On Thursday, the Foreign Office issued a strong condemnation of the Indian government’s enactment of the controversial citizenship law in 2019, asserting that the discriminatory nature of the legislation is aimed at reshaping India into a Hindu-dominated nation.
The Indian government’s recent move to enforce the contentious law, widely criticized for its discriminatory impact on Muslims, comes just weeks before Prime Minister Modi seeks an unprecedented third term for his Hindu nationalist administration. Known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the law extends Indian nationality to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled religious persecution in Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan prior to December 31, 2014.
Initially passed in December 2019, the Modi government had delayed implementing the law due to widespread protests and sectarian violence, particularly in New Delhi and other regions, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch expressed concern over the recent notifications related to the CAA, highlighting the ongoing contentious discourse within India regarding Muslims, minorities, and immigrants. Baloch criticized the legislation and associated regulations as inherently discriminatory, as they categorize individuals based on their religious affiliation.
Condemned Political ban in Kashmir
She further asserted that such laws are founded on the erroneous assumption of minority persecution in Muslim-majority countries and the misguided notion of India as a sanctuary for minorities. Baloch emphasized the concerning rise of Hindutva ideology under the BJP government, which has led to the marginalization of Muslims and other religious and social minorities, including Dalits, across various spheres of life.
Referring to statements from UN Special Rapporteurs and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Baloch reiterated calls for corrective actions to safeguard human rights and protect minorities, particularly Muslims, amid the growing influence of Hindutva ideology in India.
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Moreover, she criticized India’s oppressive measures in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), denouncing them as a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and freedom of expression, in clear violation of international laws. Baloch urged India to lift restrictions on banned Kashmiri political parties, release political prisoners, and promptly implement UN Security Council resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir.