The export of around 20 Hermes 900 drones to Israel by Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems was widely reported in February of this year. What has not been reported is that there are numerous other Indian companies, both big and small, that have been manufacturing and supplying aerospace components, electronic parts and explosives to Israel. In doing so, they may be enabling the war and genocide in Gaza.
(Tag: Rights)
On April 5, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution urging an arms embargo on Israel and calling on countries to “cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel.” India abstained from voting in favour of this resolution.
The resolution came just two weeks after the publication of “Anatomy of a Genocide,” a report by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, that gave the world evidentiary details on how Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
This report reaffirms the January preliminary ruling of the International Court of Justice that found that “some of the acts and omissions” committed by Israel during its attacks on Gaza “appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention.”
(Tag: Rights)
At least nine detained Aligarh Muslim University students were released Monday night at around 8 pm following pressure from local Aligarh residents, who gathered on the streets near the university to protest the students’ detention.
Syed Zamin Mehdi (18)’s older brother, Syed Mohammad Mehdi was one of the students who was detained by the police and rapid action force (RAF) on Sunday night during protests. He was released at 8.30 pm from Civil Lines Police Station yesterday after being pressured to do so by local Aligarh residents. The police beat Mehdi up who suffered head injuries and had to get 5 stitches. He is now on his way home.
“The concept of non-discrimination lies at the heart of human rights,” reads the first line of a statement issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, this year on December 10, recognized the world over as Human Rights Day.
Pillay’s statement underscores the fact the spirit of human rights lies in “non-discrimination.”
Yet, discrimination on the basis of language, among others, is a common, although often ignored grounds for human rights violations in India.
Our linguistic diversity is under threat because linguistic minorities are gradually letting go of their mother tongues. This coupled with the government’s passive attitude towards preserving these languages has earned India the dubious distinction of being the country with the most number of endangered languages – in the world.
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Meher Ali 