdf. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 liberation was the closing civic space for Bengalis; their voice ZDV WKURिOHG E\ WKH WKHQ &HQWUDO *RYHUQPHQW RI 3DNLVWDQ ौH \HDUV XQGHU WKH 3DNLVWDQL UHJLPH ZDV PDUNHG by a history of oppression of the Bengalis, and it was expected WKDWD़HUOLEHUDWLRQWKH%HQJDOLSHRSOHZRXOGEHDEOHWRH[HUFLVH WKHLU GHPRFUDWLF ULJKWV IUHHO\ +RZHYHU D SHUXVDO RI WKH SRVW LQGHSHQGHQFH SHULRG IURP WR WKH SUHVHQW UHYHDOV WKDW WKH culture of rejection of dissenting views is still prevalent and has EHHQFRQVWDQWO\DਬHFWLQJWKHOLYHVRI%HQJDOLV3ROLWLFDOWXUPRLO military coups and enactment of unpopular laws have all aimed at suppressing dissent in the country since independence. ,Q WKH ਭUVW IHZ SRVWLQGHSHQGHQFH \HDUV WKH LQVHUWLRQ RI provisions in the Constitution that suspended fundamental rights during emergencies,3 the introduction of preventive detention laws, and the formation of a single political party, coupled with limiting the number of newspapers circulated in the country,5 are some ways LQZKLFKDिHPSWVZHUHPDGHWRUHVWULFWFLYLFVSDFH+RZHYHULWKDV also been posited that the early years of independence necessitated such steps in order to restore stability in the country.6$़HUWKH DVVDVVLQDWLRQRI3UHVLGHQW%DQJDEDQGKX6KHLNK0XMLEXU5DKPDQ widely hailed as the Father of the Nation, the country went into the hands of military rulers. For the 15 years that followed, the FRXQWU\ ZDV JRYHUQHG E\ D PLOLWDU\EXUHDXFUDWLF DOOLDQFH WKDW IRLOHGGHPRFUDWLFLQVWLWXWLRQVौHIRXQGLQJSULQFLSOHVRIWKH6WDWH outlined in the Constitution—democracy, nationalism, secularism, and socialism—were compromised. In particular, the principles of absolute faith and trust to the Almighty were inserted in the place of secularism and the Islamic customary expression ‘Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Rahim’ inserted at the outset of the Constitution.7 7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQ 6HFRQG$PHQGPHQW $FW 6SHFLDO3RZHUV$FW PDGHLQSXUVXDQFHRIDUWRIWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQRI Bangladesh that empower the government to detain a person on the ground of prejudicial act jeopardising state’s security, public order and harmony. 7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQ )RXUWK$PHQGPHQW $FW 6 Nurul Islam, The Making of a Nation, Bangladesh: An Economists Tale 8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV/LPLWHG LQState andۑ6WDWHDQG6HFXODULVPLQ%DQJODGHVKېDELEXO+RTXH.KDQGRNHU+ Secularism: Perspectives from AsiaHGLWHGE\0LFKDHO+HQJ6LDP+HQJDQG7HQ &KLHZ/LHX 6LQJDSRUH :RUOG6FLHQWLILF Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights $़HUWKHIDOORI*HQHUDO+XVVDLQ(UVKDGIURPSRZHULQ parliamentary democracy was restored through a general election LQ +RZHYHUHYHQWKHSRVW SHULRGKDVVHHQDQHEEDQG ਮRZ RI DिHPSWV PDGH WR FRQWLQXH WR UHVWULFW FLYLF VSDFH ौH FRXQWU\VDZWKHULVHRI,VODPEDVHGSROLWLFVZLWKWKH%DQJODGHVK 1DWLRQDOLVW3DUW\ %13 -DPDDWH,VODPLDOOLDQFHFRPLQJWRSRZHU LQZLWKWKHUHOLJLRXVPLQRULW\FRPPXQLWLHVPDLQO\+LQGXV facing violence.8 6LQFH WKHUH KDV EHHQ D ULVH RI UHOLJLRXV PLOLWDQF\ DQG UHFXUUHQW DिDFNV RQ VHFXODU WKLQNHUV DV ZHOO DV HQDFWPHQW RI suppressive laws that go against the spirit of the Constitution and KXPDQULJKWVQRUPVौHFXUUHQWUXOLQJSDUW\WKH$ZDPL/HDJXH that also led the country’s independence movement, has been in LQیKDYLQJZRQWKHHOHFWLRQVWKUHHWLPHV SRZHUVLQFH DOWKRXJK WKH FUHGLELOLW\ RI WKH HOHFWLRQV KHOG LQی DQG DQGKDVEHHQTXHVWLRQHG 'XULQJWKH SHULRG the government enacted some progressive legislation, including those aimed at protecting the right to information, the formation of a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), restoration RI RULJLQDO FRQVWLWXWLRQDO SULQFLSOHV DQG VR RQ ौH HQDFWPHQW RI WKHVH ODZV KDG EHHQ ZLGHO\ FHOHEUDWHG +RZHYHU WKH SRVW HQYLURQPHQW KDV EHHQ PDUNHG E\ SROLWLFDO YDQGDOLVP DQG destruction, including enforced disappearances and apprehension RI RSSRVLWLRQ SROLWLFDO ਭJXUHV ौH PLVXVH RI VRFLDO QHWZRUN platforms by the vested groups and terrorists led to the formulation of national broadcasting policies, regulation of the activities of QRQVWDWHDFWRUVDQGWKHHQDFWPHQWRI'LJLWDO6HFXULW\$FW While the need for such steps can hardly be overemphasised, the SDQHOUHSRUWVRQەSHUVHFXWLRQ۔DQJODGHVK%ېQEDUDVDQ(WKLUDMDQ$ violence’, BBC News'HFHPEHUKWWSV ZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOG 6LWXDWLRQRI+LQGXVIROORZLQJWKH2FWREHU DQJODGHVK%ې DVLD election, particularly in the Moulvibazar district; government response to 5HIZRUOGDFFHVVHGۑ 0DUFKی2FWREHU YLROHQFHDJDLQVW+LQGXV 2FWREHUKWWSV ZZZUHIZRUOGRUJGRFLGGIEHFKWPO. $&DVH6WXG\RIWKHth HJLWLPDF\&ULVLVLQ%DQJODGHVK/ېD\QDO$EHGLQ- European Journal of Political Science StudiesQRۑHQHUDO(OHFWLRQ* 9LROHQFHDQGWKH%UHDNGRZQRIWKHې0LU]D+DVVDQDQG6RKHOD1D]QHHQ Conflict, Security andۑ$Q8QFHUWDLQ)XWXUHIRU%DQJODGHVK 3ROLWLFDO6HWWOHPHQW DevelopmentQR b 31 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 OHJLVODWLYH DQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYH VWHSV KDYH WDNHQ DQ RYHUDOO WROO RQ WKH IXQGDPHQWDO KXPDQ ULJKWV VLWXDWLRQ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 2Q many occasions, the new legislative measures have been useful in addressing the rumours, militancy, online harassment, etc. But they have substantially curbed the liberty of citizens and groups, LQ SDUWLFXODU WKRVH ZRUNLQJ IRU WKH SURWHFWLRQ DQG SURPRWLRQ RI PLQRULW\ ULJKWV KDYH EHHQ DਬHFWHG VHYHUHO\ LQFOXGLQJ WKRVH focused on religious minorities, indigenous peoples, refugees, /*%7,4FRPPXQLWLHVDQGODERXUULJKWV11 Media reports in the last few years suggest that dissenting political opinions expressed on the internet have been met with censure in the name of suppressing extremism, rumours, terrorism DQG VXEYHUVLYH VWDWH DFWLYLWLHV 3ROLWLFDO YLHZV DQG MRXUQDOLVWLF reports even hinting toward criticism of the government, and human rights activism have all been under scrutiny.12 Judicial independence in the country is hindered by the executive organ of the state, owing to questionable appointment procedures among RWKHUPDिHUVDVVHHQE\WKHFRQWURYHUVLDOH[LWRIWKHIRUPHU&KLHI Justice of Bangladesh, S.K. Sinha.13ौHUHLVDQDGYHUVHHQYLURQPHQW for civil society organisations and human rights defenders in %DQJODGHVK$FFRUGLQJWRPHGLDUHSRUWVDWRWDORIFDVHVRQ F\EHUFULPHFKDUJHVZHUHਭOHGZLWKWKHSROLFHEHWZHHQDQG PLG$WRWDORI SHRSOHZHUHDUUHVWHGLQ'KDNDDORQHLQ WKHVH\HDUVZLWK FDVHVVWLOOXQGHULQYHVWLJDWLRQ While the major opposition political parties have been struggling to exercise freedom of expression and assembly and protest, the other political parties joining the alliance led by the ruling party have been complicit in the government’s actions. Civil 5HSHDO$EXVLYH/DZ8VHGLQ DQJODGHVK%ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ ZZZKUZRUJQHZV XO\KWWSV-ۑUDFNGRZQRQ&ULWLFV& EDQJODGHVKUHSHDODEXVLYHODZXVHGFUDFNGRZQFULWLFV. 12 Ibid. 7KH6HSDUDWLRQRI3RZHUVLQ 2LODQG:DWHU&DQQRW0L[ې600DVXP%LOODK 3DSHUSUHVHQWHGDWWKHV\PSRVLXPۑ\Bangladesh and the Masdar Hossain/HJDF RQ7ZHOYH 32 Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights VRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV &62 KXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVDQGDFWLYLVWV KDYH EHHQ IDFLQJ EDFNODVK15 Freedom of peaceful assembly and DVVRFLDWLRQDUHR़HQGHQLHGDQGPHWZLWKVXSSUHVVLRQ,QWKHIDFH RI VHYHUH JRYHUQPHQW FRQWURO RYHU FLYLF VSDFH PRVW &62V DQG VWUDWHJ\WRVXUYLYH16 while theۑVHHQRHYLOېPHGLDKDYHDGRSWHGD few remaining independent entities who have tried to report on WKHZLGHVSUHDGbKXPDQULJKWVYLRODWLRQVDQGDEXVHRIGHPRFUDWLF values in the country have experienced undue pressure from the authorities.17 ौLV LV WKH FRQWH[W LQ ZKLFK WKH VWDWH RI WKH FLYLF VSDFH LQ Bangladesh at the moment needs to be understood, in particular, WKHVSDFHIRUPLQRULW\JURXSVौLVUHSRUWH[DPLQHVWKHVLWXDWLRQRI civic space in the country for seven minority groups in particular, Hindus, Ahmadiya Muslims, indigenous communities, Dalits, OLQJXLVWLF PLQRULWLHV LH %LKDULV WKH /*%7,4 FRPPXQLW\ DQG Rohingya refugees. Objectives ौHRYHUDOOREMHFWLYHRIWKHVWXG\LVWRH[SORUHWKHVKULQNLQJRIFLYLF VSDFHLQ%DQJODGHVKDQGDQDO\VHWKHWUHQGVDQGIDFWRUVDਬHFWLQJ civic space in the country, with particular focus on minority groups. 0RUHVSHFLਭFDOO\WKHVWXG\DLPVWR SORUHWKHFKDOOHQJHVIDFHGE\PLQRULW\JURXSV]) ۚ QDO\VH WKH VLWXDWLRQ RI FLYLF VSDFH LQ %DQJODGHVK ZLWK$ ۚ particular focus on minority groups, and explore the factors DਬHFWLQJFLYLFVSDFHLQWKHFRXQWU\ DPLQHWKHOHJLVODWLYHIUDPHZRUNUHODWLQJWRFLYLFVSDFHYLV]) ۚ ¢YLVPLQRULWLHV DQG 3URYLGHUHFRPPHQGDWLRQVWRZLGHQWKHFLYLFVSDFHIRUVDIH ۚ XPDQ5LJKWV:DWFKDFFHVVHG$XJXVW+ۑ DQJODGHVK(YHQWVRI%ې KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJZRUOGUHSRUWFRXQWU\FKDSWHUVEDQJODGHVK. 5HLPDJLQLQJۑ7KH&RPSURPLVHG6WDWHRI&LYLO6RFLHW\LQ%DQJODGHVKې Democracy, CIVICUS, DFFHVVHG0DUFKKWWSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJLQGH[ SKSUHLPDJLQLQJGHPRFUDF\VWRULHVIURPWKHIURQWOLQHVWKHFRPSURPLVHG VWDWHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\LQEDQJODGHVK. DFFHVVHG0DUFKۑ (YHQWVRI DQJODGHVK%ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJZRUOGUHSRUWFRXQWU\FKDSWHUVEDQJODGHVK. 33 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 guarding minority rights and the protection and promotion of human rights in general. Methodology ौLV UHSRUW UHOLHV RQ ERWK SULPDU\ DQG VHFRQGDU\ GDWD 5HSRUWV from government and private sources, published and unpublished UHVHDUFKGRFXPHQWVVHPLQDUFRQIHUHQFHSDSHUVDQGSURFHHGLQJV articles, presentations, digital documents available in social media and daily newspapers have been consulted to gather data and LQIRUPDWLRQ 3ULPDU\ LQIRUPDWLRQ ZDV FROOHFWHG WKURXJK GLUHFW interviews with representatives of the minority groups mentioned HDUOLHU*LYHQWKHRQJRLQJ&RYLG SDQGHPLFDQGWKHUHVWULFWLRQV on physical movement, data was also collected through online interactions, virtual meetings, and phone interviews. Legal Regime and Civic Space Constitutional Dispensation 6HFXODULVPDQG6WDWH5HOLJLRQ5XQLQ3DUDOOHO %DQJODGHVK DGRSWHG LWV &RQVWLWXWLRQ LQ QLQH PRQWKV D़HU LWVHPHUJHQFHDVDQLQGHSHQGHQWFRXQWU\ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ 18ۑVODPLF5HSXEOLF,ېRI3DNLVWDQKDGGHFODUHGWKHFRXQWU\WREHDQ ignoring the distinctive Bengali linguistic and cultural orientation RI WKH SHRSOH RI (DVW 3DNLVWDQ QRZ %DQJODGHVK ौLV HQDEOHG WKH 3DNLVWDQL UXOHUV WR VXSSUHVV WKH %HQJDOLV RQ WKH SUHWH[W RI SUHVHUYLQJ 0XVOLP XQLW\ /HDUQLQJ IURP WKLV WKH %DQJODGHVK constitution incorporated ‘secularism’ as one of the guiding SULQFLSOHVLQOLQHZLWKZKDWWKHIRXQGLQJ3UHVLGHQW%DQJDEDQGKX \DQLQGHSHQGHQWFRXQWUی6KHLNK0XMLEXU5DKPDQKDGHQYLVLRQHG free from religious bigotry. $VDUHਮHFWLRQRIKLVSROLWLFDOYLVLRQ FRQFHSWSHRSOHZHUHDVNHGWRRUGHUWKHLUOLIHۑVODPLF5HSXEOLF,ې8QGHUWKLV DFFRUGLQJWR4XUDQDQG6XQQDKWKHSRVWRIWKHKHDGRIWKHVWDWHZDVUHVHUYHG IRU0XVOLPVWKHOHJLVODWXUHZDVREOLJHGQRWWRPDNHDQ\ODZLQFRQVLVWHQWZLWK Islamic law, riba (interest) in the economic system was abolished, the state was obliged to develop a healthy relationship with Muslim countries and so on. 60 VVHFXODUSROLWLFDOSKLORVRSK\VHHۑ7ROHDUQPRUHDERXW%DQJDEDQGKX Rahman, The Unfinished Memoirs /RQGRQ 3HQJXLQ%RRNV Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights principles of nationalism, secularism, democracy and socialism were adopted as the four basic pillars of the Constitution. Article WKHIXQGDPHQWDOSULQFLSOHVېRIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQGHਭQHVWKHPDV of state policy’.21 $UWLFOH RI WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ GHਭQHG VHFXODULVP DV WKH V RZQ UHOLJLRQ DQG QRQXVH RI UHOLJLRQۑIUHHGRP WR SUDFWLVH RQH towards political ends. Similarly, Article 38 allowed citizens to form associations or unions, with the exception of those that could: i) destroy the religious, social and communal harmony among citizens; ii) create discrimination among citizens on the ground of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or language; iii) organise terrorist acts or militant activities against the country or the citizens of any other country; and iv) thwart the objectives RI WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ $UWLFOH JXDUDQWHHG IUHHGRP RI UHOLJLRQ subject to law, public order and morality.22$UWLFOHVDQG read together conveyed the meaning of secularism as maintaining neutrality amongst religions and eliminating discrimination based on religion. 8QWLO WKH&RQVWLWXWLRQGLGQRWFRQWDLQDQ\UHOLJLRXVZRUGV nor did it have the provision of ‘Islam as state religion’. However, UHOLJLRXV XिHULQJV DQG FLWDWLRQV IURP UHOLJLRXV ERRNV LQ VWDWH activities and rituals were visible. For example, the parliament convened with recitations of verses from the ࡊUDQDQGWKHVWDWH owned television started its broadcast with recitations from the UHOLJLRXVERRNVRI0XVOLPV+LQGXVDQG%XGGKLVWV23 $़HU RQFHWKHPLOLWDU\UHJLPHZDVLQSODFHFRQVWLWXWLRQDO theocracy became triumphant and religious expressions started 7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQ )LIWHHQWK$PHQGPHQW $FW $FW;,9RI V V5HSXEOLFRI%DQJODGHVKDUWۑ7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH3HRSOH )XUWKHUWKHSURYLVRWR$UWLFOHJXDUDQWHHGDQLQGLYLGXDOWKHULJKWWR refuse to practise a religion or to be compelled to be educated in a religion other than their own. The provision does not say whether a person has the right ‘not to believe’ in any religion. This brings the important question about the extent to FRXOGEHFRQGHPQHGRQWKHJURXQGRIRIIHQGLQJۑQRQEHOLHYHUېZKLFKDQDOOHJHG RUWKHOLNH7KHUHLVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOREVFXULW\LQۑSXEOLFRUGHUېۑUHOLJLRXVIHHOLQJVې this particular aspect of religious freedom. ۑ7KH&DVHRI%DQJODGHVK 5HOLJLRQ3ROLWLFVDQG6HFXULW\ېPHQD0RKVLQ$ LQ6DWX/LPD\H5REHUW:LUVLQJDQG0RKDQ0DOLN HGV Religious Radicalism and Security in South Asia +DZDLL $VLD3DFLILF&HQWHUIRU6HFXULW\6WXGLHV DW 35 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 WRJHWDSODFHLQWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOIUDPHZRUN0XFKOLNHGXULQJ WKH3DNLVWDQLUHJLPHWKHVXFFHVVLYHPLOLWDU\UXOHUVLQ%DQJODGHVK began the Islamisation SURFHVV LQ WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ ,Q Islamic religious expressions ‘Allah is almighty’ were inserted in WKH&RQVWLWXWLRQE\*HQHUDO=LDXU5DKPDQWKURXJKPDUWLDOODZ proclamation.ौHIRXUSULQFLSOHVRIWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQLQFOXGLQJ VHFXODULVP ZHUH DQQXOOHG DQG $UWLFOH GHਭQLQJ VHFXODULVP DQGWKHSURYLVRWR$UWLFOHSURKLELWLQJUHOLJLRQEDVHGSROLWLFV repealed.25 ौURXJKWKHਭ़K$PHQGPHQWRIWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQ*HQHUDO=LD DOVRDOORZHG WKH UHHPHUJHQFH RI UHOLJLRQEDVHG SROLWLFDOSDUWLHV earlier prohibited for their controversial role in the Bangladesh /LEHUDWLRQ:DU26ौH&RQVWLWXWLRQWKXVORVWLWVVHFXODUFKDUDFWHU DVUHOLJLRXVH[WUHPLVPVWDUWHGWRULVHDWWKHEHKHVWRIWKHVRFDOOHG SROLWLFDOې PXOWLSDUW\ PLOLWDU\ GHPRFUDF\ ZLWK LWV V\PSDWK\ WR QDWLRQDOLVPۑDQJODGHVKL%ېHQHUDO=LDSURIHVVHGDEUDQGRI*ۑVODP, GHਭQHGE\KLVQHZO\IRUPHGSROLWLFDOSDUW\WKH%13DVDFRUROODU\ QDWLRQۑHQJDOL%ېRI,VODPLVP$VDUHVXOWWKHVHFXODULVPRULHQWHG DOLVPWKDWWULJJHUHGWKHPRYHPHQWWRDिDLQVHSDUDWHQDWLRQKRRG ended in disillusionment. ौH (UVKDG JRYHUQPHQW ZKLFK FDPH WR SRZHU WKURXJK D ZLWKۑVWDWHUHOLJLRQېGHFODUHG,VODPDVWKH PLOLWDU\FRXSLQ the 8thDPHQGPHQWRIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQLQ 27,Q GHPRFUDF\ ZDVUHVWRUHGD़HUWKHIDOORI*HQHUDO(UVKDG6L[DPHQGPHQWVKDYH ۑ3ROLWLFDO,VODPې3ROLWLFDODQDO\VWVLQWKHLUFRPPHQWDULHVWHUPWKLV,VODPDV =LDDQG 7KHLUې7KXV3URIHVVRU$OL5LD]RI,OOLQRLV6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\ZULWHV Ershad) goal was to construct a ‘statist Islam’ through the production of an emergent Islamic discourse that, it was hoped, marginalised all other discourses, including that of democracy.‘ See, A. Riaz, Ali God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh 1HZ 36 Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights been made to the Constitution since, dealing with various aspects of governance, election, justice and representation, but no amendment KDVEHHQPDGHWRUHVWRUHVHFXODULVPLQWKHFRXQWU\3ROLWLFVRYHU the last two decades has been largely conditioned by the role of SURUHOLJLRXVSDUWLHVOLNHWKH%DQJODGHVK1DWLRQDOLVW3DUW\ %13 DQGWKHLUDOO\WKH-DPDDWH,VODPL28ौHWHUPOHGE\WKH alliance of two parties saw the rise of Islamic militancy throughout WKHFRXQWU\ौHLUPDLQRSSRQHQWWKH$ZDPL/HDJXHZDVDEOHWR UHWXUQWRSRZHULQEXWQRWZLWKRXWFHUWDLQFRQFHVVLRQVPDGH to the role of religion in politics. ,Q WKHਭ़KDPHQGPHQWZDVGHFODUHGXQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO 2QH RI WKH LPSOLFDWLRQV RI WKH GHFLVLRQ ZDV WKDW LW UHYLYHG WKH SULQFLSOHVRIVHFXODULVP7RPDNHWKHਭQGLQJVRIWKH6XSUHPH&RXUW PRUHFRQFUHWHDQGPHDQLQJIXODQGWRDGMXVWLWWRWKHSUHVHQWGD\ SROLWLFDOUHDOLW\WKHਭ़HHQWKDPHQGPHQWWRWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQZDV HQDFWHGLQZKLFKUHIRUPXODWHGFHUWDLQUHOLJLRXVH[SUHVVLRQV to give coherent meaning to secularism under the new political reality. For instance, Islam was retained as the state religion, but 7KH%13OHGFRDOLWLRQZDVLQSRZHULQWZRWHUPV DQG %DQJODGHVK,WDOLDQ0DUEOH:RUNV/WGY*RYHUQPHQWRI%DQJODGHVK Vۑ+&' 2QDSSHDO$%0.KDLUXO+DTXH 6SHFLDO 2WKHUV>@%/7 illuminating judgment was affirmed by the Appellate Division with certain modifications. 37 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 there was the guarantee of equal status and equal rights to followers of other religions as well.ौXVWKHSUHVHQW&RQVWLWXWLRQSOHGJHV to establish a secular society without impairing the presence of religion in the national life of Bangladesh. Critics point out that ZLWK ,VODP DV WKH VWDWHEDFNHG UHOLJLRQ D WUXO\ VHFXODU VRFLHW\ cannot be established. 3ULQFLSOHRI1RQ'LVFULPLQDWLRQ 1RQGLVFULPLQDWLRQ LV RQH RI WKH IXQGDPHQWDO WHQHWV RI WKH Bangladesh Constitution. Article 27 of provides that all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the ODZौH&RQVWLWXWLRQKDVLQFRUSRUDWHGERWKJHQHUDODQGSDUWLFXODU QRQGLVFULPLQDWRU\ FODXVHV $UWLFOH RI WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ LQ JHQHUDOVHWVRXWWKHSULQFLSOHRIQRQGLVFULPLQDWLRQE\SURYLGLQJ that no citizen shall be discriminated on the grounds of religion, UDFHFDVWHVH[RUSODFHRIELUWKौH&RQVWLWXWLRQLQSDUWLFXODU also states that that no citizen will be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to access to any place of public entertainment or resort or admission to any educational institution on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Freedom of Expression and Press V 5HSXEOLF RIۑ RI WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH 3HRSOH UWLFOH$ %DQJODGHVKHQVXUHVIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQDQGSUHVVLQDTXDOLਭHG PDQQHU$UWLFOH VXEMHFWVWKLVIUHHGRPWRFHUWDLQUHVWULFWLRQV such as security of the state; friendly relations with foreign VWDWHV SXEOLF RUGHU GHFHQF\ RU PRUDOLW\ DPRQJ RWKHUV ौHVH grounds are vague and subject to interpretation. Moreover, under $UWLFOHV $& WKH IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKWV RI FLWL]HQV FDQ EH DEURJDWHGौH&RQVWLWXWLRQDOVRJLYHVSRZHUWRWKHVWDWHWRPDNH laws limiting freedom of expression on the grounds mentioned LQ$UWLFOH 5HSODFLQJWKHROGSURYLVLRQ DUWLFOH$ XQGHUWKHHLJKWK$PHQGPHQWLW now reads: ‘The State Religion—the state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religion.’ 38 Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights Statutory Regime Many of the existing statutory laws of Bangladesh are an antithetical WRIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQDQGFLYLFVSDFH)RULQVWDQFHWKH3HQDO GHOLEHUDWHDQGPDOLFLRXVDFWVLQWHQGHGWRېRGHRISURKLELWV& outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or XिHULQJZRUGVHWFZLWKGHOLEHUDWHLQWHQWWRېDQGۑUHOLJLRXVEHOLHIV ौHVHDUHSXQLVKDEOHZLWKਭQHVRUXSۑZRXQGUHOLJLRXVIHHOLQJV to two years in prison, or both.31 Another example is the widely GHEDWHG'LJLWDO6HFXULW\$FW '6$ RIZKLFKFULPLQDOLVHVDFWV LQWKHGLJLWDOVSDFH&LYLOULJKWVRUJDQLVDWLRQVKRZHYHUZHUHTXLFN to point out that many of the DSA’s provisions limit civil rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. V 3HQDO &RGH SXQLVKHVEODVSKHP\ZLWK XS WRۑKLOH %DQJODGHVK: WZR\HDUVLQSULVRQDQGDਭQHWKH'6$DOVRFULPLQDOLVHVEODVSKHP\ DVDQRQEDLODEOHRਬHQFHDQGLPSRVHVKDUVKHUSHQDOWLHV6HFWLRQ of the DSA prohibits ‘publication, broadcast of anything in any website or in any electronic layout that hampers the sentiment or values’. It further stipulates that any person or group will be FRQVLGHUHG WR KDYH FRPPLिHG D FULPLQDO RਬHQFH XQGHU WKLV LQWHQWLRQDOO\RUNQRZLQJO\ZLWKې\H[WUHPHO\YDJXHSURYLVLRQLIWKH the aim of hurting religious sentiments or values or with the goal WRSURYRNHSRVWRUEURDGFDVWDQ\WKLQJE\PHDQVRIDQ\LQWHUQHW ौHۑVLWHRUDQ\HOHFWURQLFOD\RXWZKLFKKXUWVUHOLJLRXVVHQWLPHQW DSA imposes a punishment of up to seven years in prison for the RਬHQFHFRPPLिHGIRUWKHਭUVWWLPHDQGXSWR\HDUVIRUUHSHDWHG RਬHQFHVRIKXUWLQJUHOLJLRXVVHQWLPHQWV International Human Rights Law and Bangladesh’s Obligation %DQJODGHVKKDVUDWLਭHGVHYHUDOLQWHUQDWLRQDOWUHDWLHVWKDWSURWHFW civil and political rights, right to freedom of speech, expression and opinions, including the International Covenant on Civil and 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV ,&&35 WKH &RQYHQWLRQ RQ WKH (OLPLQDWLRQ RI All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Rights RI 3HUVRQV ZLWK 'LVDELOLWLHV &53' ,Q VHYHUDO UHSRUWV YDULRXV Vۑ$FW1R;/9RI *RYHUQPHQWRIWKH3HRSOH 3HQDO&RGH Republic of Bangladesh, KWWS EGODZVPLQODZJRYEGDFWKWPO South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 international human rights bodies have drawn Bangladesh’s DिHQWLRQ WR SHUWLQHQW LVVXHV ZLWK UHOHYDQFH WR FLYLF ULJKWV DQG IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ )RU LQVWDQFH DQ $QWL'LVFULPLQDWLRQ %LOO LQ WKH SURFHVV RI HQDFWPHQW QHHGV WR DGGUHVV FDVWHEDVHG discrimination, decriminalisation of homosexuality, and harassment DQG VWLJPDWLVDWLRQ RI WKH /*%7,4 FRPPXQLW\ ौHUH LV DOVR LQWHUQDWLRQDOFRQFHUQDERXWWKHKLJKUDWHRIH[WUDMXGLFLDONLOOLQJV DQG HQIRUFHG GLVDSSHDUDQFHV LQ %DQJODGHVK ौH DFFRXQWDELOLW\ measures in responding to the issue are inadequate and need to be DGGUHVVHGौH6SHFLDO3RZHUV$FW HQDEOHVWKHFRQWLQXDWLRQ of the practice of preventive detention, which has been used by the state to suppress political opponents. Administrative authorities HQMR\XQIHिHUHGSRZHUJUDQWHGXQGHUWKH$FWWRDUUHVWDQGGHWDLQ DSHUVRQLQYROYHGLQDOOHJHGSUHMXGLFLDODFWLYLWLHVौHSUDFWLFHRI custodial death continues despite the enactment of the Torture and &XVWRGLDO'HDWK 3UHYHQWLRQ $FW &LYLF6SDFH ࢌH6WDWHRIWKH0LQRULWLHV Hindus Bangladesh has a population of 163 million people.32 Around SHU FHQW RI WKH SRSXODWLRQ LGHQWLਭHV WKHPVHOYHV DV %HQJDOL33 and Muslims constitute the majority in terms of religion, with Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism being the other major religions. Although its Constitution asserts that Bangladesh is a ,World Population Review, accessed March 25ۑDQJODGHVK3RSXODWLRQ%ې KWWSZRUOGSRSXODWLRQUHYLHZFRPFRXQWULHVEDQJODGHVKSRSXODWLRQ. $OWKRXJKWKHUHPDLQLQJWZRSHUFHQWPDNHVXSDIUDFWLRQRIWKHSRSXODWLRQ there are at least 27 other distinct ethnic groups in Bangladesh formally recognised by the government. Independent researchers, however, claim 6WXG\FRPۑDQJODGHVK(WKQLF*URXSV%ېWKDWWKHQXPEHULVFORVHUWRb6HH DFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWSV VWXG\FRPDFDGHP\OHVVRQEDQJODGHVKHWKQLF groups.html. The groups prefer to identify themselves as adivasis (indigenous communities), the Constitution of Bangladesh, however, uses the phrase ‘tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities’ to refer them. See, The Constitution $V5HSXEOLFRI%DQJODGHVK$UWLFOHۑRIWKH3HRSOH 7KHUHOLJLRXVFRPSRVLWLRQLV 0XVOLPV +LQGXV DQG2WKHUV 7KH3ROLWLFVRI,VODPLVDWLRQLQې[$5LD $OVRVHH XGGKLVW&KULVWLDQV% Bangladesh’ in Religion and Politics in South Asia, edited by A. Riaz (Abingdon: 5RXWOHGJH Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights 3DUWO\EHFDXVH ۑVWDWHUHOLJLRQېVHFXODUQDWLRQ ,VODPUHPDLQVWKH of that, despite having equal rights and status constitutionally, religious minorities in Bangladesh face discrimination, harassment DQG DWURFLW\ ौH GHFOLQLQJ +LQGX SRSXODWLRQ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ FDQEHOLQNHGWRKDUDVVPHQWDQGSK\VLFDODिDFNVRQWKHP ZKLOH +LQGXVDFFRXQWHGIRUSHUFHQWRIWKHWRWDOSRSXODWLRQLQ the proportion is near 8 per cent now.35 Moreover, successive governments have failed to adequately respond to the violence against the Hindu minority.36 $ UHSRUW RI WKH 8. +RPH 2ਯFH states that ‘political parties do use religiously divisive language and, on occasion, act in ways that exacerbate rather than diminish religious and communal tensions. Violent assaults on religious 37ۑPLQRULW\FRPPXQLWLHVDUHR़HQQRWLQYHVWLJDWHGRUSURVHFXWHG While the aforementioned circumstances render religious minorities voiceless, the recent trend of violence against them on VRFLDOPHGLDKDVPDGHWKHPDOOWKHPRUHYXOQHUDEOHौH2FWREHU LQFLGHQWZKHUHDQDिDFNRQ+LQGXPLQRULWLHVWRRNSODFHLQ Bhola district following the alleged use of hate speech in social media is a telling illustration.38ौHYLROHQFHHUXSWHGZKHQVRPH DQWLUHOLJLRXVPHVVDJHVDOOHJHGO\SRVWHGE\D+LQGX\RXWKVSUHDG online even though the youth had already reported that his social PHGLDDFFRXQWKDGEHHQKDFNHGौLVLQFLGHQWIROORZVDSDिHUQ of young individuals from religious minorities reporting that their VRFLDOPHGLDDFFRXQWVKDYHEHHQKDFNHGIROORZHGE\LQFULPLQDWLQJ religious messages being posted from their account, leading to widespread violence against the minority community. 3UHOLPLQDU\ILQGLQJVRIYLVLWWR%DQJODGHVKE\+HLQHUې3UHVV6WDWHPHQW 8QLWHG1DWLRQVۑLHOHIHOGW6SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXURQIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQRUEHOLHঽ% +XPDQ5LJKWV2IILFHRIWKH+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHU6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZ RKFKURUJHQ1HZV(YHQWV3DJHV'LVSOD\1HZVDVS["1HZV,' /DQJ,' (. UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG0DUFK(ۑ%DQJODGHVK UHHGRPLQWKH:RUOG(ې KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJUHSRUWIUHHGRPZRUOGEDQJODGHVK DUFKLYHGDWKWWSV SHUPDFF4&6$9. $ULVNDVVHVVPHQWRIFRXQWU\RIRULJLQLQIRUPDWLRQ &2, E\WKH8.+RPH 2IILFHKWWSV ZZZJRYXNJRYHUQPHQWXSORDGVV\VWHPXSORDGVDWWDFKPHQWB GDWDILOH&,*%DQJODGHVK. KWWSV The Daily Star2FWREHUۑLOOHG,QMXUHG.ې6WDU5HSRUW ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWIURQWSDJHFODVKLQEKRODNLOOHGLQMXUHG. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Ahmadiya Muslims Bangladesh’s Ahmadiya Muslim community is particularly vulnerable and faces increased harassment as Islamist groups claim that their practice of the religion is not endorsed by Islam. Islamist groups have also been lobbying the government to declare $KPDGL\DVWREHQRQ0XVOLP ौHUHLVHYLGHQFHWKDWWKHSROLFHLV NHHSLQJ$KPDGL\DVXQGHUVXUYHLOODQFHLQFOXGLQJE\DSSURDFKLQJ members of the community outside of their mosques to collect personal details. $KPDGL\DVLQ3DQFKDJDUGLVWULFWFDPHXQGHUDिDFNLQ)HEUXDU\ ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH DUUDQJLQJ DQ DQQXDO FRQIHUHQFHौUHH Islamist organisations had jointly urged the government to ban the meeting and implement their demand to declare Ahmadiyas QRQ0XVOLP:KHQWKHFRQIHUHQFHSURFHHGHGDURXQGSHRSOH IURP,VODPLVWJURXSVDिDFNHGWKH$KPHGQDJDUYLOODJHYDQGDOLVHG houses, and looted the Ahmadiyas while the police failed to LQWHUYHQH $KPDGL\DV IDFHG D VLPLODU DिDFN LQ 6HSWHPEHU ZKHQ DQ $KPDGL\D PRVTXH XQGHU FRQVWUXFWLRQ LQ 1HWUDNRQD town was vandalised by Islamist groups. $URXQG SHRSOH mainly students from nearby madrassas, allegedly destroyed the mosque with homemade weapons despite the presence of the OHULFGHPDQGV%DQJODGHVK$KPDGLVEH&ې68WWRPDQG555R]DULR ZZZXFDQHZVFRP KWWSV UCA News, $SULOۑGHFODUHGQRQ0XVOLP QHZVFOHULFGHPDQGVEDQJODGHVKDKPDGLVEHGHFODUHGQRQPXVOLP. YHU\RQH)UHHWR%HOLHYHDFFHVVHG) :6&ۑHQHUDO%ULHILQJ%DQJODGHVK*ې $XJXVWKWWSV ZZZFVZRUJXNUHSRUWDUWLFOHKWP. KPDGL\DV,QMXUHGLQ&RRUGLQDWHG$WWDFNRQWKH$ې656D]]DG ZZZ KWWSV Dhaka Tribune, )HEUXDU\ۑRPPXQLW\LQ3DQFKDJDUK& GKDNDWULEXQHFRPEDQJODGHVKQDWLRQ VXQQLVDWWDFN$KPDGL\DVLQ panchagarh. ۑ8QGHUFRQVWUXFWLRQ$KPDGL\D0RVTXH9DQGDOLVHGLQ1HWUDNRQDې1HZ$JH New Age. 6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZQHZDJHEGQHWDUWLFOHXQGHU FRQVWUXFWLRQ$KPDGL\DPRVTXHYDQGDOLVHGLQQHWUDNRQD. Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights SROLFH,Q-DQXDU\DPRVTXHRIWKH$KPDGL\DVZDVDिDFNHG in Brahminbaria district when a group of madrassa students were barred from entering a religious programme in the Ahmadiya PRVTXH ौH IROORZLQJ GD\ VHYHUDO ORFDOV DQG WKH PDGUDVVD students held a procession to demand passing a law declaring $KPDGL\DVWREHQRQ0XVOLP ,QUHFHQW\HDUVWKHWUHQGRIVSUHDGLQJKDWUHGWKURXJK Dalits &DVWHDQGGHVFHQWEDVHGGLVFULPLQDWLRQLQ%DQJODGHVKLVDFRPSOH[ LWUHVXOWVIURPDYDULHW\RIR़HQRYHUODSSLQJېPXOWLIDFHWHGLVVXHDV IDFWRUV LQFOXGLQJ FDVWH UHOLJLRQ SODFH RI ELUWK RU IDPLOLHV descendants’ place of birth and occupation’.ौRXJKWKHUHDOLW\ of caste discrimination in Bangladesh is concealed by silence, even outright denial, the Dalit community experiences multiple forms of VRFLDOSROLWLFDODQGHFRQRPLFGLVFULPLQDWLRQौHLUSUHGLFDPHQW enabled by tacit acceptance from the government, is in violation ,VODPLVWV KPDGL\D0RVTXH+RXVHV$WWDFNHGLQ%UDKPDQEDULD$ې1HZ$JH New Age, -DQXDU\KWWSVۑHPDQG'HFODULQJWKHP1RQ0XVOLPV' ZZZQHZDJHEGQHWDUWLFOH $KPDGL\DPRVTXHKRXVHVDWWDFNHGLQ brahmanbaria. \QDPHGIRUIDQQLQJFRPPXQDOWHQVLRQPLOLWDQFې6WDIIFRUUHVSRQGHQW ZZZREVHUYHUEGFRPQHZV KWWSV 7KH'DLO\2EVHUYHU$SULOۑ[WKUX:D SKS"LG . ۑVVHFXODUDFWLYLVWVFRQFHUQHGDERXWWH[WERRNFKDQJHVۑDQJODGHVK%ې:' undated, KWWSV ZZZGZFRPHQEDQJODGHVKVVHFXODUDFWLYLVWVFRQFHUQHGDERXW WH[WERRNFKDQJHVD . 0,VODPDQG$3DUYH]Dalit Initiatives in Bangladesh 1DJRULN8GG\RJDQG %DQJODGHVK'DOLWDQG([FOXGHG5LJKWV0RYHPHQW 'KDND South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 V IXQGDPHQWDO KXPDQ ULJKWV REOLJDWLRQV ौRXJKۑRI %DQJODGHVK recognised as citizens of the country, being stigmatised on account of their caste and professional identity can leave Dalits in a situation of de facto statelessness. :KLOH UHODWLYHO\ OLिOH UHVHDUFK KDV EHHQ FRQGXFWHG RQ WKH community, available information suggests that there are between 5.5 and 6.5 million Dalits and members of similarly excluded JURXSV LQ %DQJODGHVK FRPSULVLQJ EHWZHHQ WR SHU FHQW RI the population. Dalits in Bangladesh are usually engaged in the PRVWORZSDLGDQGGLUW\ZRUNVXFKDVFOHDQLQJWRLOHWVVZHHSLQJ VWUHHWVDQGHPSW\LQJVHSWLFWDQNVौHDEVHQFHRIUHOLDEOHDQG disaggregated data is a major factor in the continued barriers Dalits face in gaining political representation, accessing public services, and securing employment. In many cases, their discrimination is underpinned by the fact that they are religious minorities as well VLQFH'DOLWVDUHHVWLPDWHGWRFRPSULVHDVPXFKDVSHUFHQWRIWKH Hindu population in Bangladesh. 3XUVXDQW WR WKH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ RI WKH %DQJODGHVK /DZ &RPPLVVLRQ LQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW IRUPXODWHG D GUD़ ODZ DJDLQVW GLVFULPLQDWLRQ WKH $QWL'LVFULPLQDWLRQ $FW 'LਬHUHQW national rights bodies, and representatives of the underprivileged communities have expressed their views and comments on the GUD़RQGLਬHUHQWRFFDVLRQVौHGUD़ZDVਭUVWVXEPLिHGWRWKH /DZ0LQLVWU\LQEXWGHVSLWHDVVXUDQFHVE\WKH/DZ0LQLVWHU DERXW LWV LPPLQHQW SDVVDJH LW ZDV VHQW EDFN WR WKH 1+5& IRU IXUWKHUUHYLVLRQD़HUWKUHH\HDUVौH1+5&KDGVHQWLWEDFNWR WKHJRYHUQPHQWLQ$SULODQGLWKDVUHPDLQHGXQGHUUHYLHZ for the last couple of years. Indigenous Communities ौHVWDWHVHHPLQJO\HQFRXUDJHVLQWROHUDQFHWRZDUGVWKHRUJDQL VDWLRQVZRUNLQJIRUDQGZLWK,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHV ,3V E\GHQ\LQJ %DQJODGHVK'DOLWDQG([FOXGHG5LJKWV0RYHPHQWDQG1DJRULN8GG\RJ Joint NGO submission related to the review of Bangladesh at the 30th Universal Periodic Review session in 2018 Situation of Dalits in Bangladesh (International 'DOLW6ROLGDULW\1HWZRUN 'KDND KWWSV LGVQRUJZSFRQWHQW XSORDGV1*2UHSRUWB835B'DOLWULJKWVLQ%DQJODGHVKSGI. ,ELG Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights their freedom of association and through forced disappearance RI ,3V GHIHQGHUV ,Q WKH JRYHUQPHQW LVVXHG D QRWLFH WR organisations with the word ‘indigenous’ in their name and It RU WKH OLNH ۑWULEDOې RU ۑHWKQLFې DVNHG WKHP WR UHSODFH LW ZLWK was said that failure to do so would result in cancellation of the organisation’s approval. Following that, the government has also VWRSSHGDSSURYLQJDQ\GHYHORSPHQWSURMHFWRI1*2VWKDWIRFXVHV on indigenous communities. ौH ,3V RI %DQJODGHVK DUH QRW FRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\ UHFRJQLVHG ौURXJK WKH th $PHQGPHQW WR WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ LQ WKH government chose to term indigenous peoples as ‘tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities’, while also calling all the people of Bangladesh, irrespective of their ethnic, linguistic \ौLV LV LQWHUSUHWHG E 51ۑDQJDOHH%ې DQG FXOWXUDO EDFNJURXQGV DV ULJKWV JURXSV DV DQ H[DPSOH RI QRQUHFRJQLWLRQ RI QRQ%HQJDOL SHRSOHVLQFOXGLQJ,3VHYHQWKRXJKDQXPEHURIOHJDOJRYHUQPHQW documents interchangeably use the terms ‘tribal’,52 ‘indigenous’,53 ‘aboriginal’, and ‘adivasi’.55 ौH6PDOO(WKQLF*URXSV&XOWXUDO,QVWLWXWHV$FWUHFRJQLVHV VPDOOHWKQLFJURXSVDOWKRXJK,3VRUJDQLVDWLRQVFODLPWKDWWKHUH DUH DW OHDVW LQGLJHQRXV FRPPXQLWLHV VSHDNLQJ PRUH WKDQ languages in the country.56ौHGHਭQLWLRQVVHFWLRQXVHVWKHWHUP ‘adivasi’, the Bengali equivalent of indigenous, in explaining the 'LUHFWLYH>5HI1R @LVVXHGE\WKH1*2$IIDLUV %XUHDXUHJXODWRU\ERG\RI%DQJODGHVKL1*2VRQ'HFHPEHU $V5HSXEOLFRI%DQJODGHVKDUWLFOHۑ7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH3HRSOH V5HSXEOLFRI%DQJODGHVKDUWLFOHۑ7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH3HRSOH 7KH&+7$FFRUGRI &+75HJLRQDO&RXQFLO$FW $FWRI 5DQJDPDWL.KDJUDFKDULDQG%DQGDUEDQ+LOO'LVWULFW&RXQFLO$FWV &+75HJXODWLRQ )LQDQFH$FW 3RYHUW\5HGXFWLRQ6WUDWHJ\ 3563 ۋ3HUVSHFWLYH3ODQIRU%DQJODGHVK th )LYH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 meaning of the term ‘small ethnic groups’. Despite the number of ,3 JURXSV LQ %DQJODGHVK WKH FRXQWU\ DEVWDLQHG IURP YRWLQJ IRU WKH81'HFODUDWLRQRQWKH5LJKWVRI,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHVLQ57 ौHUHLVDQRWKHUORQJGUDZQH[LVWHQWLDOFKDOOHQJHIRUWKH,3VRI %DQJODGHVK+LVWRULFDOO\WKH&KLिDJRQJ+LOO7UDFWV &+7 LQWKH \VVRXWKHDVWHUQFRUQHUZDVDQDUHDLQKDELWHGH[FOXVLYHOۑ\FRXQWU E\ LQGLJHQRXV JURXSV 6LQFH WKH ODWH V WKH *RYHUQPHQW RI %DQJODGHVKKDVIDFLOLWDWHGWKHVHिOHPHQWRI%HQJDOLVLQWKH&+7 from various other parts of the country which means that the UHJLRQ KDV H[SHULHQFHG GHPRJUDSKLF FKDQJHV UHGXFLQJ ,3V LQWR DQHDUPLQRULW\58ौLVFKDQJHKDVDGYHUVHO\DਬHFWHGWKHULJKWWR LQWHUQDOVHOIGHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKH,3VDVZHOODVWKHLUVRFLRFXOWXUDO DQGHFRQRPLFOLIHौH&+7$FFRUGRI ZKLFKUHFRJQLVHVWKH special demographic and administrative status of CHT compared to other parts of the country, remains far from fully recognised in the Constitution. ,3VLQ%DQJODGHVKZKRDUHHQJDJHGLQGHIHQGLQJFLYLFULJKWVDQG promoting democratic norms have faced enforced disappearance, H[WUDMXGLFLDONLOOLQJVDUELWUDU\DUUHVWVKDUDVVPHQWDPRQJRWKHUV V'HPRFUDWLFۑRQDUHJXODUEDVLVौHOHDGHURIWKH8QLWHG3HRSOH )URQW 83') 0LFKDHO&KDNPDZHQW PLVVLQJLQ $SULO RQ KLVZD\WR'KDNDIURP1DUD\DQJDQMGLVWULFWौHSROLFHUHIXVHG V VLVWHUۑWR UHJLVWHU D FDVH RI PLVVLQJ SHUVRQ OHDGLQJ WR &KDNPD ਭOLQJDZULWUHTXHVWLQJKHEHSUHVHQWHGEHIRUHDMXGJHRULQFRXUW Following that, the High Court ordered the Home Ministry to VXEPLWDUHSRUWZLWKLQਭYHZHHNV+RZHYHUWKHSROLFHUHSHDWHGO\ VWDWHGWKDWWKH\FRXOGQRWਭQGDQ\ERG\QDPHG0LFKDHO&KDNPD in the prisons of Bangladesh. Similarly, a case of rape of two ZRPHQ RI LQGLJHQRXV EDFNJURXQG LQ &KLिDJRQJ +LOO 7UDFWV LQ QWHUQDWLRQDO:RUN*URXSIRU,QGLJHQRXV$IIDLUVDFFHVVHG,ۑDQJODGHVK%ې 0DUFKKWWSV ZZZLZJLDRUJHQEDQJODGHVK. 58 Amena Mohsin, The Politics of Nationalism: The Case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh 'KDND 8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV/LPLWHG V'LVDSSHDUDQFHLQۑ6WLOO1R$QVZHUVRQ$FWLYLVWېGDPV$% %DQJODGHVK ,QGLJHQRXV5LJKWV'HIHQGHU0LFKDHO&KDNPD:HQW0LVVLQJ ZZZ Human Rights Watch, $SULOKWWSVۑ\2QH Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights -DQXDU\DOOHJHGO\E\PHQLQXQLIRUPZDVDOVREXULHGDVODZ IDPLOLHVIURPWDONLQJۑHQIRUFHPHQWDJHQFLHVSURKLELWHGWKHYLFWLPV to reporters and fabricated testimonials. Barriers to the exercise of the rights to freedom of speech, expression, and association in the country has been on the rise in recent years.61 Intimidation by the local administration, law enforcement agencies, and security forces include restrictions on organising or holding rallies, social festivals, observation of the founding anniversary of any organisation, and processions and mass gatherings on the occasion of the anniversary of the &+7 $FFRUG )RU LQVWDQFH LQ 0D\ WKH 5DQJDPDWL GLVWULFW administration did not allow Hill Students Council to organise an RXWGRRUSXEOLFJDWKHULQJWRPDUNLWVIRXQGLQJDQQLYHUVDU\,Q-XO\ VHFXULW\IRUFHVGLGQRWDOORZORFDOLQKDELWDQWVRI*XLLPDUDLQ Khagrachar Hill district and Bandarban Sadar in Bandarban Hill GLVWULFW WR VWDJH GHPRQVWUDWLRQ DJDLQVW WKH UDSH DQG NLOOLQJ RID \HDUROGLQGLJHQRXVJLUO62,Q$XJXVWWKHSROLFHREVWUXFWHG DUDOO\RUJDQLVHGE\,3VRXWWRPDUNWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO'D\IRUWKH V,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHVLQ*RELQGDJDQMRI*DLEDQGKKDGLVWULFWۑRUOG: )XUWKHUPRUH LQ $XJXVW WKH ORFDO DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ GLG QRW DOORZD'KDNDEDVHGKXPDQULJKWVWHDPWRYLVLW/DPD%DQGDUEDQ WR LQYHVWLJDWH WKH UDSH RI WZR ,3 JLUOV DOOHJHGO\ FRPPLिHG E\ security personnel, in Bandarban Hill District.63 Sexual Minorities Discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation is common in Bangladesh. Along with societal discrimination, Islamic extremist groups have exhibited zero tolerance towards ,The Daily Star, February 2ۑ5DSHRI0DUPD6LVWHUVې6WDU:HHNHQG KWWSV ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWVWDUZHHNHQGKXPDQULJKWVUDSHPDUPD VLVWHUV. ZZZ DSDHHQJ)RXQGDWLRQDFFHVVHG0DUFKKWWSV.ۑDSHHQJ:DWFK.ې NDSDHHQJQHWRUJFDWHJRU\NDSDHHQJZDWFK. &DVH)LOHG LQ%DQGDUEDQە5DSHG۔7ZR,QGLJHQRXV*LUOVې7KH'DLO\6WDU KWWSV XJXVW RQOLQH$ ۑGHQLHV$OOHJDWLRQ%*% ە0HQ%*%۔DJDLQVW ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWQHZVFRXQWU\WZRLQGLJHQRXVJLUOVUDSHGVHFXULW\IRUFHV EJEEDQGDUEDQEDQJODGHVK. 63 Ibid. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 WKH /*%7,4 FRPPXQLW\ with the Hijra community65 being DQH[FHSWLRQौHJRYHUQPHQWWRRLVTXLWHVHWDJDLQVW/*%7,4 activism, in order not to antagonise Islamist groups. And, although the government has recognized the Hijra population as the ‘third gender’, there has not been adequate changes at the policy level or practices to recognise, ensure, and protect their rights. Sexual and gender minorities in Bangladesh face numerous GLਯFXOWLHV LQ DFFHVVLQJ FLWL]HQ VHUYLFHV ौH\ DUH GLVFULPLQDWHG against, stigmatised, and harassed on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, behaviour, and sexual practices. Discrimination based on physical or cultural characteristic and VH[XDOYLROHQFHDJDLQVWWKHPLQRULWLHVDUHFRPPRQGXHWRDODFN of legal protection and social marginalisation. Homosexuality in Bangladesh is prohibited and considered a disorder in society, with FDUQDO LQWHUFRXUVHې 6HFWLRQ RI WKH 3HQDO &RGH FULPLQDOLVLQJ ौH JRYHUQPHQW KDV RSSRVHG WKH ۑDJDLQVW WKH RUGHU RI QDWXUH idea of providing rights to the minorities, stating that it is not DQ DFFHSWHG QRUP RI WKH FRXQWU\ +RZHYHU WKH SURSRVHG $QWL 'LVFULPLQDWLRQ/DZPHQWLRQVWKDWWKHUHVKDOOEHQRGLVFULPLQDWLRQ VVH[XDORULHQWDWLRQौHSDVVDJHRIWKHODZۑRQWKHEDVLVRIRQH remains uncertain so far. Urdu-Speakers ौH 8UGXVSHDNLQJ SHRSOH RI %DQJODGHVK DUH ODUJHO\ NQRZQ DV DWHUPWKDWFRYHUVDSSUR[LPDWHO\QRQ%HQJDOLیۑLKDULV%ې 8UGXVSHDNLQJ%DQJODGHVKLVZKRKDYHPRVWO\UHPDLQVWUDQGHGLQ FDPSVHिOHPHQWVVLQFH 66ौLVFRPPXQLW\ZDVDOVRNQRZQ 67D़HUWKHLQGHSHQGHQFHRI%DQJODGHVKDQGۑVWUDQGHG3DNLVWDQLېDV until a decade ago were stateless. ौH %LKDUL FRPPXQLW\ KDV VWUXJJOHG WR JHW FLWL]HQVKLS ULJKWV East Asiaۑ\V/*%7&RPPXQLWۑ7KH5XLQVRI%DQJODGHVKېQJH$PXQGVHQ, Forum0DUFKKWWSV ZZZFPLQRSXEOLFDWLRQV WKHUXLQVRI EDQJODGHVKVOJEWFRPPXQLW\. ,QWHUVH[DQGWUDQVJHQGHULQGLYLGXDOVZKRDUHSDUWRIWKHVRFLRFXOWXUDO landscape in South Asia. 66 Mazharul Islam and Md. Tajul Islam, Human Rights Situation of Urdu- speaking Community in Dhaka City 'KDND ,VODPLF5HOLHI%DQJODGHVK 'XULQJWKHOLEHUDWLRQZDURI%DQJODGHVKLQ %LKDULSHRSOHRSSRVHG LQGHSHQGHQFHRI%DQJODGHVKDQGDVVLVWHG3DNLVWDQL0LOLWDU\LQJHQRFLGH Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights ,Q D +LJK &RXUW GHFLVLRQ68 recognised them as citizens of Bangladesh entitled to National Identity Cards and able to exercise WKHLUYRWLQJULJKWVIRUWKHਭUVWWLPHौLVZDVLQUHVSRQVHWRDZULW petition ਭOHGE\8UGXVSHDNHUVLQZKHQWKH+LJK&RXUW issued an order to the government to provide them with citizenship through enrolment in the voters’ list. Ultimately, other Biharis were also granted citizenship through another directive of the Supreme &RXUW LQ ौH &RXUW UHLWHUDWHG WKDW DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH ODZ DOO PHPEHUV RI WKH 8UGXVSHDNLQJ FRPPXQLW\ ZHUH QDWLRQDOV RI Bangladesh and directed the government to ensure their inclusion in the voters’ list and provide them with National Identity Cards. ौHUHZDVQRH[SHFWDWLRQWKDWWKHFLYLODQGSROLWLFDOULJKWVRI Biharis would drastically change despite the issuance of National Identity Cards and their becoming voters. Biharis continue to VWUXJJOH WR HQMR\ WKHLU IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKWV DV FLWL]HQV ौH\ DUH R़HQ GHQLHG DFFHVV WR EDVLF VHUYLFHV RU IDFH KDUDVVPHQW IURP JRYHUQPHQW DJHQFLHV IRU WKHLU LGHQWLW\ DV FDPS VHिOHUV %LKDULV KDYH IDFHG GLਯFXOWLHV LQ VHFXULQJ SDVVSRUWV ELUWK UHJLVWUDWLRQ trade license or other important documents.71ौH\DUHDOVR hesitant to organise themselves to claim their rights as citizens because they have been stigmatised for their ancestors’ role during the independence war. Even political parties have not expressed support towards this vulnerable community for the same reason. 6LQFHWKUHHSDUOLDPHQWDU\HOHFWLRQVKDYHEHHQKHOGEXWQR SDUW\KDVWDNHQXSWKHLVVXHRIWKLVFRPPXQLW\ Rohingyas ौUHH\HDUVVLQFHWKHYLROHQFHDQGSHUVHFXWLRQLQ0\DQPDUIRUFHG KXQGUHGV RI WKRXVDQGV RI 5RKLQJ\D WR ਮHH DFURVV WKH ERUGHU WR :ULW3HWLWLRQ1R RI0G6DGDTDW.KDQ )DNNX Y&KLHI(OHFWLRQ &RPPLVVLRQHU'/5 $' :ULW3HWLWLRQ1RRI$ELG.KDQDQGRWKHUVbYb*RYWRI%DQJODGHVK DQGRWKHUV'/5 :ULW3HWLWLRQ1R RI0G6DGDTDW.KDQ )DNNX Y&KLHI(OHFWLRQ &RPPLVVLRQHU'/5 $' \3DUDOHJDOVLQWKH8UGX6SHDNLQJ&RPPXQLW 5HDOLVLQJ&LWL]HQVKLS5LJKWVې RXQFLORI0LQRULWLHVDQG1DPDWLDFFHVVHG$XJXVW&ۑLQ%DQJODGHVK KWWSV QDPDWLRUJUHVRXUFHVUHDOL]LQJFLWL]HQVKLSULJKWVSDUDOHJDOVLQWKHXUGX VSHDNLQJFRPPXQLW\LQEDQJODGHVK. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 V%D]DDUۑ]DQJODGHVKUHIXJHHVFRQWLQXHWREHKRVWHGLQ&R% 'LVWULFW81DJHQFLHVDQGRYHUQDWLRQDODQGLQWHUQDWLRQDO1*2V have supported the government in providing crucial assistance and protection to both refugees and vulnerable local people, who FRQWLQXHWREHDUWKHVRFLRHFRQRPLFDQGHQYLURQPHQWDOLPSDFWRI WKHLQਮX[ ौHJRYHUQPHQWRI%DQJODGHVKKRZHYHULVVFHSWLFDORI,1*2 DVVLVWDQFHRIWKH5RKLQJ\D,WEDQQHG1*2VIURPZRUNLQJDW 5RKLQJ\DFDPSVGXHWRWKHLUHਬRUWVWRLQFUHDVHDZDUHQHVVDPRQJ the refugees on human rights.72ौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVDOVRGHFODUHG DQ XQRਯFLDO SURKLELWLRQ RQ VXUYH\V UHVHDUFK RU DQ\ SURMHFW ZLWKWKH5RKLQJ\DौH)RUHLJQ'RQDWLRQV 9ROXQWDU\$FWLYLWLHV 5HJXODWLRQ $FW LQWURGXFHG WLJKWHU FRQWUROV RQ ਭQDQFLQJ DQG HQKDQFHG SURFHVVHV IRU 1*2 UHJLVWUDWLRQ GHOD\LQJ SURMHFW approvals, slowing down implementation, and severely restricting international engagement with local civil society organisations.73 ौHUHKDVEHHQDEDUULHURQPRELOHLQWHUQHWLQ5RKLQJ\DFDPSV for the last two years in order to prevent militant activities even WKRXJKWKHJRYHUQPHQWLVFRQVLGHULQJOL़LQJWKHEDQLQRUGHUWR EHDEOHWRGLVVHPLQDWHLQIRUPDWLRQRQWKH&RYLG RXWEUHDNWR 5RKLQJ\DUHIXJHHVHਬHFWLYHO\ Conclusion Civil and political rights in Bangladesh are being increasingly curtailed due to the presence of laws and practices inconsistent ZLWKWKHSURWHFWLRQRIIXQGDPHQWDOKXPDQULJKWVौHVLWXDWLRQFDQ EHDिULEXWHGWRWKHDEVHQFHRIVWURQJRSSRVLWLRQSROLWLFDOSDUWLHV FRQFHQWUDWHG JRYHUQPHQWDO SRZHU DQG ODFN RI DFFRXQWDELOLW\ V DFWLRQV WRZDUGV RSSRVLWLRQ SROLWLFDO DFWLYLVWVۑौH JRYHUQPHQW 81([SHUWV&RQFHUQHGE\&UDFNGRZQDW5RKLQJ\D DQJODGHVK%ې5HIZHE UHOLHIZHELQWUHSRUW DFFHVVHG6HSWKWWSV 6HSW ۑ5HIXJHH&DPSV EDQJODGHVKEDQJODGHVKXQH[SHUWVFRQFHUQHGFUDFNGRZQURKLQJ\DUHIXJHH camps. ۑ7KH&XUUHQW&RQWH[WWRWKH5RKLQJ\D&ULVLVLQ%DQJODGHVKې0DUN%RZGHQ 2FW DFFHVVHG2FWKWWSV RGLKSQRUJPDJD]LQHFXUUHQWFRQWH[W URKLQJ\DFULVLVEDQJODGHVK. \XO- 86&,9,&ۑDWDVWURSKLFKXPDQULJKWVVLWXDWLRQLQ%DQJODGHVK&ې KWWSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJLQGH[SKSPHGLDUHVRXUFHVQHZVFDWDVWURSKLF KXPDQULJKWVVLWXDWLRQLQEDQJODGHVK. Bangladesh: Civic Space and Minority Rights civil society, and the media has been increasingly hostile since the QDWLRQDOHOHFWLRQ,WKDVDOVRIDLOHGWRSURWHFWIUHHWKLQNHUV EORJJHUVDQGPLQRULWLHVIURPDिDFNVE\PLOLWDQWJURXSV$OWKRXJK WKHUH DUH PRUH WKDQ SULYDWH 79 FKDQQHOV RSHUDWLQJ LQ WKH country, people seem to be fearful and anxious when it comes to expressing themselves on social media, owing mainly to the fear of EHLQJSURVHFXWHGXQGHUWKH'LJLWDO6HFXULW\$FW$VIRUHLJQ DVVLVWDQFH KDV GZLQGOHG LQ WKH FRXQWU\ &62V KDYH PDLQWDLQHG LVVXHVLQVWHDGۑVDIHDQGVR़ېHQJDJHPHQWZLWKWKHJRYHUQPHQWRQ RIDGYRFDF\RIPLQRULW\ULJKWVौHYRLFHRIWKHUHOLJLRXVPLQRULW\ never strong in Bangladesh, is at its lowest level at present. Based on these existing realities, the following recommendations are made in order to create an open civic space in the country. i. Educate people on the need for tolerance, freedom of religion and belief, and strength of a pluralistic society, through an HGXFDWLRQDOSROLF\DLPHGDWDिDLQLQJDWUXO\VHFXODUVWDWHDV HQVKULQHGLQWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQौHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSRVLWLRQRI Islam as a ‘state religion’ should not be allowed to impinge on the secular feature of the Constitution. LL ,PSOHPHQW HਬHFWLYH DQG KROLVWLF DFWLRQ WR HOLPLQDWH WKH underlying motives for threats to religious minorities and to combat growing fundamentalist voices threatening the foundation of a free democratic society. iii. Allow opposition political parties to express their concerns. Ensure transparency and accountability and due process of ODZLQWDNLQJDFWLRQVDJDLQVWSROLWLFDOYDQGDOLVP LY 7DNH VZL़ DFWLRQ WR WDFNOH ULVLQJ WHUURULVP DQG YLROHQFH ensuring impartial investigations and prosecution of those UHVSRQVLEOHIRUDिDFNVDJDLQVWUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVLQRUGHU to end the culture of impunity with regard to these crimes. Y 7DNHFRQFUHWHOHJDODQGDGPLQLVWUDWLYHPHDVXUHVWRHQVXUH constitutional recognition of the distinct identity of the LQGLJHQRXV SHRSOHV ZKLOH UHਮHFWLQJ WKH VDPH LQ ODZV and policies, including their separate and independent enumeration in the census. YL 7DNH VSHFLਭF DFWLRQV WR ਭQDOLVH DQG HQDFW WKH $QWL 51 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 'LVFULPLQDWLRQ/DZDGRSWDWLPHERXQGLPSOHPHQWDWLRQ plan, and arrange appropriate capacity development PHDVXUHVRIJRYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOVDQGRWKHUVWDNHKROGHUV to implement the law. Ensure that no discriminatory SURYLVLRQV DQG ODQJXDJHV H[LVW LQ WKH GUD़ RI WKH $QWL Discrimination law. vii. Identify and amend provisions in laws and policies to HOLPLQDWH GLVFULPLQDWLRQ EDVHG RQ JHQGHU DQG VH[ 7DNH steps to incorporate comprehensive sexuality education in WKHQDWLRQDOFXUULFXOXP$GRSWVSHFLਭFODZVRUSROLFLHVWR ensure recognition of gender identities. YLLL$FNQRZOHGJHWKHH[LVWHQFHRIVH[XDODQGJHQGHUPLQRULWLHV and amend relevant policies accordingly. Reform Section RIWKH3HQDO&RGHWKXVGHFULPLQDOLVLQJKRPRVH[XDOLW\ and ensuring their rights to association. ix. Recognise Dalits as a ‘special’ community, produce GLVDJJUHJDWHG GDWD DORQJ ZLWK WKH SRYHUW\ VWDWXV RI WKLV FRPPXQLW\ DQG XQGHUWDNH VSHFLDO HPSOR\PHQW DQG livelihood development programmes for them. x. Ensure basic rights of Biharis, including their access to basic services and amenities. xi. Maintain diplomatic options for the safe return of the 5RKLQJ\DVWR0\DQPDUDQGHQVXUHWKDW1*2VZRUNLQJWR protect and assist Rohingyas are able to function without UHVWULFWLRQV/L़WKHEDQRQDFFHVVWRPRELOHLQWHUQHWLQWKH refugee camps. xii. Review the vague Digital Security Act and amend the law WR PDNH LW FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWDQGDUGV ZKLOH preventing misuse of the law. 52 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan Saroj K. Nepal Background %KXWDQWUDQVLWLRQHGWRDGHPRFUDWLFIRUPRIJRYHUQDQFHLQ RSWLQJ IRU D FRQVWLWXWLRQDO PRQDUFK\ ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI the Kingdom of Bhutan guarantees citizens their right to civil liberties, freedom of expression, association, and to follow one’s UHOLJLRQ0HGLDGHYHORSPHQWZDVVSRUDGLFD़HUZLWKVHYHUDO QHZVSDSHUVDQGUDGLRVWDWLRQVVHWXSौHUHLVDOVRDQHQKDQFHG professional cadre of journalists in the country for the collection of information, analysis, and dissemination. Civil society, in one form or another, has existed in Bhutan from time immemorial. It is unimaginable that the Bhutanese would have survived for centuries without collaborating with each other in the harsh and rugged terrain, isolated mountain communities and high state of underdevelopment. Hence, even before the required OHJLVODWLRQ IRU WKH QRQJRYHUQPHQW VHFWRU ZDV HQDFWHG %KXWDQ VۑDOUHDG\ KDG D QXPEHU RI 1*2V VXFK DV WKH 1DWLRQDO :RPHQ $VVRFLDWLRQRI%KXWDQWKH5R\DO6RFLHW\IRU3URWHFWLRQRI1DWXUH DQGWKH 53 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 as the spiritual heritage of the country, guarantees freedom of UHOLJLRQौH PDMRULW\RI %KXWDQHVHWRGD\IROORZ %XGGKLVPDQG Hinduism, with a minority following Christianity. ौLVFKDSWHUਭUVWGLVFXVVHVWKHVWDWHRIFLYLFVSDFHLQ%KXWDQ elaborating on two aspects: civil society and the media. In exploring religious minority issues, it will focus on Christians as a minority group. Christians are few in number compared to followers of other religions, have faced discrimination in the past, and continue to be discriminated against even today. 2EMHFWLYHVb ौH PDLQ REMHFWLYH RI WKLV FKDSWHU LV WR EHिHU XQGHUVWDQG FLYLF VSDFH DQG WKH NLQG RI GLVFULPLQDWLRQ &KULVWLDQV DV D UHOLJLRXV minority face in Bhutan. It is relevant because as of yet there is not much understanding of how religions other than Buddhism have been faring in the country. Hence, this chapter has the potential of DGGLQJWRWKHERG\RINQRZOHGJHQRWRQO\DERXWFLYLOVRFLHW\DQG the media but also about a minority religion in Bhutan. Civic space allows individuals and groups to contribute to SROLF\PDNLQJ WKDW DਬHFWV WKHLU OLYHV E\ DFFHVVLQJ LQIRUPDWLRQ engaging in dialogue, expressing dissent or disagreement, and FRPLQJWRJHWKHUWRH[SUHVVVKDUHGYLHZVौLVSDSHUZLOOH[SORUH whether conducive conditions exist that enable civil society to play such a role in the political, economic, and social life in Bhutan. ौHTXHVWLRQVEHLQJDGGUHVVHGKHUHDUH i. What is the status of civic space in Bhutan? LL :KDWUHVWULFWLRQVH[LVWIRU1*2V&62VDQGRWKHURUJDQ LVDWLRQVLQUHJLVWHULQJUDLVLQJUHVRXUFHVDQGXQGHUWDNLQJ WKHLUZRUN" iii. What forms of discrimination do minority religious groups in Bhutan face? iv. Why do they face discrimination? v. What coping strategies do minority religious groups use against discrimination? YL $UHUHOLJLRXVJURXSVPLQRULW\IRFXVHGJURXSVDEOHWRRUJD nise themselves? Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan vii. How are minority religious groups hindered from mobilising themselves against discrimination? Methodology ौLV SDSHU XVHV WKH 0LQRULW\ 5LJKWV )UDPHZRUN WR VWUXFWXUH WKH VWXG\ WRROV GDWD DQG DQDO\VLV ौH SULPDU\ PRGH RI GDWD FROOHFWLRQ LQYROYHG LQGHSWK RSHQHQGHG LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK D IHZ members of the Christian community. It was initially envisaged WKDWUHVSRQGHQWVZRXOGEHVDPSOHGSXUSRVLYHO\DQGVWUDWLਭHGWR UHSUHVHQWGLਬHUHQWDJHJURXSVDQGVRFLDOEDFNJURXQGVौHLQWHQW was to interview individuals until data saturation was reached. +RZHYHUWKLVZDVQRWSRVVLEOHRZLQJWRWKHGLਯFXOW\RIਭQGLQJ respondents willing to be interviewed for the study. ौHPHWKRGRORJ\FKRVHQLVDOVRLGHDOJLYHQWKHFXUUHQWFRQWH[W in Bhutan wherein it is not possible to carry out a structured survey RQ UHOLJLRXV PLQRULW\ ULJKWV ZLWKRXW JRYHUQPHQWGHVLJQDWHG authorities endorsement of all surveys conducted in Bhutan, and LWLVH[WUHPHO\XQOLNHO\WKDWWKHDXWKRULWLHVZRXOGKDYHHQGRUVHG such a survey. And, should surveys be carried out clandestinely, it FRXOGSXWERWKUHVHDUFKHUVDQGUHVSRQGHQWVDWULVN$IHZSHUVRQV NQRZQWKURXJKSHUVRQDOFRQWDFWVFRQVHQWHGWREHLQJLQWHUYLHZHG D़HUGXHHWKLFDOFRQVLGHUDWLRQVZHUHIROORZHG6HFRQGDU\VRXUFHV such as legislation, data, reports, and news articles were reviewed WRVXSSOHPHQWਭHOGZRUNਭQGLQJV Besides information on the legal and policy environment, WKHUHLVYHU\OLिOHLQIRUPDWLRQDYDLODEOHLQ%KXWDQRQFLYLFVSDFH SDUDPHWHUV ौHUHIRUH RQOLQH VRXUFHV ZHUH XVHG WR H[WUDFW GDWD and information on reports from organisations such as the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy. Data from international agencies such as the Freedom House and the US Department of State were used. Since there is no data available on religions and religious groups in Bhutan, the study had to depend on online sources such as the annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom. In terms of limitations, it should be noted that it was not easy to convince potential respondents. Several individuals were DSSURDFKHGEXWWKH\GHFOLQHGWRSDUWLFLSDWHD़HUWKHREMHFWLYHV 55 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 of the study and ethical considerations were spelled out; this indicates the sensitivity of discussing religion with Christians in Bhutan. Despite this, three respondents agreed and were interviewed. Based on these few interviews, this paper has been ZULिHQNHHSLQJLQPLQGWKDWWKHVWXG\FDQQHYHUEHFRQVLGHUHG representative in any statistical sense. Nevertheless, the interviews provided rich information on some aspects of Christianity and lives of the Christian population in Bhutan that is generally not ZHOONQRZQ Findings Constitutional, Legal and Policy Frameworks ौH2ਯFHRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ WKH HQYLURQPHQW WKDWې DV ۑFLYLF VSDFHې 2+&+5 GHਭQHV 5LJKWV enables civil society to play a role in the political, economic and social life of our societies. In particular, civic space allows LQGLYLGXDOVDQGJURXSVWRFRQWULEXWHWRSROLF\PDNLQJWKDWDਬHFWV their lives, including by: accessing information; engaging in dialogue; expressing dissent or disagreement; and joining together to express their views.’1 8VLQJ WKLV GHਭQLWLRQ WKHUH DUH VHYHUDO pieces of legislation in Bhutan that have a bearing directly or LQGLUHFWO\RQFLYLFVSDFHDQGPLQRULW\ULJKWVLQ%KXWDQौHVHDUH discussed in this section. ࡳH&RQVWLWXWLRQRI%KXWDQ Under the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution, Bhutanese citizens have the right to freedom of speech, opinion, and expression (Article 7.2) and the right to information (Article ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ DOVR JXDUDQWHHV IUHHGRP RI SUHVV UDGLR and television and other forms of dissemination of information, including electronic (Article 7.6). Citizens also have freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, other than membership of associations that are harmful to the peace and 8QLWHG1DWLRQV+XPDQ5LJKWV2IILFHRIWKH+LJKۑKDWLV&LYLF6SDFH:ې &RPPLVVLRQHUDFFHVVHGRQ6HSWHPEHUKWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJ(1 ,VVXHV&LYLF6SDFH. 56 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan unity of the country; citizens also have the right to discern and not be compelled to belong to any association (Article 7.12).2 &LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQLVDWLRQV$FW ौH &62 $FW HQDFWHG LQ SURYLGHV WKH IUDPHZRUN IRU WKH establishment and growth of civil society, to promote social welfare and improve quality of life of the people but also to ensure D V\VWHP RI SXEOLF DFFRXQWDELOLW\ IRU UHVSRQVLEOH VHOIUHJXODWLRQ DQG WR SURPRWH SXEOLF SDUWQHUVKLS WKURXJK JRYHUQPHQW&62 SDUWQHUVKLS 2YHU WKH \HDUV KRZHYHU &62V KDYH IDFHG VHYHUDO OHJDOFRQVWUDLQWVWRWDNLQJXSFHUWDLQDFWLYLWLHV)RUH[DPSOHWKH &62$FWLVVLOHQWRQWKHDGYRFDF\IXQFWLRQRI&62V$QGVLQFH any advocacy can be construed as ‘political’, which is prohibited by WKH$FWLWGHWHUVDQ\DGYRFDF\ZRUNE\&62VLQVXSSRUWRILVVXHV faced by their target group. ौHUH KDYH EHHQ VRPH LQVWDQFHV ZKHQ &62V KDYH DGYRFDWHG and lobbied the government and have also been involved by WKHJRYHUQPHQWLQWKHUHYLHZRIOHJLVODWLRQ+RZHYHU&62VDUH reluctant to engage in advocacy for fear of having their registration FHUWLਭFDWHV UHYRNHG RU ZLWKKHOG ZKHQ JRLQJ IRU WKH DQQXDO UHQHZDO2QHUHDVRQZK\&62VGRQRWDSSO\WRZRUNLQWKHDUHDRI advocacy for certain religious, ethnic, or minority group is because their applications for registrations would not be approved in the ਭUVWSODFH5HTXHVWVFDQEHPDGHXQGHUWKH5HOLJLRXV2UJDQLVDWLRQV $FWEXWUHOLJLRXVJURXSVOLNH&KULVWLDQVKDYHQRWEHHQDEOHWR register as such under that act. Activism and advocacy are few and far between in Bhutan. Several &62VLQGXOJHLQVXFKDFWLYLWLHVWKDWOLHLQPDQGDWHEXWWKHVHLVVXHV DUHJHQHUDOO\QRQFRQWHQWLRXVRQHVVXFKDVGRPHVWLFDEXVHVXSSRUW IRU ZRPHQ /*%7,4 WKH HQYLURQPHQW SHRSOH OLYLQJ ZLWK +,9 AIDS, and people dependent on drugs and alcohol, among others. %KXWDQ,QIRUPDWLRQ&RPPXQLFDWLRQVDQG0HGLD$FW ौH %KXWDQ ,QIRUPDWLRQ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV DQG 0HGLD $FW ZDV SDVVHGLQौH$FWFDOOVIRUVWUHQJWKHQLQJWKHLQGHSHQGHQFHRI 7KH&RQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH.LQJGRPRI%KXWDQKWWSV ZZZQDEJRYEW DVVHWVWHPSODWHVLPDJHVFRQVWLWXWLRQRIEKXWDQSGI. 57 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 the media for a free and vibrant fourth estate. A Media Council has DOVREHHQHVWDEOLVKHGWRPRQLWRURਬHQVLYHDQGKDUPIXOFRQWHQWEXW there is also fear that it could lead to an erosion in press freedom DQGIRVWHUJUHDWHUVHOIFHQVRUVKLS3 5HOLJLRXV2UJDQLVDWLRQV$FW ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ JXDUDQWHHV FLWL]HQV WKH ULJKW WR IUHHGRP RI thought, conscience and religion while providing the safeguard that no person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement. ौH 5HOLJLRXV 2UJDQLVDWLRQV $FWJXLGHVWKHHVWDEOLVKPHQWRIUHOLJLRXVERGLHVLQRUGHUWR EHQHਭWUHOLJLRXVLQVWLWXWLRQVDQGSURWHFW%XGGKLVPDVWKHVSLULWXDO heritage of Bhutan.ौHUHKRZHYHULVDQDEVHQFHRIDQ\HOHPHQW RI DGYRFDF\ WKDW UHOLJLRXV RUJDQLVDWLRQV FDQ WDNH RQ IRU WKHLU adherents. According to both the Constitution and the Religious 2UJDQLVDWLRQ $FW SURVHO\WLVDWLRQ LV EDQQHG ZKLOH WKH $FW DOVR requires religious organisations to be apolitical as well. Civic Space in Bhutan ौH)UHHGRP+RXVH5HSRUWRIJUDQWHG%KXWDQWKHGHVLJQDWLRQ RXWRI ZLWKDQRYHUDOOVFRUHRIۑSDUWO\IUHHې\RIEHLQJRQO RXWRIIRUSROLWLFDOULJKWVDQGRXWRIIRUFLYLOOLEHUWLHV5 Some of the reasons mentioned for the low score are discrimination based on ethnicity and religion and use of libel and defamation cases against journalists.6 ौH VDPH UHSRUW DFNQRZOHGJHV WKDW while there are multiple media houses, all are dependent on WKH JRYHUQPHQW IRU LQFRPH IURP DGYHUWLVHPHQWV ौH PHGLD HQYLURQPHQWKDVDKLJKGHJUHHRIVHOIFHQVRUVKLSDQGFULWLFVDUH VLOHQFHGE\WKHSRZHUIXOWKURXJKWKHXVHRIDQWLGHIDPDWLRQODZV UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG-XQH(ۑKXWDQ%یUHHGRP+RXVH5HSRUW(ې KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\EKXWDQIUHHGRPZRUOG. 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI%KXWDQReligious Organizations Act 2007 (Thimphu: 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI%KXWDQ KWWSV ZZZQDEJRYEWDVVHWVXSORDGVGRFV DFWV5HOLJLRXVBRUJDQLVDWLRQBDFWBRIB%KXWDQ(QJSGI. UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG-XQH(ۑKXWDQ%یUHHGRP+RXVH5HSRUW(ې KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\EKXWDQIUHHGRPZRUOG. 6 Ibid. 58 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan &LYLO6RFLHW\ 6HYHUDORUJDQLVDWLRQVVXFKDVWKH5R\DO6RFLHW\IRU3URWHFWLRQRI V$VVRFLDWLRQRI%KXWDQۑ5631 DQGWKH1DWLRQDO:RPHQ 1DWXUH 1:$% H[LVWHGEHIRUHDQGIROORZLQJWKHHQDFWPHQWRIWKH &62$FWWKHVHJURXSVFRXOGUHJLVWHUIRUIRUPDOUHFRJQLWLRQDVD &62ौHUHDUHQRZDFWLYH&62VLQWKHFRXQWU\ौHVH&62VDUH allowed to secure funds from sources both within and outside the FRXQWU\DQGVHYHUDOGRQRUJURXSVKDYHVXSSRUWHG&62SURMHFWV IXQGVVLQFH6RPH&62VVXFKDVWKH%KXWDQ&HQWUHIRU0HGLD DQG'HPRFUDF\DOVRUHJXODUO\KROGFDSDFLW\EXLOGLQJHYHQWVZLWK RWKHU&62VRQGHPRFUDWLFSULQFLSOHVDQGSUDFWLFHPHGLDOLWHUDF\ XVH RI PHGLD DQG OHDGHUVKLS $ UHSRUW VKRZV WKDW RQO\ SHU FHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVLQDVWXG\IHOWWKDW&62VFRQWULEXWHGWR VWUHQJWKHQLQJGHPRFUDF\ZKHUHDVSHUFHQWZHUHQRWDZDUHLI &62VKDYHPDGHVXFKDFRQWULEXWLRQRUQRW7ौLVVXJJHVWVWKDW \VGHYHORSPHQWDQGGHPRFUDFۑ62VKDYHORZYLVLELOLW\LQ%KXWDQ& sectors. 