Amnesty International & Ors. condemn persecution of Lawyers Collective

A number of international organisations have come to the defence of Lawyers Collective, just days after the Home Ministry suspended the NGO’s FCRA licence..A statement issued by Amnesty International condemns the violation of Lawyers Collective’s constitutional rights and calls for the revocation of the suspension. In the release, Aakar Patel, Executive Director of Amnesty International India says,.“There is no doubt that the government is being vindictive. Lawyers Collective is being targeted because its office-bearers have taken on the government in a range of cases. The FCRA allegations are clearly a pretext to silence these dissenting voices.”.The statement also points out that the NGO, run by Senior Advocates Indira Jaising and Anand Grover, have handled a number of important human rights cases, including representing activists seeking justice for the 2002 Gujarat riots..As reported earlier, Jaising is planning to challenge the suspension in court. She says in the release,.“I certainly believe that this is selective targeting and certainly related to the work Anand Grover and I do, not only at Lawyers Collective but also as human rights professionals. The funding has been used for the work for which it was related. There is no question of being intimidated. We are definitely going to respond and challenge this notice in court.”.Another organisation, The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has also extended their support to the Indian NGO. Apart from calling for the lifting of the FCRA licence suspension, the Observatory also requests the government of India to put an end to the harassment of the two lawyers, and to comply with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders..Additionally, members of civil society are also standing in solidarity with Jaising and Grover. Around 50 organisations and hundreds of individuals, including advocates and human rights activists have signed a statement condemning the Home Ministry’s actions..Read the Observatory’s statement:.Read the joint statement issued by civil society: