NEW DELHI: The Indian Government is conducting a “relentless smear” campaign against Rohingya immigrants and the decision to deport seven men from the community sets a “dangerous” precedent for all asylum seekers in the country, Amnesty International India said Thursday.
It said the deported Rohingya men are at “grave risk” of being subjected to human rights violations by the Myanmar Government and the Supreme Court’s clearance to the first-ever deportation is a “dark day” for human rights in India.
The top court Thursday cleared last-minute hurdles, leading to the deportation of seven illegally migrated Rohingya men, staying in Assam, to Myanmar by dismissing the plea which had sought to thwart the Union Government’s move. After the court’s order, authorities deported the illegal immigrants.
The illegal immigrants were detained in 2012 and since then had been lodged in Cachar Central Jail in Assam’s Silchar.
The rights body said in a statement that the seven Rohingya men were “forcibly” returned to Myanmar.
“This decision negates India’s proud tradition of providing refuge to those fleeing serious human rights violations. It endangers the most persecuted population in the world and is bereft of any empathy,” Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty India, said. (AGENCIES)
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