0RVW&62VDUHSULPDULO\HQJDJHGLQVHUYLFHGHOLYHU\WRWKHLU FRQVWLWXHQWVDQGWDUJHWJURXSVौHUHDUHDIHZWKDWDUHLQYROYHG LQGHYHORSPHQWSURMHFWVZKLOHRWKHUVSURYLGHVHUYLFHVWRVSHFLਭF vulnerable groups such as women facing domestic violence, people OLYLQJ ZLWK +,9$,'6 WKRVH VXਬHULQJ IURP DOFRKRO DQG GUXJ DGGLFWLRQHWF&62VFDQFDUU\RXWWKHLUPDQGDWHZLWKIXQGVUDLVHG by themselves from a range of sources not limited to residential bilateral and multilateral donors, international agencies and 1*2VFRUSRUDWHVHFWRUDQGLQGLYLGXDOVIURPZLWKLQWKHFRXQWU\ DQGDEURDG1RQHRIWKH&62VKRZHYHUSXUVXHDGYRFDF\DVWKHLU main activity. &62VZRXOGQRWKDYHDGYRFDF\PHQWLRQHGLQWKHLU$UWLFOHVRI $VVRFLDWLRQEHFDXVHLWLVOLNHO\WRKDYHEHHQVFUHHQHGRXWEHIRUH EHLQJUHJLVWHUHG3URYLVLRQVRQDGYRFDF\DUHXQFOHDULQWKH&62 $FW 6HYHUDO &62V KDYH EHHQ LQYROYHG LQ DGYRFDF\ ZLWKLQ WKHLU VSHFLਭF PDQGDWH VXFK DV SHRSOH OLYLQJ ZLWK +,9$,'6 RU WKH ULJKWVRIWKH/*%7,4FRPPXQLW\DPRQJRWKHUV&62VUHFHLYHG 81'3%KXWDQNational Human Development Report: 10 Years of Democracy 7KLPSKX 81'3%KXWDQ KWWS KGUXQGSRUJVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVQKGU LLSGI. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 DERRVWIURPWKH.LQJZKRDZDUGHGWKHPJROGPHGDOVLQLQ UHFRJQLWLRQRIWKHLUVHUYLFHV&62VLQWKHODVWਭYH\HDUVKDYHDOVR EHFRPH PRUH RUJDQLVHG DV D IUDWHUQLW\ DQG KDYH IRUPHG D &62 &RRUGLQDWLRQ&RPPLिHHWRUHSUHVHQWWKHLUFROOHFWLYHLQWHUHVWV Although the Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly,8 this right is curtailed by certain government restrictions. For instance, if people want to have a public gathering, they require prior JRYHUQPHQWDSSURYDOZKLFKFDQEHGHQLHG2WKHUPHDVXUHVVXFK DVFXUIHZVDQGJRYHUQPHQWGHVLJQDWHGORFDWLRQRIGHPRQVWUDWLRQV DਬHFW WKH ULJKW WR SHDFHIXO DVVHPEO\ $OWKRXJK WKH &62 $FW LQ SULQFLSOHDOORZVSHRSOHWRDVVRFLDWHDQGHVWDEOLVK&62VUHJLVWUDWLRQ DUWLFOHVRIDVVRFLDWLRQDQGPHPRUDQGDۑFDQEHZLWKKHOGLIWKH&62V of understanding are construed as being ‘harmful to the peace and unity of the country.’ ौHIDFWWKDWWKLVKDVQRWKDSSHQHG VR IDU UHਮHFWV WKH FRPSOLDQFH RI &62V EXW DOVR WKH LQDELOLW\ RI WKH UHJXODWRU\ ERG\ WKH &62 $XWKRULW\ WR PRQLWRU DQG HQIRUFH FRPSOLDQFHHVSHFLDOO\LIVRPH&62VHQMR\SRZHUIXOSDWURQDJH VKDQGLQHQIRUFLQJUHVWULFWLRQVRQIUHHGRPRIۑौHJRYHUQPHQW DVVHPEO\LVDOVRUHLQIRUFHGE\WKH3HQDO&RGHRI%KXWDQZKLFK prohibits promotion of civil unrest.ौHUHKDYHEHHQDIHZFDVHV where citizens have assembled and made their demands to the state. More than a decade earlier, some people had held a peaceful march to protest the inadequacy in government action to hold an inquiry and bring defaulters to account when a dam opened for cleaning FDXVHGDਮRRGZDVKLQJDZD\VL[FKLOGUHQSOD\LQJGRZQVWUHDP ौLVUHVXOWHGLQVRPHFLYLOVHUYDQWVZKRKDGSDUWLFLSDWHGLQWKH peace march being reprimanded and even being relieved from service. In another instance, a few years ago, the parents of youths sent to Japan through a company to ‘earn and learn’ were unduly RYHUFKDUJHG DQG IDFHG LPPHQVH GLਯFXOWLHV LQ ਭQGLQJ MREV DQG DFFHVVLQJ KHDOWK FDUH LQ -DSDQ ौH \RXWKV IDFHG KXQJHU DQG 8 Ibid. 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI%KXWDQReligious Organizations Act 2007 (Thimphu: 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI%KXWDQ KWWSV ZZZQDWLRQDOFRXQFLOEWDVVHWV XSORDGVGRFVDFWV&LYLOB6RFLHW\B$FWB(QJSGI. 81'3%KXWDQNational Human Development Report: 10 Years of Democracy 7KLPSKX 81'3%KXWDQ KWWS KGUXQGSRUJVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVQKGU LLSGI. Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan VLFNQHVV DQG VRPH HYHQ UHVRUWHG WR SHि\ WKH़ WR VXUYLYH ौH parents hired a lawyer and formally launched a complaint to the 5R\DO%KXWDQ3ROLFHौLVWLPHWKHSROLFHODXQFKHGDQLQTXLU\DQG arrested those responsible. Both incidents were reported in the media, including by KuenselWKHJRYHUQPHQWRZQHGQHZVSDSHU11 Media 8QWLO %KXWDQRQO\KDGVWDWHRZQHGDQGUXQPHGLDQDPHO\ the daily newspaper Kuensel and the Bhutan Broadcasting &RUSRUDWLRQUDGLR,Q DFFHVVWRWKHLQWHUQHWDQGWHOHYLVLRQ was approved with services provided by government entities, the %KXWDQ %URDGFDVWLQJ 6HUYLFH DQG %KXWDQ 7HOHFRP ौHUHD़HU many private newspapers and radio stations have proliferated in the country, leading to a plurality in media outlets. 3HRSOHDFFHVVPHGLDDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUSUHIHUHQFHDQGDਬRUGD ELOLW\ ौH XVH RI FHOOXODU WHFKQRORJ\ KDV DFFHOHUDWHG DFFHVV WR WKH ZHE IURP KDQGKHOG GHYLFHV 0DQ\ SHRSOH XVH VRFLDO PHGLD platforms and this has, over time, replaced mainstream media for communication, news and entertainment. According to Bhutan :DWFK 12 an organization researching on issues related to Bhutan out of Nepal, ‘social media have become informal platforms for people to express themselves about corruption, politics, leaders, RZHYHUWKH+ۑLVVXHVDQGHYHQQHZVZLWKOLिOHRUQRFHQVRUVKLS LQFLGHQFH RI PLQRULW\ JURXSV OLNH PDUJLQDOLVHG HWKQLF JURXSV and religious groups using the social media platform to express WKHPVHOYHVLVOLPLWHGDOWKRXJKWKH/*%7,4FRPPXQLW\KDVFRPH forth occasionally in social media. -RXUQDOLVWV LQ %KXWDQ SUDFWLVH VHOIFHQVRUVKLS ZKLFK LV DQ HਬHFWLYHLQGLFDWRURIWKHGHJUHHRIODFNRIIUHHGRPRIPHGLDLQWKH country. Journalists are unable to freely express themselves and it is possible that they fear retribution for their content which may QRWEHSDODWDEOHWRSHRSOHLQSRZHUDQGLQਮXHQFHौH\KDYHDOVR reportedly faced threats from the government. Even private media Kuenselonline.com$XJXVWۑ3ROLFH'HWDLQV%(2RZQHUVېXHQVHO. KWWSV NXHQVHORQOLQHFRPSROLFHGHWDLQVEHRRZQHUV. KXWDQ:DWFK%ۑ5LJKWVXQGHUVKDGRZ6WDWXVRI+XPDQ5LJKWV5HSRUWې DFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKिS ZZZEKXWDQZDWFKRUJULJKWVXQGHUVKDGRZ. 61 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 houses face increasing intimidation and journalists and media houses are not even protected by law.13 0DNLQJ WKLQJV IXUWKHU GLਯFXOWIRUMRXUQDOLVWVLVWKH3HQDO&RGHRI%KXWDQZKLFKGHਭQHV GHIDPDWLRQDQGOLEHODVRਬHQFHVSXQLVKDEOHZLWKDSHQDOW\RIWKUHH years’ imprisonment. Freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed and JHQHUDOO\ UHVSHFWHG LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ौLV IUHHGRP LV H[HUFLVHG WKURXJK DQ LQGHSHQGHQW SUHVV DQ HਬHFWLYH MXGLFLDU\ DQG D functioning democratic political system.15$81'3VWXG\VKRZHG that 68 per cent respondents believe that the media is free to express the truth whereas 82 per cent felt that media has been able to voice the concerns of the people.16 ۑ&KDVLQJ'HYHORSPHQWLQWKH'UDJRQ.LQJGRP KXWDQ%ې6XVDQ%DQNL East Asia Forum, )HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZHDVWDVLDIRUXPRUJ EKXWDQFKDVLQJGHYHORSPHQWLQWKHGUDJRQNLQJGRP. 86DFFHVVHGRQ-XQH&,9,&ۑ6WDWHRI&LYLO6RFLHW\5HSRUWې KWWSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJLQGH[SKSVWDWHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\UHSRUW. UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHGRQ-XQH(ۑKXWDQ%یUHHGRP+RXVH5HSRUW(ې KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\EKXWDQIUHHGRPZRUOG. 81'3%KXWDQNational Human Development Report: 10 Years of Democracy 7KLPSX 81'3%KXWDQ DFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKWWS KGUXQGSRUJ VLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVQKGU LLSGI. 17 National Council of Bhutan, National Security Act 1992 ौLPSKX National 62 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan RI WKH ODZ FDQ EH PLVLQWHUSUHWHG DQG WKXV PLVXVHG ौHUHIRUH citizens are reportedly careful when exercising this freedom as they could be charged with defamation, especially if they criticise the powerful.18 ौH%KXWDQ,QIRUPDWLRQ&RPPXQLFDWLRQVDQG0HGLD$FW does not contain any clauses for the protection of journalists or JXDUDQWHH IUHHGRP RI LQIRUPDWLRQ ौH $FW DOVR SURKLELWV DQ\ alliance of media houses with political parties while banning WKHPHGLDIURPHQGRUVLQJHOHFWRUDOFDQGLGDWHVौH%KXWDQ Human Rights Report states that rather than being facilitative, the Media Council established under the amended Media Act KDVOHGWRLQFUHDVHGVHOIFHQVRUVKLSDPRQJMRXUQDOLVWVHVSHFLDOO\ during elections. Bhutanese enjoy internet freedom, and there KDYH EHHQ QR UHVWULFWLRQV RQ DQ\ ZHEVLWHV H[FHSW WKH EORFNLQJ of a few pornographic sites and those considered anarchic to the LQWHUQHW DFWLYLW\ DQG ۑ ौH UHSRUW DOVR VWDWHV WKDW FLWL]HQV state. communications have not been monitored. Civic space in Bhutan may have expanded to a certain degree D़HU%KXWDQWUDQVLWLRQHGWRDGHPRFUDF\DQGLQWHUQHWWHFKQRORJ\ made participation in social media, and, by extension, in democracy, possible. However, civic space as of yet is ‘obstructed’21 because existing legislation is inadequate in guaranteeing the spirit of the Constitution. For instance, citizens, including journalists, have the right to freedom of expression but no safeguards exist in operational rules and regulations to protect citizens when they assert this right. Citizens are allowed right to peaceful assembly but in practice are discouraged by authorities and people can be WDUJHWHG IRU SDUWLFLSDWLQJ LQ VXFK HYHQWV &62V H[LVW EXW WKHLU &RXQFLORI%KXWDQ KिSV ZZZQDWLRQDOFRXQFLOEWDVVHWVXSORDGVGRFV DFWV1DWLRQDOB6HFXULW\B$FWB (QJSGI. 18 United States Department of State, Bhutan 2017 Human Rights Report :DVKLQJWRQ'& 8QLWHG6WDWHV'HSDUWPHQWRI6WDWH DFFHVVHGRQ-XQH KWWSV ZZZVWDWHJRYZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV %+87$1SGI. 8QLWHG6WDWHV'HSDUWPHQWRI6WDWHBhutan 2017 Human Rights Report :DVKLQJWRQ'& 8QLWHG6WDWHV'HSDUWPHQWRI6WDWH KWWSV ZZZVWDWH JRYZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV %+87$1SGI. ,ELG 86DFFHVVHGRQ-XQH&,9,&ۑ7UDFNLQJ&LYLF6SDFH 860RQLWRU&,9,&ې KिSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJLQGH[SKSZKDWZHGRLQQRYDWHFLYLFXVPRQLWRU. 63 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 role does not transcend service provision and causes which UHTXLUH DिHQWLRQ ZKLFK WKHUHIRUH FRQWLQXH WR IHVWHU DQG UHPDLQ XQDGGUHVVHG%HVLGHVGLਬHUHQWLDODSSOLFDWLRQRIWKHODZKDVDOVR led to a situation at odds with the intent of laws. Citizens, civil society, and journalists are restrained from advocacy and activism DFWRUGHHPHGۑSROLWLFDOېDVDQ\HਬRUWWRGRVRFDQEHFRQVWUXHGDVD disruptive of the public order, leading to substantial penalties. Religious Minorities in Bhutan ौHPDMRULW\RIWKHSHRSOHLQ%KXWDQIROORZ%XGGKLVPZLWKWKH PDLQVHFWVEHLQJ'UXNSD.DJ\XDQG1\LQJPD+LQGXVIRUPWKH VHFRQGODUJHVWUHOLJLRXVJURXS$PRQJWKH/KRWVDPSDFRPPXQLW\ who are people of Nepali origin inhabiting the southern border region in Bhutan, there are also people belonging to the Rai and /LPEXVXEHWKQLFFRPPXQLWLHVZKRDUHIROORZHUVRI.LUDW'KDUPD ौHUHDUHDOVRVPDOOJURXSVRI%KXWDQHVHFLWL]HQVZKRVWLOOIROORZ the traditional Bon (animist) beliefs and practices in addition to EHLQJDGKHUHQWVRIRQHRIWKHWZR%XGGKLVWVHFWVLQ%KXWDQौHUH are also Christians in Bhutan, with most of them being Roman &DWKROLFVDQGRWKHUVEHORQJLQJWR3URWHVWDQWGHQRPLQDWLRQV RXQWU\RI3DUWLFXODU&ېKXWDQKDVQHYHUEHHQIHDWXUHGHLWKHUDVD% LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ۑ6SHFLDO :DWFK /LVWې RU LQ WKH ۑRQFHUQ& Religious Freedom Report.22 However, this does not mean that WKHUH DUH QR XQGHUO\LQJ LVVXHV UHJDUGLQJ UHOLJLRXV IUHHGRP ौH Constitution protects freedom of religion, but local authorities are NQRZQWRKDUDVVQRQ%XGGKLVWV:KLOH%KXWDQHVHRIDOOIDLWKVFDQ worship freely in private, people experience pressure to participate in Buddhist ceremonies and practices.23 ौRXJKIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQLVJXDUDQWHHGE\WKH&RQVWLWXWLRQ of Bhutan, recent history shows that the state, and to a certain extent the general public, have had issues with Christianity and &KULVWLDQVौHUHKDYHEHHQFDVHVRISURVHO\WLVDWLRQZKHUHSHRSOH 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQۑQWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUW,ې RQ,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRPDFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKWWSV ZZZXVFLUI JRYSXEOLFDWLRQVDQQXDOUHSRUW. UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG-XQH(ۑKXWDQ%یUHHGRP+RXVH5HSRUW(ې DFFHVVHGRQ-XQH KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\EKXWDQ IUHHGRPZRUOG. Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan have been convicted in accordance with the Constitution and WKH 3HQDO &RGH RI %KXWDQ 3URVHO\WLVDWLRQ KRZHYHU FRQWLQXHV discreetly by both Bhutanese and tourists entering the country. :LWKWKLVEDFNJURXQGWKHIROORZLQJVHFWLRQZLOOIXUWKHUGLVFXVV WKH RXWSXW RI WKH LQGHSWK LQWHUYLHZV LQ WHUPV RI WKH VLWXDWLRQ RI &KULVWLDQLW\ LQ %KXWDQ UHOLJLRXV SUDFWLFH FRQਮLFWV UHODWHG WR &KULVWLDQLW\DQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQDJDLQVWWKHPौHUHVSRQGHQWVDUH \RXQJSHRSOHRI/KRWVDPSDHWKQLFLW\DQG&KULVWLDQIDLWKZKRZHUH among the few who consented to participate in the interviews. &KULVWLDQLW\LQ%KXWDQ ौHਭUVW&KULVWLDQVWRDUULYHLQ%KXWDQZHUHWZR3RUWXJXHVHSULHVWV LQZKRVHDिHPSWVWREXLOGDFKXUFKDQGFRQYHUWSHRSOHZHUH however, unsuccessful.25,WWRRN\HDUVEHIRUH&KULVWLDQVHQWHUHG %KXWDQDJDLQZKHQLQWKHHDUO\ V5RPDQ&DWKROLFSULHVWVDQG QXQVZHUHLQYLWHGE\WKH*RYHUQPHQWRI%KXWDQWRPDQDJHDIHZ VFKRROVLQVSHFLਭFDUHDVLQWKHFRXQWU\6HYHUDO&DWKROLFSULHVWV DQGDFDGHPLFVZHUHUHFUXLWHGWRWHDFKLQWKHVHVFKRROVौHUHLV QR UHFRUG RI RYHUW DिHPSWV DW FRQYHUVLRQ RI VWXGHQWV E\ WKHVH SULHVWVDQGQXQVVXJJHVWLQJWKDWWKH\FRQਭQHGWKHLUDFWLYLWLHVWR management and teaching at the institutions they were assigned to. ौLVDOVRH[SODLQVZK\WKH\FRQWLQXHGWRDVVLVWWKHJRYHUQPHQWLQ HGXFDWLRQDODFWLYLWLHVIRURYHU\HDUV$़HUWKHLUVWLQWLQ%KXWDQ the Jesuit priests and nuns returned to their parent institutions’ churches in West Bengal and Canada. In the absence of any hard data, the US State Department’s 5HOLJLRXV )UHHGRP 5HSRUW IRU HVWLPDWHV WKH QXPEHU RI &KULVWLDQVLQ%KXWDQWRUDQJHDQ\ZKHUHEHWZHHQWR26 ौH UHVSRQGHQWV IRU WKH VWXG\ ZHUH DOVR DVNHG WR HVWLPDWH KRZ PDQ\&KULVWLDQVWKHUHDUHLQ%KXWDQौHਭJXUHVHVWLPDWHGZHUH 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQۑ QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUW,ې on International Religious Freedom, KWWSV ZZZXVFLUIJRYSXEOLFDWLRQV DQQXDOUHSRUW. ۑV5HSRUWRQ%KXWDQLQۑDWKHU(VWHYDR&DFHOOD(ېDLOOLH/L]D% 7UDQVODWHGIURP3RUWXJXHVHJournal of Bhutanese Studies KWWS KLPDOD\D VRFDQWKFDPDFXNFROOHFWLRQVMRXUQDOVMEVSGI-%6BBBSGI. 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQۑ QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUW,ې RQ,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRPDFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKWWSV ZZZXVFLUI JRYSXEOLFDWLRQV DQQXDOUHSRUW. 65 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 UDWKHUH[WUHPHZKLFKLVQRWVXUSULVLQJVLQFHRਯFLDOਭJXUHVDUH QHLWKHUDYDLODEOHQRUDFFHVVLEOH(VWLPDWLRQDOVREHFRPHVGLਯFXOW GXH WR VHOIFHQVRUVKLS RI &KULVWLDQV ZKR PD\ QRW GHFODUH WKHLU religious beliefs, and usually list the religion they adhered to before conversion for fear of any reprisal from the authorities. ौHSHUVRQVLQWHUYLHZHGIRUWKLVSDSHUZHUH\RXQJLQGLYLGXDOV ZKR PD\ QRW KDYH FRPSOHWH NQRZOHGJH DERXW WKH KLVWRU\ RI &KULVWLDQLW\ LQ %KXWDQ ौH\ EHOLHYHG WKDW DORQJ ZLWK ZHVWHUQ education, Christianity may have come into Bhutan through Christian teachers recruited from India and Jesuits brought in to PDQDJHVFKRROVLQ%KXWDQौH\UHDVRQHGWKDW&KULVWLDQLW\PD\ KDYHVSUHDGPRVWO\LQWKH VDQG VH[WUDSRODWLQJIURPWKH WLPHWKHLUSDUHQWVEHFDPH&KULVWLDQVौHJURZWKRIRWKHUVHFWVLV OLQNHG WR WKH &KULVWLDQ PRYHPHQW LQ QHLJKERXULQJ ,QGLD ZKHUH evangelists are suspected of leading conversions using material inducements. 2QWKHHWKQLFSURਭOHRI&KULVWLDQVEDVHGRQSHUVRQDOREVHUYD tions and interactions with people, it can tentatively be said that PRVW &KULVWLDQV EHORQJ WR WKH /KRWVDPSD PLQRULW\ JURXS DQG hence, Christians are bearing the double burden of discrimination of being both an ethnic and religious minority. However, there are some Sharchogpas (from eastern Bhutan) and Ngalongpas (from western Bhutan) who have also adopted Christianity. ौHUHDUHFRQਮLFWVZLWKLQ&KULVWLDQGHQRPLQDWLRQVDULVLQJIURP GLਬHUHQFHVLQGRFWULQHVUHJDUGLQJWKHLUXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWUXWKDQG practices. While practices of some denominations are orthodox LQQDWXUHRWKHUVDUHOLEHUDOौHUHDUHUHSRUWVRIPHPEHUVRIRQH GHQRPLQDWLRQVWLJPDWLVLQJRWKHUGHQRPLQDWLRQVDQGਭQGLQJIDXOWV LQ WKHLU SUHVFULEHG QRUPV +RZHYHU WKHUH KDV EHHQ QR FRQਮLFW between Christians and people from other faiths reported in the media. Since this study only included Christians as respondents, it was not possible to get the perspective of people from other religions on how they felt about Christians.27 2QHUHVSRQGHQWVDLGWKDWZKHQVRPHRQHKHPHWUHDOLVHGWKDWKHZDVD Christian, the person ‘lectured’ him on Buddhism and even stated that most SHRSOHLQ%KXWDQIROORZ%XGGKLVP7KDWNLQGRIVWLJPDWLVDWLRQLVOLNHO\WR continue into the future. 66 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan 'LVFULPLQDWLRQ Respondents stated that there have been reports of Christians LQ %KXWDQ ORVLQJ MREV GXULQJ WKH V $ UHVSRQGHQW VDLG WKDW XQWLODERXW\HDUVDJRWKH\XVHGWROLYHLQFRQVWDQWIHDUZKLOH KROGLQJZHHNO\FKXUFKVHUYLFHV:KLOHVRPHFKDQJHVPLJKWKDYH occurred in the years since, Christian children are humiliated at VFKRRO E\ WHDFKHUV DQG R़HQ RVWUDFLVHG E\ WKHLU QRQ&KULVWLDQ IULHQGV&KULVWLDQVDUHDOVRRVWUDFLVHGE\WKHLURZQUHODWLYHVD़HU FRQYHUVLRQ 6RPH IDFH VWLJPDWLVDWLRQ DW ZRUN ZLWK FROOHDJXHV avoiding them. Christians in the past were reportedly imprisoned and beaten. Some claimed that their citizenship cards were not XSGDWHGXQWLOWKH\UHFRQYHUWHGWRWKHLURULJLQDOUHOLJLRQ ौHUH LV D UDQJH RI ZD\V LQ ZKLFK &KULVWLDQV LQ %KXWDQ DUH reportedly being discriminated against. In villages, they are GHSULYHG RI JRYHUQPHQWVXEVLGLVHG DJULFXOWXUDO LQSXWV &KLOGUHQ from Christian families have been denied admission to school. Christians have had to worship in fear. Christians have been arrested on grounds of proselytisation.28 ौHUH KDYH EHHQ FDVHV ZKHUH&KULVWLDQVKDYHEHHQGHSULYHGRIVWDWHEHQHਭWVDVZHOODV faced harassment, especially in rural areas, as noted by the author during his interactions with a Christian family in a village. %KXWDQHVH &KULVWLDQV KDYH QRW EHHQ DOORिHG EXULDO JURXQGV HLWKHU ौHUH ZDV DQ DUHD LQ WKH FDSLWDO ौLPSKX WKDW KDG EHHQ designated as a burial ground but the order was later rescinded D़HUSHRSOHOLYLQJQHDUWKHVLWHFRPSODLQHGRIH[KXPDWLRQRIERQHV by dogs and wild animals. Members of the Church of the Brethren WDNHWKHERGLHVWR-DLJDRQ DWRZQRQWKH,QGLDQVLGHRIWKH%KXWDQ ,QGLDERUGHU IRUEXULDOLQWKHODQGWKH\KDYHERXJKWौHHOGHUV RIWKLVFRPPXQLW\KDYHDVNHGIRUDJUDYH\DUGLQ%KXWDQLWVHOIEXW WKHLU SOHDV KDYH WKXV IDU EHHQ LJQRUHG ौH 3HQWHFRVWDO &KXUFK has a practice of burying the dead in a cemetery in Chamurchi DQRWKHUERUGHUWRZQLQ,QGLD 5RPDQ&DWKROLFVWDNHWKHLUGHDGWR Jaigaon or to Darjeeling (in North Bengal, India) for burial. ौH UHDVRQ &KULVWLDQV DिULEXWH WR WKLV GLVFULPLQDWLRQ LV WKH 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQۑQWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUW,ې RQ,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRPDFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKिSV ZZZXVFLUI JRYSXEOLFDWLRQVDQQXDOUHSRUW. 67 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 insecurity faced by other religions due to the increasing number of Christians in the country. Further, while Christianity is considered DIRUHLJQUHOLJLRQ+LQGXLVPLVVHHQLQDPRUHNLQGO\OLJKWVLQFHLW KDVGHLWLHVLQFRPPRQZLWK%XGGKLVPDOEHLWZLWKGLਬHUHQWQDPHV Christians in Bhutan have adopted a ‘do nothing’ approach towards discrimination despite being fully aware of the fact. It LV OLNHO\ WKDW &KULVWLDQV IHDU WKDW VRPH DFWLRQ PD\ EH WDNHQ E\ the government and members of other religious communities if WKH\ ZHUH WR VWDQG XS DJDLQVW GLVFULPLQDWLRQ LQ DQ\ ZD\ 2QH of the reasons for this inaction is also that since most Christians DUH /KRWVDPSDV they already have experience of discrimination and total marginalisation in their social, economic, and political 0DQ\%KXWDQHVHNQRZWKHۑ6RXWKHUQ3UREOHPېOLYHVRZLQJWRWKH problem that occurred in southern Bhutan and mainly of southern 6RXWKHUQې/KRWVDPSDV DਬHFWHGE\VWDWHSROLF\DVWKH KXWDQHVH% ौH\DUHXQZLOOLQJWRUHYLVLWWKDWSKDVHRIVXਬHULQJLQۑ3UREOHP their lives. ,W LV DOVR QRWDEOH WKDW WKHUH KDV QRW EHHQ DQ\ EURDGEDVHG movement of Christians to raise their concerns with the state. ौLV LV SUREDEO\ GXH WR WKH VPDOO QXPEHU RI &KULVWLDQV LQ WKH country, fragmented nature of organisation among Christians of GLਬHUHQWGHQRPLQDWLRQVDQGSURKLELWLRQRIGLVVHQWौHUHDUHQR UHOLJLRQEDVHGFLYLOVRFLHW\JURXSVLQWKHFRXQWU\5HOLJLRXVJURXSV have to register as a religious organisation under the Religious 2UJDQLVDWLRQV $FW DQG FDQQRW RSHUDWH DV D &62 &KULVWLDQ FKXUFKHVKDYHR़HQEHHQXQDEOHWRREWDLQUHJLVWUDWLRQIURPWKH government, which means that they cannot raise funds or buy property, placing constraints on their activities. In view of the situation prevailing thus, it is evident that Christians face closed civic space in Bhutan and cannot organise for any form of activism and advocacy for their religious rights in the country. 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQۑ QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUW,ې RQ,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRPDFFHVVHGRQ-XQHKWWSV ZZZVWDWH JRYUHSRUWV UHSRUWRQLQWHUQDWLRQDOUHOLJLRXVIUHHGRPEKXWDQ. 68 Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan Conclusion Within limitations of data access and availability in the country on civic space and religious issues as well as constraints due to the &29,' VLWXDWLRQ WKLV VWXG\ LV DQ LQLWLDO DिHPSW WR DXJPHQW understanding of the civic space in Bhutan through an exploration RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ DQG WKH PHGLD LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ौH FKDSWHU DOVR sought to understand the many ways in which Christians face discrimination in everyday life. ौHWUDQVLWLRQWRGHPRFUDF\ZLWKWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQJXDU antees freedom of speech, opinion and expression and freedom RISUHVVUDGLRDQGWHOHYLVLRQ2WKHUULJKWVDOVRHQFRPSDVVULJKWV to peaceful assembly and association other than that which is KDUPIXOWRWKHSHDFHDQGXQLW\RIWKHFRXQWU\ौH&62$FW SURYLGHVWKHIUDPHZRUNZLWKLQZKLFK&62VFDQRSHUDWHEXWWKH $FWLVODUJHO\VLOHQWRQLVVXHVRIDGYRFDF\&62VWKXVUHPDLQVLOHQW on important issues out of fear of revocation of their registration. ौH ,QIRUPDWLRQ &RPPXQLFDWLRQ DQG 0HGLD $FW VLPLODUO\ has substantial content on information aspects but is limited in coverage in terms of roles and responsibilities of media houses and does not contain provisions for protection of journalists. $GYDQFHVLQWKHSOXUDOLW\RIPHGLDLQ%KXWDQDFFHOHUDWHGD़HU FLWL]HQVDFFHVVHGWHOHYLVLRQDQGLQWHUQHWLQ $़HU\HDUV many more media houses supplemented the state sponsored radio DQGQHZVSDSHUौHSHQHWUDWLRQRIFHOOXODUWHFKQRORJ\LQWKHODVW years has also led to wider adoption of social media in the country. ौHSRSXODWLRQLVWKHUHIRUHDFWLYHLQVRFLDOPHGLDDQGQHZVLVPRUH rapidly accessed in social media than mainstream media. Besides, opinions and views are expressed more openly in social media SODWIRUPV WKRXJK R़HQ XQGHU SVHXGRQ\PV ौLV LV EHFDXVH LQ UHFHQW\HDUVGHIDPDWLRQODZVKDYHEHHQLQYRNHGDJDLQVWFLWL]HQV and journalists because of which people and journalists have become wary and even censor their views. 0DQ\ &62V LQ %KXWDQ GHOLYHU VHUYLFHV WR PHHW WKH QHHGV RI target groups sometimes unmet by government development SURJUDPPHV $OWKRXJK PDQ\ &62V LGHQWLI\ VSHFLਭF LVVXHV ZKLFKWKH\ZRXOGOLNHWROREE\IRUWKHSRVVLELOLW\RIKDYLQJWKHLU UHJLVWUDWLRQVUHYRNHGGHWHUVWKHPIURPDGYRFDF\ौLVLVDKXJH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 FRQVWUDLQWRQWKHDELOLW\RI&62VWRSOD\DZDWFKGRJUROHLQWKH FRXQWU\DQGWRLQVWLWXWHDFKHFNDQGEDODQFHV\VWHPRQJRYHUQPHQW ZKLFKFDQEHFRPHW\UDQQLFDOLIQRWFKHFNHG,WVKRXOGEHQRWHG WKRXJKWWKDW&62VKDYHVXEPLिHGDSURSRVDOIRUDPHQGPHQWRI the Act but it has not been deliberated in the National Council, one RIWKHKRXVHVRIWKH%KXWDQHVH3DUOLDPHQWDV\HWEXWRQO\E\RQH RIWKH&RPPLिHHVRIWKLVKRXVH Christians are a religious minority not only because of their limited population but also because of the discrimination they face LQ%KXWDQौHIXQGDPHQWDOULJKWWRIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQHQVKULQHG in the Constitution has enabled people to follow Christianity. Recommendations In view of the above, the following recommendations are proposed: L ौHSULPDU\UHFRPPHQGDWLRQIRUHQKDQFLQJFLYLFVSDFHLQ Bhutan is amendment of the relevant legislations, namely, WKH&62$FWDQGWKH5HOLJLRXV2UJDQLVDWLRQV$FWWRDOORZ IRU DGYRFDF\ HਬRUWV E\ &62V DQG UHOLJLRXV RUJDQLVDWLRQV LQYRNLQJ WKH SURYLVLRQV LQ WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ JXDUDQWHHLQJ the right to freedom of expression. Civic Space and Religious Minorities in Bhutan LL ौH ODZV DOVR QHHG WR JXDUDQWHH SURWHFWLRQ RI SHRSOH ZKR DVVHUW WKHLU IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKWV ौH ,QIRUPDWLRQ &RPPXQLFDWLRQ DQG 0HGLD $FW IRU LQVWDQFH GRHV not protect journalists from the powerful elite and the government. iii. Christians should be granted legitimate recognition as a group asserting their constitutional right to follow any religion. Furthermore, they should be given an opportunity to register as a religious group which would pave the way IRU IXOਭOOLQJ WKHLU QHHGV WKURXJK D SURFHVV RI HQJDJHG dialogue. 71 Closing Civic Space in India Targeting Minorities amid Democratic %DࠪVOLGLQJ Citizens Against Hate, India1 Introduction \GHਭQHGDVWKHHQYLURQPHQWWKDWDOORZVFLYLOVRFLHWیLYLFVSDFH& organisations to organise, participate, and communicate without hindrance—has been a contested but vibrant space in India. :LWKDQHVWLPDWHGWKUHHPLOOLRQSOXVFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV &62V DQGDPXOWLWXGHRIVRFLDOPRYHPHQWVZRUNLQJWRDGYDQFH VRFLRHFRQRPLFDQGSROLWLFDOULJKWVDQGKROGLQJJRYHUQPHQWVWR account, India has historically boasted of an active and vibrant FLYLOVRFLHW\ौHVHKDYHJRQHKDQGLQKDQGZLWKDQGQXUWXUHG stable democracy. It is this civil society vibrancy, in addition to its massive population size, that accounts for India’s ‘world’s largest democracy’ label. 6LQFH WKHVH FODLPV KDYH EHJXQ WR WDUQLVK ौH +LQGX %-3 DVFHQVLRQWRSRZHUWKDW Vۑ\QDWLRQDOLVW%KDUDWL\D-DQDWD3DUW \HDUOHGE\3ULPH0LQLVWHU1DUHQGUD0RGLKDVDGYHUVHO\LPSDFWHG FLYLF VSDFH LQ ,QGLD ZKLFK ZH ZLOO GHPRQVWUDWH LV VKULQNLQJ V PLQRULWLHV DQG JURXSV ZRUNLQJۑ\SDUWLFXODUO\ IRU WKH FRXQWU with them. India’s civil society actors—its human rights lawyers, activists, protesters, academics, journalists, liberal intelligentsia, DQG RWKHUV ZKR KDYH VSRNHQ RXW DJDLQVW JRYHUQPHQW H[FHVV \% KDYH LQFUHDVLQJO\ EHHQ XQGHU DिDFNیDQG PDMRULWDULDQLVP almost every internationally measured parameter of civic space &LWL]HQV$JDLQVW+DWHLVD'HOKLEDVHGFROOHFWLYHRILQGLYLGXDOVDQGJURXSV committed to a secular, democratic and caring India. Its members are drawn DFDGHPLDODZEXVLQHVVPHGLDDQGWKHVRFLDOیIURPDZLGHUDQJHRIEDFNJURXQGV sector. See: KWWS FLWL]HQVDJDLQVWKDWHRUJ. 72 dĂďůĞϭ͗ India’s Performance in Key Global ‘Civic Space’ Indices, 2014-2020 Index Factors/Parameters/ Global Rank Global Rank Principles (previous) (latest) CIVICUS &ƌĞĞĚŽŵƐŽĨĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͕ ͚KďƐƚƌƵĐƚĞĚ͛ ͚ZĞƉƌĞƐƐĞĚ͛ Monitor’s ƉĞĂĐĞĨƵůĂƐƐĞŵďůLJ͕ (2014) (2019) EĂƟŽŶĂůŝǀŝĐ ĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ^ƉĂĐĞZĂƟŶŐƐ* dŚĞ ĐŽŶŽŵŝƐƚ ůĞĐƚŽƌĂůƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĂŶĚ Ϯϳͬϭϲϳ ϱϭͬϭϲϳ Intelligence ƉůƵƌĂůŝƐŵ͖ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐ (2014) (2020) Unit’s ŽĨŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͖ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ͖ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů /ŶĚĞdž† ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͖ĐŝǀŝůůŝďĞƌƟĞƐ &ƌĞĞĚŽŵ WŽůŝƟĐĂůƌŝŐŚƚƐ͗ĞůĞĐƚŽƌĂů /ŶĚŝĂƐĐŽƌĞ͗ /ŶĚŝĂƐĐŽƌĞ͗ House’s ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͕ƉŽůŝƟĐĂůƉůƵƌĂůŝƐŵ ϳϳͬϭϬϬͶ ϳϭͬϭϬϬͶ &ƌĞĞĚŽŵŝŶƚŚĞ ĂŶĚƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ͕ Free (2017), Free (2020), tŽƌůĚZĞƉŽƌƚ‡ ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͖ĐŝǀŝůůŝďĞƌƟĞƐ͗ /ŶĚŝĂŶͲ /ŶĚŝĂŶͲ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶĂŶĚ <ĂƐŚŵŝƌ <ĂƐŚŵŝƌ ďĞůŝĞĨ͕ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶĂůĂŶĚ score: score: ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶĂůƌŝŐŚƚƐ͖ƌƵůĞ ϱϬͬϭϬϬͶ ϮϴͬϭϬϬͶEŽƚ ŽĨůĂǁ͖ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůĂƵƚŽŶŽŵLJ WĂƌƚůLJ&ƌĞĞ Free (2020) ĂŶĚŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƌŝŐŚƚƐ (2017) tŽƌůĚ:ƵƐƟĐĞ Constraints on 59 (2015) 69 (2020) WƌŽũĞĐƚ͛ƐZƵůĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƉŽǁĞƌƐ͖ ŽĨ>Ăǁ/ŶĚĞdž§ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞŽĨĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ͖ ŽƉĞŶŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͖ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůƌŝŐŚƚƐ͖ŽƌĚĞƌ ĂŶĚƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ͖ƌĞŐƵůĂƚŽƌLJ ĞŶĨŽƌĐĞŵĞŶƚ͖ĐŝǀŝůũƵƐƟĐĞ͖ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂůũƵƐƟĐĞ ZĞƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ WůƵƌĂůŝƐŵ͖ŵĞĚŝĂ ϭϰϬͬϭϴϬ ϭϰϮͬϭϴϬ Without ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ͕ (2015) (2020) ŽƌĚĞƌƐ͛tŽƌůĚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĚƐĞůĨͲ WƌĞƐƐ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵ ĐĞŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉ͖ůĞŐŝƐůĂƟǀĞ /ŶĚĞdž** ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͖ƚƌĂŶƐƉĂƌĞŶĐLJ͖ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͖ĂďƵƐĞƐ Ύ͚/s/h^ͲdƌĂĐŬŝŶŐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐĨŽƌŝǀŝĐĐƟŽŶͶ/ŶĚŝĂ͕͛/s/h^͕ĂĐĐĞƐƐĞĚϭϲ:ƵůLJϮϬϮϬ͕ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬŵŽŶŝƚŽƌ͘ĐŝǀŝĐƵƐ͘ŽƌŐͬĐŽƵŶƚƌLJͬŝŶĚŝĂ͘ Ώ͚/ŶĚŝĂ&ĂůůƐƚŽϱϭƐƚWŽƐŝƟŽŶŝŶ /h͛ƐĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ/ŶĚĞdž͕͛The Economic Times͕:ĂŶƵĂƌLJ Ϯϯ͕ϮϬϮϬ͘ ΐ͚/ŶĚŝĂ^ƵīĞƌƐ͞ůĂƌŵŝŶŐ͟ĞĐůŝŶĞŝŶŝǀŝů>ŝďĞƌƟĞƐ͕<ĂƐŚŵŝƌZĂŶŬĞĚ͞EŽƚ&ƌĞĞ͗͟ϮϬϮϬ &ƌĞĞĚŽŵZĞƉŽƌƚ͕͛,ƵīWŽƐƚ/ŶĚŝĂ͕DĂƌĐŚϰ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ŚƵĸŶŐƚŽŶƉŽƐƚ͘ŝŶͬĞŶƚƌLJͬ ŝŶĚŝĂͲŚƵŵĂŶͲƌŝŐŚƚƐͲŬĂƐŚŵŝƌͲϮϬϮϬͲĨƌĞĞĚŽŵͲƌĞƉŽƌƚͺŝŶͺϱĞϱĨϯϱĞĚĐϱďϲϳĞĚϯϴďϯĂϱϱϯĞ͘ ΑΖt:WZƵůĞŽĨ>Ăǁ/ŶĚĞdžϮϬϮϬ͕͛tŽƌůĚ:ƵƐƟĐĞWƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ĂĐĐĞƐƐĞĚϭϲ:ƵůLJ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬ ǁŽƌůĚũƵƐƟĐĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͘ŽƌŐͬŽƵƌͲǁŽƌŬͬƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚͲĂŶĚͲĚĂƚĂͬǁũƉͲƌƵůĞͲůĂǁͲŝŶĚĞdžͲϮϬϮϬ͘ ΎΎ͚/ŶĚŝĂZĂŶŬƐϭϰϮŶĚŽŶ'ůŽďĂůWƌĞƐƐ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵ/ŶĚĞdž͕͛The Economic Times, April 22, 2020͘ South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 VSHUIRUPDQFHKDVUHJUHVVHGVLQFHR़HQۑDQGGLVVHQW,QGLD substantially (Table 1). ौH VLWXDWLRQ WXUQHG JUDYHU LQ ZKHQ WKH %-3 ZDV UH elected to power despite its previous assaults on civil liberties and LWVKHLJKWHQHGWDUJHWLQJRIPLQRULWLHVौLVLVRQO\SDUWO\UHਮHFWHG by CIVICUS’s downgrading of India’s civic space rating in DQGLWVGHFLVLRQۑ5HSUHVVHGېWRۑ2EVWUXFWHGېIURP HFHPEHU' LQ0DUFKWRSODFH,QGLDRQLWV:DWFK/LVW2 In the meantime, WKH%-3JRYHUQPHQWKDVFRQWLQXHGLWVDिHPSWVWRVLOHQFHFULWLFV DQGTXHOOGLVVHQWHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHIURPPLQRULW\EDFNJURXQGVDQG WKRVH VSHDNLQJ RQ WKHLU EHKDOI3 Justice institutions, rather than VWDQGLQJ DV EXOZDUNV DJDLQVW H[HFXWLYH H[FHVV PLJKW EH DLGLQJ WKHSURFHVVPRVWUHFHQWO\H[HPSOLਭHGE\WKHFDVHRIWKH6XSUHPH &RXUWFKDUJLQJVHQLRUDGYRFDWH3UDVKDQW%KXVKDQZLWKFULPLQDO contempt of court for his critical tweets against the Chief Justice of India. Civic Space, Objectives, and Research Civic Space and Its Meanings &LYLFVSDFHKDVEHHQGHVFULEHGDVWKHEHGURFNRIDQ\RSHQDQG GHPRFUDWLF VRFLHW\ :KHQb FLYLF VSDFH LV RSHQb FLWL]HQV DQGb FLYLO society organisations are able to organise, participate and communicate without hindrance. In doing so, they are able to claim WKHLUULJKWVDQGbLQਮXHQFHWKHSROLWLFDODQGVRFLDOVWUXFWXUHVDURXQG them.’5 For civic space to be open, thus enabling citizens’ ability to engage in democratic dissent, states must uphold their duty to protect and facilitate citizens’ fundamental rights (i) to associate, LQ)XQGDPHQWDOەHFOLQH'۔OREDO0RQLWRU$GGV,QGLDWR:DWFKOLVWIRU*ې Freedoms’, The Wire, 0DUFKKWWSV WKHZLUHLQULJKWVFLYLFXVPRQLWRU ZDWFKOLVWFDDLQGLD. 86DFFHVVHG&,9,&ۑQGLD,ی7UDFNLQJ&RQGLWLRQVIRU&LYLF$FWLRQی86&,9,&ې -XO\KWWSV PRQLWRUFLYLFXVRUJFRXQWU\LQGLD. 6XSUHPH&RXUWWR 3D\5HRU)DFH0RQWK-DLO7HUPZLWK Closing Civic Space in India LL DVVHPEOHSHDFHIXOO\DQG LLL IUHHO\bH[SUHVVYLHZVDQGRSLQLRQV ौHVHDUHWKHWKUHHFULWLFDOULJKWVWKDWFLYLOVRFLHW\GHSHQGVXSRQ \DUHJXDUDQWHHGEۑEDVLFIUHHGRPVېौHWKUHHULJKWVDOVRFDOOHG the Indian constitution. $UWLFOH D JXDUDQWHHVDOOFLWL]HQVWKHULJKWWRIUHHGRPRI VSHHFKDQGH[SUHVVLRQ$UW E HQMRLQVWKDWDOOFLWL]HQVKDYH WKHULJKWWRDVVHPEOHSHDFHIXOO\DQGZLWKRXWDUPV$QG$UW (c) provides that all citizens have the right to form associations. &LYLFVSDFHULJKWVDUHDOVRJXDUDQWHHGE\$UWLFOHV DQGRI WKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RYHQDQWRQ&LYLODQG3ROLWLFDO5LJKWV ,&&35 WRZKLFK,QGLDLVDVLJQDWRU\,WLVWKHVHULJKWVRIFLWL]HQV WKDWKDYHEHHQXQGHUSDUWLFXODUDिDFNLQ,QGLDLQUHFHQW\HDUVWKDW VGHPRFUDWLFEDFNVOLGLQJ,WLVLQWKHVHFLUFXPVWDQFHVۑVLJQDO,QGLD that India is now being called ‘the largest illiberal democracy’.6 DQGDिDFNVRQWKHPZLOOEHWKHIRFXVۑEDVLFIUHHGRPVېौHWKUHH of this chapter, as it explores the constricted civic space in India, especially for its religious minorities. Objectives ौLVVWXG\DिHPSWVWRH[SORUHDQGGRFXPHQWWUHQGVLQKRZFLYLF space in India has regressed in recent years, and how that is LPSDFWLQJPLQRULWLHVSDUWLFXODUO\6SHFLਭFDOO\WKHVWXG\DLPVWR 0DSHPHUJLQJWUHQGVRIWKHVKULQNLQJFLYLFVSDFHLQ,QGLD ۚ DQDO\VHWKHUHDVRQVIRUWKHUDSLGEDFNVOLGHLQUHFHQW\HDUV identify measures that are deployed to repress dissent; and also examine how constitutional and legal safeguards built LQWRGHPRFUDWLFVWUXFWXUHVKDYHEURNHQGRZQHQDEOLQJWKH EDFNVOLGH QGRLQJWKLVDOVRLGHQWLI\WKHFRVWVRIWKHFORVLQJRIFLYLF, ۚ space on minority groups in particular, and on the nation as a whole. V/DUJHVW,OOLEHUDO'HPRFUDF\6D\V)LQDQFLDO7LPHV86ۑQGLD1RZWKH:RUOG,ې Editor’, The Wire, -XQHKWWSV PWKHZLUHLQDUWLFOHYLGHRNDUDQWKDSDU HGZDUGOXFHLQWHUYLHZLQGLDLOOLEHUDOGHPRFUDF\DPS. 75 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 0HWKRGRORJ\DQG5HVHDUࠫ ौLVUHSRUWRQWKHQDUURZLQJFLYLFVSDFHLQ,QGLDLVH[SORUDWRU\ VHHNLQJWRPDSWKHFKDQJLQJWHUUDLQRIFLYLFDFWLRQDQGH[SUHVVLRQ HVSHFLDOO\DVLWFRQFHUQVUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVDJDLQVWWKHEDFNGURS of the rising trend of majoritarian nationalism that also has HOHPHQWVRIGHHSHQLQJDXWKRULWDULDQLVP,WVHHNVWRH[DPLQHRQ each of the three ‘basic freedoms’ of association, peaceful assembly, DQGb H[SUHVVLRQ RI RSLQLRQ WKH TXDOLW\ RI FLYLF VSDFH LQ WKH country, and then focus on the closing civic space for minorities, VSHFLਭFDOO\ IRU 0XVOLPV LQ UHFHQW PRQWKV ौH UHSRUW FRQFOXGHV ZLWKDQH[DPLQDWLRQRIWKHFDVHRI0XVOLPPDMRULW\.DVKPLUDV one of near erasure of civic space. Research for the study involved documenting the hardening RI OHJLVODWLYH DQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURYLVLRQV IRU UHJXODWLQJ QRQ JRYHUQPHQWDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV 1*2V DQG WKHLU RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR ਭQDQFHWKHLUDFWLYLWLHVLQFOXGLQJWKURXJKIRUHLJQIXQGLQJEHVLGHV DGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHVFUXWLQ\RI1*2OHDGHUVDQGKXPDQULJKWVDQG information activists. It also explored restrictions placed on citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and dissent, the use of excessive force, including lethal force to quell protests, and reprisals against human rights defenders (HRD) and dissenters. Research also involved WUDFNLQJ UHVWULFWLRQV SODFHG RQ WKH SUHVV DQG LQWLPLGDWLRQ RI journalists and also restrictions on citizens’ rights to information DQG WUDQVSDUHQF\ ौLV PDSSLQJ ZDV FRQGXFWHG DORQJ ZLWK DQ examination of how state and society have been mobilised by the ruling dispensation to target democratic dissent and India’s minorities, besides creating a legitimising discourse in support of WKHDQWLGHPRFUDWLFPHDVXUHV)LQDOO\DNH\LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\ZDV MRXUQDOLVWVیFRQGXFWHG LQ $XJXVW DPRQJ NH\ VWDNHKROGHUV academics and researchers, retired bureaucrats, rights lawyers and activists, and political commentators—on their perceptions of recent trends in India concerning the three ‘basic freedoms’ (See Annex A at the end of the chapter). Data collection involved review of the literature—media accounts mostly—but also primary research, examining administrative and FRXUWRUGHUVDQGVRPHLQWHUYLHZVZLWKNH\LQIRUPDQWVौHNH\ LQIRUPDQWV ZHUH PRVWO\ WKHPDWLF H[SHUWV DV ZHOO DV 1*2 DQG 76 Closing Civic Space in India civil society actors and grassroots HRDs. Accounts of the impact of restrictions on minority groups and defenders, too, relied on a review of the literature, including reports of recent episodes of violence, besides media accounts and interviews. ौLV LQWURGXFWRU\ VHFWLRQ LV IROORZHG E\ 6HFWLRQ ZKLFK SURYLGHVDVEDFNJURXQGDEURDGEUXVKSLFWXUHRIWKHQDUURZLQJ of civic space in the country on the three counts of association, SHDFHIXODVVHPEO\DQGH[SUHVVLRQ6HFWLRQLVPRUHWRWKHSRLQW VHHNLQJ WR SURYLGH DQ LQGHSWK DFFRXQW RI WKH JURXQGVZHOO RI WKH DQWL&LWL]HQVKLS $PHQGPHQW $FW &$$ SURWHVWV IURP ODWH 'HFHPEHU DQGWKHXVHRIH[FHVVLYHIRUFHE\DXWKRULWLHVWRTXHOO it, the former being the high point of civic action by Indian Muslims, ZLWKQHZIRXQGFRQਭGHQFHDQGYLJRXUDQGWKHODिHUHPEOHPDWLFRI harsh measures by the central and some state governments to try WRQLSLQWKHEXGGHPRFUDWLFGLVVHQWE\PLQRULWLHVौHVHSURYLGH lessons for how religious minorities have been a particular target of the narrowing civic space in India. Section 5, on the case of 0XVOLPPDMRULW\ .DVKPLU SURYLGHV D FORVH ORRN DW WKH WUDYDLOV of civic space in the restive region, historically limited, and since $XJXVW H[SHULHQFLQJQHDUHUDVXUHZLWKDXWKRULWLHVHQIRUFLQJ D PRQWKVORQJ FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EODFNRXW UHVRUWLQJ WR PDVV detentions, and using excessive force, all to crush dissent. Section 6 concludes with lessons and a set of recommendations. Narrowing Civic Space in India Civic space—the space for civil society—in India has, especially VLQFHEHHQXQGHUVWUHVVZLWKWKHFRPLQJWRSRZHURIWKH%-3 D ULJKWRIFHQWUH JURXSLQJ WKDW KDV VLQFH WKH ODWH V YRFDOO\ HVSRXVHGD+LQGXPDMRULWDULDQYLVLRQIRUWKHFRXQWU\VWULNLQJDWWKH secular and inclusive character of the constitution and polity. It has DOVRGULYHQDQHROLEHUDODJHQGDIDYRXULQJSUREXVLQHVVSROLFLHV DQGLVR़HQDFFXVHGRISURPRWLQJFURQ\FDSLWDOLVP,Q%-3 یWKH ਭUVW WLPH HYHUی\ZDV YRWHG WR SRZHU ZLWK D FOHDU PDMRULW under Narendra Modi, former chief minister of the western state RI*XMDUDW0RGLKDVEHHQDFRQWURYHUVLDOਭJXUHDFFXVHGE\FLYLO society groups and minorities for his role in the mass violence in the VWDWHLQWKDWUHVXOWHGLQRYHUGHDWKVPRVWO\RI0XVOLPV 77 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 *XMDUDWXQGHU0RGLZDVDOVRVHHQDVDSUREXVLQHVVEDVWLRQ%-3 UXOHVLQFHKDVVHHQWKHSDUDOOHOVWUHQJWKHQLQJRIDXWKRULWDULDQ WHQGHQFLHV LQ ,QGLD PDUNHG E\ H[HFXWLYH RYHUUHDFK DQG D LQVWLWXWLRQV$&,9,&86UHSRUWۑFKHFNVDQGEDODQFHېZHDNHQLQJRI VDELOLW\WRHQJDJHLQۑLQQRWHGKRZWKLVZDVLPSDFWLQJFLWL]HQ democratic dissent, concluding that the quality of democracy had V DXWKRULWDULDQ SUDFWLFHVۑVKUXQN7 &62V WKDW FRQWHVWHG WKH VWDWH WKHUHSRUWKDGQRWHGZHUHVXEMHFWHGWRDिDFNVौHVHWRRNYDULRXV IRUPV IURP GHQLDO RI UHJLVWUDWLRQ WR &62V WR WKH ZLWKGUDZDO RI SHUPLWV WR RWKHUV WR RSHUDWH 7DUJHWLQJ WKH IXQGLQJ RI 1*2V &,9,&86IRXQGZDVDFRPPRQWKHPHHVSHFLDOO\SUHYHQWLQJ1*2V from receiving foreign funding and suspending accounts of others WRSUHYHQWWKHPIURPDFFHVVLQJIXQGV*URXSVWKDWVWRRGXSWRWKH VXUYHLOODQFHWKUHDWV VUHVWULFWLRQVIDFHGVHULRXVULVNVۑJRYHUQPHQW DQGSK\VLFDODिDFNVLQFOXGLQJLQVWDQFHVRINLOOLQJVLQDिHPSWVWR VLOHQFHWKHPDQGVHQGDFKLOOLQJVLJQDOWRRWKHUVौHUHSRUWDOVR IRXQGWKDWWKHPHGLDKDGR़HQEHHQXVHGWRGHPRQLVHSDUWLFXODUO\ those engaging internationally with smear campaign against DFWLYLVWVDFFXVHGRISURPRWLQJDQDQWLQDWLRQDODJHQGD-RXUQDOLVWV ZHUHQRWVSDUHGHLWKHUौRVHUHSRUWLQJRQJRYHUQPHQWH[FHVVHV DQGIDLOXUHVIDFHGLQWLPLGDWLRQKDUDVVPHQWDQGSK\VLFDODिDFNV /DZVZHUHDOVRR़HQXVHGWRUHVWULFWIUHHGRPVRIH[SUHVVLRQVDQG online freedoms. VDिDFNVDJDLQVWFLYLOVRFLHW\EHJDQHDUO\LQLWVਭUVWWHUPۑ%-3 especially against groups and individuals defending freedoms, standing up to the government’s antipeople policies and practices and majoritarian mobilisation and for the rights of vulnerable JURXSV,Q-XQHWKH,QWHOOLJHQFH%XUHDXZDVUHSRUWHGWRKDYH WR ۑPSDFW RI 1*2V RQ 'HYHORSPHQW,ې VXEPLिHG D UHSRUW WLWOHG V2ਯFHZKHUHLWFODLPHGIRUHLJQIXQGHG1*2VۑWKH3ULPH0LQLVWHU 7 CIVICUS, India: Democracy Threatened by Growing Attacks on Civil Society, KWWSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJLPDJHV,QGLDB'HPRFUDF\B7KUHDWHQHGB1RYSGI. Humanۑ\V9LEUDQW&LYLO6RFLHWۑ7KUHDWWR,QGLDې\6HHDOVR0HHQDNVKL*DQJXO Rights Watch, $XJXVWKWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZVWKUHDW LQGLDVYLEUDQWFLYLOVRFLHW\; and Mandeep Tiwana, ‘Squeezing Civil Society Hurts India’s Economy and Democracy’, Open Democracy, $XJXVWKWWSV ZZZRSHQGHPRFUDF\QHWHQRSHQLQGLDVTXHH]LQJFLYLOVRFLHW\KXUWVLQGLDV HFRQRP\DQGGHPRFUDF\. 78 Closing Civic Space in India KDG LPSDFWHG *'3 JURZWK QHJDWLYHO\ E\ SHUFHQWDJH SRLQWV ौH UHSRUW SDUWLFXODUO\ QDPHG *UHHQSHDFH GHVFULELQJ LWV ZRUN as ‘a threat to national economic security’.8 ,Q )HEUXDU\ 3ULPH0LQLVWHU0RGLFODLPHGWKDWKHZDVDYLFWLPRIDQ1*2OHG conspiracy. 6SHDNLQJDWDSXEOLFPHHWLQJKHFRPSODLQHG KRZ GR ZH ਭQLVKې ौH\ FRQVSLUH IURP PRUQLQJ WR QLJKW RQ Modi, how do we remove his government, how do we embarrass Modi?’. But my friends, you have voted me to rid the country of these diseases. ौHVHHDUO\DिDFNVDJDLQVWFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWRUVKDGUDLVHGFRQFHUQV among UN agencies, who voiced their worry. Authorities have, however, continued to see civil society as a threat, rather than a SDUWQHULQWKHGHPRFUDWLFSURFHVVौHWDUJHWLQJKDVFRQWLQXHG,Q ۑ\TXLHWOېWKHFHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQWZDVUHSRUWHGWREH XJXVW$ 2VWRWDFNOHGDQJHUVRI*1ۑVXEYHUVLYHېODXQFKLQJDGULYHDJDLQVW suspicious foreign investments.11 Authorities were reported to IRXUWK JHQHUDWLRQې EH TXHVWLRQLQJ WKH LVVXHV UDLVHG E\ 1*2V DV V VS\ DJHQFLHV ZHUHۑHYHQ LQVLQXDWLQJ WKDW 3DNLVWDQ ۑZDUIDUH ‘targeting civil society groups’ in India.12,Q6HSWHPEHUWKH central government enacted changes to the existing rules for IRUHLJQIXQGLQJRI1*2VLQDPRYHWKDWKDVEHHQGHVFULEHGDV VQRQSURਭWVHFWRU13ۑ\IRUWKHFRXQWUۑGHDWKNQHOOېVRXQGLQJWKH *UHHQSHDFHLVD7KUHDWWR1DWLRQDO(FRQRPLF 5HSRUWWR302%,ې Security’, Indian Express, -XQHKWWSV LQGLDQH[SUHVVFRPDUWLFOH LQGLDLQGLDRWKHUVLEUHSRUWWRSPRJUHHQSHDFHLVDWKUHDWWRQDWLRQDO HFRQRPLFVHFXULW\. The Economicۑ\FRQVSLUDFۑ301DUHQGUD0RGLVD\VKHLVYLFWLPRI1*2Vې Times, )HEUXDU\ KWWSV HFRQRPLFWLPHVLQGLDWLPHVFRPQHZV SROLWLFVDQGQDWLRQSPQDUHQGUDPRGLVD\VKHLVYLFWLPRIQJRVFRQVSLUDF\ DUWLFOHVKRZFPV. KWWSV The Hindu, -XQHۑLYLO6RFLHW\LQ,QGLD5HPDLQV9LEUDQW&ې ۑLYLOVRFLHW\LQ,QGLDUHPDLQVYLEUDQW&ېZZZWKHKLQGXFRPRSLQLRQLQWHUYLHZ DUWLFOH HFH. 2VWR7DFNOH*1ە6XEYHUVLYH۔1DUHQGUD0RGL*RYW/DXQFKHV'ULYHDJDLQVWې Dangers of Suspicious Foreign Investments’, Firstpost, $XJXVW KWWSV ZZZILUVWSRVWFRPLQGLDQDUHQGUDPRGLJRYWODXQFKHVGULYHDJDLQVWVXEYHUVLYH QJRVWRWDFNOHGDQJHUVRIVXVSLFLRXVIRUHLJQLQYHVWPHQWV KWPO. 12 Ibid. India Today, 6HSWHPEHUۑK\1*2V)HDUWKH1HZ)&5$5HJXODWLRQV:ې South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Limiting Right to Association 1*25HJLVWUDWLRQ Authorities have increasingly used a series of measures to target &62VDQGOLPLWWKHLUDFWLYLWLHVौH&,9,&86UHSRUWIURPKDG IRXQGWKDWWKHUHJXODWRU\UHJLPHIRU&62VZDVGLVSURSRUWLRQDWH and discriminatory, far stricter than for commercial enterprises. 5HJLVWUDWLRQRI&62VKDGDOUHDG\EHHQDQDUHDZKHUHUHVWULFWLRQV ZHUHFRPPRQौHWUHQGKDVZRUVHQHGVLQFHDQGZDVQRWHG \VNHۑSHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVLQWKH6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYH E\ LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\FRQGXFWHGLQ$XJXVW 6HH$QQH[$DWWKH HQGRIWKHFKDSWHU ,QVHYHUDOFDVHVOLFHQFHVRI&62VKDYHEHHQ VXVSHQGHGRUUHYRNHGDQGDSSOLFDWLRQVIRUUHQHZDOUHMHFWHG &62VSURYLGLQJOHJDODLGDQGVXSSRUWWRH[FOXGHGJURXSVDQG those experiencing human rights violations, including minorities, Dalits, Adivasi, women and human rights defenders, are the ones WDUJHWHGWKHPRVWौRVHHQJDJLQJZLWKLQWHUQDWLRQDOKXPDQULJKWV mechanisms to highlight the human rights situation in India have particularly been at the receiving end of the government’s restrictive VVFDQWUHJDUGIRULQWHUQDWLRQDOKXPDQۑDFWLRQVGHPRQVWUDWLQJ%-3 rights regimes, many of which India is a signatory to. (DUO\LQWKHFHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQWLQWURGXFHGQHZUHJXODWLRQV SURYLGLQJDVKHOIOLIHWR1*2UHJLVWUDWLRQXQGHUWKH,QFRPH7D[ ,7 $FWPDNLQJWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQRI1*2VXQGHUWKH,7$FWYDOLGRQO\ IRUਭYH\HDUVUDWKHUWKDQSHUPDQHQWO\DVZDVWKHFDVHEHIRUHौLV DOORZLQJیLPSOLHV WKDW WKH FKDULWDEOHVWDWXV IRU UHJLVWHUHG 1*2V IRUUHOD[DWLRQLQWD[DWLRQPDिHUVERWKIRUWKHRUJDQLVDWLRQDQG ZDV QR ORQJHU JRLQJ WR EH D RQHWLPH DFW DQG WKDWیIRU GRQRUV 1*2VZRXOGQRZQHHGWRDSSO\HYHU\ਭYH\HDUVWRUHJDLQWKHLU charitable status for tax purposes, subjecting them to bureaucratic GLVFUHWLRQ8QGHUWKLVGLVSHQVDWLRQDOOQRQSURਭWRUJDQLVDWLRQVLQ the country were required to apply for fresh registrations under WKH,7$FWE\$XJXVW KWWSV ZZZLQGLDWRGD\LQLQGLDWRGD\LQVLJKWVWRU\ZK\QJRVIHDUWKH QHZIFUDUHJXODWLRQV . Closing Civic Space in India )RUHLJQ&RQWULEXWLRQ5HJLVWUDWLRQ$FW )&5$ 2I SDUWLFXODU FRQFHUQ WR PRVW &62V KDV EHHQ WKH ZRUNLQJ RI the FCRA to regulate their right to association. 2ULJLQDOO\ HQDFWHG LQ WR FXUE IRUHLJQ IXQGLQJ LQ GRPHVWLF SROLWLFV a more draconian version of the regulation was passed by the &RQJUHVVOHG JRYHUQPHQW LQ SXिLQJ WKH IRFXV VTXDUHO\ RQ 1*2V VLJQDOOLQJ KRZ IRUHLJQ IXQGLQJ RI 1*2V KDV DOZD\V EHHQ WDUJHWHG LQ ,QGLD ौH QHZ OHJLVODWLRQ ZKLFK PDGH )&5$ UHJLVWUDWLRQPDQGDWRU\IRU1*2VWRUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJZDV SXWLQSODFHD़HUVHYHUDOKLJKSURਭOHHQYLURQPHQWDORUJDQLVDWLRQV came under the scanner for allegedly organising protests against GHYHORSPHQWDOSURMHFWVौHQHZ)&5$UHTXLUHGUHJLVWUDWLRQVWREH UHQHZHGHYHU\ਭYH\HDUVDQGDOVRSXWDFDSRQWKHSURSRUWLRQRI foreign funds permissible for administrative expenses, essentially DOORZLQJ DXWKRULWLHV WR FRQWURO KRZ 1*2V VSHQG WKHLU PRQH\ ौH XQFHUWDLQW\ DQG LQFRQVLVWHQFLHV VXUURXQGLQJ WKH SURFHGXUH for renewal of the FCRA licence has been a major concern for PRVW&62V 6LQFH XQGHU WKH %-3 UXOH DXWKRULWLHV KDYH XVHG WKH SHULRGLFUHQHZDOUHTXLUHPHQWVHOHFWLYHO\DJDLQVW1*2VZRUNLQJ VULJKWVDQGIUHHGRPVDQGVHHQDVZRUNLQJWRKROGWKHۑIRUFLWL]HQ JRYHUQPHQWWRDFFRXQW0DQ\1*2VKDYHORVWWKHLUOLFHQVHVVROHO\ GXHWRH[SLUDWLRQ&,9,&86UHSRUWHGWKDWEHWZHHQ0D\DQG -XQHWKHJRYHUQPHQWFDQFHOOHGWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQRI&62V IRUYLRODWLQJWKH)&5$RQJURXQGVWKDWWKH&62VKDGIDLOHGWR submit their tax returns.15,Q$SULODIXUWKHU &62VKDG their licences cancelled for FCRA violations.16ौHDXWKRULWLHVDOVR VNH\LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\QRWHGWKDW&62Vۑ&RIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVLQWKH6$ KDYHIDFHGIXUWKHUUHVWULFWLRQVRQWKHUHFHLSWRIIRUHLJQIXQGVVLQFH 6HH ۑ7LPHWR5HSHDOWKH)&5$ېQQH[$DWWKHHQGRIWKHFKDSWHU $OVR*6DPSDWK$ The Hindu, 'HFHPEHUKWWSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPRSLQLRQOHDG7LPHWR UHSHDOWKH)&5$DUWLFOH HFH. ۑRYHUQPHQW&DQFHOV5HJLVWUDWLRQRI1*2VLQ)UHVK&UDFNGRZQ*ې 15 The Economic Times, -XQH KWWSV HFRQRPLFWLPHVLQGLDWLPHVFRPQHZV SROLWLFVDQGQDWLRQJRYHUQPHQWFDQFHOVUHJLVWUDWLRQRIQJRVLQIUHVK FUDFNGRZQDUWLFOHVKRZFPV. ۑ)RUHLJQ)XQGHG1*2V RPH0LQLVWU\&DQFHOV5HJLVWUDWLRQRI+ې Hindustan Times$SULO KWWSV ZZZKLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRPLQGLD KRPHPLQLVWU\FDQFHOVUHJLVWUDWLRQRI IRUHLJQIXQGHGQJRVVWRU\ 8SQ9WZSZ6U6-]T(G<\JL-1KWPO. 81 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 LQGLFDWHGWKDWWKH\KDGKDQGHGQRWLFHVWR&62VWRVXEPLW WD[UHWXUQVGDWLQJEDFNWR WRDQGRQO\ KDGUHVSRQGHG to this order. 3DUWLFXODUO\WDUJHWHGKDYHEHHQ1*2VDWWKHIRUHIURQWRIKXPDQ ULJKWVZRUNZLWKYXOQHUDEOHPLQRULWLHVDQGLQGHIHQFHRIIUHHGRPV with foreign funding freezes being the weapon of choice, all in WKH JXLVH RI )&5$ UHJXODWLRQV ौHVH LQFOXGH 1DYVDUMDQ 7UXVW ZRUNLQJRQFDVWHLVVXHV $1+$'RQVHFXODULVP *UHHQSHDFH,QGLD ZRUNLQJRQODQGDQGIRUHVWULJKWVDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJH DQG/DZ\HUV &ROOHFWLYH&HQWUHIRU3URPRWLRQRI6RFLDO&RQFHUQV &36& ,QGLDQ Social Action Forum (INSAF), and Amnesty International, all defending civil and political rights. ौHWDUJHWLQJKDVFRQWLQXHG,Q'HFHPEHU WKHJRYHUQPHQW LQIRUPHGSDUOLDPHQWWKDWDVPDQ\DV1*2VKDGEHHQEDUUHG IURPDFFHVVLQJIRUHLJQIXQGLQJVLQFHौHDPRXQWRIIXQGV UDLVHGE\,QGLDQ1*2VYLD)&5$DOVRIHOOIURPDURXQG86' ELOOLRQLQWR86' PLOOLRQLQ 17ौHVDPH\HDUWKH central government further tightened the FCRA rules, introducing IXUWKHU UHVWULFWLRQV UHTXLULQJ LQGLYLGXDO RਯFHEHDUHUV RI 1*2V WRGHFODUHHYHU\ਭYH\HDUVWKDWWKH\KDGQRWEHHQSURVHFXWHGRU convicted for promoting religious conversions and that they were 183UHYLRXVO\WKLVZDVۑSURSDJDWLQJVHGLWLRQېQRWOLNHO\WRHQJDJHLQ only required of the applicant organisation. 6LPLODUXQUHDVRQDEOHHOHPHQWVRIWKHVWDWXWHKDGLQOHG WKH816SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXURQWKH5LJKWVWR)UHHGRPRI3HDFHIXO Assembly and Association to note that FCRA was ‘not in conformity with international law, principles and standards’. ,Q 6HSWHPEHU FHQWUDO JRYHUQPHQW HQDFWHG IXUWKHU KDUGHQLQJRIWKH)&5$ौHQHZSURYLVLRQVDPRQJRWKHUWKLQJV ,Indian Expressۑ*RYW 2V%DQQHGIURP5HFHLYLQJ)RUHLJQ)XQGV*1ې 'HFHPEHU KWWSV LQGLDQH[SUHVVFRPDUWLFOHLQGLDQJRVEDQQHG IURPUHFHLYLQJIRUHLJQIXQGVJRYW. ۑRQYHUVLRQ6HGLWLRQLQ)RFXVDV*RYHUQPHQW7LJKWHQV)&5$1RUPV&ې The Times of India6HSWHPEHU KWWSV WLPHVRILQGLDLQGLDWLPHVFRP LQGLDFRQYHUVLRQVHGLWLRQLQIRFXVDVJRYHUQPHQWWLJKWHQVIFUDQRUPV DUWLFOHVKRZ FPV. Down toۑV)&5$'RHV1RW&RQIRUPWR,QWHUQDWLRQDO6WDQGDUGVۑQGLD,ې Earth, $SULOKWWSV ZZZGRZQWRHDUWKRUJLQQHZVHFRQRP\LQGLDV IFUDGRHVQRWFRQIRUPWRLQWHUQDWLRQDOVWDQGDUGVXQVSHFLDOUDSSRUWHXU. 82 Closing Civic Space in India prohibit the sharing of foreign funds with other organisations or individuals—a move that will hamper the functioning of grassroots organisations—and further restricts the proportion of foreign funds that can be used for administrative expenses, a move that LVOLNHO\WRKLWVDODULHVRIWKRVHHQJDJHGLQWKHQRQSURਭWVHFWRU,W also raises the bar on renewal of registration. 8VLQJ(QIRUFHPHQW$JHQFLHVWR,QWLPLGDWH یौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVR़HQXVHGLWVFULPLQDOLQYHVWLJDWLYHSRZHUV including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates ਭQDQFLDOFULPHVDQGWKH&HQWUDO%XUHDXRI,QYHVWLJDWLRQ &%, the country’s premier criminal investigative agency—to target VSHFLਭF1*2VौHVHKDYHLQFOXGHG/DZ\HUV&ROOHFWLYH&HQWUH IRU-XVWLFHDQG3HDFH &-3 DQG&HQWUHIRU3URWHFWLRQRI6RFLDO &RQFHUQV &36& DOOYRFDOYRLFHVDJDLQVWDXWKRULWDULDQLVPDQG in support of individual freedoms (See Annex C at the end of the FKDSWHU ौH('DQG&%,KDYHR़HQEHHQPLVXVHGE\JRYHUQPHQWV in power to target political and ideological adversaries, leading the Indian Supreme Court to once term the CBI as a ‘caged parrot’. For the government to deploy criminal investigation DJHQFLHVDJDLQVW1*2VZRUNLQJWRXSKROGIUHHGRPVDQGOLEHUW\WR implicate them in fabricated cases, with the intention to browbeat LQWHQWLRQVDQGPHWKRGVौHVHۑWKHPVD\VPXFKDERXWDXWKRULWLHV ‘raids’ as they are termed, by elite investigation agencies, in OHDNHGUHSRUWVWRDFRPSOLDQWPHGLDKDYHWKHLQWHQGHGFKLOOLQJ HਬHFWRQWKHUHVWRIFLYLOVRFLHW\EHVLGHVWKHHਬHFWWKH\KDYHRQ WKH1*2VDQGDFWLYLVWVLQTXHVWLRQ $&OLPDWHRI)HDUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWV:RUNHUV $ORQJ ZLWK DिHPSWV WR SUHYHQW JURXSV ZRUNLQJ RQ FULWLFDO QHHGV KXPDQ ULJKWV ZRUNHUV KDYH DOVR UHSRUWHG EHLQJ VXEMHFW to a campaign of threats and intimidation, by state agencies and LGHRORJLFDOJURXSVDOLJQHGWRWKHP3URPLQHQWDFWLYLVWVDQGKXPDQ ULJKWVZRUNHUVKDYHIDFHGWKUHDWVौHVHKDYHLQFOXGHG6RQL6RUL \Reuters India, 0Dۑ,%&6XSUHPH&RXUW'HVFULEHVیەDJHG3DUURW&۔$ې KWWSV LQUHXWHUVFRPDUWLFOHFELVXSUHPHFRXUWSDUURWFRDODFDJHGSDUURW VXSUHPHFRXUWGHVFULEHVFELLG,1'(( :. 83 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ZRUNLQJ RQ $GLYDVL ULJKWV DQG %HOD %KDWLD DOVR ZRUNLQJZLWK$GLYDVLVLQ&KDिLVJDUKVWDWHDQG7HHVWD6HWDOYDG VLQFHIRUKHUZRUNZLWKWKHVXUYLYRUVRIFRPPXQDOYLROHQFHLQ *XMDUDW6XUYHLOODQFHKDVEHHQDFRPPRQWRRO6QRRSLQJDिHPSWV against journalists, lawyers, academics, and activists by possible JRYHUQPHQWEDFNHG DFWRUV ZHUH UHFHQWO\ UHYHDOHG E\ $PQHVW\ *RRJOHDQG:KDWV$SS21 Digital forensics examinations revealed that such operations have possibly led to the remote planting of evidence for use during fabricated prosecutions.22 2UGLQDU\ provisions in the Information Technology Act and the Telegraph Act also empower authorities to engage in widespread surveillance, ZLWK D UHFHQW UHSRUW UHYHDOLQJ WKDW PRUH WKDQ SKRQH interception orders are issued every year.23 India’s surveillance regime, the report noted, is ‘opaque’, ‘run solely by the Executive’ and contains ‘no provisions for independent oversight’. Curtailing Freedom of Expression and Opinion $WWDࡨVRQ-RXUQDOLVWVDQG$FWLYLVWV India’s performance in global press freedom indices has historically EHHQDPRQJWKHZRUVWLQWKHGHPRFUDWLFZRUOG 7DEOH ,Q WKH3DULVEDVHGPHGLDQHWZRUN5HSRUWHUV6DQV)URQWLHU 56) QRWHG RYHUWKHPHGLDۑWLJKWHQHGKLVJULSېWKDW3ULPH0LQLVWHU0RGLKDG 21 ‘India: Human Rights Defenders Targeted by a Coordinated Spyware ZZZDPQHVW\RUJHQ Amnesty International, -XQHKWWSVۑ2SHUDWLRQ ODWHVWUHVHDUFKLQGLDKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVWDUJHWHGE\DFRRUGLQDWHG RRJOH:DUQHGXSWR,QGLDQ8VHUV7KDW7KH\:HUH*ې VS\ZDUHRSHUDWLRQ KWWSV The Wire, 1RYHPEHUەRYHUQPHQW%DFNHG$FWRUV*۔\7DUJHWHGE WKHZLUHLQWHFKJRRJOHZDUQLQJLQGLDXVHUV; and Shoaib Danyal, ‘Explainer: +RZ:KDWV$SS:DV+DFNHGWR6S\RQ,QGLDQ$FWLYLVWVDQG/DZ\HUVDQG:KR Could’ve Done It’, Scroll, 1RYHPEHU KWWSV VFUROOLQDUWLFOH H[SODLQHUKRZZKDWVDSSZDVKDFNHGWRVS\RQLQGLDQGLVVLGHQWVDQGZKRGLGLW. 3ULVRQ KLPD.RUHJDRQ&DVH%ې0DUWDQG.DXVKLNDQG$QMDQH\D6LYDQ V+DUG'LVN&RQWDLQHG0DOZDUH7KDW$OORZHGۑ5LJKWV$FWLYLVW5RQD:LOVRQ Remote Access’, The Caravan, 0DUFK KWWSV FDUDYDQPDJD]LQHLQ SROLWLFVEKLPDNRUHJDRQFDVHURQDZLOVRQKDUGGLVNPDOZDUHUHPRWHDFFHVV. Outlook, Septemberۑ5HSRUW HQWUDO*RYW7DSV2YHU3KRQHVD Closing Civic Space in India and forced it to ‘toe the Hindu nationalist government’s line’.25 India KDVVHHQDQXPEHURIYLROHQWDिDFNVDJDLQVWMRXUQDOLVWVZKRKDYH UHSRUWHGDJDLQVWSRZHUIXOVWDWHDQGFRUSRUDWHLQWHUHVWVौHVHKDYH UHVXOWHGLQDWOHDVWNLOOLQJVVLQFHLQFOXGLQJWKDWRI*DXUL /DQNHVK D KLJKSURਭOH FULWLF RI ULJKWZLQJ +LQGX H[WUHPLVP26 VDVVDVVLQV ZKR VKRW KHU GHDG RXWVLGH KHU KRPH ZHUHۑDQNHVK/ ODWHUOLQNHGWRDWOHDVWRQHRWKHUKLJKSURਭOHDVVDVVLQDWLRQRIFULWLFV of Hindu nationalism.27 India’s journalists have increasingly been the targets of doctored prosecutions as well. A recent report revealed that during the QDWLRQDO&RYLG ORFNGRZQEHWZHHQ0DUFKDQG0D\DW least 55 Indian journalists faced arrest, physical assaults, destruction of property, threats, or registration of FIRs.282Q0D\WKH(GLWRUV JURZLQJSDिHUQRIPLVXVHRIFULPLQDOېXLOGRI,QGLDFRQGHPQHGD* ौLVۑ\ODZVWRLQWLPLGDWHMRXUQDOLVWVLQGLਬHUHQWSDUWVRIWKHFRXQWU DQHOHFWURQLFیLQFOXGHG6LGKDUWK9DUGDUDMDQWKHHGLWRURIौH:LUH media platform seen to be critical of government —and most UHFHQWO\3UDVKDQW.DQRMLDZKRZDVDUUHVWHGIRUDOOHJHGO\WZHHWLQJ objectionably against a Hindutva leader. Journalists who do not toe the government line, especially women, are frequently the victims of online harassment campaigns. Rana Ayyub, a reporter VDOOHJHGۑVDQG+RPH0LQLVWHU$PLW6KDKۑZKRKDVZULिHQRQ0RGL ,The Economic Timesۑ]QGLD5DQNVQGRQ*OREDO3UHVV)UHHGRP,QGH,ې $SULOKWWSV HFRQRPLFWLPHVLQGLDWLPHVFRPQHZVSROLWLFVDQGQDWLRQ LQGLDUDQNVQGRQJOREDOSUHVVIUHHGRPLQGH[DUWLFOHVKRZ FPV. 26 Ibid. DXUL/DQNHVKDQG00.DOEXUJL.LOOHG8VLQJ6DPH*XQ5HYHDOV)RUHQVLF*ې Report’, News18 India, -XQHKWWSV ZZZQHZVFRPQHZVLQGLDJDXUL ODQNHVKPPNDOEXUJLNLOOHGXVLQJVDPHJXQUHYHDOVIRUHQVLFUHSRUW html. QGLDQ-RXUQDOLVWV$UUHVWHG%RRNHG7KUHDWHQHGIRU5HSRUWLQJRQ,ې28 WKHZLUHLQPHGLDFRYLG The Wire, -XQHKWWSVۑ5HSRUW RYLG& MRXUQDOLVWVDUUHVWHGERRNHGUHSRUW. 2EMHFWLRQDEOH۔GLWRUIRU$OOHJHGO\0DNLQJ)ە7KH:LUH۔LOHG$JDLQVW(5,(ې Comment” About Adityanath’, Scroll, $SULOKWWSV VFUROOLQODWHVW ILUILOHGDJDLQVWWKHZLUHHGLWRUIRUDOOHJHGO\VSUHDGLQJIDNHQHZVDJDLQVW adityanath. 833ROLFH$UUHVWV-RXUQDOLVW3UDVKDQW.DQRMLDLQ'HOKL2YHUې The Print, $XJXVWKWWSVۑ\7ZHHWRQ+LQGX$UPە2EMHFWLRQDEOH۔ WKHSULQWLQLQGLDXSSROLFHDUUHVWVMRXUQDOLVWSUDVKDQWNDQRMLDLQGHOKLRYHU REMHFWLRQDEOHWZHHWRQKLQGXDUP\. 85 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 FXOSDELOLW\LQWKH*XMDUDWULRWVIRXQGKHUVHOIRQDJOREDOOLVWRI MRXUQDOLVWVSUHVHQWO\LQGDQJHU31 ौHUH ZDV XQDQLPRXV DJUHHPHQW DPRQJ WKH MRXUQDOLVWV ZKR V NH\ LQIRUPDQW VXUYH\ WKDW ,QGLDQۑ&SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH 6$ MRXUQDOLVWVQRZODUJHO\HQJDJHLQVHOIFHQVRUVKLSZKLOHUHSRUWLQJ on politically sensitive issues (See Annex A at the end of the chapter). 5HVWULFWLQJ$FFHVVWR,QIRUPDWLRQ $FFHVVWRLQIRUPDWLRQKDVDOVREHHQDਬHFWHGZLWKWKH'HOKLEDVHG 6R़ZDUH )UHHGRP /DZ &HQWUH UHSRUWLQJ WKDW ,QGLD KDV VHHQ D GUDPDWLFULVHLQ\HDUO\LQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVIURPVL[WLPHVLQ WR LQ 32 ौH ,QGLDQ JRYHUQPHQW KDV DOVR EHHQ QRWHG WR PDNH WKH PRVW QXPEHU RI FRQWHQW WDNHGRZQ UHTXHVWV WR VRFLDO ZHUHیPRVWO\ 0XVOLPVیPHGLD SODWIRUPV DQG DW OHDVW SHRSOH DUUHVWHG IRU VRFLDO PHGLD SRVWV LQ MXVW DQG DORQH33 In UDQNHGی57, $FW VYDXQWHG5LJKWWR,QIRUPDWLRQۑ,QGLD XO\- the seventh strongest in the world—was tampered with, with the tenures and salaries of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and the State Information Commissioners brought under the control of the central government, a move that could potentially $EXVHRI7KRVH 5DQD$\\XERQ*OREDO/LVWRI-RXUQDOLVWV8QGHU7KUHDWې ,Firstpost, August 8ۑ3XUVXLQJ7UXWK0XVW%H6WHPPHGZLWK*RYHUQPHQW$FWLRQ KWWSV ZZZILUVWSRVWFRPLQGLDUDQDD\\XERQJOREDOOLVWRIMRXUQDOLVWV XQGHUWKUHDWDEXVHRIWKRVHSXUVXLQJWUXWKPXVWEHVWHPPHGZLWKJRYW DFWLRQ KWPO. \6RIWZDUH)UHHGRP/DZ&HQWHUDFFHVVHG-XOۑQWHUQHW6KXWGRZQ7UDFNHU,ې KWWSV LQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVLQ. ۑ3ULVRQHUVRI0HPHV6RFLDO0HGLD9LFWLPVېVKZDT0DVRRGL$ Livemint, 'HFHPEHUKWWSV ZZZOLYHPLQWFRP3ROLWLFV V:7L7JMVF5=S.Z631813ULVRQHUVRIPHPHVVRFLDOPHGLDYLFWLPVKWPO. 86 Closing Civic Space in India PDNH WKHP VXVFHSWLEOH WR SROLWLFDO SUHVVXUH 5HJDUGOHVV RI WKH robustness of the legislation, India’s information activists continue to operate in a highly hostile environment. A Commonwealth +XPDQ 5LJKWV ,QLWLDWLYH &+5, WUDFNHU UHFRUGHG PXUGHUV RI SHU V57,DFWLYLVWVVLQFHLWVHQDFWPHQWLQZLWKۑQGLD, FHQW RFFXUULQJVLQFHWKHDVVXPSWLRQRISRZHUE\WKH%-3LQ &HQVRULQJ,QFRQYHQLHQW3ODWIRUPV3URYLGLQJ)UHH5LGHWR +DWH$PSOLࣲHUV Instances of censorship of TV news channels have also come to light, WKHPRVWUHFHQWH[DPSOHEHLQJWKHWHPSRUDU\EDQVRQWZR.HUDOD ۑFULWLFDOWRZDUGV'HOKL3ROLFHDQG566ېEDVHGFKDQQHOVIRUEHLQJ GXULQJLWVFRYHUDJHRIWKHDQWL0XVOLPYLROHQFHLQ'HOKLLQ)HEUXDU\ (DUOLHULQWKH,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQWRUGHUHGDRQHGD\EDQ D+LQGLQHZVFKDQQHONQRZQIRUEHLQJFULWLFDORIیRQ1'79,QGLD GXULQJۑVWUDWHJLFDOO\VHQVLWLYHLQIRUPDWLRQېIRUUHYHDOLQJیWKH%-3 LWV FRYHUDJH RI D PLOLWDQW DिDFN RQ DQ ,QGLDQ DUP\ EDVH35 All WKUHHEDQVZHUHUHYRNHGEXWWKHUHKDYHQRWEHHQDQ\LQVWDQFHVRI VLPLODUDFWLRQVEHLQJWDNHQDJDLQVWSUR%-3FKDQQHOVWKDWUHJXODUO\ EURDGFDVWKDWHIXOFRQWHQW'HVSLWHWKHLUR़HQYLRODWLQJEURDGFDVW norms, no restrictions have been placed on these media houses by authorities, rather they have been rewarded, with, among other things, increased access in the form of ‘exclusive interviews’ and increased government advertisement spending.36 Critical media RQWKHRWKHUKDQGVXFKDV1'79VDZIRXUUHVLGHQFHVDQGRਯFHV FRQQHFWHGWRLWVRZQHUVEHLQJUDLGHGLQRYHUਭQDQFLDOIUDXG DOOHJDWLRQV(DUOLHU1'79ZDVUHSRUWHGO\IRUFHGWROD\RਬDIRXUWK DVLJQLਭFDQWFKXQNیRILWVVWDਬD़HUJRYHUQPHQWDGYHUWLVHPHQWV of most news outlets’ revenue—were withdrawn. Withholding of government advertisement has been used to target other critics RPPRQZHDOWK+XPDQ&ۑ0DSSLQJ$WWDFNVRQ57,8VHUVیDOORI6KDPH+ې Rights Initiative, accessed JulyKWWS DWWDFNVRQUWLXVHUVRUJ+RPH,VVXH. ۑ"\K\:DV1'79,QGLD%DQQHGDQG:KDW'RHVWKH/DZ6D:ې Hindustan Times, 1RYHPEHUKWWSV ZZZKLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRP LQGLDQHZVZK\ZDVQGWYLQGLDEDQQHGDQGZKDWGRHVWKHODZVD\VWRU\ 5SR\\<=0)]E9RP\0QE2KWPO. Vۑ+RZ$1,5HSRUWVWKH*RYHUQPHQW 7KH,PDJH0DNHUVې3UDYHHQ'RQWKL Version of Truth’, The Caravan, 0DUFK KWWSV FDUDYDQPDJD]LQHLQ UHSRUWDJHDQLUHSRUWVJRYHUQPHQWYHUVLRQWUXWK. 87 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 as well.37:LWKFULWLFVIDFLQJSXVKEDFNDQGIULHQGO\PHGLDRXWOHWV being rewarded, observers have noted that the major players in India’s print and broadcast media landscape no longer represent a wide range of political perspectives (See Annex A at the end of the chapter). $WWDࡨVRQ$FDGHPLF)UHHGRPV Universities, especially those with a reputation for fostering enquiry and independence, too, have been targeted. An academic DQGREVHUYHUQRWHGWKDWWKH%-3JRYHUQPHQWKDVPDGHDFRQFHUWHG DिHPSWWRFXUEDFDGHPLFIUHHGRP 8QLYHUVLWLHVKDYHEHHQXQGHUDिDFNHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHHQJDJHG SDUWLFXODUO\XQLYHUVLWLHVOLNHیLQFULWLFDOWKLQNLQJDQGUHVHDUFK JNU whose faculty and students have criticised the ruling dispensation.38 Another teacher at a publicly funded university said that university teachers who refuse to toe the government line have faced other IRUPVRISXVKEDFN $W FHQWUDO XQLYHUVLWLHV WKDW KDYH RਬFDPSXVHV WHDFKHUV DUH R़HQ WKUHDWHQHG ZLWK WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI WUDQVIHUV WR IDURਬ SODFHVOLNH.DVKPLU.HUDODDQG/XFNQRZ3URPRWLRQVDUHDOVR withheld. ौH DFDGHPLF SRLQWHG RXW WKDW EH\RQG VXFK RYHUW WDUJHWLQJ WKH government has also heavily slashed funding for higher education, IURP SHU FHQW RI *'3 LQ WR SHU FHQW LQ ौLVKDVFRLQFLGHGZLWKWKHFRQWLQXLQJULVHRIWKH$NKLO%KDUDWL\D 9LG\DUWKL3DULVKDG $%93 WKHVWXGHQWZLQJRIWKHUXOLQJ%-3DQG 5HZDUGRU۔RZ0RGL*RYHUQPHQW8VHV$G6SHQGLQJWR+ېGDP:LWKQDOO$ ZZZLQGHSHQGHQW KWWSV The Independent, -XO\ۑQGLDQ0HGLD,ە3XQLVK FRXNQHZVZRUOGDVLDLQGLDPRGLJRYHUQPHQWPHGLDDGVSHQGLQJQHZVSDSHUV SUHVVIUHHGRPD KWPO. $QDFDGHPLFDQGREVHUYHUHPDLOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH QDPHZLWKKHOG!SHUVRQDOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH $QDFDGHPLFDQGREVHUYHUHPDLOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH 88 Closing Civic Space in India WKH+LQGXQDWLRQDOLVW5DVKWUL\D6ZD\DPVHYDN6DQJK 566 $%93 KDV R़HQ EHHQ UHSRUWHG WR KDYH XQOHDVKHG YLROHQFH LQ XQLYHUVLW\ campuses. Curtailing Freedom of Assembly and Protest Although the right to peaceful assembly and protest has been JXDUDQWHHGXQGHU$UWLFOH E RIWKH,QGLDQFRQVWLWXWLRQLWLV SURYLVLRQ IROORZHG ۑUHDVRQDEOH UHVWULFWLRQې QRW XQTXDOLਭHG ौH by court rulings, have historically allowed authorities to impose FKHFNVLQFOXGLQJE\UHVRUWLQJIUHTXHQWO\WRSHQDOFRGHSURYLVLRQV 6HFWLRQRIWKH&RGHRI&ULPLQDO3URFHGXUH WRSUHYHQW free exercise of the constitutional right. Right to protest today is DQHQGDQJHUHGULJKWLQ,QGLD6LQFH,QGLDKDVVHHQVHYHUDO SDUWLFXODUO\LQVWDWHVZKHUHWKH%-3LVLQیH[DPSOHVRIWKHVWDWH SUHYHQWLQJیSRZHURUZKHUHWKH%-3KDVFRQWURORYHUSROLFHIRUFHV SHDFHIXO SURWHVWV DQG FUDFNLQJ GRZQ RQ GLVVHQWHUV HYHQ ZKHUH WKRVH ZHUH SHDFHIXO ौHVH LQFOXGHG FRXQWU\ZLGH SURWHVWV E\ ZRUNHUV DJDLQVW UHSUHVVLYH ODERXU ODZV DQG HFRQRPLF SROLFLHV ,Q-XO\'DOLWVSURWHVWHGDJDLQVWWKHO\QFKLQJRIVHYHQ'DOLW SHUVRQVE\FRZYLJLODQWHJURXSVLQ8QDFLW\LQ*XMDUDW,Q$SULO FRXQWU\ZLGH SURWHVWV ZHUH KHOG DJDLQVW the Supreme Court’s order diluting the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe 3UHYHQWLRQ RI $WURFLWLHV $FW WKH SULQFLSDO KDWH DQG DWURFLW\ FULPHODZLQWKHFRXQWU\,Q1RYHPEHU $GLYDVLVSURWHVWHGLQ Delhi against the Supreme Court’s decision ordering the eviction RIPRUHWKDQDPLOOLRQIRUHVWGZHOOHUVIURPIRUHVWODQGb(DUOLHULQ -DQXDU\DFHOHEUDWRU\JDWKHULQJE\'DOLWVLQ%KLPD.RUHJDRQ LQ0DKDUDVKWUDFDPHXQGHUDिDFNDOOHJHGO\E\D+LQGXWYDPRE DQG VXEVHTXHQW SURWHVWV UHVXOWHG LQ RQH GHDWK DQG RYHU arrests.$QGLQ0D\LQौRRWKXNXGLGLVWULFWLQ7DPLO1DGX ۑ5DPMDV1RW$ORQH$%93KDVD/HJDF\RI9LROHQFHېDUVKLWD0XUDUND+ The Quint, )HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZWKHTXLQWFRPQHZVSROLWLFVGHOKL XQLYHUVLW\UDPMDVFROOHJHQRWDORQHDEYSKDVKLVWRU\RIYLROHQFHOLNHURKLWK YHPXODMQXNDQKDL\DNXPDU. +RZD3ROLFH,QYHVWLJDWLRQ7XUQHGD'DOLW0HHWLQJ URP3XQHWR3DULV(ې IURP VFUROOLQDUWLFOH Scroll, 6HSWHPEHU KWWSVۑLQWRD0DRLVW3ORW SXQHWRSDULVKRZDSROLFHLQYHVWLJDWLRQWXUQHGDGDOLWPHHWLQJLQWRDPDRLVW plot. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 13 persons were shot dead and hundreds injured by the police while peacefully protesting against a copper smelting plant owned by a subsidiary of industrial giant Vedanta. Authorities, especially LQ%-3UXOHGVWDWHVKDYHIROORZHGDSDिHUQDFURVVWKHVHSURWHVWV to try to prevent this exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly. 3URKLELWRU\ RUGHUV RQ JDWKHULQJV ZHUH UHJXODUO\ FRXSOHG ZLWK EODQNHWLQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVEHIRUHXQOHDVKLQJH[FHVVLYHIRUFHRQ protesters, resulting in much violence, including fatalities. 2EVHUYHUVVD\WKDWDOWKRXJKQRQHZODZVKDYHEHHQHQDFWHG there is now a greater inclination towards the abuse of existing ODZV WKDW KDYH KLVWRULFDOO\ DOORZHG JRYHUQPHQWV WR FUDFN GRZQ on dissent. Courts interpreting the constitutional rights of free expression, association, and peaceful assembly as all being subject to ‘reasonable restrictions’ have aided in this restriction. ‘In its VHFRQG WHUP D़HU EHLQJ YRWHG EDFN WR SRZHU LQ ZLWK D ELJJHU PDMRULW\ WKH %-3 JRYHUQPHQW VHHPV WR KDYH VKDUSHQHG noted an ۑWKH VHFXULWLVDWLRQ RI ODZV IUDPHZRUNV DQG SROLFLHV DFDGHPLFDSRLQWHFKRHGE\D'HOKLEDVHGODZ\HUZKRFRQFXUV WKHUHLVDGHਭQLWHSROLF\VKL़ौHUHLVDQXQVSRNHQGLUHFWLYHWR۞ې use the law in a particular way that results in the consolidation of power.’6RPHRIWKHR़XVHGDQGDEXVHGODZVDUHGLVFXVVHGQH[W 6HFWLRQ is DFRORQLDOHUDSURYLVLRQRIWKH&RGHRI&ULPLQDO 3URFHGXUH &U3& SURYLGLQJ RਯFLDOV WKH DXWKRULW\ WR SURKLELW WKHDVVHPEO\RIਭYHRUPRUHSHUVRQVZLWKLQWKHLUMXULVGLFWLRQLQ JRWRۑH[LJHQWFLUFXPVWDQFHVौLVSURYLVLRQZKLFKLVDXWKRULWLHV SURYLVLRQWRSUHYHQWSURWHVWVZDVXVHGKHDYLO\WRFUDFNGRZQRQ protests against CAA and in Kashmir to silence protests against the revocation of autonomy. 3URKLELWRU\ RUGHUV XQGHU 6HFWLRQ KDYH LQFUHDVLQJO\ EHHQ imposed in conjunction with internet shutdowns—a phenomenon +DOIIURP 7KRRWKXNXGL)LULQJ9LFWLPV.LOOHGE\6KRWVWR+HDG&KHVWې The New Indian Express'HFHPEHUۑ3RVWPRUWHP5HSRUWV HKLQG% KWWSV ZZZQHZLQGLDQH[SUHVVFRPVWDWHVWDPLOQDGXGHFWKRRWKXNXGL ILULQJYLFWLPVNLOOHGE\VKRWVWRKHDGFKHVWKDOIIURPEHKLQGSRVWPRUWHP UHSRUWV KWPO. $QDFDGHPLFDQGREVHUYHUHPDLOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH $6XSUHPH&RXUWODZ\HUHPDLOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH Closing Civic Space in India WKDW UHFHLYHG SURFHGXUDO EDFNLQJ LQ Despite experts and studies warning that internet shutdowns, in fact, ‘encourage a WDFWLFDO VKL़ WR SURWHVW VWUDWHJLHV WKDW DUH OHVV RUGHUO\ PRUH chaotic and more violent’, India continues to impose more internet shutdowns than any other democracy in the world. $XWKRULWLHV R़HQ XVH VHULRXV SURYLVLRQV RI WKH SHQDO FRGH WR 6HFWLRQ $ RI V FRORQLDOHUD VHGLWLRQ ODZۑTXHOO GLVVHQW ,QGLD WKHSULQFHېWKH,QGLDQ3HQDO&RGH RQFHGHVFULEHGE\*DQGKLDV DPRQJWKHSROLWLFDOVHFWLRQVRIWKH,QGLDQ3HQDO&RGHGHVLJQHGWR suppress the liberty of the citizen’, has been consistently used to VXSSUHVVGLVVHQW$QDQDO\VLVLQ VKRZHGDVSLNHLQVHGLWLRQ DUUHVWV VLQFH WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI ZLWK DQG IUHVK LQVWDQFHV UHFRUGHG LQ DQG UHVSHFWLYHO\ More recent examples of sedition arrests include that of Sharjeel Imam DQG$PXO\D/HRQHERWKVWXGHQWVZKRKDGPDGHVSHHFKHVDJDLQVW the CAA (See Annex B at the end of the chapter). ौHUHDUHRWKHUGUDFRQLDQODZVR़HQGHSOR\HGE\DXWKRULWLHV DJDLQVW GLVVLGHQWV DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV ZRUNHUV PRVW QRWDEO\ WKH 8QODZIXO $FWLYLWLHV 3UHYHQWLRQ $FW 8$3$ DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO 6HFXULW\ $FW 16$ DQG VHGLWLRQ SURYLVLRQV RI WKH ,QGLDQ 3HQDO &RGH ,3& DOOSRWHQWLDOO\LQYLWLQJOLIHLPSULVRQPHQWौH8$3$ particularly has draconian procedural provisions, including extended police and judicial custody, no right of bail, and reversal of burden of proof. Authorities have of late been increasingly WRیV SULQFLSDO DQWLWHUURU ODZۑQGLD,یUHVRUWLQJ WR WKH 8$3$ 1HZ5XOHVRQ7HPSRUDU\6XVSHQVLRQRI7HOHFRP6HUYLFHVLQ&DVHRI3XEOLFې Software Freedom Law Center$XJXVWۑ\PHUJHQF\RU3XEOLF6DIHW) KWWSV VIOFLQQHZUXOHVWHPSRUDU\VXVSHQVLRQWHOHFRPVHUYLFHVFDVHSXEOLF HPHUJHQF\RUSXEOLFVDIHW\. Q7LPHVRI8QUHVW6RFLDO0HGLD6KXWGRZQV(QGDQJHU3XEOLF,ېDQ5\]GDN- Safety’, The Wire, 0D\ KWWSV VFLHQFHWKHZLUHLQFXOWXUHPHGLDFULVLV VRFLDOPHGLDVKXWGRZQVSXEOLFVDIHW\. \7KHEHVWWULEXWHWR*DQGKLLQKLVWKELUWKDQQLYHUVDUېUXQDY.DXO$ VFUROOLQ KWWSV Scroll, 2FWREHUۑHDU"6WULNHGRZQWKHVHGLWLRQODZ\ DUWLFOH WKHEHVWWULEXWHWRJDQGKLRQKLVWKELUWKDQQLYHUVDU\VWULNH GRZQWKHVHGLWLRQODZ 5HSRUWLV$Q$UJXPHQWLQ5HSHDOLQJ/DZ%5&1ېKLWUDQVKXO6LQKD& Against Sedition’, Mumbai Mirror, 2FWREHU KWWSV PXPEDLPLUURU LQGLDWLPHVFRPRSLQLRQFROXPQLVWVE\LQYLWDWLRQQFUEUHSRUWLVDQDUJXPHQWLQ UHSHDOLQJODZDJDLQVWVHGLWLRQDUWLFOHVKRZFPV. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ‘exterminate both dissent and dissenters’.An amendment to the ODZ LQ JLYHV WKH VWDWH WKH DXWKRULW\ WR GHFODUH LQGLYLGXDOV terrorists and seize their properties even before their guilt has been HVWDEOLVKHGE\DFRXUWRIODZ8$3$SURYLVLRQVKDYHEHHQLQYRNHG to detain dissenters protesting atrocities against Dalit and Adivasi, DVZHOODVDJDLQVWWKH&$$DPRQJRWKHUVR़HQMXVWIRUPDNLQJ peaceful speeches.51 Elsewhere, dissenters have faced the NSA, a preventive detention law against disrupting national security and public order, that allows police to detain one without charge for up to a year. In recent times, Kafeel Khan, a prominent Muslim voice, and &KDQGUD6HNKDU$]DGD'DOLWOHDGHUKDYHERWKEHHQKHOGXQGHU WKH16$ERWKLQ%-3UXOHG8िDU3UDGHVK$PQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO UHFHQWO\ QRWHG WKDW WKRVH FKDUJHG XQGHU WKHVH DQWLGHPRFUDWLF laws are rarely convicted.52 However, the judicial process itself is considered punishment enough. By the time the accused are WKHLU OLYHV DQG FDUHHUV KDYH ORQJ EHHQې DFTXLिHG RU GLVFKDUJHG ruined, given their prolonged incarceration and persecution at the hands of the state’.53 ࢌH&ORVLQJRI&LYLF6SDFHIRU0LQRULWLHV If civic space has been narrowing for citizens as a whole, for UHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVHVSHFLDOO\0XVOLPVDQGWKRVHZRUNLQJZLWK WKHP WKHUH VHHPV WR KDYH EHHQ DिHPSWV UHFHQWO\ WR HਬHFWLYHO\ FORVHLWRਬौLVZDVFRQਭUPHGQHDUO\XQDQLPRXVO\E\SDUWLFLSDQWV LQWKHNH\LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\ 6HH$QQH[$DWWKHHQGRIWKHFKDSWHU 3DUWLFLSDWLRQLQFOXGLQJLQWKHSROLWLFDODQGHFRQRPLFVSKHUHV ۑ3DQGHPLF 0LVXVHRI8$3$E\8QLRQ*RYHUQPHQW'XULQJ&RYLGې NewsClick, 0D\ KWWSV ZZZQHZVFOLFNLQ8$3$0LVXVH0RGL*RYW &UDFNGRZQ$FWLYLVWV2UJDQLVDWLRQV&RYLG /RFNGRZQ. Hindustan Times, JuneۑKHQ/DZV7XUQ2SSUHVVLYH: $3$8ېDSLO6LEDO. KWWSV ZZZKLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRPDQDO\VLVXDSDZKHQODZVWXUQ RSSUHVVLYHVWRU\G G2(2/4M/=V%DS],KWPO. &UDFNGRZQRQ'LVVHQW3XWWLQJ/LYHVDW,PPHGLDWH 3DQGHPLF RYLG&ې DPQHVW\RUJ Amnesty International India, 0D\ KWWSVۑ5LVNLQ,QGLD LQQHZVXSGDWHFRYLG SDQGHPLFFUDFNGRZQRQGLVVHQWSXWWLQJOLYHVDW LPPHGLDWHULVNLQLQGLD. DZV1HHGWR%H5HYRNHG1RW/ە\WUDRUGLQDU])۔VۑQGLD,ې0DKWDE$ODP Revamped’, The Wire, )HEUXDU\KWWSV WKHZLUHLQULJKWVXDSDVHGLWLRQ SVDQVDH[WUDRUGLQDU\ODZV. Closing Civic Space in India DPRQJ0XVOLPVKDVKLVWRULFDOO\EHHQOLPLWHGौLVLVDिULEXWHGWR various causes, among them the poor ability of Muslim citizens and 0XVOLPIRFXVHG &62V WR RUJDQLVH SDUWLFLSDWH DQG FRPPXQLFDWH ZLWKRXW KLQGUDQFH ौLV KDV UHVXOWHG LQ WKHLU OLPLWHG DELOLW\ WR FODLPULJKWVDVHTXDOFLWL]HQVDQGbLQਮXHQFHWKHSROLWLFDODQGVRFLDO VWUXFWXUHVDURXQGWKHP3DUWRIWKHSUREOHPKDVEHHQWKHQDUURZ policy focus for ‘Muslim’ outcomes, despite ample evidence to show poor performance on all counts of development, including by WKHJRYHUQPHQWDSSRLQWHG6DFKDU&RPPLिHHLQौHXSVKRW of these barriers has been the poor access to resources and capacity for Muslim citizens and groups.55 2़HQ SROLF\PDNLQJ KDV DOVR been hostile to a Muslim focus.56 ौH UHVXOW RI WKHVH DPELJXRXV ZLWKOLिOHLPSURYHPHQWیHਬRUWVKDVEHHQDORQJWKHH[SHFWHGOLQHV in the condition of marginalised Muslims.57 Similarly, Muslim representation in state structures has always EHHQSRRU$VWRFNWDNLQJRI0XVOLPUHSUHVHQWDWLRQLQGHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ SRVLWLRQV DFURVV VHYHUDO VHFWRUV PDNHV IRU D GHSUHVVLQJ UHDGLQJ$JDLQVWDSHUFHQWVKDUHRIWKHQDWLRQDOSRSXODWLRQ Muslim representation in the lower house of the parliament is FXUUHQWO\ SHUFHQW6LPLODULVWKHVLWXDWLRQDPRQJWKHSHUPDQHQW &HQWUHIRU(TXLW\6WXGLHVPromises to Keep—Investigating Government’s Response to Sachar Committee Recommendations (New Delhi: Centre for Equity 6WXGLHVUHY KWWS ZZZDFFRXQWDELOLW\LQGLDLQVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHV GRFXPHQWOLEUDU\SURPLVHVBWRBNHHSBLQYHVWLJDWLQJBJRYHUQPHQWVBUHVSRQVHSGI. $VWXG\RIRYHU1*2VZRUNLQJZLWK0XVOLPVIURPDFURVVHLJKWVWDWHV UHYHDOHGWKDWZKLOHRYHUSHUFHQWRI1*2VKHDGHGE\QRQ0XVOLPVKDG DFFHVVWRLQWHUQDWLRQDOIXQGVRQO\SHUFHQWRIWKRVHKHDGHGE\0XVOLPVKDG VLPLODUDFFHVV/LNHZLVHQHDUO\SHUFHQWRI1*2VKHDGHGE\QRQ0XVOLPVKDG DFFHVVHG,QGLDQGRQRUDJHQFLHVZKLOHMXVWRYHUSHUFHQWRI0XVOLPKHDGHG 1*2VKDYHWKLVDFFHVV6HH)DUDK1DTYLWorking With Muslims: Beyond Burqa and Triple Talaq *XUJDRQ 7KUHH(VVD\V&ROOHFWLYH 5HVHDUFKKDVVKRZQIRULQVWDQFHWKDWLPSOHPHQWDWLRQRI0XOWLVHFWRUDO WKHIODJVKLSPLQRULW\GHYHORSPHQWی 06'3 HYHORSPHQW3URJUDPPH' programme created out of the Sachar Committee process—is seen to be ODERXULQJEHWZHHQVHHNLQJWRILOOGHYHORSPHQWJDSVVXIIHUHGE\0XVOLPV 0XVOLPFRQFHQWUDWHGSRFNHWVDQGWKHGHVLUHRIDXWKRULWLHVQRWWREHVHHQWRFDWHU exclusively to Muslim needs. See Centre for Equity Studies, Promises to Keep—Investigating Government’s Response to Sachar Committee Recommendations (New Delhi: Centre for Equity 6WXGLHV 6XPPDU\DQG5HFRPPHQGDWLRQVRIWKH.XQGX&RPPLWWHHWK December KWWSV WZRFLUFOHVQHWGHF KWPO. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 bureaucracy: only 3.7 per cent successful entrants to the central civil service in its last round of recruitment were Muslim, while none of the over 28 state police chiefs and state chief secretaries, WKH VHQLRUPRVW VWDWHOHYHO FLYLO VHUYDQW FXUUHQWO\ LV 0XVOLP 2QO\RQHRIWKHMXGJHVRIWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWLV0XVOLPZKLOVW there is no Muslim member on the board of governors of India’s top professional colleges (Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, and All India Institute of Medical 6FLHQFHV ौHUHLVVLPLODU]HUR0XVOLPUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRQWKHERDUG RI WRS FRUSRUDWLRQV EDQNV SXEOLF VHFWRU HQWHUSULVHV DV ZHOO DV media houses (print as well as TV).58 As data on representation in the parliament and public sector jobs shows, these current trends are more the norm, historically, than exception. 3RRUSDUWLFLSDWLRQDQGUHSUHVHQWDWLRQKDYHQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWHG realisation of democracy among and for Muslims. Citizen activism, public vigilance, informed public opinion, and social associations \KDYHKLVWRULFDOOیDOOPDUNHUVRIUREXVWFLYLFVSDFHیDPRQJ0XVOLPV been poor as a result. Mobilisation against authoritarianism too KDVEHHQZHDNGHVSLWHORQJVWDQGLQJGLVFULPLQDWLRQDQGDKLVWRU\ of violence, targeting Muslims. VDVVXPLQJSRZHUQDWLRQDOO\LQXQYHLOHGDQHZDQGۑ%-3 QRZ IURQWDO DिDFN RQ UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV DQG RWKHU YXOQHUDEOH JURXSVौLVKDVKDGDFKLOOLQJHਬHFWRQFLYLFVSDFHIRU0XVOLPVDQG 0XVOLPFRPPXQLW\EDVHGRUJDQLVDWLRQVDQGDFWLYLVWVVSHFLਭFDOO\ WDNLQJWKHIRUPیDWHFULPHVDJDLQVWPLQRULWLHVKDYHVHHQDVSLNH+ of mob lynching and vigilante violence against Muslims, Christians, DQG 'DOLWV %-3 DOVR VWUHQJWKHQHG DQG H[SDQGHG D VHULHV RI discriminatory laws and measures that target religious minorities. ौHVH LQFOXGH DQWLFRQYHUVLRQ ODZV EODPHG E\ KXPDQ ULJKWV groups for empowering Hindutva groups to ‘conduct campaigns of harassment, social exclusion and violence against Christians, 0XVOLP5HSUHVHQWDWLRQLQ*RYHUQLQJ%RG\RI3URPLQHQW,QVWLWXWHVRI,QGLDې \UV/RQJD9LWD%UHYLVDFFHVVHG-XO$ۑHDUVRI6DFKDU&RPPLWWHH> KWWSV UDMDWGXWWDEORJVSRWFRPPXVOLPUHSUHVHQWDWLRQLQJRYHUQLQJ ERG\KWPO"P . 0XVKLUXO+DVDQLegacy of a divided nation. India’s Muslims since Independence 1HZ'HOKL 2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV Closing Civic Space in India Muslims, and other religious minorities across the country’./DZV ostensibly meant for the protection of cows continue to provide LQVWLWXWLRQDOEDFNLQJIRUVLPLODUFDPSDLJQVDJDLQVW0XVOLPVDQG 'DOLWV,Q$VVDPWKHSXEOLFDWLRQRIWKHGUD़1DWLRQDO5HJLVWHURI WKURXJK DQ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHVVی \15& LQ -XO LWL]HQV& rife with discriminatory procedures and practices, aimed at PLOOLRQSHUVRQVIDFLQJWKH OH़RYHUیۑIRUHLJQHUVېZHHGLQJRXW possibility of mass disenfranchisement. Muslims were feared to be its principal victims. ौHVLWXDWLRQKDVH[DFHUEDWHGVLJQLਭFDQWO\VLQFH%-3UHWXUQHG ,QTXLFNVXFFHVVLRQ LQ0D\ۑ\EUXWHPDMRULWېWRSRZHUZLWKD it enacted a slew of measures aimed at signalling to Muslims particularly its will to brutally subjugate. First was the outlawing of a form of instant divorce,61 which in the process made it easier to criminalise Muslim men. Next was the abrogation of Article RIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQWDNLQJDZD\WKHDXWRQRP\RI-DPPXDQG .DVKPLUWKHRQO\0XVOLPPDMRULW\VWDWHLQWKHFRXQWU\6RRQD़HU ਭQDO15&IRU$VVDPZDVSXEOLVKHGLQ$XJXVWOHDYLQJRXW million persons, ratcheting up fears of mass statelessness in Assam. %-3OHDGHUVDOVRFODLPHGFUHGLWIRUWKHਭQDOMXGJHPHQWGHOLYHUHGE\ WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWLQWKHORQJVWDQGLQJGLVSXWHWRDFODLPWRWKH VLWHRIWKHGHPROLVKHG%DEULPRVTXHLQWKHFLW\RI$\RGK\DLQ8िDU 3UDGHVKKDYLQJEHHQVHिOHGLQIDYRXURI+LQGXSDUWLHVWKDWKDG GHPROLVKHGWKHPRVTXHLQ 62ौHVHGLVFULPLQDWRU\PHDVXUHV were accompanied by authorities signalling that they would not tolerate any expressions of opposition against the measures that ZHUHSDWHQWO\LOOLEHUDOौH%DEUL0DVMLGYHUGLFWRIWKH6XSUHPH QQXDO$ې8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQIRU,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP ZZZ DFFHVVHG-XO\KWWSV (5,&86 $86 ۑ,QGLD 5HSRUW XVFLUIJRYVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHV,QGLDSGI. 61 Triple talaq, a form of unilateral divorce that allowed Muslim men to divorce their wives by uttering the word ‘talaq’ thrice, was declared XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDOE\WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWLQ$ODZHQDFWHGLQ ZHQWD step further and criminalised triple talaq, prescribing a jail term for up to 3 years for men who engage in the practice. 62 It was claimed that the Babri Mosque had been built centuries ago by VۑGHPROLVKLQJDVWUXFWXUHRI+LQGXVLJQLILFDQFHDWWKHH[DFWVLWHRI/RUG5DPD birth place. In its judgement the Supreme Court of India held the demolition illegal. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Court was followed by days of imposition of curfews in large parts RI8िDU3UDGHVKLQYRNLQJWKHFRORQLDOHUD6HFWLRQ&U3&WR prevent protests. ,Q 'HFHPEHU DQ DPHQGPHQW LQ WKH &LWL]HQVKLS $FW was passed, which opened a pathway for a category of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries,63EXWVSHFLਭFDOO\OHDYLQJ out Muslims. In the run up to the legislation, the government also announced plans to create a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC)—essentially an extension of the Assam NRC to the whole ZLWKVHQLRUIXQFWLRQDULHVDQGSDUW\OHDGHUVPDNLQJی\RIWKHFRXQWU much of their assurance to those who would be excluded from the 15,&WRPDNHXVHRIWKHSURYLVLRQVRIWKH&LWL]HQVKLS$PHQGPHQW $FW &$$ WRZDUGV UHFODLPLQJ ,QGLDQ FLWL]HQVKLS ZKLOVW $$& ZRXOG EH GHWDLQHG DQG GHSRUWHG ौH ۑ0XVOLP LQਭOWUDWRUVې has been described by the UN as ‘fundamentally discriminatory’ besides falling foul of India’s secular constitution. It has been LGHQWLਭHG DV KDYLQJ WKH SRWHQWLDO WR FDXVH PDVV VWDWHOHVVQHVV +LQGXV%XGGKLVWV-DLQV6LNKV3DUVLVDQG&KULVWLDQVIURPWKUHH0XVOLP PDMRULW\FRPPXQLW\3DNLVWDQ$IJKDQLVWDQDQG%DQJODGHVK \XQGDPHQWDOO(۔1HZ&LWL]HQVKLS/DZLQ,QGLDې8QLWHG1DWLRQV QHZV KWWSV HFHPEHU'ۑXPDQ5LJKWV2IILFH+81 ە\LVFULPLQDWRU' XQRUJHQVWRU\ . Closing Civic Space in India V PLOOLRQVWURQJ 0XVOLP FRPPXQLW\ ZKHQۑDPRQJ ,QGLD ZRUNHGWRJHWKHUZLWKWKH15,&65 ौH SRWHQWLDO GDQJHUV RI WKH &$$15,& QH[XV JDOYDQLVHG India’s Muslims and led to widespread protests against the PHDVXUHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ 6SDUNHG E\ DQWL&$$15,& protests by students in Delhi that were met with brute force by authorities, mass demonstrations soon spread to the rest of India. 6KDKHHQ %DJK D SRRU 0XVOLP JKHिR LQ FDSLWDO 'HOKL ZKHUH D VSRQWDQHRXVVLWLQSURWHVWZDVਭUVWRUJDQLVHGLQ'HFHPEHU EHFDPH WKH SURYHUELDO EDVWLRQ RI UHVLVWDQFH DJDLQVW &$$15,& ZLWKZRPHQOHDGLQJWKHHਬRUWLQVSLULQJVLPLODUVLWLQVLQ0XVOLP FRQFHQWUDWLRQV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ 0DQ\ KDLOHG WKH DQWL&$$ and Shaheen 66ۑSROLWLFDO DZDNHQLQJې PDVV UHVLVWDQFH DV D &,15 Bagh as ‘the beating heart of India’s democracy’.67ौHVH0XVOLP led protests, with majority of participants being women, in towns big and small and villages, supported by a coalition of progressive student and civil society groups and opposition parties, became— for as long as they lasted anyway—occasions for citizens to reclaim the idea of India as a secular democratic republic, amid the majoritarian upsurge. Claiming their Indian citizenship in the most visible manner, as Muslims and as Indians, protesters not just demanded abrogation of the CAA, but also their rights as equal citizens to participate in the political process. Shaheen Bagh was FHOHEUDWHGDVWKHPRPHQWZKHQ,QGLDQ0XVOLPVGDUHGWRਭQGWKHLU voice, against further marginalisation. It was also hailed as ‘India’s civil society moment’.68 65 Human Rights Watch, ‘Shoot the Traitors: Discrimination against Muslims ZZZKUZRUJ SULOKWWSV$ۑ\VQHZFLWL]HQVKLS3ROLFۑXQGHU,QGLD UHSRUW VKRRWWUDLWRUVGLVFULPLQDWLRQDJDLQVWPXVOLPVXQGHULQGLDV QHZFLWL]HQVKLSSROLF\. ە0RGLLV$IUDLG۔ېDQQDK(OOLV3HWHUVHQDQG6KDLNK$]L]XU5DKPDQ+ ,The Guardian, January 21ۑV&LWL]HQVKLS3URWHVWVۑRPHQ7DNH/HDGLQ,QGLD: 2020, KWWSV ZZZWKHJXDUGLDQFRPZRUOGMDQPRGLLVDIUDLGZRPHQ WDNHOHDGLQLQGLDVFLWL]HQVKLSSURWHVWV. 67 Dilip Bobb, ‘India’s Shaheen Bagh Moment’, India Legal Live, January 1, KWWSV ZZZLQGLDOHJDOOLYHFRPYLHZSRLQWLQGLDVVKDKHHQEDJKPRPHQW. \7KH6WUHQJWKRI&LYLO6RFLHW\LVLWV6SRQWDQHLWې1HHUD&KDQGKRNH 68 Collective Mobilisation’, Indian Express, -DQXDU\ South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Using Excessive Force to Shut Down Dissent ौHVHDVVHUWLRQVE\DQGRXWSRXULQJVRIVXSSRUWRI0XVOLPULJKWV VDZVZL़DQGYLROHQWUHWDOLDWLRQE\WKHVWDWHGHPRQVWUDWLQJWKH traditional hostility against Muslim assertion, only without any PLWLJDWLRQ QRZ ,Q $VVDP WKH ਭUVW VWDWH WR ZLWQHVV DQWL&$$ SURWHVWVDWOHDVWਭYHSHUVRQVZHUHNLOOHGLQSROLFHਭULQJV Internet VHUYLFHV ZHUH DOVR EORFNHG IRU RYHU D ZHHN ,Q .DUQDWDND WZR protesters were shot dead by the police, who also reportedly lobbed tear gas shells inside a hospital.ौH%-3LVLQSRZHULQERWK$VVDP DQG .DUQDWDND $W WKH VDPH WLPH VWXGHQW SURWHVWHUV ZHUH DOVR WDUJHWHG2Q'HFHPEHU SROLFHIRUFHVLQWKHVWDWHVRI8िDU ZKHUHWKHSROLFHLVXQGHUWKHFRQWURORIی83 DQG'HOKL 3UDGHVK DOPRVWVLPXOWDQHRXVO\VWRUPHGیWKH%-3UXOHGFHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQW the campuses of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia, the country’s two premier Muslim universities that have been the vanguard of the national movement against the &$$15,&$़HUDिDFNLQJVWXGHQWVZLWKEDWRQVWHDUJDVVKHOOV and live bullets, resulting in scores injured at both universities, WKHSROLFHGHWDLQHGKXQGUHGVRISURWHVWHUV$QGWKHQDOORYHU83 the Muslim community became the target of a brutal campaign RZ)LYH3HRSOHLQ$VVDP:HUH.LOOHG'XULQJ$QWL&LWL]HQVKLS+ې WKHZLUHLQULJKWV KWWSV The Wire, 'HFHPEHUۑPHQGPHQW3URWHVWV$ DVVDPDQWLFLWL]HQVKLSDPHQGPHQWDFWSURWHVWGHDWKV. ۑ3ROLFH%XUVW7HDU*DV6KHOOV,QVLGH0DQJDOXUX+RVSLWDO$OOHJHV&RQJUHVVې The Hindu, 'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZVFLWLHV 0DQJDORUHSROLFHEXUVWWHDUJDVVKHOOVLQVLGHPDQJDOXUXKRVSLWDODOOHJHV FRQJUHVVDUWLFOHHFH. Closing Civic Space in India to ‘silence’ opponents of the CAA.71 3URWHVWHUV IDFHG D KHDY\ handed police response with excessive use of force that resulted in QXPHURXVGHDWKVDQGLQMXULHVौHFORVLQJRIFLYLFVSDFHLQ8िDU 3UDGHVKZDVDWH[WERRNFDVH 5HVWULFWLRQVRQ,QIRUPDWLRQ([SUHVVLRQDQG$VVHPEO\ -XVWD़HU&$$ ZDVSDVVHGRQ'HFHPEHU ODUJHSDUWV RI83HVSHFLDOO\LWV0XVOLPFRQFHQWUDWLRQVLQZHVWHUQDQGFHQWUDO GLVWULFWV RI %LMQRU )LUR]DEDG .DQSXU 0HHUXW 0X]DਬDUQDJDU 5DPSXU 6DPEKDO DQG WKH FDSLWDO /XFNQRZ ZHUH SXW XQGHU FRPPXQLFDWLRQORFNGRZQ5HVWULFWLRQVRQDVVHPEO\DQGPRYHPHQW ZHUHLPSRVHGWKURXJKRUGHUVSDVVHGXQGHU6HFWLRQRI&U3& ,QWHUQHWVHUYLFHVZHUHVXVSHQGHGLQYDULRXVGLVWULFWV3URWHVWVDW $08DQGODWHULQ/XFNQRZZHUHPHWZLWKGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHEUXWDO IRUFH 3XEOLF ZDUQLQJV KRXVH DUUHVWV DQG SUHYHQWLYH GHWHQWLRQV were then carried out against persons the authorities accused of coordinating the protests. 2QDQGD़HU'HFHPEHU WKHਭUVW)ULGD\D़HUWKH&$$ EHFDPH ODZ DQG ZKHQ QDWLRQZLGH SHDFHIXO SURWHVWV ZHUH SODQQHGSROLFHUHSULVDOVDJDLQVWSURWHVWHUVLQ83ZDVVZL़DQGOHGWR YLROHQWFRQVHTXHQFHVौH833ROLFHRUGHUHGFKHFNLQJDQGIULVNLQJ around mosques, resorted to baton charge without provocation, and used tear gas shells and stun grenades indiscriminately. According to eyewitness and survivor testimonies, police personnel shot live EXOOHWVDWSURWHVWHUV3ROLFHਭULQJUHVXOWHGLQDWOHDVWGHDWKVDQG several grievous injuries across several districts. A recently released police investigation has given a ‘clean chit’ to the policemen.72 5HSULVDOVDQG6XEYHUVLRQRI-XVWLFH )ROORZLQJWKHSURWHVWVLQVHYHUDO83WRZQVSROLFHPHQDOOHJHGO\ DFFRPSDQLHG E\ ULJKWZLQJ DFWLYLVWV EHORQJLQJ WR WKH 566 DQG 71 Citizens Against Hate, Everyone Has Been Silenced: Police Excesses Against Anti-CAA Protestors in Uttar Pradesh, and the Post-Violence Reprisal. (New Delhi: $OWHUQRWHV3UHVV KWWS FLWL]HQVDJDLQVWKDWHRUJZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV &LWL]HQV$JDLQVW+DWH(YHU\RQH+DV%HHQ6LOHQFHGSGI. $$&OHDQ&KLWWR6L[&RSV$FFXVHGRI6KRRWLQJ6WXGHQW'XULQJ$QWL&6,7ې Stir’, Indian Express, -XO\KWWSV LQGLDQH[SUHVVFRPDUWLFOHLQGLDVLW FOHDQFKLWWRVL[FRSVDFFXVHGRIVKRRWLQJVWXGHQWGXULQJDQWLFDDVWLU. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 LWV DਯOLDWHV UDQVDFNHG KRPHV DQG GHVWUR\HG SULYDWH SURSHUW\ in Muslim neighbourhoods in a number of cities to target what they called were violent protesters.73,Q0X]DਬDUQDJDUWKH\DOVR DिDFNHGDQ,VODPLFVHPLQDU\UDQVDFNHGWKHSURSHUW\EHDWXSLWV VWDਬPHPEHUVDQGVWXGHQWVDQGDUUHVWHGSHUVRQV$WOHDVW were minors, all under the age of 18. Across the state, the police also arbitrarily detained several individuals, including children, and allegedly tortured them. Several prominent HRDs were arrested DQGERRNHGXQGHUYDULRXVFKDUJHV as 75ۑUHYHQJHېQSRVWYLROHQFHFUDFNGRZQSXUSRUWHGO\WRH[DFW, WKH83&KLHI0LQLVWHU &0 'HOKL &ULPLQDOLVLQJ3HDFHIXO'LVVHQW ,Q'HOKLZLWKLWVODUJHFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGVWXGHQWERGLHVDQWL&$$ SURWHVWV FRQWLQXHG ZHOO D़HU WKH FUDFNGRZQ LQ 8िDU 3UDGHVK HਬRUWV WR TXHOO WKHP (OHFWLRQV WR WKH 'HOKL ۑGHVSLWH DXWKRULWLHV Q0X]DIIDUQDJDU3ROLFHDQG+LQGXWYD*URXSV$WWDFN,ې7XVKDU'KDUD 73 The Caravan, 'HFHPEHUۑ0XVOLPVLQ$WWHPSWWR5HFUHDWH5LRWV KWWSV FDUDYDQPDJD]LQHLQSROLWLFVPX]DIIDUQDJDUSROLFHKLQGXWYDJURXSV DWWDFNPXVOLPVDWWHPSWUHFUHDWHULRWV. &LWL]HQV$JDLQVW+DWH Everyone Has Been Silenced. RQ7KRVH,QYROYHGLQە5HYHQJH۔GLW\DQDWK6D\V83*RYW:LOO7DNH$0&ې WKHSULQWLQLQGLD KWWSV The Print, 'HFHPEHUۑ9LROHQFH'XULQJ3URWHVWV FPDGLW\DQDWKVD\VXSJRYWZLOOWDNHUHYHQJHRQWKRVHLQYROYHGLQYLROHQFH GXULQJSURWHVWV . 7ZR6KRSV6HDOHGDV83*RYW6WDUWVWR5HFRYHU QWL&$$3URWHVWV$ې 76 Damages’, Indian Express-XO\KWWSV LQGLDQH[SUHVVFRPDUWLFOH LQGLDDQWLFDDSURWHVWVWZRVKRSVVHDOHGDVXSJRYWVWDUWVWRUHFRYHU GDPDJHV . Closing Civic Space in India VWDWHDVVHPEO\LQ)HEUXDU\SURYLGHG%-3DQRSSRUWXQLW\WR WDUJHW DQWL&$$ SURWHVWV E\ WU\LQJ WR GHOHJLWLPLVH WKH SURWHVWV WKURXJKFRPPXQDOSRODULVDWLRQौURXJKRXWWKHFDPSDLJQSHULRG IURP PLG-DQXDU\ RQZDUGV %-3 OHDGHUV LQFOXGLQJ VHQLRU ministers and parliamentarians, resorted to crude ‘dog whistles’, VHHNLQJYRWHVIRUWKHSDUW\E\UHYLOLQJ0XVOLPVDQGWKRVHSURWHVWLQJ DQG ۑWUDLWRUVې ۑDQWLQDWLRQDOVې FDOOLQJ WKHP DJDLQVW &$$ ‘terrorists’.77ौRXJKWKHSDUW\ORVWWKHVWDWHHOHFWLRQVEDGO\WKH Islamophobic tenor of the campaign created a fertile ground for VXEVHTXHQWWDUJHWLQJRI0XVOLPV0HGLDDQGVRFLDOQHWZRUNVZHUH used extensively. ौHVSDUNWKDWWULJJHUHGWKHYLROHQFHLQWKH1RUWK(DVWGLVWULFW RI'HOKLVRRQD़HULQ)HEUXDU\ZDVOLWLQWKHIRUPRIDSXEOLF WKUHDWE\D%-3OHDGHU.DSLO0LVKUDWR'HOKL3ROLFHWRSK\VLFDOO\ YDFDWHDQDQWL&$$SURWHVWVLWHLQWKHGLVWULFWRUIDFHFRQVHTXHQFHV $$&VZRUNHUVZLWKVXSSRUWRIWKHSROLFHDिDFNHGDQWLۑ0LVKUD protesters at several sites, triggering the violence beginning on 23 )HEUXDU\ 78 Several media reports have revealed the active FRPSOLFLW\ RI 'HOKL 3ROLFH LQ WDUJHWLQJ RI 0XVOLPV ौH WKUHH GD\ IUHQ]\ PDUNHG E\ ZLGHVSUHDG ULRWLQJ DUVRQ ORRWLQJ DQG property destruction, resulted in at least 53 deaths, including that RI0XVOLPVDQGVHYHUDOSODFHVRIZRUVKLSGHVWUR\HG$QWL&$$ SURWHVWVFRQWLQXHGWLOOODWH0DUFKZKHQVHFXULW\IRUFHVXVHG WKHRSSRUWXQLW\SURYLGHGE\WKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFWRGLVPDQWOH the protest sites. &UDࡨGRZQ$JDLQVW$FWLYLVWVDQG&62V In almost all the above instances, the use of excessive force has been followed by fabricated prosecutions under various sections RIWKHODZLQFOXGLQJDQWLWHUURUDQGVHGLWLRQODZVौLVZDVPRVW ۑ+DWHDQG3HULVK V'HOKL(OHFWLRQ&DPSDLJQۑ3-%ې3XUQLPD7ULSDWKL Frontline, )HEUXDU\KWWSV IURQWOLQHWKHKLQGXFRPFRYHUVWRU\ DUWLFOHHFH. ,The AtlanticۑKDW+DSSHQHGLQ'HOKL:DVD3RJURP:ې0LUD.DPGDU )HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZWKHDWODQWLFFRPLGHDVDUFKLYHZKDW KDSSHQHGGHOKLZDVSRJURP . The New York Times, MarchۑV3ROLFH7XUQHG$JDLQVW0XVOLPVۑRZ'HOKL+ې KWWSV ZZZQ\WLPHVFRPZRUOGDVLDLQGLDSROLFHPXVOLPV html. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 REYLRXVO\ HYLGHQW LQ 'HOKL YLROHQFH ZLWK KXQGUHGV RI ZRUNLQJ class Muslims and several youth activists—including women and VWXGHQWVHYHQGRFWRUVDQGFRPPXQLW\NLWFKHQRSHUDWRUVLQYROYHG in providing humanitarian assistance—being arrested, charged in IDEULFDWHGFDVHVLQFOXGLQJIRUWHUURUUHODWHGRਬHQFHV$WWKHWLPH RIਭQLVKLQJWKLVUHSRUWDWOHDVWQLQHDFWLYLVWVDUHLQFXVWRG\DOO have been denied (See Annex B at the end of the chapter). Authorities are able to do to this by abusing the criminal justice system and forgoing due process. Connecting all Delhi arrests is V&ULPHۑRIWKH'HOKL3ROLFH WKH)LUVW,QIRUPDWLRQ5HSRUW %UDQFKUHJLVWHUHGDJRRGWZRZHHNVD़HUWKHYLROHQFHौHDFFRXQW LQWKH),5VHHNVWRDिULEXWHWKHYLROHQFHWRDSUHSODQQHGFRQVSLUDF\ E\0XVOLP\RXWKDQGWKHLURUJDQLVDWLRQVVSHDUKHDGLQJWKHDQWL&$$ SURWHVWVLQFOXGLQJWKH-DPLD&RRUGLQDWLRQ&RPPLिHH -&& 3LQMUD 7RG DQG 3RSXODU )URQW RI ,QGLD 3), ौHUH LV D FOHDU LQWHQW WR FULPLQDOLVHWKHSHDFHIXODQWL&$$SURWHVWVZKLOHZKLWHZDVKLQJWKH ZHOOGRFXPHQWHGUROHRI%-3OHJLVODWRUVDQG+LQGXH[WUHPLVWJURXSV in the violence. Armed with the fabricated FIR and a complicit judiciary, authorities have been arresting and detaining activists ۑVHGLWLRQې XQGHU KDUVK SHQDO SURYLVLRQV VXFK DV WKH 8$3$ DQG SURYLVLRQV RI WKH ,3& %\ V\VWHPDWLFDOO\ WDUJHWLQJ 0XVOLP \RXWK DQG XVLQJ KDUVK SHQDO SURYLVLRQV WKDW DOORZ LQGHਭQLWH GHWHQWLRQ ZLWKRXWFRQYLFWLRQDXWKRULWLHVDUHVHHNLQJWRVLOHQFHWKHGHPRFUDWLF voice that had emerged among Muslims and civil society in India WRFKDOOHQJHWKHGHPRFUDWLFEDFNVOLGLQJWKDWWKH&$$15,&QH[XV represented. ौH WDUJHWHG GHWDLQHHV DUH PRVWO\ VWXGHQWV IURP SUHVWLJLRXV XQLYHUVLWLHVWKDWKDYHDPLGWKHDQWL&$$ SURWHVWVVLQFHODWH 'HFHPEHU JURZQ DV SURGHPRFUDF\ \RXWK LFRQV VSHDNLQJ out against discrimination and targeting of beleaguered minorities. All were exercising their democratic right to peaceful assembly and expression, when they led protests and made speeches against &$$ DQG RWKHU GLVFULPLQDWRU\ ODZV DQG SURJUDPPHV WKDW VHHNWRGHQ\0XVOLPVULJKWVDWSDUZLWKWKHUHVWRIFLWL]HQV,QWKHLU VSHHFKHVWKH\FDOOHGIRU*DQGKLDQUHVLVWDQFHRIQRQFRRSHUDWLRQ VۑWKHVHFRQGDZRPHQ 7KHILUVWLVDQDQWL&$$SURWHVWFRRUGLQDWLRQJURXS rights group; and the third a Muslim rights group. Closing Civic Space in India WRSUHYHQWDXWKRULWLHVLPSOHPHQWLQJ&$$ DQGWKHSODQQHG 15,& ौH\ LQYRNHG FRQVWLWXWLRQDO SURYLVLRQV RI HTXDOLW\ QRQ discrimination, and secularism. 6LPLODUWDUJHWLQJLVWDNLQJSODFHLQ8िDU3UDGHVK6WXGHQW;D VWXGHQWOHDGHUDQGDQWL&$$SURWHVWRUJDQLVHUDW$OLJDUK0XVOLP 8QLYHUVLW\ ZKR IDFHV PRUH WKDQ FKDUJHV LQ IRXU GLਬHUHQW FULPLQDOFDVHVIRUKLVLQYROYHPHQWLQDQWL&$$SURWHVWVQRWHG For a long time, the varsity [AMU] has been targeted by the PHPEHUV RI WKH UXOLQJ SDUW\ 6HYHUDO HOHFWHG %-3 PHPEHUV of parliament hailed our university as ‘nursery of terrorism’. SUHWH[WZDVXVHGWRODXQFKVHYHUDOۑQXUVHU\RIWHUURULVPېौLV DिDFNVE\+LQGXULJKWZLQJJURXSVRYHUWKH\HDUV81 )ROORZLQJWKHDQWL&$$SURWHVWVDXWKRULWLHVKDYHWDUJHWHGRਯFH 8QLRQLQYRNLQJVHGLWLRQDQGPXUGHUۑEHDUHUVRIWKH$086WXGHQWV FKDUJHV IRU DQWL&$$ SURWHVWV DW WKH XQLYHUVLW\ 6WXGHQW ; ZDV DUUHVWHGVKRUWO\D़HUEHLQJLQWHUYLHZHGIRUWKLVUHSRUWDQGUHPDLQV LQFXVWRG\DVWKLVUHSRUWLVEHLQJਭQDOLVHG822WKHUJURXSVWKDWKDYH ERUQHSROLFHEUXWDOLW\LQ83IRUWKHLUDQWL&$$SURWHVWVLQFOXGH 5LKDL0DQFKDQG3RSXODU)URQWRI,QGLD83 with leaders of the group and other HRDs arrested, and several tortured in custody. 6HQLRU%-3OHDGHUVYLVLEO\FRPSOLFLWLQLQVWLJDWLQJYLROHQFHLQ83 LQ'HFHPEHU DQG'HOKLLQ)HEUXDU\ on the other hand, QDPHZLWKKHOG!HPDLOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH 086WXGHQW$UUHVWHG2YHU&$$9LROHQFH&KDUJHGZLWK$ېFDWLPD.KDQ 82 Sedition and Attempt to Murder’, The Print0D\ KWWSV WKHSULQW LQLQGLDDPXVWXGHQWDUUHVWHGRYHUFDDYLROHQFHFKDUJHGZLWKVHGLWLRQDQG DWWHPSWWRPXUGHU. 833ROLFH'HWDLQ7KUHDWHQ%HDW8S 3URWHVWV$$&ې0DKWDE$ODP WKHZLUH KWWSV The Print, 'HFHPEHUۑFWLYLVWV-RXUQDOLVWLQ/XFNQRZ$ Vۑ3RSXODU)URQWRI,QGLDېDQG LQJRYHUQPHQWXSSROLFHDUUHVWVFDDSURWHVWV 83+HDG2WKHU:RUNHUV$UUHVWHGIRU9LROHQFH'XULQJ$QWL&$$3URWHVWV \ZZZLQGLDWRGD\LQLQGLDVWRU KWWSV India Today, 'HFHPEHUۑ3ROLFH SILVXSKHDGRWKHUZRUNHUVDUUHVWHGIRUYLROHQFHGXULQJDQWLFDDSURWHVWV SROLFH . Q0X]DIIDUQDJDU3ROLFHDQG+LQGXWYD*URXSV$WWDFN,ې7XVKDU'KDUD The Caravan, 'HFHPEHUۑ0XVOLPVLQ$WWHPSWWR5HFUHDWH5LRWV KWWSV FDUDYDQPDJD]LQHLQSROLWLFVPX]DIIDUQDJDUSROLFHKLQGXWYDJURXSV VۑDSLO0LVKUD.ېDWWDFNPXVOLPVDWWHPSWUHFUHDWHULRWV; and $NVKLWD-DLQ 8OWLPDWXP:HQW9LUDO%XW3ROLFH6D\V1R(YLGHQFH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 KDYHVXਬHUHGQRUHWULEXWLRQौHSROLFHUHIXVHGWRHYHQUHJLVWHUDQ FIR against some of the named ones. Further, a police investigation LQ'HOKLKDVIDLOHGWRWDNHQRWHRIVHYHUDOLQVWDQFHVRIKDWHVSHHFK E\VHQLRU%-3OHDGHUVWKDWSUHFHGHGWKHYLROHQFH$XWKRULWLHVKDYH continued to act in violation of rule of law, also because higher courts have refused to rein them in, when approached by victims DQGDਬHFWHGFLWL]HQVौLVFDUWHEODQFKHKDVDOVRDOORZHGWKHSROLFH WRUHVFULSWWKHDFFRXQWRIWKHDQWL0XVOLPYLROHQFHLQ'HOKLLQWKHLU RਯFLDOUHFRUGLQJRILWDQGUHVLVWDिHPSWVDWWUDQVSDUHQF\LQFULPLQDO proceedings. Described by independent experts as a pogrom against 0XVOLPV WKH 1RUWK (DVW 'HOKL YLROHQFH RI )HEUXDU\ LV QRZ EHLQJSRUWUD\HGDVDFRQVSLUDF\E\DQWL&$$DFWLYLVWVDQG0XVOLP JURXSV ौLV FULPLQDOLVDWLRQ RI WKH SHDFHIXO SURWHVWV LQ 'HOKL DQG elsewhere that led the mass movement against the discriminatory &$$KDVKDGWKHXSVKRWRIHਬHFWLYHO\VLOHQFLQJGLVVHQW WKH&ORVLQJRI&LYLF6SDFHفKLOOLQJ(ࣻHFWRQ&LYLO6RFLHW\$FWRUV& ौHEODWDQWDQGXQDEDVKHGWDUJHWLQJRIGLVVLGHQWVKDVKDGDFKLOOLQJ HਬHFWRQ,QGLDQFLYLOVRFLHW\HVSHFLDOO\PLQRULW\IRFXVHGDFWRUV,Q many ways, this has fundamentally transformed the way in which Indian civil society functions. A journalist and human rights activist ZKR KDV EHHQ UHFRUGLQJ DXWKRULWDULDQ WHQGHQFLHV IRU DOPRVW VSUHYLRXVEUXVKHVۑHDUVVD\VWKDWZKDWLVGLਬHUHQWQRZIURP,QGLD\ with authoritarianism is the rampancy of impunity: 3HRSOHDUHWHUULਭHGौHUHLVQRZIHDURIWKHVWDWHौHUHLVIHDU of police, fear of CCTVs, fear of Aadhaar, fear of the tower that captures your movement through the movements of your SKRQH $KXPDQULJKWVUHVHDUFKHUDWD'HOKLEDVHGUHVHDUFKDQGDGYRFDF\ centre, concurs: Delhi Riots’, HuffPost, -XO\KWWSV ZZZKXIILQJWRQSRVWLQHQWU\NDSLO PLVKUDGHOKLSROLFHQRHYLGHQFHULRWVBLQBIG FEGIFFEDD. 85 A journalist and human rights activist, personal interview, New Delhi, June Closing Civic Space in India ौH WKUHDW RI FULPLQDOLVDWLRQ DQG WKH WKUHDW RI WRUWXUH KDV FRPHYHU\FORVHQRZ,WKDVIRUFHGXVWRWKLQNDQGVSHQGWLPH in securing our behaviour and ourselves. Not just mental resources that are being utilised in terms of anxiety, but also on WHFKQRORJ\WRVHFXUHRXUZRUN,WLVTXLWHGUDLQLQJ86 Another human rights researcher noted that there have also been more subtle changes in the dynamics of civic action: ौH RUJDQLVLQJ FDSDFLW\ UHTXLUHG WR FDUU\ RXW HYHQ VLPSOH WKLQJV OLNH VPDOO IDFWਭQGLQJ PLVVLRQV IRU KXPDQ ULJKWV violations—the simplest things have become not impossible, EXWPRUHGLਯFXOWWRZRUNZLWK87 Courts Failing to Protect ‘Basic Freedoms’ 2EVHUYHUV KDYH QRWHG WKDW WKH H[WHQVLYH DUFKLWHFWXUH RI MXVWLFH institutions in India—the High Courts and the Supreme Court of India and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)— have largely failed to protect both the right to peaceful protest or adequately shield peaceful protestors from excessive force and brutality by the police, in the course of protests across India against the CAA.88 With a few notable exceptions, neither the courts intervened on their own to restrain the use of excessive force, ensure protests could continue unimpeded, nor held the police personnel accountable. When pushed to intervene, the response ZDV QRW LQ NHHSLQJ ZLWK XSKROGLQJ RI IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKWV DQG KROGLQJWKHVWDWHDXWKRULWLHVWRDFFRXQWौLVOHWKDUJ\E\MXVWLFH institutions has acted as a shield of impunity for authorities and police, encouraging them to brazenly target students, HRDs, and VFRUHVRISHRSOHHQJDJHGLQSHDFHIXOFRPPXQLW\OHGSURWHVWV $KXPDQULJKWVUHVHDUFKHUSHUVRQDOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH $KXPDQULJKWVUHVHDUFKHUSHUVRQDOLQWHUYLHZ1HZ'HOKL-XQH VNH\LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\GLVDJUHHGZLWKۑ&RIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVLQWKH6$ WKHDVVHUWLRQWKDWVLQFH,QGLDQFRXUWVKDYHLVVXHGSURJUHVVLYHMXGJHPHQWV relating to the freedom of peaceful assembly (See Annex A at the end of the chapter). South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Erased Civic Space in Kashmir Abrogating Laws and Social Contracts ZKHUH UHJUHVVLYHیौH FDVH RI 0XVOLPPDMRULW\ .DVKPLU FRQVWLWXWLRQDO FKDQJHV LQ $XJXVW ZHUH DFFRPSDQLHG E\ D FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EODFNRXW PDVV GHWHQWLRQV DQG D PRYHPHQW GHPRQVWUDWHV KRZ FLYLF VSDFH FDQ EH VRXJKW WR EHیORFNGRZQ FRPSOHWHO\ HUDVHG ZLWKLQ D IRUPDO GHPRFUDWLF IUDPHZRUN 81 experts, raising the issue of the shutdown with the government HQGWKHFUDFNGRZQRQIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQېRI,QGLDXUJHGLWWR access to information and peaceful protests’ that they characterised as ‘inconsistent with the fundamental norms of necessity and proportionality’ amounting to ‘a form of collective punishment of the Kashmiri people…without even the pretext of a precipitating ۑRਬHQFH &LYLF VSDFH LQ FRQਮLFWDਬHFWHG .DVKPLU KDV DOZD\V EHHQ restricted. Authorities have relied on extraordinary laws, including WKH3XEOLF6DIHW\$FW 36$ DQGWKH8$3$WRGHWDLQDFWLYLVWVDQG SURWHVWHUV LPSRVHG 6HFWLRQ RI &U3& LQGLVFULPLQDWHO\ DQG IUHTXHQWO\UHVRUWHGWRLQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVUHFRUGLQJDWOHDVW LQVWDQFHVRILQWHUQHWEORFNDGHVVLQFH ौH\KDYHDOVRXVHG DVZHOODVOHWKDOZHDSRQVLQFOXGLQJSHOOHWJXQVDQGۑOHVVOHWKDOې live bullets, against protesters among whom were children as ZHOO ([WUDMXGLFLDO H[HFXWLRQV DQG HQIRUFHG GLVDSSHDUDQFHV RI civilians have been common. All these measures have been aimed at crushing dissent. And authorities have resorted to Armed )RUFHV6SHFLDO3RZHUV$FW $)63$ DQGRWKHUUHJXODWLRQVWRJLYH WKHPVHOYHVSURWHFWLRQDJDLQVWDQ\DFFRXQWDELOLW\ौHPRVWUHFHQW ZHUHKRZHYHUTXLWHXQOLNHۑEDVLFIUHHGRPVېURXQGRIDिDFNVRQ DQ\WKLQJEHIRUHLQWKHLUEHLQJDOOHQFRPSDVVLQJDQGV\VWHPDWLF 2Q $XJXVW WKH FHQWUDO JRYHUQPHQW DEUXSWO\ DQG XQLODWHUDOO\UHYRNHG$UWLFOHRIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQVWULSSLQJ-DPPX 81Rights Experts Urge India to End Communications Shutdown inې 2IILFHRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWVۑDVKPLU. $XJXVW KWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJ(11HZV(YHQWV3DJHV'LVSOD\1HZV DVS["1HZV,' /DQJ,' (. \6RIWZDUH)UHHGRP/DZ&HQWHUDFFHVVHG-XOۑQWHUQHW6KXWGRZQ7UDFNHU,ې KWWSV LQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVLQ. Closing Civic Space in India and Kashmir of its nominal autonomy and removed Article 35A, ौLV VLQGLJHQRXVSRSXODWLRQۑWDNLQJDZD\JXDUDQWHHVIRUWKHVWDWH KDVEHHQDORQJVWDQGLQJ566%-3DJHQGDIRUIRUFLEOHLQWHJUDWLRQ of the restive state, over which India has fought several wars and V UROH KDV EHHQ LQYRNHG 5HFHQWO\ VHYHUDO PRYHV E\ WKHۑWKH 81 DXWKRULWLHV SRLQW WR DिHPSWV WR FKDQJH WKH GHPRJUDSK\ RI WKH 0XVOLPPDMRULW\VWDWH 7RJLYHHਬHFWWRWKHFKDQJHVDQGSUHYHQW GLVVHQW WKH DXWKRULWLHV WRRN D VOHZ RI PHDVXUHV WKDW HਬHFWLYHO\ HUDVHGFLYLFVSDFHLQWKHVWDWHौHUHYRFDWLRQRIWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQDO provisions, preceded by the mobilisation of thousands of Indian security forces into the region, was accompanied by suspension of all modes of communication, including landline and mobile phones, DSUHVVFODPSGRZQODUJHVFDOHDUUHVWVDQGGHWHQWLRQVDQGORFNGRZQ RIDOOPRYHPHQWौHVHPHDVXUHVOHG)UHHGRP+RXVHLQLWV JLYLQJLWDVFRUHRIRXWRIۑ1RW)UHHېUHSRUWWRUDWH.DVKPLUDV ۑSDUWO\IUHHېZKHQLWZDVPDUNHG LQ FRPSDUHGWR Abrogating ‘Basic Freedoms’ &RPPXQLFDWLRQ%ODࡨRXW 6SHHࡩDQG([SUHVVLRQ5HVWULFWHG ौHFKDQJHGDGPLQLVWUDWLYHVWDWXVZDVDFFRPSDQLHGE\DQDOPRVW WRWDOFRPPXQLFDWLRQVEODFNRXWLQFOXGLQJVKXWGRZQRIWHOHSKRQH and internet services, as well as cable and television channels. /DWHLQ ODQGOLQHSKRQHVHUYLFHDQGVRPHPRELOHVHUYLFHZHUH UHVWRUHG%URDGEDQGDQGPRELOHGDWDVHUYLFHVZHUHEORFNHGIRURYHU four months. ,WZDVRQO\LQ-DQXDU\WKDWUHVWULFWHGDFFHVV ZHEVLWHV ۑZKLWHOLVWHGې WR LQWHUQHW ZDV DOORZHG ZLWK VRPH 7KHIRUPHUJXDUDQWHHGDGHJUHHRIDXWRQRP\IRUWKHVWDWHWKHODWWHU provided rights for indigenous residents of the state. 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Any criminal charges under the PLVXVHZHUHXQGHUWKHGUDFRQLDQ8$3$3HQDODFWLRQFRQWLQXHV WREHWDNHQIRUPLVXVLQJVRFLDOPHGLDZLWKWZRPLQRUVFKDUJHG LQ0DUFKRQHXQGHU8$3$ Internet restrictions have been HDVHG QRZ EXW DFFHVV WR KLJKVSHHG PRELOH LQWHUQHW UHPDLQV UHVWULFWHGWRWKLVGD\ZLWKPRVWDUHDVRQO\KDYLQJ*FRQQHFWLYLW\ Kashmir has earned the notoriety of experiencing the world’s longest internet shutdown in a democracy. Restrictive measures also included frequent use of long curfews DQGPRYHPHQWUHVWULFWLRQVPDNLQJLWGLਯFXOWIRUQHZVSDSHUVWR operate. But press freedom has been restricted more directly as ZHOO -RXUQDOLVWV VSHDN RI H[WHQVLYH FRQWURO E\ DXWKRULWLHV RI WKH material that is published, including scrutiny of content, occasional interrogations, as well as through leveraging of advertising UHYHQXH ौHUH VHHPV D FRQFHUWHG FDPSDLJQ E\ WKH DXWKRULWLHV to prevent publication of any news that might be construed as EHLQJ LQ RSSRVLWLRQ WR WKH RਯFLDO OLQH 6HYHUDO MRXUQDOLVWV KDYH EHHQ ERRNHG RYHU WKH SDVW PRQWKV DOO XQGHU 8$3$ SURYLVLRQV ۑIDNH QHZVې IRU SXEOLVKLQJ ۑLQFULPLQDWLQJ PDWHULDOې IRU SRVWLQJ and for ‘glorifying terrorism’. Freedom of press has come under serious threat, with the government announcing a ‘media policy’ 6RFLDO0HGLDLQ.DVKPLU2ZDLVLە0LVXVLQJ۔RYW6ODSV8$3$RQ7KRVH*ې Says New Records of Cruelty’, India Today)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZ LQGLDWRGD\LQLQGLDVWRU\JRYWVODSVXDSDRQWKRVHPLVXVLQJVRFLDOPHGLDLQ NDVKPLURZDLVLVD\VQHZUHFRUGVRIFUXHOW\ . 6DIZDW=DUJDU‘In Kashmir, A Spree of Arrests for Alleged “Misuse” VFUROOLQ Scroll, 0DUFKKWWSVۑRI6RFLDO0HGLDDQG0DVNLQJ$SSV DUWLFOH LQNDVKPLUDVSUHHRIDUUHVWVIRUDOOHJHGPLVXVHRIVRFLDOPHGLD DQGYSQV. V,QWHUQHW6KXWGRZQLQ.DVKPLULV1RZWKH/RQJHVW(YHULQDۑQGLD,ې Democracy’, Washington Post, 'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZZDVKLQJWRQSRVW FRPZRUOGDVLDBSDFLILFLQGLDVLQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQLQNDVKPLULVQRZWKH ORQJHVWHYHULQDGHPRFUDF\ EE HDGIFHD DDHGGDB story.html. 8VHRI8$3$$JDLQVW-RXUQDOLVWVLV/DVW1DLOLQ&RIILQIRU3UHVVې6KDNLU0LU Freedom in Kashmir’, The Wire, $SULOKWWSV WKHZLUHLQPHGLDXVHRI XDSDDJDLQVWMRXUQDOLVWVLVODVWQDLOLQFRIILQIRUSUHVVIUHHGRPLQNDVKPLU. Closing Civic Space in India LQ-XQHWKDWVHHNVWRUHJXODWHPHGLDUHSRUWLQJHPSRZHULQJ QHZVۑDQWLQDWLRQDOېDQGۑDQWLVRFLDOېDXWKRULWLHVWRGHFLGHZKDWLV and prescribing action against outlets deemed to be publishing QHZV2QFHGHHPSDQHOOHGRXWOHWVIDFHUHVWULFWLRQVۑREMHFWLRQDEOHې on receiving government advertisement as well as potential criminal proceedings. 6KXWWLQJ'RZQ$VVRFLDWLRQDQG$VVHPEO\ GHWHQWLRQۑSUHYHQWLYHې\EURJDWLRQRI$UWLFOHZDVIROORZHGE$ of thousands of persons, particularly politicians, community leaders, business associations, civil society members, and the \RXWKौHLGHDLWVHHPVZDVWRUHPRYHDWRQHJRWKHHQWLUH FLYLFOHDGHUVKLSRIWKHVWDWHDQGDQ\RQHDEOHWRLQਮXHQFHSXEOLF RSLQLRQRUJDQLVHSRSXODWLRQVDQGUDLVHYRLFHौLVLQFOXGHGWKUHH former elected Chief Ministers (CMs), members of ‘mainstream’ and ‘separatist’ political parties, bar association leaders, and heads of traders’ associations among others. Civil society JURXSVFODLPWKHQXPEHURIWKRVHGHWDLQHGVLQFH$XJXVW LV FORVHWR Increasingly many arrested persons have been \PHUHO ۑSUHYHQWLYHGHWHQWLRQېERRNHGXQGHU36$WKDWDOORZVIRU RQWKHVXVSLFLRQRIFRPPLिLQJDFULPH ZLWKRXWFKDUJHRUWULDO for up to two years. A large number of youth, many of them minors (under 18), have also been detained periodically in police stations, without formal charge to prevent their participation in protests. According to WKH 1DWLRQDO )HGHUDWLRQ RI ,QGLDQ :RPHQ FKLOGUHQ ZHUH V1HZ0HGLD3ROLF\LV$LPHGDW'HPROLVKLQJWKHۑDPPXDQG.DVKPLU-ې VFUROOLQDUWLFOH Scroll, -XQHKWWSVۑ\RFDO3UHVV(GLWRUV6D/ MDPPXDQGNDVKPLUVQHZPHGLDSROLF\LVDLPHGDWGHPROLVKLQJWKHORFDO SUHVVHGLWRUVVD\. ‘India: Free Kashmiris Arbitrarily Detained’, Human Rights Watch, September KिSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV LQGLDIUHHNDVKPLULVDUELWUDUL O\GHWDLQHG. *RYHUQPHQWFODLPVDSSUR[LPDWHO\SUHYHQWLYHDUUHVWVKDYHEHHQ PDGHLQWKH.DVKPLU9DOOH\VLQFHWK$XJXVW DQGWKDW SHUVRQV 3HRSOH&XUUHQWO\8QGHU'HWHQWLRQLQ ېUHPDLQXQGHUGHWHQWLRQ6HH ZZZ KWWSV India Today, 1RYHPEHUۑ\RPH0LQLVWU+ . - LQGLDWRGD\LQLQGLDVWRU\ SHRSOHFXUUHQWO\XQGHUGHWHQWLRQLQMNKRPH PLQLVWU\ . South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 GHWDLQHGLQ.DVKPLULQWKHHDUO\PRQWKVRIWKHORFNGRZQ2WKHU UHSRUWVFRQਭUPWKHVHDFFRXQWV While many of those arrested LQ$XJXVW KDYHQRZEHHQUHOHDVHGDODUJHQXPEHUFRQWLQXH to remain in detention, lodged in prisons including outside Kashmir,PRVWO\LQ'HOKLDQG$JUDIDUIURPKRPHौHGHWHQWLRQ RI0HKERRED0X़LDQH[VWDWH&0DQGRWKHUVHQLRUSROLWLFLDQV have also been recently extended. 0DVV GHWHQWLRQ KDV UHVXOWHG LQ WKH QHDUWRWDO VXVSHQVLRQ RI all political activity in Kashmir. A senior politician and former state minister, recently released from preventive detention under WKH 36$ D़HU QLQH PRQWKV FODLPHG KH ZDV UHSHDWHGO\ DVNHG WR quit political activity in exchange for freedom from detention. ौH PRQWKV IROORZLQJ WKH DEURJDWLRQ KDYH DOVR VHHQ D EDQ RQ JDWKHULQJV ERWK SROLWLFDO DQG UHOLJLRXV WKH ODिHU LQFOXGLQJ (LG $XJXVW 0XKDUUDP 6HSWHPEHU DQG 0LODGXQ 1DEL 1RYHPEHU ,Q DGGLWLRQ DSDUW IURP WKH XVXDO UHVWULFWLRQV on congregations and processions, authorities have also imposed ODWHQLJKWFXUIHZVौHVHDPRXQWWRGHQLDORIULJKWVRISHUVRQVWR practise their religion. ([FHVVLYH)RUFHDJDLQVW3URWHVWHUV 1RQ/HWKDODQG/HWKDO 'HVSLWH DिHPSWV WR SUHYHQW GLVVHQW ZKHQ SURWHVWV KDYH EHHQ VXFFHVVIXOO\ FRQGXFWHG DXWKRULWLHV KDYH FUDFNHG GRZQ WHDU JDVVLQJ SHSSHUVSUD\LQJ EHDWLQJ DQG FKDVLQJ DZD\ SURWHVWHUV RXQJ%R\V7RUWXUHGLQ.DVKPLU&ODPSGRZQDV1HZ)LJXUHV6KRZ>ې Teenagers Arrested’, The Telegraph6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZWHOHJUDSK FRXNQHZV \RXQJER\VWRUWXUHGNDVKPLUFODPSGRZQQHZILJXUHV VKRZ. ZZZQHZVFOLFNLQ KWWSV NewsClick, $XJXVWۑDVKPLU&DJHG.ې NDVKPLUFDJHG. AlۑDLOV-ەUDPSHG&۔.DVKPLULV)HDUIRU6DIHW\RI.LQLQ RURQDYLUXV&ې Jazeera,$SULO KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZVFRURQDYLUXV NDVKPLULVIHDUVDIHW\NLQFUDPSHGMDLOV KWPO. ./HDGHUV([WHQGHGE\7KUHH HWHQWLRQRI0HKERRED0XIWL7ZR-'ې Months’, The Hindu, 0D\ KWWSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZVQDWLRQDO IRUPHUMNFKLHIPLQLVWHUPHKERREDPXIWLVGHWHQWLRQXQGHUSVDH[WHQGHGE\ WKUHHPRQWKVDUWLFOHHFH. Kashmirۑ1D\HHP$NKWDU DV$VNHGWR4XLW3ROLWLFVIRU)UHHGRP:ې Observer, -XQHKWWSV NDVKPLUREVHUYHUQHWDVNHGWRVLJQ KRUULEO\ZRUGHGERQGH[PLQLVWHUVSLOOVGHWHQWLRQEHDQV. Closing Civic Space in India ۑ3HOOHWVKRWJXQVKDYHEHHQUHSRUWHGWREHXVHGDVVHFXULW\IRUFHV weapon of choice to contain the protests in the time since the ۑQRQOHWKDOېclampdown in Kashmir.3HOOHWJXQVDUHFRQVLGHUHG but in reality cause serious injuries notably to the eyes, in a very ODUJHQXPEHURIFDVHVFDXVLQJSHUPDQHQWEOLQGQHVVौHVHEHVLGHV other physical injuries, have been the cause of the mass injuries UHSRUWHGE\SURWHVWHUVLQ.DVKPLUHVSHFLDOO\VLQFH6RRQD़HU WKHORFNGRZQ*RYHUQRU6DW\DSDO0DOLNDGPLिHGDWDSUHVVPHHW that there were some pellet injuries caused in police action against SURWHVWHUVWKHਭUVWDGPLVVLRQRIWKHXVHRISHOOHWJXQVLQ.DVKPLU 0HDQZKLOHOLYHEXOOHWVFRQWLQXHWRWDNHOLYHVRISURWHVWLQJ\RXWK Absence of Judicial Relief LQ HਬHFW HUDVLQJ RIیۑEDVLF IUHHGRPVې \1RWDEO\ DFWLRQV WR GHQ civic space—have been upheld by the judiciary, underlining the zone of exception that operates in Kashmir. Despite mass arbitrary detentions, both the High Court (HC) and the Supreme Court 6& KDYH EHHQ XQHQWKXVLDVWLF DERXW WDNLQJ XS KDEHDV FRUSXV DSSOLFDWLRQV ਭOHG E\ WKRVH VHHNLQJ WKHVH IUHHGRPV $FFRUGLQJ to the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association—the apex body of RIWKHRYHUKDEHDVFRUSXVSHWLWLRQਭOHGیVODZ\HUVۑWKHVWDWH before the HC, less than 1 per cent have been decided to date, resulting in protracted incarcerations.111 Courts, including the 6& KDYH DOVR QRW SURYLGHG DQ\ UHOLHI RQ WKH PDिHU RI LQWHUQHW ,HuffPostۑ*RYHUQPHQW8VLQJ3HOOHW*XQVWR6XSSUHVV3URWHVWV DVKPLU.ې $XJXVW KिSV ZZZKXਯQJWRQSRVWLQHQWU\DUWLFOHNDVKPLU 2YHU7UHDWHGIRUې H SURWHVWVSHOOHWJXQVBLQBGGDHE KWWSV Al Jazeera$XJXVWۑ7HDU*DV3HOOHW*XQ,QMXULHVLQ.DVKPLU ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZV WUHDWHGWHDUJDVSHOOHWJXQLQMXULHV NDVKPLU KWPO. ,QODUJHVFDOHSURWHVWVDFURVV.DVKPLUIROORZLQJWKHNLOOLQJRIPLOLWDQW commander, Burhan Wani. ,The Hindu. August 28ۑ2IILFLDO 6XIIHUHG3HOOHW,QMXULHVVLQFH$XJXVWې KिSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZVQDWLRQDOVXਬHUHGSHOOHWLQMXULHVVLQFH DXJXVWRਯFLDODUWLFOH HFH. ,The Kashmir Wallaۑ&LYLOLDQ6KRW'HDGLQ3URWHVWV 3XOZDPD*XQILJKWې 0D\KWWSV WKHNDVKPLUZDOODFRPSXOZDPDJXQILJKWFLYLOLDQ VKRWGHDGLQSURWHVWV. ,ۑ3HQGLQJ .+&6LQFH$XJXVW DEHDV&RUSXV)LOHGLQ-+ ې NewsClick-XQHKWWSV ZZZQHZVFOLFNLQ +DEHDV&RUSXV)LOHG -DPPX.DVKPLU+&$XJXVW 3HQGLQJ. 111 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 VKXWGRZQV ौH 6& UHVSRQGLQJ WR D 3XEOLF ,QWHUHVW /LWLJDWLRQ 3,/ ZLWKWKHKHDULQJKHOGD़HUਭYHPRQWKVGHHPHGWKDWDFFHVV to internet was not an absolute right and could be restricted by the state, including ‘complete prohibition of speech in certain circumstances’.1126LPLODUO\WKH6&KHDULQJD3,/VHHNLQJLQTXLU\ into the illegal incarceration of children by security forces since $XJXVW GLVPLVVHGWKHSHWLWLRQLQ'HFHPEHU FRQFOXGLQJ WKDW WKHUH KDG EHHQ QR LOOHJDO GHWHQWLRQ DW DOO ौLV ZDV GHVSLWH WKHZLGHVSUHDGHYLGHQFHWRWKHFRQWUDU\LQFOXGLQJDUHSRUWਭOHG by the police that itself reported minors in detention.113 Earlier DिHPSWVE\FRQFHUQHGFLWL]HQVEHIRUHWKHKLJKHUFRXUWVWREDQWKH use by security forces of pellet guns against unarmed protesters KDYHVXਬHUHGVLPLODUIDWHLQWKHLUTXHVWIRUMXVWLFHIRUYLFWLPVDQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\RIGXW\EHDUHUV Failure of the highest courts to DFWDVFKHFNDJDLQVWH[HFXWLYHRYHUUHDFKLQ.DVKPLUDQGWRGHIHQG rights of citizens, means that the people of Kashmir continue to be deprived of their ‘basic freedoms’ of speech and expression, association and assembly, besides their access to services and opportunities, without any hope of redress and justice. Conclusion Civic space is under threat the world over. India’s case is unique in that the ‘unravelling’, as Freedom House recently called the KDVWDNHQSODFHDWDQH[WUDRUGLQDU\SDFHRYHUۑDODUPLQJVHWEDFNVې VۑWKHZRUOGېthe span of a few years.115ौDWWKLVLVKDSSHQLQJLQ largest democracy’ is especially poignant. Traditionally, political scientists have tended to see the rise in authoritarianism as .LQ'HIHQFHRI)UHH6SHHFK%XW5HOLHI 9HUGLFWRQ,QWHUQHW&XUEVLQ-ې Remains Elusive’, Frontline, -DQXDU\KWWSV IURQWOLQHWKHKLQGXFRP GLVSDWFKHVDUWLFOHHFH. 3ROLFH'HQLHG0HGLD5HSRUWVRI,OOHJDO$UUHVWVRI. -ې0DKWDE$ODP KWWSV The Wire, 1RYHPEHUۑ\0LQRUV,WV2ZQ/LVWLV3URRIWR&RQWUDU WKHZLUHLQULJKWVNDVKPLUPLQRUV. ۑLJK&RXUW5HIXVHVWR%DQ8VHRI3HOOHW*XQVE\6HFXULW\)RUFHV+. -ې Deccan Herald, 0DUFKKWWSV ZZZGHFFDQKHUDOGFRPQDWLRQDO QRUWKDQGFHQWUDOMNKLJKFRXUWUHIXVHVWREDQXVHRISHOOHWJXQVE\VHFXULW\ IRUFHV KWPO. \UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG-XO(ۑ,QGLD UHHGRPLQWKH:RUOG(ې 115 KWWSV IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\LQGLDIUHHGRPZRUOG. 112 Closing Civic Space in India UHਮHFWLYHRIPXOWLSOHWUHQGV XQGHUPLQLQJWKHGHPRFUDWLFUXOHVRI the game, denial of legitimacy to political opponents, curtailing civil liberties, and deriding of toleration and encouragement to violence.116ौHVHDUHH[DFWO\WKHVRUWVRIGHPRFUDWLFEDFNVOLGLQJ ZHQRWLFHWDNLQJSODFHVLQFH1DUHQGUD0RGLWRRNSRZHUDWWKHKHDG RIWKH%-3VL[\HDUVDJRKLQWLQJDWDGHਭQLWHDXWKRULWDULDQGUL़ VODUJHVWۑDOPRVWHQWLUHO\FRQFHUQ,QGLDۑDODUPLQJVHWEDFNVېौDWWKH VSUHIHUUHGURXWHWRFRQVROLGDWLQJۑUHOLJLRXVPLQRULW\SRLQWVWR%-3 power by targeting minorities and dissenters, besides undermining WKH RSSRVLWLRQ DQG ZHDNHQLQJ NH\ LQVWLWXWLRQV ,Q WKLV SROLWLFDO SURMHFW300RGLKDVHPEUDFHGKDUGOLQH+LQGXWYDDFKRLFHWKDW KDV JLYHQ KLP PXFK HOHFWRUDO GLYLGHQGV ,W LV XQOLNHO\ KH ZLOO HVFKHZ WKLV FROODERUDWLRQ VRRQ ौLV ERGHV LOO IRU FLYLF VSDFH LQ India and the health of its democracy, and for its minorities. Recommendations For the government of India L $ELGHE\JXDUDQWHHVRIH[SUHVVLRQDVVHPEO\DQGDVVRFLD WLRQFRQWDLQHGRQ$UWLFOH D E DQG F respectively of Indian Constitution. ii. Abide by India’s commitment to relevant international human rights treaties and standards, including Universal 'HFODUDWLRQ IRU +XPDQ 5LJKWV LQ SDUWLFXODU $UWLFOHV ULJKWWRIUHHGRPRIRSLQLRQDQGH[SUHVVLRQ DQG ULJKW to freedom of peaceful assembly and association) and ,&&35 $UWLFOH ULJKW WR RSLQLRQ DQG H[SUHVVLRQ DQG Article 21 (right to peaceful assembly, without restriction), VSHFLਭFDOO\ iii. Freedom of Association 6WRS DUELWUDULO\ FDQFHOOLQJ UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI &62V DQGۋ restore those cancelled 6WRS VXVSHQGLQJ EDQN DFFRXQWV RI &62V DQG IUHH]LQJۋ IXQGVRI&62VWKDWFULWLFLVHJRYHUQPHQWDQGRQSROLWLFDO grounds 6WHYHQ/HYLWVN\DQG'DQLHO=LEODWWHow Democracies Die: What History Tells Us About Our Future 1HZ 113 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 PHQG )&5$ WR UHPRYH SURYLVLRQV WKDW WDUJHW &62V$ۋ arbitrarily and disproportionately. LY 3URWHFWLRQRI+5'V 6WRS KDUDVVLQJ DQG WDUJHWLQJ +5'V DQG DFWLYLVWV DQGۋ misusing the criminal justice system to punish HRDs 5HOHDVHDOO+5'VLQGHWHQWLRQZLWKRXWFRQGLWLRQVۋ 3URYLGH +5'V D VDIH HQYLURQPHQW WR ZRUN LQ DLG RIۋ democracy and for human rights RQGXFWLPSDUWLDODQGWKRURXJKHQTXLU\LQWRHDFKFDVH&ۋ of targeting of HRDs and bring perpetrators to account v. Freedom of assembly 6WRS SUDFWLFH RI DUELWUDU\ 6HFWLRQ RUGHUVGHQLDO RIۋ permissions to hold protests DQXVHRIH[FHVVLYHIRUFHDJDLQVWSHDFHIXOSURWHVWHUV%ۋ OHWKDOZHDSRQVDJDLQVWSURWHVWHUVۑOHVVېDQXVHRI%ۋ VJXLGHۑROORZ8QLWHG1DWLRQVDQG*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD(ۋ OLQHVDQG0LQLVWU\RI+RPH$ਬDLUV6WDQGDUG2SHUDWLQJ 3URFHGXUHVRQXVHRIIRUFHDJDLQVWDVVHPEOLHV vi. Freedom of speech and expression VHGLWLRQ DQG,7$FWWREULQJ 5HYLHZ,3&6HFWLRQV$ۋ them in line with best practices in freedom of expression 7DNH VWHSV WR SURWHFW MRXUQDOLVWV DQG HQVXUH WKH\ ZRUNۋ without fear WUDGLWLRQDO DQG VRFLDO DQG VWRS 6WRS FHQVRULQJ PHGLDۋ Internet shutdowns For the international community i. Encourage India to abide by its own constitutional EDVLFې JXDUDQWHHV DQG LWV FRPPLWPHQWV WR ,&&35 RQ freedoms’ of association, peaceful assembly, and expression. LL (QFRXUDJH ,QGLD WR VWRS KDUDVVLQJ DQG WDUJHWLQJ &62V +5'VMRXUQDOLVWVDQGKXPDQULJKWVZRUNHUVDQGDFWLYLVWV iii. Encourage India to objectively investigate harassment and targeting of HRDs, activists and journalists and prosecute RਯFLDOVUHVSRQVLEOH Closing Civic Space in India Annex A Assessment of Civic Space in India: Survey Findings In order to gauge perceptions about the scope for civic action in ,QGLD VLQFH WKH 1DUHQGUD 0RGLOHG %KDUDWL\D -DQDWD 3DUW\ %-3 JRYHUQPHQWFDPHWRSRZHULQDNH\LQIRUPDQWVXUYH\ZDV FRQGXFWHGDPRQJDFWLYHFLYLOVRFLHW\DFWRUVौHUHVSRQGHQWV included journalists, academics and researchers, retired bureaucrats, human rights lawyers and activists, and political FRPPHQWDWRUV6HYHQW\VL[SHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVZRUNRU KDYH ZRUNHG RQ KXPDQ DQG PLQRULW\ULJKWVUHODWHG LVVXHV SHU FHQW LGHQWLਭHG DV IHPDOH DQG SHU FHQW DV EHORQJLQJ WR D minority group (religious, ethnic, or caste). ौH UHVSRQGHQWV ZHUH DVNHG D UDQJH RI TXHVWLRQV DERXW UHFHQW WUHQGV VLQFH FRQFHUQLQJ WKH WKUHH EDVLF IUHHGRPV DVVRFLDWLRQ H[SUHVVLRQ DQG SHDFHIXO DVVHPEO\ ौHLU UHVSRQVHV ZHUHPDUNHGRQDSRLQW/LNHUWVFDOH2YHUDOOWKHVXUYH\UHVXOWV painted a troubling picture, with overwhelming agreement among WKHUHVSRQGHQWVWKDWFLYLFVSDFHLQ,QGLDZDVFORVLQJXQGHU3ULPH Minister Modi’s watch, particularly for the country’s minorities. Freedom of Association ौHVXUYH\UHVXOWUHਮHFWVDEURDGFRQVHQVXVDPRQJNH\LQIRUPDQWV WKDWWKH%-3JRYHUQPHQWKDVVRXJKWWRLQWHUIHUHZLWKWKHJHQHUDO IXQFWLRQLQJRIFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV &62V ौHJRYHUQPHQW has particularly resorted to deregistering or limiting registrations RI&62VDQGWKHFKRNLQJRIIRUHLJQIXQGV 6HH)LJXUHVDQG CSOs have been allowed to receive foreign funding without restriction 10% 29% 61% Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶͶ^K&ƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐ 115 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 The government has not used its authority to deregister, create issues with deregistering or interfere with the functioning of CSOs 10% 44% 46% Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶͶĐĐĞƐƐƚŽ&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ &ƵŶĚŝŶŐ Freedom of Expression ौHUH ZDV XQDQLPRXV DJUHHPHQW WKDW IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ KDV GHWHULRUDWHG XQGHU WKH SUHVHQW JRYHUQPHQW ौHUH ZDV DOVR unanimous agreement that individuals in India are presently not free to express their personal views on sensitive topics (See Figure 3). :KLOH ,QGLD KDV D ODUJH QXPEHU RI PHGLD RXWOHWV SHU FHQW of the respondents agreed that the country’s major print and broadcast media outlets do not represent a wide range of political SHUVSHFWLYHV1LQHW\VHYHQSHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVLQFOXGLQJ DOOWKHMRXUQDOLVWVVXUYH\HGDJUHHGWKDWWKHUHLVHYLGHQFHRIVHOI censorship while reporting on politically sensitive issues. 71 80 78 There have been There have been There have been progressive court progressive court progressive court judgement relating to the judgement relating to the judgement relating to the freedom of peaceful freedom of expression freedom of association assembly Disagree or strongly disagree Agree or neutral &ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ džƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ Freedom of Peaceful Assembly With stories of Indian security forces resorting to excessive force against protesters having emerged recently, all the respondents agreed that the state has not allowed peaceful protests and 116 Closing Civic Space in India demonstrations. All also noted that security forces have resorted WRPDNLQJLOOHJDODQGDUELWUDU\DUUHVWV -XGLFLDO'HIHQFHRIWKHUHH%DVLF)UHHGRPV Respondents generally agreed that the three basic freedoms are promised to Indian citizens by law but were largely disappointed with the Indian judiciary’s inability to defend recent encroachments RQWKHIUHHGRPVौHUHVHHPVWREHSDUWLFXODUFRQFHUQDERXWWKH HURVLRQ RI IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ ZLWK RQO\ SHU FHQW RI WKH respondents agreeing that Indian courts have passed progressive HਬRUWVWRXSKROGWKHۑMXGJHPHQWVXSKROGLQJWKHVH,QGLDQFRXUWV right to peaceful assembly were slightly more favourably evaluated, SHUKDSVUHਮHFWLQJUHFHQWMXGJHPHQWVE\VRPHORZHUOHYHOFRXUWV XSKROGLQJWKHULJKWVRISHDFHIXODQWL&$$SURWHVWHUV 80 83 No civil society groups have All social groups, as been specifically targeted distinguished by religion , because of their activism in caste, ethnicity, race, support of women, gender language or region, enjoy and sexual minorities, the same level of civil religious minorities, ethnic liberties minorities and or... Strongly disagree Disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϰ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨ:ƵĚŝĐŝĂůĞĨĞŶĐĞŽĨƚŚĞdŚƌĞĞĂƐŝĐ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵƐ Minorities and Minority Rights Defenders Under BJP Rule There is Freedom of Religion in practice 10% 5% 33% 52% Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϱ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨŝǀŝůZŝŐŚƚƐŵŽŶŐDŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚDŝŶŽƌŝƚLJZŝŐŚƚƐ'ƌŽƵƉƐ 117 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 The government has allowed religious organisaztions/groups to function unhindered 5% 2 5% 44% 44% Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϲ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨZĞůŝŐŝŽŶ 100 One hundred percent of respondents answered either strongly disagree or disagree to the following statements: 1. The state has granted media houses, CSOs, academics, human rights defenders or activists full freedom of expression, and 2. Individuals are free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution. &ŝŐƵƌĞϳ͗WĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶƐŽĨ'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ/ŶƚĞƌĨĞƌĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞ&ƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐ ŽĨZĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐKƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ ौHUHVSRQGHQWVXQDQLPRXVO\DJUHHGWKDW&62VDQGKXPDQULJKWV GHIHQGHUV +5'V ZRUNLQJRQPLQRULW\UHODWHGLVVXHVKDYHIDFHG VSHFLਭFWDUJHWLQJZLWKDOORIWKHPDOVRQRWLQJDGLVFHUQLEOHLQFUHDVH LQWKHQXPEHURIDिDFNVौHUHVSRQGHQWVDOVRXQDQLPRXVO\QRWHG that India’s minorities have not enjoyed the same level of civil OLEHUWLHVXQGHUWKHSUHVHQWJRYHUQPHQW2QO\SHUFHQWRIWKH respondents agreed that there is freedom of religion in practice. 