NUS, USI and NUS-USI, representing approximately 7.5 million students across the UK and the island of Ireland have issued this statement in solidarity with students, staff and the public in India who are protesting the new Citizenship Amendment Act.
“We utterly condemn the brutal and violent crackdown on peaceful protests led by students in India. These protests have been peaceful, but have been met with violence by the police.
We extend our full solidarity to those engaging in one of the most fundamental and inalienable rights of all people, the right to protest. The right to peacefully protest is codified in the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights to which India is a signatory. The government of India must recall its commitment in this international covenant and end the repression of these protests and fully investigate the acts of violence and allegations of sexual harassment carried out by state forces.
The Citizenship Act which has led to these protests is a law discriminating against those fleeing persecution. It fits in wider with the aims of the Government which seeks to bring forward an ideology making life impossibly difficult for Muslims and other minority communities in India. The Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights stated the law was “fundamentally discriminatory in nature.” We call on the government of India to listen to the protests of students and ensure all people’s in India are treated equally under the law.”
Signed by,
Lorna Fitzpatrick
USI President
Zamzam Ibrahim
NUS President
Robert Murtagh
NUS-USI President