hidden image

Online petition for Fr. Stan Swamy

IC Correspondent IC Correspondent
11 Jan 2021

Dear friends,
Kindly find an appeal regarding the situation of human right defenders in India, particularly Fr. Stan Swamy SJ, addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

This is a joint initiative of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)and other religious Congregations present at the United Nations, particularly the Claretians.  

We are requesting individuals and organisations to join this initiative by signing the appeal 
You are welcome to sign in your individual capacity or on behalf of the organization that you represent the appeal which  is being sent to OHCHR, related special rapporteurs and also to the Government of India. 
 We also request you to  forward/ circulate this widely to your contacts and networks for greater reach. Thanks

 Message accompanying the Appeal

 Fr. Stan Swamy, SJ is an 83 years old Indian Jesuit priest incarcerated for alleged anti-national activities. He was arrested on October 8, 2020; and 15 January will mark ONE HUNDRED DAYS since his arrest!

The antecedents of this case can be traced back to 1 January 2018 violence against the Dalits across the state of Maharashtra. One Dalit youth was killed and countless of number of Dalits injured.  Even though all evidence pointed to the role of right-wing leaders in the violence that erupted after the annual celebration at Bhima Koregaon, the state thought it convenient to foist false cases against human rights defenders who are known to stand up for the poor.
Fifteen others have been incarcerated for the same alleged violations of the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The state alleges that all these 16 persons are working in tandem with the banned Maoist party that wants to overthrow the elected government.

It is common knowledge that these allegations are foisted by the present ultra-nationalist, right-wing Hindu fundamentalist government. Ever since the party came to power in 2014 it has used various pillars of governance and the media to put down all dissent against its anti-poor, anti-minority, pro-crony capitalist policies.

Fr. Stan is best known for his long years of work on behalf of India’s poorest by becoming one like them and leading their struggles in a non-violent way making use of all the legal instruments to redress the violence against them and reclaim their livelihoods for them. The other 15 co-accused are all eminent human rights defenders known for their dedicated and courageous work in defense of the rights of the poor.  Some of the accused like Varavara Rao are seriously sick and advanced in age. Yet a callous government is relentless in its vindictive pursuit of these human right defenders. To give but one example, it took the government all of 30 days to grant permission for jail authorities to provide a sipper to Fr. Stan, who suffers from debilitating Parkinson’s disease.  Their appeal for bail has been consistently denied by the State.

OHCHR has already taken note of the situation and has appealed to the government of India to honor its obligations under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These interventions so far have not brought any relief for the accused.
We request the OHCHR to intervene in this serious matter once again and  immediately  

TO SIGN THE APPEAL, CLICK HERE.

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4Cv06BVvuUrWBfHS-qsr-sgkOTu9HoI42pijf2qJhl_2_nQ/viewform?gxids=7628

 The last day to sign the appeal is January 15, 2021
 

Recent Posts

In a world scarred by war, hatred, and inhuman leadership, education must humanise, not merely inform. Sanjeevani Vidyapeeth shows how empowering the marginalised with values, character, and competenc
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
07 Jul 2025
The sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala's coast exposes a toxic mix of corporate impunity, political complicity, and environmental neglect. As hazardous cargo threatens lives and livelihoods, the silence
apicture Joseph Maliakan
07 Jul 2025
In a world slipping into chaos, where leaders trade threats and valorise violence, India mirrors this decay, silencing dissent, weaponising identity, and pushing the marginalised to the margins. The c
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
07 Jul 2025
When Fr. Stan Swamy died on July 5, 2021, the world of truth and justice was shocked and saddened. Those who belonged to this group were convinced that his death was not a natural one, but a premedita
apicture Cedric Prakash
07 Jul 2025
The strength of India is in her democracy; the unity of India is in her diversity; the heritage of India is in her hospitality, the breath of India is in her principle of Ahimsa/non-violence, and the
apicture Fr. L. Michael Collins
07 Jul 2025
Marking June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' is a calculated distortion of history, designed to vilify Indira Gandhi while deflecting from the ongoing, undeclared Emergency under Modi.
apicture G Ramachandram
07 Jul 2025
When a nation stops examining itself, it stops evolving. When a people stop questioning, they stop progressing. And when truth is replaced by lies, it takes only a few years for credibility to erode —
apicture Robert Clements
07 Jul 2025
The Emergency must be remembered, not as a tool to target a political party but as a lesson against authoritarian excess. Yet, we cannot ignore that worse violations of democratic norms and human righ
apicture A. J. Philip
30 Jun 2025
Fifty years later, India faces a chilling déjà vu with an 'undeclared' Emergency. Freedom of speech is stifled, dissent is suppressed, and institutions are compromised. True democracy demands resistan
apicture Cedric Prakash
30 Jun 2025
Amit Shah's claim that those who speak English will be ashamed evidences that the BJP-RSS is trying to bring down the populace and push India into another Vedic dark age where ignorance and superstiti
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
30 Jun 2025