118 Closing Civic Space in India Annex B A select list of Indian HRDs still under incarceration or till recently under incarceration (in alphabetical order of names) SN Name Details NKLO*RJRL ۚ 3HDVDQWOHDGHUDQGDFWLYLVWLQ$VVDP$QWL$ 1 CAA protester. DORQJZLWK%LWX UUHVWHGLQ'HFHPEHU$ ۚ Sonowal, Dhaijjya Konwar, and Manas .RQZDUb First person to be charged under the amended ۚ 8QODZIXO$FWLYLWLHV 3UHYHQWLRQ $FW 8$3$ b .Still in custody ۚ \HDUROG'DOLWVFKRODUZULWHUDQGDFWLYLVW Anand Teltumbde ۚ 2 3DUWRIWKH%KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ$SULOXQGHUWKH8$3$6WLOO$ ۚ LQFXVWRG\b 3Arun Ferreira ۚ +XPDQULJKWVODZ\HU3DUWRIWKH%KLPD .RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVW&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b Asif Iqbal Tanha ۚ \HDUROG-DPLD0LOLD,VODPLDVWXGHQW 7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ0D\DQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ .5Devangana Kalitaۚ Scholar at JNU and women’s rights activist 7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ0D\*UDQWHGEDLOEXWUH$ ۚ DUUHVWHGDQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH8$3$6WLOOLQ custody. DXWDP1DYODNKD ۚ \HDUROGDFWLYLVWDQGMRXUQDOLVW3DUWRIWKH* 6 %KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVW&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$$UUHVWTXDVKHGE\WKH'HOKL+LJK &RXUWRQ2FWREHU$UUHVWHGDJDLQLQ $SULO6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SN Name Details XOਭVKD)DWLPD ۚ Women’s rights activist. Target of the Delhi* 7 &UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ$SULODQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ Ishrat Jahan ۚ Former Congress municipal councillor. Target 8 RIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ$SULODQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$7HPSRUDULO\UHOHDVHGRQEDLOIRUKHU ZHGGLQJ%DFNLQFXVWRG\ \Kafeel Khan ۚ 'RFWRUZKRZDVDFTXLिHGD़HUEHLQJIDOVHO accused of medical negligence in August $QWL&$$SURWHVWHUb FFXVHGRIVWRNLQJYLROHQFHDW$OLJDUK$ ۚ 0XVOLP8QLYHUVLW\LQ'HFHPEHU *UDQWHGEDLOEXWDUUHVWHGDJDLQDQGFKDUJHG XQGHUWKH16$LQ)HEUXDU\5HOHDVHG LQ6HSWHPEHUD़HUKLVGHWHQWLRQZDV declared illegal by the Allahabad High Court. KDOLG6DLਭ ۚ $FWLYLVWDQGFRIRXQGHURI8QLWHG$JDLQVW. +DWH7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ-XQHDQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ Mahesh Raut ۚ 7ULEDOULJKWVDFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH%KLPD 11 .RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ-XQH&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b Meeran Haider ۚ Scholar at Jamia Milia Islamia. Target of the 12 'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ UUHVWHGbLQ$SULODQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ .Natasha Narwal ۚ Scholar at JNU and women’s rights activist 13 7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ b UUHVWHGLQ0D\*UDQWHGEDLOEXWUH$ ۚ DUUHVWHGDQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH8$3$6WLOOLQ custody. ULJKWVDFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH%KLPDۑRona Wilson ۚ 3ULVRQHUV .RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ-XQH&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b Closing Civic Space in India SN Name Details S.R. Darapuri ۚ \HDUROGUHWLUHG'DOLWSROLFHRਯFHUDQG 15 $PEHGNDULWHDFWLYLVW$QWL&$$SURWHVWHU &KDUJHGZLWK UUHVWHGLQ'HFHPEHU$ ۚ rioting among others. Released on bail in -DQXDU\D़HUDOPRVWWKUHHZHHNV .Sadaf Jafar ۚ Social activist and actress 16 &KDUJHGZLWK UUHVWHGLQ'HFHPEHU$ ۚ rioting among others. Released on bail in -DQXDU\D़HUDOPRVWWKUHHZHHNV $$&Safoora Zargar ۚ 6FKRODUDW-DPLD0LOLD,VODPLD$QWL 17 protester. $UUHVWHG 7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ ۚ LQ$SULODQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH8$3$ when she was three months’ pregnant. 5HOHDVHGRQEDLOLQ-XQHD़HURYHUWZR months in custody. Sharjeel Imam ۚ Scholar at JNU. Target of the Delhi 18 &UDFNGRZQ UUHVWHGLQ-DQXDU\DQGFKDUJHGXQGHU$ ۚ VHGLWLRQ8$3$DQGRWKHUV6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ 6KLID8U5HKPDQ ۚ 3UHVLGHQWRIWKH-DPLD0LOOLD$OXPQL $VVRFLDWLRQ7DUJHWRIWKH'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ UUHVWHGLQ$SULODQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\ VULJKWVۑShoma Sen ۚ 3URIHVVRUDQG'DOLWDQGZRPHQ DFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH%KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ-XQH&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b Sudha Bhardwaj ۚ /DZ\HUDQGWULEDOULJKWVDFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH 21 %KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVW&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b Sudhir Dhawale ۚ -RXUQDOLVWDQG'DOLWULJKWVDFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH 22 %KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ-XQH&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b 121 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SN Name Details 6XUHQGUD*DGOLQJ ۚ /DZ\HUDQG'DOLWULJKWVDFWLYLVW3DUWRIWKH 23 %KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ-XQH&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b ौLUXPXUXJDQ ۚ 7DPLOULJKWVDFWLYLVWb DQGKL ۚ $UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVWD़HUDGGUHVVLQJ* the UNHRC about the shooting of Tamil SURWHVWHUVLQौRRWKXNXGLLQ0D\ &KDUJHGZLWKVHGLWLRQDQGXQGHUWKH8$3$ 5HOHDVHGLQ2FWREHU$OVRERRNHGIRU RUJDQLVLQJDQDQWL&$$SURWHVWLQ)HEUXDU\ b Varavara Rao ۚ \HDUROGDFWLYLVWDQGSRHW3DUWRIWKH 25 %KLPD.RUHJDRQ UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVW&KDUJHGXQGHUWKH$ ۚ 8$3$6WLOOLQFXVWRG\b 9HUQRQ*RQVDOYH] ۚ 3DUWRIWKH%KLPD.RUHJDRQ 26 UUHVWHGLQ$XJXVW&KDUJHGXQGHU$ ۚ WKH8$3$'HQLHGEDLORQPHGLFDOJURXQGV GHVSLWHVXਬHULQJIURPPXOWLSOHDLOPHQWV6WLOO LQFXVWRG\b Detentions in ۚ ौH*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLDFODLPHGLQ 27 .DVKPLUD़HU SDUOLDPHQWRQ1RYHPEHU WKDWDWRWDO the abrogation of of 5,161 persons were detained in Kashmir $UWLFOHRQWK D़HUWKHDEURJDWLRQRXWRIZKLFK $XJXVW remained under detention on that day. DVKPLULODZ\HUVDQG&62KDYHFRQWHQGHG. ۚ that these numbers are almost certainly an undercount. An untold number—too many to OLVWKHUHFRQWLQXHLQGHWHQWLRQWRWKLVGD\ ौRVHZKRUHPDLQHGXQGHUSURORQJHG ۚ detention included three former chief PLQLVWHUVRIWKHHUVWZKLOH-DPPX .DVKPLU state, including a current member of SDUOLDPHQW2QHH[&KLHI0LQLVWHUUHPDLQV in detention to this day, as the report goes to print. %KLPD .RUHJDRQ D JURXS RI LQWHOOHFWXDOV DQG DFWLYLVWV DFFXVHG RI VWRNLQJ YLROHQFH DW %KLPD .RUHJDRQ RQ -DQXDU\ DQG IRU KDWFKLQJ D SORW WR DVVDVVLQDWH300RGL6LQFHWKLVUHSRUWZDVGUD़HGIRXUPRUHDUUHVWVKDYHEHHQ reported. 'HOKL&UDFNGRZQ DQRQJRLQJFDPSDLJQDJDLQVWDQWL&$$SURWHVWHUVLQ'HOKL VHHNLQJWRSRUWUD\WKHPDVUHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHYLROHQFHLQ)HEUXDU\ 122 Closing Civic Space in India Annex C A select list of NGOs that have faced targeting in India since 2014 SN Name Details .1Amnesty ۚ Human rights advocacy organisation International ۚ Accused by the CBI of circumventing FCRA provisions and receiving foreign funding via LWVDਯOLDWHGHQWLWLHVLQ,QGLD HQJDOXUXRਯFHUDLGHGDQGEDQNDFFRXQWV% ۚ IUR]HQLQ2FWREHU 2ਯFHVLQ'HOKLDQG%HQJDOXUXUDLGHGDJDLQ ۚ LQ1RYHPEHU Announced the termination of operations in ۚ ,QGLDLQ6HSWHPEHUFLWLQJJRYHUQPHQW harassment. .Centre for ۚ Human rights advocacy organisation 2 3URPRWLRQRI ۚ Accused of using foreign funding to share Social Concerns information with UN special rapporteurs .V:DWFK and embassiesۑ3HRSOH 5$OLFHQVHUHQHZDOUHIXVHGLQ2FWREHU&( ۚ b Compassion ۚ 86EDVHG&KULVWLDQFKDULW\RUJDQLVDWLRQ 3 International ۚ $FFXVHGRIIXQGLQJQRQ)&5$UHJLVWHUHG ,QGLDQ1*2VDQGRISURPRWLQJUHOLJLRXV FRQYHUVLRQVYLDLWVDਯOLDWHV&DUXQD%DO 9LNDV7UXVWDQG&RPSDVVLRQ(DVW,QGLD 6XEMHFWWRQXPHURXVUDLGVLQDQG ۚ EDUUHGIURPIXQGLQJ,QGLDQ1*2VZLWKRXW SULRUSHUPLVVLRQLQ Closed down all Indian operations in May ۚ b UHHQSHDFH,QGLD ۚ Environmental organisation that has* campaigned around climate change and land rights and organised protests against power DQGPLQLQJSURMHFWVb Called a ‘threat to national security’ by the ۚ ,QWHOOLJHQFH%XUHDXLQ Q-DQXDU\3UL\D3LOODLD*UHHQSHDFH, ۚ activist, was prevented from travelling WR/RQGRQZKHUHVKHZDVVFKHGXOHGWR WHVWLI\DERXWFRDOPLQLQJLQ,QGLDEHIRUHD SDUOLDPHQWDU\JURXSb 123 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SN Name Details 5$OLFHQVHFDQFHOOHGLQ6HSWHPEHU&( ۚ for allegedly mixing foreign and domestic funds. 2ਯFHVUDLGHGDQGEDQNDFFRXQWVIUR]HQLQ ۚ 2FWREHUb ,Jamia Alumni ۚ Alumni organisation of Jamia Millia Islamia 5 Association a premier Muslim university in Delhi that KDGEHHQWKHFHQWUHRIDQWL&$$SURWHVWV 6HYHUDOPHPEHUVLQFOXGLQJ3UHVLGHQW ۚ 6KLID8U5HKPDQDFFXVHGRILQFLWLQJULRWV DUUHVWHGDQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH8$3$ DZ\HUV&ROOHFWLYH ۚ /DZ\HUJURXSOHGE\,QGLUD-DLVLQJK+DV/ 6 represented several HRDs and advocated for human rights, women’s rights, and /*%7,4ULJKWV 5$OLFHQVHFDQFHOOHGLQ1RYHPEHU&( ۚ RPHVDQGRਯFHVLQ'HOKLDQG0XPEDL+ ۚ UDLGHGLQ-XO\ 3LQMUD7RG ۚ $OOZRPHQFROOHFWLYHRIXQLYHUVLW\VWXGHQWV 7 %UHDNWKH&DJH that began as a movement against regressive rules at university hostels. Two founding members who had organised ۚ DQWL&$$SURWHVWVLQ'HOKLZHUHDFFXVHGRI inciting riots, arrested and charged under WKH8$3$ Rihai Manch ۚ Human rights advocacy organisation in 8 8िDU3UDGHVKWKDWKDVGRFXPHQWHGDQG SURYLGHGOHJDODLGIRUVWDWHOHGULJKWV violations against vulnerable communities, including Muslims, Dalits, and other vulnerable groups. ,Several senior Rihai Manch activists ۚ including its president Mohammad Shoaib DQGPHPEHUUHWLUHGSROLFHRਯFHU65 'DUDSXULZKRRUJDQLVHGDQWL&$$SURWHVWV were arrested and charged with inciting riots. Closing Civic Space in India SN Name Details ۚ 1*2VUXQE\VRFLDODFWLYLVW7HHVWD6HWDOYDG 6DEUDQJ7UXVW Citizens for Justice ZKRFDPSDLJQVIRUWKHYLFWLPVRIWKHDQWL 3HDFH &-3 0XVOLPULRWVLQ*XMDUDWLQ 5$OLFHQVHVFDQFHOOHGLQ&( ۚ Also faces numerous probes by CBI and ۚ *XMDUDW3ROLFH United Against ۚ 'HOKLEDVHGSODWIRUPWKDWEHJDQDVD Hate FDPSDLJQLQDJDLQVWWKHVXUJHLQ UHOLJLRXVKDWHFULPHVVLQFH 2SHUDWHVDKHOSOLQHIRUYLFWLPVRIKDWH ۚ crimes. 5DLVHGWKHLUHRIVHYHUDO%-3OHDGHUV ۚ including Home Minister Amit Shah, who blamed them in the parliament for SURYRNLQJYLROHQFHLQWKHQDPHRISURWHVWV RIRXQGHUV.KDOLG6DLਭDQG8PDU.KDOLG& ۚ KDYHEHHQFKDUJHGXQGHUWKH8$3$DQG accused of inciting riots. 125 Civic Space in Nepal Ritika Singh, Shambhawi Paudel, 6XGHVKQDDSD Jeevan Baniya In its latest report, 3HRSOH3RZHUXQGHU$ࡇDFN, CIVICUS, the South $IULFDEDVHG RUJDQLVDWLRQ WKDW KDV EHHQ NHHSLQJ WUDFN RI KRZ civic space has fared globally over the years, points out that the governments in South Asia have become increasingly repressive WRZDUGVFLYLOVRFLHW\ौRXJK1HSDOLVFRQVLGHUHGFRPSDUDWLYHO\ more tolerant in the region, the report notes that civic space there is ‘obstructed’ as well.1 In the context of such a conclusion, ZKDWIROORZVLVDQDिHPSWWRDVFHUWDLQWKHVWDWXVRIFLYLFVSDFH in Nepal alongside a short reference on how religious minorities have fared. ौLV FKDSWHU UHYLHZV WKH HPHUJHQFH RI FLYLF VSDFH DQG WKH nature of civic space. It maps out how civil society has emerged and developed in contemporary history, and in the course of its evolution, to what extent civic space has been nurtured and opened XSIXUWKHURUUHVWULFWHGWKHUHRI,WIRFXVHVVSHFLਭFDOO\RQ \WUDFLQJKRZFLYLFVSDFHEHFDPHDOHJLWLPDWHVSKHUHRIDFWLYLW ۚ in Nepal, while evaluating the level of its openness at present; FRQGXFWLQJ D UHYLHZ RI WKH OHJDO UHJLPH WKDW JRYHUQV WKH ۚ functioning of civic space in Nepal; and LGHQWLI\LQJ WKH VSDFH HQDEOHG E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR NHHS ۚ 1 Civic space is obstructed when it is undermined by the state whether by means of surveillance, bureaucratic harassment or defamation. In an obstructed civic space, citizens are vulnerable to frequent use of excessive force by law HQIRUFHPHQWDJHQFLHVDQGMRXUQDOLVWVIDFHWKHULVNRISK\VLFDODWWDFNDQG FULPLQDOGHIDPDWLRQFKDUJHVZKLFKFRXOGHQFRXUDJHVHOIFHQVRUVKLS6HH CIVICUS, People Power under Attack KWWSV FLYLFXVFRQWHQWILOHVQHWPHGLD DVVHWVILOH*OREDO5HSRUW SGI. 126 Civic Space in Nepal DOLYHWKHFLYLFVSLULWZKLOHDOVRVSHFLਭFDOO\UHYLHZLQJWKHFLYLF space available for religious minorities. ौHFKDSWHULVEDVHGSULPDULO\RQDUHYLHZRISXEOLVKHGPDWHULDO and includes an assessment of laws and policies, including various bills that were under consideration in recent years, to capture the JHQHUDO SRVLWLRQ RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW YLV¢YLV FLYLF VRFLHW\ RYHU WLPH 3ULPDU\ GDWD ZDV DOVR FROOHFWHG WKURXJK DQ H[SHUW VXUYH\ conducted online, the results of which have been provided in the Annex following this chapter. ࢌH&RQWH[W Nepal emerged from the control of the Rana family oligarchy in D़HUDFHQWXU\WKDWKDGOH़WKHFRXQWU\LVRODWHGSRRUDQG XQGHUGHYHORSHGौHEXGGLQJGHPRFUDF\HVWDEOLVKHGIROORZLQJWKH ouster of the Ranas, however, was to last less than a decade before King Mahendra banned all political activities and introduced the 3DQFKD\DWV\VWHPDSROLWLFDODUUDQJHPHQWWKDWIXQFWLRQHGXQGHU WKHGLUHFWFRQWURORIWKHSDODFHौH3DQFKD\DWV\VWHPODVWHGIURP WR ZKHQ D SRSXODU PRYHPHQW SRSXODUO\ FDOOHG WKH \V0RYHPHQWUHLQVWDWHGSOXUDOLVWLFPXOWLSDUW\GHPRFUDFۑ3HRSOH in the country. It was not smooth sailing for the democracy though with Nepal witnessing 12 governments in the 12 years XQWLOZLWKDEXVHRIDXWKRULW\DOPRVWWKHQRUP2 Meanwhile, LQ D0DRLVWLQVXUJHQF\WRRNRਬZKLFKEURXJKWLQWRVWDUN UHOLHIWKHFODVVDQGLGHQWLW\EDVHGLQHTXDOLWLHVDQGLQMXVWLFHVLQ the country.3 ,Q WKH \HDU DFFXVLQJ WKH GHPRFUDWLF JRYHUQPHQW RI QRW EHLQJ DEOH WR UHVROYH WKH FRQਮLFW DQG PDLQWDLQ ODZ DQG RUGHU .LQJ *\DQHQGUD WRRN SRZHU DQG EHJDQ WR UXOH WKURXJK nominated prime ministers before assuming direct power himself LQ)HEUXDU\ौDWVHWWKHVWDJHIRUZKDWKDVEHHQFDOOHGWKH V 0RYHPHQW LQ GXULQJ ZKLFK DQ DOOLDQFHۑ6HFRQG 3HRSOH 0/DZRWLLooking Back, Looking Forward: Centralisation, Multiple Conflicts, and Democratic State Building in Nepal (Washington D.C.: East West Centre: 3 D. Thapa and B. Sijapati, A Kingdom under Siege: Nepal’s Maoist Insurgency, 1996 to 2004 .DWKPDQGX =HG%RRNV 127 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 of the parliamentary parties along with the Maoists forced the NLQJWRUHLQVWDWHGHPRFUDF\ौLVPRYHPHQWZRXOGEULQJDERXW massive changes in the country—declaration of Nepal as a republic, and the election of an inclusive Constituent Assembly WRGUD़DSRSXODUFRQVWLWXWLRQIRUWKHFRXQWU\ However, political problems continued to persist with the constitution failing to be SURPXOJDWHGXQWLODOPRVWDGHFDGHODWHUDQGWKHUHHPHUJHQFHRI 5ौXVZKLOHۑQHZ1HSDOېROGHUSROLWLFDODFWRUVLQWKHVRFDOOHG FLYLOVRFLHW\FRQWULEXWHGWRWKHRYHUWKURZLQJRIWKHNLQJLQ LW ORVW LWV LQਮXHQFH VRRQ D़HU WKH RXVWHU RI WKH NLQJ DQG WKH return to power of the political parties, and instead experienced IUDJPHQWDWLRQDQGSDUW\SROLWLFLVDWLRQ6 $V ZLOO EH HODERUDWHG LQ ODWHU VHFWLRQV WKH SRVW SHULRG ۑXQGHUPLQHGWKHFLYLOVRFLHW\VROLGDULW\WKDWH[LVWHGEHIRUHې by contentious political issues revolving around federalism and VHFXODULVPWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRIVHYHUDOODZV RUDिHPSWVWKHUHRঽ aimed at constricting civic space as a result, and the government’s DिHPSWVWRGLUHFWIXQGLQJWRZDUGLQIUDVWUXFWXUDOGHYHORSPHQWDV VDिLWXGHKDVDSSHDUHGWRۑopposed to advocacy actions.7ौHVWDWH be that there has been ‘enough discussion of people’s rights, and VGXWLHVWRWKHQDWLRQDQGۑWKDWLWLVQRZWLPHWRWKLQNDERXWSHRSOH its development’.8ौHFRQਮDWLRQRIDOOFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV 0/DZRWLLooking Back, Looking Forward: Centralisation, Multiple Conflicts, and Democratic State Building in Nepal (Washington D.C.: East West &HQWUH DUWKTXDNH3URGV1HSDO3DUWLHVWR0DNH)ې%6KDUPDDQG%(OOHQ Constitution Deal’, The New York Times,-XQH, KWWSV ZZZQ\WLPHV FRP ZRUOGDVLDHDUWKTXDNHSURGVQHSDOSDUWLHVWRPDNH FRQVWLWXWLRQGHDOKWPO. 6 Ibid. 7 S. Nazneen and D. Thapa, ‘The Implications of Closing Civic Space for ZZZ KWWSV 6DQG$&7$OOLDQFH', ۑ6XVWDLQDEOH'HYHORSPHQWLQ1HSDO LGVDFXNSXEOLFDWLRQVWKHLPSOLFDWLRQVRIFORVLQJFLYLFVSDFHIRUVXVWDLQDEOH GHYHORSPHQWLQQHSDO DQG,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ ,&1/ Assessment of the Legal Environment for Civil Society and Media in Nepal .DWKPDQGX ,&1/ KWWSV ZZZLFQORUJSRVWDVVHVVPHQWDQGPRQLWRULQJ DVVHVVPHQWRIWKHOHJDOHQYLURQPHQWIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGPHGLDLQQHSDO. LYLO6RFLHW\LQD)HGHUDO1HSDO&ې7DOFRWW$.KDQDODQG3%KDWWDUDL( ZZZ KWWSV %ULWLVK&RXQFLO DWKPDQGX. ۑ\DQGVFDSH6WXG/$ EULWLVKFRXQFLORUJQSVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVQHSDOBFVRBODQGVDSHBVWXG\BILQDOBUHSRUW pdf. 128 Civic Space in Nepal Ždžϭ͗ NGOS and CSOs ƵĞƚŽƚŚĞŝƌďƌŽĂĚĞŶŝŶŐŵĂŶĚĂƚĞ͕ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůĂŶĚƚƌĂŶƐŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƟŽŶĂůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ͕ Ă ƐŝŶŐƵůĂƌ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐŽĨĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŶŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂů ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐŚĂƐďĞĐŽŵĞĚŝĸĐƵůƚƚŽĐŽŵĞďLJ͘ dŚĞhŶŝƚĞĚEĂƟŽŶƐZĞƉŽƌƟŶŐ&ƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬĚĞĮŶĞƐ^KƐĂƐ͚ŶŽŶͲ ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ ŶŽƚͲĨŽƌͲƉƌŽĮƚ͕ ǀŽůƵŶƚĂƌLJ ĞŶƟƟĞƐ ĨŽƌŵĞĚ ďLJ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂůƐƉŚĞƌĞƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞĂŶĚƚŚĞŵĂƌŬĞƚ͛͘Ύ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ ǁŝĚĞůLJ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĞĚ ĚĞĮŶŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ E'KƐ ĂƐ ͚ƐĞůĨͲ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŝŶŐ͕ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ͕ŶŽƚͲĨŽƌͲƉƌŽĮƚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞŐĞĂƌĞĚƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨůŝĨĞŽĨĚŝƐĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞĚƉĞŽƉůĞ͕͛†E'KƐĐĂŶ ďĞĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚĂƐƵďͲƐĞƚŽĨ^KƐ͘‡ ^ƵĐŚĂŶŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶĐĂŶĂůƐŽďĞ ƵŶƐƉĞĐŝĮĞĚďƵƚƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƐǁŚĞŶ^KƐĂƌĞƚĂŬĞŶƚŽĐŽŶƐŝƐƚŽĨĂůů ͚ŶŽŶͲŵĂƌŬĞƚĂŶĚŶŽŶƐƚĂƚĞŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐŽƵƚƐŝĚĞŽĨƚŚĞĨĂŵŝůLJŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚƉĞŽƉůĞŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐƚŽƉƵƌƐƵĞƐŚĂƌĞĚŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐŝŶ ƚŚĞƉƵďůŝĐĚŽŵĂŝŶ͕͛ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJͲďĂƐĞĚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚ ǀŝůůĂŐĞĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ͕ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ǁŽŵĞŶ͛ƐƌŝŐŚƚƐŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ ĨĂƌŵĞƌƐ͛ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ĨĂŝƚŚͲďĂƐĞĚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ůĂďŽƵƌ ƵŶŝŽŶƐ͕ ĐŽͲŽƉĞƌĂƟǀĞƐ͕ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ͕ĐŚĂŵďĞƌƐŽĨĐŽŵŵĞƌĐĞ͕ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶƐƟƚƵƚĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞŶŽƚͲĨŽƌͲƉƌŽĮƚŵĞĚŝĂ͘‡ ^ƵĐŚĂŶĞdžƉĂŶƐŝǀĞĚĞĮŶŝƟŽŶŽĨ^KƐ͕ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŚĂƐĐŽŵĞƵŶĚĞƌ ĐƌŝƟĐŝƐŵ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƵŶĐƌŝƟĐĂů ĂƐƐƵŵƉƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ Ăůů ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂůůLJͲ Žƌ ƉƌŽĮƚͲŽƌŝĞŶƚĞĚ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ŐŽĂůƐ͘ E'KƐ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ĨŽĐƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ ĚŽŶŽƌͲĚƌŝǀĞŶ ŝĚĞĂƐ ŽĨ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ƚŽ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞĂ͚ĚĞͲƉŽůŝƟĐŝƐĞĚǀĞƌƐŝŽŶŽĨƐŽĐŝĂůĂĐƟŽŶĂŶĚǁĞĂŬĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ŽĨ Đŝǀŝů ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ ŝŶ ƉƵƌƐƵŝŶŐ ƌĂĚŝĐĂů ŝĚĞĂƐ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͕͛ǁŚŝůĞĂůƐŽŶĞŐĂƟŶŐƚŚĞĐŽŶĐĞƉƟŽŶƚŚĂƚĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJĐĂŶ ďĞĂ͚ƐŝƚĞĨŽƌĐŽŶƚĞƐƚĂƟŽŶ͕ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞĂŶĚĐŽŶŇŝĐƚ͛͘§ Ύ ͚ŝǀŝů ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ KƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ͕͛ ZĞƉŽƌƟŶŐ &ƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͕ hE 'ƵŝĚŝŶŐ WƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ͕ ĂĐĐĞƐƐĞĚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϯ͕ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ƵŶŐƉƌĞƉŽƌƟŶŐ͘ŽƌŐͬŐůŽƐƐĂƌLJͬĐŝǀŝůͲ ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJͲŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶƐͲĐƐŽƐ͘ Ώ͘͘sĂŬŝů͕͚ŽŶĨƌŽŶƟŶŐƚŚĞůĂƐƐŝĮĐĂƟŽŶWƌŽďůĞŵ͗dŽǁĂƌĚĂdĂdžŽŶŽŵLJŽĨE'KƐ͕͛ World DevelopmentϮϱ͕ŶŽ͘ϭϮ;ϭϵϵϳͿ͗ϮϬϱϳͲϮϬϳϬ͘ ΐhŶŝƚĞĚEĂƟŽŶƐĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚWƌŽŐƌĂŵ: Working with Civil Society in Foreign Aid: WŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐĨŽƌ^ŽƵƚŚͲ^ŽƵƚŚŽŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ͍͛;ĞŝũŝŶŐ͗hEWŚŝŶĂ͕^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϯͿ͕ ŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ƵŶĚƉ͘ŽƌŐͬĐŽŶƚĞŶƚͬĚĂŵͬƵŶĚƉͬĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐͬƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐͬĐŝǀŝůͺƐŽĐŝĞƚLJͬ ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐͬϮϬϭϯͺhEWͲ,ͲtŽƌŬŝŶŐͲtŝƚŚͲŝǀŝůͲ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJͲŝŶͲ&ŽƌĞŝŐŶͲŝĚͺ E͘ƉĚĨ͘ ΑZ͘DŽŚĂŶƚLJ͕͚ŝǀŝů^ŽĐŝĞƚLJĂŶĚE'KƐ͕͛dŚĞ/ŶĚŝĂŶ:ŽƵƌŶĂůŽĨWŽůŝƟĐĂů^ĐŝĞŶĐĞϲϯ͕ŶŽ͘ Ϯ;:ƵŶĞͲ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌϮϬϬϮͿ͗ϮϭϯͲϮϯϮ͘ South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 &62V DQGQRQJRYHUQPHQWDORUJDQLVDWLRQV 1*2V PHDQVWKDW DOOVXFKERGLHVDUHYLHZHGDVVHUYLFHGHOLYHU\HQWLWLHV Civic Space in the Pre-2006 Period ौHHUDRIGHPRFUDWLFSROLWLFVLQ1HSDOD़HUWKHRYHUWKURZRIWKH 5DQDUHJLPHLQ1HSDOLQ ODLGWKHJURXQGIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\WR H[SDQGEXWQRWLQWHUPVRISURYLGLQJDFKHFNRQWKHVWDWH UDWKHU their role was limited to complementing the state.ौH3DQFKD\DW era saw limits being placed on the political rights of individuals as UHJLVWHUېZHOODVLQVWLWXWLRQVDQGWKHUHZHUHYDULRXVDिHPSWVWR guide, direct, control, and supervise’ social organisations.11 ौH WZR SLHFHV RI OHJLVODWLRQ XQGHU ZKLFK &62V FDQ VHHN UHJLVWUDWLRQERWKGDWHEDFNWRWKH3DQFKD\DW\HDUV WKH1DWLRQDO 'LUHFWLYH $FW 1'$ DQG WKH $VVRFLDWLRQ 5HJLVWUDWLRQ $FW $5$ 122UJDQLVDWLRQVUHJLVWHUHGXQGHUWKH1'$DUHGLUHFWO\ accountable to the government and are not required to report or UHQHZUHJLVWUDWLRQZLWKWKH'LVWULFW$GPLQLVWUDWLRQ2ਯFH13ौH ARA gave the government the power to ‘give necessary directions to the Association’, and described it as ‘the duty of the Association to follow such directions’. Hence, civil society organisations had OLिOHVD\WRDFWXDOO\FRQWHVWWKHVWDWHDWWKHWLPH15 ौHUHZDVDQRSHQLQJRIFLYLFVSDFHIRUDEULHISHULRGDURXQG LQWKHOHDGXSWRWKHQDWLRQDOUHIHUHQGXPWRGHFLGHWKHIDWH RIWKH3DQFKD\DWV\VWHPZKHQWKHVWDWHDOORZHGSROLWLFDOSDUWLHV 5HSRUWRQ/DZVDQG5HJXODWLRQV HIHQGLQJ&LYLO6RFLHW\'ې\88SUHW :RUOG DVKLQJWRQ'&: ۑRYHUQLQJ&LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQLVDWLRQVLQ1HSDO* FWLYLVWVDQG'HYHORSPHQW$ېDQG&+6KUHVWKD 0RYHPHQWIRU'HPRFUDF\ in Nepal’, in Varieties of Activist Experience: Civil Society in South Asia, edited by '1*HOOQHU 1HZ'HOKL 6DJH3XEOLFDWLRQV ۑ7KH,QWHUIDFHEHWZHHQWKH6WDWHDQG&LYLO6RFLHW\LQ1HSDOېKDWWD%'& ۋ Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology 11 Ibid. ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ ,&1/ Assessment of the Legal Environment for Civil Society and Media in Nepal .DWKPDQGX ,&1/ KWWSV ZZZLFQORUJSRVWDVVHVVPHQWDQGPRQLWRULQJDVVHVVPHQWRIWKHOHJDO HQYLURQPHQWIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGPHGLDLQQHSDO. 13 Ibid. /5%DUDOOppositional Politics in Nepal .DWKPDQGX +LPDO%RRNV Worldۑ7KH3ROLWLFDO(FRQRP\RI&LYLO:DULQ1HSDOې6KDUPD. Development Civic Space in Nepal and organisations to be openly active.16 Even though the freedom ZDVVKRUWOLYHGDVWKHUHIHUHQGXPZHQWLQIDYRXURIWKHVWDWXVTXR many organisations formed at the time remained active.17$़HU the referendum, laws were also relaxed or amended to facilitate IUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQZKLFKUHVXOWHGLQWKHJURZWKRIVRPH&62V particularly of professionals from diverse streams.18 8QWLO WKH ODWH V IRUHLJQ DLG ZDV WKH PDMRU VRXUFH RI VਭUVW)LYH 16 M. Hoftun, W. Raeper, and J. Whelpton, People, Politics and Ideology: Democracy and Social Change in Nepal .DWKPDQGX 0DQGDOD%RRN3RLQW 17 Ibid. 18 See: V. Adams, Doctors for Democracy: Health Professionals in the Nepal 0DVVې.+DFKKHWKX &DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV 1HZ 131 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ŽdžϮ͗^KƐĂŶĚE'KƐŝŶEĂƟŽŶĂůĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ŽŶůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ĞǀĞŶƚŚ &ŝǀĞͲzĞĂƌ WůĂŶ ;ϭϵϴϱͲϵϬͿ ƚŚĂƚ E'KƐ ǁĞƌĞŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚŝŶŶĂƟŽŶĂůĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƉŽůŝĐLJ͕ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ^ŽĐŝĂů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐEĂƟŽŶĂůŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ;^^EͿĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚĂƐ ƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚďŽĚLJŽǀĞƌƐĞĞŝŶŐƚŚĞE'KƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘dŚŝƐWůĂŶ͕ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂĚŽƉƚĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ WĂŶĐŚĂLJĂƚ ƌƵůĞ͕ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ǁŚĞŶ ŵĂŶLJ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚĂŶĚƵŶƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ^KƐƚŚĂƚĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚƚŚĞůĞŐŝƟŵĂĐLJ ŽĨƚŚĞWĂŶĐŚĂLJĂƚƐƚĂƚĞĐĂŵĞŝŶƚŽĞdžŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ŝŐŚƚŚ WůĂŶ ;ϭϵϵϮͲϵϳͿ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJƚǁŽLJĞĂƌƐĞĂƌůŝĞƌ͕ĂĚŽƉƚĞĚĂůŝďĞƌĂůĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƐĞƫŶŐƵƉĂŶĚŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ^KƐĂŶĚƐŝŵƉůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶŽĨŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐƚŽĂůůŽǁƚŚĞƐĞŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐƚŽƉůĂLJĂŶĂĐƟǀĞƌŽůĞŝŶƌƵƌĂů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ dŚŝƐ WůĂŶ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂůƐŽ ƐĞĞŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^ŽĐŝĂů tĞůĨĂƌĞ Đƚ ϭϵϵϮ ƐŝŶĐĞ ŝƚ ƐƟƉƵůĂƚĞĚƚŚĂƚ͚ƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐĞĐƚŽƌǁŝůůŵĂŬĞƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶƐĨŽƌ ƉŽůŝĐLJŐƵŝĚĞůŝŶĞƐĂŶĚůĞŐĂůƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŽĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞƚŚĞƐŽĐŝĂůƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐƌƵŶďLJƚŚĞŶŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĚƉƌŝǀĂƚĞŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ͛͘ &ƌŽŵƚŚĞEŝŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϭϵϵϳͲϮϬϬϮͿŽŶǁĂƌĚƐ͕ĂƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞƐĞĐƟŽŶŽƌ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌŽŶE'KƐǁĂƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚǁŝƚŚĂŶŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƚŽĚĞǀĞůŽƉƚŚĞ ŶŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂůƐĞĐƚŽƌĂƐĂƉĂƌƚŶĞƌŝŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘dŚĞƚƌĞŶĚ ŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉůĂŶƐ ƐĞƫŶŐ ĂƐŝĚĞ Ă ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŽŶ E'KƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ŝŶ ůĂƚĞƌ ŝƚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶĐƌĞŵĞŶƚĂů ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌƌŽůĞƐŝŶůŽĐĂůĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĂŶĚŽŶŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝƐĞĚŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘dŚĞ dĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϬϮͲϮϬϬϳͿĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJĂĚĚĞĚƚĂƌŐĞƚĞĚƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐĨŽƌ ƐŽĐŝĂůůLJĂŶĚŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĂůůLJŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝƐĞĚŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘ dŚĞ ůĞǀĞŶƚŚ WůĂŶ ;ϮϬϬϳͲϭϬͿ ƐŝŐŶĂůůĞĚ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ƐŚŝŌ͕ ĂƐ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ĂĚŽƉƚĞĚĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨƚŚĞĚĞĐĂĚĞͲůŽŶŐĂƌŵĞĚĐŽŶŇŝĐƚŝŶ ƚŚĞĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘/ƚƌĞŵĂŝŶƐƚŚĞŽŶůLJƉůĂŶǁŝƚŚĂƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞƐĞĐƟŽŶŽŶ ŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐĂůŽŶŐǁŝƚŚĂŶŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚƌŽůĞĨŽƌŶŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂů ƐĞĐƚŽƌŝŶŝƐƐƵĞƐŽĨƉŽƐƚͲĐŽŶŇŝĐƚƐƚĂƚĞƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJĂŶĚƌĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ƌƵůĞŽĨůĂǁ͕ƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟǀĞũƵƐƟĐĞ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͘/ƚ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ĂůƐŽďĞŐĂŶƚŚĞƚƌĞŶĚĨŽƌŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚƐƚĂƚĞƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ͕ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƌ ƌŽůĞ ŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^ŽĐŝĂů tĞůĨĂƌĞ ŽƵŶĐŝů ;^tͿ ŝŶƌĞǀŝĞǁŝŶŐE'KƐĂƐǁĞůůŝŶƌĞĐŽƌĚŬĞĞƉŝŶŐŽĨĂůůƚŚĞŝƌĨƵŶĐƟŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚƚŽŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĨŽĐƵƐŝŶŐ ŽŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞdǁĞůŌŚ;ϮϬϭϬͲϭϯͿƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞ&ŝŌĞĞŶƚŚ ;ϮϬϭϵͲϮϮͿWůĂŶƐ͕ƚŚĞŝƌ͚ǁĂƚĐŚĚŽŐ͛ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚǁĂƐŵŝŶŝŵŝƐĞĚǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞƐƉŚĞƌĞŽĨĐŽŶƚƌŽůŽĨƚŚĞ^tǁĂƐĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ͕ŵĂŝŶůLJƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ 132 Civic Space in Nepal ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐŽŶŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůĨƵŶĚŝŶŐ͘dŚĞ&ŽƵƌƚĞĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϭϲͲ ϭϵͿ ĂůƐŽ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ůĞŐĂů ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐŽĨE'KƐ͘dŚĞ&ŝŌĞĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϭϵͲϮϮͿ ƚĂŬĞƐĂƐƚĞƉďĂĐŬǁŝƚŚ^KƐŐŝǀĞŶĂƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐƌŽůĞŝŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ƉůĂŶƐĂŶĚƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͕ĂŶĚŝŶƚŚĞƵƉůŝŌŵĞŶƚŽĨŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝƐĞĚŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘ ŶĚ͕ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞƚŚĞƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞĐŚĂƉƚĞƌĚĞĂůŝŶŐǁŝƚŚĐŝǀŝĐŵĂƩĞƌƐĂŶĚ ŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐ͕^KƐĂƌĞŶŽƚŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚĂƐŚĂǀŝŶŐĂƌŽůĞŽŶƚŚĞƐĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐŽƌŽŶĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĂďŝůŝƚLJŽƌŐŽŽĚŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞ͘ ^ŽƵƌĐĞƐ͗EĂƟŽŶĂůWůĂŶŶŝŶŐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͕'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŽĨEĞƉĂů͕dŚĞ^ĞǀĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ ;ϭϵϴϱͲϵϬͿ;ϭϵϴϱͿ͖dŚĞ ŝŐŚƚŚWůĂŶ;ϭϵϵϮͲϵϳͿ;ϭϵϵϮͿ͖dŚĞEŝŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϭϵϵϳͲϮϬϬϮͿ ;ϭϵϵϳͿ͖dŚĞdĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϬϮͲϮϬϬϳͿ;ϮϬϬϮͿ͖dŚĞ ůĞǀĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϬϳͲϭϬͿ;ϮϬϬϳͿ͖ dŚĞ dǁĞůŌŚ WůĂŶ ;ϮϬϭϬͲϭϯͿ ;ϮϬϭϬͿ͖ dŚĞ dŚŝƌƚĞĞŶƚŚ WůĂŶ ;ϮϬϭϯͲϭϲͿ ;ϮϬϭϯͿ͖ dŚĞ &ŽƵƌƚĞĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϭϲͲϭϵͿ;ϮϬϭϲͿ͖dŚĞ&ŝŌĞĞŶƚŚWůĂŶ;ϮϬϭϵͲϮϮͿ;ϮϬϭϵͿ͘ expression, assembly, and association.22ौHVLJQLQJRIWKH,&&35 which followed the political changes, also facilitated the entry of LQWHUQDWLRQDO QRQJRYHUQPHQW RUJDQLVDWLRQV ,1*2V LQWR WKH country. ौXVWKHUHVWRUDWLRQRIPXOWLSDUW\GHPRFUDF\LQWKHFRXQWU\ FRLQFLGHGZLWKWKHਮRXULVKLQJRI&62VLQ1HSDOौHUHDUHPDLQO\ two reasons for this rapid increase in associational life in the FRXQWU\)LUVWZDVWKHLQਮX[RI,1*2V'XULQJ3DQFKD\DWWLPHV funds from foreign donors were directed to a ‘consolidated fund 1HSDOL &62V DQG EXW D़HU ۑPDQDJHG E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW 1*2V ZHUH GLUHFWO\ DEOH WR DFFHVV IXQGV ZKLFK UHVXOWHG LQ DQ increase in their numbers.23 ौH VHFRQG IDFWRU ZDV WKH IRFXV RI ELODWHUDO DQG PXOWLODWHUDO GRQRU DJHQFLHV LQ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK QRQ state actors for ‘good governance and democratisation’ in the country.ौLVZDVDPDUNHGGHSDUWXUHIURPWKHSUHYLRXVIRFXVRQ $UWLFOHVDQG81*HQHUDO$VVHPEO\bInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'HFHPEHU b8QLWHG1DWLRQV7UHDW\6HULHVYRO S 23 Nazneen and Thapa, ‘The Implications of Closing Civic Space for Sustainable Development in Nepal’. '53DQGD\Nepal’s Failed Development: Reflections on the Mission and the Maladies .DWKPDQGX 0DQGDOD%RRN3RLQW $5DGHPDFKHUDQG' Tamang, Democracy, Development and NGOs .DWKPDQGX 6($5&+ :RUOG %DQNWorld Development Report 2000: Entering the 21st Century 2[IRUG 2[IRUG 8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV 133 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ‘development’, with funds now channelled into ‘the construction of a civil society’.25 ौDW ,1*2V ZHUH UHTXLUHG WR ZRUN WKURXJK local partners were a contributory factor as well. 2QH LPSRUWDQW IHDWXUH LQ WKH V ZDV WKH XQSUHFHGHQWHG increase in the number of organisations formed on the basis of caste and ethnic identity.26 While the historically marginalised groups such as Madhesis, Janajatis and Dalits along with women had organised TXLWH HਬHFWLYHO\ IRU GHFDGHV WKURXJK FXOWXUDO LQVWLWXWLRQV27 the democratic opening allowed these groups to mobilise politically IRUWKHਭUVWWLPH28ौHUHZHUHKRZHYHUOHJDOREVWDFOHVFXUWDLOLQJ the full enjoyment of the open civic space. For instance, under the 6RFLDO :HOIDUH $FW IRUHLJQ DQG GRPHVWLF &62V WKDW VRXJKW international or government resources were required to obtain DਯOLDWLRQZLWKWKH6RFLDO:HOIDUH&RXQFLO ौH6RFLDO:HOIDUH$FW ZDVZLGHO\UHJDUGHGDVUHVWULFWLYHDVLWSHUPLिHGDUELWUDU\GHQLDOV of registration and did not compel the Social Welfare Council (SWC), the body responsible for operationalising the Act, to respond to applications in a timely manner. Furthermore, the SWC had an RਯFHRQO\LQWKHFDSLWDO.DWKPDQGXPDNLQJLWGLਯFXOWIRU&62V LQRWKHUSDUWVRIWKHFRXQWU\LQJHिLQJDਯOLDWLRQ ौH0DRLVWLQVXUJHQF\VDZFLYLFVSDFHHPHUJHDVDQLQGHSHQGHQW bipartisan entity able to hold both the state and the Maoists to DFFRXQWौLVUHVXOWHGLQWKHULVHRIFLYLFVRFLHW\DFWRUVDVGHIHQGHUV 25 S. Tamang, ‘Civilising Civil Society: Donors and Democratic Space’, Studies in Nepali History and Society 26 See S.I. Hangen, The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal: Democracy in the Margins 1HZ Civic Space in Nepal of democracy and human rights.31 :KHQ WKH NLQJ VHL]HG SRZHU LQ)HEUXDU\&62VDVZHOODVWKHPHGLDH[SHULHQFHGDPDMRU VHWEDFN9LHZLQJFLYLFVSDFHDVDWKUHDWWRKLVUXOHKHMDLOHGPDQ\ prominent civil society actors and announced controls on both civil society organisations and donors.32 A prominent example was the SODFLQJ RI WKH FKDLUSHUVRQ RI WKH 1*2 )HGHUDWLRQ RI 1HSDO WKH ELJJHVWJURXSLQJRI1*2VLQ1HSDORQDWUDYHOEDQDQGDUUHVWOLVW together with political party leaders and eminent human rights activists.33 ौH PHGLD ZDV DOVR VXEMHFWHG WR VWULFW FHQVRUVKLS DQG control at the time, with news and political programmes barred from television and radio, and many journalists facing increased scrutiny, harassment, and even arbitrary detention. ौH JRYHUQPHQW DOVR LQWURGXFHG D QHZ FRGH RI FRQGXFW VWLSXODWLQJ WKDW 1*2 ZRUNHUV should not engage in ‘party politics’, their tenure as heads of organisations be limited to two terms, and they not receive salaries.35 Despite these constraints, or perhaps because of them, this SHULRGZLWQHVVHGDQLQFUHDVHGOHYHORIWUXVWLQ&62VDVSURWHFWRUV DQG SURPRWHUV RI KXPDQ ULJKWV DQG MXVWLFH ौDW ZDV PDLQO\ because Nepal’s civil society evolved into a movement aimed at GHIHQGLQJGHPRFUDF\DQGKXPDQULJKWVVSHFLਭFDOO\IRUZRPHQ VۑDQDMDWLVDQGRWKHUPDUJLQDOLVHGJURXSVGXULQJWKH3HRSOH- Movement.36 However, once the monarchy had been ousted and 31 Nazneen and Thapa, ‘The Implications of Closing Civic Space for Sustainable Development in Nepal’. 32 J. Baniya, ‘Civil Society, Social Movements and Democratisation: A Case 2$ 3K'GLVV8QLYHUVLW\RI2VOR ,661 ۑ6WXG\RI1HSDO Rai, ‘The crow and the scarecrow’, Nepali Times0D\KWWSV ZZZ QHSDOLWLPHVFRPEDQQHUWKHFURZDQGWKHVFDUHFURZ. 33 Shrestha, ‘Activists and Development in Nepal’. LQJWDNHVIXUWKHUPHDVXUHVDJDLQVWSUHVV.ې5HSRUWHUVZLWKRXW%RUGHUV freedom’, RSF)HEUXDU\KWWSV UVIRUJHQQHZVNLQJWDNHVIXUWKHU 0RUHWKDQې5HSRUWHUVZLWKRXW%RUGHUV PHDVXUHVDJDLQVWSUHVVIUHHGRP journalists released after three hours in custody’, RSF)HEUXDU\KWWSV UVIRUJHQQHZVPRUHMRXUQDOLVWVUHOHDVHGDIWHUWKUHHKRXUVFXVWRG\; Reporters without Borders, ‘Indignation as government restricts advertising to “nationalist” publications’, RSF-XQH KWWSV UVIRUJHQQHZV LQGLJQDWLRQJRYHUQPHQWUHVWULFWVDGYHUWLVLQJQDWLRQDOLVWSXEOLFDWLRQV; 35 Bhatta, ‘The Interface between the State and Civil Society in Nepal’. $5HIOHFWLRQRQWKH/HJDO HPRFUDF\DQG&LYLO6RFLHW\'ې\88SUHW International Journal of Not-for-Profit LawۑUDPHZRUNIRU&LYLO6RFLHW\LQ1HSDO( QR 135 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Ždžϯ͗EŽŶͲE'Kŝǀŝů^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ /ŶƚŚĞƉŽůŝƟĐĂůƚƵƌŵŽŝůĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐϮϬϬϮ͕ǁŚĞŶƚŚĞŬŝŶŐŽƵƐƚĞĚƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƚĞĚŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͕ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƵŶŝŽŶƐ͕ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ŝŶƚĞůůĞĐƚƵĂůƐ͕ĂƌƟƐƚƐ͕ĂŶĚĂƐƐŽƌƚĞĚĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ ƌŽƐĞŝŶƉƌŽƚĞƐƚ͘dŚĞƐĞƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐĐŽĂůĞƐĐĞĚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞǁŝĚĞƌĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͛ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚĂŌĞƌƚŚĞŬŝŶŐƚŽŽŬĚŝƌĞĐƚĐŽŶƚƌŽůŽĨƚŚĞƐƚĂƚĞŝŶĞĂƌůLJ ϮϬϬϱ͘ ŝǀŝĐ ŵŽďŝůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐĂǁ ƚŚĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝƟnjĞŶƐ͛ DŽǀĞŵĞŶƚĨŽƌĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJĂŶĚWĞĂĐĞ;DWͿĂƐĂůŽŽƐĞďƵƚůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŽĨĂĐƌŽƐƐͲƐĞĐƟŽŶŽĨĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJĂĐƚŽƌƐ͘dŚĞDWǁĂƐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵůŝŶĂǁĂLJĐŝƟnjĞŶͲůĞĚŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐŚĂĚŶŽƚďĞĞŶŝŶEĞƉĂů ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƚŽ ŵŽďŝůŝƐĞ ƚŚĞ ďƌŽĂĚĞƌ ƉƵďůŝĐ͕ ĂŶĚ ďLJ ĞŵďƌĂĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽͲƌĞƉƵďůŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟǀĞ ĂŐĞŶĚĂŽĨƚŚĞďƌŽĂĚĞƌŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘ /ƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƚLJ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ƐŽĐŝĂů ũƵƐƟĐĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ƐƚĂƚĞ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϵϬƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ EĞƉĂů &ĞĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ /ŶĚŝŐĞŶŽƵƐEĂƟŽŶĂůŝƟĞƐ;E &/EͿ͕ĂůŝƚĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐĂŶĚƐŽŵĞŚƵŵĂŶ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŵƵůŐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŝŶϮϬϭϱ͘*dŚĞƌĞŚĂƐĂůƐŽďĞĞŶƐƉŽŶƚĂŶĞŽƵƐĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ ĂĐƟǀŝƐŵŝŶƌĞĐĞŶƚƟŵĞƐ͘^ŽŵĞĞdžĂŵƉůĞƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞƚŚĞŵŽďŝůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶŵŝĚͲϮϬϭϵĂŐĂŝŶƐƚƚŚĞĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂů'ƵƚŚŝŝůůŵĞĂŶƚƚŽƌĞŐƵůĂƚĞ ůĂŶĚŝŶƚŚĞŶĂŵĞŽĨƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐƚƌƵƐƚƐ†ĂŶĚĂŐĂŝŶƐƚĂƌďŝƚƌĂƌLJĨĞĞƐŝŶ ŵĞĚŝĐĂůĐŽůůĞŐĞƐ͘‡ ǀĞŶĞĂƌůŝĞƌ͕ǁĂƐƚŚĞĂƩĞŵƉƚƚŽďĂŶƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ ĂƚDĂŝƟŐŚĂƌDĂŶĚĂůĂ͕ĂƉŽƉƵůĂƌǀĞŶƵĞĨŽƌƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐŝŶƚŚĞĐĂƉŝƚĂů͘ dŚĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞǁĂƐƐǁŝŌĨƌŽŵĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJǁŝƚŚƐƚƌĞĞƚƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐĂŶĚ ĂĐŽƵƌƚĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞďĞĨŽƌĞƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚďĂĐŬĞĚĚŽǁŶ͘§ Ύ:͘ĂŶŝLJĂ͕͚ŝǀŝů^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ͕^ŽĐŝĂůDŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐĂŶĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟƐĂƟŽŶ͗ĂƐĞ^ƚƵĚLJŽĨ EĞƉĂů͛;WŚĚŝƐƐ͕͘hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨKƐůŽ͕ϮϬϭϰͿ͕/^^EϭϱϬϰͲϯϵϵϭ͘ Ώ,ŝŵĂůĂLJĂŶ EĞǁƐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ͚'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ tŝƚŚĚƌĂǁƐ ŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂů 'ƵƚŚŝ ŝůů͕͛ The Himalayan Times, June 25, 2019, ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬƚŚĞŚŝŵĂůĂLJĂŶƟŵĞƐ͘ĐŽŵͬŶĞƉĂůͬ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚͲǁŝƚŚĚƌĂǁƐͲĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂůͲŐƵƚŚŝͲďŝůůͬ͘ ΐZĞƉƵďůŝĐĂ͕͚DĞĚŝĐĂů^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐWƌŽƚĞƐƚĂƚDĂŝƟŐŚĂƌĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐZĞƚƵƌŶŽĨĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů Fees’, myRepublica͕EŽǀĞŵďĞƌϲ͕ϮϬϭϵ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬŵLJƌĞƉƵďůŝĐĂ͘ŶĂŐĂƌŝŬŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ͘ĐŽŵͬ ŶĞǁƐͬŵĞĚŝĐĂůͲƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐͲƉƌŽƚĞƐƚͲĂƚͲŵĂŝƟŐŚĂƌͲĚĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐͲƌĞƚƵƌŶͲŽĨͲĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůͲĨĞĞƐ͘ Α͚EĞƉĂůͶ/E>͕͛/ŶƚĞƌŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůĞŶƚƌĞĨŽƌEŽƚĨŽƌWƌŽĨŝƚ>Ăǁ;/E>Ϳ͕ůĂƐƚŵŽĚŝĨŝĞĚ April 16, 2020, ŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͭͭǁǁǁ͘ŝĐŶů͘ŽƌŐͭƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐͭĐŝǀŝĐͲĨƌĞĞĚŽŵͲŵŽŶŝƚŽƌͭ ŶĞƉĂůηŐůĂŶĐĞ͘ the political parties and the Maoists came to power, these same IRUFHVEHJDQWRVHH&62VDVLQLPLFDOWRWKHLULQWHUHVWV WKH0DRLVWV KHOGWKDWFLYLOVRFLHW\ZDVUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDिHPSWLQJWRZHDNHQ 136 Civic Space in Nepal the communist movement, while the mainstream political parties EODPHG WKH DGYRFDF\ DFWLYLWLHV RI 1*2V IRU KDYLQJ IXHOOHG WKH 0DRLVWPRYHPHQWLQWKHਭUVWSODFH37 Post-2006 Civic Space ौHULVHRI0DRLVWVLQ1HSDOZDVIXHOOHGE\WKHLGHDRILQHTXLWLHV arising out of class but also equally importantly due to ethnic identity.38+HQFHLWVHQGVDZWKHULVHRIDQXPEHURILGHQWLW\EDVHG JURXSV DQG DVVRFLDWLRQV DQG EURXJKW ULJKWVEDVHG DGYRFDF\ RI those marginalised on the basis of gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, region and language. ौHLGHDRILQFOXVLRQZDVDGRSWHGE\WKH JRYHUQPHQWZKROHKHDUWHGO\DVZHOOZLWKWKHौUHH 37 Talcott et al, ‘Civil Society in a Federal Nepal’. 0/DZRWLTowards a Democratic Nepal: Inclusive Political Institutions for a Multicultural Society 1HZ'HOKL 6DJH3XEOLFDWLRQV 7KH,PSOLFDWLRQVRI&ORVLQJ&LYLF6SDFHIRUې1D]QHHQDQG7KDSD Sustainable Development in Nepal’. 1DWLRQDO3ODQQLQJ&RPPLVVLRQ*RYHUQPHQWRI1HSDO7KUHH 137 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 become all the more pronounced over the years. With the H[FHSWLRQ RI WKH D़HUPDWK RI WKH GHYDVWDWLQJ HDUWKTXDNH ZKHQWKHJRYHUQPHQWUHFRJQLVHGWKHUROHRI&62VLQSURYLGLQJ relief to the general people, the state has demonstrated degrees of antagonism towards civic groups. Most noticeably, the SWC has LVVXHGVHYHUDOGLUHFWLYHVWKDWKLQGHU&62RSHUDWLRQVVXFKDVOLPLWV on administrative expenditure of total budgets and increasingly burdensome registration procedures. Irrespective of the growing restrictions domestically, on the international front Nepal continued to stand for an open VRFLHW\ 1HSDO VLJQHG RQ WR WKH $FFUD $JHQGD RI $FWLRQ an international commitment between states, civil society organisations, the United Nations, and global funds to set an DJHQGDRQKRZWRLQFUHDVHDLGHਬHFWLYHQHVVौH$FFUD$JHQGD VSHFLਭFDOO\KLJKOLJKWVWKHUROHRIWKHVWDWHLQFUHDWLQJDQHQDEOLQJ HQYLURQPHQWIRU&62VWRFRQWULEXWHWRGHYHORSPHQWREMHFWLYHV ,W DOVR FDOOV IRU LQFUHDVHG FRRUGLQDWLRQ RI &62 DFWLYLWLHV ZLWK JRYHUQPHQWHਬRUWVDQGWUDQVSDUHQF\DQGDFFRXQWDELOLW\RQERWK sides. 6LPLODU VHQWLPHQWV DUH HFKRHG LQ WKH %XVDQ 3DUWQHUVKLS IRU (ਬHFWLYH 'HYHORSPHQW &RRSHUDWLRQ DQG WKH Addis Ababa Action Agenda that Nepal is party to. Nepal is DOVR FRPPLिHG WR WKH 6XVWDLQDEOH 'HYHORSPHQW *RDOV ZKLFK HPSKDVLVHV WKH UROH RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ DQG QRQJRYHUQPHQW organisations in governance and development. ,&1/Assessment of the Legal Environment for Civil Society and Media in Nepal. 7KLUG+LJK/HYHO)RUXPRQ$LG(IIHFWLYHQHVVAccra Agenda for Action 2(&'The Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) KWWSV ZZZRHFGRUJ GDFHIIHFWLYHQHVVSGI. 7KLUG+LJK/HYHO)RUXPRQ$LG(IIHFWLYHQHVVAccra Agenda for Action $JHQGD 2(&'The Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) KWWSV ZZZRHFGRUJ GDFHIIHFWLYHQHVVSGI. )RXUWK+LJK/HYHO)RUXPRQ$LG(IIHFWLYHQHVV%XVDQ3DUWQHUVKLSIRU (IIHFWLYH'HYHORSPHQW&RRSHUDWLRQ 81*HQHUDO$VVHPEO\Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda), A/ RES/69/313, $XJXVWKWWSV XQFWDGRUJPHHWLQJVHQ6HVVLRQDO'RFXPHQWV DUHV GBHQSGI. 1*2)HGHUDWLRQRI1HSDOEnabling Environment National Assessment 138 Civic Space in Nepal Governing Civic Space in Nepal ौH:DVKLQJWRQ'&EDVHG,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URਭW /DZ ,&1/ KDVLGHQWLਭHGWKHIROORZLQJHOHPHQWVFRPPRQWRD WKHSURSRVDOې UHVWULFWLYHDिLWXGHRIWKHVWDWHWRZDUGVFLYLFVSDFH DQGDGRSWLRQRIUHVWULFWLYH&62ODZV WKHSURSRVDODQGDGRSWLRQ RIDQWLSURWHVWODZV WKHFORVXUHGHUHJLVWUDWLRQDQGH[SXOVLRQRI &62V WKHDGRSWLRQDQGPDQLSXODWLRQRIFRXQWHUWHUURULVPODZVDQG policies; and, the adoption of laws and policies that restrict access ۑWRUHVRXUFHVQRWDEO\LQFOXGLQJIRUHLJQIXQGLQJDQGDਯOLDWLRQV With the exception of those dealing with counterterrorism, the Nepali government has either adopted all the other elements mentioned or at least tried to do so, representing an increasingly UHSUHVVLYH DिLWXGH WRZDUGV FLYLO VRFLHW\ )RUHLJQ IXQGLQJ LQ particular is mostly tied to the fear of conversion to Christianity, which is discussed in detail later in the chapter. $OO &62V DUH UHTXLUHG WR UHJLVWHU ZLWK WKH UHVSHFWLYH 'LVWULFW $GPLQLVWUDWLYH2ਯFHXQGHUWKH$VVRFLDWLRQ5HJLVWUDWLRQ$FW regardless of their functions. Hence, under this Act, ‘everything IURPIRRWEDOOFOXEVWRਭOPVRFLHWLHVWRQHLJKERXUKRRGDVVRFLDWLRQV WR UHVHDUFK LQVWLWXWHV WR VSLULWXDO FHQWUHV WR VHOIKHOS JURXSV WR KDYH EHHQ ۑDGYRFDF\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV WR VHUYLFH GHOLYHU\ 1*2V registered.51 All the organisations registered under the Association 5HJLVWUDWLRQ$FWDUHDOVRJLYHQWKHRSWLRQRIDਯOLDWLQJZLWKWKH 6:&VHWXSXQGHUWKH6RFLDO:HOIDUH$FW ZLWKWKHREMHFWLYH FRRUGLQDWLRQ FRRSHUDWLRQ PRELOLVDWLRQ DQG SURPRWLRQ RIې RI the social organizations and institutions, in order to run social (EENA) .DWKPDQGX 1*2)HGHUDWLRQRI1HSDO KWWSV ZZZFLYLFXVRUJ LPDJHV((1$B1HSDOSGI. 7KH,&1/LVDQRUJDQLVDWLRQGHGLFDWHGWRVXSSRUWLQJWKHJURZWKRIFLYLO VRFLHW\E\LPSURYLQJWKHOHJDOIUDPHZRUNVUHJXODWLQJ1*2VWKHZRUOGRYHU DFFHVVHG6HSWHPEHUۑQWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ,ې KWWSV ZZZLFQORUJ OREDO*ۑ 6XUYH\RI7UHQGV$IIHFWLQJ&LYLF6SDFHې D /1&, 7UHQGVLQ1*2/DZ $ोDUWHUO\5HYLHZRI1*2/HJDO7UHQGVDURXQGWKH :RUOGKिSV ZZZLFQORUJUHVRXUFHVUHVHDUFKJOREDOWUHQGVQJRODZ VXUYH\RIWUHQGVDਬHFWLQJFLYLFVSDFH. The Kathmandu Post, 2FWREHUۑ5HYLVLWLQJWKH1*2'LVFRXUVHې7KDSD' KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPRSLQLRQUHYLVLWLQJWKHQJR discourse. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Ždžϰ͗ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶĂů>ŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐŽŶ/ŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ĂŶĚŽůůĞĐƟǀĞ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵ dŚĞŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨEĞƉĂůϮϬϭϱŚĂƐŐƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞĚƚŚĞĨƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ ĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶĂŶĚĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͕ĂůďĞŝƚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĐĂǀĞĂƚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐƚĂƚĞ ĐĂŶ͚ŝŵƉŽƐĞƌĞĂƐŽŶĂďůĞƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ͛ŽŶĂŶLJĂĐƟŽŶƚŚĂƚƵŶĚĞƌŵŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ͚ŶĂƟŽŶĂůŝƚLJ͕ ƐŽǀĞƌĞŝŐŶƚLJ͕ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚŝǀŝƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ EĞƉĂů͛ŽƌǁŚŝĐŚĚŝƐƌƵƉƚƚŚĞ͚ƚŚĞŚĂƌŵŽŶŝŽƵƐƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐƐƵďƐŝƐƟŶŐ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŽĨ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĐĂƐƚĞƐ͕ ĞƚŚŶŝĐŝƟĞƐ͕ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶƐ͕ Žƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕͛* ďŽƚŚ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ůĂƟƚƵĚĞ ŝŶ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟŽŶ͘ /ŶĨĂĐƚ͕ĞĂĐŚŽĨƚŚĞƐĞǀĞŶĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐEĞƉĂůŚĂƐŚĂĚƐŽĨĂƌŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ĨŽƌŵƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ ǀŝƐͲăͲǀŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ĞŶũŽLJŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Đŝǀŝů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĂŶĚƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůĨƌĞĞĚŽŵƐďLJĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͘/ƚŝƐĂůƐŽƉĞƌŚĂƉƐƚĞůůŝŶŐƚŚĂƚ EĞƉĂůŝƐƐƟůůŶŽƚĂƉĂƌƚLJƚŽƚŚĞ/>KŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶŶŽ͘ϴϳ͕&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶĂŶĚWƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞZŝŐŚƚƚŽKƌŐĂŶŝƐĞŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶ͕ 1948,† ǁŚŝĐŚ ĞŶƚĂŝůƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ŽďůŝŐĂƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚƚŽĂƐƐĞŵďůLJƚŚĂŶƚŚĞ/WZĂŶĚ ŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐƚƌĞĂƟĞƐEĞƉĂůŝƐƉĂƌƚLJƚŽ͘‡ dŚĞĮƌƐƚŽĨEĞƉĂů͛ƐĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ͕ĂĚŽƉƚĞĚŝŶϭϵϰϴ͕ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĞĚŽŶůLJ ƚǁŽůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐŽŶƚŚĞĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůĨƌĞĞĚŽŵƐŽĨƐƉĞĞĐŚ͕ĂƐƐĞŵďůLJ͕ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͕ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ͕ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ͗ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚƚŚĞďĂƐŝƐŽĨ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ ŽĨ ĞƚŚŝĐƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĂůŝƚLJ͕ Žƌ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƉƌĞǀĂŝůŝŶŐ ůĂǁƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͘§ dŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŝŵ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ EĞƉĂů ϭϵϱϭ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞĨĂůůŽĨƚŚĞZĂŶĂƌĞŐŝŵĞ͕ĂĚĚĞĚĂĨĞǁŵŽƌĞůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ͗ƉƵďůŝĐ ďĞŶĞĮƚ͕ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŚĂƌŵŽŶLJ͕ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ͕ ůĂǁƐ ŵĂĚĞďLJƚŚĞƐƚĂƚĞ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞŶŽƌŵƐƐĞƚďLJƚŚŽƐĞůĂǁƐ͘ഷ/ŶďŽƚŚƚŚĞƐĞ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞĮŶĞĚ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞůLJʹʹĂƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚƉĞŽƉůĞĞŶũŽLJĞĚŽƵƚƐŝĚĞƚŚĞƐĐŽƉĞŽĨƚŚĞƐĞůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞĂĚŽƉƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞ<ŝŶŐĚŽŵŽĨEĞƉĂůŝŶϭϵϱϵ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĨŽƌŵƵůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌ Ă ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞ ĐůĂƵƐĞ ĞŶƟƚůĞĚ ͚WƵďůŝĐ ĞŶĞĮƚ͛͘ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ŽŶĞ ǁĂƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ EĞƉĂů ϭϵϲϮ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ŵĂũŽƌĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞƚǁŽĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐǁĂƐƚŚĂƚŝŶϭϵϱϵ ͚ƉƵďůŝĐ ďĞŶĞĮƚ͛ ǁĂƐ ĚĞĮŶĞĚ ĂƐ ƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƉƵďůŝĐ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ŝŶƚĞƌ ĂůŝĂ ŵŽƌĂůƐ͕ ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ǁĞůĨĂƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚŽĨƌƵůĞŽĨůĂǁ͕#ĂŶĚŝŶϭϵϲϮ͕ŝƚǁĂƐĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚŶĞŐĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĚŝƐĂůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂLJ ƚŚĂƚ ŐŽĞƐ Civic Space in Nepal ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚƚŚĞŶĂƟŽŶĂůŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͕**ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐĨŽƌŵŝŶŐƉŽůŝƟĐĂůƉĂƌƟĞƐ ĂŶĚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ͘†† dŚĞ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ϭϵϵϬ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŝŵ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ϮϬϬϳ ǁĞƌĞ ďŽƚŚ ĂĚŽƉƚĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶƚĂĐƚ͘ &ƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϵϬ ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŝŵŝƟŶŐ ĐůĂƵƐĞ ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚƵŶĚĞƌƚŚĞƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƌŝŐŚƚŝƚǁĂƐƋƵĂůŝĨLJŝŶŐ͘,ĞŶĐĞ͕ƚŚĞ ůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐƵŶĚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůĨƌĞĞĚŽŵǁĞƌĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚĨƌŽŵůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ŽŶƉƌĞƐƐĨƌĞĞĚŽŵǁŚŝĐŚǁĞƌĞĂŐĂŝŶĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶ ƵŶĚĞƌĨƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͘Ƶƚ͕ŝŶĂůůŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ͕ŶĂƟŽŶĂůƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƌŵŽŶLJ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĐĂƐƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚ͘‡‡ Ɛ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ŝƚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ EĞƉĂůϮϬϭϱĂůƐŽůĂĐŬƐĚĞĮŶŝƟŽŶƐĂŶĚĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƚĂƟǀĞĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ ŽŶ ǁŚĂƚ ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ ͚ƉƵďůŝĐ ŵŽƌĂůŝƚLJ͛ Žƌ ͚ŚĂƌŵŽŶŝŽƵƐ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͛ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶĐĂƐƚĞƐĂŶĚĞƚŚŶŝĐŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕§ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐĂŚŝŐŚƌŝƐŬŽĨĂƌďŝƚƌĂƌLJ ƐƵƐƉĞŶƐŝŽŶŽĨĐŝǀŝůĂŶĚƉŽůŝƟĐĂůĨƌĞĞĚŽŵƐ͘ ΎŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨEĞƉĂůϮϬϭϱ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƚĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͘ŽƌŐͬĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶͬ EĞƉĂůͺϮϬϭϱ͘ƉĚĨ Ώ/>K͕͚hƉͲƚŽͲĚĂƚĞŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶƐĂŶĚWƌŽƚŽĐŽůƐŶŽƚƌĂƟĮĞĚďLJEĞƉĂů͕͛ĂĐĐĞƐƐĞĚϮϳ August 2020, ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ŝůŽ͘ŽƌŐͬĚLJŶͬŶŽƌŵůĞdžͬĞŶͬĨ͍ƉсϭϬϬϬ͗ϭϭϮϭϬ͗Ϭ͗͗EK͗ϭϭ ϮϭϬ͗WϭϭϮϭϬͺKhEdZzͺ/͗ϭϬϯϭϵϳ ΐ ƌƟĐůĞ ϵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƚLJ Đƚ ŽĨ EĞƉĂů͕ ϭϵϵϬ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞƐ ƚƌĞĂƚLJ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶĨŽƌĐĞĂďůĞĂƐŶĂƟŽŶĂůůĂǁƐĂŶĚĂŶLJŝŶĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůĂǁƐƚŽďĞǀŽŝĚĨŽƌƚŚĞƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨƚŚĂƚƚƌĞĂƚLJ͘ ΑdŚĞEĞƉĂů'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĐƚ͕ϭϵϰϴ͕ƌƚϰ͘ ഷdŚĞEĞƉĂů/ŶƚĞƌŝŵ'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĐƚ͕ϭϵϱϭ͕ƌƚϭϵ͘ ηŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨ<ŝŶŐĚŽŵŽĨEĞƉĂů͕ϭϵϱϵ͕ƌƚϴ͘ ΎΎŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨEĞƉĂů͕ϭϵϲϮ͕ƌƚϭϳ͘ ΏΏŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨEĞƉĂů͕ϭϵϲϮ͕ƌƚϭϭ͘ ΐΐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨ<ŝŶŐĚŽŵŽĨEĞƉĂů͕ϭϵϵϬ͕ƌƚϭϮ;ϮͿ;ϭͿ͖/ŶƚĞƌŝŵŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŽĨ EĞƉĂů͕ϮϬϬϳ͕ƌƚϭϮ;ϮͿ;ϯͿ͘ ΑΑŽŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶŽĨEĞƉĂůϮϬϭϱ͕ƌƚϭϳ͘ activities in more organized way’.52%\PDNLQJLWPDQGDWRU\IRUDOO ,1*2VWRVHHNSHUPLVVLRQIURPWKH6:&WRUXQWKHLUSURJUDPPHV DQGIRUDOOGRPHVWLF&62V1*2VWROLNHZLVHVHHNSHUPLVVLRQWR receive funding from foreign sources, the SWC has become the primary regulatory body governing civil society in Nepal, in line 6RFLDO:HOIDUH$FW KWWSV VZFRUJQSVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVGRZQORDGV 6:&$FWSGI. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ZLWK WKH FKDQJLQJ VWDWH RXWORRN WRZDUGV UHJXODWRU\ SROLF\ IRU these organisations (see Box 2). ौH$VVRFLDWLRQ5HJLVWUDWLRQ$FWLWVHOIKDVVWULQJHQWHOLJLELOLW\ requirements for registration and does not even specify grounds under which a registration application may be rejected.53)XUWKHU more, local authorities have the jurisdiction to suspend or terminate registration if an organisation fails to follow the directions of the government. Due to the arbitrary nature of the Association Registration Act, following the enactment of necessary legislation IRUQRQSURਭWFRPSDQLHVWREHUHJLVWHUHGVLQFH&62VKDYH DOVRWDNHQWKDWURXWHLQVWHDG%RWK1HSDOLFLWL]HQVDQGIRUHLJQHUV FDQ HVWDEOLVK D QRQSURਭW FRPSDQ\ DQG XQOLNH ZLWK WKH Association Registration Act, safeguards against arbitrary denial of registration also exist. However, there are restrictions such as the requirement of government approval to open new branches, ZKLFK GRHV QRW DSSO\ WR SURਭWRULHQWHG FRUSRUDWLRQV DQG WKH requirement of government approval on operational expenditure. ौH6RFLDO:HOIDUH$FW DOVREULQJVLQLWVRZQVHWRIDUELWUDU\ rules and restrictions. Similar to the Association Registration Act, the Social Welfare Act does not stipulate any safeguards against arbitrary denials of registration to civil society organisations, such as a mandatory time period for the SWC to respond to an DSSOLFDWLRQVSHFLਭFJURXQGVIRUGHQLDORIUHJLVWUDWLRQRUDYHQXHV for appeal of a denial of registration. A particularly restrictive UHJXODWLRQLVWKDWWKHUHJLVWHUHG&62VGRQRWJHWEODQNHWDSSURYDO to receive foreign or government resources for their activities but PXVWDSSO\RQDFDVHE\FDVHEDVLV)XUWKHUPRUHZKLOH,1*2VFDQ VHWXSEUDQFKRਯFHVLQWKHFRXQWU\IROORZLQJDJUHHPHQWZLWKWKH 6:& WKH\ DUH UHTXLUHG WR WDNH RQ ORFDO &62V DV LPSOHPHQWLQJ SDUWQHUVXQGHUSURMHFWVSHFLਭFDJUHHPHQWVDEXUGHQVRPHSURFHVV WKDWUHTXLUHVFRQVHQWIURPXSWRVHYHQGLਬHUHQWPLQLVWULHV55 $VVRFLDWLRQ5HJLVWUDWLRQ$FWKWWS ZZZODZFRPPLVVLRQJRYQS HQDUFKLYHVFDWHJRU\GRFXPHQWVSUHYDLOLQJODZVWDWXWHVDFWVDVVRFLDWLRQV UHJLVWUDWLRQDFW . &RPSDQLHV$FWKWWS ZZZODZFRPPLVVLRQJRYQSQSDUFKLYHV categoryGRFXPHQWVSUHYDLOLQJODZVWDWXWHVDFWVsDkgL–P]g–@)^#VWDWXWHVDFWV, 6HFWLRQ IL ,&1/ ODVW QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ,ۑ/1&,ی1HSDOې Civic Space in Nepal ,QNHHSLQJZLWKWKHJURZLQJLOOLEHUDOLVPSHUPHDWLQJWKH1HSDOL VWDWH D 6RFLDO :HOIDUH DQG 'HYHORSPHQW $FW ZDV GUD़HG LQ ZLWKWKHLQWHQWWRUHSODFHWKH6RFLDO:HOIDUH$FWRI ,W contained a number of provisions that could constitute violations of freedom of association, including the increasingly burdensome UHJLVWUDWLRQ SURFHGXUHV IRU &62V H[FHVVLYH UHJXODWRU\ SRZHUV being allocated to the SWC, and massive penalties to organisations functioning without registration, among others.56ौHVDLG$FWZDV QRWSDVVHGRZLQJWRWKHZLGHVSUHDGEDFNODVKIURPFLYLOVRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQVEXWKDGLWEHFRPHODZLQWKHIRUPLWZDVGUD़HG LWZRXOGDOVRKDYHYLRODWHGWKH,&&35ZKLFKVWDWHVWKHULJKWWR freedom of association.57 ौLV KDV QRW SUHYHQWHG WKH 6:& IURP QRW RQO\ FRQWUROOLQJ &62VEXWDOVRWKHGLUHFWLRQDQGFRQWHQWRIWKHLUDFWLYLWLHVौDW has become more pronounced with the government’s interest in IRFXVLQJRQVHUYLFHGHOLYHU\DQGLQIUDVWUXFWXUHGHYHORSPHQWौH 6:&DQGJRYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOVKDYHGHVFULEHGWKHLGHDOGLVWULEXWLRQ DFWLYLWLHV ۑKDUGZDUHېRIIRUHLJQIXQGVUHFHLSWVDVSHUFHQWIRU that focus on infrastructural development, agriculture projects, etc) FRQVLVWLQJRIDGYRFDF\ULJKWV ۑVR़ZDUHېDQGSHUFHQWWRZDUG based programming, capacity building, awareness raising, etc).58 $VDUHVXOWDOO&62VUHJDUGOHVVRIWKHLUREMHFWLYHVDQGIXQFWLRQV In ۑVR़ZDUHې\QRWRQOۑKDUGZDUHېDUHEHLQJDVNHGWRGHOLYHURQ IDFWRQHRIWKHPDLQOHJDOLQVWUXPHQWVUHJXODWLQJWKH&62VHFWRU the Social Welfare Act itself is very limiting, with the only terms featuring in its preamble being ‘social welfare activities’, ‘social KXPDQLVWLFېۑUHFRQVWUXFWLRQDFWLYLWLHVېۑZHOIDUHRULHQWHGDFWLYLWLHV ۑZHOIDUHRULHQWHGLQVWLWXWLRQVېDQGۑOLYHOLKRRG PRGLILHG$SULOKWWSV ZZZLFQORUJUHVRXUFHVFLYLFIUHHGRPPRQLWRU nepal#glance. V'UDIWۑRPPHQWVRQ1HSDO&ېQWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ, ODVWPRGLILHG2FWREHUKWWSVۑ6RFLDO:HOIDUHDQG'HYHORSPHQW$FW www.icnl.org. 57 Ibid. ULWLTXHRQ3URSRVHG6RFLDO:HOIDUHDQG&$ې$53RNKUHODQG3.DIOH ZZZOLQNHGLQ LQNHG,Q2FWREHUKWWSV/ۑHYHORSPHQW$FWRI1HSDO' FRPSXOVHFULWLTXHSURSRVHGVRFLDOZHOIDUHGHYHORSPHQWDFWSRNKUHO. ,&1/Assessment of the Legal Environment for Civil Society and Media in Nepal. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ,Q D VLPLODU YHLQ D JRYHUQPHQW UHSRUW RQ IRUHLJQ DLG PRELOLVDWLRQZKLOHDFNQRZOHGJLQJWKHUROHRI&62VLQQDWLRQDO GHOLYHU\ RI VHUYLFHV LQې GHYHORSPHQW GHਭQHV WKHLU IXQFWLRQ DV rural areas, enhancement of quality of life of the people and human capital development.’ 6XFK D UHRULHQWDWLRQ RI WKH development agenda has led to ideas of inclusion, human rights, DQG SURWHFWLRQ RI PLQRULWLHV WDNLQJ D EDFNVHDW DQG FUHDWHG REVWDFOHV IRU RUJDQLVDWLRQV ZRUNLQJ LQ WKHVH DUHDV $Q 6:& RਯFLDOZDVHYHQPRUHIRUWKULJKWZKHQKHDGPLिHGWKDWWKH6:& \ZLOO EH DOVR YLJLODQW RQ 1*2V WKDW DUH IRFXVHG RQ DGYRFDFې VHH ۑ\UHODWHGZRUNVWKDWFRQWUDGLFWSURPRWLRQRIVRFLDOKDUPRQ EHLQJYHU\YDJXHۑ\SURPRWLRQRIVRFLDOKDUPRQېDOVR%R[ 61ौH DQGVXEMHFWWRDOONLQGVRILQWHUSUHWDWLRQWKHUHLVHYHU\SRVVLELOLW\ of it being used to discredit activities that call for greater social and political inclusion or for overcoming religious, ethnic, and sexual majoritarianism. ौHUHDUHDOVRODZVWKDWKDYHDQHJDWLYHLPSDFWRQWKHIUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ ,Q SDUWLFXODU WKH 1DWLRQDO %URDGFDVWLQJ $FW enables the government to prevent the broadcast of any programme that goes against the ‘national interest’.62ौH3UHVVDQG3XEOLFDWLRQ $FW WRR UHVWULFWV WKH SXEOLFDWLRQ RI PDWHULDOV WKDW DPRQJ others, undermines the ‘sovereignty and integrity of Nepal’, 0LQLVWU\RI)LQDQFH*RYHUQPHQWRI1HSDOA Study on Foreign Aid Mobilisation in Federal Nepal .DWKPDQGX *RYHUQPHQWRI1HSDO Theۑ6RFLDO:HOIDUH&RXQFLO7LJKWHQV1RRVHRQ/RFDO1*2Vې306KUHVWKD Kathmandu Post, 'HFHPEHU KWWSV WNSRVW%0FN. 1DWLRQDO%URDGFDVWLQJ$FW1HSDO/DZ&RPPLVVLRQ 6HFWLRQ KWWS ZZZODZFRPPLVVLRQJRYQSHQZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVQDWLRQDO EURDGFDVWLQJDFW SGI. Civic Space in Nepal and disrupts security, peace, and order in the country.63ौHUHLV DOVRDQHZODZWKDWKDVKDGDFKLOOLQJHਬHFWRQIUHHVSHHFKWKH (OHFWURQLF7UDQVDFWLRQV$FWZKLFKFRGLਭHVWKHSXQLVKPHQW for publication of materials which may spread hate or jealousy against anyone or jeopardise the harmonious relations among the peoples of various castes, ethnicities, and communities. Its vague stipulations can be and has been used by government authorities WRFRQWURODQGUHSUHVVDQWLJRYHUQPHQWFRQWHQWLQWKHHOHFWURQLF PHGLD 2QH SURPLQHQW H[DPSOH ZDV WKH DUUHVW LQYRNLQJ WKH Act, of a former government secretary for criticising the current government and its ministers through his social media posts.65 Post-2015 Civic Space Starting with the proposed Social Welfare and Development $FW RI WKHUH KDYH EHHQ VHYHUDO RWKHU OHJLVODWLYH RU SROLF\ DिHPSWVWRFRQWUROFLYLFVSDFHLQWKHFRXQWU\ौH%LOOWR$PHQG DQG&RQVROLGDWH/DZV5HODWLQJWR(VWDEOLVKPHQW5HJLVWUDWLRQDQG 2SHUDWLRQ RI 6RFLDO 2UJDQLVDWLRQV LV UHSUHVVLYH DV DPRQJ other restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles, it severely curtails the spontaneous emergence of actors to protest against or mobilise for a cause.66 If passed in its current form, the new law would require &62VWROLPLWWKHLUVFRSHRIZRUNDVZHOODVJHRJUDSKLFDODUHDRI 3UHVVDQG3XEOLFDWLRQ$FW1HSDO/DZ&RPPLVVLRQ 6HFWLRQ KWWS ZZZODZFRPPLVVLRQJRYQSHQDUFKLYHVFDWHJRU\GRFXPHQWVSUHYDLOLQJ ODZVWDWXWHVDFWVSUHVVDQGSXEOLFDWLRQDFW . (OHFWURQLF7UDQVDFWLRQV$FW1HSDO/DZ&RPPLVVLRQ 6HFWLRQ KWWS ZZZODZFRPPLVVLRQJRYQSHQZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVHOHFWURQLF WUDQVDFWLRQDFWSGI. 65 Some musicians and comic personalities have also been arrested for creating ‘disharmony’ since the Act was passed. See: S. Dhungana, ‘Attorney’s 2IILFH)LOHD&RXUW&DVHDJDLQVW)RUPHU*RYHUQPHQW6HFUHWDU\8SDGK\D\DIRU Cybercrime’, The Kathmandu Post$SULOKWWSV WNSRVW6=+D. The VDPH$FWZDVXVHGWRDUUHVWD1HSDOLFRPHGLDQLQ IRUFULWLFLVLQJD1HSDOL film in an online video, leading to a massive outcry. 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South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 they may only send those reports to their headquarters that have received approval from the government, have to get their budget and programmes approved by the Finance Ministry, and that they would be banned if they tried to engage in proselytisation. ौH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO'HYHORSPHQW&RRSHUDWLRQ3ROLF\ UHTXLUHVWKDW ‘foreign grants which are mobilised through the budget system by the provinces and local levels will be provided as conditional grants’ and funds must be used according to the conditions stated in the related project agreement.ौLVHQVXUHVDODUJHGHJUHHRI control over the expenditure of the funds and further allows the FHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQWWRSLFNDQGFKRRVHDUHDVRIIRFXV ,Q -XQH WKH 0LQLVWU\ RI +RPH $ਬDLUV LVVXHG D FLUFXODU WR WKH 'LVWULFW $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 2ਯFHV RUGHULQJ WKHP WR VHHN SURSHUW\GHWDLOVRIRਯFHEHDUHUVDQGVWDਬRI,1*2VGXULQJWKHLU UHJLVWUDWLRQUHQHZDORUDਯOLDWLRQZLWKWKH6RFLDO:HOIDUH&RXQFLO ZKLOHDOVRUHTXLULQJ1*2VWRFKRRVHDVSHFLਭFVHFWRURIZRUNDQG PDQGDWLQJWKHPWRVXEPLWਭQDQFLDODQGDFWLYLW\SURJUHVVUHSRUWV every four months.71ौH0LQLVWU\UHWUDFWHGWKHਭUVWWZRSURYLVLRQV IROORZLQJRSSRVLWLRQIURPWKH1*2VHFWRUDOWKRXJKWKHODVWKDV surfaced in the new bill under consideration as mentioned above.72 &RPSOHPHQWLQJWKHVHHਬRUWVZDVDSROLF\UHSRUWHGO\GUD़HGE\WKH 6RFLDO:HOIDUH&RXQFLOWRSUHYHQW&62VIURPUXQQLQJSURJUDPPHV V UHODWLRQV ZLWK ,QGLD DQG &KLQD FRGHۑWKDW FRXOG DਬHFW 1HSDO for the ‘Free Tibet’ movement as well as Tibetans’ transiting via Nepal to India, and the operation of madrassas in the region bordering India.73 ,DevExۑQ1HSDOSURSRVHG,1*2UHJXODWLRQKDVVHFWRUIHDUIXO,ې0%DGHU 0D\KWWSV ZZZGHYH[FRPQHZVLQQHSDOSURSRVHGLQJRUHJXODWLRQ KDVVHFWRUIHDUIXO . 3URYLQFLDODQG/RFDO*RYHUQPHQWV7ROGWR$FFHSW)RUHLJQې306KUHVWKD The Kathmandu Post, 'HFHPEHUۑV$SSURYDOۑLG2QO\DIWHU&HQWUH$ KWWSV WNSRVWW+$2.. 1RQJRYHUQPHQW2UJDQLVDWLRQV&RQFHUQHGRYHUD1HZې306KUHVWKD WNSR KWWSV The Kathmandu Post, 1RYHPEHUۑDZWR5HJXODWH7KHP/ VWXU6Q[. The Kathmanduۑ0LQLVWU\5HWUDFWV'HFLVLRQRQ1*2ې7KH.DWKPDQGX3RVW Post, -XQH KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPPLVFHOODQHRXV PLQLVWU\UHWUDFWVGHFLVLRQRQQJRV. 1HZ3ROLF\IRU)RUHLJQ1RQJRYHUQPHQWDO2UJDQLVDWLRQVې306KUHVWKD Aims to Address Concerns Raised by India and China’, The Kathmandu Post, Civic Space in Nepal ौHUH KDV EHHQ D SDUDOOHO GHYHORSPHQW ZLWK UHJDUG WR WKH independence of the media as well. Nepal dropped six places on the *OREDO3UHVV)UHHGRP,QGH[LQDQGZDVUDQNHGWKDPRQJ \LQWURGXFHG E ۑGUDFRQLDQ ODZVې FRXQWULHV ODUJHO\ GXH WR WKH WKHFXUUHQWDGPLQLVWUDWLRQVLQFHौLVUHSUHVHQWVDJUDGXDO VOLGHRYHUWKH\HDUV WKLQDQG 75DQGWKLQ76 ौHXSGDWHG&ULPLQDO&RGHRIDOVRWKUHDWHQVWKHPHGLDZLWK MRXUQDOLVWVIDFLQJXSWRWKUHH\HDUVLQSULVRQDQGPRQHWDU\ਭQHV XQGHUWKH&RGH77ۑFRQਭGHQWLDOېIRUSXEOLVKLQJLQIRUPDWLRQGHHPHG ,Q $XJXVW D FUHZ PHPEHU RI D PXVLF YLGHR UHOHDVHG RQ VSUHDGLQJFRPPXQDOKDWUHGېRX7XEHZDVDUUHVWHGRQFKDUJHVRI> XQGHUWKH&ULPLQDO&RGH78ۑDQGEXUQLQJWKHQDWLRQDOਮDJ ौHUH KDYH EHHQ OHJLVODWLRQV SODQQHG WKDW ZRXOG LPSLQJH RQ SUHVV IUHHGRP ौH 0HGLD &RXQFLO %LOO VHHNV WR ਭQH MRXUQDOLVWVXSWR135PLOOLRQ F86' LIIRXQGJXLOW\RI libel or defamation. ौH 0DVV &RPPXQLFDWLRQV %LOO KDV an even harsher restriction of up to 15 years’ imprisonment for ‘publishing or broadcasting contents deemed to be against sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity’, which, again, is a broad stipulation open to interpretation. ौH ,QIRUPDWLRQ -DQXDU\KWWSV WNSRVW40%6P . 7KHUDQNLQJLVGRQHE\5HSRUWHUV:LWKRXW%RUGHUV6HH &.0DQGDO 1HSDO/RVHV6L[6SRWVRQ*OREDO3UHVV)UHHGRP,QGH[WR5DQNWK2XWRIې Countries’, The Kathmandu Post$SULOKWWSV WNSRVW;9*E:. 1HSDO/RVHV6L[6SRWVRQ*OREDO3UHVV)UHHGRP,QGH[WR5DQNې0DQGDO ۑWK2XWRI&RXQWULHV ۑ]1HSDOUDQNVLQ:RUOG3UHVV)UHHGRP,QGHېDWKPDQGX7ULEXQH. Kathmandu Tribune$SULOKWWSV ZZZNDWKPDQGXWULEXQHFRPQHSDO UDQNVLQSUHVVIUHHGRPLQGH[. 86ODVW&,9,&ۑ3UHVV)UHHGRPDW5LVNZLWK1HZ&ULPLQDO&RGH5HVWULFWLRQVې PRGLILHG2FWREHUKWWSV PRQLWRUFLYLFXVRUJXSGDWHVSUHVV IUHHGRPULVNQHZFULPLQDOFRGHUHVWULFWLRQV. 78 Himalayan News Service, ‘Crew Member of Controversial Music Video Held’, The Himalayan Times$XJXVW KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRP QHSDOFUHZPHPEHURIFRQWURYHUVLDOPXVLFYLGHRKHOG. Media Council Bill 2075, 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\ KWWSV QDSDUOLDPHQW JRYQSXSORDGVDWWDFKPHQWVROPPKPLWIYJGVJSGI6HFWLRQ. RYHUQPHQWLV:RUNLQJRQ0DVV0HGLD%LOOZLWK+DUVKHU*ېKLPLUH*% KWWSV The Kathmandu Post, $XJXVWۑ3URYLVLRQVIRU0HGLD6HFWRU NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPQDWLRQDO DIWHULWDQGPHGLDFRXQFLOELOOV JRYHUQPHQWLVZRUNLQJRQPDVVPHGLDELOOZLWKKDUVKHUSURYLVLRQVIRUPHGLD sector. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 7HFKQRORJ\ %LOO RI FULPLQDOLVHV SHRSOH IRU SRVWLQJ FRQWHQW QDWLRQDOXQLW\VHOIUHVSHFWېRQVRFLDOPHGLDGHHPHGWREHDJDLQVW national interest, relationship between federal units’.81 None of the three aforementioned bills have been passed yet since the government is reportedly unwilling to stir up controversy,82 and is facing opposition from members of their own party,83 besides the journalists. Regardless of such opposition, in practice, the VSDFHIRUDQLQGHSHQGHQWPHGLDLVDOUHDG\VKULQNLQJDVVHHQE\ the arrest of the chief editor of an online news outlet in September XQGHU WKH (OHFWURQLFV 7UDQVDFWLRQ $FW IRU UHSRUWLQJ RQFRUUXSWLRQRYHUWKHVDOHRIJRYHUQPHQWRZQHGIDFWRU\ODQG85 It has also been reported that the Minister of Information and &RPPXQLFDWLRQVGLUHFWHGWKHVWDWHRZQHGPHGLDWRUHIUDLQIURP publishing news that could harm the government’s reputation.86 ,Q 6HSWHPEHU DQ DPHQGPHQW SURSRVDO WR WKH 0HGLD &RXQFLO %LOO ZDV ਭOHG WR LQFOXGH D SURYLVLRQ RI D OLFHQFH IRU journalists, which was widely interpreted as yet another obstacle to the functioning of free press in the country.87 Similarly, the 81 Information Technology Bill 2075, House of Representatives KWWSV KUSDUOLDPHQWJRYQSXSORDGVDिDFKPHQWVHXFPTZ\H\JQI RYSGI6HFWLRQ . RYHUQPHQWLV:RUNLQJRQ0DVV0HGLD%LOOZLWK+DUVKHU*ېKLPLUH*% KWWSV 7KH.DWKPDQGX3RVW$XJXVWۑ3URYLVLRQVIRU0HGLD6HFWRU NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPQDWLRQDO DIWHULWDQGPHGLDFRXQFLOELOOV JRYHUQPHQWLVZRUNLQJRQPDVVPHGLDELOOZLWKKDUVKHUSURYLVLRQVIRUPHGLD sector. 2UJDQLVDWLRQV*HDUXSIRU3URWHVWDJDLQVW,7%LOO6D\LQJ,Wې753UDGKDQ Will Curb Freedom of Expression’, The Kathmandu Post, -DQXDU\KWWSV WNSRVWD.N)(. Theۑ7KH0HGLD&RXQFLO%LOO)XUWKHU(QGDQJHUV3UHVV)UHHGRPېGLWRULDO) Kathmandu Post, 0D\ KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPHGLWRULDO WKHPHGLDFRXQFLOELOOIXUWKHUHQGDQJHUVSUHVVIUHHGRP. 85 International Federation of Journalists, ‘Nepal: Editor Arrested on Cybercrime Charges’, International Federation of Journalists6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZLIMRUJPHGLDFHQWUHQHZVGHWDLOFDWHJRU\DVLDSDFLILFDUWLFOHQHSDO HGLWRUDUUHVWHGRQF\EHUFULPHFKDUJHVKWPO. %6DSNRWDHWDO2018 Civil Society Organisation Sustainability Index (USAID, KWWSV ZZZIKLRUJVLWHVGHIDXOWਭOHVPHGLDGRFXPHQWVUHVRXUFHFVRVL UHSRUWDVLDSGI. 5HVWULFWLYH%LOOV6WLOO%HLQJ3XVKHGE\1HSDOL/DZPDNHUVDV3URWHVWVDURXQGې PRQLWRU KWWSV 86ODVWPRGLILHG2FWREHU&,9,&ۑV9LVLW6WLIOHGۑL; FLYLFXVRUJXSGDWHV UHVWULFWLYHELOOVEHLQJSXVKHGQHSDOVLOHQFH H[SUHVVLRQZKLOHMRXUQDOLVWVUHPDLQULVN. Civic Space in Nepal VSHFLDO LQWHOOLJHQFHې 6SHFLDO 6HUYLFH %LOO PHDQW WR VHW XS service’, grants the National Investigation Department sweeping powers to ‘monitor, observe, and intercept, as well as document any conversation carried out through public or other means of communication, along with audio, visual, or electronic signals RUGHWDLOVWUDQVPLिHGE\DQ\SHUVRQRURUJDQL]DWLRQWKDWVHHPV suspicious’, with extremely lax oversight.88 ौHJRYHUQPHQWDOVRVKRZHGWRFODPSGRZQDJDLQVWFLYLOVHUYDQWV ZLWKWKH)HGHUDO&LYLO6HUYLFH%LOO SUHYHQWLQJWKHPIURPVKDULQJ personal views through the media. A proposed provision in the Bill enables the government to ‘deprive retired civil servants of their pension if they criticise the government in a manner that can incite ौLVSURYLVLRQLVUHJDUGHGWR ۑKDWUHGVRFLDOFRQਮLFWDQGYLROHQFH KDYH EHHQ LQFOXGHG D़HU VRPH UHWLUHG FLYLO VHUYDQWV ZHUH FULWLFDO towards the government’s activities on social media. Impediments to Civic Space for Religious Minorities $UWLFOHRIWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQRI1HSDOGHVFULEHV1HSDODVVHFXODU EXW GHਭQHV VHFXODULVP DV WKH SURWHFWLRQ RI WUDGLWLRQDO UHOLJLRQV and customs ‘practised from ancient times’, which is considered shorthand for Hinduism, the country’s dominant religion. 'XHWRWKHLQDELOLW\RIWKHVWDWHWRGHਭQHVHFXODULVPLQWHUPVRI HTXDOLW\WRDOOUHOLJLRQVLQERWKWKHDQGFRQVWLWXWLRQV VLPSO\GHFODULQJWKHFRXQWU\DVVHFXODUKDVGRQHOLिOHWRSURYLGH \XPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK0D+ۑ$PHQG,QWUXVLYH,QWHOOLJHQFH%LOO 1HSDOې KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV QHSDODPHQGLQWUXVLYHLQWHOOLJHQFH ELOO. )HGHUDO&LYLO6HUYLFH%LOO National Assembly KWWSV KUSDUOLDPHQWJRYQSXSORDGVDWWDFKPHQWVSEXH[ROHKFM\M\GYSGI6HFWLRQ. 2SSRVHV$Q\0RYHWR'HQ\3HQVLRQWR5HWLUHG&1ېDPDW..5 KWWSV 7KH+LPDOD\DQ7LPHV1RYHPEHUۑLYLO6HUYDQWV& WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRPQHSDOQFRSSRVHVDQ\PRYHWRGHQ\SHQVLRQWR UHWLUHGFLYLOVHUYDQWV. LOO7DEOHGWR5HVWULFW&LYLO6HUYDQWVIURP6KDULQJ9LHZVRQ%ې753UDGKDQ NDWKPDQGXSRVW KWWSV 7KH.DWKPDQGX3RVW)HEUXDU\ۑ6RFLDO0HGLD FRPQDWLRQDO ELOOWDEOHGWRUHVWULFWFLYLOVHUYDQWVIURPVKDULQJ YLHZVRQVRFLDOPHGLD. ,LQTwo Steps Forwardۑ6HFXODULVPDQG6WDWHEXLOGLQJLQ1HSDOېHWL]LD/& One Step Back: The Nepal Peace Process, edited by D. Thapa and A. Ramsbotham /RQGRQ &RQFLOLDWLRQ5HVRXUFHV 151 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 recognition to religious minorities, namely, Buddhists, Muslims, Kirat, and Christians. ौH,QWHUQDWLRQDO'HYHORSPHQW&RRSHUDWLRQ3ROLF\ GLUHFWV IRUHLJQ 1*2V WR IXQG GHYHORSPHQW ZRUN UDWKHU WKDQ UHOLJLRXV and political institutions, a form of resistance toward the notion that foreign funding is used as a covert means of proselytisation. Acts of forced religious conversion are already prohibited by the &RQVWLWXWLRQ DV D FULPLQDO RਬHQFH )RU LQVWDQFH LQ WKHUH were two separate instances of Christians being arrested under the suspicion of converting people to Christianity. Individuals who have opined that religious conversion should be made legal have invited controversy, as seen by the case of the then British DPEDVVDGRUWR1HSDOZKRZURWHDQRSHQOHिHUWRWKHWKHQ&$ DVNLQJWKHPWRLQFOXGHWKHULJKWWRFRQYHUVLRQLQWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQ ौH 3ROLF\LVDOOWKHPRUHMDUULQJVLQFHDSDUWIURP%XGGKLVW DOO UHOLJLRXV JURXSV PXVW UHJLVWHU DV 1*2V RUې PRQDVWHULHV QRQSURਭW RUJDQLVDWLRQV WR RZQ ODQG RU RWKHU SURSHUW\ RSHUDWH OHJDOO\DVLQVWLWXWLRQVRUJDLQHOLJLELOLW\IRUSXEOLFVHUYLFHUHODWHG 7KHSHUFHQWDJHRI+LQGXVLQWKHFRXQWU\KDVEHHQGHFUHDVHGRYHUWKH \HDUVSHUFHQWLQ WRLQEHIRUHLQFKLQJXSWRLQ7KH proportion of Buddhists and Kirats has seen a corresponding rise and decrease whereas those of Christians and Muslims has seen rising steadily: Buddhists IURPSHUFHQWLQ WRLQDQG LQ 0XVOLPVIURP LQ WRLQWRLQ .LUDWIURPSHUFHQWLQ WRLQ WRLQ DQG&KULVWLDQVIURPSHUFHQWLQ WRLQWR LQ&HQWUDO%XUHDXRI6WDWLVWLFV1DWLRQDO'DWD3RUWDODFFHVVHG-XQH KWWS QDWLRQDOGDWDJRYQS6WDWLF5HSRUW"WJ,G WVJ,G WLG . However, regardless of the decline and increase, the number and power both of the minorities remain very limited, while Hinduism has retained its importance 6HFXODULVPDQG6WDWHEXLOGLQJLQې&/HWL]LD V\PEROLFDOO\DQGSROLWLFDOO\6HH Nepal’. 1HZ3ROLF\$LPVWR%DU)RUHLJQ1*2VIURP)LQDQFLQJې306KUHVWKD KWWSV The Kathmandu Post, -XQHۑ5HOLJLRXVDQG3ROLWLFDO2UJDQLVDWLRQV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPQDWLRQDO QHZSROLF\DLPVWREDUIRUHLJQQJRV IURPILQDQFLQJUHOLJLRXVDQGSROLWLFDOLQVWLWXWLRQV. DUQDEDV%ۑKULVWLDQV6HL]HGE\3ROLFH:KLOH7UDLQLQJ3DVWRUVLQ1HSDO&ې )XQG$SULO KWWSV EDUQDEDVIXQGRUJHQQHZVFKULVWLDQVVHL]HG 7KUHH)RUHLJQHUV$UUHVWHG2YHUې E\SROLFHZKLOHWUDLQLQJSDVWRUVLQQHSDO \1HZ6SRWOLJKW2QOLQH-XOۑ5HOLJLRXV&RQYHUVLRQ$FFXVDWLRQVLQ1HSDO KWWSV ZZZVSRWOLJKWQHSDOFRP WKUHHIRUHLJQHUVDUUHVWHGRYHU UHOLJLRXVFRQYHUVLRQDFFXVDWLRQVQHSDO. The Risingۑ\QYR\6SDUNV6WRUPRI&RQYHUVLRQ&RQWURYHUV)ې556XEHGL Nepal, undated, KWWS WKHULVLQJQHSDORUJQSQHZV. 152 Civic Space in Nepal government grants and partnerships’. ौLV FUHDWHV DQ LQKHUHQW SUREOHPDVUHOLJLRXVJURXSVPXVWIXQFWLRQDVDQ1*2DQG1*2V WKDWUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJFDQQRWXQGHUWDNHUHOLJLRXVDFWLYLWLHV ौHUHKDYHDOVREHHQUHSRUWVRIWKH6RFLDO:HOIDUH&RXQFLOFDUU\LQJ RXW LQYHVWLJDWLRQV RI 1*2V IRU DOOHJHGO\ FDUU\LQJ RXW IRUFHG religious conversion. Contradictory laws that disadvantage certain communities over others also still exist in Nepal such as the criminalisation of VODXJKWHULQJRIFRZVDQLPDOVVDFUHGRQO\WR+LQGXV,Q VXFKFDVHVZHUHUHJLVWHUHGZLWKWKH6XSUHPH&RXUW Nepal’s &ULPLQDO &RGH WKDW FDPH LQWR HਬHFW LQ $XJXVW LPSRVHG punishment on those ‘harming the religious sentiment’ of any caste, ethnic community, or class, a clause open to broad and potentially harmful interpretations to the detriment of religious minorities. Besides Muslims and Christians, other religious PLQRULWLHV VXFK DV .LUDW SHU FHQW DOVR IDFH REVWUXFWLRQ LQ REVHUYLQJWKHODVWULWHVIRUWKHLUGHFHDVHGVSHFLਭFDOO\LQWKHXUEDQ DUHDVRIWKHFRXQWU\HYHQWKRXJKD6XSUHPH&RXUWUXOLQJ requires ‘the government to provide protection for religious groups 8QLWHG6WDWHV'HSDUWPHQWRI6WDWHInternational Religious Freedom Report for 2019 :DVKLQJWRQ'& 2IILFHRI,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP ۑ3URELQJ1*2VIRU)RUFHIXO5HOLJLRXV&RQYHUVLRQ&:6ې7LZDUL/& P\5HSXEOLFD6HSWHPEHUKWWSV P\UHSXEOLFDQDJDULNQHWZRUNFRP QHZV. 7KH\HDUV VSDQVWKH1HSDOLILVFDO\HDU%66HH 6+*\DZDOL 7KH5HFRUG-XQHۑULPLQDOLVDWLRQRI&RZ6ODXJKWHU,VD7RRORI&DVWH7HUURU&ې KWWSV ZZZUHFRUGQHSDOFRPSRGFDVWFULPLQDOL]DWLRQRIFRZVODXJKWHULV DWRRORIFDVWHWHUURU. 8QLWHG6WDWHV'HSDUWPHQWRI6WDWH%XUHDXRI'HPRFUDF\International Religious Freedom Report for 2018 (Washington D.C.: Bureau of Democracy, +XPDQ5LJKWVDQG/DERXU 153 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 carrying out funeral rites in the exercise of their constitutional right to practice their religion’. ौH YLFWRU\ RI +LQGX QDWLRQDOLVW %KDUDWL\D -DQDWD 3DUW\ LQ WKH,QGLDQHOHFWLRQVLQ 0D\KDVHQFRXUDJHG WKHJURZWKRI WKHDQWLVHFXODU+LQGXULJKWLQ1HSDODVZHOOZLWK0XVOLPVDQG Christians being the main targets.&KULVWLDQIDLWKEDVHG1*2V report facing increased scrutiny in their hiring practices, especially ZKHQWKH\VHHNWRKLUHPHPEHUVRIWKH&KULVWLDQIDLWKIRUWDVNV WKDWUHTXLUHNQRZOHGJHRIWKHUHOLJLRQौH3HZ5HVHDUFK Centre report on freedom of religion also indicates that the level of social hostilities towards religious minorities in Nepal rose from PRGHUDWHOHYHOVLQWRKLJKOHYHOVLQDQG Tibetan refugees, who are predominantly Buddhist, report increasing restrictions in voicing their political opinions over the years as they have been barred from protesting and even from FHOHEUDWLQJWKHELUWKGD\RIWKHLUVSLULWXDOOHDGHUWKH'DODL/DPD ,Q 2FWREHU 7LEHWDQ UHIXJHHV UHSRUWHG EHLQJ SODFHG XQGHU VXUYHLOODQFHGXULQJWKHYLVLWRIWKH&KLQHVHSUHVLGHQW;L-LQSLQJ to Nepal. Several campaigners of the ‘Free Tibet’ movement and KXPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWVZHUHGHWDLQHGLQ.DWKPDQGXLQWKHOHDGXS VYLVLWۑWRDQGGXULQJ;L Reactions to Attempts to Curtail Civic Space ौHUH KDV EHHQ ZLGHVSUHDG RSSRVLWLRQ WR WKH YDULRXV DिHPSWV to pass laws that could systematically curtail civil liberties in the FRXQWU\ौH$PHULFDQDPEDVVDGRUWR1HSDOFULWLFLVHGWKHSURSRVHG ,ELG ۑ6HFXODULVPDQG6WDWHEXLOGLQJLQ1HSDOېHWL]LD/& Union of Catholic AsianۑKDOOHQJLQJ7LPHIRU1HSDO1*2V&ېKDGND.3 News-XQH KWWSV ZZZXFDQHZVFRPQHZVFKDOOHQJLQJWLPHIRU QHSDOQJRV 3HZ5HVHDUFK&HQWUHGlobal Uptick in Government Restrictions :DVKLQJWRQ'& 3HZ5HVHDUFK&HQWUH 7LEHWDQDQG LYLQJLQ/LPER/ې67KDSD<'*XUXQJDQG-%DQL\D Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal’, in: South Asia State of Minorities Report 2019 Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless, edited by D. Thapa, S. Thapa and R. Singh 6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYH ۑ7LEHWDQ5HIXJHHVDPRQJ+HOGېLPDOD\DQ1HZV6HUYLFH+ The Himalayan Times2FWREHU KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRP NDWKPDQGXWLEHWDQUHIXJHHVDPRQJKHOG. Civic Space in Nepal Social Welfare and Development Act as appearing to ‘run counter UHTXLULQJ&62VەVLQJOHGRRUV\VWHP۔VFDOOIRUDۑWRWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQ WR REWDLQ PXOWLSOH DSSURYDOV IURP GLਬHUHQW DJHQFLHV LQ RUGHU WR operate’.ौHFLUFXODUE\WKH0LQLVWU\RI+RPH$ਬDLUVWKDW ZRXOGKDYHSODFHGUHVWULFWLRQVRYHU&62VZDVZLWKGUDZQGXHWR DFXWHSUHVVXUHIURPWKH1*2VHFWRUDQGDURXQGDGR]HQIRUPDOې and informal dialogues with government agencies’.ौH1DWLRQDO ,QWHJULW\ DQG (WKLFV 3ROLF\ DOVR FDXVHG VHYHUDO VWDNHKROGHUV WR H[SUHVV UHVHUYDWLRQV DQG FRQFHUQ ौH 1*2 )HGHUDWLRQ LQ VDिHQWLRQۑSDUWLFXODUWRRNXSWKHPDQWOHWREULQJWRWKHJRYHUQPHQW WKHRYHUO\UHVWULFWLYHSURYLVLRQVRIWKHGUD़ ौHSUHVLGHQWRIWKH WKHېHGHUDWLRQUHOHDVHGDVWDWHPHQWH[SUHVVLQJFRQFHUQWKDW(2*1 PLQLVWU\LVIRFXVLQJRQFRQWUROOLQJQRQJRYHUQPHQWRUJDQLVDWLRQV instead of regulating and facilitating them’. 6WDNHKROGHUV DOVR PLVXVHGWRVLOHQFHېZRUULHGWKDWWKHSURYLVLRQVRIWKHGUD़FDQEH critics at home and restrict the activities of international groups EDFNODVKېin Nepal’.1116RPHFULWLFVDOVRDVVHUWWKDWWKHGUD़LVD against the funding indigenous and excluded groups received from 112ۑZHVWHUQGRQRUVGXULQJWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQGUD़LQJSURFHVV Four UN Special Rapporteurs expressed reservations on the VRPHېSURSRVHG1DWLRQDO,QWHJULW\DQG(WKLFV3ROLF\DUJXLQJWKDW RI WKH SURYLVLRQV RI WKH ,QWHJULW\ 3ROLF\ ZRXOG KDYH D VHULRXV QHJDWLYH HਬHFW RQ WKH DFWLYLWLHV RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ DQG UHVWULFW WKH freedom of expression and freedom of association’.113/RFDODFWRUV ۑ:KHUH'HPRFUDFLHV7KULYH QFOXVLYH&LYLF3DUWLFLSDWLRQV,ې[$%7HSOLW The Himalayan Times,)HEUXDU\KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRP RSLQLRQLQFOXVLYHFLYLFSDUWLFLSDWLRQGHPRFUDFLHVWKULYH. The Kathmandu Post, -XQHۑ0LQLVWU\5HWUDFWV'HFLVLRQRQ1*2Vې KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPPLVFHOODQHRXV PLQLVWU\UHWUDFWVGHFLVLRQ RQQJRV. The KathmanduۑODN(ۑQWHJULW\3ROLF\'UDIW'UDZV1*2V,ې753UDGKDQ Post, $SULOKWWS NDWKPDQGXSRVWHNDQWLSXUFRPQSQHZV LQWHJULW\SROLF\GUDIWGUDZVQJRVIODNKWPO. 1RQJRYHUQPHQW2UJDQLVDWLRQV&RQFHUQHGRYHUD1HZې306KUHVWKD WNSR KWWSV The Kathmandu Post1RYHPEHUۑDZWR5HJXODWH7KHP/ VWXU6Q[. \Nepali Times, 0Dۑ7KH&URZDQGWKH6FDUHFURZې2$5DL KWWSV ZZZQHSDOLWLPHVFRPEDQQHUWKHFURZDQGWKHVFDUHFURZ. 112 Ibid. LQۑ8QZDUUDQWHG,QWHUHVWې309HQWV,UHRQ)RUHLJQ0LVVLRQV,1*2VIRUې P\UHSXEOLFDQDJDULNQHWZRUN Republica, -XO\KWWSVۑ\QWHJULW\3ROLF, 155 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Ždžϱ͗ Civic Space during Covid-19 dŚĞĚĞĐůĂƌĂƟŽŶŽĨŽǀŝĚͲϭϵĂƐĂǁŽƌůĚǁŝĚĞƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐƐĞĞŵƐƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ůĞĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ƚŽ ƐĞŝnjĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞŽĨĐŽŵďĂƟŶŐƚŚĞŽƵƚďƌĞĂŬ͕ŝŶůĂĐŬŽĨƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚƐĂƐǁĞůůĂƐ ŵĞĐŚĂŶŝƐŵƐƚŽƐĂĨĞůLJĚĞǀŽůǀĞƚŚĞƉŽǁĞƌŽŶĐĞƚŚĞǁŽƌƐƚŝƐŽǀĞƌ͘* dŚĞ'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŽĨEĞƉĂůŚĂƐĂůƐŽĚŝƐƉůĂLJĞĚƚŚŝƐĨŽƌŵŽĨĐŽŶƚƌŽů ŽǀĞƌĐŝǀŝĐƐƉĂĐĞĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ͕ĨƌŽŵŝŶĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶĐLJŝŶƚŚĞŝƌ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚƚŽǁĂƌĚ^KƐ͕ĂŶĚƐƵƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŶŐƉĞĂĐĞĨƵůƉƌŽƚĞƐƚŽƌƐŝŶĂŶ ĂƩĞŵƉƚƚŽƐŝůĞŶĐĞĂůůĨŽƌŵƐŽĨĐƌŝƟĐŝƐŵ͘† dŚĞtŽŵĞŶĂŶĚ^ŽĐŝĂůŽŵŵŝƩĞĞŽĨƚŚĞ,ŽƵƐĞŽĨZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐ ŚĂƐĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƚŽǁĂŝǀĞƚŚĞƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚĨŽƌ^KƐƚŽ ƐƵďŵŝƚ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŝĐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ͘ ZĞĐŽŐŶŝƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ ĂƐ Ă ƉƌŽďůĞŵĐŽŵŵŽŶƚŽĂůů͕ƚŚĞŽŵŵŝƩĞĞĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐŽŐŶŝƐĂŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĐĞƐƐŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƌĞǀŝƐĞ ƉůĂŶƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ͘‡dŚĞŽŵŵŝƩĞĞĂůƐŽĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƚŽ ĞŶĂďůĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌ ƵƟůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ǁŝƚŚ ^KƐ͘§ WĂƌůŝĂŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĂŶƐ ĂůƐŽ ƐƚĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ E'KƐ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ŽĨ ƵƐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂůƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶĚƵƌŝŶŐƐƵĐŚĚŝƐĂƐƚĞƌƐ͘ഷ^ƵĐŚĂƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚĐĂŶ ďĞǀĞƌLJƉƌŽďůĞŵĂƟĐĂƐŝƚƉƌĞƐƵŵĞƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐĞŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂƌĞƚŽ ďĞŵŽďŝůŝƐĞĚŝŶĂƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶŽĨĚŝƐĂƐƚĞƌ͘ &ŽƌŝƚƐƉĂƌƚ͕ƚŚĞ^tĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚĂůůE'KƐƚŽĐŽŵŵŝƚϮϬƉĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌďƵĚŐĞƚŽĨƚŚĞLJĞĂƌϮϬϮϬƚŽƚŚĞŽǀŝĚͲϭϵƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͘# There ǁĂƐŶŽƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞĨĂĐƚƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐƌĞƋƵŝƌĞƐĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚ ĚŽŶŽƌƐĂŶĚƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŝƚƐĞůĨ͕ĂŶĚĞǀĞŶŝŶĐĂƐĞƐǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞ ĨƵŶĚƐĐŽƵůĚďĞƌĞͲĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚ͕ƚŚĞ^tŚĂƐŚĂĚďƵƌĞĂƵĐƌĂƟĐĚĞůĂLJƐ ŝŶ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů ƚŽ ĚŽ ƐŽ͕ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞƌĂŝůŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͘ΎΎ dŚĞ ŵŽŶƚŚ ŽĨ :ƵŶĞ͕ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ͕ ƐĂǁ ƐƉŽŶƚĂŶĞŽƵƐ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ ďLJ LJŽƵƚŚĂŐĂŝŶƐƚƚŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͛ƐƉĂƐƐŝǀĞŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐŽĨƚŚĞŽǀŝĚͲϭϵ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐĂůůĞŐĞĚĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞŽĨŵĞĚŝĐĂů ƐƵƉƉůŝĞƐ͕ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚŶŽŶĐŚĂůĂŶĐĞƚŽƚŚĞƉůŝŐŚƚŽĨŵŝŐƌĂŶƚǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ ĂďƌŽĂĚĂŶĚůŽǁͲŝŶĐŽŵĞŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐŝŶƚŚĞĐŽƵŶƚƌLJĂƩĞŵƉƚƐďLJƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƵƌǀĞŝůůĂŶĐĞ ĂŵŝĚƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŝƐŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƋƵĂƌĂŶƟŶĞ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͘†† WƌŽďůĞŵĂƟĐĂůůLJ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐŚŽƐĞ ƚŽ ƌĞƉƌĞƐƐ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJƉĞĂĐĞĨƵůƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐďLJƌĞƐŽƌƟŶŐƚŽĚĞƚĞŶƟŽŶ͘‡‡ Ύ ^͘ 'ĞďƌĞŬŝĚĂŶ͕ ͚&Žƌ ƵƚŽĐƌĂƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ KƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ŽƌŽŶĂǀŝƌƵƐ /Ɛ Ă ŚĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ 'ƌĂď ǀĞŶDŽƌĞWŽǁĞƌ͕͛The New York Times, DĂƌĐŚϯϬ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ŶLJƟŵĞƐ͘ ĐŽŵͬϮϬϮϬͬϬϯͬϯϬͬǁŽƌůĚͬĞƵƌŽƉĞͬĐŽƌŽŶĂǀŝƌƵƐͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐͲƉŽǁĞƌ͘Śƚŵů͘ 156 Civic Space in Nepal ΏEĞƉĂůŝdŝŵĞƐ͕͚>ŽĐŬĚŽǁŶƌĂĐŬĚŽǁŶ͕͛Nepali dŝŵĞƐ͕ƉƌŝůϮϵ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ ŶĞƉĂůŝƟŵĞƐ͘ĐŽŵͬĞĚŝƚŽƌŝĂůͬůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶͲĐƌĂĐŬĚŽǁŶ͘ ΐKŶůŝŶĞ<ŚĂďĂƌ͕͚WĂƌůŝĂŵĞŶƚĂƌLJŽŵŵŝƩĞĞŝƌĞĐƚƐ͗&ƌĞĞE'KƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ͞ƵƌĚĞŶ͟ ŽĨ ^ƵďŵŝƫŶŐ ZĞƉŽƌƚƐ͛ ^ĂŶƐĂĚŝLJĂ ƐĂŵŝƟŬŽ ŶŝƌĚĞƐŚĂŶͶŐĂŝ͘ƐĂ͘ƐĂ͘ ůĂŝ ƉƌĂƟďĞĚĂŶ ďƵũŚĂƵŶƵƉĂƌŶĞũŚĂŶũŚĂƚďĂƚĂŵƵŬƚĂŐĂƌŝĚĞƵ͕OnlineKhabar, DĂLJϭϰ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬ ǁǁǁ͘ŽŶůŝŶĞŬŚĂďĂƌ͘ĐŽŵͬϮϬϮϬͬϬϱͬϴϲϰϬϱϳ͘ Α<ĂŶƚŝƉƵƌ͕͚WĂƌůŝĂŵĞŶƚĂƌLJŽŵŵŝƚƚĞĞŝƌĞĐƚƐĨŽƌZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŽĨE'KƐƚŽďĞhƐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŽƌŽŶĂ dƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ͛ 'ĂŝƌƐĂƌŬĂƌŝ ƐĂŶƐƚŚĂŬĂ ƐĂĚŚĂŶͲƐŚƌŽƚ ĐŽƌŽŶĂ ƵƉĂĐŚĂƌŵĂ ůĂŐĂƵŶĂƐĂŶƐĂĚŝLJĂƐĂŵŝƟŬŽŶŝƌĚĞƐŚĂŶ͕<ĂŶƟƉƵƌ͕DĂLJϭϰ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬĞŬĂŶƟƉƵƌ͘ ĐŽŵͬŶĞǁƐͬϮϬϮϬͬϬϱͬϭϰͬϭϱϴϵϰϱϮϮϯϳϭϳϯϭϴϲϵϮ͘Śƚŵů͍ĩĐůŝĚс/ǁZϬthŬͲKtsϲϮ>Ő ͺϮϮϳϬϳϲϮϴWϭϴĞĂŽϱĚŶ ϴϭďũdϬĐϯŵŐEsŽŶĨŶ<ƵϬsztZ/͘ ഷ/ďŝĚ͘ ηD͘WŽŬŚƌĞů͕͚ƵĞƚŽƚŚĞWĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ͕/E'KDŽŶĞLJ,ĂƐEŽƚĞĞŶ^ƉĞŶƚ͕'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ DŽǀĞƐ ƚŽ ^ƉĞŶĚ /ƚ ŽŶ ŽƌŽŶĂ dƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ͛ DĂŚĂŵĂƌŝ ŬĂ ŬĂƌĂŶ /E'K ŬŽ ƌĂŬĂŵ ŬŚĂƌĐŚĂ ďŚĂĞŶĂ͕ ĐŽƌŽŶĂ ƵƉĂĐŚĂƌŵĂ ŬŚĂƌĐŚŝŶĂ ƐĂƌŬĂƌŬŽ ƉĂŚĂů͕ Ɖƌŝů Ϯϳ͕ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ŚŝŵĂůŬŚĂďĂƌ͘ĐŽŵͬŶĞǁƐͬϭϭϯϰϴϲ͘ ΎΎW͘D͘^ŚƌĞƐƚŚĂ͕͚&ŽƌĞŝŐŶEŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚKƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐŽŵŵŝƚZƐϭ͘ϮŝůůŝŽŶ ƚŽKs/ZĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͕͛The Kathmandu Post, DĂLJϯϭ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬƚŬƉŽ͘ƐƚͬϯĐůϴƌnjϳ͘ ΏΏ͚zŽƵƚŚƐĞĨLJƌƌĞƐƚtĂƌŶŝŶŐĂŶĚ^ƚĂŐĞWĞĂĐĞĨƵůZĂůůŝĞƐĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐĐŽƵŶƚĂďŝůŝƚLJZĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐKs/ͲϭϵZĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͕͛The Kathmandu Post, :ƵŶĞϭϮ͕ϮϬϮϬ͕ ŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬŬĂƚŚŵĂŶĚƵƉŽƐƚ͘ĐŽŵͬǀŝƐƵĂůͲƐƚŽƌŝĞƐͬϮϬϮϬͬϬϲͬϭϮͬLJŽƵƚŚƐͲůĞĚͲƉĞĂĐĞĨƵůͲ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐͲĂŐĂŝŶƐƚͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚͲĐŽŶƟŶƵĞͲŝŶͲǀĂƌŝŽƵƐͲĐŝƟĞƐ͘ ΐΐ ͚WŽůŝĐĞ hƐĞ dĞĂƌŐĂƐ͕ tĂƚĞƌ ĂŶŶŽŶƐ ƚŽ ŝƐƉĞƌƐĞ WƌŽƚĞƐƚĞƌƐ͕͛ The Kathmandu Post͕ :ƵŶĞ ϭϭ͕ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬŬĂƚŚŵĂŶĚƵƉŽƐƚ͘ĐŽŵͬǀŝƐƵĂůͲƐƚŽƌŝĞƐͬϮϬϮϬͬϬϲͬϭϭͬ ƉŽůŝĐĞͲƵƐĞͲƚĞĂƌŐĂƐͲǁĂƚĞƌͲĐĂŶŶŽŶƐͲƚŽͲĚŝƐƉĞƌƐĞͲƉƌŽƚĞƐƚĞƌƐ͘ ZRUNLQJLQWKHਭHOGRIFLYLOOLEHUW\IUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQDQGSUHVV freedom have argued that these controversial bills and decisions aim to curtail civil liberties. &62V KDYH DOVR EHHQ UDLVLQJ concerns on some provisions of the Bill to Amend and Consolidate /DZV 5HODWLQJ WR (VWDEOLVKPHQW 5HJLVWUDWLRQ DQG 2SHUDWLRQ RI FRQWUROOLQJ۔PDQLIHVWWKHېWKDWDSSHDUWR 6RFLDO2UJDQLVDWLRQV mindset” of the government’.115 FRPQHZVSPYHQWVLUHRQIRUHLJQPLVVLRQVLQJRVIRUXQZDUUDQWHGLQWHUHVW LQLQWHJULW\SROLF\; Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special 5DSSRUWHXURQIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQRUEHOLHI5()(5(1&( 2/13/-XO\ 1RQJRYHUQPHQW2UJDQLVDWLRQV&RQFHUQHGRYHUD1HZې306KUHVWKD WNSR KWWSV The Kathmandu Post, 1RYHPEHUۑDZWR5HJXODWH7KHP/ VWXU6Q[. ,&1/ ODVW QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWUHIRU1RWIRU3URILW/DZ,ۑ/1&,ی1HSDOې PRGLILHG$SULOKWWSV ZZZLFQORUJUHVRXUFHVFLYLFIUHHGRPPRQLWRU nepal#glance. 157 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 UHVHUۑ3DUWLFXODUO\LQUHVSRQVHWRWKH816SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXUV YDWLRQ .3 2OL WKH 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU DOOHJHG WKDW WKH GLSORPDWLF missions had begun raising a ‘hue and cry’ even though the government had not completed introducing the policy and further questioned the interest of ‘foreigners’ in a policy that was yet to be implemented.116ौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVDOVRSXEOLFO\TXHVWLRQHGWKH FUHGLELOLW\ DQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\ RI &62V LQ VHYHUDO LQVWDQFHV117 In another development that cause concern, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, the statutory body mandated WRFKHFNFRUUXSWLRQLQJRYHUQPHQWKDVEHHQGHPDQGLQJH[SDQVLRQ RILWVDXWKRULW\WRDOVRORRNLQWRFRUUXSWLRQDQGLUUHJXODULWLHVRI 1*2V118 Conclusion A vibrant and independent civic space is intrinsic to a democratic society and the rule of law. While civic space in Nepal has largely been guided by the regime in place, it has also played a critical role in popular movements at various points in the country’s recent history. While civic space was closed in the oligarchic Rana regime, the era of democratic politics that followed it was conducive to the growth RI&62VDOWKRXJKDVDPHDQVWRFRPSOHPHQWWKHDFWLYLWLHVRIWKH VWDWH&62VDOVRIDFHGDVHYHUHO\UHVWULFWLYHHQYLURQPHQWGXULQJWKH 3DQFKD\DWUHJLPH)ROORZLQJWKH GHPRFUDWLFWUDQVLWLRQWKH VSDFHZDVFUHDWHGIRUSDUWLFLSDWLRQRIFLYLFDFWRUVLQSROLF\PDNLQJ DQGLQDGYRFDWLQJIRUFKDQJHौH0DRLVWLQVXUJHQF\UHVXOWHGLQ the growth of an active civic space for defenders of democracy DQGKXPDQULJKWVौHSHULRGIROORZLQJWKHHQGRIWKHLQVXUJHQF\ however, saw the rise of fragmentation and partisanship with civil VRFLHW\ZKLFKKDGEHHQDWWKHIRUHIURQWRIGHPDQGLQJFKDQJHौH nature of civic space has thus been constricted while it has seen a LQۑ8QZDUUDQWHG,QWHUHVWې309HQWV,UHRQ)RUHLJQ0LVVLRQV,1*2VIRUې P\UHSXEOLFDQDJDULNQHWZRUN Republica, -XO\KWWSVۑ\QWHJULW\3ROLF, FRPQHZVSPYHQWVLUHRQIRUHLJQPLVVLRQVLQJRVIRUXQZDUUDQWHGLQWHUHVWLQ LQWHJULW\SROLF\. HGHUDWLRQRI(2*1ۑ %((1 XLOGLQJ&62(QDEOLQJ(QYLURQPHQWLQ1HSDO%ې 1HSDODFFHVVHG-XQHKWWS ZZZQJRIHGHUDWLRQRUJQRGH. nijiۑHPDQGV-XULVGLFWLRQRYHU3ULYDWH6HFWRUDV:HOO'$$,&ې5%DMJDLQ FKKHWUDPDKDDWKDOQDSDXQXSDUQHDNKWL\DUNRPDDJ, OnlineKhabar0D\ KWWSV ZZZRQOLQHNKDEDUFRP. 158 Civic Space in Nepal FRQFXUUHQWWUHQGRIWKHVWDWHLQWURGXFLQJGLਬHUHQWSURYLVLRQVWR curtail the space for civil activity in Nepal, a development that has become more pronounced over the years. DFWLYLWLHVۑौHVWDWHKDVGHPRQVWUDWHGJUHDWHULQWHUHVWLQ&62V LQGHYHORSPHQWZRUNLQVWHDGRIWKHLUDGYRFDF\DQGKXPDQULJKWV IXQFWLRQV6HYHUDODFWVDQGGUD़ELOOVKDYHEHHQGHVLJQHGWRSURYLGH oversight authority to the government that have the potential to severely hinder the process of registration and functioning of &62V/DZVDQGUHJXODWLRQVWKDWLQFUHDVHVXUYHLOODQFHRISURPLQHQW civil society actors as well as regulate the media’s freedom of H[SUHVVLRQKDYHDOVREHHQGUD़HGLQWKHSDVWIHZ\HDUV&LWL]HQV are also vulnerable to the use of excessive force by law enforcement DJHQFLHVDQGMRXUQDOLVWVIDFHWKHULVNRISK\VLFDODिDFNDVZHOO DV FULPLQDO GHIDPDWLRQ FKDUJHV ौH FRXQWU\ DOVR VHHPV WR EH moving in the direction of restrictive civic space with the planned DGRSWLRQRIUHVWULFWLYHODZVJRYHUQLQJ&62VLQFOXGLQJUHFHLSWRI foreign funds. Recommendations %DVHGRQWKHਭQGLQJVRIWKLVFKDSWHUWKHIROORZLQJUHFRPPHQGDWLRQV KDYHEHHQPDGHWRHQVXUHWKDWFLYLFVSDFHLQ1HSDOVSHFLਭFDOO\IRU the minorities, remains protected. L (QDEOH FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG QRQJRYHUQPHQWDO organisations to function without arbitrary administrative and bureaucratic hurdles. L़WKHWKUHDWRIFDQFHOODWLRQRIUHJLVWUDWLRQRI&62V/ۋ QG XQQHFHVVDU\ DQG XQFDOOHGIRU UHTXLUHPHQWV WR)ۋ receive funds from foreign sources, while ensuring that the standards of transparency and accountability are being met. ii. Ensure that an active and vocal civil society is present in the country by ceasing to repress dissent and peaceful protests. iii. Ensure that the media remains independent by ceasing all undue pressure in the guise of regulations to preserve ‘national interest’. LY (QDEOHIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQE\GLVFRXUDJLQJDQGLQYHVWL South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 gating unwarranted detention and arrests of individuals. v. Ensure that the government adheres to the international instruments that it is signatory to, such as the International &RYHQDQW RQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV ,&&35 %XVDQ 3DUWQHUVKLS IRU (ਬHFWLYH 'HYHORSPHQW &RRSHUDWLRQ DQG the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. vi. Ensure that the government upholds the commitments to inclusion, secularism and equality for all enshrined in the &RQVWLWXWLRQRI1HSDO Civic Space in Nepal Annex $VVHVVPHQWRI&LYLF6SDFHLQb1HSDO 6XUYH\)LQGLQJV An online expert survey on civic space in Nepal since the current JRYHUQPHQW DVVXPHG SRZHU LQ )HEUXDU\ ZDV FRQGXFWHG online with participants chosen through purposive sampling. ([SHUWV LQ YDULRXV ਭHOGV LQFOXGLQJ DFDGHPLD PHGLD DGYRFDF\ DQGGHYHORSPHQWZRUNVZHUHLGHQWLਭHGZLWKGLYHUVLW\LQWHUPVRI FDVWHHWKQLFLW\JHQGHUDQGJHRJUDSKLFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQWDNHQLQWR FRQVLGHUDWLRQ ौH VXUYH\ ZDV DGPLQLVWHUHG YLD 6XUYH\0RQNH\ D़HU UHFHLYLQJ FRQVHQW IURP WKH SDUWLFLSDQWV 2I WKH H[SHUWV DSSURDFKHGDWRWDORILQGLYLGXDOVUHVSRQGHGौHUHZHUHPDOH DQG IHPDOHSDUWLFLSDQWVZLWK VHOILGHQWLI\LQJWKHPVHOYHVDVD member of one or more minority groups. Right to Civil Liberty Survey results suggest that a majority of the respondents believe WKHUHLVZLGHYDULDQFHRQKRZPXFKFLYLOOLEHUWLHVGLਬHUHQWJURXSV enjoy (See Figure 1). A substantial plurality or majority disagree WKDWPHPEHUVRIGLਬHUHQWVRFLDOJURXSVHFRQRPLFVWDWXVJHQGHUV and sexual orientations enjoy the same level of civil liberties. It is VLJQLਭFDQWWKDWQRWDVLQJOHUHVSRQGHQWDJUHHGVWURQJO\ZLWKDQ\ RIWKHVHIRXUSURSRVLWLRQV ौHQXPEHUVLQSDUHQWKHVHVGHQRWHWKH question in the survey. See the annex for the full questionnaire.) Social Identity 4% 17% 41% 37% Economic Status 4% 2 39% 55% Agree Gender 2 2 61% 35% Neither agree or disagree Disagree Sexual identity 2 49% 49% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͗ŝǀŝů>ŝďĞƌƟĞƐ ŶũŽLJĞĚ ƋƵĂůůLJďLJŝīĞƌĞŶƚ'ƌŽƵƉƐ The survey questions drew references from other similar surveys conducted in the issue, including the V-Dem Codebook. See Michael Coppedge et al., ‘V-Dem Codebook v9’ Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project (2019). https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/e6/d2/e6d27595-9d69-4312-b09f- 63d2a0a65df2/v-dem_codebook_v9.pdf. 161 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 While a majority of the respondents agree that all groups have been allowed to form and register associations in order to advance their collective interests, the responses were divided with regard to the question whether the state has put any restrictions on registration DQGRSHUDWLRQRI&62V 6HH )LJXUH :KLOHQHDUO\ SHUFHQW of the respondents believed religious groups are not allowed to IXQFWLRQIUHHO\DPDMRULW\EHOLHYHWKDWLWKDVEHFRPHPRUHGLਯFXOW LQWKHRSHUDWLRQRI&62VLQJHQHUDO Everyone is allowed to organize for collective interest Strongly agree 6%49% 19% 25% Agree No hindrances to functioning of religious groups 229% 39% 23% 6% Neither agree or disagree Disagree Government action has not hindered functioning of CSOs 4% 12% 17% 53% 13% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͗&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶŝŶWƌĂĐƟĐĞ It is noteworthy that while only a small proportion of just over SHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVEHOLHYHWKHUHLVODFNRIIUHHGRPRI expression (See Figure 3), substantial majorities are of the view WKDW WKH FXUUHQW JRYHUQPHQW KDV EHHQ DिHPSWLQJ WR FXUWDLO WKH VSDFHIRUWKDWIUHHGRP 6HH)LJXUH 74 No Yes and neutral &ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͗ džŝƐƚĞŶĐĞŽĨ&Ƶůů&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ džƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ No legal amendments hindering free expression 212% 19% 49% 17% Positive public statements from the government directed at CS actors Strongly agree 6% 25% 45% 23% Agree No restrictions on freedom of expression on internet and social media Neither agree or disagree 6% 25% 45% 23% Disagree No instances of individual journalists being harrassed 2 10% 17% 59% 12% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϰ͗&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨ džƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶŝŶWƌĂĐƟĐĞ 162 Civic Space in Nepal A similar trend can be seen on freedom of assembly, whereby nearly IRXUਭ़KVRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVEHOLHYHWKHUHLVIUHHGRPRIDVVHPEO\ in Nepal (See Figure 5). In contrast, a majority, an overwhelming one in the case of use of violence against protestors, believe the government has assailed that right in practice. Freedom of assembly guaranteed in law 15%41% 19% 17% 6% State has allowed peaceful protests and demonstrations Strongly agree 4% 27% 17% 35% 15% Agree No physical violence used against protestors Neither agree or disagree 2 4% 6% 49% 39% Disagree No arbitrary or illegal arrests 8% 12% 55% 25% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϱ͗&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐĞŵďůLJŝŶWƌĂĐƟĐĞ ौH UHVSRQGHQWV ZHUH PRVWO\ QHXWUDO ZKHQ DVNHG DERXW KRZ active the courts have become in passing judgements related to freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly, with nearly equal proportions believing the courts have or have not been progressive enough (See Figure 6). Freedom of Association Strongly agree 2 25% 49% 19% 4% Agree Freedom of expression Neither agree or disagreee 2 27% 35.% 31% 4% Disagree Freedom of peaceful assembly 6% 25% 41% 23% 4% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϲ͗WƌŽŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞŽƵƌƚ:ƵĚŐĞŵĞŶƚŽŶ&ƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂů&ƌĞĞĚŽŵƐ 2QWKHFXUUHQWJRYHUQPHQWDQGLWVOHDGHUVKLSWKHVXUYH\UHVXOWV showed the majority of respondents agree that the prime minister is portrayed as being endowed with extraordinary abilities, and more than two thirds believe that the government has promoted D VSHFLਭF LGHRORJ\ RU VRFLHWDO PRGHO DV ZHOO DV WRXWHG WKHLU performance to justify its rule (See Figure 7). Prime minister portrayed as endowed with extraordinary characteristics Strongly agree 39%23% 15% 14% 8% Agree Government has promoted a specific ideolgoy or social model Neither agree or disagree 39%31% 15% 14% Disagree Government refers to performance as a means to justify the regime 35% 33% 14% 16% 2% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϳ͗>ĞŐŝƟŵĂĐLJŽĨƚŚĞƵƌƌĞŶƚ'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ 163 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan Elaine Alam Introduction $ULJKWVEDVHGIUDPHZRUNRIFLYLFVSDFHFXOWLYDWHVDFRPSDUDWLYH and contextual analysis. In reference to these considerations, civic WKHVHWRIFRQGLWLRQVWKDWGHWHUPLQHWKHېVSDFHFDQEHGHਭQHGDV extent to which all members of society, both as individuals and LQLQIRUPDORURUJDQLVHGJURXSVDUHDEOHWRIUHHO\HਬHFWLYHO\DQG without discrimination exercise their basic civil rights’.1 Freedom of association, assembly and expression are democratic in their vision and essence and are also indicators of a functional FLYLFVSDFHौHVHULJKWVDUHJXDUDQWHHGE\WKH3DNLVWDQLFRQVWLWX WLRQ$UWLFOHRIWKH FRQVWLWXWLRQJXDUDQWHHVHYHU\FLWL]HQ ‘the right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order’.2 Article 17 ensures every citizen ‘the right to form associations or unions’ but it’s not absolute in nature since it can WKHLQWHUHVWRIVRYHUHLJQW\RULQWHJULW\RI3DNLVWDQېEHUHVWULFWHGLQ public order or morality’. Similar conditions underlie the right to form or be a part of political parties. However, a caveat in the law elucidates that if the parties are objectionable, ‘the Federal *RYHUQPHQW VKDOO ZLWKLQ ਭ़HHQ GD\V RI VXFK GHFODUDWLRQ UHIHU WKHPDिHUWRWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWZKRVHGHFLVLRQRQVXFKUHIHUHQFH DFFRXQW IRUې DQG WKDW HYHU\ SROLWLFDO SDUW\ VKDOO ۑVKDOO EH ਭQDO 816SHFLDOۑ3URWHFWLQJFLYLFVSDFHDQGWKHULJKWWRDFFHVVUHVRXUFHVې 5DSSRUWHXUDFFHVVHG-XO\KिSV ZZZRKFKURUJ'RFXPHQWV,VVXHV )$VVRFLDWLRQ*HQHUDO3ULQFLSOHV3URWHFWLQJ&LYLF6SDFHSGI. 5HSXEOLFRI3DNLVWDQThe Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ,VODPDEDG 7KH1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI3DNLVWDQ KWWS ZZZQDJRYSN XSORDGVGRFXPHQWVB SGI. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan the source of its funds in accordance with law’.3 $UWLFOH RI the Constitution states that every citizen ‘shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press’, but it can be restricted ‘in the interest of the glory of ,VODPRUWKHLQWHJULW\VHFXULW\RUGHIHQVHRI3DNLVWDQRUDQ\SDUW thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of or ۑLQFLWHPHQWWRDQRਬHQFH For the purpose of this research, secondary sources will be used to evaluate the extent to which the three aforementioned core SULQFLSOHVRIFLYLFIUHHGRPKDYHGHFOLQHGLQ3DNLVWDQ IUHHGRPRI DVVRFLDWLRQIUHHGRPRIDVVHPEO\DQGIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQौHVH three tenets of open civic space have been chosen since they are the PRVWSROLWLFDOO\FKDUJHGLQ3DNLVWDQौHVWDWHDQGDUP\KDYHEHHQ dangerously reactive when these three principles are exercised E\3DNLVWDQLFLYLOLDQVौHOHJLVODWLYHDQGQRUPDWLYHSUDFWLFHVWR control these three aspects are some of the most alarming practices ZLWKLQWKH3DNLVWDQLVWDWHLQFOXGLQJEXWQRWOLPLWHGWRHQIRUFHG GLVDSSHDUDQFHV DQG FKDUJH RI EODVSKHP\ ौHLU GHFOLQH ZLOO EH KLVWRULFDOO\ WUDFHG ZLWK D IRFXV RQ WKH VWDWXV TXR ौH YDULRXV PLQRULW\JURXSVLQ3DNLVWDQZLOOEHDQDO\VHGDVDNH\VWDNHKROGHU Methodology 3ULPDU\ DQG VHFRQGDU\ GDWD KDV EHHQ XWLOLVHG LQ WKH FRXUVH RI this research. Besides an extensive review of literature, including independent reports and media articles on minorities, a survey was conducted online to gauge the perception of experts of civic space on the extent to which civil liberties have been violated LQ 3DNLVWDQ ौH VXUYH\ ZDV ਭOOHG E\ SHRSOH DJHG EHWZHHQ DQG\HDUVSHUFHQWRIZKRPZHUHIHPDOH$WRWDORI per cent of the respondents were Muslim while 5.6 per cent were Christian, and 17 per cent of them did not adhere to any religion. 2IWKHUHVSRQGHQWVSHUFHQWLGHQWLਭHGWKHPVHOYHVDVEHORQJLQJ to a religious minority, implying that that a majority of Muslim UHVSRQGHQWVEHORQJHGWRPLQRULW\VHFWVौHਭQGLQJVRIWKHVXUYH\ 3 Ibid. ,ELG 165 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 DUHLQWHUVSHUVHGLQWKHUHSRUWZKLOHWKHFRPSOHWHਭQGLQJVFDQEH found in the Annex at the end of the chapter. Historical Context V WUDQVLWLRQ WRZDUGV HOHFWRUDO GHPRFUDF\ LQ D़HUۑ3DNLVWDQ VSHQGLQJDVLJQLਭFDQWSHULRGRILWVKLVWRU\XQGHUGLUHFWPLOLWDU\ V SROLWLFDO HYROXWLRQۑ\UXOH ZDV D ODQGPDUN HYHQW LQ WKH FRXQWU 6LQFH WKHQ 3DNLVWDQ KDV H[SHULHQFHG WKUHH HOHFWLRQV LQ DQGDQGVHHQWZRVWDEOHWUDQVIHUVRISRZHUIURPRQH political party to another. However, the quality of democracy in 3DNLVWDQKDV GHWHULRUDWHG RYHU WKH SDVW IHZ \HDUV $FFRUGLQJ WR the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, LQ 3DNLVWDQ UHJUHVVHG LQWR K\EULGLW\5 a term used for governments that combine democratic traits such as frequent and direct elections with autocratic ones such as political repression.6 V 'HPRFUDF\ ,QGH[ DOVRۑ (FRQRPLVW ,QWHOOLJHQFH 8QLW ौH FDWHJRULVHV3DNLVWDQDVDK\EULGUHJLPHZLWKDUDQNLQJRIRXW RIDQGLWVVFRUHLQFUHDVHGIURPRXWRILQWR LQ LPSO\LQJ WKDW PLOLWDU\ LQWHUIHUHQFH LQ GRPHVWLF DਬDLUV had increased.7 Understandably, the country is a long way from becoming a full democracy, as indicated by its inability to cross a WKUHVKROGRILQ8 ,QSDUWLFXODUOLEHUDOGHPRFUDF\KDVIDLOHGWRWDNHURRWLQ3DNLVWDQ $FFRUGLQJWRWKH)UHHGRP+RXVH3DNLVWDQVFRUHVRQO\RXWRID WRWDORIIRUFLYLOOLEHUWLHVLQLWV)UHHGRPLQWKH:RUOGUHSRUW 5 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, The Global State of Democracy 2019 6WRFNKROP ,QWHUQDWLRQDO,'($ KWWSV ZZZ LGHDLQWSXEOLFDWLRQVFDWDORJXHJOREDOVWDWHRIGHPRFUDF\ . IRUG%LEOLRJUDSKLHVDFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWSV]2ۑEULG5HJLPHV\+ې ZZZR[IRUGELEOLRJUDSKLHVFRPYLHZGRFXPHQWRER RER [PO. 7 The News, ‘Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index: Democracy \The News-DQXDUۑLQ33330/1(UDV%HWWHUWKDQLQ3UHVHQW*RYW KWWSV ZZZWKHQHZVFRPSNSULQWHFRQRPLVWLQWHOOLJHQFHXQLWV GHPRFUDF\LQGH[GHPRFUDF\LQSSSSPOQHUDVEHWWHUWKDQLQSUHVHQWJRYW. ZZZHLX The Economist Intelligence Unit, KWWSVۑ ]HPRFUDF\,QGH'ې FRPWRSLFGHPRFUDF\LQGH[. /LEHUDOGHPRFUDF\UHIHUVWRDV\VWHPRIJRYHUQPHQWZKLFKHQVXUHV transparent elections and where the judicial system has a significant equalising leverage to ensure accountability of the elected representatives. See: ‘Freedom 166 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan Figure 1: Pakistan's Scores in the Economist Intelligence Unit's ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ/ŶĚĞdž͕ϮϬϬϲʹϮϬϭϵ 5 4.75 4.5 4.25 4 3.75 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 ^ŽƵƌĐĞ͚͗ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ/ŶĚĞdžϮϬϭϵ͕͛dŚĞ ĐŽŶŽŵŝƐƚ/ŶƚĞůůŝŐĞŶĐĞhŶŝƚ͕ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ĞŝƵ͘ ĐŽŵͬƚŽƉŝĐͬĚĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJͲŝŶĚĞdž͘ĐŽŵͬƚŽƉŝĐͬĚĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJͲŝŶĚĞdž͘ ौH9'HPSURMHFWDOVRVKRZVDVKDUSGHFOLQHIRU3DNLVWDQDORQJ several indicators, including freedom of association and liberal democracy indices, while other indicators, such as repression of civil society organisations and freedom of religion, have seen only VOLJKWLQFUHDVHV*RYHUQPHQWFHQVRUVKLSKDVGHFUHDVHGRZLQJWRWKH increasing relevance of social media, with a formal social media wing also being used even by the current government. However, even UHHGRP+RXVHDFFHVVHG0D\KWWSV(ۑ3DNLVWDQ LQWKH:RUOG IUHHGRPKRXVHRUJFRXQWU\SDNLVWDQIUHHGRPZRUOG. 9DULHWLHVRI'HPRFUDF\LVDQHZDSSURDFKWRFRQFHSWXDOLVLQJDQGPHDVXULQJ democracy which reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy as a V\VWHPRIUXOHDQGGLVWLQJXLVKHVEHWZHHQILYHKLJKOHYHOSULQFLSOHVRIGHPRFUDF\ electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian, and collects data to 9DULHWLHVRIۑOREDO6WDQGDUGV/RFDO.QRZOHGJH*ې PHDVXUHWKHVHSULQFLSOHV6HH 'HPRFUDF\DFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWSV ZZZYGHPQHWHQ. 167 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 though that might have made it easier to report on discrimination, it KDVQRWWUDQVODWHGLQWRFKDQJHVZLWKLQWKHVWDWHVDQFWLRQHGOHJDODQG QRUPDWLYHSUDFWLFHVौHVXUYH\GDWDDOVRVXSSRUWVWKLV In order to understand why political liberalism has had limited H[SUHVVLRQLQ3DNLVWDQGHVSLWHLWVGHPRFUDWLFWUDQVLWLRQLWLVFULWLFDO WR H[DPLQH LWV SROLWLFDO DQG LQVWLWXWLRQDO KLVWRU\ ौH HDUO\ \HDUV VIRXQGLQJZHUHSLYRWDOLQGHWHUPLQLQJLWVVXEVHTXHQWۑRI3DNLVWDQ SROLWLFDO WUDMHFWRU\ $W LWV LQFHSWLRQ 3DNLVWDQ IDFHG VHYHUDO GLਯFXOWLHVWKDWSXWWKHYHU\VXUYLYDORIWKHVWDWHDWULVN DQLQਮRZ RI UHIXJHHV IURP ,QGLD LQVXਯFLHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLYH VWDਬ OLPLWHG resources and the challenge of exerting control in areas where the V11SUHVHQFHZDVZHDN12ौH.DVKPLUGLVSXWHۑUXOLQJ0XVOLP/HDJXH WKDWEHJDQLQ DQGERUGHULVVXHVRQWKH'XUDQG/LQHEHWZHHQ 3DNLVWDQ DQG QHLJKERXULQJ $IJKDQLVWDQ IXUWKHU HQGDQJHUHG WKH existence of the newly founded state.13 ौLV FRPSOH[ VRFLDO DQG political climate, with its extensive internal and external security challenges, compelled the political leadership to assert control over the country and steer policy. In particular, the threat from India HQFRXUDJHGWKHIRUPDWLRQRIDXQLਭHGVHFXULW\VWDWH$VDUHVXOWWKH political leadership centralised power in the executive branch at the cost of dispersing power to the legislature, empowering political institutions and strengthening provincial governments. &RORQLDO KHULWDJH DOVR SOD\HG D VLJQLਭFDQW UROH LQ IDFLOLWDWLQJ YLFHUHJDOPRGHOېFHQWUDOLVDWLRQRISRZHU3DNLVWDQLQKHULWHGWKH of government’, a term coined to describe the colonial model of governance where the Viceroy and a centralised bureaucracy were UHVSRQVLEOHIRUUXQQLQJWKHDਬDLUVRIWKHVWDWHौH*RYHUQPHQW RI ,QGLD $FW ZDV DGRSWHG DV WKH LQWHULP FRQVWLWXWLRQ ZLWK PRGLਭFDWLRQVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHGHPRFUDWLFDQGVRYHUHLJQUHDOLW\RI 7KH$OO,QGLD0XVOLP/HDJXHZDVDSROLWLFDOSDUW\HVWDEOLVKHGLQ in British India. Its efforts for a separate homeland for the Muslims of India HYHQWXDOO\OHGWRWKHFUHDWLRQRI3DNLVWDQLQ +DVDQ$VNDUL5L]YLMilitary, State and Society in Pakistan 1HZ 168 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan 3DNLVWDQ153RZHUZDVFRQFHQWUDWHGLQWKHRਯFHRIWKH*RYHUQRU *HQHUDOKHOGE\WKHIRXQGHURI3DNLVWDQ0XKDPPDG$OL-LQQDK who headed ‘the executive, the cabinet and the assembly’.16ौH *RYHUQRU*HQHUDODSSRLQWHGWKHFDELQHWKHDGHGWKHOHJLVODWXUH appointed judges, and had the power to dismiss ministers at his discretion.17ौHFRQFHQWUDWLRQRISRZHUOHGWRWKHHPHUJHQFHDQG entrenchment of a political culture in which a single strongman provided direction and political leadership,18 and thus stunted the growth of participatory governance. &LYLOLDQJRYHUQPHQWVLQ3DNLVWDQDOVRIDLOHGWRLQVWLWXWLRQDOLVH democratic principles and uphold civil liberties and the rule of ODZ$़HULQGHSHQGHQFHFRQVWLWXWLRQDODQGSROLWLFDOFULVHVHQVXHG and the political class failed to put together a viable constitution DQG SUHYHQW SHि\ SROLWLFDO GLVSXWHV ौH FLYLOLDQ JRYHUQPHQW also sought to preserve its own narrow interests and establish FRQWURO RYHU SROLWLFV ौH 0XVOLP /HDJXH ZDV D ZHDN SROLWLFDO party dominated by an elite class of politicians, and it struggled to JHQHUDWHPDVVVXSSRUWD़HUWKHSDVVLQJRI-LQQDKDQG/LDTDW$OL Khan. Fearing the numerical majority of Bengalis, who enjoyed D PDMRULW\ LQ (DVW 3DNLVWDQ LQ SDUOLDPHQW DQG OLPLWHG RXWUHDFK LQWKHSURYLQFHVSROLWLFLDQVLQ:HVW3DNLVWDQEHJDQFRXUWLQJWKH military and the bureaucracy to consolidate state control. 15 Aqil Shah, The Army and Democracy &DPEULGJH +DUYDUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid. 18 Christophe Jaffrelot, The Pakistan Paradox 2[IRUG 2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV +DVDQ$VNDUL5L]YLMilitary, State and Society in Pakistan 1HZ South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौXVEHJDQDWUDGLWLRQLQZKLFKWKH3DNLVWDQLSROLWLFDOFODVVDW times, supports the military in order to quell the opposition and gain power, allowing the military to exercise control over governance WKURXJKLQGLUHFWPHDQV2QHH[DPSOHRIWKLVSKHQRPHQRQZDVWKH FROODERUDWLRQEHWZHHQWKHPLOLWDU\DQGWKH,VODPL-DPKRRUL,िHKDG (IJI), a political alliance allegedly sponsored and organised by the V LQWHOOLJHQFH DJHQF\ WR UHPRYH %HQD]LU %KXिR IURPۑ\PLOLWDU SRZHURQDFFRXQWRIKHUDQWLPLOLWDU\DFWLRQVDQGVR़HUDSSURDFK WRZDUGV ,QGLD DQG LQVWDOO WKH SURPLOLWDU\ 1DZD] 6KDULI LQ KHU place.21 It is also alleged that the incumbent government of Imran .KDQVXਬHUVIURPH[WHQVLYHPLOLWDU\LQWHUIHUHQFHLQSXEOLFSROLF\ DQGJRYHUQPHQWGHFLVLRQPDNLQJ22 Failure to develop modern political parties and institute a culture of participatory politics also impedes democratic development. A VLJQLਭFDQWLVVXHLQ3DNLVWDQLVWKHODFNRISROLWLFDOSDUWLHVWKDWKDYHQRW been organised around patronage politics and feudal relationships.23 Electoral politics revolve around gaining access to patronage for VSHFLਭFFRQVWLWXHQFLHVUDWKHUWKDQFDPSDLJQLQJRQDEURDGEDVHG SODWIRUPRIFRPPLWPHQWWRVSHFLਭFSULQFLSOHVDQGSROLF\PHDVXUHV Voting occurs more along the lines of personalised alliances with SDUWLFXODUSROLWLFDOਭJXUHVDQGOHVVDORQJDGKHUHQFHWRLGHRORJLFDO principles and party manifestoes. Both the urban and rural political ZRUNLQJOLQHDJHDQGbiradari25 connections andېFODVVIRFXVPRUHRQ alliances than representing wider urban interests’. &DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV +DVDQ$VNDUL5L]YLMilitary, State and Society in Pakistan 1HZ Closing Civic Space in Pakistan :HDN FLYLOLDQ LQVWLWXWLRQV D GLYLGHG SROLWLFDO FODVV DQG WKH HPSRZHUPHQW RI QRQHOHFWHG LQVWLWXWLRQV OHG WR HQFURDFKPHQW by the military over the political system. Military intervention in politics adversely impacted the evolution of liberal democracy, as each military ruler restricted political activity in order to FRQVROLGDWHDXWKRULW\DQGHOLPLQDWHUHVLVWDQFH$\XE.KDQ 171 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 liberties’. With the introduction of the 18th amendment (which saw further devolution of the centre’s control by increasing the power of federal governments) and the end of prolonged military rule, VGHPRFUDF\DSSHDUVWREHKHDGHGLQWKHULJKWGLUHFWLRQۑ3DNLVWDQ However, the recurrence, as well as persistence, of democratic EDFNVOLGLQJLVQRWVXUSULVLQJLIRQHFRQVLGHUVWKHLQVWLWXWLRQDODQG SROLWLFDOKLVWRU\RI3DNLVWDQ$VPHQWLRQHGHDUOLHUWKHLQKHULWDQFH of the colonial state apparatus set the stage for the empowerment of unelected institutions, and security threats from both inside and outside drove home the need for projecting control over the VLQFHVVDQWۑFRQVWLWXHQWXQLWVDERYHDOOHOVH7RWKLVGD\3DNLVWDQ security fears, whether real or imagined, run counter to the wider project of encouraging the growth and maturation of liberal democracy.31ौHYH[LQJGLOHPPDDWWKHKHDUWRIWKHGHPRFUDWLF Vۑ3DNLVWDQې GHਭFLWLQWKHFRXQWU\KDVEHHQVXPPDULVHGDSWO\WKXV H[LVWHQFHKDVEHHQPDUNHGE\DिHPSWVWREXLOGDQDWLRQZLWKRXW ਭUVWEXLOGLQJWKHLQVWLWXWLRQDOIRXQGDWLRQVWKDWDUHQHHGHGWRDOORZ a stable federal entity to evolve in a democratic and pluralistic 32ۑVHिLQJ Moreover, cycles of military and civilian rule generated political &KULVWRSKH-DIIUHORW, The Pakistan Paradox 2[IRUG 2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV The Newsۑ7KHLPSRUWDQFHRIWKHWK$PHQGPHQWې0LIWDK,VPDLO International, -DQXDU\ KWWSV ZZZWKHQHZVFRPSNSULQW WKH LPSRUWDQFHRIWKHWKDPHQGPHQW. ,ELG LQPakistan: Beyond the Crisis State, editedۑUP\DQG3ROLWLFV$ې[6KXMD1DZD E\0DOHHKD/RGKL 2[IRUG 2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV 172 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan LQVWDELOLW\LQLPLFDOWRWKHHਬHFWLYHIXQFWLRQLQJRISROLWLFDOSURFHVVHV 3ROLWLFDO G\VIXQFWLRQ DW WKH FRUH RI 3DNLVWDQL GHPRFUDF\ WKXV SUHYHQWVOLEHUDOGHPRFUDF\IURPWDNLQJURRWDQGPDQLIHVWVLWVHOILQ both covert and overt ways, in the supremacy of the military over civilian institutions. Elections alone do not indicate the existence of viable political processes and institutions given that they have also EHHQRUJDQLVHGXQGHUPLOLWDU\UXOHUVौHUHIRUH3DNLVWDQGHVSLWH holding elections and undergoing democratic transitions, sees its democratic development repeatedly undercut as the underlying malaise infecting the political setup is never cured. ࢌH3ROLWLFVRI5HOLJLRQ ,PSOLFDWLRQVIRU0LQRULW\ Rights Historical Context Vۑ\SHUFHSWLEOHVKL़LQVRFLDODिLWXGHVRFFXUUHGD़HUWKHFRXQWU$ LQGHSHQGHQFH $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH FHQVXV QRQ0XVOLPV FRPSULVHG SHU FHQW RI 3DNLVWDQ V WRWDO SRSXODWLRQ ZLWK QRQ0XVOLPV PDNLQJ XS SHU FHQW RI WKH LQ (DVW 3DNLVWDQL population.33:KLOHWKHSULRUVWUXJJOHKDGUHYROYHGDURXQGDिDLQLQJ D KRPHODQG IRU 0XVOLPV VRFLDO DQG UHOLJLRXV VHQWLPHQW D़HU LQGHSHQGHQFHWXUQHGWRZDUGVGHਭQLQJZKRFRXOGEHDOHJLWLPDWH FLWL]HQRIWKH0XVOLPKRPHODQG%HJLQQLQJLQWKHHDUO\ VWKH DQWL$KPDGL\DPRYHPHQWOHGWRXQUHVWDQGFLYLOFRQਮLFWDFURVV WKHFRXQWU\ौHPRYHPHQWDLPHGWRUHVWULFWSXEOLFDQGFLYLFVSDFH for the Ahmadiya sect through promulgation of laws and limiting their presence in governing circles.35 Rulers used sentiments WGHFOLQH VQRQ0XVOLPSRSXODWLRQGLGQ 1R3DNLVWDQې0XNHVK5DZDW KWWSV India Today, 'HFHPEHUۑIURPWRDV%-3FODLPV ZZZLQGLDWRGD\LQLQGLDVWRU\SDNLVWDQEDQJODGHVKQRQPXVOLPSRSXODWLRQ FLWL]HQVKLSDPHQGPHQWELOOEMS . VSRSXODWLRQۑ7KH$KPDGL\DVHFWIRUPLQJDURXQGWRPLOOLRQRI3DNLVWDQ primarily disagrees with other Muslim sects on the issue of Muhammad being the 7KHVLWXDWLRQRI$KPDGLVLQFOXGLQJOHJDOVWDWXVDQG 3DNLVWDQې DVW3URSKHW6HH/ political, education and employment rights; societal attitudes toward Ahmadis ,PPLJUDWLRQDQG5HIXJHH%RDUGRI&DQDGDDFFHVVHG DQDGD&ۑ 1RYی $XJXVWKWWSV ZZZUHIZRUOGRUJGRFLG EIFKWPO. VۑRQVWLWXWLRQDO,VVXHVDQGWKH7UHDWPHQWRI3DNLVWDQ&ېDUDKQD],VSDKDQL( Religious Minorities.’ Asian Affairs QR KWWSV GRLRUJ . 173 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 against religious minorities to introduce discriminatory legislation and quell violent unrest over measures perceived by religious hardliners as compromising the Islamic integrity of the state. V,VODPLF6RFLDOLVPWRۑV3ULQFLSOHVRI3ROLF\WR%KXिRۑURP$\XE( Zia’s Islamisation, Islam was used by past regimes, both civilian and military, as a political instrument to gain legitimacy and consolidate power.36 Nowhere was this discrimination more apparent than in various FRQVWLWXWLRQDO GRFXPHQWV ौH 2EMHFWLYHV 5HVROXWLRQ DFFRUGLQJ primacy to religious principles in constitutional development, was PDGHWKHSUHDPEOHWRWKH FRQVWLWXWLRQौHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOVR GHFODUHG3DNLVWDQDQ,VODPLF5HSXEOLFOLPLWHGWKHRਯFHVRIERWK WKH3UHVLGHQWDQGWKH3ULPH0LQLVWHUWR0XVOLPVDQGRUGHUHGODZV WR EH FUD़HG LQ FRQIRUPLW\ ZLWK ,VODPLF LQMXQFWLRQV37 ौH constitution also contained exclusionary provisions. It restricted the RਯFHRIWKHSUHVLGHQWWR0XVOLPVGHFODUHGWKDWQRODZUHSXJQDQW to Islam can be enacted, formed a Council of Islamic Ideology to ensure that all laws were aligned with Islamic teachings, and regulated both the economic and social lives of citizens.38 Similarly, WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQUHWDLQHG,VODPLFSURYLVLRQVWKDWXQGHUPLQHG certain progressive clauses included in the constitution for the SURWHFWLRQ RI UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV ,W PDGH ,VODP WKH RਯFLDO UHOLJLRQ UHVWULFWHG WKH RਯFH RI 3UHVLGHQW DQG 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU WR Muslims, and contained clauses that called for bringing all laws into conformity with Islam. 2WKHU ODZV LQWURGXFHG ODWHU IXUWKHU YLRODWHG WKH IXQGDPHQWDO 36 Rubina Saigol, Radicalization of State and Society in Pakistan (Islamabad: +HLQULFK%RHOO6WLIWXQJ KWWSV SNERHOORUJ UDGLFDOL]DWLRQVWDWHDQGVRFLHW\SDNLVWDQLQWHUQDOVHFXULW\. VۑRQVWLWXWLRQDO,VVXHVDQGWKH7UHDWPHQWRI3DNLVWDQ&ېDUDKQD],VSDKDQL( Religious Minorities.’ Asian Affairs QR 5XELQD6DLJRO Radicalization of State and Society in Pakistan (Islamabad: Heinrich Boell Stiftung, KWWSV SNERHOORUJUDGLFDOL]DWLRQVWDWHDQGVRFLHW\ SDNLVWDQLQWHUQDOVHFXULW\. 38 Ibid. 6KLNKD'LODZUL$KPDG6DOLP+XPHUD,VKIDTDQG0RPH6DOHHPSearching for Security: The Rising Marginalization of Religious Communities in Pakistan /RQGRQ 0LQRULW\5LJKWV*URXS,QWHUQDWLRQDO KWWSV PLQRULW\ULJKWV RUJZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVROGVLWHGRZQORDGVPUJVHDUFKLQJIRUVHFXULW\ SDNLVWDQUHSRUWSGI. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan ULJKWV RI UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV ौH PRVW HJUHJLRXV LQFOXGHG WKH SDVVDJH RI WKH VHFRQG DPHQGPHQW GHFODULQJ PHPEHUV RI WKH $KPDGL\D VHFW DV QRQ0XVOLPV LQ UHVSRQVH WR WKH SUHVVXUH exerted by religious parties.ौHDPHQGPHQWGHਭQHGD0XVOLPDV VRPHRQHZKREHOLHYHVLQWKHਭQDOLW\RI0XKDPPDGDVDSURSKHW a core Muslim belief that persons belonging to the Ahmadiya sect do not follow. Another piece of legislation with dire implications for minority rights was the constitutional amendment made under 6HFWLRQ DV & NQRZQDVWKH%ODVSKHP\/DZV,QWURGXFHG E\WKHPLOLWDU\GLFWDWRU*HQHUDO=LDLQ WKH%ODVSKHP\/DZV DUHDVHWRIFODXVHVFRQWDLQHGLQWKH3DNLVWDQ3HQDO&RGH ostensibly designed to promote the protection of all religions LQ 3DNLVWDQ ,Q UHDOLW\ WKH ODZ H[SOLFLWO\ GLVFULPLQDWHV DJDLQVW Ahmadiyas, criminalising public expression of Ahmadiya beliefs and prohibiting Ahmadiyas from calling themselves Muslims, praying in Muslim sites of worship, and ‘propagat[ing] [their] faith’. Ahmadiyas are victimised and criminalised for calling themselves ‘Muslims’ and are constitutionally forced to be termed, DQGKHQFHPLQRULWLHVۑQRQ0XVOLPVېFDOOHGDQGEHOLHYHGDV ौH%ODVSKHP\/DZVVHYHUHO\UHVWULFWFULWLFDOGLVFRXUVHDQGLQWHU faith dialogue needed for initiating policy change, encouraging religious harmony, and fostering a culture of inclusivity by SURਭOLQJ UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV ZKR DUH UHJXODUO\ FKDUJHG XQGHU GXELRXVFODLPVRIEODVSKHP\ौH&HQWUHIRU6RFLDO-XVWLFHQRWHV VFRQFHSWLRQPRUHWKDQSHRSOHKDYHۑWKDWHYHUVLQFH3DNLVWDQ been targeted under the blasphemy laws with a majority belonging to religious minority groups.ौHUHIRUHGHVSLWHJUDQWLQJFLWL]HQV the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly (Article 16), ,ELG VۑRQVWLWXWLRQDO,VVXHVDQGWKH7UHDWPHQWRI3DNLVWDQ&ېDUDKQD],VSDKDQL( Religious Minorities.’ Asian Affairs QR 6KLNKD'LODZUL$KPDG6DOLP+XPHUD,VKIDTDQG0RPH6DOHHPSearching for Security: The Rising Marginalization of Religious Communities in Pakistan /RQGRQ 0LQRULW\5LJKWV*URXS,QWHUQDWLRQDO KWWSV PLQRULW\ULJKWV RUJZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVROGVLWHGRZQORDGVPUJVHDUFKLQJIRUVHFXULW\ SDNLVWDQUHSRUWSGI. \LQGX9HWHULQDULDQ,V/DWHVWWR)DFH%ODVSKHP+ې6DOPDQ0DVRRG ZZZQ\WLPHV KWWSV New York Times0D\ۑKDUJHVLQ3DNLVWDQ& FRP ZRUOGDVLDSDNLVWDQEODVSKHP\ODZKWPO. 175 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SURIHVVSUDFWLFHې DQGWKHIUHHGRPWR $UWLFOH IUHHGRPRIVSHHFK \$UWLFOH 3DNLVWDQKDVUHSHDWHGO VUHOLJLRQۑRQHۑDQGSURSDJDWH failed at implementing them. Minorities are silent witnesses to YLRODWLRQVRIWKHLUFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWVौHEODVSKHP\ODZVDUH used to persecute religious minorities over trivial issues and false claims. Several cases illustrate the continuation of this trend over WKHSDVW\HDUDVD+LQGXYHWHULQDULDQZDVWDNHQLQWRFXVWRG\D़HU a local cleric accused him of blasphemy; a Christian teenager ZDV DUUHVWHG RQ EODVSKHP\ FKDUJHV RYHU D FULFNHW PDWFK and a mentally ill Christian man was beaten over allegations of FRPPLिLQJEODVSKHP\DQGWKHQGHWDLQHGE\WKHSROLFH H$KPDGL\D&RPPXQLW\ WKHDELOLW\WRVHHNېUHHGRPRIDVVRFLDWLRQFDQQRWH[LVWZLWKRXW( receive and use resources’SULY\WRWKDWSXEOLFVSDFHौLVIUHHGRP can also refer to the right of minorities to publicly own their faith, build and participate in their respective places of worship and collectivise to demand more rights. ौH VWDWHVDQFWLRQHG GHQLDO RI FLYLF ULJKWV WR WKH $KPDGL\D FRPPXQLW\LVQRWRQO\QRUPDWLYHEXWDOVROHJDOLVHGौHHOHFWRUDO law forces them to choose between their faith and their right to vote: to be eligible to practise their democratic right in choosing electoral representatives, they have to undergo the humiliation of SXEOLFO\GHFODULQJWKHPVHOYHVWREHQRQ0XVOLPV $VDFRPPXQL 5HSXEOLFRI3DNLVWDQThe Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ,VODPDEDG 7KH1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI3DNLVWDQ KWWS ZZZQDJRYSN XSORDGVGRFXPHQWVB SGI. 8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQRQۑ3DNLVWDQ%ODVSKHP\/DZ 3ROLF\8SGDWHې ,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRPDFFHVVHG0D\KWWSV ZZZXVFLUIJRY VLWHVGHIDXOWILOHV 3DNLVWDQ%ODVSKHP\SGI. \LQGX9HWHULQDULDQ,V/DWHVWWR)DFH%ODVSKHP+ې6DOPDQ0DVRRG ZZZQ\WLPHV KWWSV New York Times0D\ۑKDUJHVLQ3DNLVWDQ& FRP ZRUOGDVLDSDNLVWDQEODVSKHP\ODZKWPO. ۑ0HQWDOO\'LVDEOHG&KULVWLDQ$FFXVHGRI%ODVSKHP\LQ3DNLVWDQې PersecutionDFFHVVHG0D\KWWSV ZZZSHUVHFXWLRQRUJ PHQWDOO\GLVDEOHGFKULVWLDQDFFXVHGEODVSKHP\SDNLVWDQ. 816SHFLDOۑ3URWHFWLQJFLYLFVSDFHDQGWKHULJKWWRDFFHVVUHVRXUFHV 5DSSRUWHXUDFFHVVHGRQ-XO\KिSV ZZZRKFKURUJ'RFXPHQWV,VVXHV )$VVRFLDWLRQ*HQHUDO3ULQFLSOHV3URWHFWLQJ&LYLF6SDFHSGI. ۑ$KPDGLV.HSW2II0LQRULWLHV&RPPLVVLRQ 3DNLVWDQېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Human Rights Watch-XO\KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV 176 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan ty, they cannot associate with their country without denying their VFDELQHWHVWDEOLVKHGۑUHOLJLRXVLGHQWLW\2Q0D\3DNLVWDQ the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and announced that Ahmadiya representatives will not be a part of it, arguing Factually ۑIDOOLQWKHGHਭQLWLRQRIPLQRULWLHVېWKDWWKH\GLGQRW inaccurate, this decision was not opposed by any cabinet member. ौH $KPDGL\D FRPPXQLW\ WKHUHIRUH LV HYHQ H[FOXGHG IURP becoming a part of any potential body of reparation towards the discrimination they have to face on a daily basis. Any collective freedom of religious expression is curbed by the state, prohibiting Ahmadiyas from constructing mosques, or to UHIHUWRWKHLUSODFHVRIZRUVKLSDVPRVTXHVौHLUPRVTXHVKDYH UHJXODUO\FRPHXQGHUDिDFN,QWZR$KPDGL\DPRVTXHVLQ /DKRUHZHUHVLPXOWDQHRXVO\DिDFNHGLQDQRUJDQLVHGDिHPSWE\ PLOLWDQW6XQQLJURXSVZKRJXQQHGGRZQRYHU$KPDGL\DVLQDQ act of entitled terror.51,Q1RYHPEHUDPREEURNHWKURXJKD police cordon established to protect an Ahmadiya place of worship D़HUHVFDODWLQJUHOLJLRXVWHQVLRQVLQ-KHOXPDQGVHWLWRQਭUH52 In 2FWREHU WKHDVVLVWDQWFRPPLVVLRQHURI+DVLOSXUDORQJZLWK ZRUNHUVRI%DOGLDWRZQDिDFNHGWKH\HDUROG$KPDGL\DSODFH RIZRUVKLSLQ%DKDZDOSXUDQGGHVWUR\HGSDUWVRIWKHEXLOGLQJौH SROLFHDQGJRYHUQPHQWRਯFLDOVVSHDUKHDGLQJWKLVDिDFNKDYHQRW been held accountable.53 $FFRUGLQJWRWKH$QQXDO6HFXULW\5HSRUW E\WKH&HQWUH IRU5HVHDUFKDQG6HFXULW\6WXGLHVbLQ DORQH6KLDVDQGWZR $KPDGL\DV ZHUH NLOOHG LQ WDUJHWHG DिDFNV GXH WR WKHLU IDLWK $QRWKHU6KLDVDQGRQH&KULVWLDQZHUHLQMXUHGWKDW\HDUौH FXUUHQWUHVHDUFKVKRZHGWKDWWKHUHKDYHEHHQDWOHDVWਭYHDिDFNV RQ$KPDGL\DSODFHVRIZRUVKLSVLQFH$XJXVWWZRRQ+LQGX WHPSOHVDQGRQHRQD&KULVWLDQFKXUFKौHUHKDYHDOVREHHQ SDNLVWDQDKPDGLVNHSWPLQRULWLHVFRPPLVVLRQ. ,ELG 51 Minorities under attack: Faith-based discrimination and violence in Pakistan, 5Hঽ:RUOGDFFHVVHG0D\KWWSV ZZZUHIZRUOGRUJSGILGIE HSGI. 52 Ibid. 53 Ibid. ۑ یQQXDO6HFXULW\5HSRUW$ېHQWUHIRU5HVHDUFKDQG6HFXULW\6WXGLHV& Centre for Research and Security Studies'HFHPEHU KWWSV FUVVSN VWRU\UHGXFWLRQLQWHUURULVPLQ LPSURYLQJVHFXULW\VLWXDWLRQUHSRUWVFUVV. 177 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 EODVSKHP\FDVHVਭOHGDJDLQVW$KPDGL\DVQLQHDJDLQVW&KULVWLDQV two against Hindus, and one against a Shia in the same time period.55ौHIHDUIRUWKHLUOLYHVDFWVDVDQDFWLYHKLQGUDQFHLQWKH minorities’ ownership of any civic outlet; the growing intolerance and normalisation of discrimination towards them is coupled by VFRPSOLFLW\LQWKHVWDWXVTXR:KHQ3ULPH0LQLVWHU,PUDQۑWKHVWDWH .KDQDSSRLQWHG$WLI0LDQDJUDGXDWHRI3ULQFHWRQ8QLYHUVLW\ZKR also happens to be an Ahmadiya, to his advisory economic council LQ6HSWHPEHUKHKDGWRHYHQWXDOO\VXFFXPEWRSUHVVXUHDQG remove him from his post. Two members of the advisory council had resigned in protest of the appointment.56 H&KULVWLDQ&RPPXQLW\ Courting extremist groups has institutionalised a culture of LQWROHUDQFH DQG VWUHQJWKHQHG LOOLEHUDO GHPRFUDF\ LQ 3DNLVWDQ 3XEOLF SURWHVW LV QRW DQ RXWOHW DYDLODEOH WR UHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV as most fear violence and retaliation by extremists. Religious SDUWLHV R़HQ GLFWDWH SROLF\ E\ IRUFLQJ WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR RYHUWXUQSURJUHVVLYHGHFLVLRQVौHODFNRIMXVWLFHIRUUHOLJLRXVO\ motivated crimes against minorities creates a culture in which civic participation is dangerous to their lives. For instance, Asia Bibi, a Christian farm labourer, was convicted of blasphemy in \VPRVWQRWRULRXVEODVSKHPۑLQZKDWEHFDPH3DNLVWDQ XQH- case.576KHVSHQWQLQH\HDUVRQGHDWKURZEHIRUHEHLQJDFTXLिHGLQ 2FWREHUEXWWKHIXQGDPHQWDOLVWFRQWURYHUV\FUHDWHGE\KHU DUUHVWLVLQGLFDWLYHRI3DNLVWDQLEHKDYLRXUDQGDिLWXGHVWRZDUGV the Christian community. Even members of dominant religious JURXSVKDYHEHHQNLOOHGZKHQIRXQGWRKDYHVXSSRUWHGPLQRULWLHV Salman Taseer’s murder is a representative example, where GHVSLWHWKHSULYLOHJHRIEHLQJWKH*RYHUQRURI3XQMDEVXSSRUWLQJ V DFTXLिDO LQ UHVXOWHG LQ KLP EHLQJ NLOOHG E\ KLVۑVLD %LEL$ 55 Ibid. V 8QGHU3UHVVXUH*RYW%DFNWUDFNVRQ$WLI0LDQې\DKDG&KDXGKU( Appointment; Removes Economist from Advisory Council’, Dawn, September 8, KWWSV ZZZGDZQFRPQHZV . \BBC)HEUXDUۑV1RWRULRXV&DVH 3DNLVWDQ VLD%LEL$ې\6KXPDLOD-DIIHU KWWSV ZZZEEFFRXNQHZVUHVRXUFHVLGWVK$VLDB%LEL. 178 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan own bodyguard.58 *RYHUQPHQW HਬRUWV WR SODFDWH HQUDJHG PREV further encourage hardliners who realise that they can operate VDFTXLिDOE\WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWۑ$़HU$VLD%LEL with impunity. LQWKH7HKUHHNH/DEEDLN 7/3 SDUW\KHOGYLROHQWSURWHVWV WRGHPDQGKHUGHDWKौHJRYHUQPHQWVKRZHGVLJQVRI\LHOGLQJ WRWKHSURWHVWRUVDOWKRXJKLWODWHUUHVSRQGHGZLWKDFUDFNGRZQ Despite the outrage, the court upheld its decision,61 which was a small victory for human rights in the country. Such glaringly few positive precedents have not successfully abated the culture of fear amongst minorities, which integrally shapes their relationship ZLWK HDFK RWKHU DV D FRPPXQLW\ DQG ZLWK DOO SXEOLF DQG VHPL public spaces. ौHULJKWWRDVVRFLDWHDVVHPEOHDQGH[SUHVVLVDOVRKLQGHUHGE\ WKHFODPSGRZQRQFKXUFKHV&KULVWLDQVFDQQRWHਬHFWLYHO\JDWKHU and pray because of the increasing opposition to the existence of FKXUFKHVLQQRQPHWURSROLWDQDUHDV2QHVXFKFDVHLVWKHFORVLQJ GRZQ RI D FKXUFK FRQVWUXFWHG LQ D YLOODJH LQ 7RED 7HN 6LQJK GLVWULFWLQ62 According to the Human Rights Commission of +5&3 IDFWਭQGLQJPLVVLRQVHYHUDOORFDO0XVOLPVਭOHG Vۑ3DNLVWDQ a suit against the church, and despite pressure from prominent local &KULVWLDQOHDGHUVWKHDXWKRULWLHVDVNHGIRUWKHFKXUFKSUHPLVHVWR DVVXUDQFHVWRUHDOORFDWHWKHۑEHVHDOHGौH0XVOLPFRPPXQLWLHV FKXUFKQHYHUPDWHULDOLVHGौHVLWXDWLRQFDUULHGRQIRU\HDUVDQG KDGHYHQHVFDODWHGWRZDUQLQJVKRWVਭUHGLQWKHDLUE\WKHGLਬHUHQW communities.63 58 ‘Explaining the Salman Taseer Murder’, Council on Foreign Relations, DFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWSV ZZZFIURUJH[SHUWEULHIH[SODLQLQJVDOPDQ WDVHHUPXUGHU. ,ELG ,The Newsۑ2YHU+HOG'XULQJ&UDFNGRZQRQ7/3ې6KHU$OL.KDOWL 1RYHPEHUKWWSV ZZZWKHQHZVFRPSNSULQW RYHUKHOG GXULQJFUDFNGRZQRQWOS. \V7RS&RXUW8SKROGV%ODVSKHPۑ3DNLVWDQ VLD%LEL$ېDUULHW6KHUZRRG+ Acquittal’, The Guardian-DQXDU\ KWWSV ZZZWKHJXDUGLDQFRP ZRUOG MDQ DVLDELELSDNLVWDQVWRSFRXUWXSKROGVEODVSKHP\DFTXLWWDO. 62 ‘“Access Denied”: Why are Minorities’ Sites of Worship Being Closed?’ +XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQDFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWS KUFS ZHERUJKUFSZHEDFFHVVGHQLHGZK\DUHPLQRULWLHVVLWHVRIZRUVKLSEHLQJ closed. 63 Ibid. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 :KLOHWDONLQJZLWKLQGLYLGXDOVIURPWKH6KDQWL1DJDU&KXUFKLQ VIDFWਭQGLQJPLVVLRQGLVFRYHUHGWKDWYDULRXVۑ0XOWDQWKH+5&3 Christian students were under undue verbal duress from Muslim students or instructors to give up their religion. A Christian VWXGHQW 6DਭD :LOOLDPV QDUUDWHG D SHUVRQDO DFFRXQW ZKHUH GXULQJ KHU FROOHJH \HDUV LQ .KDQHZDO LQ KHU SHHUV ZRXOG lecture her to convert to Islam to become more ‘righteous’.6DਭD expressed being existentially confused about whether her entry to heaven is premised on accepting Islam.65 Hence, morality has been weaponised to hinder minorities’ association with their religion in shared spaces, transforming their relationship with their identity to an uncomfortable territory which actively prohibits freedom of expression. DOVRLQYHVWLJDWHGIRUFHG VIDFWਭQGLQJPLVVLRQLQۑौH+5&3 conversions in districts populated by minorities. In Bahawalpur, there were 12 instances of forced marriages premised on forced conversions. An individual from the neighbourhood told the PLVVLRQWKDWLQ&KDN'YLOODJHLQ'HFHPEHU(PDQXHO \V \HDUROG GDXJKWHU KDG WR ZHG LQWR D 0XVOLP IDPLOۑ0DVLK and was converted to Islam.66 ौH HSLVRGH ZDV EURXJKW WR WKH QRWLਭFDWLRQ RI WKH )HGHUDO 0LQLVWHU IRU +XPDQ 5LJKWV 6KLUHHQ 0D]DULEXWQRDFWLRQZDVWDNHQ6XFKUHDFKLQJRXWWRSURPLQHQW individuals within the government is usually unsuccessful since there is no external pressure ensuring accountability. In another IDPLO\LQ&KDN'IRXUVLVWHUVZHUHIRUFHGLQWRPDUULDJHZLWK \RXQJ0XVOLPPHQDQGDिHPSWVWRLQWHUYHQHZHUHQRWVXFFHVVIXO since the Christian community did not have enough social capital to organise any protest.67 Social media storms by activists and progressive individuals are not created in every case. Even when there is considerable dissent on alternative media, the normalisation of forced conversions is one of the reasons why the pressure does QRWXVXDOO\WUDQVODWHLQWRVDWLVIDFWRU\RUPHGLDWRU\DFWLRQौHUH had also been an instance of a female Muslim marrying a Christian ,ELG 65 Ibid. 66 Ibid. 67 Ibid. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan male and the boy being pressured to convert, proving that this GLVFULPLQDWLRQ JRHV EH\RQG HQWUHQFKHG PLVRJ\QLVWLF SDिHUQV68 7UDJLFDOO\ WKH ER\ ZDV ODWHU NLOOHG 1R MXVWLFH KDV \HW EHHQ WKDYHYLDEOHۑGLVSHQVHGौHUHIRUHWKH&KULVWLDQFRPPXQLW\GRHVQ RXWOHWVWRFROOHFWLYLVHDQGWKHLUULJKWWRDVVHPEO\LVFRUGRQHGRਬ H6KLD&RPPXQLW\ /LNH WKH $KPDGL\DV WKH PLQRULW\ VHFW RI 6KLD 0XVOLPV DOVR UHPDLQVWDUJHWVRIUHOLJLRXVH[WUHPLVPLQ3DNLVWDQ With Saudi LQਮXHQFH DQG LQFUHDVHG IXQGLQJ WR IXQGDPHQWDOLVW VHPLQDULHV the rise in sectarianism in the country was propelled in the V ZLWK WKH IRUPDWLRQ RI 6XQQL PLOLWDQW RUJDQLVDWLRQV OLNH -:$6 DWۑWKH/DVKNDUL-KDQJYLDQGWKH$KOH6XQQDW:DO-DPD with an increasing emphasis on jihad and therefore an increase in translating the prejudice into aggressive and collective discriminatory practices. Moreover, the Islamisation policies followed by Zia ul Haq empowered Sunni religious parties VXFK DV WKH -DPLDWXO,VODP -8, WKDW ZDQWHG WR HQIRUFH WKHLU LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI,VODPDQGLQਮXHQFHVWDWHSROLF\71ौHVHUHOLJLRXV parties have also been courted by later governments, out of SROLWLFDOFRQYHQLHQFHौHFRPELQDWLRQRIWKHVHIDFWRUVKDVOHGWRD campaign of systematic violence against the Shia community that KDVVHHQLWVVLWHVRIZRUVKLSDQGFRQJUHJDWLRQVDिDFNHGWKURXJK bombings by militants.72 International human rights observers have noted that the Shia +D]DUDFRPPXQLW\RI3DNLVWDQKDVIDFHGWKHZRUVWYLROHQFHDWWKH KDQGVRIPLOLWDQWVDQGDUHSRUWE\WKH1DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQ 68 Ibid. ,ELG VۑRQVWLWXWLRQDO,VVXHVDQGWKH7UHDWPHQWRI3DNLVWDQ&ېDUDKQD],VSDKDQL( Religious Minorities.’ Asian Affairs QR KWWSV GRLRUJ . 71 Suba Chandran, Sectarian Violence in Pakistan ,QVWLWXWHRI3HDFHDQG &RQIOLFW6WXGLHV 1HZ'HOKL KWWSV ZZZMVWRURUJVWDEOHUHVUHS . 6KLNKD'LODZUL$KPDG6DOLP+XPHUD,VKIDTDQG0RPH6DOHHPSearching for Security: The Rising Marginalization of Religious Communities in Pakistan /RQGRQ 0LQRULW\5LJKWV*URXS,QWHUQDWLRQDO KWWSV PLQRULW\ULJKWV RUJZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVROGVLWHGRZQORDGVPUJVHDUFKLQJIRUVHFXULW\ SDNLVWDQUHSRUWSGI. 181 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 IRU+XPDQ5LJKWV3DNLVWDQQRWHGWKDWPRUHWKDQ+D]DUDV KDYH EHHQ NLOOHG LQ WKH SDVW \HDUV LQ 3DNLVWDQ73 In April DWOHDVW6KLD+D]DUDVZHUHNLOOHGLQDVXLFLGHDिDFNLQD YHJHWDEOHPDUNHWLQोHिD$FFRUGLQJWRRQHUHSRUWDWOHDVW 6KLD+D]DUDVKDYHEHHQNLOOHGVLQFH,Q-XO\DJURXSRI DURXQG6KLD+D]DUDSLOJULPVZHUHDिDFNHGE\JXQPHQZKLOH travelling through the Balochistan province on their way to Iran IRUSLOJULPDJHRIWKHPZHUHNLOOHG75 H+LQGX&RPPXQLW\ Violence is also perpetuated against vulnerable members of the +LQGX FRPPXQLW\ +LQGX JLUOV LQ 6LQGK R़HQ XQGHUDJH DUH abducted by Muslim men, coerced to convert to Islam, and marry their abductors.76 In the process, they face both physical and psychological violence and are forced to cut ties with their families.77 0RVWRIWKHVHJLUOVEHORQJWRIDPLOLHVRIERQGHGODERXUHUVZRUNLQJ for landlords on agricultural land.78 Although marriage under the age of 18 is prohibited by law in Sindh, abductors either use Sharia law to sanctify the marriage and bypass provincial minimum age UHTXLUHPHQWVRUKDYHWKHPDUULDJHWDNHSODFHLQ3XQMDEZKHUHWKH PLQLPXPDJHRIPDUULDJHLVORZHU$ELOOVHHNLQJWRFULPLQDOLVH forced conversions of minors did not get approval in the Sindh legislature due to outrage from the religious parties. Hindu girls who have been forced into such marriages rarely get justice and the perpetrators of the crime go unpunished due 1DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQIRU+XPDQ5LJKWV3DNLVWDQUnderstanding the Agonies of Ethnic Hazaras (Islamabad: National Commission for Human Rights, ,Human Rights WatchۑHDUHWKH:DONLQJ'HDG:ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ -XQHKWWSV ZZZKUZRUJUHSRUW ZHDUHZDONLQJGHDG NLOOLQJVVKLDKD]DUDEDORFKLVWDQSDNLVWDQ. BBC, Septemberۑ3DNLVWDQL6KLD3LOJULPV.LOOHGLQ*XQ$WWDFNRQ%XVې&%% KWWSV ZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGVRXWKDVLD . 5HXEHQ$FNHUPDQForced Conversions & Forced Marriages In Sindh, Pakistan %LUPLQJKDP &,)R5% 77 Ibid. 78 Ibid. PakistanۑRUFHGFRQYHUVLRQVFRQWLQXHXQDEDWHGLQ6LQGK(ې6KDKLG.. Today'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZSDNLVWDQWRGD\FRPSN IRUFHG FRQYHUVLRQVFRQWLQXHXQDEDWHGLQVLQGK. 182 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan WR VWURQJ SROLWLFDO LQਮXHQFH RI UHOLJLRXV OREE\LVWV DQG QHWZRUNV whose leaders are also members of parliament and include LQਮXHQWLDOFOHULFV A bill was presented as a private member’s bill E\DQRSSRVLWLRQSDUW\PHPEHUVHHNLQJWRUDLVHWKHPLQLPXPDJH RIPDUULDJHWR\HDUVLQ3XQMDEEXWLWQHYHUPRYHGIRUGLVFXVVLRQ and deliberation in the parliament.81 ौHIDFWਭQGLQJPLVVLRQDOVRIRXQGWKDWD+LQGXWHPSOH QHDUWKH*RYHUQPHQW6DQGHPDQ+LJK6FKRROIRU%R\VLQोHिD EHLQJUHEXLOWLQWRDVFLHQFHODERUDWRU\ZLWKRXWFRQVHQWIURPWKH ORFDO+LQGXFRPPXQLW\ौHWHPSOHKDVEHHQVKXWIRUDORQJWLPH and the local Hindu community had been banned from using the WHPSOH IRU DQ\ UHOLJLRXV RU QRQUHOLJLRXV SXUSRVH ौH +LQGX community was too scared to even anonymously report details to WKH+5&3PLVVLRQIHDULQJEDFNODVK82ौH+5&3DOVRYLVLWHGWKH *RYHUQPHQW3ULPDU\6FKRROLQ=KREZKLFKKDGDOVREHHQEXLOWRQ WKHVLWHRID+LQGXWHPSOHGXULQJWKH V83ौH+LQGXFRPPXQLW\ had been barred from visiting the site since and the number of Hindu inhabitants in Zhob has been gradually decreasing over WKH\HDUVZLWKUHODWLYHO\IHZ+LQGXIDPLOLHVOH़LQWKHUHJLRQ ौHUH ZDV QR VLJQLਭFDQW RSSRVLWLRQ IURP WKH QHLJKERXUKRRG +LQGXQHWZRUNZKHQWKHWHPSOHZDVFKDQJHGLQWRDVFKRRODVD result of this historical and dialectical suppression of their civic freedoms. Hence, it becomes clear that the Hindu community was forced to migrate and displace themselves for protection, DQG LQWR FXिLQJ Rਬ DQ\ DVVRFLDWLRQ ZLWK WKHLU ODQG LQ RUGHU WR VHFXUHDQDYHUDJHOLIHVW\OHIRUWKHPVHOYHVDQGWKHLUIDPLOLHVौH FKRLFHVWKDWPLQRULW\IDLWKVKDYHWRPDNHIXUWKHUPDUJLQDOLVHDQ\ SRVVLELOLW\RIDिDLQLQJDQ\FLYLFOLEHUW\85/RFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVRI WKHDUHDVDJUHHGWRWDONWRWKH+5&3WHDPRQO\RQWKHFRQGLWLRQRI 5HXEHQ$FNHUPDQForced Conversions & Forced Marriages In Sindh, Pakistan %LUPLQJKDP &,)R5% ,DawnۑLOODJDLQVW&KLOG0DUULDJH'LYLGHV3DUWLHVLQ1$%ېPLU:DVLP$ 0D\ KWWSV ZZZGDZQFRPQHZV . 82 ‘“Access Denied”: Why are Minorities’ Sites of Worship Being Closed?’ +XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQDFFHVVHG$XJXVWKWWS KUFSZHE RUJKUFSZHEDFFHVVGHQLHGZK\DUHPLQRULWLHVVLWHVRIZRUVKLSEHLQJFORVHG. 83 Ibid. ,ELG 85 Ibid. 183 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 anonymity, implying the extent to which participation in external HਬRUWVWRUHFRUGDQGYDOLGDWHWKHRSSUHVVLRQLVDOVRUHVWULFWHGौH representatives elaborated on how these conditions mirrored the treatment of Hindu minorities in the rest of Balochistan.86 A considerable section of the Hindu community inside Sindh DUHWKHVRFDOOHGXQWRXFKDEOHVRU'DOLWV87ौLVJURXSPDNHVXSD VLJQLਭFDQWSRUWLRQRIERQGHGODERXULQ6LQGKZKHUHWKHUHLVDORW RIUHOLDQFHRQWKHVWUHQXRXVDQGH[KDXVWLQJZRUNRIERQGHGODERXU LQJURZLQJFDVKFURSVVXFKDVVXJDUFDQHौHODQGRZQHUVHQVXUH WKDWWKHERQGHGZRUNHUVVWD\LJQRUDQWDQGXQਭWLQDQ\FDSDFLW\ to challenge the institutionalised abuse and unfair practices. 88ौH 1DWLRQDO$VVHPEO\RI3DNLVWDQSURKLELWHGERQGHGODERXUWKURXJK WKH %RQGHG /DERXU $EROLWLRQ $FW %XW WKHVH SUDFWLFHV JR XQFKHFNHG LQ QXPHURXV DUHDV RI 6LQGK DQG DXWKRULWLHV UHPDLQ KHVLWDQWWRLQWHUYHQHVLQFHWKH\FDQQRWDਬRUGUHWULEXWLYHDFWLRQE\ the powerful ruling families. Hindus who do manage to escape bonded labour still cannot access communal support. Existing prejudice, informal apartheid and discrimination guarantee that their professional possibilities are restricted to jobs as sweepers. Recent reports also illustrate an increase in harassment of Hindu ZRPHQ DV VHHQ E\ WKH FDVH RI WKH UDSH RI VL[\HDUROG 9LMDQWL 0HJKZDURQ'HFHPEHULQ*KXODP1DEL6KDKWRZQLQWKH 6LQGKUHJLRQRI3DNLVWDQ In a study directed by Chander Kumar .RKOLWKH9LFH 3UHVLGHQWRIWKH3DNLVWDQ+LQGX6HYDIURP WR'DOLWVDUHKHVLWDQWWROHWWKHLU\RXQJJLUOVDिHQGSULPDU\ VFKRROVLQFHWKH\DUHDWULVNRIDEGXFWLRQDQGVXEVHTXHQWIRUFHG religious conversion. ौHUHIRUHZRPHQZLWKLQPLQRULW\JURXSV 86 Ibid. 87 Ibid. 88 Ibid. ,ELG RUOG'LUHFWRU\RI0LQRULWLHVDQG,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHVDFFHVVHG:ۑLQGXV+ې -XO\KWWSV PLQRULW\ULJKWVRUJPLQRULWLHVKLQGXV. UHHGRPRI5HOLJLRQ(ۑ3HUVHFXWLRQDQG'LVFULPLQDWLRQRI+LQGXVLQ3DNLVWDQې RU%HOLHIDFFHVVHG-XO\KWWSV DSSJIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQRUEHOLHIRUJ PHGLD3DNLVWDQ+LQGXEULHISGI. ۑK\3DNLVWDQL+LQGXVOHDYHWKHLUKRPHVIRU,QGLD:ې7KH([SUHVV7ULEXQH The Express Tribune2FWREHU KWWSV WULEXQHFRPSNVWRU\ ZK\SDNLVWDQLPXVOLPVIOHGSDNLVWDQIRULQGLD. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan are additionally marginalised since the intersectional nature of their oppression further prevents them from interacting with the VRFLHW\0HPEHURI3DUOLDPHQW+DUHVK&KRSUDVDLGWKHVHHSLVRGHV were increasing, and that there are organised factions of mullahs93 (who mobilise locals to participate and support this abuse) and WHUURULVWVZKRNLGQDSPLQRU\RXQJZRPHQRIPLQRULW\IDLWKVDQG IDNHWKHLUDJHFHUWLਭFDWHVZLWK0XVOLPQDPHVIURPPDGUDVVDV ࢌH3ROLWLFVRI6HFXULW\ ,PSOLFDWLRQVIRU+XPDQ Rights Activism ौHGHFOLQHRIFLYLOOLEHUWLHVLQ3DNLVWDQFDQQRWEHVWXGLHGZLWK out examining the role of the military. A hostile geopolitical environment, a legacy of institutional imbalance, and repeated DिHPSWV WR FRQVROLGDWH WKHLU DXWKRULWDULDQ LQਮXHQFH RYHU WKH masses have contributed to military interference in national pol LWLFV3ROLWLFDOSDUWLHVDUHIRUFHGWRVHHNPLOLWDU\DSSURYDODVD PHDQVRIJDLQLQJSRZHUDQGWKHQPDLQWDLQLQJLWौHGLVFHUQ LEOHREVWUXFWLRQRIFLYLFVSDFHEHIRUHWKHHOHFWLRQLQFOXGLQJ UHPRYDO RI WKH FHQWUDO RSSRVLWLRQ ਭJXUH DQG H[WHQVLYH PHGLD censorship over election coverage, give observers enough reason WR VXVSHFW D FORVH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU ,PUDQ Khan and the army. Many speculate that the military rules LQGLUHFWO\WKURXJK.KDQZKRODFNVDQ\UHDOSROLWLFDOSRZHURI KLVRZQGHVSLWHFRQWHVWLQJDQGZLQQLQJWKHQDWLRQDOHOHF tion on a populist platform. Civil Society Organisations :LWK WKH PLOLWDU\ RYHUORRNLQJ JRYHUQDQFH SROLWLFV DQG SROLF\ HVSHFLDOO\QDWLRQDOVHFXULW\DQGIRUHLJQDਬDLUVWKHUHLVFRQVWDQW VXUYHLOODQFHRIFLYLOVRFLHW\3HUFHLYLQJ&62VDVWKUHDWVWRVWDELOLW\ and security, the establishment obstructs their activities in the Mullahs refers to local religious leaders, learned in Islamic theology and shariah law. UHHGRPRI5HOLJLRQ(ۑ3HUVHFXWLRQDQG'LVFULPLQDWLRQRI+LQGXVLQ3DNLVWDQې RU%HOLHIDFFHVVHG-XO\KWWSV DSSJIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQRUEHOLHIRUJ PHGLD3DNLVWDQ+LQGXEULHISGI. 0DGLKD$]IDOAn Inflection Point for Pakistan’s Democracy (Washington, '& 7KH%URRNLQJV,QVWLWXWLRQ 185 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 2V DQG ,1*2V DUH VXEMHFW WR*1 ۑQDWLRQDO LQWHUHVWې QDPH RI extensive regulation involving multiple, lengthy procedures of registration, security clearance, and approvals for funding. bौH entire process is characterised by an absence of transparency and OLPLWHGFLYLOLDQRYHUVLJKWUHVXOWLQJLQDUELWUDU\UHMHFWLRQVRI1*2 DSSOLFDWLRQV-XVWODVW\HDUWKH(FRQRPLF$ਬDLUV'LYLVLRQ ($' UHMHFWHGVXFKUHTXHVWVIRUUHJLVWUDWLRQ bौH($'LVDQHZZLQJ DVVLJQHGWKHUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRUHJLVWHUDQGJLYHFOHDUDQFHWR1*2V DQG,1*2VWRRSHUDWHLQWKHFRXQWU\HYHQWKRXJKDOO1*2VZHUH previously registered with the mandated authorities under the 6RFLHWLHV$FWVXFKDVWKH3DNLVWDQ&HQWUHIRU3KLODQWKURS\ 3&3 RUWKH6HFXULWLHV([FKDQJH&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQ 6(&3 ौHQHZUHJLVWUDWLRQGLUHFWVVHYHUDODUPVRIWKHVWDWHWRLQYHVWLJDWH DQGVFUXWLQLVHWKHSHUVRQDOGHWDLOVRILQGLYLGXDOVDQGVWDਬPHPEHUV HQJDJHGLQDQ1*2DQGWKRVHZKRUXQLWDVZHOODVDOORSHUDWLRQDO DQGਭQDQFLDOGHWDLOV ौHMXULVGLFWLRQVGUDZQE\WKH($'WKURXJK an updated set of additional regulations, requires organisations to sign memoranda of understanding as permission to implement SDUWLFXODUSURMHFWVRUSURJUDPPHVौHUHJXODWLRQVHLWKHULQFOXGH FHUWDLQQRJRDUHDVRIWKHFRXQWU\VXFKDVWKH%DORFKLVWDQSURYLQFH Regardless, there are serious inconsistencies within the regulations and some organisations are registered despite the mentioned jurisdictions. Activism $XUDW 0DUFK DQ DQQXDO ZRPHQ HPSRZHUPHQW UDOO\ RQ 0DUFK FDPH XQGHU DिDFN LQ ,VODPDEDG DV PHQ ZKR UHSRUWHGO\ -8,) DQG/DO0DVMLG D]O(یEHORQJHGWRWKH-DPLDW8OHPDH,VODP KLW WKH PDUFKHUV ZLWK VWLFNV DQG VWRQHV 6RPH RI WKH PDUFKHUV pointed out that the state did not provide the required protection ۑ3DNLVWDQXVHVUHJXODWLRQVWRWLJKWHQJULSRQ,1*2Vې1DGLD1DYLZDOD Devex2FWREHUKWWSV ZZZGHYH[FRPQHZVSDNLVWDQXVHV UHJXODWLRQVWRWLJKWHQJULSRQLQJRV . Dawn, FebruaryۑLYLOVRFLHW\FRQGHPQVVWDWHFODPSGRZQRQ1*2V&ېDZQ' KWWSV ZZZGDZQFRPQHZV. ,Profit of Pakistan TodayۑKDVQRWKLQJWRGRZLWKUHJLVWUDWLRQRI1*2V'$)ې 0DUFK KWWSV SURILWSDNLVWDQWRGD\FRPSN HDGKDVQRWKLQJ WRGRZLWKUHJLVWUDWLRQRIQJRV. 186 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan RU WDNH XUJHQW DFWLRQ GXULQJ WKH DिDFNV LPSO\LQJ LWV FROOXVLRQ ZLWKWKHSDWULDUFKDOPLQGVHWHQDEOLQJWKLVDिDFN ौHQRWRULRXVVHGLWLRQODZ6HFWLRQ$RIWKH3DNLVWDQ3HQDO Code, is frequently deployed to arrest and incarcerate those GHPDQGLQJVRFLDODQGSROLWLFDOUHIRUPV,Q'HFHPEHU WKH police registered sedition cases against the participants and organisers of the Students Solidarity March, a peaceful assembly RI VWXGHQWV DFURVV FLWLHV LQ 3DNLVWDQ A similar charge ZDV EURXJKW LQ )HEUXDU\ DJDLQVW WKH 3URJUHVVLYH ۑXUDW0DUFK$WWDFNHGZLWK%ULFNV6WLFNVLQ,VODPDEDG$ې\3DNLVWDQ7RGD Pakistan Today,0DUFK KWWSV ZZZSDNLVWDQWRGD\FRPSN UHOLJLRXVSDUW\DWWDFNVDXUDWPDUFKLQFDSLWDOVHYHUDOLQMXUHG. 6HGLWLRQ&DVHV5HJLVWHUHG$JDLQVW2UJDQLVHUVDQGېPUDQ*DERO, ZZZGDZQFRP bKWWSV bDawn'HFHPEHUۑ3DUWLFLSDQWVRI6WXGHQW0DUFK QHZV . ,ELG Theۑ"KDW'RHVWKH3DVKWXQ7DKDIX]0RYHPHQW:DQW:ېOL:D]LU$ Diplomat$SULOKWWSV WKHGLSORPDWFRPZKDWGRHVWKH SDVKWXQWDKDIX]PRYHPHQWZDQW. V0LOLWDU\5HSUHVVLQJD+XJH1RQYLROHQW K\,V3DNLVWDQ:ې0DGLKD$I]DO ZZZEURRNLQJV Brookings)HEUXDU\KWWSVۑ"3DVKWXQ3URWHVW0RYHPHQW HGXEORJRUGHUIURPFKDRVZK\LVSDNLVWDQVPLOLWDU\UHSUHVVLQJD KXJHQRQYLROHQWSDVKWXQSURWHVWPRYHPHQW. LYLO5LJKWV$FWLYLVW&ېOOLV3HWHUVHQ+DQQDKDQG6KDK0HHU%DORFK) ,bThe Guardian, January 27ۑUUHVWHGLQ3DNLVWDQRQ6HGLWLRQ&KDUJHV$ bKWWSV ZZZWKHJXDUGLDQFRPZRUOGMDQFLYLOULJKWVDFWLYLVW PDQ]RRUDKPDGSDVKWHHQDUUHVWHGLQSDNLVWDQRQVHGLWLRQFKDUJHV. WLV7LPHIRU,QGLDDQG3DNLVWDQWR5HSHDO7KHLU6HGLWLRQ,ېPPDU$OL-DQ$ ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPLQGHSWKRSLQLRQ Al Jazeera)HEUXDU\KWWSVۑDZV/ WLPHLQGLDSDNLVWDQUHSHDOVHGLWLRQODZVKWPO. 187 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Baloch rights activists are not exempt from the notorious illegal IUDPHZRUN V\VWHPDWLF EODWDQW XVH RI XQGXH IRUFH DQG EUHDFK of the authorised dominion of the state. Various human rights RUJDQLVDWLRQVKDYHUHSRUWHGIRUFHGGLVDSSHDUDQFHVDQGNLOOLQJVRI %DORFKSHUVRQVE\3DNLVWDQLVHFXULW\IRUFHVXQGHUWKHVWDWHSROLF\ 5DSHKDUDVVPHQWDQGH[WUDMXGLFLDOۑNLOODQGGXPSېNQRZQDV NLOOLQJVUHPDLQPRVWO\XQUHSRUWHG$FFRUGLQJWRWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV Council of Balochistan, 371 people have been disappeared and at OHDVWNLOOHGE\3DNLVWDQLVHFXULW\IRUFHVLQWKHਭUVWVL[PRQWKV RI DORQH Amnesty International corroborates this information, noting WKDWVLQFHKXQGUHGVRI%DORFKSHRSOHKDYHEHHQGLVDSSHDUHG RQO\WREHNLOOHGE\3DNLVWDQLVHFXULW\IRUFHV$VRI0DUFK 3DNLVWDQ V &RPPLVVLRQ RI ,QTXLU\ RQ (QIRUFHG 'LVDSSHDUDQFHV D VWDWHUXQ DJHQF\ KDG RYHU XQUHVROYHG FDVHV RI HQIRUFHG disappearances. ौHVLVWHURI,PDP,VKDTDQRWKHUPLVVLQJSHUVRQ FRPPLिHGVXLFLGHD़HUSURWHVWLQJDJDLQVWWKHGLVDSSHDUDQFHRIKHU EURWKHUZKLFKJDLQHGSXEOLFDिHQWLRQWKURXJKDVKRUWYLGHRRIKHU protest which was increasingly circulated through social media. $3DNLVWDQLKXPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWDQGIHPLQLVWZRUNHU*XODODL ,VPDLO ਮHG WR WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV D़HU EHLQJ FKDVHG KDUDVVHG interrogated, investigated and charged with terrorism, defamation DQG VHGLWLRQ D़HU VKH RSHQO\ H[SUHVVHG KHU VROLGDULW\ ZLWK WKH 370LQ.K\EHU3DNKWXQNKZD111 Her father faced similar threats ۑH&DQ7RUWXUH.LOORU.HHS 188 Closing Civic Space in Pakistan VSUHDGLQJKDWHې\D़HUVKHHVFDSHGDQGZDVDUUHVWHGIRUDOOHJHGO NHSWLQFXVWRG\IRUGD\VDQGKHUSDVVSRUWDQGۑDJDLQVWWKHVWDWH GRFXPHQWVZHUHWDNHQDZD\112 Jalila Haider, a Baloch women’s rights activist was detained at WKH/DKRUHDLUSRUWE\WKH)HGHUDO,QYHVWLJDWLRQ$JHQF\ ),$ IRU VHYHQKRXUVZKLOHWUDYHOOLQJWRDFRQIHUHQFHLQ/RQGRQौHDJHQF\ reportedly detained her because her name was on a category B DQGWKHUHIRUHODEHOOLQJKHUDVۑDQWLVWDWHDFWLYLWLHVېZDWFKOLVWIRU D WHUURULVW ZKR ZDV D VHFXULW\ WKUHDW WR 3DNLVWDQ +HU SDVVSRUW ZDV WDNHQ DZD\ DQG UHWXUQHG RQO\ D़HU VKH KDG PLVVHG KHU ਮLJKW113+XPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWVDQGFLYLOVRFLHW\ZRUNHUVDUHEHLQJ increasingly questioned at airports about their international travels and participation at international conferences and their reasons for doing so. Media Journalists, writers and human rights activists who advocate for the ULJKWVRIPLQRULWLHVRUHYHQVLPSO\WDONDERXWIUHHVSHHFKDQGJLYH DQLPSUHVVLRQRIDOLEHUDO3DNLVWDQDUHLQFUHDVLQJO\EHLQJVLOHQFHG Media outlets, small and large, as well as independent writers KDYH H[SHULHQFHG JURZLQJ EDFNODVK KDUDVVPHQW LQWLPLGDWLRQ and criminalisation.115 6DMLG +XVVDLQ %DORFK D 3DNLVWDQL %DORFK MRXUQDOLVWZDVIRXQGGHDGLQ6ZHGHQLQ0D\D़HUKHKDGJRQH missing in March.116ौHUHLVVXਯFLHQWLQIRUPDWLRQWRVXJJHVWWKDW 112 Ibid. FWLYLVW-DOLOD+DLGHUUHOHDVHGDIWHUEHLQJKHOGE\),$IRU$ېPUDQ*DERO, ZZZGDZQFRP Dawn, -DQXDU\IURPKWWSVۑKRXUVDW/DKRUH$LUSRUW QHZV . $LUSRUWVHFXULW\VFUHHQLQJSURFHGXUHVIRUSDVVHQJHUVGHSDUWLQJ 3DNLVWDQې on international flights, including whether authorities verify if a passenger is Canada: Immigration and Refugeeۑ 'HFHPEHU ZDQWHGE\WKHSROLFH Board of Canada-DQXDU\KWWSV ZZZUHIZRUOGRUJGRFLGDDG html. WUHPH)HDUDQG6HOI])۔ېDQQDK(OOLV3HWHUVHQDQG6KDK0HHU%DORFK+ The Guardian, Novemberۑ0HGLD)UHHGRPXQGHU7KUHDWLQ3DNLVWDQ ەHQVRUVKLS& KWWSV ZZZWKHJXDUGLDQFRPZRUOG QRYH[WUHPHIHDUDQGVHOI FHQVRUVKLSPHGLDLQSDNLVWDQXQGHUDWWDFN. 0LVVLQJ3DNLVWDQLMRXUQDOLVWIRXQGGHDGLQ 6DMLG+XVVDLQ%DORFKې:' Sweden’, DW0D\KWWSV ZZZGZFRPHQVDMLGKXVVDLQEDORFK PLVVLQJSDNLVWDQLMRXUQDOLVWIRXQGGHDGLQVZHGHQD . South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 3DNLVWDQLLQWHOOLJHQFHDJHQFLHVPD\KDYHDEGXFWHGKLPDQGDOVR NLOOHGKLPDVKHKDGਮHGIURP3DNLVWDQWRVHHNUHIXJHLQ6ZHGHQ D़HUUHFHLYLQJWKUHDWVIRUKLVMRXUQDOLVPRQWKHVHSDUDWLVWFRQਮLFW in Balochistan.117 ,QDUDUHWHVWLPRQ\LQ$XJXVWWZRGR]HQIHPDOH3DNLVWDQL journalists complained that they have encountered ‘coordinated’ vicious social media campaigns to harass, discredit and intimidate WKHPIRUWKHLUZRUN1186RPHRIWKHPDOOHJHGWKDW7ZLिHUDFFRXQWV DਯOLDWHGZLWKWKHUXOLQJ3DNLVWDQ7HKUHHNH,QVDI 37, 3DUW\DQG ۑRUJDQLVHGې ULJKWZLQJ HOHPHQWV LQ WKH VRFLHW\ ZHUH EHKLQG WKH DिDFNV6HYHUDORIWKHZLWQHVVHVGHVFULEHGWKHH[SOLFLWQDWXUHRIWKH sexual abuse they faced, including social media trolls calling them ‘prostitutes’ or ‘whores’ and threatening them with rape or death. Academics Junaid Hafeez, a university professor, was sentenced to death on FKDUJHV RI EODVSKHP\ LQ 0XOWDQ LQ D़HU EHLQJ DFFXVHG LQ DQGVSHQGLQJWKHLQWHUYHQLQJ\HDUVLQVROLWDU\FRQਭQHPHQW 6KDJX़D0DVLKZKRVKDUHGWKHVDPHFHOOIRUDZKLOHZLWK$VLD %LELZDVDFFXVHGDORQJZLWKKHUKXVEDQGRIEODVSKHP\ौHFDVH SHULRG121ۑLQGHਭQLWLYHېQRZVWDQGVDGMRXUQHGIRUDQ 8QLYHUVLW\SURIHVVRUVNQRZQWRWHDFKZLWKDQRSHQPLQGDQGZKR are progressively inclined have faced intimidation from students as well as conservative administration and faculty members. Recently, 3HUYDL] +RRGEKR\ D UHQRZQHG 3DNLVWDQL QXFOHDU SK\VLFLVW ZDV GLVPLVVHGE\WKH)RUPDO&KULVWLDQ&ROOHJHLQ/DKRUHDVKLVYLHZV 117 Ibid. Q5DUH7HVWLPRQ\)HPDOH3DNLVWDQL-RXUQDOLVWV'HVFULEH,ېD]*XO\$ Voice of America$XJXVWKWWSVۑ6RFLDO0HGLD$WWDFNVWR/DZPDNHUV ZZZYRDQHZVFRPSUHVVIUHHGRPUDUHWHVWLPRQ\IHPDOHSDNLVWDQLMRXUQDOLVWV GHVFULEHVRFLDOPHGLDDWWDFNVODZPDNHUV. ,ELG 3DNLVWDQLDFDGHPLF-XQDLG+DIHH]VHQWHQFHGWRGHDWKېVDG+DVKLP$ for blasphemy’, Aljazeera, 'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUD FRPQHZV SDNLVWDQLDFDGHPLFMXQDLGKDIHH]VHQWHQFHGGHDWK EODVSKHP\ KWPO. V&HOO1RZ+ROGV$QRWKHU&KULVWLDQ:RPDQRQ VLD%LEL$ېVLI$TXHHO$ Death Row for Blasphemy’, Christianity Today-XO\ KWWSV ZZZ FKULVWLDQLW\WRGD\FRPQHZV PD\DVLDELELODZ\HUPDORRNVKDJXIWDVKDITDW EODVSKHP\SDNLVWDQKWPO. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan ZHUHRSHQO\NQRZQDVEHLQJFULWLFDORIWKHJRYHUQPHQWSROLFLHV he also lectured on logic and progressive thought and reasoning.122 6LPLODUO\ $PPDU $OL -DDQ D ZHOONQRZQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVW ZDV GLVPLVVHG E\ WKH )RUPDO &KULVWLDQ &ROOHJH D़HU KDYLQJ EHHQ SUHYLRXVO\UHPRYHGIURP3XQMDE8QLYHUVLW\IRUKLVSROLWLFDOYLHZV IROORZLQJ KLV SURWHVW DJDLQVW WKH NLOOLQJ RI $UPDQ /RQL D VHQLRU \QHHGOHVVOې OHDGHU RI WKH 3DVKWXQ 7DKDIX] 0RYHPHQW DQG EHLQJ VDFWLYLVP123ۑRQPLQRULWLHVULJKWVWKH370DQGZRPHQۑYRFDO /DZ\HUV ZKR ZRUN DV KXPDQ ULJKWV DFWLYLVWV HVSHFLDOO\ WKRVHGHIHQGLQJEODVSKHP\UHODWHGFDVHVDJDLQVWPLQRULWLHVDQG lawyers who are themselves minorities, continue to face threats IRUWKHZRUNWKH\GR$FFRUGLQJWRWKH)URQWOLQH'HIHQGHUVVRPH KXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVDUHDWULVNLQ3DNLVWDQौHFDVHRI WKHODZ\HU6DLIXO0XORRNZKRGHIHQGHG$VLD%LELLVDOVRZRUWK noting as he continues to face considerable threats to his public life as he defends another Christian couple’s case.125 Conclusion ौHVWDWHRIVHFXULW\DQGIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQUHPDLQVRQHRIGHHS FRQFHUQLQ3DNLVWDQौHVKULQNLQJVSDFHIRUFLYLOVRFLHW\LQGLFDWHV WKHKHLJKWHQHGWKUHDWVWR3DNLVWDQLKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVDQG IUHHWKLQNHUVौH\KDYHEHHQYLFWLPVRIHQIRUFHGGLVDSSHDUDQFHV LOOHJDOGHWHQWLRQDQGLQVRPHLQVWDQFHVPXUGHUDVZHOO3DNLVWDQL civil society groups increasingly feel the systematic elements RI FRHUFLRQ ZKLFK RSHUDWH WKURXJK FRYHUW VWDWH SUDFWLFHV ौH voice of civil society is suppressed and unheard. Even the voices which get a hearing are not entertained seriously or get access to 122 The Express Tribune, ‘Hoodbhoy resigns from FC College after \The Express Tribune-XOۑەQRQUHQHZDEOH۔DGPLQLVWUDWLRQWHUPVFRQWUDFW KWWSV WULEXQHFRPSNVWRU\ KRRGEKR\UHVLJQVIURPIFFROOHJH DIWHUDGPLQLVWUDWLRQWHUPVFRQWUDFWQRQUHQHZDEOH. 123 ‘FC College Forces Ammar Ali Jan To Step Down As Faculty Member’, NayaDaur, -XQHKWWSV QD\DGDXUWYIFFROOHJHIRUFHVDPPDU DOLMDQWRVWHSGRZQDVIDFXOW\PHPEHU. ZZZ URQWOLQH'HIHQGHUVDFFHVVHG-XO\KWWSV(ۑ3DNLVWDQې IURQWOLQHGHIHQGHUVRUJHQORFDWLRQSDNLVWDQ. ۑ7KH3DNLVWDQLODZ\HUSXWWLQJKLVOLIHRQWKHOLQHې1HZ,QWHUQDWLRQDOLVW New Internationalist-XQH KWWSV QHZLQWRUJIHDWXUHV SDNLVWDQLODZ\HUSXWWLQJKLVOLIHOLQH. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 justice. Democratic in its constitution, the rights of the citizens DUHLQDOLHQDEOHLQ3DNLVWDQ Recommendations L ौHJRYHUQPHQWRI3DNLVWDQPXVWVWRSLQYDVLYHDिDFNVRQ the public lives of citizens through regressive laws that restrict civil liberties. V LQWHUQDWLRQDOۑLL /DZV VKRXOG UHPDLQ LQ OLQH ZLWK 3DNLVWDQ FRPPLWPHQWV WKURXJK WKH 81 &RQYHQWLRQV (8 FRQYHQ WLRQV DV ZHOO DV DJUHHPHQWV RQ KXPDQ ULJKWV ZLWK *63 *HQHUDOLVHG6FKHPHRI3UHIHUHQFHV DQG)$7) )LQDQFLDO $FWLRQ7DVN)RUFH LLL ौHJRYHUQPHQWPXVWLPSHGHXQGXHVSDFHJLYHQWRXQGHP ocratic institutions to reform, coerce, or manipulate laws, systems and procedures and the space of citizens. LY ौH JRYHUQPHQW PXVW DGKHUH WR WKH $UWLFOHV RQ WKH Freedom of Association as mentioned in the Constitution and disallow interference of undemocratic institutions in unwarranted arrests, torture, abductions and intimidation. Y 3ROLWLFDOSDUWLHVLQ3DNLVWDQDUHUHFRPPHQGHGWRWUDQVIRUP as modern political parties and institute a culture of participatory politics. YL 'HPRFUDWLF SDUWLHV VKRXOG HYROYH E\ LGHQWLI\LQJ WKH ODFN of political parties that have not been organised around patronage politics and feudal relationships. vii. Consultations should be held with civil society regarding interference by state apparatus against organisations ZLWKRXWWDNLQJLQFRQਭGHQFH1*2V,1*2VDQGSDUOLDPHQW \HWFLYLOVRFLHW\LVVWUXJJOLQJRQDFFRXQWRIVKULQNLQJFLYLF space and stringent regulations imposed on civil society LQFOXGLQJPHGLD1*2VDQG,1*2V YLLLौH JRYHUQPHQW PXVW HQDFW H[LVWLQJ ODZV DJDLQVW KDWH speech and sectarian violence, especially with regards to WKHULVLQJVHFWDULDQ6KLD6XQQLFRQਮLFWLQWKHFRXQWU\DQG the persecuted Ahmadiya population. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan L[ ौHJRYHUQPHQWPXVWDWOHDVWHQDFWVHFWLRQVRIWKH3DNLVWDQ 3HQDOFRGHDJDLQVWWKHXQODZIXOFRQYHUVLRQRIFLWL]HQVWR Islam. [ ौH JRYHUQPHQW PXVW PRYH WRZDUGV LQWHJUDWHG V\VWHPV LQVWLWXWLRQV DQG GHSDUWPHQWV WKDW PDNH HQIRUFHPHQW mechanisms mandatory to uphold constitutional values of civil liberties instead of enacting and legislating regressive laws which defy these values. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Annex Assessment of Civic Space in Pakistan: Survey Findings An online survey was conducted with 25 renowned human ULJKWV GHIHQGHUV RQ KRZ FLYLF VSDFH KDV IDUHG LQ 3DNLVWDQ VLQFH WKH 3DNLVWDQ 7HKUHHN ,QVDDI 37, FDPH WR SRZHU LQ 2I them, substantial majorities strongly disagree with the statement that sexual minorities are able to practise their civil liberties in 3DNLVWDQ WKDWPHQDQGZRPHQDUHDEOHWRHQMR\HTXDODFFHVVWR civil liberties; that the poor and the rich have equal access to civil OLEHUWLHV RUWKDWDOOGLਬHUHQWVRFLDOJURXSVUHJDUGOHVVRIHWKQLFLW\ language, etc, are able to access civil liberties. All groups have been allowed to form and register an association in order to advance collective interests. 6% 28% 17% 50% No new laws have been introduced, passed, or amendments made to existing ones, to make it more difficult for people to form and operate civil society organisations. 6% 50% 6% 39% The government has allowed religious organisations/ groups to function unhindered. 11% 44% 22% 17% 6% CSOs have been allowed to receive foreign funding without restrictions. 44% 22% 33% Strongly agree Public statements from the government directed at the civil society and human rights defenders have shifted from negative to positive. Agree 6% 50% 28% 17% Neither agree or disagree There have been progressive court judgements related to the Freedom of Disagree Association. 16% 55% 22% 6% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͗ ǀĂůƵĂƟŶŐƚŚĞWĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶŽĨĐĐĞƐƐƚŽŝǀŝĐ^ƉĂĐĞZĞŇĞĐƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŚĞ>Ăǁ͕ĂŶĚĨŽƌŝīĞƌĞŶƚ'ƌŽƵƉƐĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽ,ƵŵĂŶZŝŐŚƚƐ ĞĨĞŶĚĞƌƐ Half the respondents strongly disagree with the statement that all groups have been allowed to register an association in order to DGYDQFHWKHLUFROOHFWLYHLQWHUHVWVौHUHLVEODWDQWGLVFULPLQDWLRQLQ WKHQDWXUHRIULJKWVWKDW&62VDUHDOORZHGWRDGYRFDWHIRU$WRWDO RI SHUFHQWRIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVEHOLHYHWKDWQRQHZODZVKDYH EHHQSDVVHGWRPDNHWKHRSHUDWLRQRI&62VPRUHGLਯFXOWZLWK SHUFHQWGLVDJUHHLQJDQGDURXQG SHUFHQWVWURQJO\GLVDJUHHLQJ with the statement. Closing Civic Space in Pakistan Freedom of assembly in law is present 22% 39% 28% 11% Allowed peaceful protests and demonstrations 16% 11% 50% 22% State has not used physical violence against protestors 11% 22% 28% 39% Agree State has not made arbitrary or illegal arrests of protestors 11%11% 39% 39% Neither agree or disagree Progressive court judgments regarding freedom of assembly Disagree 16% 50% 28% 6% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͗WĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞŽĨ,ƵŵĂŶZŝŐŚƚĞĨĞŶĚĞƌƐtŚŽĞůŝĞǀĞŝŶƚŚĞ ĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJŽĨ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůů'ƌŽƵƉƐŝŶWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ All social groups 6% 33% 61% Rich and poor 33% 67% Strongly agree Men and women Neither agree or disagree 11% 22% 67% Disagree Sexual minorities 28% 72% Strongly disagree &ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͗WĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞŽĨZĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ͛ŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚŽƌŝƐĂŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚ tŝƚŚ^ƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚƐďŽƵƚ&ƌĞĞĚŽŵŽĨƐƐĞŵďůLJ Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space Ambika Satkunanathan Introduction ौLVUHSRUWZLOOGLVFXVVWKHVWDWHRIWKHULJKWVRIHWKQRUHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHVLQ6UL/DQNDLQWKHFRQWH[WRIWKHHURVLRQRIFLYLFVSDFH1 +LVWRULFDOO\PLQRULWLHVLQ6UL/DQNDKDYHIDFHGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ marginalisation, and violence, which worsened during periods when the space for dissent and civil society activism was also under DिDFNE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWRIWKHGD\'XULQJ3UHVLGHQW0DKLQGD VUHJLPHIURPWRLQWKHPLGVWRIVKULQNLQJRIۑ5DMDSDNVD FLYLFVSDFHDQGFUDFNGRZQRQGLVVHQWHWKQRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHV faced numerous threats and obstacles to exercising their rights. $OWKRXJKWKLVFKDQJHGLQ-DQXDU\ZKHQWKH Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space FRQWLQXLW\ RI YLRODWLRQV DFURVV UHJLPHV WKLV UHSRUW ZLOO ਭUVW VHW RXWWKHVWDWHRIPLQRULW\ULJKWVGXULQJWKH Methodology 'XH WR WKH SDQGHPLF WKH UHSRUW LV EDVHG RQ D GHVN UHYLHZ RI VQRWHVRIਭHOGYLVLWVۑUHVRXUFHVLQWKHSXEOLFGRPDLQDQGWKHDXWKRU XQGHUWDNHQGXULQJWKHSHULRGXQGHUUHYLHZ ࢌH Political Context ौH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SROLWLFDOVROXWLRQWRWKHWKLUW\\HDUROGHWKQLFFRQਮLFWZKLFKWKH 5DMDSDNVDJRYHUQPHQWKDGHQGHGPLOLWDULO\DQGVROXWLRQVWRGHDO with the violations of the past, for which it received their vote. However, by the end of its tenure, most of those promises had QRW EHHQ IXOਭOOHG DQG WKH JRYHUQPHQW ZDV GRJJHG E\ VFDQGDOV VXFK DV WKH &HQWUDO %DQN ERQG FRUUXSWLRQ DOOHJDWLRQV ,Q WKH 6RXWKHUQ 6LQKDODPDMRULW\ SDUW RI WKH FRXQWU\ WKLV FUHDWHG DQ DWPRVSKHUH LQ ZKLFK SXEOLF GLVFRQWHQW ZDV HਬHFWLYHO\ XVHG E\ WKH 6UL /DQND 3RGXMDQD 3HUDPXQD 6/33 D QHZ RSSRVLWLRQ SDUW\IRXQGHGE\WKH5DMDSDNVDVWRFUHDWHSXEOLFFODPRXUIRUD VۑQDWLRQDOLVW DQG SRSXOLVW JRYHUQPHQW &RXSOHG ZLWK WKH 6/33 UHOHQWOHVVFDPSDLJQWRSRUWUD\WKH ۑ6DPSDQWKDQ6D\V7DPLO3HRSOH/RVLQJ3DWLHQFHZLWK Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space ULJKWVRIWKHPLQRULWLHVDQGLQFUHDVHGDQGYLUXOHQWDQWLPLQRULW\ DFWLRQE\ERWKVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV Civic Space &LYLFVSDFHRSHQHGXSIROORZLQJWKHHQGRIWKH5DMDSDNVDUHJLPH DQG WKH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 RI HPHUJHQF\ UHJXODWLRQV XQGHU WKH 3XEOLF 6HFXULW\ 2UGLQDQFH FRQWULEXWHG WR WKH VKULQNLQJ RI FLYLF VSDFH 6LQFH 6UL /DQND KDV EHHQXQGHUDVWDWHRIHPHUJHQF\IRUPRVWRILWVSRVWLQGHSHQGHQFH life, there is public acceptance of militarisation of policing and law enforcement, and of the military exercising powers that are not subject to judicial review. While it could be argued that the declaration of a state of emergency for a short period due to the (DVWHU DिDFNV FDQ EH MXVWLਭHG WKH SURPXOJDWLRQ RI HPHUJHQF\ regulations that clearly and disproportionately impinged on civic rights signalled a reversion to creating a climate in which the executive overreaches and curbs on civic rights are normalised. $़HU WKH VWDWH RI HPHUJHQF\ ZDV DOORZHG WR ODSVH RQ $XJXVW WKH3UHVLGHQWXVHG6HFWLRQRIWKH3XEOLF6HFXULW\ WKH DUPHG IRUFHV WR PDLQWDLQ ODZ ۑFDOO RXWې 362 WR 2UGLQDQFH DQGRUGHU8QOLNHWKHGHFODUDWLRQRIWKHVWDWHRIHPHUJHQF\ZKLFK KDVWREHUDWLਭHGE\WKHSDUOLDPHQWZLWKLQIRXUWHHQGD\VDWਭUVW LQVWDQFHDQGWKHUHD़HUHYHU\PRQWKWKHSUHVLGHQWKDVWRPHUHO\ LVVXHDJD]HिHQRWLਭFDWLRQHDFKPRQWKWRH[HUFLVHKLVSRZHUXQGHU 6HFWLRQRIWKH362+HQFHWKHJD]HिHLVQRWVXEMHFWWRVFUXWLQ\ RUGHEDWHE\WKHSDUOLDPHQWौHFDOOLQJXSRQRIWKHDUPHGIRUFHV WRPDLQWDLQODZDQGRUGHULHHਬHFWLYHO\HQJDJHLQSROLFLQJZHQW unnoticed, and there was no challenge to it by civil society or even VXVHۑWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI6UL/DQNDौH3UHVLGHQW RI 6HFWLRQ RI WKH 362 FRXOG KDYH JRQH XQQRWLFHG GXH WR WKH IDFW LW GLG QRW KDYH WR EH UDWLਭHG E\ 3DUOLDPHQW DV ZHOO LWV XVH being normalised as it had been used for an extended period by the 0DKLQGD5DMDSDNVDUHJLPH ौHUHDUHRWKHUIDFWRUVWKDWHQDEOHGDUHODWLYHO\HDV\WUDQVLWLRQ WR DQ DXWKRULWDULDQ JRYHUQPHQW SRVW1RYHPEHU ौHVH LQFOXGHWKHIDLOXUHRIWKH HPHUJHQF\IURPDSULOWKHSXEOLFVHFXULW\RUGLQDQFHHPHUJHQF\RUGHUKWPO. RLQW&LYLO6RFLHW\6XEPLVVLRQWRWKH813HULRGLF5HYLHZRI6UL-ې Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space continued existence of the informal intelligence apparatus, which is not held accountable to any democratic oversight entity or process, also meant that civil society organisations, particularly IURPRਯFHUVIURPWKHۑYLVLWVېLQWKHQRUWKFRQWLQXHGWRUHFHLYH GLਬHUHQW LQWHOOLJHQFH DV ZHOO DV ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW HQWLWLHV9 For LQVWDQFHIDPLOLHVRIWKHGLVDSSHDUHGZKRE\-XQHKDGEHHQ SURWHVWLQJIRURYHUGD\VDWPXOWLSOHORFDWLRQVLQWKH1RUWKHUQ 3URYLQFH FRPSODLQHG RI UHJXODU PRQLWRULQJ E\ WKH LQWHOOLJHQFH agencies during their protests.10ौHVDPHZDVVWDWHGE\SHUVRQV protesting for the release of land in Keppapilavu, Mullaitivu in the 1RUWKHUQ3URYLQFH PRUHRQWKLVXQGHU/DQG5LJKWVVHFWLRQODWHU H5LJKWVRI(WKQR5HOLJLRXV0LQRULWLHV 5LJKWVRIWKH0XVOLP&RPPXQLW\ In the context of historical rights violations and organised state violence against both Tamil and Muslim communities in Sri /DQNDIRUZKLFKSHUSHWUDWRUVKDYHUDUHO\EHHQKHOGDFFRXQWDEOH VIDLOXUHWREULQJWRDFFRXQWWKRVHۑWKH /DQND th Session)’ United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner,0DUFKKWWSV XSUGRFRKFKURUJXSUZHEGRZQORDGILOH DVS["ILOHQDPH ILOH (QJOLVK7UDQVODWLRQ. ,ELG DPLOLHVGHFU\VXUYHLOODQFHDV6UL/DQNDQLQWHORXWLQIRUFHDWGLVDSSHDUHG(ې protest’, Tamil Guardian,'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRP FRQWHQWIDPLOLHVGHFU\VXUYHLOODQFHVULODQNDQLQWHORXWIRUFHGLVDSSHDUHG protest. ,Human Rights Watch, July 3ۑ0XVOLPV)DFH7KUHDWV$WWDFNV 6UL/DQNDې KिSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV VULODQNDPXVOLPVIDFHWKUHDWV DिDFNV. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 there were campaigns against the Muslim community fuelled by social as well as mainstream media and the Buddhist clergy that UHFHLYHGHLWKHURYHUWRUWDFLWVXSSRUWRIWKHVWDWHौLVLQGLFDWHVWKH H[LVWHQFHRIGHHSVHDWHGFRPPXQDOLVPDQGSUHMXGLFHZLWKLQWKH state structure and society that have to be addressed. ौUHHZHHNVD़HUWKH(DVWHUDिDFNVDQWL0XVOLPULRWVRFFXUUHG RQ0D\ LQFHUWDLQ0XVOLPPDMRULW\WRZQVPDLQO\LQWKH 1RUWK:HVWHUQ3URYLQFHDQGVRPHDUHDVLQWKH:HVWHUQ3URYLQFH ौLVUHVXOWHGLQGDPDJHWRSURSHUW\DQGWKHGHDWKRIDQLQGLYLGXDO )RX]XO $PHHU D FDUSHQWHU ZKR ZDV KDFNHG WR GHDWK DW WKH entrance to his home.123HUVRQVIURPDUHDVVXFKDV.RिDUDPXOODL DQGौXPPRGDUDLQWKH1RUWK:HVWHUQ3URYLQFHVWDWHGWKDWWKH\ KDGKHDUGRIUXPRXUVRIDSRVVLEOHDिDFNWKHSUHYLRXVQLJKWDQG had contacted the police and state authorities numerous times requesting protection, which never materialised.13 ौH YLROHQFH WRRNSODFHZKLOHDFXUIHZKDGEHHQGHFODUHGLQWKHVHDUHDVDQGLW LVFRPPRQSUDFWLFHIRUWKHSROLFHWRHVWDEOLVKFKHFNSRLQWVZKHQ a curfew is declared to prevent the movement of people. In this FRQWH[W WKH DELOLW\ RI PREV WR DिDFN 0XVOLP YLOODJHV SRLQWV WR JUDYHQHJOLJHQFHDQGRUFROOXVLRQRQWKHSDUWRIWKHVWDWH $OWKRXJKPRUHWKDQSHUVRQV14 were arrested for the violence, there were allegations that many who were responsible, especially those from within the community who participated in the violence LQ.RिDUDPXOODLDQGौXPPRGDUDZHUHQRWDUUHVWHG(YHQWKRVH ZKR ZHUH DUUHVWHG ZHUH QRW GHWDLQHG XQGHU WKH ,&&35 $FW IRU LQFLWHPHQW WR YLROHQFH ZKLFK ZRXOG EH D QRQEDLODEOH RਬHQFH EXW XQGHU WKH 3HQDO &RGH DQG ZHUH JUDQWHG EDLO ZLWKLQ D IHZ ZHHNV RI DUUHVW ौH JUDQWLQJ RI EDLO LQ WKLV LQVWDQFH VKRXOG EH FRQWUDVWHGZLWKDQRWKHUFDVHRIUHIXVDORIEDLOWRDVHYHQWHHQ\HDU old pregnant Muslim woman wearing a hijab. She was arrested for allegedly covering her face when she covered her mouth with a ,Sunday Observer, May 26 ۑ/+5&6 3ROLFHVWRRGE\ZKLOHPREVUDPSDJHGې KिS ZZZVXQGD\REVHUYHUON QHZVSROLFHVWRRGZKLOHPREV UDPSDJHGKUFVO. 6ULی7KH0RUQLQJۑSURYLGHVJXLGHOLQHVWRDFWLQJ,*3/6&5+ې 5DQGHY /DQND1HZVKWWS ZZZWKHPRUQLQJONKUFVOSURYLGHVJXLGHOLQHVWRDFWLQJLJS. VLD$&%%ۑ6UL/DQNDH[WHQGVQDWLRQZLGHFXUIHZDIWHUDQWL0XVOLPULRWVې 0D\ KWWSV ZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGDVLD . Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space KDQGNHUFKLHIZKLOHH[SHULHQFLQJDPRPHQWRIQDXVHDEXWVKHZDV QRWJLYHQEDLOIRUQHDUO\WZRPRQWKV7RGDWHWKHUHLVQRNQRZQ FDVHRISURVHFXWLRQRISHUSHWUDWRUVRIWKH0D\ DQWL0XVOLP YLROHQFH ौH DIRUHPHQWLRQHG LQDFWLRQ DQG DFWLRQ RI YDULRXV state entities raise questions about their impartiality and prima IDFLH SRLQW WR SRVVLEOH DQWL0XVOLP SUHMXGLFHV HPEHGGHG ZLWKLQ WKHVHLQVWLWXWLRQVौHVHDUHDOVRH[DPSOHVRIVWDWHLQDFWLRQWKDW has created a sense of impunity amongst the public and, thereby, HPEROGHQHGSHRSOHWRHQJDJHLQDQWL0XVOLPDFWV $़HUWKH(DVWHUDिDFNVDODUJHQXPEHURI0XVOLPPHQZHUH arrested seemingly without reasonable cause. For example, there were cases of men being arrested for possessing items such as FKORULQHZKLFKZDVVXVSHFWHGWREHH[SORVLYHPDWHULDOVWKHोUDQ DQGGRFXPHQWVLQ$UDELFKDYLQJDVRQJ 4DVHHGD RQWKHKXQGUHG names of Allah on their phone, and a dagger. Due to this, members RIWKH0XVOLPFRPPXQLW\KDGEXUQWोUDQVDQGPDJD]LQHVDQG other documents that were in Arabic for fear of being arrested.15 ौH 0XVOLP PHQ ZHUH PRVWO\ DUUHVWHG DQG GHWDLQHG XQGHU WKH 3UHYHQWLRQ RI 7HUURULVP $FW 37$ ZKLFK KDV EHHQ ਮDJJHG IRUGHFDGHVDVDODZWKDWYLRODWHVNH\KXPDQULJKWVLQSDUWLFXODU due process rights, and violates the accused’s right to enjoy a fair trial.16 +LVWRULFDOO\ WKH 37$ ZDV XVHG DJDLQVW WKH 7DPLO community with torture in custody and extraction of forcible confessions from detainees documented through the years.17 In D़HUWKH(DVWHUDिDFNVWKLVODZZDVXVHGWRDUUHVWDODUJH number of Muslim men and numerous instances of violation of GXHSURFHVVULJKWVZHUHUHSRUWHG*LYHQWKHVHULRXVQHVVRIWHUURU RਬHQFHVWKHDUUHVWRIDQ\RQHXQGHUWKH37$DOVRVHUYHVWRFXUE challenges to such an arrest due to concern amongst the public DQG KXPDQ ULJKWV GHIHQGHUV RI SRVVLEOH VWDWH EDFNODVK RU EHLQJ 15 Author’s notes based on complaints received and dealt with during her WHQXUHDV&RPPLVVLRQHURIWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI6UL/DQND ,The Island, June 27ۑ+5&6/UHVSRQGVWR3UHVLGHQW UUHVWXQGHU37$$ې KWWS ZZZLVODQGONLQGH[SKS"SDJHBFDW DUWLFOHGHWDLOV SDJH DUWLFOH GHWDLOV FRGHBWLWOH . ,Human Rights Watchۑ5HSHDO$EXVLYH&RXQWHUWHUURULVP/DZ 6UL/DQNDې -DQXDU\KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZVVULODQNDUHSHDO DEXVLYHFRXQWHUWHUURULVPODZ. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 labelled terrorists themselves.18ौLVKDVOHGWRODZ\HUVVKRZLQJ UHOXFWDQFHWRUHSUHVHQW37$GHWDLQHHVDQGWKHMXGLFLDU\DGRSWLQJD rather conservative approach in dealing with these cases. )ROORZLQJ WKH (DVWHU DिDFNV SHUVRQV ZKR ZHUH VWRSSHG DW FKHFNSRLQWVQDUUDWHGLQVWDQFHVRIEHLQJWDNHQWRWKHSROLFHVWDWLRQ for interrogation because they had a laptop in their possession or WKHLUQDWLRQDOLGHQWLW\FDUGPHQWLRQHGDGLਬHUHQWDGGUHVVWKDQWKHLU current residence.19 ौH DUUHVW DQG GHWHQWLRQ RI D ODUJH QXPEHU RIPHQZKRZHUHPRVWR़HQWKHSULPDU\DQGHYHQVROHLQFRPH earners of their families, caused untold hardship and emotional WUDXPDIRUWKHIDPLOLHVZKRDOVRKDGOLिOHRUQRNQRZOHGJHRIKRZ RUZKHUHWRVHHNOHJDODVVLVWDQFH,QPRVWLQVWDQFHVWKH\FRXOGQRW DਬRUGWRUHWDLQOHJDOFRXQVHO (YHQWKRVHZKRFRXOGDਬRUGWRUHWDLQODZ\HUVIDFHGQXPHURXV obstacles as lawyers refused to appear for detainees for fear of being seen as representing terrorists and the possible resultant public EDFNODVK,QFHUWDLQ%DUVODZ\HUVQRWRQO\UHIXVHGWRUHSUHVHQWWKH GHWDLQHHVEXWDOVRDिHPSWHGWRLQWLPLGDWHRWKHUODZ\HUVDSSHDULQJ IRU GHWDLQHHV LQ DQ DिHPSW WR SUHYHQW WKHP IURP UHSUHVHQWLQJ detainees, such as at the Marawila Bar. 20 Although the Human 5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI6UL/DQNDZURWHWRWKH%DU$VVRFLDWLRQRI 6UL /DQND %$6/ EDVHG RQ FUHGLEOH DQG YHULਭHG UHSRUWV LW KDG received from the families of detainees and lawyers who appeared QRېIRUWKHGHWDLQHHVWKH%$6/UHVSRQGHGWKDWWKHUHKDYHEHHQ IRUPDOUHVROXWLRQVE\DQ\LGHQWLਭHGUHJLRQDOEUDQFKUHVROYLQJWR refrain from representing suspects arrested in relation to the terror and did not initiate a formal inquiry into 21ۑDिDFNVRQVW$SULO 7HUURULVW$FWLRQ0XVW1RW%HFRPHD:LWFK+XQWیQWL$ې %6-H\DUDM' \Daily Mirror, 0DۑJDLQVW6UL/DQNDQ0XVOLPV$ VQRWHVEDVHGRQFRPSODLQWVUHFHLYHGDQGGHDOWZLWKGXULQJKHUWHQXUHۑXWKRU$ DV&RPPLVVLRQHURIWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI6UL/DQND /LVD)XOOHUDQG ۑDIWHU(DVWHUPDVVDFUHەWDUJHWHGZLWKDUELWUDU\DUUHVWV۔0XVOLPVې5XNVKDQD5L]ZLH $O-D]HHUD-XQH KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPLQGHSWKIHDWXUHVPXVOLPV WDUJHWHGDUELWUDU\DUUHVWVHDVWHUPDVVDFUH KWPO. HWWHUIURPWKH&KDLUSHUVRQRIWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI6UL/ې /DQND'U'HHSLND8GDJDPDWRWKH3UHVLGHQWRIWKH%DU$VVRFLDWLRQRI6UL/DQND ,Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, July 25ۑ &3 0U.DOLQJD,QGDWLVVD KWWS ZZZKUFVOONZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV+5&6/5HVSRQVHWR%DU $VVRFLDWLRQRI6UL/DQNDSGI. 21 Ibid. Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space VUHVSRQVHLOOXVWUDWHVDODFNRIXQGHUVWDQGLQJۑ/WKHPDिHUौH%$6 RIDQWL0XVOLPVHQWLPHQWVSUHYDLOLQJDWWKHWLPHDVZHOODVRIWKH manner in which informal social practices impact legal rights and the ability of detainees to enjoy their due process rights, especially to a fair trial. Incidents of harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and violence against Muslims unfolded within a climate in which hate speech in both mainstream media as well as social media ZDVUDPSDQW)RUH[DPSOHRQ0D\ DIHZGD\VD़HUWKH VPRVWۑDQWL0XVOLPULRWV*QDQDUDWKDQDौHURRQHRI6UL/DQND FDOOHGIRUVWRQLQJWRGHDWKRI0XVOLPVېVHQLRU%XGGKLVWPRQNV DQG SURSDJDWHG DQ XQIRXQGHG DOOHJDWLRQ WKDW 0XVOLPRZQHG restaurants put “sterilization medicine” in their food to suppress the majority Sinhalese Buddhist birth rate’. 22ौHXVHRIGLਬHUHQW forms of birth control and sterilisation methods by the Muslim community to reduce the birth rate of the Sinhalese is propaganda that has been used to spread hate and incite violence against 0XVOLPVVLQFH,QUXPRXUVRIDUHVWDXUDQWLQ$PSDUD LQ WKH (DVWHUQ 3URYLQFH PL[LQJ VWHULOLVDWLRQ SLOOV LQ WKH IRRG VSDUNHGYLROHQFHZKLFKVSUHDGWR.DQG\LQWKH&HQWUDO3URYLQFH Hence, rumours in both mainstream and social media coincided with incidents of violence and even caused or worsened them. It VKRXOGEHQRWHGWKDWDWQRSRLQWGLGWKHVWDWHXVHWKH,&&35$FWWR WDNHDFWLRQDJDLQVW*QDQDUDWKDQDौHURGHVSLWHSDVWLQFLGHQWVRI UXPRXUVDQGKDWHVSHHFKVSDUNLQJYLROHQFH ौHVHUXPRXUVZHUHUHSHDWHGE\FHUWDLQUHOLJLRXVOHDGHUVDQG political actors to portray Muslims as the ‘other’, a community that GRHV QRW DOLJQ LWVHOI ZLWK WKH UHVW RI WKH 6UL /DQNDQ SRSXODWLRQ but rather pledges allegiance to the global Muslim community. ौH QRWLRQ WKDW WKH 0XVOLP FRPPXQLW\ EHKDYHV DQG GUHVVHV GLਬHUHQWO\DQGIROORZVDGLਬHUHQWVHWRIUXOHVDQGOHJDOUHJXODWLRQV XQGHU WKH 6KDULD /DZ LQVWHDG RI FRQIRUPLQJ WR WKH EHOLHIV DQG E\WKHۑ6UL/DQNDQېEHKDYLRXUDOSUDFWLFHVWKDWDUHGHHPHGWREH Sinhalese community has been used to question their patriotism ,Human Rights Watch, July 3ۑ0XVOLPV)DFH7KUHDWV$WWDFNV 6UL/DQNDې KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV VULODQNDPXVOLPVIDFHWKUHDWV DWWDFNV. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 DQG FRQQHFWLRQ WR WKH FRXQWU\ ौLV XOWLPDWHO\ KDV WKH HਬHFW RI demonising the Muslim community by insinuating they have \D SUHGRPLQDQWO ۑWDNH RYHUې XOWHULRU PRWLYHV DQG DQ DJHQGD WR Sinhalese nation by mainstreaming Islamic beliefs and practices XQGHUWKH6KDULD/DZ 6WDWH LQDFWLRQ LQ WKH IDFH RI DQWL0XVOLP YLROHQFH DQG WKH selective and arbitrary use of the law against Muslims legitimised DQWL0XVOLP UKHWRULF SURSDJDQGD DQG FRQVSLUDF\ WKHRULHV WKDW deepened the divides between ethnic groups by validating the fears of the majority ethnic community. An example of the arbitrary use RIWKHODZLVDQDUUHVWXQGHUWKH,&&35$FWRID0XVOLPZRPDQ in the town of Mahinyangana who wore a dress in public that ZDV FODLPHG WR KDYH D SULQW UHVHPEOLQJ WKH 'KDUPDFKDNUD DQ LPSRUWDQW%XGGKLVWV\PEROZKLFKZDVVHHQDVDQDिHPSWWRLQFLWH UDFLDO WHQVLRQV /LNH WKH VHYHQWHHQ\HDUROG SUHJQDQW 0XVOLP ZRPDQVKHWRRZDVUHPDQGHGLQFXVWRG\IRUVHYHUDOZHHNVEHIRUH being released on bail. $V DQWL0XVOLP VHQWLPHQW IDQQHG E\ PDLQVWUHDP DQG VRFLDO media, increased within the society, Muslim women became the WDUJHWVRIKDUDVVPHQWDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQLQSXEOLFDQGVHPLSULYDWH spaces. For instance, women who wore the hijab, i.e., only covering WKHLUKHDGVZHUHUHIXVHGHQWU\RUDVNHGWRUHPRYHWKHLUKLMDEDQG even show the security at the entrance that there was nothing hidden under their hijab at public as well as private establishments. Women reported that they were subjected to discriminatory treatment even by colleagues, neighbours, and acquaintances who insisted they remove the hijab and abaya, a robe that covers the V HQWLUH ERG\ )RU LQVWDQFH ZRPHQ ZKR ZRUNHG DW WKHۑZRPDQ Divisional Secretariat of Karuwalugasbewa in the North Western 3URYLQFHUHSRUWHGVXFKSUHVVXUHDQGKDUDVVPHQWLQFOXGLQJWDXQWV by their colleagues.23 Emergency Regulation 32A banned ‘any garment, clothing or such other material concealing the full face which will in any IURPۑPDQQHUFDXVHDQ\KLQGUDQFHWRWKHLGHQWLਭFDWLRQRIDSHUVRQ EHLQJZRUQLQDSXEOLFSODFHौH5HJXODWLRQPHDQWWKDW0XVOLP 23 ‘Harassed Muslim women complain to HRC.’ Daily Mirror0D\ Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space women could not wear the niqab,24 a garb worn to cover the whole IDFH ZLWK RU ZLWKRXW WKH H\HV FRQFHDOHG LQ SXEOLF VSDFHV ौLV Regulation was seen as curbing the right of Muslim women since WKH\DUHWKHVROHGHPRJUDSKLFJURXSWRSUDFWLFHIDFHFRYHULQJLQ SXEOLFDWDOOWLPHVDVDPDिHURIFKRLFH9DULRXVIDFWLRQVRIWKH majority ethnic community argued that such a ban was necessary in light of the state of emergency, despite the argument that none RI WKH SHRSOH ZKR ZHUH LQYROYHG LQ WKH (DVWHU DिDFN KDG EHHQ ZHDULQJDQLTDERUHYHQWKHKLMDEौH5HJXODWLRQDOVRH[DFHUEDWHG the harassment faced by Muslim women wearing the hijab with R़HQQRGLVWLQFWLRQEHLQJPDGHEHWZHHQWKHQLTDEDQGWKHKLMDE E\ FLWL]HQV RU HYHQ VWDWH RਯFLDOV ौH KDUDVVPHQW DQG IHDU RI being arrested for wearing a hijab resulted in Muslim women refraining from leaving their homes, which violated their freedom of movement, made them prisoners in their homes, and made them dependent on their male relatives for all their needs.25 Although WKHEDQZDVLQSODFHIRUIRXUPRQWKVIROORZLQJWKHDिDFNVXQWLOWKH VWDWHRIHPHUJHQF\ZDVOL़HGVFUXWLQ\DQGKDUDVVPHQWRI0XVOLP women who resumed wearing the niqab continued, indicating deeply ingrained societal prejudices that were openly expressed when people felt the law validated their prejudicial actions.26 V)DFH&RYHULQJ%DQD:URQJKHDGHG5HVSRQVHۑ6UL/DQNDېLOODU\0DUJROLV+ to Easter Bombings.’ Human Rights Watch,0D\ KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJ QHZV VULODQNDVIDFHFRYHULQJEDQZURQJKHDGHGUHVSRQVHHDVWHU bombings. 25 ‘2Q0D\\HDUROG=DYDKLU5LPDVKDZHQWWRKDYHKHUSKRWRJUDSK WDNHQIRUKHUQDWLRQDOLGHQWLW\FDUG6KHZDVZHDULQJDKLMDEZKLFKFRYHUHGKHU KDLU=DYDKLU5LPDVKDZDVPRQWKVSUHJQDQWZLWKKHUILUVWFKLOGDQGZKLOHVKH was at the studio she was reportedly overcome by a moment of nausea. When VKHFRYHUHGKHUIDFHZLWKKHUKDQGNHUFKLHIDQRWKHUFXVWRPHUFRPSODLQHGWKDW she had covered her face, and then called the police. She was arrested under the (PHUJHQF\5HJXODWLRQVDQGKHOGLQFXVWRG\IRURYHUWKUHHZHHNVXQWLO-XQH Humanۑ0XVOLPV)DFH7KUHDWV$WWDFNV 6UL/DQNDېۑZKHQVKHZDVJUDQWHGEDLO Rights Watch,-XO\ KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV VULODQND PXVOLPVIDFHWKUHDWVDWWDFNV. ,NewsHub ۑ YLGHR RFDOVFRQIURQWD0XVOLPZRPDQZHDULQJD%XUTD/ې 6HSWHPEHU KWWSV QHZVKXEONHQ ORFDOVFRQIURQWDPXVOLP 0XVOLP_ە"K\$UH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौH 7DPLO&RPPXQLW\ ौHJULHYDQFHVRIWKH7DPLOFRPPXQLW\ZKLFKOHGWRWKHWKLUW\ \HDULQWHUQDODUPHGFRQਮLFWWKDWFDPHWRDQHQGLQ ZLWKWKH PLOLWDU\ GHIHDW RI WKH /LEHUDWLRQ 7LJHUV RI 7DPLO (HODP /77( UHPDLQHGODUJHO\XQDGGUHVVHGGXULQJWKH A Political Solution and Dealing with the Past $NH\H[DPSOHRIWKH Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space +XPDQ 5LJKWV &RXQFLO WR ZKLFK WKH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 PXOWLSOHDQGYDU\LQJORVVHVRYHUGHFDGHVौHMXVWLFHDQGWUXWK VHHNLQJPHFKDQLVPVKDYHQRWEHHQHVWDEOLVKHG32 Although the government established the aforementioned two PHFKDQLVPV WKH SXEOLF UKHWRULF RI NH\ ਭJXUHV LQ JRYHUQPHQW VXFKDV3UHVLGHQW6LULVHQDUHIXVHGWRDFNQRZOHGJHWKHQHHGIRU DFFRXQWDELOLW\DQGDWWLPHVHYHQVKRZHGDODFNRIUHVSHFWIRUWKH victims and their demands for justice, truth, and reparations. For LQVWDQFH LQ 3UHVLGHQW 6LULVHQD DQQRXQFHG WKDW ZDU KHURHV would not be prosecuted, thereby clearly indicating that the OLNHOLKRRG RI D MXVWLFH PHFKDQLVP EHLQJ HVWDEOLVKHG ZDV VOLP33 )XUWKHUPRUH LQ -DQXDU\ 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU :LFNUHPHVLQJKH stated that those who disappeared were probably dead, illustrating callous disregard for the pain and trauma of the families of the disappeared.34 Land Rights /DQGLVDFRQWHQWLRXVLVVXHVLQFHODQGDFTXLVLWLRQRFFXSDWLRQE\ WKH VWDWH DQG VWDWHVSRQVRUHG VHिOHPHQW RI 6LQKDOHVH LQ 7DPLO PDMRULW\DUHDVLVRQHRIWKHURRWFDXVHVRIWKHHWKQLFFRQਮLFW In the Tamil majority areas in the North and East, land that was occupied by the military during the war has still not been completely released to their rightful owners, for instance in .HSSDSLODYX LQ 0XOODLWLYX DQG 0XOOLNXODP 0DQQDU LQ WKH 1RUWKHUQ3URYLQFH,QWKH(DVWHUQ3URYLQFHWKRVHZKRVHODQGVDUH in Sampur in the Trincomalee District also claim their lands are yet to be returned. Additionally, there are those in Sampur who state that they were forced to sell their lands to the military or did so due to misrepresentations made to them.35 In areas such as Mullaitivu, Human RightsۑV(QGۑ)DLOHG3OHGJHV0DU Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space there have been reports of land that has been historically used by persons who either have lost land documentation or do not possess RਯFLDOODQGGRFXPHQWVEHLQJDUELWUDULO\DFTXLUHGDVIRUHVWODQG36 ौLVKDVWDNHQSODFHLQ.RNXWKRGXZDLLQ0XOODLWLYXZKHUHWKHODQG RI GLVSODFHG SHUVRQV ZKR UHWXUQHG LQ ZDV DFTXLUHG E\ WKH Forest Department, which then transferred land ownership to a Sinhalese.37 In many instances, land disputes are in relation to places of ZRUVKLSZKHUHWKHUHKDYHEHHQDिHPSWVWRGHVWUR\+LQGXWHPSOHV that have existed for decades, if not for hundreds of years, and build Buddhist temples, or to declare the land on which the Hindu temple is built as an archaeological site, thereby preventing the WHPSOHIURPEHLQJXVHGIRUZRUVKLSौLVSRLQWVWRVWDWHVSRQVRUHG DिHPSWV XQGHUSLQQHG E\ 6LQKDOD %XGGKLVW QDWLRQDOLVW LGHRORJ\ WR FRORQLVH ODQG D VWUDWHJ\ WKDWKDVOLिOHURRP RU WROHUDQFHIRU SOXUDOLVPDQGGLYHUVLW\RI6UL/DQNDQVRFLHW\ौHDGGHGOD\HURI militarisation exacerbates the problem as there is heavy military SUHVHQFHLQWKHVHDUHDVDQGWKH\DUHR़HQHQOLVWHGWRVXSSRUWVXFK processes. Such land disputes in the North and East include the 1HHUDYL\DGL3LOOD\DUWHPSOHDQGWKH.DQQL\DWHPSOH38 South Asia Citizens Web,0DUFKKWWSۑ RPPLVVLRQ5HSRUW& ZZZVDFZQHWDUWLFOHKWPO. 36 Ibid. 37 Ibid. Tamilۑ0XOODLWLYXFRXUWUXOHVLQIDYRXURI1HHUDYL\DGL3LOODL\DUWHPSOHې Guardian, 0D\ KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRPFRQWHQWPXOODLWLYX \6UL/DQNDQDUP 1HHUDYL\DGLې FRXUWUXOHVIDYRXUQHHUDYL\DGLSLOODL\DUWHPSOH ,Tamil GuardianۑDUFKDHRORJLFDOPXVHXPQH[WWR+LQGXWHPSOH VKDP VHWVXS 2FWREHU KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRPFRQWHQWQHHUDYL\DGLVUL 6UL/DQNDې ;ODQNDQDUP\VHWVVKDPDUFKDHRORJLFDOPXVHXPQH[WKLQGXWHPSOH Journalists for DemocracyۑXGGKLVWPREYLRODWHFRXUWRUGHUZLWKSROLFHEDFNLQJ% in Sri Lanka, 6HSWHPEHU KWWS ZZZMGVODQNDRUJLQGH[SKSQHZV IHDWXUHVSROLWLFVDFXUUHQWDIIDLUV VULODQNDEXGGKLVWPREYLRODWHFRXUW KHQWKHVDIIURQUREHKDV:ې 0HHUD6ULQLYDVDQ RUGHUZLWKSROLFHEDFNLQJ the final say’, The Hindu, 6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZV LQWHUQDWLRQDOZKHQWKHVDIIURQUREHKDVWKHILQDOD\DUWLFOH HFH; ‘Tamils protest Kanniya Hindu temple destruction despite Sinhalese assaults and security force obstructions’, Tamil Guardian,-XO\ KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQ FRPFRQWHQWWDPLOVSURWHVWNDQQL\DKLQGXWHPSOHGHVWUXFWLRQGHVSLWHVLQKDOHVH DVVDXOWVDQGVHFXULW\. 211 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 &KULVWLDQ&RPPXQLW\ ौH ULJKWV RI &KULVWLDQV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH HYDQJHOLFDO FRPPXQLW\ ZHUH IUHTXHQWO\ YLRODWHG GXULQJ WKH 0DKLQGD 5DMDSDNVD UHJLPH DQGWKHVHYLRODWLRQVFRQWLQXHGGXULQJWKH ی5HSRUWRIWKH6SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXURQIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQRUEHOLHIې ZZZRKFKURUJ(1 HEUXDU\KWWSV(5+&+2ۑ9LVLWWR6UL/DQND +5%RGLHV+5&5HJXODU6HVVLRQV6HVVLRQ'RFXPHQWV$B+5&BBB$GGB AdvanceUneditedVersion.docx. QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP,ې2IILFHRI,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP ZZZ US State Department, 0D\KWWSVۑ\0Dی 5HSRUW6UL/DQND VWDWHJRYZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV65,/$1.$ ,17(51$7,21$/ 5(/,*,286)5(('205(3257SGI. 212 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space LQ WKH DUHD ौH EUHDFK RI SHDFH FDVH ZDV GLVPLVVHG ZKLOH WKH DVVDXOWFDVHZDVਭ[HGIRUWULDOLQ'HFHPEHU 41ौLVLOOXVWUDWHV active community participation, as well as the involvement of ORFDO %XGGKLVW SULHVWV $QRWKHU HJUHJLRXV YLRODWLRQ WKDW WRRN SODFHLQLVWKHDEGXFWLRQRID&KULVWLDQSDVWRULQ&RORPER E\XQLGHQWLਭHGSHUVRQV WKHSDVWRUZDVWRUWXUHGDQGUHOHDVHG hours later.42 To date, no arrests have been made. ौHVHRਬHQFHVZHUHFRPPLिHGZLWKDVHQVHRILPSXQLW\WKDW VWHPVIURPWKHNQRZOHGJHWKDWSUHMXGLFHDJDLQVWHYDQJHOLFDOVLV prevalent amongst the general population, and hence the police ZLOOQRWWDNHDFWLRQDJDLQVWWKHPौLVLVHFKRHGE\WKH1DWLRQDO &KULVWLDQ(YDQJHOLFDO$OOLDQFHRI6UL/DQND 1&($6/ ZKLFKKDV alleged that state entities that are mandated to provide protection IURP VXFK DFWV DQG DUH WDVNHG ZLWK WDNLQJ DFWLRQ DJDLQVW WKRVH engaging in propagating hate and perpetrating violence are complicit in these acts mostly through inaction.43 An example is the allegation by the pastor who was threatened with violence RQ-DQXDU\ LQ%DिLFDORDGLVWULFW KHFODLPHGWKDWGHVSLWH UHJLVWHULQJDQRਯFLDOFRPSODLQWKHZDVFRPSHOOHGE\WKHSROLFHWR VWDWHLQZULWLQJWKDWKHGLGQRWZLVKWRSXUVXHWKHPDिHUIXUWKHU 5HSRUWHGO\DWDPHHWLQJZLWKWKHQ3ULPH0LQLVWHU:LFNUHPHVLQJKH Vۑ\%LVKRS$VLUL3HUHUDWKHSUHVLGHQWRIWKHFRXQWU RQ$SULO Methodist Church had stated, ‘I wonder if the police act only for a segment of society, and don’t believe it must protect everyone HTXDOO\ (DFK WLPH D FKXUFK FRPHV XQGHU DिDFN ZH KHDU DERXW KRZWKHFKXUFKZDVEDUHO\DEOHWRPDNHDFRPSODLQWWRWKHSROLFH 44ۑ9LFWLPVJRVHHNLQJSURWHFWLRQDQGUHWXUQIHHOLQJXिHUO\LQVHFXUH QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP,ې2IILFHRI,QWHUQDWLRQDO5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP ZZZ US State Department, 0D\KWWSVۑ\0Dی 5HSRUW6UL/DQND VWDWHJRYZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV65,/$1.$ ,17(51$7,21$/ 5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP9LRODWLRQVLQ6UL/DQNDې ;3257SGI)205'))5(286,*,/)5 7KHXVHRI5LJKWVWR,QIRUPDWLRQODZWRDVVHVVWKHUHVSRQVHVRI/DZ(QIRUFHPHQW Authorities and the Judiciary.’ National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri /DQND 1&($6/ -XO\ RUOG(YDQJHOLFDO:ۑ5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP/DQGVFDSH 7KH 6UL/DQNDې $OOLDQFHDQGWKH1DWLRQDO&KULVWLDQ(YDQJHOLFDO$OOLDQFHRI6UL/DQND)HEUXDU\ KWWS ZZZZRUOGHYDQJHOLFDOVRUJXQSGI+5&6UL/DQNDSGI. ,ELG Ibid. 213 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 3RVW 3UHVLGHQWLDO(OHFWLRQV Political Context 3UHVLGHQW*RWDED\D5DMDSDNVDGLVVROYHGWKHSDUOLDPHQWZLWKHਬHFW IURP0DUFKDQGWKHSDUOLDPHQWDU\HOHFWLRQZDVVFKHGXOHG IRU $SULO 6LQFH HOHFWLRQV FRXOG QRW EH KHOG HYHQ WKUHH PRQWKV D़HU WKH GLVVROXWLRQ GXH WR WKH SDQGHPLF RSSRVLWLRQ parties called upon the president to reconvene the parliament to ensure that there would not be a power vacuum for an extended period, particularly during a national crisis. It was to also ensure RYHUVLJKWRYHUSXEOLFਭQDQFHDQGWRSUHYHQWH[HFXWLYHRYHUUHDFK45 ौHSUHVLGHQWUHIXVHGWRKHHGWKHLUFDOOVDQGHYHQVWDWHGWKDWKH did not have to convene the parliament since his party did not have DPDMRULW\LOOXVWUDWLQJWKDWSDUW\SROLWLFVWDNHVSUHFHGHQFHRYHUWKH public good. In response, several persons petitioned the Supreme &RXUWRI6UL/DQNDFKDOOHQJLQJWKHGLVVROXWLRQRIWKHSDUOLDPHQW ौH&RXUWUHIXVHGWRJUDQWOHDYHWRSURFHHGZLWKWKHDSSOLFDWLRQ46 ौH HOHFWLRQV ZHUH KHOG RQ $XJXVW LQ ZKLFK WKH 6UL /DQND 3RGXMDQD 3DUW\ 6/33 ZRQ D WZRWKLUGV PDMRULW\ KHQFH empowering it to bring about any constitutional change it ZLVKHVौHODFNRIDIXQFWLRQLQJSDUOLDPHQWDQGH[HFXWLYHUXOH WKURXJKDGKRFPHFKDQLVPVIRUQHDUO\ਭYHPRQWKVFRQWULEXWHGWR undermining of democracy and normalised executive overreach, ZKLFKKDGEHJXQVRRQD़HUWKHSUHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQ$QH[DPSOH of such executive overreach that borders on interference with the MXGLFLDU\LVDVSHHFKE\3UHVLGHQW*RWDED\DLQ)HEUXDU\DWWKH LWLVLPSRUWDQWWKDWې1DWLRQDO/DZ&RQIHUHQFHZKHUHKHVWDWHGWKDW 6UL/DQNDQ OOFRRSHUDWHUHFRQYHQH3DUOLDPHQWۑH:ې0HHUD6ULQLYDVDQ ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZV The Hindu, $SULOKWWSVۑ2SSRVLWLRQ LQWHUQDWLRQDOZHOOFRRSHUDWHUHFRQYHQHSDUOLDPHQWVULODQNDQRSSRVLWLRQ \,V3DUOLDPHQWDU &ULVLV V2WKHU&RYLGۑ6UL/DQNDې ;DUWLFOHHFH ZZZ KWWSV QWHUQDWLRQDO&ULVLV*URXS0D\,ۑ"HPRFUDF\DW5LVN' FULVLVJURXSRUJDVLDVRXWKDVLDVULODQNDVULODQNDVRWKHU&RYLG FULVLV SDUOLDPHQWDU\GHPRFUDF\ULVN. Daily News, -XQHKWWSVۑ6XSUHPH&RXUWGLVPLVVHV)5SHWLWLRQVې ZZZGDLO\QHZVONODZRUGHU VXSUHPHFRXUWGLVPLVVHVIU ۑ6UL/DQNDVWDUHVDWFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFULVLVDVSROOVGHOD\HGېpetitions; $VDG+DVKLP Al Jazeera, 0D\KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZVVULODQND VWDUHVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFULVLVSROOVGHOD\HGKWPO. Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space the judiciary does not interfere needlessly in the functioning of the executive and legislative branches of the government’.47 2Q -DQXDU\ 3UHVLGHQW 5DMDSDNVD DSSRLQWHG WKH &RPPDQGHURIWKH$UP\6KDYHQGUD6LOYDDV&KLHIRI'HIHQFH6WDਬ further consolidating Silva’s position and symbolically repudiating allegations of human rights and humanitarian law violations DJDLQVWKLP,Q)HEUXDU\WKH8QLWHG6WDWHVLPSRVHGDWUDYHO EDQRQ6LOYDDQGPHPEHUVRIKLVIDPLO\,QUHVSRQVHWRWKLV3ULPH 0LQLVWHU 0DKLQGD 5DMDSDNVD EODPHG WKH RSSRVLWLRQ SDUWLHV WKH 7DPLO1DWLRQDO$OOLDQFH 71$ DQGWKH-DQDWKD9LPXNWKL3HUDPXQD -93 IRUWKHLPSRVLWLRQRIWKHEDQ,WVKRXOGEHQRWHGWKDWYDULRXV PHPEHUVRIWKHPDLQRSSRVLWLRQSDUW\WKH8QLWHG1DWLRQDO3DUW\ made statements in support of Silva and were critical of the travel ban.483ULPH0LQLVWHU0DKLQGD5DMDSDNVDIXUWKHUVWDWHGWKDW6UL /DQNDZRXOGZLWKGUDZIURP81+XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO5HVROXWLRQ DQGZKLFKZDVIRUPDOO\GRQHRQ)HEUXDU\49 Civic Space and the Protection of Human Rights &LYLF6SDFH 3UHVLGHQW 5DMDSDNVD OLNH 3UHVLGHQW 6LULVHQD EHIRUH KLP EHJDQ XVLQJ6HFWLRQRIWKH362WRFDOORXWWKHDUPHGIRUFHVWRPDLQWDLQ ODZDQGRUGHU$VRI$XJXVWKHFRQWLQXHVWRLVVXHJD]HिH QRWLਭFDWLRQVHYHU\PRQWKLQWKLVUHJDUG/LNHEHIRUHWKLVSUDFWLFH remains unchallenged and has become normalised. \VUHPDUNVPDGHLQ)HEUXDUۑ3ULPH0LQLVWHU0DKLQGD5DMDSDNVD WKDW WKH FRXQWU\ LV GLYLGHG EHWZHHQ SDWULRWV DQG WKRVH KH referred to as ‘born traitors’50 can be seen to be part of the strategy Theۑ8QQHFHVVDU\MXGLFLDOLQWHUYHQWLRQVKDUPIXOWRGHPRFUDF\3UHVLGHQWې Island)HEUXDU\ News First, Februaryۑ3ROLWLFLDQVRSSRVHWUDYHOEDQRQ$UP\&RPPDQGHUې KWWSV ZZZQHZVILUVWONSROLWLFRVYRLFHREMHFWLRQVDJDLQVW XVHQWU\EDQRQDUP\FRPPDQGHU. 6WDWHPHQW0DGH%\+RQ'LQHVK*XQDZDUGHQD0LQLVWHURI)RUHLJQې Ministry of Foreignۑ5HODWLRQVDWWKHUG6HVVLRQRIWKH+XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO Affairs,)HEUXDU\, KWWS ZZZPIDJRYONVWDWHPHQWPDGHE\PLQLVWHU RIIRUHLJQUHODWLRQVDWWKHUGVHVVLRQRIWKHKUFHQJ. FRXQWU\GLYLGHGEHWZHHQSDWULRWV 6/ZLOOZLWKGUDZ UHVROXWLRQ&5+81ې and traitors—MR’ EconomyNext, )HEUXDU\ KWWSV HFRQRP\QH[WFRP 215 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 to signal intolerance of dissent by the labelling of critics of the regime and dissenters as traitors and hence open to be subjected to de jure and de factoSXQLWLYHPHDVXUHVौLVIRUPRIODEHOOLQJ ZDVXVHGGXULQJWKHSUHYLRXV5DMDSDNVDUHJLPHDVZHOODQGKDGD FKLOOLQJHਬHFWRQWKHIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQ ौHDELOLW\RIKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUVDQGODZ\HUVWR HQJDJH without fear in their professions was called into question by the GHDWKWKUHDWVPDGHWR$िRUQH\DW/DZ$FKDOD6KDQLND6HQHYLUDWQH Seneviratne, who represents the families of the eleven young men who were abducted by Navy personnel and disappeared, lodged two complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) LQ0D\UHJDUGLQJWKHGHDWKWKUHDWVWKDWVKHZDVUHFHLYLQJRQ social media, in particular made by a group called ‘Friends of the \OHJDOO\UHSUHVHQWLQJPDQېLQDQDिHPSWWRVWRSKHUIURPۑ3ROLFH victims in cases of mass abduction, illegal detention, torture, and ौHۑPXUGHUZKHUHWKHDFFXVHGDUHWRSVHFXULW\IRUFHPHPEHUV &,'KDVUHSRUWHGO\WDNHQQRDFWLRQLQUHVSRQVHWRKHUPRVWUHFHQW complaint.51 Militarisation Militarisation, which had been temporarily frozen during the XQKUFUHVROXWLRQVOZLOOZLWKGUDZFRXQWU\GLYLGHGEHWZHHQSDWULRWVDQG WUDLWRUVPU . ۑ)HPDOHKXPDQULJKWVODZ\HUIDFLQJFRQWLQXRXVGHDWKWKUHDWV 6UL/DQNDې Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka-XQHKWWS ZZZMGVODQNDRUJ LQGH[SKSQHZVIHDWXUHVKXPDQULJKWV VULODQNDIHPDOHKXPDQULJKWV ODZ\HUIDFLQJFRQWLQXRXVGHDWKWKUHDWV. 52 ‘Institutions of Disaster Management moved under the purview of Defence.’ News First, 'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZQHZVILUVWON LQVWLWXWLRQV RIGLVDVWHUPDQDJHPHQWPRYHGXQGHUWKHSXUYLHZRIGHIHQFHPLQLVWU\; June ,ۑ\2VFLUFXPYHQWLQJGXHSURFHGXUHVXQGHUVFUXWLQ*1ې0LQLVWU\RI'HIHQFH KWWS ZZZGHIHQFHON$UWLFOHYLHZBDUWLFOH. 216 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space appointed to head the Department of Customs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development.53 In the North, the military was once again seen engaging in activities that are within the purview of civilian authorities, such as interviewing candidates for a recruitment drive for employment in the state sector.54 With increased militarisation and ‘visits’ to several civil society RUJDQLVDWLRQVLQWKH1RUWKE\RਯFHUVRIWKH&,'DQGLQWHOOLJHQFH services, there is growing fear that dissent and activities of civil society organisations will be curtailed, potentially through restrictive legislation. In August, the government announced that LWLVGUD़LQJDQHZODZZKLFKUHSRUWHGO\ZLOOFRQWDLQSURYLVLRQV that restrict foreign funding to civil society organisations and stricter monitoring mechanisms.55 H,PSDFWRI&RYLG RQ&LYLF6SDFHDQG0LQRULW\5LJKWV &LYLF6SDFH ौHJRYHUQPHQWXVHGWKHFRYHURIWKHSDQGHPLFWRIXUWKHUUHVWULFW civic space and extend and normalise executive overreach. For example, the government issued a notice under the direction of WKH,QVSHFWRU*HQHUDORI3ROLFH ,*3 WKDWVWULFWDFWLRQZRXOGEH PLQRUېVWDWHRਯFLDOVSRLQWRXWۑFULWLFLVHېWDNHQDJDLQVWWKRVHWKDW VWDWHRਯFLDOVSHUIRUPLQJۑVFROGFKDVWLVHېRUۑVKRUWFRPLQJVIDLOXUHV WKHLUGXWLHVWKXVLQHਬHFWFXUWDLOLQJIUHHH[SUHVVLRQ56 ौHVWDWHH[SORLWHGWKHUHVWULFWLRQVLQSODFHGXULQJWKHORFNGRZQ to arrest and detain human rights defenders and persons seen as ۑ3UHVLGHQWDSSRLQWVVHYHQPLQLVWU\VHFUHWDULHVېKDWKXUDQJD+DSXDUDFKFKL& News First0D\KWWSV ZZZQHZVILUVWONSUHVLGHQW DSSRLQWVVHYHQPLQLVWU\VHFUHWDULHV. 7KLQDNNXUDO)HE ,The Sunday Morningۑ2ILQDQFHVWREHUHJXODWHG*1ې6NDQGKD*XQDVHNHUD 0DUFK KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZV VULODQNDKXPDQULJKWV XQGHUDWWDFN 8VH([LVWLQJ 5HYRNH 217 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 FULWLFLVLQJWKHVWHSVWDNHQE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWWRSUHYHQWWKHVSUHDG RI&RYLG ौHUHVWULFWLRQRQPRYHPHQWWKDWZDVLPSRVHGGXULQJ WKH FRXQWU\ZLGH ORFNGRZQ IURP 0DUFK WR 0D\ WR SUHYHQW WKHVSUHDGRI&RYLG DGYHUVHO\LPSDFWHGWKHGHWDLQHHVZKRZHUH unable to access legal representation and communicate with their IDPLOLHVौHUH ZDV PLQLPDO VFUXWLQ\ RI VWDWH DFWLRQ GXULQJ WKLV time due to the cessation in professional and civic activities, and KHQFHVZL़DFWLRQE\FLYLOVRFLHW\ZDVQRWSRVVLEOH Imposition and Implementation of Curfew ,QUHVSRQVHWR&RYLG WKHJRYHUQPHQWLPSRVHGDFXUIHZDQG LPSOHPHQWHGDFRXQWU\ZLGHORFNGRZQEXWWKHFXUIHZZDVQRW declared in accordance with the law, i.e., by the issuance of a JD]HिHXQGHU3DUW,,RIWKH36257 Despite the fact there was no OHJDOO\ GHFODUHG FXUIHZ XS WR SHUVRQV ZHUH DUUHVWHG DQG YHKLFOHVZHUHVHL]HG DVRI0D\ 58 While members of the public who were arrested were released on police bail, it is unclear if cases will be pursued against these persons.59 Executive Overreach and Governance via Task Forces 'HIDFWRPHWKRGVWRFRQVROLGDWHH[HFXWLYHSRZHUDQGFXUWDLOFLYLF space increased during the pandemic. For instance, in the guise of UHVSRQGLQJWRWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFWKHSUHVLGHQWXVHGWKHEURDG powers assigned to him under Article 33 of the Constitution, to HVWDEOLVKWDVNIRUFHVZKLFKLQORFDOSDUODQFHLVEHLQJUHIHUUHGWR WKHSURYLVLRQGRHVQRW ۑJRYHUQDQFHE\WDVNIRUFHVFRPPLिHHVېDV empower him to establish such bodies. )RULQVWDQFHWKHWDVNIRUFHRQ(FRQRPLF5HYLYDODQG3RYHUW\ $OOHYLDWLRQHVWDEOLVKHGRQ$SULOLVPDQGDWHGWRXQGHUWDNH 036XPDQWKLUDQZULWHVWR+5&VHHNLQJLQWHUYHQWLRQWRUHJXODULVH$71ې “curfew”’, Daily Financial Times, 0D\KWWS ZZZIWONQHZV 71$036XPDQWKLUDQZULWHVWR+5&VHHNLQJLQWHUYHQWLRQWRUHJXODULVH FXUIHZ . 0RUHWKDQFXUIHZYLRODWRUVDUUHVWHGDV6UL/DQNDHQWHUVQDWLRQZLGHې curfew’, News First, 0D\KWWSV ZZZQHZVILUVWONPRUH WKDQFXUIHZYLRODWRUVDUUHVWHGDVVULODQNDHQWHUVQDWLRQZLGHFXUIHZ. ,ELG 218 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space WDVNVWKDWKDYHWREHSHUIRUPHGE\PLQLVWULHVDQGVWDWHRਯFLDOV60 %DVLO 5DMDSDNVD WKH IRXQGHU RI WKH 6/33 DQG EURWKHU RI WKH president and the prime minister, who does not hold any public RਯFH QRU LV D VWDWH RਯFLDO KHDGV WKLV WDVN IRUFH ,W LV XQFOHDU ZK\WKHPHPEHUVKLSRIWKHWDVNIRUFHZKLFKLQFOXGHVWKHSULYDWH sector, also has the Commander of the Army, the Acting Inspector *HQHUDORI3ROLFHDQGWKH'LUHFWRU*HQHUDORIWKH&LYLO6HFXULW\ 'HSDUWPHQW RਯFLDOV DOO SHUVRQV ZKR KDYH QR UROH WR SOD\ LQ GHFLVLRQPDNLQJ UHJDUGLQJ SRYHUW\ DOOHYLDWLRQ DQG HFRQRPLF recovery.61 $QRWKHUH[DPSOHLVWKHWDVNIRUFHWR%XLOGD6HFXUH&RXQWU\ 'LVFLSOLQHG9LUWXRXVDQG/DZIXO6RFLHW\62 established on 2 June ौLV WDVN IRUFH FRQVLVWV RI PLOLWDU\ DQG SROLFH SHUVRQQHO including the Commander of the Army, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Chief of National Intelligence Services, the Director of State Intelligence Services, Directors of the Intelligence 6HUYLFHVRIWKHWKUHHDUPHGIRUFHVDQGWKH$FWLQJ,QVSHFWRU*HQHUDO RI3ROLFHौHWDVNIRUFHLVPDQGDWHGWRFXUELOOHJDODFWLYLWLHVDQG ۑWKHGUXJPHQDFHېWDNHPHDVXUHVWRSUHYHQW ,Daily Financial Timesۑ\KLWHFRQRP 0HJD7DVN)RUFHWRUHYLYH&RYLGې $SULOKWWS ZZZIWONWRSVWRU\0HJD7DVN)RUFHWRUHYLYH&RYLG KLWHFRQRP\ . Theۑ3UH]DSSRLQWV7DVN)RUFHIRUHFRQRPLFUHYLYDODQGSRYHUW\DOOHYLDWLRQې Morning, $SULOKWWS ZZZWKHPRUQLQJONSUH]DSSRLQWVWDVNIRUFHIRU HFRQRPLFUHYLYDODQGSRYHUW\DOOHYLDWLRQ. 6UL/DQND3UHVLGHQWDSSRLQWVD3UHVLGHQWLDO7DVN)RUFHWREXLOGDVHFXUHې country, virtuous society.’ Colombo Page,-XQH South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौHH[WHQVLYHSRZHUVDQGEURDGPDQGDWHVRIWKHVHWDVNIRUFHV UDLVHLVVXHVRIDFFRXQWDELOLW\DQGWUDQVSDUHQF\VLQFHWKHVHDUHDG KRFERGLHVZLWKIDUUHDFKLQJSRZHUVWKDWVHHPWRPDQGDWHWKHPWR WDNHWKHOHDGLQVHYHUDOPDिHUVWKDWVKRXOGEHZLWKLQWKHSXUYLHZ of state agencies, such as ministries. Further, they could impinge upon and even usurp the mandate, powers, and functions of other VۑOHJDOO\ HVWDEOLVKHG LQVWLWXWLRQV VXFK DV WKH $िRUQH\*HQHUDO 'HSDUWPHQW DQG WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 3ULVRQV FUHDWLQJ FRQIXVLRQ DQGFRQਮLFWEHWZHHQWKHWZRERGLHV63 Militarisation ौH RWKHU IDFWRU LPSLQJLQJ XSRQ GHPRFUDWLF JRYHUQDQFH LV LQFUHDVHG DQG UDSLG PLOLWDULVDWLRQ RI WKH UHVSRQVH WR &RYLG ZLWKWKH&RPPDQGHURIWKH$UP\KHDGLQJWKH1DWLRQDO2SHUDWLRQ &HQWUH IRU WKH 3UHYHQWLRQ RI WKH &RYLG 2XWEUHDN DQG WKH PLOLWDU\ UXQQLQJ TXDUDQWLQH FDPSV DQG XQGHUWDNLQJ FRQWDFW tracing. Military presence can be seen to be seeping into other areas of civilian administration as well. While the military has DNH\UROHWRSOD\LQUHVSRQGLQJWRKXPDQLWDULDQFULVHVVXFKDV a pandemic, in a democracy, their role should be subordinate to FLYLOLDQ DXWKRULWLHV DQG WKH\ VKRXOG DOZD\V WDNH GLUHFWLYHV IURP civilian authorities. ौH'LVDVWHU0DQDJHPHQW&HQWUH '0& ZKLFKKDVD'LUHFWRU *HQHUDO ZKR LV D UHWLUHG VHQLRU PLOLWDU\ RਯFLDO LV ZLWKLQ WKH purview of the Ministry of Defence and, according to the Secretary KDVLWVRZQPHFKDQLVPWRZRUNLQFRRUGLQDWLRQZLWKېRI'HIHQFH *RYHUQPHQW $JHQWV $VVLVWDQW *RYHUQPHQW $JHQWV 'LYLVLRQDO WR ۑ6HFUHWDULHV DQG *UDPD 6HYDND LQ DOO GLVWULFWV DQG GLYLVLRQV distribute relief.64 ौLV LOOXVWUDWHV WKH PLOLWDULVDWLRQ RI GLVDVWHU management and the provision of relief. Civilian leadership of &RYLG UHVSRQVHV DOVR UHTXLUHV WKDW FLYLOLDQ DXWKRULWLHVSXEOLF LVFXVVLRQ'ی7KH$SSRLQWPHQWRIWKHWZR3UHVLGHQWLDO7DVN)RUFHVې ZZZFSDODQNDRUJWKH Centre for Policy Alternatives,-XQHKWWSVۑ3DSHU DSSRLQWPHQWRIWKHWZRSUHVLGHQWLDOWDVNIRUFHV. Vۑ5HYLHZLQJ6UL/DQND QHTXDOLW\5HGX[,ېPELND6DWNXQDQDWKDQ$ Common Views, Aprilۑ KURQLF'HPRFUDF\'HILFLWLQWKH&RQWH[WRI&RYLG& KWWS ZZZFRPPRQYLHZVRUJLQHTXDOLW\UHGX[UHYLHZLQJVULODQNDV FKURQLFGHPRFUDF\GHILFLWLQWKHFRQWH[WRI&RYLG . Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space KHDOWK RਯFLDOV VKRXOG EH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH GLVVHPLQDWLRQ RI information to the public, such as conducting press conferences. ,Q 6UL /DQND VHQLRU PLOLWDU\ RਯFLDOV JLYH LQWHUYLHZV DQG HYHQ provide information to the public, independent of public health RਯFLDOVRURWKHUFLYLOLDQDXWKRULWLHV ,QWKHRQJRLQJPLOLWDULVDWLRQDQGQRUPDOLVLQJPLOLWDU\LQYROYH PHQWLQFLYLOLDQDਬDLUVWKH6UL/DQND$UP\KDVEHJXQHQJDJLQJ in law enforcement activities in the North.65 It has also opened SURPRWLRQ RIې LQ -DਬQD SXUSRUWHGO\ IRU WKH ۑKDUPRQ\ FHQWUHې D GXUDEOH SHDFH UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ FRRSHUDWLRQ DQG ZHOOEHLQJ RI WKH 66ۑFRPPXQLW\LQWKH-DਬQDSHQLQVXOD ࡳH5LJKWVRI(WKQR5HOLJLRXV0LQRULWLHV Using the broad powers under Article 33 of the Constitution, the SUHVLGHQWDOVRHVWDEOLVKHGDWDVNIRUFHIRU$UFKDHRORJLFDO+HULWDJH 0DQDJHPHQWLQWKH(DVWHUQ3URYLQFH$OWKRXJKWKHIRFXVRIWKH WDVNIRUFHLVWKHPXOWLHWKQLF(DVWHUQ3URYLQFHWKHPHPEHUVKLSRI WKHWDVNIRUFHLVHQWLUHO\PRQRHWKQLF)XUWKHULWVPHPEHUVLQFOXGH WKH6HFUHWDU\RIWKH0LQLVWU\RI'HIHQFHWKH'HSXW\,QVSHFWRU *HQHUDORIWKH:HVWHUQ3URYLQFHD%XGGKLVWPRQNZKRKDVEHHQ YRFDODERXWKLVDQWLPLQRULW\YLHZVDQGWKHRZQHURIDSULYDWH PHGLDQHWZRUNDQGEXVLQHVVPDQZKRLVDNQRZQFORVHDVVRFLDWHRI the president and spearheaded his election campaign. It is a cause IRUFRQFHUQWKDWWKHVHSHUVRQVZKRDUHQRWSXEOLFRਯFLDOVZRXOG EHLQDSRVLWLRQWRQRWRQO\PDNHSXEOLFSROLF\RQVHQVLWLYHLVVXHV EXWDOVRLVVXHGLUHFWLYHVWRSXEOLFRਯFLDOV67)XUWKHUWKHWDVNIRUFH OLNHRWKHUVLVDFFRXQWDEOHRQO\WRWKHSUHVLGHQWDQGLVQRWUHTXLUHG WRIXQFWLRQLQDWUDQVSDUHQWPDQQHUौHSUHVLGHQWDSSRLQWHGIRXU PRUH%XGGKLVWPRQNVWRWKHWDVNIRUFHRQ$XJXVW68 Tamilۑە)UHJURXSLQJWKH/77۔6UL/DQNDQSROLFHDUUHVW7DPLO\RXWKIRUې Guardian, -XO\KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRPFRQWHQWVULODQNDQ SROLFHDUUHVWWDPLO\RXWK( UHJURXSLQJOWWH( . IRU8WLOLW\&RPPXQLW\2ULHQWHG3URMHFWV,QDXJXUDWHGLQەDUPRQ\&HQWUH+۔ې KKS, Jaffna’ Sri Lanka Army,0D\KWWSV ZZZDUP\ONQHZVKDUPRQ\ FHQWUHXWLOLW\FRPPXQLW\RULHQWHGSURMHFWVLQDXJXUDWHGNNVMDIIQD. LVFXVVLRQ'ی7KH$SSRLQWPHQWRIWKHWZR3UHVLGHQWLDO7DVN)RUFHVې ZZZFSDODQNDRUJWKH Centre for Policy Alternatives,-XQHKWWSVۑ3DSHU DSSRLQWPHQWRIWKHWZRSUHVLGHQWLDOWDVNIRUFHV. RXUPRUHPRQNVDSSRLQWHGWR7DVN)RUFHRQ$UFKDHRORJLFDO0DQDJHPHQW(ې 221 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौHPHPEHUVKLSRI%XGGKLVWPRQNVDQGPLOLWDU\SHUVRQQHOLQ WKH WDVN IRUFH KLJKOLJKWV WKH PDQQHU LQ ZKLFK WKH PLOLWDU\ DQG WKH %XGGKLVW FOHUJ\ DUH DQ LQWHJUDO SDUW RI WKH ODQGDFTXLVLWLRQ process by designating any property as archaeological land. In an LQWHUYLHZLQODWH-XQH(OODZHOD0HGKDQDQGDौHURRQHRIWKH %XGGKLVWPRQNVRQWKHWDVNIRUFHVDLGWKHUHLVQRWKLQJZURQJLQ LQFOXGLQJWKHPLOLWDU\LQFLYLOLDQDਬDLUV WKH(DVWHUQ3URYLQFHLVQRW a historical area of habitation of Tamils and that all archaeological VLWHV LQ (DVW DUH 6LQKDOD%XGGKLVW69 ौLV LOOXVWUDWHV WKH GHHSO\ FRPPXQDOPLOLWDULVHGDSSURDFKWKDWZLOOOLNHO\EHWDNHQE\WKH WDVNIRUFH :KLOHWKHUHKDVEHHQOLिOHVWDWHDFWLRQWRVWHPRUFRXQWHUWKH incitement of hatred against Muslims or provide reassurance of security and equal enjoyment of rights to minority communities VUHPDUNVGXULQJKLVPHHWLQJZLWKWKHۑLQ6UL/DQNDWKHSUHVLGHQW 0DKD6DQJKDRQ$SULOZKLFKZHUHZLGHO\UHSRUWHGLQ WKHPHGLDDUHWURXEOLQJ+HUHSRUWHGO\UHPDUNHGWKDWDOWKRXJK it is not a secret that he won the presidential election due to the votes of the Sinhala majority, he had pledged to serve everyone UHJDUGOHVVRIWKLVIDFWVLQFHKHLVGXW\ERXQGWRGRVR+HKRZHYHU further stated that despite his pledge there are conspiracies to PDNHKLPIDLODQGFUHDWHDFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFULVLVE\GUDJJLQJKLP WRFRXUW'LVFXVVLQJFRQVWLWXWLRQDOPDिHUVZLWKWKH6DQJKDDQG VHHNLQJ WKHLU DGYLFH RQ PDिHUV RI JRYHUQDQFH ZKLOH EODPLQJ mainly minority politicians of precipitating a constitutional crisis through their calls for the reconvening of the parliament, LOOXVWUDWHVDPDMRULWDULDQHWKQRQDWLRQDOLVWDQGSDWURQDJHEDVHG YLHZRIJRYHUQDQFHौLVW\SHRIEODWDQWGLVUHJDUGIRUDVHFXODU system of governance that is based on the respect for the rule of law and diversity dissuades citizens to hold those that govern them to account without fear of reprisals. Colombo Gazette$XJXVWKWWSVۑLQ(DVW_&RORPER*D]HWWH FRORPERJD]HWWHFRPIRXUPRUHPRQNVDSSRLQWHGWRWDVNIRUFHRQ DUFKDHRORJLFDOPDQDJHPHQWLQHDVW. ۑ8QGHUVWDQGLQJ3UHVV&RYHUDJHRQ5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP-XQHې Minormatters.org, KWWSV ZZZPLQRUPDWWHUVRUJVWRUDJHDSSXSORDGV SXEOLFIGDIGDI SGI. 222 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space 0XVOLP&RPPXQLW\ ौHVWLJPDWLVDWLRQDQGVFDSHJRDWLQJRI0XVOLPVKDYHWDNHQPDQ\ IRUPVLQFOXGLQJVHQLRUVWDWHRਯFLDOVEODPLQJWKHFRPPXQLW\IRU WKHVSUHDGRI&RYLG DQGWKHFRPPXQLW\EHLQJGHQLHGWKHULJKW WREXU\WKRVHZKRGLHRI&RYLG DVSHUWKHLUUHOLJLRXVSUDFWLFH ौHGHQLDOWREXU\WKHGHDGLVEHLQJGRQHLQFRQWUDYHQWLRQRI:+2 ,QWHULP*XLGDQFHGDWHG0DUFKRQ,QIHFWLRQ3UHYHQWLRQDQG Control for the Safe Management of a Dead Body in the Context ۑFDGDYHUVGRQRWWUDQVPLWGLVHDVHېZKLFKVWDWHVWKDW RI&RYLG FDQ EH EXULHG RU SHRSOH ZKR KDYH GLHG IURP &RYLGې DQG WKDW KDYH 7RGDWHDWOHDVWIRXU0XVOLPVZKRGLHGRI&RYLGۑFUHPDWHG been cremated against their families’ religious views and choices. In one instance, the person was cremated without verifying ZKHWKHUVKHZDVLQIHFWHGZLWK&RYLG 70 Five fundamental rights DSSOLFDWLRQVKDYHEHHQਭOHGLQWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWWRUHFRJQLVHWKH ULJKWRI0XVOLPVWREXU\WKRVHZKRGLHRI&RYLG QJXLVKDV6UL/DQNDIRUFHV0XVOLPV$ې6KHUHHQD4D]LDQG$VKNDU7KDVOHHP ZZZDOMD]HHUD Al Jazeera, $SULOKWWSVۑYLFWLPV WRFUHPDWH&RYLG FRPQHZVDQJXLVKVULODQNDIRUFHVPXVOLPVFUHPDWH&RYLG YLFWLPVKWPO. 223 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौHLQFLWHPHQWRIKDWUHGE\DQGRXWSRXULQJRIYLWULRORQPHGLD outlets continued unabated despite Defence Secretary Kamal Z@HKDYHLQVWUXFWHGWKH3ROLFHDQGRWKHU<ېXQDUDWQHVWDWLQJWKDW* DJHQFLHV KDQGOLQJ IDNH QHZV WR WDNH VWHUQ OHJDO DFWLRQ DJDLQVW 71ۑ\UXPRXUPRQJHUVDQGVRPHKDYHDOUHDG\EHHQWDNHQLQWRFXVWRG )RU H[DPSOH 0XVOLP &RYLG SDWLHQWV ZHUH LGHQWLਭHG E\ WKHLU IDLWKXQOLNHRWKHUSDWLHQWVDQGEODPHGE\WKHPHGLDIRUVSUHDGLQJ WKHFRURQDYLUXV:KLOHQRDFWLRQKDVEHHQWDNHQDJDLQVWSRSXODU79 stations that promote hate speech and peddle misinformation, there have been reports of arrests of citizens who criticise the action or LQDFWLRQRIVWDWHRਯFLDOVDVLOOXVWUDWHGLQSUHYLRXVVHFWLRQVb,WVKRXOG VVWDWHPHQWZDVPDGHRQO\D़HUۑEHQRWHGWKDW6HFUHWDU\*XQDUDWQH PHGLDUHSRUWVRID&RYLG FOXVWHUEHLQJIRXQGLQWKH1DY\OHGWR the stigmatisation and harassment of families of Navy personnel. Two particular arrests during the pandemic are a cause for deep concern as these persons appear to have been targeted due to their religion, and their professional duties and civic activism. ौH&,'DUUHVWHG+HMDD]+L]EXOODKDODZ\HURQ$SULO Initially Hizbullah had limited access to his lawyers in restricted FLUFXPVWDQFHV IRU DERXW ਭ़HHQ PLQXWHV LQ WKH SUHVHQFH RI D &,' RਯFHU +L]EXOODK ZDV QRW LQIRUPHG RI WKH UHDVRQ IRU WKH interrogation or the arrest, thereby violating his due process rights. Before Hizbullah was informed of the reason for his arrest, WKHSROLFHFRQYHQHGDSUHVVFRQIHUHQFHRQ$SULODWZKLFK WKH\VWDWHGKHZDVDUUHVWHGLQUHODWLRQWRWKH(DVWHUDिDFNVRI$SULO $VRI-XO\+HMDD]+L]EXOODKUHPDLQVLQDGPLQLVWUDWLYH detention without being charged. While the CID is said to be KLPWKHUHKDYHEHHQۑORRNLQJIRUVXਯFLHQWLQIRUPDWLRQDJDLQVWې UHSRUWV RI &,' RਯFHUV HQJDJLQJ LQ PDOSUDFWLFH DQG FRHUFLQJ PLQRUVWRPDNHIDOVHVWDWHPHQWVDJDLQVW+L]EXOODK72 3URPSWLQWHUYHQWLRQRIPLOLWDU\DQGSROLFHUHGXFHGLPSDFWRI&RYLGې The Sunday Observer, $SULOۑ5HWG .DPDO*XQDUDWQH HIHQFH6HF0DM*HQ' 72 ‘CID attempted to show photograph of Hejaaz to children before ID parade: Fort Magistrate.’ Daily Financial Times,-XQHKWWS ZZZIWONQHZV&,' DWWHPSWHGWRVKRZSKRWRJUDSKRI+HMDD]WRFKLOGUHQEHIRUH,'SDUDGH)RUW ,&-UDLVHVFRQFHUQVDERXWWKHDUELWUDU\DUUHVW 6UL/DQNDې 0DJLVWUDWH and detention of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah; calls for repeal and replacement of the International Commission of Jurists,$SULOۑ3UHYHQWLRQRI7HUURULVP$FW Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space 5DP]\ 5D]HHN LV D IRUPHU SXEOLF VHUYDQW DQG D UHJXODU FRP mentor on issues of human rights, justice, and racism to which WKH 0XVOLP FRPPXQLW\ ZDV EHLQJ VXEMHFWHG 2Q $SULO through a social media post, he urged the Muslim community XVLQJ WKH SHQ DQG NH\ERDUG WR ۑLGHRORJLFDO MLKDGې WR HQJDJH LQ VKHG OLJKW RQ WKH WUXWK UHJDUGLQJ DQWL0XVOLP SURSDJDQGD 'XH to the misunderstanding that surrounds the concept of jihad, the social media post was met with an outpouring of hate and threats GLUHFWHGDWKLPDQGKLVIDPLO\2Q $SULO5D]HHNORGJHGD police complaint regarding the threats made against him and his IDPLO\/DWHUWKDWGD\KHZDVDUUHVWHGE\&,'RਯFHUVLQVWHDGIRU WKHRਬHQFHRILQFLWLQJUDFLDOKDWUHGXQGHUWKH,&&35$FWZKLFK does not allow suspects to be released on bail. As of 31 August 5D]HHN UHPDLQV LQ FXVWRG\ DQG KDV DOOHJHGO\ EHHQ GHQLHG access to medical care and a legal representative. 73 7DPLO&RPPXQLW\ 'XULQJWKHFXUIHZSHULRGWKHUHZHUHLQFUHDVHGFKHFNSRLQWVLQWKH 1RUWKHUQ3URYLQFHXQOLNHLQRWKHUSDUWVRIWKHFRXQWU\DQGLWZDV reported that persons travelling out of the North were required to REWDLQPLOLWDU\FOHDUDQFHLQDGGLWLRQWR&RYLG UHODWHGPHGLFDO clearance.74 Dealing with the Past $FFRXQWDELOLW\IRUZDUUHODWHGKXPDQULJKWVYLRODWLRQVZDVGHDOW DEORZZLWKWKHSUHVLGHQWLDOSDUGRQRI6HUJHDQW6XQLO5DWKQD\DNH ZKRZDVFRQYLFWHGLQRIWKHPXUGHURIHLJKW7DPLOFLYLOLDQV KWWSV ZZZLFMRUJVULODQNDLFMUDLVHVFRQFHUQVDERXWWKHDUELWUDU\DUUHVWDQG GHWHQWLRQRIODZ\HUKHMDD]KL]EXOODKFDOOVIRUUHSHDODQGUHSODFHPHQWRIWKH SUHYHQWLRQRIWHUURULVPDFW. \$QH[WUDRUGLQDU\VWUXJJOHIRUDQRUGLQDU 5DP]\5D]HHNې0RKDPHG/= KWWS Daily Financial Times, 0D\ۑOLIHRIVHUYLFHXSHQGHGE\D3ROLFHDUUHVW ZZZIWONRSLQLRQ5DP]\5D]HHN$QH[WUDRUGLQDU\VWUXJJOHIRUDQRUGLQDU\OLIH RIVHUYLFHXSHQGHGE\D3ROLFHDUUHVW ; ‘6UL/DQND 'XH3URFHVV&RQFHUQV in Arrests of Muslims’, Human Rights Watch,$SULO KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJ QHZVVULODQNDGXHSURFHVVFRQFHUQVDUUHVWVPXVOLPV. 7DPLOVLQ1RUWK(DVWVWUXJJOHZLWKFXUIHZKDUGVKLSVGXHWRVWDWHې negligence’, Tamil Guardian, $SULOKWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRP FRQWHQWWDPLOVQRUWKHDVWVWUXJJOHFXUIHZKDUGVKLSVGXHVWDWHQHJOLJHQFH. 225 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ZKRZHUHLQWHUQDOO\GLVSODFHGLQFOXGLQJWKUHHFKLOGUHQRIDJHVਭYH WKLUWHHQDQGਭ़HHQ\HDUVLQ0LUXVXYLO-DਬQDRQ 'HFHPEHU ZKLOHRQDFWLYHGXW\75 Where the plight of thousands of disappeared persons is FRQFHUQHG3UHVLGHQW5DMDSDNVDLQDPHHWLQJLQ-DQXDU\ZLWK the UN Resident Coordinator stated that the thousands of missing 0RVWRIWKHPKDGEHHQWDNHQېSHUVRQVDUHGHDG+HIXUWKHUVDLG E\WKH/77(RUIRUFLEO\FRQVFULSWHGौHIDPLOLHVRIWKHPLVVLQJ DिHVWWRLW+RZHYHUWKH\GRQRWNQRZZKDWKDVEHFRPHRIWKHP ौHSUHVLGHQWVWDWHGWKDWD़HUWKHۑDQGVRFODLPWKHPWREHPLVVLQJ GHDWKFHUWLਭFDWHVZRXOGEHLVVXHGDQGۑQHFHVVDU\LQYHVWLJDWLRQVې the families of the missing would be provided support. 76 Tamils in the North were prevented from memorialising those who ZHUHNLOOHGGXULQJWKHODVWVWDJHVRIWKHDUPHGFRQਮLFWLQ0D\ with the police and military disrupting many events.77 In one instance, the police cited quarantine requirements78 and obtained a court order 713) IURP V)URQWۑWRSUHYHQWPHPEHUVRIWKH7DPLO1DWLRQDO3HRSOH KROGLQJ D FRPPHPRUDWLRQ HYHQW LQ -DਬQD +RZHYHU RQ WKH VDPH day, the government held an event with the participation of certain members of the government, the armed forces, and some families of soldiers to commemorate the War Heroes Day in Colombo.79 During this period, it was also reported that the police allegedly threatened a 713)PHPEHUZKRFODLPHGWKHDUP\WKUHDWHQHGWRVKRRWKHULIVKH OLWODPSVWRFRPPHPRUDWHWKRVHNLOOHGLQ0D\ 80 ۑXVWLFHLQWKHWLPHRIDSDQGHPLF-ېPELND6DWNXQDQDWKDQ$ Groundviews, 0DUFK KिSV JURXQGYLHZVRUJ MXVWLFHLQWKH 6UL/DQNDSDUGRQVVROGLHUZKRNLOOHG7DPLOې ,WLPHRIDSDQGHPLF; Al Jazeera civilians.’ Al Jazeera, 0DUFKKिSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZV VULODQNDSDUGRQVVROGLHUNLOOHGWDPLOFLYLOLDQVKWPO. 0LVVLQJSHUVRQVDUHGHDGVD\V 6UL/DQNDFLYLOZDUې0HHUD6ULQDYDVDQ ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZV The Hindu, -DQXDU\KWWSVۑRWDED\D* LQWHUQDWLRQDOPLVVLQJSHUVRQVDUHGHDGVD\VJRWDED\DDUWLFOH HFH. ۑ6UL/DQNDQVROGLHUVVWDPSRXW0XOOLYDLNNDOUHPHPEUDQFHIODPHLQ-DIIQDې Tamil Guardian, 0D\KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRPFRQWHQWVUL ODQNDQVROGLHUVVWDPSRXWPXOOLYDLNNDOUHPHPEUDQFHIODPHMDIIQD. 78 Ibid. ۑSURPRWLRQERQDQ]Dې\6UL/DQNDSUHSDUHVWRPDUNYLFWRU\ZLWKPLOLWDUې Tamil Guardian0D\KWWSV ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQFRPFRQWHQWVULODQND SUHSDUHVPDUNYLFWRU\PLOLWDU\( SURPRWLRQERQDQ]D( . 6UL/DQNDQSROLFHZDUQیەI\RXOLJKWODPSVWKHDUP\ZLOOVKRRW\RX,۔ې ZZZWDPLOJXDUGLDQ Tamil Guardian, 0D\KWWSVۑPHPEHU(713 226 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space 2Q$XJXVWWKHSROLFHLQ%DिLFDORDLQWKH(DVWHUQ3URYLQFH obtained a court order to prevent families of the disappeared from commemorating the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.81 2QH RI WKH UHDVRQV WKH SROLFH SURYLGHG ZKHQ VHHNLQJ WKH RUGHU LV WKDW WKH JDWKHULQJ ZRXOG FRQWULEXWH WR WKH UHYLYDO RI WKH /LEHUDWLRQ 7LJHUV RI 7DPLO (HODP /77( ौLV LOOXVWUDWHV WKDW WKH UHYLYDO RI WKH /77( FRQWLQXHV WR EH XVHG E\ WKHVWDWHWRFXUWDLOFLYLFDFWLYLVPPRUHWKDQDGHFDGHD़HUWKHHQG RI KRVWLOLWLHV DQG JRYHUQPHQWFHOHEUDWHG PLOLWDU\ GHIHDW RI WKH armed group. Conclusion (WKQRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVKDYHIDFHGGLVFULPLQDWLRQPDUJLQDOLVD WLRQ DQG YLROHQFH LQ 6UL /DQND ZLWK GLਬHUHQW JURXSV EHFRPLQJ VKLVWRU\$OWKRXJKۑ\DWGLਬHUHQWSHULRGVRIWKHFRXQWUۑWKHRWKHUې GXULQJWKH 227 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ODFNRIDVWURQJRSSRVLWLRQDVWKHODUJHVWSROLWLFDOSDUW\PDLQWDLQHG VLOHQFHRQFULWLFDOJRYHUQDQFHDQGULJKWVLVVXHVौHDUELWUDU\XVH RIWKHODZWRMXVWLI\YLRODWLRQVRIPLQRULW\ULJKWVHVFDODWHGSRVW 1RYHPEHU :KLOHWKHFUDFNGRZQRQGLVVHQWDQGUHVWULFWLRQVRQFLYLOOLEHUWLHV DQG FLYLF VSDFH DQG FXUE RQ WKH ULJKWV RI HWKQRUHOLJLRXV PL QRULWLHVZDVDSUHGLFWHGRXWFRPHRIWKH5DMDSDNVDSUHVLGHQF\WKH pandemic enabled accelerated militarisation and the introduction RI DXWKRULWDULDQ SROLFLHV DQG SURFHVVHV /DFN RI D IXQFWLRQLQJ SDUOLDPHQW DQG H[HFXWLYH UXOH WKURXJK DGKRF PHFKDQLVPV IRU QHDUO\ਭYHPRQWKVGXULQJWKHSDQGHPLFFRQWULEXWHGWRXQGHUPLQLQJ democracy and normalised executive overreach, which had begun VRRQD़HUWKHSUHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQ'XULQJWKLVSHULRGWKHDUUHVWV of civic activists and assaults on the rights of minorities, both through hate speech as well as through state action and inaction, LQFUHDVHG WKH LQVHFXULW\ RI ERWK HWKQRUHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV DV ZHOO DV FLYLO VRFLHW\ JURXSV ZLWK VHOIFHQVRUVKLS GXH WR IHDU RI state reprisals becoming increasingly common. In this context, civil society engaged in countering restrictions on civil liberties and civic space and advocating for the protection of the rights of HWKQRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVDUHOLNHO\WRIDFHJUHDWHUREVWDFOHVDQG challenges in the future. Recommendations To the government of Sri Lanka i. Ensure that freedom of expression and association are respected and individuals and institutions are able to dissent freely without fear of state reprisals. ii. Do not use the law as a tool to suppress dissent or curb civic DFWLYLWLHVWKDWDUHFULWLFDORIWKHJRYHUQPHQWौHODZVKRXOG not be arbitrarily applied in a manner that discriminates DJDLQVWDQGYLRODWHVWKHULJKWVRIHWKQRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHV LLL &UHDWH DQ HQYLURQPHQW LQ ZKLFK HWKQRUHOLJLRXV minorities are able to fully exercise and enjoy their rights without insecurity or fear of violence. In particular, the government should refrain from acts that are and appear 228 Sri Lanka: Minority Rights within Shrinking Civic Space WR EH PDMRULWDULDQ DQG ELDVHG DJDLQVW HWKQRUHOLJLRXV minorities. LY (QVXUHWKDWWKHVWDWHLQVWLWXWLRQVDQGRਯFLDOVDGKHUHWRWKH FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURYLVLRQVRQHTXDOLW\ DFWLRQVKRXOGEHWDNHQ against those that discriminate on the basis of ethnicity or religion. v. Hold those that engage in propagating or advocating racial hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination or violation accountable to the fullest extent of the law. YL 5HIUDLQIURPXVLQJH[WUDOHJDOPHFKDQLVPVDQGSURFHVVHV VXFK DV WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO WDVN IRUFHV WR XQGHUPLQH FLYLF VSDFHDQGWKHULJKWVRIHWKQRUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHV YLL 9LHZbFLYLOVRFLHW\DVDQLQWHJUDOSDUWRIDIXQFWLRQDODQG UREXVWGHPRFUDF\DQGQRWDVDIRHDQWDJRQLVW To civil society i. Recognise the intersectionality of issues and build broad alliances founded on the basis of common interest. LL (QVXUH WKDW FRPPXQLW\EDVHG RUJDQLVDWLRQV HVSHFLDOO\ WKRVH RXWVLGH &RORPER DQG LQ WKH QRQXUEDQ DUHDV DUH included in dialogues and common interventions, and be SURDFWLYHLQVHHNLQJWKHLUSDUWLFLSDWLRQDQGFRQWULEXWLRQ iii. Build alliances with regional civil society organisations and QHWZRUNVDQGOHDUQIURPWKHVXFFHVVIXOVWUDWHJLHVWKH\XVHG To the international community L 5HLWHUDWHWRWKHJRYHUQPHQWWKHLPSRUWDQFHRIDUREXVWFLYLF VSDFHDQGWKHQHHGWRHQVXUHWKDWWKHULJKWVRIHWKQRUHOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHVDUHSURWHFWHG$OOLQWHUQDWLRQDOFRPPXQLW\DQG 81VXSSRUWHGLQLWLDWLYHVZKHWKHUZLWKJRYHUQPHQWRUFLYLO society, should be based on these principles. ii. Expand and strengthen the relationship with civil society, LQ SDUWLFXODU HQJDJH ZLWK VPDOOHU RUJDQLVDWLRQV ZRUNLQJ outside Colombo at the community level. LLL 3D\DिHQWLRQWRWKHSURWHFWLRQQHHGVRIFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQ LVDWLRQVDQGSURYLGHUHTXLUHGVXSSRUWLQDਮH[LEOHPDQQHU in line with the changing context. State of South Asian Minorities 2020 Shahnaaz Khan Afghanistan ,VODPLVWKHRਯFLDOVWDWHUHOLJLRQRI$IJKDQLVWDQDVUHFRJQLVHGE\ WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ 5HOLJLRXV IUHHGRP LV DOORZHG ZLWKLQ WKH bounds of the law, leaving room for minority communities to be targeted under blasphemy law and other religiously motivated FDVHVौHSDVW\HDUWRRFRQWLQXHGWRZLWQHVVWKHWUHQGRIDFWVRI violence targeting the country’s religious and ethnic minorities. ौH6KLD+D]DUDFRPPXQLW\KDVEHHQHVSHFLDOO\WDUJHWHGXQGHU WKH7DOLEDQUXOHौHUHZHUHVHULHVRIDिDFNVLQ DJDLQVWD6KLD shrine,1 a mosque,2 and also a wedding reception of a Shia couple in Kabul.32Q0DUFKDJDWKHULQJRI6KLD+D]DUDVLQ.DEXO ZDVDिDFNHGE\DUPHGJXQPHQZKRbNLOOHGbDWOHDVWSHRSOHDQG injured 82 others.ौHFRQJUHJDWLRQZDVFRPPHPRUDWLQJWKH slaying of Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of the Hazara community. APۑRPEV7DUJHW$IJKDQ6KLLWHVPDUNLQJQHZ\HDUNLOOLQJ%ېPLU6KDK$ News,0DUFK KWWSV DSQHZVFRPFGDFGF IHFFGF HG. LWHPRVTXHLQ VODPLF6WDWHVD\VLWFDUULHGRXWDWWDFNDW6KL,ې5HXWHUV central Afghanistan’, Reuters,-XO\ KWWSV ZZZUHXWHUVFRPDUWLFOHXV DIJKDQLVWDQEODVWLVODPLFVWDWHVD\VLWFDUULHGRXWDWWDFNDWVKLLWHPRVTXHLQ FHQWUDODIJKDQLVWDQLG86.&18 2. 3 CBS News, ‘Islamic State claims responsibility for bombing at Kabul wedding ZZZFEVQHZVFRPQHZV KWWSV CBS News$XJXVWۑWKDWNLOOHG DIJKDQLVWDQERPELQJLVODPLFVWDWHFODLPVUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUERPELQJDWNDEXO ZHGGLQJWKDWNLOOHG. ۑ/,R]HQVNLOOHGLQ.DEXOFHUHPRQ\DWWDFNFODLPHGE\,6'ېO-D]HHUD$ Al Jazeera, 0DUFKKWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZVNDEXO JDWKHULQJDWWHQGHGDEGXOODKKLWURFNHWDWWDFNUHSRUW KWPO. State of South Asian Minorities ,6,6FODLPHGUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUWKHDिDFN52Q0D\DJURXSRI JXQPHQGLVJXLVHGLQ$IJKDQSROLFHXQLIRUPVbVWRUPHG a maternity ward in a residential neighbourhood in Kabul, largely comprising RIWKHb6KLD+D]DUDbmembers.6$FFRUGLQJWRbUHSRUWVWKHDिDFNZDV FDUULHGRXWE\,6.KRUDVDQDORFDODਯOLDWHRIWKH,VODPLF6WDWH7 6LNKV DUH DQRWKHU JURXS WR IDFH VHYHUDO DिDFNV GXULQJ WKH SHULRG XQGHU UHYLHZ 2Q 0DUFK JXQPHQ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK ,6,6b VWRUPHGb D 6LNK JXUGZDUDLQ .DEXOਭULQJ DQG OREELQJ JUHQDGHVDWZRUVKLSSHUVDQGNLOOLQJSHRSOHLQFOXGLQJZRPHQ and children.8ौHQH[WGD\DWWKHIXQHUDORIWKHGHFHDVHGDERPE exploded, injuring several other members of the community in DिHQGDQFH 2Q -XQH 1LGDQ 6LQJK 6DFKGHYD DQ $IJKDQ 6LNK FRPPXQLW\OHDGHUZDVbDEGXFWHGbE\XQLGHQWLਭHGSHUVRQVIURPD JXUGZDUD LQ WKH 3DNWLD SURYLQFH LQ VRXWKHDVWHUQ $IJKDQLVWDQ Sachdeva was eventually released from captivity unharmed, due to HਬRUWVPDGHE\WKH$IJKDQJRYHUQPHQWDQGORFDOWULEDOHOGHUV,Q -XO\D\HDUROG6LNKJLUOZDVDOOHJHGO\OXUHGIRUPDUULDJH E\D0XVOLPPDQDQGZDVUHVFXHGD़HUDORFDOFOHULFLQIRUPHGWKH police.ौHDEGXFWLRQZDVSRVVLEO\IRUIRUFHGFRQYHUVLRQRIWKH girl to Islam, a common occurrence in the country. 3ROLWLFDOWHQVLRQVRYHUWKHFRQWHVWHG SUHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQ amid growing insecurity, uncertainties surrounding the current 5 Ibid. ۑ%DELHVNLOOHGDVJXQPHQVWRUP.DEXOPDWHUQLW\ZDUG IJKDQDWWDFN$ې&%% BBC0D\KWWSV ZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGDVLD. 86EODPHVGHDGO\$IJKDQې.DWK\*DQQRQDQG7DPHHP$NKJDU ELG, Military Times0D\KWWSVۑ.PDWHUQLW\KRVSLWDODWWDFNRQ,6,6 ZZZPLOLWDU\WLPHVFRPQHZVXVEODPHVGHDGO\DIJKDQPDWHUQLW\ KRVSLWDODWWDFNRQLVLVN. 0LOLWDQWVLQGHDGO\DWWDFNRQ6LNKWHPSOH IJKDQLVWDQFRQIOLFW$ې&%% in Kabul’, BBC, 0DUFKKWWSV ZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGDVLD "67KLV)% IEFOLG ,Z$5=NLFIPQ0<;$EG(K Q*97SL,4E+TJL) /)B,NVSIY)*.SQ4[7V. 6LNKFRPPXQLW\OHDGHU1LGDQ6LQJK6DFKGHYDUHOHDVHGېLQGXVWDQ7LPHV+ from captivity in Afghanistan’, Hindustan Times-XO\KWWSV ZZZ KLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRPLQGLDQHZVVLNKFRPPXQLW\OHDGHUQLGDQVLQJKVDFKGHYD UHOHDVHGIURPFDSWLYLW\LQDIJKDQLVWDQVWRU\%L<\']375QJS6E&H-KWPO. E\DەDEGXFWHG۔IJKDQFOHULFVDYHGPLQRU6LNKJLUO$ېXGKYLU5DQD> Muslim boy’, The Times of India-XO\KWWSV WLPHVRILQGLDLQGLDWLPHV FRPLQGLDDIJKDQFOHULFVDYHGPLQRUVLNKJLUODEGXFWHGE\DPXVOLPER\ DUWLFOHVKRZFPV. 231 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 SHDFHWDONVZLWKWKH7DOLEDQDQGWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLFKDYHIXUWKHU VPLQRULWLHVौHVSDWHRIۑ\ZRUVHQHGWKHVLWXDWLRQIRUWKHFRXQWU LQDELOLW\WRUHVSRQGKROGWKHSHUSHWUDWRUVۑNLOOLQJVDQGDXWKRULWLHV DFFRXQWDEOHDQGSUHYHQWIXUWKHUDिDFNVKDYHPDGHWKLQJVZRUVH VSHUVHFXWHGPLQRULWLHVौHFRXQWU\FRQWLQXHVWRۑIRU$IJKDQLVWDQ GHDOZLWKXQFHUWDLQWLHVZLWKGHOD\LQWKHLQWUD$IJKDQSHDFHWDONV between the political leadership in Kabul, and Taliban. At the time RIZULWLQJ6HSWHPEHUWKHWZRJURXSVDUHSUHSDULQJWRVWDUW WKHWDONVZLWKHਬRUWVXQGHUZD\WRਭQDOLVHDGDWH11 ौH867DOLEDQDJUHHPHQWRQ )HEUXDU\RQZLWKGUDZDO of US forces in phases does not seem to indicate that the country is ready to emerge from decades of divisionary politics. A Human 5LJKWV:DWFK5HSRUWIURP-XQHKDVGRFXPHQWHGORZIUHHGRP of expression and social restrictions in the country, especially SROLFH FRQWLQXH ۑYLFH DQG YLUWXHې LQ 7DOLEDQKHOG DUHDV12 ौH WR RSHUDWH LQ WKHVH DUHDV ZLWK VWULFW DGKHUHQFH WR WKH 7DOLEDQ SUHVFULEHGVRFLDOQRUPVौHVHQRUPVDUHHVSHFLDOO\GLVFULPLQDWRU\ WRUHOLJLRXVDQGHWKQLFPLQRULW\JURXSVौXVGHVSLWHWKHSHDFH process, the country’s minorities are choosing to either relocate or OLYHKLGLQJDQ\YLVXDOO\GLVWLQFWLYHLGHQWLW\PDUNHUVDFFRUGLQJWR WKH86&,5)UHSRUW13 Bangladesh ौHUHFRQWLQXHGWREHLQWHUQDODQGH[WHUQDOVHFXULW\WKUHDWVWRZDUG PLQRULWLHVLQWKHFRXQWU\,QWHUQDOO\VHYHUDODिDFNVZHUHUHSRUWHG against religious minorities. Externally, events surrounding the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment $FWLQ,QGLDFRQWLQXHGWRVWRNHIHDUVRIGLVUXSWLRQRISHDFHLQWKH \5HFRQFLOLDWLRQ&RXQFLO([SHFWV7DOLEDQWR*HW5HDGېKDOLG1HN]DG. WRORQHZVFRPLQGH[SKS Tolo News, 6HSWHPEHUKWWSVۑIRU7DONV DIJKDQLVWDQUHFRQFLOLDWLRQFRXQFLOH[SHFWVWDOLEDQJHWUHDG\WDONV. GXFDWLRQ6RFLDO) ەRX+DYH1R5LJKWWR&RPSODLQ>۔ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Human Rights Watch, Juneۑ5HVWULFWLRQVDQG-XVWLFHLQ7DOLEDQKHOG$IJKDQLVWDQ KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJUHSRUW\RXKDYHQRULJKWFRPSODLQ HGXFDWLRQVRFLDOUHVWULFWLRQVDQGMXVWLFHWDOLEDQKHOG. 13 US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Annual Report 2020 :DVKLQJWRQ'& 86&,5) 232 State of South Asian Minorities country. Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were also the victims of DQXPEHURIDिDFNVZKLFKWKHVWDWHZDVXQVXFFHVVIXOLQFXUELQJ A number of instances of violence against Rohingya refugees have been the result of confrontation with the law enforcement DJHQFLHV ,Q $XJXVW IRXU 5RKLQJ\D PHQ ZHUH NLOOHG LQ encounters with law enforcement agencies and one arrested for the alleged murder of a Bangladeshi man. UN Human Rights experts expressed concern over the rights of the refugees when restrictions over them were put in place and military presence increased in the SURWHVW In Juneۑ\HQRFLGH'D*ېV%D]DDUFDPSIROORZLQJDۑ]R& IRXUPRUH5RKLQJ\DPHQZHUHNLOOHGH[WUDMXGLFLDOO\QHDUWKH FDPSIRUDOOHJHGLQYROYHPHQWLQDNLGQDSSLQJIRUUDQVRP15 Earlier in March, the police had fatally shot seven men suspected of drug GHDOLQJDQGKXPDQWUDਯFNLQJ16 5HIXJHHVKDYHDOVRDिHPSWHGWRVHHNDV\OXPLQRWKHUFRXQWULHV VXFKDV0DOD\VLDXQGHUWDNLQJSHULORXVVHDMRXUQH\VLQWKHPLGVW RIWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLF,QRQHVXFKDिHPSWLQ$SULO UHIXJHHV GLHG DW VHD D 5RKLQJ\D FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHU DिULEXWHG WKLVWRLQFUHDVLQJGHVSHUDWLRQLQWKHFDPSVDVVWULFWHUORFNGRZQV ZHUHLPSRVHGLQFOXGLQJDUHFHQWEORFNRQPRYHPHQWDQGPRELOH internet, which was enticing more refugees to reach out to WUDਯFNHUVIRUDZD\RXW17ौH81+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ Rights urged Bangladesh to continue to provide protection to the refugees, and also facilitate their free access to information and 81H[SHUWVFRQFHUQHGE\FUDFNGRZQDW5RKLQJ\DUHIXJHH DQJODGHVK%ې 8QLWHG1DWLRQV+XPDQ5LJKWV2IILFHRIWKH+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUODVWۑFDPSV PRGLILHG6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJHQ1HZV(YHQWV3DJHV 'LVSOD\1HZVDVS["1HZV,' /DQJ,' (. 5RKLQJ\DPHQNLOOHGLQJXQILJKWZLWK%DQJODGHVKېLQGXVWDQ7LPHV+ police’, Hindustan Times-XQHKWWSV ZZZKLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRP ZRUOGQHZVURKLQJ\DPHQNLOOHGLQJXQILJKWZLWKEDQJODGHVKSROLFHVWRU\ D4KOI8::+904L54G-KWPO. The Daily Star, MarchۑەJXQILJKW۔6HYHQNLOOHGLQDVLQJOHې7KH'DLO\6WDU KWWSV ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWIURQWSDJHQHZVJXQILJKWUDEWHNQDIVHYHQ URKLQJ\DUREEHUVNLOOHG. DQJODGHVKUHVFXHVKXQGUHGVRI5RKLQJ\DGULIWLQJDWVHDIRU%ې7KH*XDUGLDQ nearly two months’, The Guardian, $SULOKWWSV ZZZWKHJXDUGLDQFRP ZRUOGDSUEDQJODGHVKUHVFXHVKXQGUHGVRIURKLQJ\DGULIWLQJDWVHDIRU QHDUO\WZRPRQWKV. 233 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 communication,18 which is yet to see fruition. Following reports on the denial of education to the Rohingya children living in camps, the government, however, approved a ‘pilot’ education program to JLYH5RKLQJ\DFKLOGUHQDFFHVVWRIRUPDOVFKRROFXUULFXOXP ौH $KPDGL\D FRPPXQLW\ DOVR IDFHG WDUJHWHG DिDFNV ZLWK ,VODPLVW JURXSV GHPDQGLQJ WKDW WKH\ EH GHFODUHG QRQ0XVOLPV 2Q6HSWHPEHU DQ$KPDGL\DPRVTXHXQGHUFRQVWUXFWLRQ LQ 1HWUDNRQD ZDV DOOHJHGO\ YDQGDOLVHG E\ VWXGHQWV IURP QHDUE\ madrassahs.21 $QRWKHU $KPDGL\D PRVTXH ZDV DिDFNHG RQ -DQXDU\LQ%UDKPDQEDULDWRZQZLWKDQDOWHUFDWLRQEHWZHHQ students from a local madrasa and Ahmadiyas at the mosque.22 In another bizarre incident, the corpse of an Ahmadiya infant buried LQDSXEOLF0XVOLPJUDYH\DUGZDVbH[KXPHGbDQGOH़E\DURDGLQ V *KDWXUD YLOODJH23 ौH ,VODPLF 2LNNR -RWHۑUDKPDQEDULD GLVWULFW% (Islamic Unity Alliance), the biggest alliance of Islamic organisations in Bangladesh, reiterated its stance that members of the Ahmadiya community should never be allowed in Muslim graveyards, and VIDPLO\RIGHOLEHUDWHO\WU\LQJWRVWRNHWHQVLRQVۑ\DFFXVHGWKHEDE VbLQGLJHQRXVbcommunities also continueۑ0HPEHUVRI%DQJODGHVK EHLQJ WDUJHWHG $PLG WKHb &RYLG SDQGHPLFb VHYHQb LQGLJHQRXV 8QLWHGۑ5RKLQJ\Dی3UHVVEULHILQJQRWHRQ0\DQPDU%DQJODGHVKې 1DWLRQV+XPDQ5LJKWV2IILFHRIWKH+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUODVWPRGLILHG $SULOKWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJHQ1HZV(YHQWV3DJHV'LVSOD\1HZV DVS["1HZV,' /DQJ,' (. HQLDORI(GXFDWLRQIRU' ە"UH:H1RW+XPDQ$۔ېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Rohingya Refugee Children in Bangladesh’, Human Rights Watch, December KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJUHSRUW DUHZHQRWKXPDQGHQLDO HGXFDWLRQURKLQJ\DUHIXJHHFKLOGUHQEDQJODGHVK. ODVWPRGLILHG0D\KWWSV:6&ۑ%DQJODGHVK HQHUDO%ULHILQJ*ې ZZZFVZRUJXNUHSRUWDUWLFOHKWP. 8QGHUFRQVWUXFWLRQ$KPDGL\\DPRVTXHYDQGDOLVHGې1HZ$JH%DQJODGHVK ZZZQHZDJHEG KWWSV New Age Bangladesh6HSWHPEHUۑLQ1HWUDNRQD QHWDUWLFOHXQGHUFRQVWUXFWLRQDKPDGL\\DPRVTXHYDQGDOLVHGLQ QHWUDNRQD. ۑKPDGL\\DPRVTXHYDQGDOL]HGLQ%UDKPDQEDULD$ېKDND7ULEXQH' Dhaka Tribune-DQXDU\KWWSV ZZZGKDNDWULEXQHFRPEDQJODGHVK QDWLRQDKPDGL\\DPRVTXHYDQGDOL]HGLQEUDKPDQEDULD. KPDGL\\DLQIDQWH[KXPHGOHIWE\WKHURDGLQ$ېKDND7ULEXQH' Brahmanbaria’, Dhaka Tribune-XO\KWWSV ZZZGKDNDWULEXQHFRP EDQJODGHVKQDWLRQDKPDGL\\DLQIDQWH[KXPHGDQGOHIWE\WKHURDG LQEUDKPDQEDULD. ,ELG State of South Asian Minorities SHRSOHV RI WKH &KLिDJRQJ +LOO 7UDFWV UHJLRQb KDYH UHSRUWHGO\ EHHQ DUUHVWHG DUELWUDULO\b DQGb SHUVRQVb KDYH UHSRUWHGO\ EHHQ tortured and harassed. 25,Q%DQGDUEDQb+LOOGLVWULFWLQ0D\ODQG JUDEEHUVbDOOHJHGO\bOLQNHGbWRbWKHUXOLQJSDUW\bEXUQHGbGRZQDURXQG DFUHVRIUXEEHUSODQWDWLRQVbRIWKHLQGLJHQRXVSHRSOH26 $िDFNVRQUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVZHUHDOVRUHSRUWHGGXULQJWKH &RYLG VKXWGRZQ+RXVHVRIUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVZHUHDिDFNHG and cases of temples being vandalised were also reported.27 ौH Bangladesh Election Commission’s decision to conduct mayoral HOHFWLRQV RI 'KDND 6RXWK DQG 1RUWK &LW\ FRQVWLWXHQFLHV RQ January resulted in widespread agitations, as the date clashed with 6DUDVZDWL 3XMD D PDMRU +LQGX IHVWLYDO28 With the Commission refusing to budge, Hindu activists approached the High Court, which refused to entertain its plea for postponement of polls. With WKHVWXGHQWOHGSURWHVWVLQWHQVLI\LQJKRZHYHUWKH(&HYHQWXDOO\ UHOHQWHGDQGbGHIHUUHGbWKHSROOLQJGDWH ौHVWDWHKDVWDNHQVRPHVWHSVWRZDUGVFXUELQJWHUURULVPDQG UHOLJLRXV YLROHQFH ,Q )HEUXDU\ %DQJODGHVK 3ROLFHb IRLOHGb D SODQQHG DिDFN RQ D +LQGX WHPSOH LQ 'KDND ौH &RXQWHU 7HUURULVP DQG 7UDQVQDWLRQDO &ULPH 8QLW DUUHVWHG ਭYH PHPEHUV RI WKH H[WUHPLVW JURXS $QVDU DO,VODP IRU SORिLQJ WKH DिDFN Following the communal riots in the capital of India, in February, Bangladeshi leadership also called for peace and harmony to be PDLQWDLQHG,Q'KDNDWKHOHDGHUVRI+HID]DWH,VODPDQDGYRFDF\ JURXSbXUJHGb0XVOLPVWRPDLQWDLQFRPPXQDOSHDFHDQGKDUPRQ\ VQRQ0XVOLPV31ۑ\DQGSURWHFWWKHFRXQWU 7ULPLWD&KDNPDA Rapid Assessment Report The impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Bangladesh 'KDND .DSDHHQJ)RXQGDWLRQ 26 Ibid. 0LQRULW\DQGHWKQLFFRPPXQLWLHVDWWDFNHGGXULQJې7KH'DLO\6WDU ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWHGLWRULDO The Daily Star-XQHKWWSVۑORFNGRZQ QHZVPLQRULW\DQGHWKQLFFRPPXQLWLHVDWWDFNHGGXULQJORFNGRZQ . ,The Daily StarۑKDNDFLW\SROOVGDWHFKDQJHGWR)HE'ې7KH'DLO\6WDU -DQXDU\KWWSV ZZZWKHGDLO\VWDUQHWFLW\GKDNDFLW\HOHFWLRQGDWH FKDQJHGIHEUXDU\. ,ELG DhakaۑQVDUDO,VODPPHPEHUVKHOGLQ'KDND$ېKDND7ULEXQH' Tribune)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZGKDNDWULEXQHFRPEDQJODGHVK GKDNDDQVDUDOLVODPPHPEHUVKHOGLQGKDND. 31 New Age Bangladesh, ‘Thousands protest against Delhi violence’, New 235 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 VOHJDOIUDPHZRUNLVR़HQPLVXVHGDQGۑ\RZHYHUWKHFRXQWU+ KDVWKHSRWHQWLDOWREHPLVXVHGWRWDUJHWPLQRULWLHVौH8QLWHG 6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQIRU,QWHUQDWLRQDO)UHHGRPLQLWVb$QQXDO Report, noted that Bangladesh’s controversial Digital Security Act, which criminalises content that hurts ‘religious sentiment or values’, has been repeatedly misused in the country.32b)RONVLQJHU 6KDULDW %D\DWL ZDV DUUHVWHG LQ -DQXDU\ XQGHU WKH $FW IRU VWDWLQJWKDWPXVLFLVQRWIRUELGGHQLQWKHोUDQ33 Bhutan ौH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH .LQJGRP RI %KXWDQ JXDUDQWHHV the rights of citizens to civil liberties, including the freedom of expression, association and the right to follow one’s religion. +RZHYHULVVXHVRIPLQRULWLHVGRQRWUHFHLYHDQ\QDWLRQDODिHQWLRQ and even if some issues emerge and are noticed in the public domain, WKHUHDUHQRFLYLOVRFLHW\JURXSVWKDWFDQHਬHFWLYHO\WDNHXSDQG DGYRFDWHRQWKHLVVXHVौH1DWLRQDO+XPDQ'HYHORSPHQW5HSRUW WRېDOVRVWDWHVWKDWWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDVUHVWULFWHGFLYLOOLEHUWLHV avoid breaches of peace’ in soliciting applications for licenses and prohibiting assembly in designated places also reinforced by the 3HQDO&RGHRI%KXWDQZKLFKSURKLELWVSURPRWLRQRIFLYLOXQUHVW ौH+XPDQ5LJKWV5HSRUWDOVRQRWHVWKDWFLWL]HQVLQ%KXWDQ were careful when exercising freedom of expression as they could be charged with defamation, especially if they criticise powerful persons in the country.35 Age Bangladesh)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZQHZDJHEGQHWDUWLFOH WKRXVDQGVSURWHVWDJDLQVWGHOKLYLROHQFHLQGKDND. 32 US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Annual Report 2020 :DVKLQJWRQ'& 86&,5) 33 New Age Bangladesh, ‘AI wants unconditional release of Shariat Bayati’, New Age Bangladesh)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZQHZDJHEGQHWDUWLFOH DLZDQWVXQFRQGLWLRQDOUHOHDVHRIVKDULDWED\DWL. 8QLWHG1DWLRQV'HYHORSPHQW3URJUDPBhutan National Human Development Report: Ten Years of Democracy in Bhutan 7KLPSKX 81'3 KWWSV ZZZEWXQGSRUJFRQWHQWEKXWDQHQKRPHOLEUDU\KXPDQBGHYHORSPHQW QDWLRQDOKXPDQGHYHORSPHQWUHSRUW KWPO. 8QLWHG1DWLRQV+XPDQ5LJKWV2IILFHRIWKH+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUHuman Rights Report *HQHYD 2+&+5 KWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJ'RFXPHQWV 236 State of South Asian Minorities 2YHUWKH\HDUV&62VLQ%KXWDQKDYHIDFHGVHYHUDOFRQVWUDLQWV GXH WR OHJLVODWLRQ ZKLFK GHWHUV &62V IURP WDNLQJ XS FHUWDLQ DFWLYLWLHV)RUH[DPSOHWKH&LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQLVDWLRQ$FWLV VLOHQWDERXWWKHDGYRFDF\IXQFWLRQDQGUROHRI&62V36 Moreover, ۑSROLWLFDOېDQ\DGYRFDF\WDNHQXSE\&62VPD\EHFRQVWUXHGDVD DFWLYLW\ ZKLFK WKH $FW UXOHV WKDW &62V FDQQRW LQGXOJH LQ ौLV RSDTXHQHVVDQGIHDUGHWHUDQ\DGYRFDF\ZRUNE\&62VLQVXSSRUW of the issues faced by their target group. $FFRUGLQJ WR )UHHGRP +RXVH 5HSRUW WKHUH DUH PXOWLSOH media houses but all of them are dependent on the government for income from advertisements.37ौLVLVWUXHDWSUHVHQWDVZHOO$Q amended Bhutan Information, Communications, and Media Act was SDVVHGLQ38 which calls for strengthening the independence of the media for a free and vibrant fourth estate. A Media Council has DOVREHHQHVWDEOLVKHGZKLFKDPRQJRWKHUVPRQLWRUVRਬHQVLYHDQG harmful content, raising fears that it may erode freedom and induce JUHDWHUVHOIFHQVRUVKLSDPRQJPHGLDSURIHVVLRQDOV In Bhutan, proselytisation is banned. Furthermore, religious organisations are required to be apolitical while conducting all RSHUDWLRQVZLWKRXWFRPPHUFLDOLVDWLRQDQGGLVWULEXWLRQRISURਭWV to their members, board members among others. ौHUHKDYHDOVR EHHQ UHSRUWV RI &KULVWLDQV EHLQJ GHSULYHG RI VWDWH EHQHਭWV DQG experiencing harassment, especially in rural areas. In the country, LW LV DOVR HVWLPDWHG WKDW PRVW &KULVWLDQV DUH /KRWVDPSDV ZKR DUHSHRSOHRI1HSDOLRULJLQDQGDPLQRULW\LQ%KXWDQौHUHIRUH Christians, in particular, could be bearing a burden of double discrimination. 3XEOLFDWLRQV2+&+5UHSRUWSGI. LYLO6RFLHW\2UJDQL]DWLRQV$XWKRULW\DFFHVVHG6HSWHPEHU&ۑ\XWKRULW$62&ې KWWSV ZZZFVRDRUJEWSXEOLFZ. 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South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 of Muslims, in particular, is state sanctioned to the extent that ZRUNLQJFODVV 0XVOLPV DQG \RXWK DFWLYLVWV LQFOXGLQJ ZRPHQ and students, continue to be arrested arbitrarily52 with fabricated FDVHVDQGFKDUJHGXQGHUWKHb8QODZIXO $FWLYLWLHV 3UHYHQWLRQ$FW 8$3$ 53 (DUO\HਬRUWVWRFRQWUROWKHSDQGHPLFD़HUWKHQDWLRQDOORFNGRZQ in March were also beset with polarisation, as a Tablighi Jamaat ौLV OHG WR ۑKRWVSRWې FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ 'HOKL EHFDPH D &RYLG LQWHQVLਭHGWDUJHWLQJRI0XVOLPVZLWKDFRQFHUWHGGLVLQIRUPDWLRQ FDPSDLJQVHHNLQJWRSDLQWWKHFRPPXQLW\DVJXLOW\RIVSUHDGLQJ WKHYLUXVDQGVHYHUDODिDFNVDQGVRFLDOER\FRिFDPSDLJQVDFURVV the country. ौH JRYHUQPHQW JDYH D ਭOOLS WR WKHVH HਬRUWV E\ UHJLVWHULQJFULPLQDOFDVHVDJDLQVW-DPDDWPHPEHUVLQFOXGLQJ IRUHLJQHUV,Q$XJXVWWKH%RPED\+LJK&RXUWVWUXFNGRZQWKHVH ۑVFDSHJRDWVېFDVHVUHPDUNLQJWKDWWKH-DPDDWPHPEHUVZHUHPDGH and that the propaganda against their religious activity was unwarranted.55 'RFXPHQWDWLRQRIWKH2SSUHVVHGDKDWHFULPHGRFXPHQWDWLRQ platform, recorded 71 incidents targeting India’s Muslims since -DQXDU\56ौHVHLQFOXGHGPXUGHUVO\QFKLQJSK\VLFDODVVDXOW FRZUHODWHGYLROHQFHDिDFNVRQUHOLJLRXVLQIUDVWUXFWXUHDQGPRUH UHFHQWO\ &RYLG UHODWHG WDUJHWLQJ 2WKHU PLQRULWLHV KDYH DOVR IDFHG LQFUHDVHG WDUJHWLQJ DQG KDUDVVPHQWb 5HSRUWV E\ &KULVWLDQ JURXSVLQGLFDWHWKDWWKHFRPPXQLW\FRQWLQXHVWRVXਬHUWKURXJK HYHQDV.DVKPLUیWRRNRQO\GD\VWRGHOLYHU%KXVKDQYHUGLFW&6ې6FUROO CAA matters await decisions’, Scroll,$XJXVWKWWSV VFUROOLQ DUWLFOH VFWRRNRQO\GD\VWRGHOLYHUEKXVKDQYHUGLFWHYHQDVNDVKPLU FDDPDWWHUVDZDLWGHFLVLRQV. 0LVXVHRI8$3$E\8QLRQ*RYHUQPHQW'XULQJ&RYLGې1HZVFOLFN ZZZQHZVFOLFNLQ8$3$0LVXVH Newsclick,0D\KWWSVۑ3DQGHPLF 0RGL*RYW&UDFNGRZQ$FWLYLVWV2UJDQLVDWLRQV&29,' /RFNGRZQ. ,NewsclickۑV&RPPXQDO3RODULVDWLRQ RURQD-LKDGDQG0HGLD&ې1HZVFOLFN $SULOKWWSV ZZZQHZVFOLFNLQFRURQDMLKDGDQGPHGLDVFRPPXQDO polarisation. 