April 26, 2024 06:10 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Justice MB Snehalatha takes oath as additional judge of Kerala High Court | NIA arrests key accused in pro-Khalistani attack on Indian Mission in London | Plea filed in Calcutta HC seeking action against Mamata Banerjee's 'judges purchased' remark | LS polls: 88 seats across 13 states, UTs going to polls tomorrow for phase 2; 1202 candidates in fray | 'Neither shocked nor surprised': Mallikarjun Kharge writes open letter to PM Modi over Congress manifesto row
Following Lankesh's murder, UN rights experts urge Indian Government to protect free speech

Following Lankesh's murder, UN rights experts urge Indian Government to protect free speech

India Blooms News Service | | 13 Sep 2017, 10:56 pm
New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): A group of independent human rights experts on Wednesday called on the Government of India to create a safer environment for independent voices, after Indian journalist and human rights defender Guari Lankesh was killed earlier this month.

 

“The Indian authorities should unequivocally condemn the killing of Gauri Lankesh, investigate it, bring all the perpetrators – including the masterminds – to account, and take seriously the safety of journalists,” said the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, on summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, and on the situation of human rights defender, Michel Forst.

They called the murder of Lankesh, who was shot dead outside of her home on 5 September a “terrible and painful tragedy” and a “vicious attack” on the freedom of the press.

“We urge the authorities in India to take active steps to reverse a political climate that in recent years have become increasingly polarized and hostile, especially to the media and those exercising the freedom of expression,” the Special Rapporteurs said, adding that they are in contact with the Government regarding the situation.

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Lankesh was known as a “rationalist,” a term used in India for people who stand against the use of religion in politics.

OHCHR confirmed that her killing is the fourth in the last three years of activists who had opposed the rise of Hindu fundamentalism in politics.

“Governments have a responsibility to build a safe environment for independent voices, including those of journalists critical of the authorities,” they said.

UN Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Photo: UN

 

Source: www.justearthnews.com

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.