I write about #India's new discriminatory citizenship law & how together with a planned nationwide verification process to identify “illegal migrants,” can threaten the citizenship rights of millions of Indian Muslims, in this new @HRW report. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/09/india-protests-attacks-over-new-citizenship-law 1/13

The report explains legal provisions in these laws and policies, and draws on research from Assam, the only Indian state to have completed the citizenship verification process--National Register of Citizens, leaving out nearly 2 million people. 2/13

In Assam, we found the National Register of Citizens was arbitrary, biased, and error-prone. It imposed terrible hardships on the poor and marginalized – often surviving on basic subsistence who do not have access to documents. 3/13

Women, especially those from poor and marginalized communities were disproportionately affected because they are even less likely to have access to proper documents. Forget documents going back decades to prove legacy. All this has heightened fears about a national process. 4/13

I also document protests against these discriminatory policies in which hundreds of thousands of Indians of all faiths participated, led mostly by young university students, and women. 5/13

They waved the Indian flag, sang the national anthem and even read aloud from the Constitution as a reminder that India had always been an inclusive society. 6/13

Women protesting at Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim-majority neighborhood in Delhi, became the symbol of these peaceful protests. A woman, who came to these protests with her children everyday told me she was “fighting for the future of her children.” 7/13

But instead of engaging with protesters, some leaders from ruling BJP threatened them. The title of the report, “Shoot the Traitors,” is actually a quote from a BJP leader criticizing the protesters. It was a call that was soon echoed by BJP followers. 8/13

The report also documents the response of the authorities during protests against the law. It flags the bias and partisan police action. While critics were quickly prosecuted, there was complicity and political protection when government supporters engaged in violence. 9/13

At least 30 people, mostly Muslims, were killed during protests, particularly in Uttar Pradesh state. In February, communal clashes and Hindu mob attacks on Muslims in Delhi resulted in more than 50 deaths. 10/13

These discriminatory policies, and hate speech advocating violence against minority communities have opened the door to mob violence and partisan police actions, leading to upsurge in attacks against Muslims and growing Islamophobia. 11/13

Anti-Muslim rhetoric hasn't stopped even as India fights to contain COVID19 outbreak. Government needs to send out a strong message against sectarian hate, prosecute hate speech by govt officials inciting violence, to ensure India is safe now and in the post-pandemic world. 12/13

The citizenship processes are put on hold because of COVID19. Government should repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act, discard plans for verification processes through national population register and national register of citizens. Read the report for more recommendations. 13/13