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State of South Asian Minorities &RYLG UHVWULFWLRQV $FFRUGLQJ WR RQH UHSRUW WKHUH ZHUH FDVHVRIDिDFNVDJDLQVW&KULVWLDQKRXVHVFKXUFKHVDQGLQGLYLGXDOV GXULQJ WKH ORFNGRZQ WLOO -XQH57 Another report stated that hate crimes against Christians in India, including murders, rapes, arson, DQGDिDFNVRQSODFHVRIZRUVKLSKDGULVHQE\SHUFHQWVLQFH UHFRUGLQJ VXFKFDVHV582QHRIWKHZRUVWUHFRUGHGFDVHV ZDVRID\HDUROGER\EHLQJEUXWDOO\PXUGHUHGIRUKLVDQGKLV family’s converting to Christianity. ौHUH KDYH EHHQ UHSRUWHG LQFLGHQWV RI DिDFNV RQ &KULVWLDQb LQGLJHQRXVb IDPLOLHV LQ UXUDO &KKDिLVJDUKDVZHOOb 'DOLWVbWRRFRQWLQXHGWREHVXEMHFWVRIWDUJHWLQJb0RUHWKDQb FDVHVbRIDWURFLWLHVDJDLQVW'DOLWVZHUHGRFXPHQWHGE\FLYLOVRFLHW\ JURXSV EHWZHHQ $SULO DQG -XQH ौHVH LQFOXGHG PXUGHU O\QFKLQJVH[XDOYLROHQFHSROLFHEUXWDOLW\DQGWRUWXUHौHUHKDV DOVREHHQDVSLNHLQYLROHQFHDJDLQVWb'DOLWZRPHQZLWKbPXOWLSOH UHSRUWVbRIPXUGHUUDSHSK\VLFDOPROHVWDWLRQDQGDFLGDिDFNV61 ,Q 0XVOLPPDMRULW\b Kashmirb the systematic repression of dissent following the revocation of limited autonomy in August KDVFRQWLQXHGWRWDNHDKHDY\WROO'XULQJWKHਭUVWVL[PRQWKV RI .DVKPLUL FLYLO VRFLHW\ JURXSVb UHFRUGHGb H[WUDMXGLFLDO NLOOLQJV62$ORQJVLGHWKHEORFNDGHRQKLJKVSHHGLQWHUQHWQRZLQ force for almost a year, continued.63ौHGHDUWKRIIDVWDQGUHOLDEOH The Hindu, AugustۑKULVWLDQVDVWDUJHWGXULQJWKHORFNGRZQ&ېURQWOLQH( KWWSV IURQWOLQHWKHKLQGXFRPWKHQDWLRQFKULVWLDQVDVWDUJHW DUWLFOH HFH. 58 Ibid. RXQJ&KULVWLDQER\PXUGHUHGLQ2GLVKD’, MapViolence-XQH>ې0DS9LROHQFH KWWSV PDSYLROHQFHLQLQFLGHQWV\RXQJFKULVWLDQER\PXUGHUHGLQRGLVKD. GLYDVL&KULVWLDQVIDFHZLGHVSUHDGSHUVHFXWLRQLQ$ې7KH&DUDYDQ Chhattisgarh, pressurised into ghar vapsi’, The&DUDYDQ-XQH KWWSV FDUDYDQPDJD]LQHLQUHOLJLRQDGLYDVLFKULVWLDQVIDFHZLGHVSUHDGSHUVHFXWLRQLQ FKKDWWLVJDUKSUHVVXULVHGLQWRJKDUYDSVL. 61 Rahul Singh, ‘Caste based violence and access to Justice.’ Impact of COVID-19 on Dalits in India: Voices from the Ground, -XO\ VLQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQVۑNLOOLQJV&$62 LDQQXDO+55HYLHZ%ې DPPX.DVKPLU&RDOLWLRQRI&LYLO6RFLHW\-XQH-ۑSURSHUWLHVGHVWUR\HG KWWSV MNFFVQHWELDQQXDOKUUHYLHZ NLOOLQJVFDVRVLQWHUQHW VKXWGRZQVSURSHUWLHVGHVWUR\HG. /HJDO)UDPHZRUN 'XELRXV QWHUQHW6KXWGRZQ%DVHGRQ,. -ې7KH:LUH Report’, The Wire, $XJXVWKWWSV WKHZLUHLQJRYHUQPHQWMDPPXDQG NDVKPLULQWHUQHWVKXWGRZQMNFFV. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 LQWHUQHWLVUHSRUWHGWRKDYHJUHDWO\bKDPSHUHGbWKH.DVKPLULPHGLFDO 3UHVVIUHHGRPLQ.DVKPLU VHਬRUWVDJDLQVW&RYLGۑ\FRPPXQLW DOVRFDPHXQGHUDिDFNZLWKWKHDQQRXQFHPHQWRIDbQHZPHGLD DQWLې SROLF\b WKDW DOORZV DXWKRULWLHV WR GHFLGH ZKDW FRQVWLWXWHV FRQWHQW65ۑDQWLQDWLRQDOېDQGۑVRFLDO ौHVHDQGRWKHUGHYHORSPHQWVKDYHOHGWRDFRQWLQXLQJVSDWH RIbLQWHUQDWLRQDOFHQVXUHWRZDUGWKH,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQW,Q0D\ WKHb 81 6SHFLDO $GYLVRU RQ 3UHYHQWLRQ RI *HQRFLGHb H[SUHVVHG concern at increased hate speech and discrimination against minorities in India.66$OVRLQ0D\WKHb8QLWHG6WDWHV&RPPLVVLRQ IRU 5HOLJLRXV )UHHGRPb 86&,5) UHFRPPHQGHG WR WKH 86 6WDWH Department that India be designated as a ‘country of particular concern’.67,Q-XQHWKH812ਯFHRIWKH+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU FUDFNGRZQۑ2+&+5 FRQGHPQHG,QGLDQDXWKRULWLHV XPDQ5LJKWV+ FOHDUO\GHVLJQHGېDJDLQVWDQWL&$$SURWHVWRUVVWDWLQJWKDWLWZDV to send a chilling message to India’s vibrant civil society’.68ौH VFODPSGRZQۑ\VDPHPRQWKLWDOVRH[SUHVVHGbDODUPDWWKHFRXQWU on freedom of expression during the pandemic. In July, India was again noted as having stigmatised minorities during the pandemic E\WKH2+&+5 Also in July, four UN Special Rapporteurs made their third communication to the Indian government over its ۑ")LJKW%DFN V&RYLGۑV*%DQ)DLOLQJ.DVKPLU,ېDVKPLU2EVHUYHU. Kashmir Observer$SULOKWWSV NDVKPLUREVHUYHUQHWLVJ EDQIDLOLQJNDVKPLUVFRYLG ILJKWEDFN. DSSDOOHGE\2UZHOOLDQSUHVVSROLF\LQ(56ې5HSRUWHUV:LWKRXW%RUGHUV ,QGLDQKHOG.DVKPLU’, RSF,-XQH KWWSV UVIRUJHQQHZVUVIDSSDOOHG RUZHOOLDQSUHVVSROLF\LQGLDQKHOGNDVKPLU. ZZZ 813UHVV5HOHDVH0D\KWWSVۑ1RWHWR0HGLDRQ,QGLDې XQRUJHQJHQRFLGHSUHYHQWLRQGRFXPHQWVB6$QRWHWR PHGLDRQ,QGLDBILQDOSGI. ۑK\WKH865HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HSRUWLV%DG1HZVIRU,QGLD:ېNVKLWD-DLQ$ Huffington Post0D\KWWSV ZZZKXIILQJWRQSRVWLQHQWU\XVUHOLJLRXV IUHHGRPUHSRUWLQGLDBLQBHD FFEEHG. HindustanۑUHOHDVHۑ81H[SHUWVVHHNDQWL&$$SURWHVWHUVېLQGXVWDQ7LPHV+ Times-XQHKWWSV ZZZKLQGXVWDQWLPHVFRPLQGLDQHZVXQH[SHUWV VHHNDQWLFDDSURWHVWHUVUHOHDVHVWRU\].\NO)ZS$NYV.KW2*3/KWPO. LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWVVD\V+81ې7KH/HDIOHW ۑ',OLVWV,QGLDIRUVWLJPDWL]DWLRQRIPLQRULWLHVGXULQJ&29 ەLVFULPLQDWLRQ.LOOV'۔ The Leaflet,)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZWKHOHDIOHWLQXQKLJKFRPPLVVLRQHU IRUKXPDQULJKWVVD\VGLVFULPLQDWLRQNLOOVOLVWVLQGLDIRUVWLJPDWL]DWLRQRI PLQRULWLHVGXULQJFRYLG. State of South Asian Minorities YDULRXVb KXPDQ ULJKWV YLRODWLRQV LQ .DVKPLUb VLQFH $XJXVW public.b Nepal :LWKWKHSURPXOJDWLRQRILWVQHZFRQVWLWXWLRQLQ1HSDOZDV GHFODUHG D VHFXODU GHPRFUDWLF UHSXEOLF DQG FRPPLिHG LWVHOI WR embracing the principles of inclusion and uniform development across the country. However, religious minorities, gender and VH[XDOPLQRULWLHV'DOLWVDQGUHIXJHHVFRQWLQXHWRIDFHLGHQWLW\ EDVHGYLROHQFH,QLWVUHSRUWWRWKH81+XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO +XPDQ5LJKWV:DWFKDਯUPHGWKDW1HSDObKDVIDLOHGWROLYHXSWRLWV commitments on transitional justice and has also not acted on the recommendations from the last UN review either.71 2IWKH%KXWDQHVHUHIXJHHVZKRKDGਮHGHWKQLFSHUVHFXWLRQIURP %KXWDQLQWKH VDURXQGUHPDLQHGLQ1HSDODVRI ZKLOH WKHUHVWKDYHEHHQUHVHिOHGLQHLJKWFRXQWULHV72ौH8QLWHG1DWLRQV High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has publicly stated that it will not be supporting the remaining Bhutanese refugees in Nepal IURPRQZDUGV73 While the agency has reached an agreement on the refugees’ shelter, food, education, employment, and health services with local agencies and organisations, there is concern among the remaining refugees about their future.75 SHUWV&RQFHUQHGRYHU&ULPLQDO&DVHVDJDLQVW])81ېDVKPLU7LPHV. Kashmir Journalists’, Kashmir Times-XO\KWWS ZZZNDVKPLUWLPHV FRPQHZVGHWDVS["T . +XPDQ5LJKWV V8QLYHUVDO3HULRGLF5HYLHZۑ1HSDOېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ ,Human Rights Watchۑ\5HYLHZ6KRXOG$GGUHVV%URNHQ&RPPLWPHQWV,PSXQLW -XO\KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJQHZVQHSDOVXQLYHUVDOSHULRGLF review. ۑ"KRVWDQGVZLWK%KXWDQHVHUHIXJHHVLQ1HSDO:ېDXWDPDQG730LVKUD*% Nepali Times, -XQH KWWSV ZZZQHSDOLWLPHVFRPRSLQLRQZKRVWDQGV ZLWKEKXWDQHVHUHIXJHHVLQQHSDO. 73 Himalayan News Service, ‘UNHCR to stop supporting Bhutanese refugees’, The Himalayan Times,'HFHPEHU KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRPQHSDO XQKFUWRVWRSVXSSRUWLQJEKXWDQHVHUHIXJHHV. ۑ5WRVWRSVXSSRUWLQJ%KXWDQHVHUHIXJHHV&+81ېLPDOD\DQ1HZV6HUYLFH+ The Himalayan Times,'HFHPEHU KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRPQHSDO XQKFUWRVWRSVXSSRUWLQJEKXWDQHVHUHIXJHHV. 7LEHWDQDQG LYLQJLQ/LPER/ې67KDSD<'*XUXQJDQG-%DQL\D South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 /LNHZLVHWKHUHZHUHDQHVWLPDWHGXQGRFXPHQWHG7LEHWDQ UHIXJHHVLQ1HSDODVRI 76 Being undocumented renders them unable to access education, employment, and other government schemes and provisions. While the situation for Tibetan refugees in the country had been precarious during the visit of Chinese 3UHVLGHQW;L-LQSLQJWR1HSDOLQ2FWREHUODVW\HDU77 news reports LQ -DQXDU\ UHYHDOHG WKDW DQ DJUHHPHQW RQ WKH %RXQGDU\ Management System between the two countries included a provision which compels either government to hand over each other’s nationals who have crossed the border illegally.78ौLVLV OLNHO\WRKDYHPDVVLYHLPSOLFDWLRQVIRU7LEHWDQVWU\LQJWRਮHHWR 1HSDOHQURXWHWR,QGLDDQGLVDYLRODWLRQRIWKHSULQFLSOHRIQRQ refoulement. )ROORZLQJWKLVWKHUHKDYHEHHQUHSRUWVRIWKHb86 Embassy in Nepal ‘pressing’ the Foreign Ministry and Home 0LQLVWU\bWRLVVXHWUDYHOGRFXPHQWVWR7LEHWDQUHIXJHHV $VRI-DQXDU\WKHUHZHUHUHSRUWHGO\DURXQGb 5RKLQJ\D UHIXJHHVbLQ1HSDO81,Q$SULORਯFLDOVIURPWKHDUHDLQ.DWKPDQGX ZKHUH5RKLQJ\DZKRFRXOGQRWZRUNOHJDOO\ZHUHVXUYLYLQJRQ Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal’, in: South Asia State of Minorities Report 2019 Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless, D. Thapa, S. Thapa and R. Singh (eds) .DWKPDQGX 6RFLDO6FLHQFH%DKD ZZZFVZRUJ CSW0D\KWWSVۑ1HSDO HQHUDO%ULHILQJ*ې XNUHSRUWDUWLFOHKWP. 77 Himalayan News Service, ‘11 Tibetan refugees among 22 held’, The Himalayan Times, 2FWREHU KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRP NDWKPDQGXWLEHWDQUHIXJHHVDPRQJKHOG. 78 Kosh Raj Koirala, ‘Nepal, China to hand over nationals illegally crossing mutual border’, myRepublica-DQXDU\KWWSV P\UHSXEOLFD QDJDULNQHWZRUNFRPQHZVQHSDOFKLQDWRKDQGRYHUQDWLRQDOVLOOHJDOO\ FURVVLQJPXWXDOERUGHU. 7KHSULQFLSOHRIQRQUHIRXOPHQWLVHQVKULQHGLQWKH&RQYHQWLRQ$JDLQVW 7RUWXUHZKLFKZDVUDWLILHGE\1HSDOLQ 7KHSULQFLSOHLVDOVRZLGHO\ accepted as a peremptory norm under customary international law and is binding to all countries regardless of ratification. See: KWWSV ZZZKUWPFFRUJ GRZQORDG1(3$/7UHDW\5DWLILFDWLRQ6WDWXV0D\ SGI. $PHULFDQ3UHVVXUHWR3URYLGH7UDYHO'RFXPHQW 5HIXJHH,VVXHېDKDO'0 @WLEEDWLODLWUDYHOGRFXPHQWGLQDDPHULNLGDEDE 6DUDQDUWKLVDPDV\D<ۑWR7LEHWDQV Kantipur,)HEUXDU\KWWSV HNDQWLSXUFRPQHZV KWPO \The Kathmandu Post-DQXDUۑ7KH5RKLQJ\DLQ1HSDOې30DKDW KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPFROXPQVWKHURKLQJ\DLQQHSDO. State of South Asian Minorities XQRਯFLDODLGbVWRSSHGSURYLGLQJDLGWRWKHPFODLPLQJWKDWLWZDV not sustainable.82 ौH 86 &RPPLVVLRQ RQb ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HOLJLRXV )UHHGRP 86&,5) $QQXDO 5HSRUW GRHV QRW GHVLJQDWH 1HSDO DV D country of special concern but does mention instances of religious intolerance in the country.83 ौH UHSRUW DOVR ZDUQHG RI WKH ULVH RI HWKQRUHOLJLRXV QDWLRQDOLVP LQ 1HSDO DV D QXPEHU RI 1HSDOL SROLWLFLDQVbFRQWLQXHGbWKHLUSXVKWRUHGHਭQH1HSDODVD+LQGXVWDWH VGHFLVLRQWREHJLQWKHۑौHUHSRUWDFNQRZOHGJHGWKHJRYHUQPHQW LPSOHPHQWDWLRQRIDQDQWLFRQYHUVLRQODZOHDGLQJWRWKHbDUUHVWVbRI members of religious minority communities, especially Christians, for alleged acts of proselytisation.85ौHUHKDYHDOVREHHQVHYHUDO VUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVVSHFLਭFDOO\0XVOLPVEHLQJۑUHSRUWVRI1HSDO WDUJHWHGGXULQJWKH&RYLG ORFNGRZQ86 'HVSLWH WKH FULPLQDOLVDWLRQ RI FDVWHEDVHG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ PDQ\FKLOGUHQIURPWKH'DOLWFRPPXQLW\DUHQRWDEOHWRDिHQG school regularly, with many dropping out eventually.87 Cases of discrimination against Dalits in accessing housing and sites of worship were also documented.88 ,Q 0DUFK D FDVWH 5RKLQJ\D<ۑ0XQLFLSDOLW\6WRSSHG5HOLHIWR5RKLQJ\D5HIXJHHVې63DQGLW VDUDQDUWKLVLZLUPDQDJDUSDOLNDOHURN\RUDDKDW@OnlineKhabar$SULO KWWSV ZZZRQOLQHNKDEDUFRP. 83 United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Annual Report 2020 :DVKLQJWRQ'& 86&,5) KWWSV ZZZXVFLUIJRYVLWHV GHIDXOWILOHV86&,5)$QQXDO5HSRUWB)LQDOB SGI. ,The Weekۑ1HSDOSDUW\GHPDQGVJRYWWRGHFODUHFRXQWU\DV+LQGXVWDWHې 0DUFK KWWSV ZZZWKHZHHNLQQHZVZRUOG QHSDOSDUW\ GHPDQGVJRYWWRGHFODUHFRXQWU\DVKLQGXVWDWHKWPO. 85 Catholic News Agency, ‘Arrest of Christians in Nepal prompts religious freedom worry’, Catholic News Agency$SULO KWWSV ZZZ FDWKROLFQHZVDJHQF\FRPQHZVDUUHVWRIFKULVWLDQVLQQHSDOSURPSWVUHOLJLRXV IUHHGRPZRUU\ . LYH&KULVWLDQV,QFOXGLQJ2QH$PHULFDQ$UUHVWHGLQ1HSDO8QGHU$QWL(ې ZZZSHUVHFXWLRQ KWWSV Persecution.Org$SULOۑRQYHUVLRQ/DZ& RUJ ILYHFKULVWLDQVLQFOXGLQJRQHDPHULFDQDUUHVWHGQHSDODQWL FRQYHUVLRQODZ. 87 National Human Rights Commission Nepal, Annual Report (Kathmandu: 1+5&1HSDO KWWSV ZZZQKUFQHSDORUJQKUFBQHZGRFQHZVOHWWHU $QQXDOB5HSRUWBB(QJOLVKBPLQSGI. DOLWVWXGHQWDVNHGWRHYDFXDWHURRPLQ7DUDNHVKZRU0XQLFLSDOLW\’, Nepal'ې Monitor0DUFKKWWSV QHSDOPRQLWRURUJUHSRUWVYLHZ 5*DKDWUDM The KathmanduۑDQNH'DOLWVGLVFULPLQDWHGDJDLQVWRQ6KLYDUDWULIHVWLYDO%ې South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 GLVFULPLQDWLRQFDVHZDVਭOHGE\D'DOLWZDUGFKDLUSHUVRQDJDLQVW a local for using derogatory language. In another instance, a Dalit HOHFWHGRਯFLDOUHSRUWHGWKHXVHRIVOXUVDJDLQVWKLPE\DQRਯFH assistant. ۑQ0D\WKHPHPEHUVRIb1HSDO1DWLRQDO2SSUHVVHG6WXGHQWV, 8QLRQb SDGORFNHGb WKH *XUXNXO 6DQVNULW 6FKRRO LQ %KDGUDSXU LQ VRXWKHDVW1HSDOD़HUWKHVFKRRODGPLQLVWUDWLRQGHQLHGDGPLVVLRQ to a Dalit student. b$OVRLQ0D\LQDFDVHWKDWJDLQHGQDWLRQDO SURPLQHQFHD\HDUROGb'DOLWbER\DQGKLVIULHQGVZHUHbEHDWHQ XSSHUې \DQG WKURZQb LQWR D ULYHU E\ D ODUJH JDWKHULQJ RI PRVWO caste’ villagers, resulting in their deaths. ,Q0D\D\HDUROG XSSHUېDOLWJLUOZDVbDOOHJHGO\UDSHGDQGNLOOHGbE\D\HDUROG' caste’ villager in Rupandehi district; the police deemed the action a suicide. ौHSROLFHWRRNWKHDFFXVHGLQWRFXVWRG\RQO\D़HUD national outcry. ौH81+LJK&RPPLVVLRQHUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWV called for an independent investigation in both these cases. *HQGHUDQGVH[XDOPLQRULWLHVWRRIDFHDGYHUVLWLHVLQWKHFRXQWU\ resulting in an alarming increase in issues related to their mental health. ,Q-XO\WKH1DWLRQDO+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQbUHOHDVHGbD UHSRUWb ZDUQLQJ WKDW VH[XDO DQG JHQGHU PLQRULWLHV LQ VRXWKHUQ Post)HEUXDU\KWWSV NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPEDQNHGDOLWV GLVFULPLQDWHGDJDLQVWRQVKLYDUDWULIHVWLYDO. Nepal Monitor, MarchۑDUG&KDLUILOHVFRPSODLQWRIFDVWHGLVFULPLQDWLRQ:ې KWWSV QHSDOPRQLWRURUJUHSRUWVYLHZ. NepalۑDOLWZDUGFKDLUSHUVRQYHUEDOO\DVVDXOWHGE\RIILFHDVVLVWDQW'ې Monitor0DUFKKWWSV QHSDOPRQLWRURUJUHSRUWVYLHZ . XUXNXO6DQVNULW6FKRROSDGORFNHGDIWHUVFKRROGHQLHVDGPLVVLRQWR*ې Dalit student’, Nepal Monitor0D\KWWSV QHSDOPRQLWRURUJUHSRUWV YLHZ . The Kathmandu Post, 0D\KWWSVۑ6WLOO8QWRXFKDEOHې$50XOPL NDWKPDQGXSRVWFRPFROXPQVVWLOOXQWRXFKDEOH. ,The RecordۑSRLQWWRZDUGVSROLFHLQFRPSHWHQFHۑVXLFLGHVې6XSSRVHGېDO/$ -XQHKWWSV ZZZUHFRUGQHSDOFRPSHUVSHFWLYHRSLQLRQVVXSSRVHG VXLFLGHVSRLQWWRZDUGVSROLFHLQFRPSHWHQFH. ,ELG %DFKHOHWFRQGHPQV'DOLWNLOOLQJVFDOOVIRULQGHSHQGHQW 1HSDOې investigation’, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 0D\ KWWSV ZZZRKFKURUJ(11HZV(YHQWV3DJHV'LVSOD\1HZV DVS["1HZV,' . ,myRepublica, February 6ۑ7KLQNRIWKHLUPHQWDOKHDOWKېRVKL-$ KWWSV P\UHSXEOLFDQDJDULNQHWZRUNFRPQHZVWKLQNRIWKHLUPHQWDO KHDOWK"FDWHJRU\,G RSLQLRQ. State of South Asian Minorities Nepal were most in need of protection, and urged the government WRLQWURGXFHSURJUDPPHVWRPDNHWKHPHFRQRPLFDOO\VHOIUHOLDQW ौH UHSRUW IXUWKHU UHFRJQLVHG WKDW GHVSLWH FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKWV WKH/*%7,4FRPPXQLW\LQ1HSDOFRQWLQXHWREHGLVFULPLQDWHG DJDLQVWDQGbVWLJPDWLVHGGXHWRWKHLUVH[XDORULHQWDWLRQ Indigenous communities in the country have also reported GLVFULPLQDWLRQ VSHFLਭFDOO\ ZLWK FDVHV RI IRUFHG GLVSODFHPHQW VODZVUHFRJQLVHRQO\RਯFLDOWLWOHKROGHUVRIODQGPDNLQJۑ1HSDO it easy for indigenous communities to be removed from land that they have lived in for generations. As highlighted by both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, such forceful UHPRYDOYLRODWHV$UWLFOHRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV'HFODUDWLRQRQ WKH5LJKWVRI,QGLJHQRXV3HRSOHV,Q-XO\SDUNUDQJHUVDQG VROGLHUV DWWKH&KLWZDQ1DWLRQDO3DUNZHUH DFFXVHG RINLOOLQJ D man, and destroying and burning houses in two separate incidents within the month. ौHPDQNLOOHGZDVDPHPEHURIWKH&KHSDQJ indigenous community, and the houses belonged to members of WKH VDPH FRPPXQLW\ ,Q -XQH PHPEHUV RI WKH LQGLJHQRXV ौDUXFRPPXQLW\ZHUHIRUFLEO\HYLFWHGE\DXWKRULWLHVDW%DUGL\D \V +XPDQ 5LJKWV &RPPLVVLRQ LV FXUUHQWOۑ1DWLRQDO 3DUN 1HSDO investigating the incident. Pakistan VHWKQLFDQGUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVUHPDLQVۑौHVLWXDWLRQRI3DNLVWDQ FKDOOHQJLQJौRXJKWKH0LQLVWU\RI+XPDQ5LJKWVDQG0LQRULWLHV $ਬDLUVLVFRPPLिHGWRZRUNLQJDFWLYHO\ZLWK1*2VDJDLQVWWKH ,RYWXUJHGWRSURWHFWULJKWVLQWHUHVWVRI/*%7*ېLPDOD\DQ1HZV6HUYLFH+ people’, The Himalayan Times-XO\KWWSV WKHKLPDOD\DQWLPHVFRP NDWKPDQGXJRYHUQPHQWXUJHGWRSURWHFWULJKWVLQWHUHVWVRIOJEWLSHRSOH. ,ELG 1HSDO3DUN*XDUGV$FFXVHGRI3HUVHFXWLQJېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ ZZZKUZRUJ Human Rights Watch, -XO\KWWSVۑQGLJHQRXV3HRSOH, QHZVQHSDOSDUNJXDUGVDFFXVHGSHUVHFXWLQJLQGLJHQRXVSHRSOH. $XWKRULWLHVPXVWVWRSUXWKOHVVHYLFWLRQVRI 1HSDOېPQHVW\,QWHUQDWLRQDO$ Indigenous peoples’, Amnesty International-XO\KWWSV ZZZDPQHVW\ RUJHQODWHVWQHZVQHSDODXWKRULWLHVPXVWVWRSUXWKOHVVHYLFWLRQVRI LQGLJHQRXVSHRSOHV. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 persecution of religious minorities, implementation of safeguards DQG UXOH RI ODZ UHPDLQV YHU\ ZHDN 3DNLVWDQ KDV D SRSXODWLRQ RI DURXQGb b PLOOLRQ WKRXJK UHOLDEOH GLVDJJUHJDWHG GDWD RQ SRSXODWLRQVWDWLVWLFVEURNHQGRZQE\UHOLJLRQLVQRWDYDLODEOHWKH UHVXOWVRIWKHODWHVWFHQVXVUHPDLQGLVSXWHGDQGKDYHQRWEHHQ accepted by several religious minority communities. According WRWKH bFHQVXVWKHFRXQWU\KDGDURXQGSHUFHQW&KULVWLDQV SHUFHQW+LQGXVDQGSHUFHQW$KPDGL\DV Ahmadiya places of worships have continued to come under DिDFN2Q)HEUXDU\DPREVWRUPHGLQWRDQGIRUFLEO\RFFXSLHGD \HDUROG$KPDGL\DPRVTXHLQ.DVXU3XQMDE6XFFXPELQJWR SUHVVXUHORFDODXWKRULWLHVKDQGHGWKHPRVTXHRYHUbWRKDUGOLQHUV ,Q-XO\JUDYHVEHORQJLQJWR$KPDGL\DVZHUHGHVHFUDWHGLQWKH 3XQMDESURYLQFH$OVRLQ-XO\WKH$OO3DUW\3DUOLDPHQWDU\*URXS IRUWKH$KPDGL\DFRPPXQLW\QRWHGWKHVSUHDGRIDQWL$KPDGL\D vitriol to other parts of the world as well in their report. V FDELQHW HVWDEOLVKHG WKHb 1DWLRQDOۑ2Q 0D\ 3DNLVWDQ Commission for Minorities (NCM), but announced that it would not IDOOLQېKDYHb$KPDGL\DbUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVDUJXLQJWKDWWKH\GLGQRW ौHIRUPDWLRQRIWKH1&0KDGEHHQۑWKHGHਭQLWLRQRIPLQRULWLHV recommended by multiple actors, including UN treaty bodies and USCIRF, and the creation of a ‘national council for minorities’ was WorldometerODVWDFFHVVHG6HSWHPEHUۑ3DNLVWDQ3RSXODWLRQې KWWSV ZZZZRUOGRPHWHUVLQIRZRUOGSRSXODWLRQSDNLVWDQSRSXODWLRQ. 3DNLVWDQ%XUHDXRI6WDWLVWLFVODVWDFFHVVHGۑ3RSXODWLRQE\5HOLJLRQې 6HSWHPEHUKWWS ZZZSEVJRYSNVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVWDEOHV 3238/$7,21%<5(/,*,21SGI. HDU2OG$KPDGL:RUVKLS3ODFH+DQGHG2YHUWR>ې1D\D'DXU Vandalising Mob’, Naya Daur)HEUXDU\ KWWSV QD\DGDXUWY \HDUROGDKPDGLZRUVKLSSODFHKDQGHGRYHUWRYDQGDOLVLQJPRE V3XQMDEۑUDYHVRIPLQRULW\$KPDGLVGHVHFUDWHGLQ3DN*ې2XWORRN,QGLD Community member’, Outlook India-XO\KWWSV ZZZRXWORRNLQGLD FRPQHZVVFUROOJUDYHVRIPLQRULW\DKPDGLVGHVHFUDWHGLQSDNVSXQMDE FRPPXQLW\PHPEHU . $OO3DUW\3DUOLDPHQWDU\*URXSSuffocation of the Faithful: The Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and the Rise of International Extremism $33* KWWSV DSSJDKPDGL\\DPXVOLPRUJXNZSFRQWHQWXSORDGVUHSRUW pdf. $KPDGLV.HSW2II0LQRULWLHV 3DNLVWDQېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Commission’, Human Rights Watch0D\KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJ QHZVSDNLVWDQDKPDGLVNHSWPLQRULWLHVFRPPLVVLRQ. State of South Asian Minorities VODQGPDUNMXGJHPHQWۑDOVRSDUWRIWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWRI3DNLVWDQ RQ PLQRULW\ ULJKWV LQ -XQH +RZHYHU WKH IRUPDWLRQ RI WKH 1&0KDVEHHQZLGHO\bFULWLFLVHGbE\KXPDQULJKWVJURXSVDQGFLYLO VRFLHW\DVODUJHO\WRNHQLVWLFौH1&0ZDVDOVRQRWSDVVHGE\WKH SDUOLDPHQWEXWZDVQRWLਭHGDVDMXGLFLDORUGHUGXULQJWKHWHQXUHRI the previous government. In December, during an International Day of Tolerance event, an $GPLQLVWUDWLYH6HUYLFHRਯFHUKDGH[KRUWHG3DNLVWDQLVWRUHVSHFW equal right of the religious minorities, including Ahmadiyas. 3URWHVWHUVPDLQO\IURP-DPDWH,VODPLPDUFKHGWRKHURਯFHDQG DVNHGWRH[SODLQKHUSRVLWLRQRQWKH$KPDGL\DFRPPXQLW\IRUFLQJ Hussain to not only apologise for her comments, but also to state WKDW$KPDGL\DVZHUHQRQ0XVOLPVDQGLQਭGHOV Religious minorities, including Hindus and Christians, have been WDUJHWHGLQLGHQWLW\EDVHGFULPHVDVZHOO,Q)HEUXDU\D\HDU old Christian labourer was tortured and beaten in Kasur, a city just RXWVLGH/DKRUH$FFRUGLQJWRDORFDOQHZVSDSHUKHZDVDFFXVHG bDWXEHZHOOZKHUHKHZDVEDWKLQJDQGEUXWDOO\EHDWHQۑSROOXWLQJېRIb E\ORFDO0XVOLPVौHORFDOSROLFHDOOHJHGO\VWRRGE\DQGGLGQRW LQWHUYHQH+HGLHGDWDKRVSLWDOVRRQD़HU 2Q 0D\ KRXVHV EHORQJLQJ WR PHPEHUV RI WKH +LQGX FRPPXQLW\ ZHUH OHYHOOHG DQG DQRWKHU SDUWO\ GHPROLVKHG E\ ORFDO DXWKRULWLHV LQ 3DNLVWDQUHFRQVWLWXWHVWKH1DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQIRU0LQRULWLHVېODP$) But will it be effective?’ Geo News0DUFKKWWSV ZZZJHRWY ODWHVWSDNLVWDQUHFRQVWLWXWHVWKHQDWLRQDOFRPPLVVLRQIRUPLQRULWLHVEXW ZLOOLWEHHIIHFWLYH. 6WXGHQWVIRUFHZRPDQRIILFHUWRDSRORJLVHIRUFDOOLQJېJJDUZDO$$ Ahmedis as people’, India Today'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZLQGLDWRGD\LQ ZRUOGVWRU\SDNLVWDQPLQRULW\ULJKWVSDVDSRORJ\DKPDGL . &KULVWLDQPDQWRUWXUHGWRGHDWKIRUEDWKLQJLQWXEH 3DNLVWDQېXOI1HZV* well and “polluting” it in Kasur’, Gulf News0DUFKKWWSV JXOIQHZVFRP ZRUOGDVLDSDNLVWDQSDNLVWDQFKULVWLDQPDQWRUWXUHGWRGHDWKIRUEDWKLQJLQ WXEHZHOODQGSROOXWLQJLWLQNDVXU. XPDQ+ۑHPROLWLRQRI+LQGXKRPHVLQ%DKDZDOSXULOOHJDOLQKXPDQH'ې 5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQRI3DNLVWDQ-XQHKWWS KUFSZHERUJKUFSZHE GHPROLWLRQRIKLQGXKRPHVLQEDKDZDOSXULOOHJDOLQKXPDQH. South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ,Q-XQHbD&KULVWLDQPDQZDVIDWDOO\VKRWPXOWLSOHWLPHVE\D local, due to alleged disapproval to a Christian family moving in the neighbourhood.111b ,Q -XO\ QHZV HPHUJHG WKDW D \HDU ROG&KULVWLDQJLUOZKRZDVbIRUFLEO\PDUULHGDQGFRQYHUWHGLQWR ,VODPLQ LVQRZSUHJQDQWDQGUHPDLQVLQWKHFXVWRG\RIKHU VOHJDOV\VWHPKDVIDLOHGWRJUDQWWKHJLUOۑNLGQDSSHUV1123DNLVWDQ any relief so far. Vۑ\5HOLJLRXV PLQRULWLHV DUH DOVR VSHFLਭF WDUJHWV RI WKH FRXQWU blasphemy laws. 2Q $SULO D \HDUROGb $KPDGL\D ZRPDQZDVbFRQYLFWHGbRIEODVSKHP\bLQ&KHOHNLौHFDVHDOOHJHGO\ stemmed from the woman donating money for an event being held LQDQRQ$KPDGL\DPRVTXHLQWKHFRPPXQLW\+HUGRQDWLRQZDV UHMHFWHG DQG VKH ZDV DOOHJHGO\ DVVDXOWHG E\ WKH QRQ$KPDGL\D UHVLGHQWVRI&KHOHNLZKRWKHQਭOHGDFDVHRIEODVSKHP\DJDLQVW her.113b,Q'HFHPEHU D86)XOEULJKWVFKRODUDQGOHFWXUHULQD university in Multan was sentenced to death for blasphemy. He had EHHQDUUHVWHGLQIRUDOOHJHGO\SRVWLQJGHURJDWRU\FRPPHQWV DERXW3URSKHW0XKDPPDGRQVRFLDOPHGLDb ,Q -XQH WKH WULDO RIb Db &KULVWLDQb FRXSOH ZKR KDYH EHHQ DFFXVHGRIbEODVSKHP\bDQGKDYHVSHQWVL[\HDUVLPSULVRQHGDOUHDG\ ZDV HਬHFWLYHO\ DGMRXUQHG LQGHਭQLWHO\115 ,Q -XO\ b .KDZDMD V IRUPHU )RUHLJQ 0LQLVWHU ZDV DOVR DFFXVHG RIۑVLI 3DNLVWDQ$ 111 The Express Tribune, ‘Man, shot by neighbours, dies a month later’, The Express Tribune-XO\KWWSV WULEXQHFRPSNVWRU\ PDQVKRWE\ QHLJKERXUVGLHVDPRQWKODWHU. DPLO\RI$EGXFWHG&KULVWLDQ*LUOLQ3DNLVWDQ&ODLPV0LVVLQJ'DXJKWHU(ې ZZZSHUVHFXWLRQ Persecution.org-XO\KWWSVۑ1RZ3UHJQDQW RUJIDPLO\DEGXFWHGFKULVWLDQJLUOSDNLVWDQFODLPVPLVVLQJGDXJKWHU QRZSUHJQDQW. 113 ‘An act of horrific brutality against a humane and compassionate Ahmadi woman’, Freedom of Conscience$SULOKWWSV IUHHGRPRIFRQVFLHQFH HXDQDFWRIKRUULILFEUXWDOLW\DJDLQVWDKXPDQHDQGFRPSDVVLRQDWHDKPDGL woman. 3DNLVWDQLDFDGHPLF-XQDLG+DIHH]VHQWHQFHGWRGHDWKېDVKLP+$ for blasphemy’, Al Jazeera'HFHPEHU KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUD FRPQHZV SDNLVWDQLDFDGHPLFMXQDLGKDIHH]VHQWHQFHGGHDWK EODVSKHP\ KWPO. ۑ3DNLVWDQL&RXSOHWR%H7ULHG$IWHU)LYH State of South Asian Minorities EODVSKHP\IRUVSHDNLQJLQIDYRXURIUHOLJLRXVHTXDOLW\116 In May, in 6LDONRWbDIRRWEDOOPDNHUZDVDFFXVHGRIEODVSKHP\bGXHWRDGHVLJQ RQ WKH EDOO ZKLFK PHPEHUV RI WKH 7HKUHHNH/DEEDLN 3DNLVWDQ 7/3 GHHPHGLQVXOWLQJWR,VODP117 In June, an assistant professor DW6KDK$EGXO/DWLI8QLYHUVLW\DOVRIDFHGEODVSKHP\FKDUJHVIRU UHPDUNLQJWKDW,VODPLVDPDOHGRPLQDWHGUHOLJLRQ118 ,QWHUVHFWLRQDOLGHQWLWLHVDUHDWPXFKJUHDWHUULVNDVVKRZQE\ WKHUDSHDQGPXUGHURID\HDUROG&KULVWLDQWUDQVJHQGHUER\ in Faisalabad. Urgent appeals were made to the Human Rights Minister, and a suspect was subsequently arrested. In March D 3DNLVWDQL RਯFLDO LQ .DUDFKL UHDVVXUHG WKH WUDQVJHQGHU FRPPXQLW\RIJRYHUQPHQWVXSSRUWGXULQJWKH&RYLG SDQGHPLF bringing the minority community some relief. ,QLWV$QQXDO5HSRUWWKH86&,5)UHQHZHGWKHLUGHVLJQDWLRQ IRU HQJDJLQJ ۑFRXQWU\ RI SDUWLFXODU FRQFHUQې RI 3DNLVWDQ DV D in ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious VUHMHFWLRQRIDELOOWRFULPLQDOLVHۑfreedom.’121ौH6LQGKJRYHUQPHQW IRUFHGFRQYHUVLRQVZKLFKVSHFLਭFDOO\DਬHFWVZRPHQIURPPLQRULW\ communities, was seen as a failure to uphold religious freedom.122 HDGHU)LOHV%ODVSKHP\&RPSODLQW$JDLQVW.KDZDMD$VLI/,37ې1D\D'DXU For Saying All Religions Are Equal’, Naya Daur,-XO\KWWSV QD\DGDXU WYSWLOHDGHUILOHVEODVSKHP\FRPSODLQWDJDLQVWNKDZDMDDVLIIRU VD\LQJDOOUHOLJLRQVDUHHTXDO. ۑIDLOVWRKDOWEODVSKHP\DOOHJDWLRQVLQ3DNLVWDQ RYLG&ې\3DNLVWDQ7RGD Pakistan Today, 0D\KWWSV ZZZSDNLVWDQWRGD\FRPSN FRYLG IDLOVKDOWEODVSKHP\DOOHJDWLRQVSDNLVWDQ. 3DNLVWDQLDXWKRULWLHVVKRXOGUHOHDVHSURIHVVRUېXPDQLVWV,QWHUQDWLRQDO+ detained on blasphemy charges’, Humanists ,QWHUQDWLRQDO-XQHKWWSV KXPDQLVWVLQWHUQDWLRQDOSDNLVWDQLDXWKRULWLHVVKRXOGUHOHDVHSURIHVVRU GHWDLQHGRQEODVSKHP\FKDUJHV. KULVWLDQWUDQVJHQGHUUDSHGPXUGHUHGLQ&ې8QLRQRI&DWKROLF$VLDQ1HZV ZZZXFDQHZVFRPQHZVFKULVWLDQ UCA News$SULOKWWSVۑ3DNLVWDQ WUDQVJHQGHUUDSHGPXUGHUHGLQSDNLVWDQ . \3DNLVWDQ2IILFLDO6XSSRUWV7UDQVJHQGHU&RPPXQLWېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ ZZZKUZRUJ Human Rights Watch0DUFKKWWSVۑ ',PLG&29$ QHZVSDNLVWDQRIILFLDOVXSSRUWVWUDQVJHQGHUFRPPXQLW\DPLG FRYLG . 121 US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Annual Report 2020 :DVKLQJWRQ'& 86&,5) KWWSV ZZZXVFLUIJRYVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHV 86&,5)$QQXDO5HSRUWB)LQDOB SGI. 6LQGK3URYLQFH5HMHFWV%LOO$JDLQVW)RUFHG 3DNLVWDQېOREDO/HJDO0RQLWRU* Conversions’, US Library of Congress1RYHPEHU KWWSV ZZZORFJRY 251 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Some positive developments, however, include the foundation of VਭUVW6LNKXQLYHUVLW\UHRSHQLQJRIDWHPSOHLQ6LDONRWۑ\WKHFRXQWU DVZHOODVVRPHDFTXLिDOVLQEODVSKHP\FDVHV123 Sri Lanka ौHLVODQGQDWLRQFRQWLQXHVWRJUDSSOHZLWKHWKQLFDQGUHOLJLRXV strife, one of the most visible cases of which was the Easter ERPELQJV LQ $SULO ZLWK EODVWV LQ DQG DURXQG &ROXPER targeting churchgoing Christians. 2Q )HEUXDU\ 6UL /DQNDbIRUPDOO\QRWLਭHGbWKH81+XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLOWKDWLWZDV ZLWKGUDZLQJIURPWKH81UHVROXWLRQRQSRVWZDUDFFRXQWDELOLW\ DQG UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ NQRZQ DV 5HVROXWLRQ 125 deeming the commitments made in the resolution ‘impractical, unconstitutional and undeliverable’. Human rights activists say that this decision LQGLFDWHVDODFNRIFRPPLWPHQWWRZDUGVDGGUHVVLQJYLRODWLRQVRI KXPDQULJKWVHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHVXਬHUHGE\WKH7DPLOFRPPXQLW\ WKDWWRRNSODFHGXULQJWKHZDU ौH LPPHGLDWH D़HUPDWK RI WKH (DVWHU ERPELQJV ZDV DिDFNV against the Muslim community in the country,126 with Muslim voters EHLQJWDUJHWHGGXULQJWKH1RYHPEHU 3UHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQV127 In ODZIRUHLJQQHZVDUWLFOHSDNLVWDQVLQGKSURYLQFHUHMHFWVELOODJDLQVWIRUFHG conversions. Alۑ3DNLVWDQWRODXQFKXQLYHUVLW\LQKRQRXURIILUVW6LNK*XUXېO-D]HHUD$ Jazeera2FWREHU KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZV SDNLVWDQ ODXQFKXQLYHUVLW\KRQRXUVLNKJXUX KWPO; The Nation, ‘Historic Shawala Teja Singh Temple opens for worship after 72 years’, The Nation2FWREHU KWWSV QDWLRQFRPSN2FW KLVWRULFVKDZDOD WHMDVLQJKWHPSOHRSHQVIRUZRUVKLSDIWHU\HDUV; The Dawn, ‘Man acquitted in blasphemy case after 18 years in prison’, The Dawn,6HSWHPEHU KWWSV ZZZGDZQFRPQHZV. KWWSV The Hindu, $SULOۑ6UL/DQND(DVWHUERPELQJVې7KH+LQGX ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPWRSLFVULODQNDHDVWHUERPELQJV. ۑ6UL/DQNDQRWLILHV81DERXWULJKWVUHVROXWLRQZLWKGUDZDOې06ULQLYDVDQ The Hindu)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPQHZVLQWHUQDWLRQDOVUL ODQNDQRWLILHVXQDERXWULJKWVUHVROXWLRQZLWKGUDZDODUWLFOH HFH. V0XVOLPV)DFHDQ$QJU\%DFNODVKۑ6UL/DQNDېHWWOHPDQDQG'%DVWLDQV*- ZZZ KWWSV The New York Times$SULOۑIWHU(DVWHU6XQGD\$WWDFNV$ Q\WLPHVFRP ZRUOGDVLDVULODQNDVPXVOLPVKWPO"DXWK ORJLQJRRJOH. EXVHVFDUU\LQJ 6UL/DQNDSUHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQېDQQDK(OOLV3HWHUVHQ+ 252 State of South Asian Minorities $SULODSURPLQHQW6UL/DQNDQODZ\HUZDVDUUHVWHGIRUDQDOOHJHG FRQQHFWLRQWRWKHERPELQJVXQGHUWKH3UHYHQWLRQRI7HUURULVP$FW 37$ DQGZDVGHQLHGDFFHVVWRKLVODZ\HUVQRUSURGXFHGLQWKH court of law for more than three months.128 A retired government RਯFLDO ZLWK D KLVWRU\ RI FULWLTXLQJ UHOLJLRXV IXQGDPHQWDOLVP DQG UDFLVPLQ6UL/DQND ZDVDOVRbDUUHVWHGLQ$SULORYHUDSRVWFDOOLQJIRU a ‘jihad (struggle) of thought’ against all forms of fundamentalisms and racism persecuting Muslims in the country. ,Q0D\D\RXQJbDXWLVWLF0XVOLPER\ZDVDVVDXOWHGDQGDEXVHG E\ SROLFHPHQ XVLQJ ,VODPRSKRELF VOXUVb &&79 UHFRUGLQJ RI WKH HQWLUHLQFLGHQWLVDYDLODEOH\HWWKUHHSROLFHRਯFHUVLQYROYHGKDYH only been indicted.131 A Human Rights Watch report has also DFFXVHG WKH 6UL /DQNDQ JRYHUQPHQW RI XVLQJ &RYLG WR VWRNH communal tensions.132 Authorities reportedly did not counter calls WR ER\FRि 0XVOLP EXVLQHVVHV RQ VRFLDO PHGLD DV ZHOO DV IDOVH DOOHJDWLRQVRIWKHFRPPXQLW\VSUHDGLQJ&RYLG GHOLEHUDWHO\,Q 0DUFKWKHJRYHUQPHQWDOVRUHTXLUHGUHPDLQVRIDOO&RYLG victims to be cremated, going against the burial traditions of some religious minorities.133 ZZZ KWWSV The Guardian1RYHPEHUۑ0XVOLPYRWHUVDWWDFNHG WKHJXDUGLDQFRPZRUOG QRYVULODQNDSUHVLGHQWLDOHOHFWLRQJXQPHQILUH RQEXVHVFDUU\LQJPXVOLPYRWHUV. 128 Daily FT, ‘ICJ raises concerns on arbitrary arrest, detention of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah.’ Daily FT$SULOKWWS ZZZIWONQHZV,&-UDLVHV FRQFHUQVRQDUELWUDU\DUUHVWGHWHQWLRQRIODZ\HU+HMDD]+L]EXOODK . $QH[WUDRUGLQDU\VWUXJJOHIRUDQRUGLQDU\OLIH 5DP]\5D]HHNېDLO\)7' ZZZIWON KWWS Daily FT0D\ۑRIVHUYLFHXSHQGHGE\D3ROLFHDUUHVW RSLQLRQ5DP]\5D]HHN$QH[WUDRUGLQDU\VWUXJJOHIRUDQRUGLQDU\OLIHRI VHUYLFHXSHQGHGE\D3ROLFHDUUHVW . ۑ7KH7UXWK$ERXWWKH$UUHVWDQG'HWHQWLRQRI5DP]\5D]HHN 6UL/DQNDې Sri Lanka Brief$SULOKWWSV VULODQNDEULHIRUJVULODQNDWKH WUXWKDERXWWKHDUUHVWDQGGHWHQWLRQRIUDP]\UD]HHN. 7KUHHFRSVLQWHUGLFWHGRYHU XOOVFDOHLQTXLU\E\,*3(ېRORPER7LPHV& the assault on the autistic boy in Aluthgama’, Colombo Times-XQHKWWS FRORPERWLPHVQHWIXOOVFDOHLQTXLU\E\LJSWKUHHFRSVLQWHUGLFWHGRYHUWKH DVVDXOWRQWKHDXWLVWLFER\LQDOXWKJDPD. &RPPXQDO 6UL/DQNDQ2IILFLDOV6WRNH&RYLGېXPDQ5LJKWV:DWFK+ Hate’, Human Rights Watch0DUFK KWWSV ZZZKUZRUJ QHZV VULODQNDQRIILFLDOVVWRNHFRYLG FRPPXQDOKDWH. ',QJXLVKDV6UL/DQNDIRUFHV0XVOLPVWRFUHPDWH&29$ېD]HHUD-$ ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZVDQJXLVKDV SULOKWWSV$ۑYLFWLPV VULODQNDIRUFHVPXVOLPVWRFUHPDWHFRYLG YLFWLPV. 253 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ौH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 5DSSRUWHXU RQ )UHHGRP RI 5HOLJLRQ RU %HOLHILQWKHLUUHSRUWLQ0DUFKDGGUHVVHGWKHWHQVHVLWXDWLRQ LQ6UL/DQNDIROORZLQJWKH(DVWHU6XQGD\DिDFNVDQGWKHOLQJHULQJ LPSDFWRIWKHODFNRIDFFRXQWDELOLW\DQGUHVROXWLRQRILVVXHVDULVLQJ from the civil war.ौHUHSRUWDOVRDFNQRZOHGJHGWKHLQFUHDVLQJ SRODULVDWLRQLQWKHFRXQWU\DORQJHWKQRUHOLJLRXVOLQHVौHHOHFWLRQ RI *RWDED\D 5DMDSDNVD EURWKHU RI WZRWHUP 3UHVLGHQW 0DKLQGD 5DMDSDNVDKDVVHHQWKHJRYHUQPHQWPRYHWRZDUGVDPDMRULWDULDQ VWDQGZLWKWKH 3UHVLGHQWSOHGJLQJ LQ IURQW RIWKH3DUOLDPHQWWR protect and nurture Buddha sasana as part of his government’s policy.135 :RPHQDFWLYLVWVZKRKDYHEHHQZRUNLQJWRUHIRUPWKH0XVOLP 0DUULDJHDQG'LYRUFH$FWIRUGHFDGHVbH[SUHVVHGFRQFHUQVbDWD%LOO put forth to repeal it,136 as the Bill does not represent the interests 2QHېof Muslim women and children.1375DWKHUWKHELOOVHUYHVWKH \GLVFRXUVH D GLYLVLYH QRWLRQ WKDW VHOHFWLYHO ۑRXQWU\ 2QH /DZ& DिDFNV PLQRULW\ LGHQWLWLHV DQG SUDFWLFHV DVNLQJ IRU WKHP WR EH EURXJKW XQGHU D EODQNHW 6UL /DQNDQ LGHQWLW\ FXOWXUH RU ODZ ौHSURSRVHG%LOOUHਮHFWVDJURZLQJLQWROHUDQFHRIUHOLJLRXVDQG FXOWXUDOGLYHUVLW\LQ6UL/DQNDDQGVLJQDOVDPDMRULWDULDQLQWHQWWR assimilate minorities. VFLYLOZDUFRQWLQXHWRVKDSHQDWLRQDOۑ\ौHHਬHFWVRIWKHFRXQWU GLVFRXUVH ,W ZDV UHSRUWHG RQ -DQXDU\ WKDW 3UHVLGHQW *RWDED\D 5DMDSDNVD GHFLGHG WRb LVVXH GHDWK FHUWLਭFDWHVb WR the thousands of people still declared missing or forcefully disappeared during the country’s civil war.138 Human rights 815DSSRUWHXURQIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQUDLVHVFRQFHUQVRQېRORPER*D]HWWH& FRORPERJD]HWWHFRP Colombo Gazette0DUFKKWWSVۑ6UL/DQND XQUDSSRUWHXURQIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQUDLVHVFRQFHUQVRQVULODQND. 7KHSROLF\VWDWHPHQWPDGHE\+LV([FHOOHQF\*RWDED\D5DMDSDNVDې 3UHVLGHQWRIWKH'HPRFUDWLF6RFLDOLVW5HSXEOLFRI6UL/DQNDDWWKHLQDXJXUDWLRQRI .3DUOLDPHQWRI6UL/DQNDۑWKH)RXUWK6HVVLRQRIWKHWK3DUOLDPHQWRI6UL/DQND -XQHKWWSV ZZZSDUOLDPHQWONHQQHZVHQYLHZ"FDWHJRU\ . 136 ‘Statement: Do Not Exploit the Struggle for MMDA reform’, Muslim Personal Law Reform Action Group-DQXDU\KWWSV PSOUHIRUPV FRPVWDWHPHQWGRQRWH[SORLWWKHVWUXJJOHIRUPPGDUHIRUP. Dailyۑ$'5DWKDQD7KHUDVXEPLWVELOOWRUHSHDO00ېDLO\0LUURU2QOLQH' Mirror Online-DQXDU\KWWS ZZZGDLO\PLUURUONWRSBVWRU\5DWKDQD 7KHUDVXEPLWVELOOWRUHSHDO00'$ . 3UHVLGHQW5DMDSDNVDVD\V6UL/DQNDWRWUHDWZDUPLVVLQJDVېO-D]HHUD$ State of South Asian Minorities DFWLYLVWVbKLJKOLJKWHGbWKDWWUXWKZDVDQLPSRUWDQWHOHPHQWRIWKH GHPDQGVDVWKH\VHHNLQIRUPDWLRQRQZKDWKDSSHQHGWRۑIDPLOLHV WKHLUORYHGRQHVD़HUWKHLUDEGXFWLRQVRUD़HUWKH\ZHUHKDQGHG over to the forces. ौH\XUJHGWKHJRYHUQPHQWWRSURYLGHWKH IDPLOLHVZLWKWKHWUXWKDVZHOODQGQRWVLPSO\DGHDWKFHUWLਭFDWH and monetary compensation. During the annual Independence Day celebrations on February WKHQDWLRQDODQWKHPZDVbRQO\VXQJLQ6LQKDODौLVZDV GRQHGHVSLWHWKHIDFWWKDW7DPLOLVRQHRIWKHRਯFLDOODQJXDJHVRI 6UL/DQNDDQGWKHQDWLRQDODQWKHPKDVKLVWRULFDOO\EHHQVXQJLQ ERWKODQJXDJHVौLVDFWLRQZDVFULWLTXHGE\PDQ\DVH[FOXVLRQDU\ WRZDUGV WKH 7DPLO FRPPXQLWLHV ौH VLQJLQJ RI WKH DQWKHP LQ Tamil is merely symbolic, given the absence of state commitment to ensure true equality and protections for these communities, DQG LWV UHPRYDO ZDV LQGLFDWLYH RI WKH ODFN RI HYHQ VXFK D VPDOO commitment. ,Q -XQH WKH 3UHVLGHQW DSSRLQWHG Db 7DVN )RUFH IRU $UFKDHRORJLFDO +HULWDJH 0DQDJHPHQW LQ WKH (DVWHUQ 3URYLQFH ौH(DVWHUQ3URYLQFHLVSUHVHQWO\LQKDELWHGE\HTXDOSURSRUWLRQV of Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim citizens. Historically, a majority of the population was Tamil, but the demography has been DOWHUHGVLJQLਭFDQWO\WKURXJKJRYHUQPHQWRUJDQLVHGFRORQLVDWLRQ +RZHYHUWKH7DVN)RUFHKDVQR0XVOLPRU7DPLOPHPEHUVDQG consists almost entirely of Sinhala military personnel and Buddhist PRQNVौLVFRPSRVLWLRQLQDGGLWLRQWRH[LVWLQJWHQVLRQVDURXQG ODQGLQWKH3URYLQFHKDYHUDLVHGFRQFHUQVWKDWWKH7DVN)RUFHZLOO RYHUORRNWKHFRQFHUQVRI7DPLOVDQG0XVOLPVLQLWVDFWLYLWLHVb dead’, Al Jazeera,-DQXDU\KWWSV ZZZDOMD]HHUDFRPQHZV SUHVLGHQWUDMDSDNVDVULODQNDWUHDWZDUPLVVLQJGHDGKWPO. V$FWLRQ1HWZRUN&RQGHPQV3UHVLGHQWۑRPHQ:ېRORPER7HOHJUDSK& \Colombo Telegraph,-DQXDUۑV6WDWHPHQWVRQ0LVVLQJ3HUVRQVۑRWD* KWWSV ZZZFRORPERWHOHJUDSKFRPLQGH[SKSZRPHQVDFWLRQQHWZRUN FRQGHPQVSUHVLGHQWJRWDVVWDWHPHQWVRQPLVVLQJSHUVRQV. 6UL/DQNDVFUDSV7DPLOQDWLRQDODQWKHPDW,QGHSHQGHQFHېRUOG:757 Day’, TRT World)HEUXDU\KWWSV ZZZWUWZRUOGFRPDVLDVULODQND VFUDSVWDPLOQDWLRQDODQWKHPDWLQGHSHQGHQFHGD\ . 3UHVLGHQWLDO7DVN)RUFHIRU$UFKDHRORJLFDO+HULWDJH0DQDJHPHQWLQې/3$5 ,People's Alliance for Right to Landۑ\&RPPHQWDU %ULHI1RWH WKHHDVWHUQ3URYLQFH -XQHKWWSV OVWODQNDRUJZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV(QJ%ULHI1RWH DQG&RPPHQWDU\3UHVLGHQWLDO7DVN)RUFHRQ$UFKHRORJ\)LQDO-XQHSGI. 255 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 ,Q -XO\ VHFXULW\ IRUFHV DिHPSWHG WR UHVWULFW D PHPRULDO mass for Tamil civilians who had lost their lives 25 years ago in WKH6UL/DQND$LU)RUFHERPELQJRIWKHDUHDDQGFKXUFKLQ1DYDO\ ौHORFDOSROLFHKDGUHTXHVWHGWRLVVXHDQLQMXQFWLRQODEHOOLQJWKH ZKLFK ZDV GHQLHG E\ WKH 0DOODNDP &RXUW ۑSURWHVWې HYHQW DV D 'XULQJWKHPHPRULDOPDQ\SROLFH6SHFLDO7DVN)RUFHPHPEHUV and intelligence personnel in civilian clothing were present DURXQGWKHDUHDDQGVXUYHLOODQFHKDGEHJXQDIHZGD\VSULRUौH SROLFHbDिHPSWHGWRUHVWULFWbPRXUQHUVPDLQWDLQHGDFORVHZDWFK throughout, and the intelligence personnel photographed those lighting lamps and gathering. 2Q-XQHWKH&RUH*URXSRQ6UL/DQNDDWWKH81+XPDQ Vۑ5LJKWV&RXQFLOUHLWHUDWHGWKHLUGLVDSSRLQWPHQWDW6UL/DQND ZLWKGUDZDO IURP 81+5& 5HVROXWLRQ ZKLOH UHPDLQLQJ \VJRDOVRIDFFRXQWDELOLWۑDGYDQFLQJWKHUHVROXWLRQېFRPPLिHGWR ौH *URXS ۑUHFRQFLOLDWLRQ DQG LQFOXVLYH SHDFH LQ 6UL /DQND also highlighted the continued targeting of minorities through WKH SDUGRQLQJ RI 6HUJHDQW 6XQLO 5DWQD\DNH DQG SURPRWLRQ RIې RWKHUV DFFXVHG RI VHULRXVYLRODWLRQVGXULQJ WKH FRQਮLFWDQG WKH militarisation of a wide range of civilian functions.’ ,Q$XJXVWWKHJRYHUQPHQWUHOHDVHGDVWDWHPHQWRISROLF\DW GHPDQGۑWKHRSHQLQJRIWKHQHZO\HOHFWHG3DUOLDPHQWौH7DPLOV for a federal constitution was negated with the government claiming that it had a massive mandate to retain the unitary constitution. RQHFRXQWU\RQHODZIRUېौH3UHVLGHQWUHLWHUDWHGWKHHPSKDVLVRQ all the people’, and pledged to protect Buddha sasana. An advisory FRXQFLOFRPSULVLQJRIRQO\%XGGKLVWPRQNVKDVDOVREHHQVHWXSWR give advice on governance. ,1)250+XPDQ5LJKWV'RFXPHQWDWLRQ&HQWUHRepression of Dissent in Sri Lanka in July 2020 &RORPER ,1)250+XPDQ5LJKWV'RFXPHQWDWLRQ&HQWUH KWWSV ZZZLQIRUPONZSFRQWHQWXSORDGV 52'B-XO\SGI. VWDWHPHQWRQEHKDOIRI XPDQ5LJKWV&RXQFLO+81ې5LWD)UHQFK ZZZJRYXN GOV.UK-XQHKWWSVۑWKH&RUH*URXSRQ6UL/DQND JRYHUQPHQWVSHHFKHVXQKXPDQULJKWVFRXQFLOVWDWHPHQWRQEHKDOIRIWKH FRUHJURXSRQVULODQND. VۑDQNDQ0LQRULWLHV*HW6KRUW6KULIWLQ5DMDSDNVD/ېDODFKDQGUDQ%.3 ZZZWKHFLWL]HQLQ The Citizen$XJXVWKWWSVۑ\6WDWHPHQWRI3ROLF LQGH[SKSHQ1HZV'HWDLOLQGH[ /DQNDQ0LQRULWLHV*HW6KRUW6KULIWLQ 5DMDSDNVDV6WDWHPHQWRI3ROLF\. 256 Appendices Appendix I: Commentaries South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 Appendix Commentary South Asia remains a challenging geopolitical part of the world VۑZLWKSHUFHQWRIZRUOGSRSXODWLRQDQGSHUFHQWRIWKHZRUOG HFRQRP\ ,W KDV ZLWQHVVHG GHFDGHV RI LQVHFXULW\ FRQਮLFW DQG FRQWLQXHGSRYHUW\ौHFRXQWULHVLQWKHUHJLRQKDYHVWUXJJOHGWR catch up with the steady progress of other regions in Asia and have been partially successful in developing their economies and societies. However, despite everyone’s hope that a functioning regional cooperation for economic development could help the region for greater economic integrity and prosperity, the political dispute and social and structural challenges unhinged WKH SURVSHFW RI D EHिHU UHJLRQ IRU LWV SRSXODWLRQV LQ SDUWLFXODU the vulnerable minorities. Key elements to stability in the region therefore would not be found in greater regional cooperation and HFRQRPLFUHODWLRQVEXWUDWKHUVKRXOGEHVRXJKWDQGWUDFHGEDFNWR the cohesiveness of internal democratic political, social, economic and cultural structure where it allows for vibrant civil society, and respect for minorities and their rights and freedoms. In a region that encompasses 25 per cent of world population DQGRQO\FRQWULEXWHWRSHUFHQWRIWKHZRUOGHFRQRP\LWLVYHU\ much telling us why we have not been successful as other regions DUHLQWKHRWKHUSDUWRIWKHZRUOGौHSUREOHPDQGLVVXHVUHODWHGWR RXUUHJLRQLVURRWHGWRRXUODFNRIXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHLPSRUWDQFH of adhering to the principle of human rights and freedoms, regional cooperation, respect and protection for minority rights and expanding and freeing spaces for civil societies. :KLOHLQWKHIDFHRIJURZLQJSRSXODWLRQGHFD\LQJLQIUDVWUXF ture, degrading environments our governments in the region do OLिOHDQGODFNWKHUHVRXUFHVDQGFDSDFLWLHVWRDGGUHVVFKDOOHQJHV DULVLQJ IURP WKHVH LVVXHV WKH\ DOZD\V ਭQG ZD\V WR VHFXULWLVH WKH FLYLF VSDFH DQG EODPH RWKHUV R़HQ YXOQHUDEOH PLQRULWLHV and minority rights activists and civil society organisations for 261 South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 pointing to these structural problems and consequential failure in our region. In the past decade, a prominent team of human rights activists, scholars, women rights leaders, and I have tried to advocate for a regional human rights mechanism. Unfortunately, such a mechanism will remain a dream to be materialised in the future. +RZHYHUZHDUHEHQHਭWLQJIURPWKHVWURQJQHWZRUNDQGFRDOLWLRQV of civil society in the region who place much of their focus and HਬRUWVRQRXUSUREOHPVKXPDQULJKWVLVVXHVDQGFKDOOHQJHVERWK at the national level and across our unstable region. ौHFXUUHQWUHSRUWWKDWVKHGVOLJKWRQWKHVLWXDWLRQRIFLYLFVSDFH for minorities in South Asia is an interesting and credible example RIKRZRXUFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGKXPDQULJKWVQHWZRUNVLQWKHUHJLRQ KDYHEHHQWU\LQJWRਭOOWKHJDSWKDWH[LVWVLQWKHDEVHQFHRIDUHJLRQDO intergovernmental system of cooperation and a regional human ULJKWVPHFKDQLVP,DPWKULOOHGWRVHHWKHਭQGLQJVRIWKHWHDPLQ the region which points to the importance of a free space for civil society and respect, promotion and protection of minority rights. ौRXJK,PXVWH[SUHVVP\DSSDOOHGVHQVHRIZRUULHVDQGFRQFHUQ RYHUWKHਭQGLQJVRIWKHUHSRUW,KRSHWKHVHਭQGLQJVZKLFKDUHZHOO researched, fact based and informative are used by the states in the region to correct the poor course of their actions towards minority rights and civic space. I also hope that this report provides a tool and venue for discussion between the international organisations, civil societies, human rights and civil and democracy and minority rights activists to educate and raise awareness among publics and inform policies and programs in the region. , VWURQJO\ EHOLHYH WKDW RXU UHJLRQ ZLOO EHQHਭW IURP JUHDWHU IUHHGRPSURYLGHGWRRXUFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGEHिHUSURWHFWLRQUHVSHFW DQGVXSSRUWIRUPLQRULW\ULJKWVौLVUHSRUWFOHDUO\LQGLFDWHVWKDW our countries’ approach has been closing civic space for minorities DQGZHDNHQLQJRUGDPDJLQJWKHVWDWHFDSDFLW\WRIXOਭOLWVREOLJDWLRQ under the international human rights law and international obligations. I advocate and join my voice strongly with our human rights DFWLYLVWVFLYLOVRFLHW\OHDGHUV1*2DQGPLQRULW\ULJKWVDGYRFDWHV IRUDEHिHUUHJLRQIRUPLQRULW\DQGWKHLUULJKWVDQGIUHHGRPौLV 262 Commentary UHSRUWSODFHVDJRRGOLVWRIUHFRPPHQGDWLRQVWKDWVKRXOGEHWDNHQ into consideration and a clear description of the current state of DਬDLUWKDWPXVWEHLPSURYHG,WLVP\JHQXLQHZLVKWRVHHDFKDQJH in the situation in our region so the people living in our region will live in liberty, dignity, prosperity and free from want and free from fear. Dr Sima Samar Chairperson Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission 263 Commentary VSouth Asia State of Minorities ReportۑौH6RXWK$VLD&ROOHFWLYH 2020: Minorities and Shrinking Civic Space in the countries RI WKH UHJLRQ LQYLWHV WKH DिHQWLRQ RI KXPDQ DQG FLYLO ULJKWV activists of the region, international watchdogs and UN bodies to the increasing authoritarian, discriminatory and repressive tendencies in almost all the countries of the region, with a notable exception of Bhutan. From the world’s largest democracy, India, to relatively more democratic Nepal, ethically divided Sri /DQND WR FHQVXULQJ 3DNLVWDQ DQG ZDUULGGHQ $IJKDQLVWDQ WR ‘secularising’ Bangladesh, most countries of the region compete in terms of discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, majoritarian rule bordering fascism and decimating civil and human rights, suppression of freedom of expression in particular. %HLW7DPLOVLQ6UL/DQND0XVOLPVDQG.DVKPLULVLQ,QGLD%DORFK DQGUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVLQ3DNLVWDQ+LQGXVDQG8UGXVSHDNHUV in Bangladesh, the minorities continue to be repressed and expropriated. :LWKWKHULVHRIHWKQLFUHOLJLRXVQDWLRQDOLVPDQGDXWKRULWDUL anism across South Asia, except in Nepal and Bhutan, the dete riorating state of human and civil rights is crossing all alarming SURSRUWLRQV6WLOOZRUVHXQVFUXSXORXVVWDWHDQGQRQVWDWHDFWRUV DUHHQMR\LQJDUDELGFXOWXUHRILPPXQLW\SXिLQJOLIHDQGVHFXUL W\RIKXPDQULJKWVDFWLYLVWVLQSHUSHWXDOMHRSDUG\ौHLQWUDDQG LQWHUVWDWHFRQਮLFWVUHLQIRUFHDMLQJRLVWLFHQYLURQPHQWDVPHGLD WLHGWRQDWLRQDOPDUNHWVEHFRPHDWRROLQIDQQLQJFKDXYLQLVPQD WLRQDOLVPDQGFURVVERUGHUWHQVLRQV,QDQDGYHUVHHQYLURQPHQW freedom of expression and media is the principal casualty with 3DNLVWDQOHDGLQJWKHFHQVRUVKLSUHJLPHLQWKHUHJLRQ :KLOHSURYLGLQJKLVWRULFDOEDFNJURXQGWKH5HSRUWULJKWO\ SRLQWVRXWWKHPDMRUGHਭFLWVRIULJKWVDQGIUHHGRPVLQWKHFRXQWULHV RI WKH UHJLRQ ,W RਬHUV UHPHGLHV DQG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV WR VDYH Appendix WKHVLWXDWLRQIURPJHिLQJEDGWRZRUVH2QEHKDOIRIP\VHOIDQG 6RXWK$VLDQ)UHH0HGLD$VVRFLDWLRQ 6$)0$ ,ODXGWKHHਬRUWVRI authors of this illuminating report for their valuable contribution to the cause of human and civil rights in South Asia. Imtiaz Alam 6HFUHWDU\*HQHUDO South Asian Free Media Association 265 Appendix II: Assessment of Civic Space in South Asia (online survey) South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 268 Survey Guidelines ,QDGHPRFUDWLFVRFLHW\FLYLOVRFLHW\SURYLGHVDGGLWLRQDOFKHFNVRQWKH legislative and executive branches of government. As such, it is also expected that any government will have an incentive to establish its RZQFKHFNVDQGEDODQFHVRYHUFLYLOVRFLHW\6XFKDUHODWLRQVKLSFRP prises both confrontation and cooperation, and is also characterised by the ambivalence of governments towards civil society that may range from distrust to full partnership in activities such as civic en gagement or development endeavours. ौHFORVLQJRIFLYLFVSDFHKRZHYHUFDQUHVXOWLQWKHZHDNHQLQJ of measures that protect civil and political rights, and can create an unfavourable situation for sustainable economic, social and human development. Hence, it is the duty of a conscious society WRFRQVWDQWO\EHRQWKHZDWFKIRUDQ\VKULQNLQJRIWKHVSDFHIRU FLYLOVRFLHW\WRRSHUDWHDQGVHHNRUVXJJHVWZD\VWRUHYHUVHDQ\ such trend. ौLV VXUYH\ LV DQ DिHPSW WR JDLQ D EHिHU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH VWDWHRIFLYLFVSDFHLQ6RXWK$VLDLQJHQHUDODVZHOOLQWKHGLਬHUHQW FRXQWULHVRIWKHUHJLRQ,WLVEHLQJXQGHUWDNHQE\WKH6RXWK$VLD &ROOHFWLYHDQLQIRUPDOQHWZRUNRIRUJDQLVDWLRQVUHSUHVHQWLQJWKH GLਬHUHQWFRXQWULHVRIWKHUHJLRQZRUNLQJWRKLJKOLJKWWKHFRQGLWLRQ of minorities in the region and protect and promote their rights (KिS WKHVRXWKDVLDFROOHFWLYHRUJ) through publications such as the annual ‘South Asia State of Minorities Report’, accessible at KिS WKHVRXWKDVLDFROOHFWLYHRUJDQQXDOUHSRUWVौLVVXUYH\ZLOO IRUPSDUWRIWKHUHSRUWZKLFKLVIRFXVLQJRQWKHWKHPHRIFLYLO space and minority rights. Apart from a short preliminary part on personal details, the survey consists of TXHVWLRQVGLYLGHGLQWRਭYHVHFWLRQVGHDOLQJZLWKFLYLO liberty, civil society, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful DVVHPEO\DQGOHJLWLPDF\RIWKHSUHVHQWJRYHUQPHQWVSHFLਭFDOO\ WKHFHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQWौHVHTXHVWLRQVKDYHEHHQDGDSWHGIURP WKH 9'HP $QQXDO 'HPRFUDF\ 5HSRUW )UHHGRP LQ WKH :RUOGDQG&,9,&860RQLWRU$OOWKHTXHVWLRQVKDYHEHHQ IRUPXODWHG RQ D /LNHUW 6FDOH UDQJLQJ IURP VWURQJO\ GLVDJUHH WR VWURQJO\DJUHH&RPSOHWLQJWKHVXUYH\ZLOOOLNHO\WDNH\RXDURXQG half an hour. We emphasise that your response to the survey questions shall remain FRQक़GHQWLDO. ौHGDWDZLOOEHDYDLODEOHWRDVHOHFWQXPEHU of analysts, but will be anonymised beforehand in order to protect \RXULGHQWLW\ 6XUYH\ࢋHVWLRQV SN ࢋHVWLRQ Response A Civil Liberty b Since the current government assumed power, All social groups, as distinguished by language, caste, ethnicity, religion, Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 1 Disagree Agree race, or region, enjoy the same level of civil liberties. Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 2 ौHSRRUDQGWKHULFKERWKHQMR\WKHVDPHOHYHORIFLYLOOLEHUWLHV Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 3 Men and women enjoy the same level of civil liberties. Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree All gender and sexual minorities enjoy the same level of civil liberties as the Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly Disagree Agree rest. Disagree Disagree Agree B Civil Society ,QWKHFRQWH[WRIWKLVVWXG\WKHIROORZLQJVHWRITXHVWLRQVVSHFLटFDOO\UHIHUWRFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQVVRFLDOPRYHPHQWVJURXSVDQGLQGLYLGX- b DOVWKDWIXOटODGYRFDF\DQGRYHUVLJKWIXQFWLRQV b Since the current government assumed power, All groups have been allowed to form and register associations in order to Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 5 Disagree Agree advance collective interests. Disagree Disagree Agree No new laws have been introduced, passed, or amendments made to existing Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 6 RQHVWRPDNHLWPRUHGLਯFXOWIRUSHRSOHWRIRUPDQGRSHUDWHFLYLOVRFLHW\ Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree organisations. ौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVQRWXVHGLWVDXWKRULW\WRGHUHJLVWHUFUHDWHLVVXHVZLWK Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 7 registration, or otherwise interfered in the functioning of civil society or Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree JDQLVDWLRQV &62V ौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVDOORZHGUHOLJLRXVRUJDQLVDWLRQVJURXSVWRIXQFWLRQ Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 8 Disagree Agree without any hindrance. Disagree Disagree Agree ौHVWDWHKDVWDNHQQRDFWLRQWRUHSUHVVFRQWURORUXQGXO\LQਮXHQFH&62V Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly Disagree Agree DQGRUKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUV Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly &62VKDYHEHHQDOORZHGWRUHFHLYHIRUHLJQIXQGLQJZLWKRXWUHVWULFWLRQ Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree ौHUHKDVEHHQQRGLVFHUQLEOHLQFUHDVHLQWKHQXPEHURIDिDFNV LQFOXGLQJ Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 11 SK\VLFDODिDFNVUDLGVRQRਯFHVOHJDOKDUDVVPHQW RQFLYLOVRFLHW\RUJDQLVD Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree tions, human rights defenders and activists. ौHUHKDYHEHHQQRLQVWDQFHVRIVRPH&62VDQGKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQGHUV IRU Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 12 H[DPSOHWKRVHSURPRWLQJKXPDQULJKWVGHPRFUDF\JRRGJRYHUQDQFH EHLQJ Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree particularly targeted. 1RFLYLOVRFLHW\JURXSVKDYHEHHQVSHFLਭFDOO\WDUJHWHGEHFDXVHRIWKHLUDFWLY Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 13 ism in support of women, gender and sexual minorities, religious minorities, Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree HWKQLFPLQRULWLHVDQGRUPDUJLQDOLVHGJURXSV $GYRFDF\RUDFWLYLVPE\*2V1*2VKDVVXSSOHPHQWHGWKHVSDFHIRUULJKWV Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly advocacy for women, gender and sexual minorities, religious minorities, Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree HWKQLFPLQRULWLHVDQGRUPDUJLQDOLVHGJURXSV 3XEOLFVWDWHPHQWVIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWGLUHFWHGDWFLYLOVRFLHW\DQGKXPDQ Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 15 Disagree Agree ULJKWVGHIHQGHUVKDYHVKL़HGIURPQHJDWLYHWRSRVLWLYH Disagree Disagree Agree ौHUHKDYHEHHQSURJUHVVLYHFRXUWMXGJHPHQWVUHODWHGWRWKH)UHHGRPRI Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 16 Disagree Agree Association. Disagree Disagree Agree C Freedom of Expression b Since the current government assumed power, ौHVWDWHKDVJUDQWHGPHGLDKRXVHV&62VDFDGHPLFVKXPDQULJKWVGHIHQG Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 17 Disagree Agree ers or activists full freedom of expression. Disagree Disagree Agree ौHPDMRUSULQWDQGEURDGFDVWPHGLDUHSUHVHQWDZLGHUDQJHRISROLWLFDO Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 18 Disagree Agree perspectives. Disagree Disagree Agree ौHUHLVQRHYLGHQFHRI(QJOLVKPHGLDELDVDJDLQVWRSSRVLWLRQSDUWLHVRU Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly Disagree Agree candidates. Disagree Disagree Agree ौHUHLVQRHYLGHQFHRIYHUQDFXODUPHGLDELDVDJDLQVWRSSRVLWLRQSDUWLHVRU Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly Disagree Agree candidates. Disagree Disagree Agree ौHUHKDYHEHHQQRLQVWDQFHVRIMRXUQDOLVWVEHLQJKDUDVVHG LHWKUHDW HQHGZLWKOLEHODUUHVWHGLPSULVRQHGEHDWHQRUNLOOHG E\JRYHUQPHQWDORU Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 21 Disagree Agree powerful nongovernmental actors while engaged in legitimate journalistic Disagree Disagree Agree activities. ौHUHLVQRHYLGHQFHRIVHOIFHQVRUVKLSDPRQJMRXUQDOLVWVRUFLYLOVRFLHW\ Strongly Neither Agree or Strongly 22 Disagree Agree when reporting on issues the government considers politically sensitive. Disagree Disagree Agree 3XEOLFVWDWHPHQWVIURPWKHJRYHUQPHQWGLUHFWHGDWMRXUQDOLVWVDQGWKH Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 23 Disagree Agree PHGLDKDYHVKL़HGIURPQHJDWLYHWRSRVLWLYH Disagree or Disagree Agree ौHVWDWHKDVPDGHQRDिHPSWWRUHVWULFWIUHHGRPRIH[SUHVVLRQRQWKH Strongly Neither Agree Strongly Disagree Agree internet and social media. Disagree or Disagree Agree Individuals are free to express their personal views on political or other Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 25 Disagree Agree sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution. Disagree or Disagree Agree Excluded or disadvantaged groups have been allowed to express them Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 26 Disagree Agree selves freely. Disagree or Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 27 3HRSOHKDYHEHHQDEOHWRDFFHVVJRYHUQPHQWLQIRUPDWLRQLQSUDFWLFH Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 28 ौHUHLVIUHHGRPRIUHOLJLRQLQSUDFWLFH Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree No laws been been introduced or changed (such as those dealing with free Strongly Neither Agree Strongly GRPRILQIRUPDWLRQPHGLDUHJXODWLRQVHOIUHJXODWLRQFRQWHPSWRIFRXUW Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree censorship, sedition, etc) by the state to hinder free expression. ौHUHKDYHEHHQSURJUHVVLYHFRXUWMXGJHPHQWVUHODWHGWRWKH)UHHGRPRI Strongly Neither Agree Strongly Disagree Agree Expression. Disagree or Disagree Agree D Freedom of peaceful assembly b Since the current government assumed power, Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 31 ौHUHLVIUHHGRPRIDVVHPEO\LQWKHFRXQWU\LQODZ Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 32 ौHVWDWHKDVDOORZHGSHDFHIXOSURWHVWVDQGGHPRQVWUDWLRQV Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 33 State security forces have not used physical violence against protestors. Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree State security forces have not made arbitrary or illegal arrests in violation Strongly Neither Agree Strongly Disagree Agree of the right to peaceful assembly. Disagree or Disagree Agree ौHUHKDYHEHHQSURJUHVVLYHFRXUWMXGJHPHQWVUHODWHGWRWKH)UHHGRPRI Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 35 Disagree Agree 3HDFHIXO$VVHPEO\ Disagree or Disagree Agree E Legitimacy b Since the current government assumed power, ौHJRYHUQPHQWKDVSURPRWHGDVSHFLਭFLGHRORJ\RUVRFLHWDOPRGHO DQ RਯFLDOO\FRGLਭHGVHWRIEHOLHIVXVHGWRMXVWLI\DSDUWLFXODUVHWRIVRFLDO Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 36 Disagree Agree political, and economic relations; for example, socialism, nationalism, reli Disagree or Disagree Agree gious traditionalism, etc) in order to justify the regime in place. ौH&KLHI([HFXWLYHRIWKHFRXQWU\KDVEHHQSRUWUD\HGDVEHLQJHQGRZHG ZLWKH[WUDRUGLQDU\SHUVRQDOFKDUDFWHULVWLFVDQGRUOHDGHUVKLSVNLOOV HJ Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 37 as father or mother of the nation, staunch nationalist, exceptionally heroic, Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree PRUDOSLRXVRUZLVHRUDQ\RWKHUH[WUDRUGLQDU\DिULEXWHYDOXHGE\WKH society). ौHJRYHUQPHQWUHIHUVWRWKHLUSHUIRUPDQFH VXFKDVSURYLGLQJHFRQRPLF Strongly Neither Agree Strongly 38 JURZWKSRYHUW\UHGXFWLRQHਬHFWLYHDQGQRQFRUUXSWJRYHUQDQFHDQGRU Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree providing security) in order to justify the regime in place. ौHJRYHUQPHQWUHIHUVWROHJDOQRUPVDQGUHJXODWLRQV DVODLGRXWIRULQ Strongly Neither Agree Strongly stance, in the constitution regarding access to power, e.g. elections, as well Disagree Agree Disagree or Disagree Agree as exercise of power, e.g. rule of law) in order to justify the regime in place. ŵĂũŽƌ ƚĞŶĞƚ ŽĨ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ ŝƐ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐ Đŝǀŝů ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂůƐŽ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ǀŝďƌĂŶĐLJ͘/ƚŝƐƚŚĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚLJŽĨƐƚĂƚĞƐƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚĐŝƟnjĞŶƐĐĂŶĨƌĞĞůLJĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŽĨ ƐƉĞĞĐŚ͕ ĂƐƐĞŵďůLJ ĂŶĚ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĨĞĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽůĞŐĂůƌĞŵĞĚLJŝĨĂŶĚǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƐĞƌŝŐŚƚƐĂƌĞǀŝŽůĂƚĞĚ͘dŚĞǁŽƌůĚĂƚ ůĂƌŐĞŝƐ͕ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐŝŶŐĂĐŽŶƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶŽĨĐŝǀŝĐƐƉĂĐĞĂŶĚŶŽǁŚĞƌĞŝƐƚŚŝƐŵŽƌĞ ĂƉƉĂƌĞŶƚƚŚĂŶŝŶ^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂ͘ ^ŽƵƚŚ ƐŝĂ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ DŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ZĞƉŽƌƚ ϮϬϮϬ͗ DŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ^ŚƌŝŶŬŝŶŐ ŝǀŝĐ ^ƉĂĐĞ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐŚŽǁĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚLJĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶŚĂƐďĞĞŶŶĂǀŝŐĂƟŶŐƚŚĞƚĞƌƌĂŝŶŽĨƐƚĂƚĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ͕ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJǁŝƚŚƌĞŐĂƌĚƚŽĂĚǀŽĐĂĐLJŽĨŵŝŶŽƌŝƚLJƌŝŐŚƚƐ͘tŚŝůĞƚŚĞƌĞŐƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨĐŝǀŝĐƐƉĂĐĞĂīĞĐƚƐƐŽĐŝĞƚLJĂƚůĂƌŐĞ͕ƚŚĞĚLJŶĂŵŝĐƐĂŶĚŝŵƉĂĐƚƐŽĨƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐƚĞŶĚ ƚŽďĞƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJƐĞǀĞƌĞ͕ĂŶĚƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞǁŝƚŚŐƌĞĂƚĞƌĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐLJ͕ĨŽƌŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ Ă ǀŽŝĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ͕ĂŶŐůĂĚĞƐŚ͕ŚƵƚĂŶ͕/ŶĚŝĂ͕EĞƉĂů͕WĂŬŝƐƚĂŶĂŶĚ^ƌŝ>ĂŶŬĂ͕ƌĞƉŽƌƟŶŐŽŶ ƚŚĞƐƚĂƚĞŽĨĐŝǀŝĐƐƉĂĐĞǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞŝƌƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌŝĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐǀŽůƵŵĞŝƐƉůĂŶŶĞĚĂƐĂƚŽŽůĨŽƌĂĚǀŽĐĂĐLJ͘/ƚŝƐŚŽƉĞĚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐĞĂŶŶƵĂůƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ŽŶ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ĨŽƌ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƐƚĂƚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶŝŶŐ ǁŝůů ƐƉƵƌ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĚĞďĂƚĞŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶĂŶĚĐƌĞĂƚĞƚŚĞĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐĨŽƌƐƚĂƚĞƉĂƌƟĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůŵĞĐŚĂŶŝƐŵƐƚŽŐŝǀĞƐĞƌŝŽƵƐĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶƚŽŝƐƐƵĞƐŽĨŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ͘dŚĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞ ĞƋƵĂů ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ĞƋƵĂů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͕ĂĐĞŶƚƌĂůĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞŽĨƚŚĞ͚ĚĞĞƉĞŶŝŶŐĚĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ͛ĂŐĞŶĚĂŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͕ĂŶĚ ƚŽŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƚŚĞĂůĂƌŵŝŶŐůLJŶĂƌƌŽǁĐŝǀŝĐƐƉĂĐĞĨŽƌŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĚĞĨĞŶĚĞƌƐ͕ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚƐĂŶĚĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶŝƐƚŚĞĨŽƵƌƚŚŝŶƚŚĞƐĞƌŝĞƐ͕ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨDŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ZĞƉŽƌƚ ϮϬϭϴ͗ džƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ZŽŽƚƐ͖ ^ŽƵƚŚ ƐŝĂ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ DŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ZĞƉŽƌƚ ϮϬϭϲ͗ DĂƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ dĞƌƌĂŝŶ; and ^ŽƵƚŚ ƐŝĂ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ DŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ZĞƉŽƌƚ ϮϬϭϵ͗ ZĞĨƵŐĞĞƐ͕ DŝŐƌĂŶƚƐĂŶĚƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞůĞƐƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞƉŽƌƚŝƐƉƵƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌďLJƚŚĞ^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂŽůůĞĐƟǀĞ͕ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐŽĨŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŚƵŵĂŶƌŝŐŚƚƐĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐƚŚĂƚĚƌĞĂŵŽĨĂũƵƐƚ͕ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚƉĞĂĐĞĨƵů^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂďLJĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƟŶŐƚŚĞĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͛ƐŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐͶ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ͕ ůŝŶŐƵŝƐƟĐ͕ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ͕ ĐĂƐƚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ͕ ĂŵŽŶŐ ŽƚŚĞƌƐͶŚŽƉŝŶŐ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞƚŽďĞƩĞƌŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐĨŽƌ^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂ͛ƐŵĂŶLJŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝƐĞĚŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘ ŽͲĨƵŶĚĞĚďLJ ƚŚĞ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶhŶŝŽŶ