Under-Secretary-General Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has raised several key questions about the growth of hate speech and especially the targeting of the Muslim community in wake of the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the nationwide agitation against it.
In a media statement released recently, Dieng said, “While the objective of the act, to provide protection to minority communities is commendable, it is concerning that this protection is not extended to all groups, including Muslims. This is contrary to India’s obligations under international human rights law, in particular on non-discrimination.”
The Special Adviser also expressed concern over reports that demonstrations against the law, which occurred across some regions of India since its enactment, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, had reportedly resulted in the injury and death of civilians, attacks on religious sites, as well as an increase in expressions of hate against India’s Muslim community. The Special Adviser added that “statements such as those expressed by Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy, that all people are not equal, and that Muslims are not in an ‘equal category’ as others are extremely alarming. Hate speech and the dehumanization of others goes against international human rights norms and values.”
This elicited a sharp response from Swamy who dubbed Dieng’s claim as slander and is considering suing the UN official. Swamy tweeted saying, “UN Under Secretary General Mr.Adama Dieng slandered me in a press release in New York saying I had said in an interview to a Pakistani owned TV channel that Muslims are not equal to Hindus in Indian Constitution. This is a blatant lie so I will take steps to sue him in court.”
UN Under Secretary General Mr.Adama Dieng slandered me in a press release in New York saying I had said in an interview to a Pakistani owned TV channel that Muslims are not equal to Hindus in Indian Constitution. This is a blatant lie so I will take steps to sue him in court.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 19, 2020
Interestingly, Dieng does not refer to any Pakistani TV channel in his statement. The interview was actually given to Vice and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has even tweeted the video:
The RSS inspired BJP leadership in the 21st century openly speaking about the 200 million Muslims just as the Nazis spoke about the Jews. pic.twitter.com/MUiyqpgGDJ
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 3, 2020
The entire statement of Under-Secretary-General Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide may be viewed here:
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