Trustees of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have issued a statement in support of journalist, educationist and human rights defender Teesta Setalvad, who is also the secretary of CJP. Calling allegations against her “preposterous”, the trustees say, “We strongly condemn the manner in which she was arrested and assaulted at the time of her arrest on 25.06.2022.”
They further say, “We believe that the case against Ms. Teesta Setalvad is completely false and she is being targeted for her work of helping the victims of the post-Godhra riots of 2002.”
They have also shot down the allegations by the State that Setalvad was paid by the now deceased Congress leader Ahmed Patel, and it was at his behest that she made a series of false allegations against the people who were in power at the time of the 2002 Gujarat carnage. “The claim of the State of Gujarat, that Ms. Teesta Setalvad has taken money from Mr. Ahmed Patel, is preposterous. There was no conspiracy of any sorts that she had entered into as is being claimed,” they say, adding, “The sole aim of Ms. Setalvad was to seek justice for the victims of the post Godhra riots.”
They have also rebutted allegations of forgery saying that they “do not believe that she has ever fabricated evidence or tell any witness to speak anything but the truth,” and that Setalvad “merely facilitated the process of justice for the victims.”
As arguments pertaining to her bail hearing continued on July 20, 2022, the trustees have expressed “full faith in the independent judiciary of the country,” and hope that Setalvad “is not only released on bail at the earliest but the case against her is quashed.”
The entire statement may be read here:
Related:
Arguments to continue in Teesta Setalvad’s bail application on July 20
Free Teesta Setalvad: Peers and fellow activists offer a testament to her tenacity
Human Rights defenders stand with Teesta Setalvad
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Free Teesta Setalvad: A week in the life of a brave human rights defender