International Society for Peace and Justice called on India’s Supreme Court to order a new investigation of Modi regarding his role in the Gujarat riots.
It condemned assaults on freedom and the persecution of religious minorities in India, “what is supposed to be the world’s largest democracy.”
The statement is endorsed by American Muslim Institution, Association of Indian Muslims in America, Federation of Indian American, Christians of North America, and Indian American Muslim Council.
“The survivors of this pogrom deserve justice and compensation.” It urged the international community to assist those fighting for freedom in India today, as well as the fight for justice for those whose loved ones were killed in Gujarat 21 years ago. It also appealed to right-minded people across the globe to speak up for the many women who were systematically raped and the people who were displaced and had their homes and businesses destroyed.
The statement has been issued in the context of the recent ban on the BBC documentary titled “India: The Modi Question,” which shows the role of PM Modi in the anti-Muslim Gujarat pogrom, which happened when he was the Chief Minister of the state. The film includes revelations from a recently declassified investigation of the riots by the British government. Investigators determined that Modi, as Gujarat’s chief minister, was “directly responsible” for the violence. Their report characterizes the riots as a “pogrom,” or a “systematic campaign of violence,” which had “all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing” meant to force Muslims out of Hindu areas of Gujarat, according to the documentary.
The Indian government has dismissed the film as propaganda meant to undermine Prime Minister Modi, and officials have said it will not be screened in India. Major online platforms such as Twitter and YouTube have been blocked from showing the documentary in India. The legal validity of using emergency powers to censor the documentary has yet to be determined by the Indian judiciary.
The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued a notice to the Modi government over petitions challenging the move to block the BBC documentary. The court has sought original records about the government’s decision and will now hear the matter in April.
Recently, more than 500 Indian scientists and academics endorsed a statement criticizing the Indian government for blocking the documentary, saying that the pretext that it undermines “the sovereignty and integrity of India” does not withstand scrutiny. “The removal violates our rights, as Indians, to access and discuss important information about our society and government,” the joint statement said.