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Amnesty International Suspends Operations in India

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - Amnesty International says it is halting its operations in
   India after the government froze its bank accounts. The group says the
   action was part of an "incessant witch hunt of human rights
   organizations."
   [1]
   In a statement on Tuesday, Amnesty said it has been compelled to lay
   off its staff in India and "pause all its campaign and research work"
   after it learned its accounts had been frozen over allegations of
   financial wrongdoing. It called the charges baseless, saying it has
   complied with all Indian laws.
   The government has not commented on the development, but has said in
   the past that the rights watchdog was being investigated for alleged
   violation of Indian laws regarding foreign funding.
   Amnesty said it is being targeted because it demanded accountability
   for human rights violations in the country.
   "The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last
   two years and the complete freezing of bank accounts is not
   accidental," said Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty
   International India.
   In two recent reports, Amnesty alleged that police in New Delhi
   committed human rights violations during deadly Hindu-Muslim riots that
   shook the Indian capital in February.

References

   1. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/amnesty-international-india-halts-its-work-on-upholding-human-rights-in-india-due-to-reprisal-from-government-of-india/

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