IAMC Condemns Persecution of Teesta Setalvad and Other Human Rights Activists

 

For Immediate Release
Friday January 7, 2011

 

 

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC -   http://www.iamc.com), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, has strongly condemned the malafide campaign of persecution and harrassment of human rights defender Teesta Setalvad, secretary of "Citizens for Justice and Peace(CJP)," Advocate Sohail Tirmizi, and numerous other lawyers and human rights activists that have been in the forefront in the struggle to secure justice for the victims of the Gujarat riots of 2002.

 

Mr. Rais Khan, a former employee of CJP, on whose testimony Teesta Setalvad has been accused of having ordered the doctoring of a riot victim's affidavit, was dismissed from the service of CJP for suspicious conduct as well as financial irregularities. The fact that a person with a dubious record and a clear conflict of interest with CJP has accused one of the most respected human rights defenders of the country, raises disturbing questions about the forces behind this vilification campaign.

 

"Ms. Teesta Setalvad's fearless advocacy of the victims of human rights abuses, and her  efforts to secure justice and dignity for the poor and dispossessed should be lauded. Instead, the forces that have fuelled hate and communal violence in the country are bent on stifling her voice," said Shaheen Khateeb, president of IAMC. "We appeal to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Manmohan Singh to prevent this potential miscarriage of justice by ordering a CBI investigation into the roots of this malicious campaign.  Justice will be served only when the Gujarat government is held accountable for its misdeeds during and after the genocide of 2002," added Mr. Khateeb.

 

Indian American Muslim Council (formerly Indian Muslim Council-USA) is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation. For more information please visit our website at www.iamc.com.

 

 

References:

 

Victimization of Teesta Setalvad CJP, Advocate M.M. Tirmizi & victims survivors of 2002
http://communalism.blogspot.com/2010/12/victimization-of-teesta-setalvad-cjp.html

 

Threat To Arrest Human Rights Activists And Journalists By Gujarat Police
http://www.countercurrents.org/sabrang301210.htm

 

 

 

Contact: Rasheed Ahmed
phone/fax: 1-800-839-7270
email: info@iamc.com

 

Address:

6321 W Dempster St · Suite 295

Morton Grove · IL 60053

Phone:  800-839-7270

Email: info@iamc.com