Members of the Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine staged a protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan against what they described as police harassment of young activists associated with a kite-flying event held in solidarity with Palestinian children.
The protest followed a September 18 illegal search of the residence of Harshada, a 26-year-old student and volunteer with the group. e incident, which took place on September 18 and continued into the early hours of September 19, followed a September 15 kite-flying event organised in solidarity with children in Gaza. The event formed part of the Global Gaza Kite Weekend, an international campaign in which participants flew kites to draw attention to the situation of Palestinian children.
According to Mid-Day, Harshada alleged that five members of the group who were at her residence during the search were prevented from leaving while the police operation was underway. The incident has prompted concerns among members of the solidarity group about the treatment of young activists involved in Palestine-related advocacy.
At the Azad Maidan protest, activists demanded an end to what they described as harassment linked to the kite-flying programme and other solidarity activities. Chayanika Shah of Mumbai 4 Peace also joined the protest against the alleged harassment of young women activists by the Mumbai Police.
The protesters maintained that their activities were intended to express solidarity with Palestinian children and called for activists to be allowed to undertake such peaceful forms of expression without intimidation.
Related:
Palestine solidarity kite event followed by nine-hour police search in Mumbai
Women journalists who were attacked prevented from reporting, protest attacks
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