Amnesty International halts India operations
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty International halts India operations

The Hindu  

Amnesty International India on Tuesday said the government had frozen all its bank accounts, leading to all of its work in the country coming to a halt. For a movement that has done nothing but raise its voices against injustice, this latest attack is akin to freezing dissent,” Amnesty International India executive director Avinash Kumar said. The release further said that Amnesty International India stood in full compliance with all applicable Indian and international laws and for human rights work in India, it operates through a “distinct model of raising funds domestically”. The release further states that “attacks” on Amnesty International India and other human rights organisations, activists and human rights defenders are “only an extension of the various repressive policies and sustained assault by the government on those who speak truth to power.” “Treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises and dissenting individuals as criminals without any credible evidence is a deliberate attempt by the Enforcement Directorate and Government of India to stoke a climate of fear and dismantle the critical voices in India.

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History of this topic

Explained | The ED and CBI’s cases against Amnesty International India and Aakar Patel
2 years, 5 months ago

Explained | The ED and CBI’s cases against Amnesty International India and Aakar Patel

The Hindu  

The story so far: A day after the Enforcement Directorate imposed a fine of ₹51.72 crore on Amnesty India and ₹10 crore on its former CEO Aakar Patel in relation to an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the agency on July 9 filed a chargesheet against Amnesty India and associated entities in a money laundering case. According …

Karnataka High Court Allows Amnesty International To Withdraw Rs 60 Lakhs From Bank Accounts Rejecting ED's Objection
4 years ago

Karnataka High Court Allows Amnesty International To Withdraw Rs 60 Lakhs From Bank Accounts Rejecting ED's Objection

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday partly allowed the petition filed by international human rights body, Amnesty International's India offices, challenging the communication issued by the Enforcement Directorate to banks directing them to freeze the accounts held by trust. A bench of Justice P S Dinesh Kumar said :"Petition is partly allowed the petitioner is allowed to withdraw an amount …

What Is ED's Legal Power To Ask Banks To Freeze Amnesty India's Accounts? Karnataka High Court Asks
4 years ago

What Is ED's Legal Power To Ask Banks To Freeze Amnesty India's Accounts? Karnataka High Court Asks

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate to disclose the power under which it has written to the banks directing them to freeze accounts of international human rights body Amnesty International's India offices A single bench of Justice P S Dinesh Kumar asked the counsel of ED : "What provision of law have you exercised in writing the …

Who killed Amnesty International India?
4 years, 2 months ago

Who killed Amnesty International India?

Live Mint  

That’s how Amnesty International India described the Union government’s decision to freeze its bank accounts on 10 September. “All the laws used against dissent today—from the Unlawful Activities Act to the FCRA—are the legacies of the previous government,” says Shailesh Rai, who was policy director at Amnesty International India until 2019. “The CBI raids on Citizens for Justice and Peace, …

Amnesty International | On the front lines of rights and rows
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty International | On the front lines of rights and rows

The Hindu  

Just past 10am on September 29, a notice went up on global human rights agency Amnesty International’s India webpage. While Amnesty’s notice said the actions by the government were part of an “incessant witch-hunt” that had failed to produce evidence of wrong-doing, the government said it had a long list of charges pertaining to the funding of the group and …

Who killed Amnesty International India?
4 years, 2 months ago

Who killed Amnesty International India?

Live Mint  

That’s how Amnesty International India described the Union government’s decision to freeze its bank accounts on 10 September. “All the laws used against dissent today—from the Unlawful Activities Act to the FCRA—are the legacies of the previous government,” says Shailesh Rai, who was policy director at Amnesty International India until 2019. “The CBI raids on Citizens for Justice and Peace, …

NGOs Expected to Adhere to All Our Laws: MEA on Action Against Amnesty International
4 years, 2 months ago

NGOs Expected to Adhere to All Our Laws: MEA on Action Against Amnesty International

News 18  

Faced with criticism over action against human rights organisation Amnesty International, India on Thursday said it expects other governments not to condone contravention of the country's laws by any entity. "NGOs are expected to adhere to all our laws, including in respect of foreign funding just as they presumably would in other countries, including the US and in the European …

U.S., E.U. should not condone Amnesty International’s actions: Government
4 years, 2 months ago

U.S., E.U. should not condone Amnesty International’s actions: Government

The Hindu  

Responding sharply to the U.S. and the European governments for expressing their concerns about the investigations into the Amnesty International, the government said foreign governments must not condone NGOs that break Indian laws. Over the past few days, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the United Kingdom Foreign Office and the European Union have issued …

Amnesty’s closure received attention at “highest levels” in U.S.: Official
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty’s closure received attention at “highest levels” in U.S.: Official

The Hindu  

The U.S. administration and the Congress have been “very, very closely” following the closure of the Amnesty International in India following the freezing of its bank accounts by the government. The issue has received attention at the “highest levels” of the U.S. government, as per a senior State Department official. So we’re following it closely and we look forward to …

Constraining critique: The Hindu Editorial on Amnesty International halting India operations
4 years, 2 months ago

Constraining critique: The Hindu Editorial on Amnesty International halting India operations

The Hindu  

The role played by human rights organisations in documenting and questioning state functioning and excesses is a necessary component of civil society activism, which enhances democracy by securing accountability. Central governments in India have consistently registered discomfort with critical civil society organisations over the years, but the National Democratic Alliance-led government has taken steps to constrain groups even more, especially …

"Amnesty's Allegations Are Serious" NHRC Issues Notice To Govt. On Amnesty's Decision To Close India Operations Because Of "Witch-hunt" By Govt.
4 years, 2 months ago

"Amnesty's Allegations Are Serious" NHRC Issues Notice To Govt. On Amnesty's Decision To Close India Operations Because Of "Witch-hunt" By Govt.

Live Law  

National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the matter and directs issuance of the notice to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. "The Amnesty International is a reputed non-governmental organization raising its voice globally whenever there is an incident of violation of human rights of the people. The Commission finds it necessary to go …

15 International Human Rights Organisations Release Statement Condemning Indian Government's Actions Against Amnesty India
4 years, 2 months ago

15 International Human Rights Organisations Release Statement Condemning Indian Government's Actions Against Amnesty India

Live Law  

A joint statement by 15 International organizations including Human Rights Watch has been released, condemning the Forced closure of Amnesty India. "Amnesty International India announced that it is halting its work in the country after the Indian government froze its bank accounts in an act of reprisal for the organization's human rights work. Fifteen international human rights organizations condemned the …

Amnesty Involved in Multiple Illegalities, Says BJP as NGO Halts India Ops Alleging 'Witch-hunt'
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty Involved in Multiple Illegalities, Says BJP as NGO Halts India Ops Alleging 'Witch-hunt'

News 18  

The BJP Tuesday alleged Amnesty International is involved in “multiple illegalities” and it has no right to lecture on propriety, hours after the human rights watchdog said it was halting India operations over an “incessant witch-hunt”. “Multiple illegalities have been undertaken by Amnesty International, therefore, it has no right to lecture on propriety, especially when it faces action over its …

Amnesty Used Dubious Processes To Secure Funds, Must Not Comment On India’s Democratic Character: MHA
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty Used Dubious Processes To Secure Funds, Must Not Comment On India’s Democratic Character: MHA

ABP News  

Amnesty International had received permission under the Foreign Contribution Act only once and that too twenty years ago. However, in order to circumvent the FCRA regulations, Amnesty UK remitted large amounts of money to four entities registered in India, by classifying it as Foreign Direct Investment. Countering Amnesty's allegations of a government "witch hunt," MHA said that India does not …

Human Rights Can't Be Excuse to Defy Law of Land, Says Govt as Amnesty India Accuses it of 'Witch-Hunt'
4 years, 2 months ago

Human Rights Can't Be Excuse to Defy Law of Land, Says Govt as Amnesty India Accuses it of 'Witch-Hunt'

News 18  

Hours after human rights organisation Amnesty International India announced it will close its operations in the country after being “compelled to let go off staff in India” and halt all its research work since all its bank accounts have been frozen, the central government rebutted its statement. In order to circumvent FCRA regulations, Amnesty UK remitted large amounts of money …

Did Amnesty International India have to shut due to Delhi Riots report?
4 years, 2 months ago

Did Amnesty International India have to shut due to Delhi Riots report?

Op India  

Amnesty International, one of the shadiest non-governmental organisations, was forced to shut down its operations in India on Tuesday after law enforcement authorities froze their bank accounts. Its executive director also insinuated without any evidence that it was ‘state Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of the NGO, said, “The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last two years and …

Russia, China, Israel and Now India: Countries where Amnesty Has Had Rough Time with Govts
4 years, 2 months ago

Russia, China, Israel and Now India: Countries where Amnesty Has Had Rough Time with Govts

News 18  

Human rights organisation Amnesty International India on Tuesday announced that it will be shutting its operations in the country after it was “compelled to let go off staff in India” and halt all its research work as all its bank accounts have been frozen. Avinash Kumar, Executive Director, Amnesty International India said the continuing crackdown on the organisation over the …

ED Probing Private Company to Amnesty International, Not NGO, Say Govt Sources
4 years, 2 months ago

ED Probing Private Company to Amnesty International, Not NGO, Say Govt Sources

News 18  

New Delhi: There is no ED investigation against Amnesty International India Foundation, which on Tuesday declared halting its operations in the country, but against a private company linked to the NGO that allegedly received dubious export proceeds worth over Rs 51 crore, government sources said. They said the Enforcement Directorate, a federal probe agency to check money laundering and forex …

Govt. Freezes All Bank Accounts, Amnesty International Halts India Operations
4 years, 2 months ago

Govt. Freezes All Bank Accounts, Amnesty International Halts India Operations

Live Law  

The Government of India has freezed all the bank accounts of Amnesty International India on the allegations of money laundering and suspected violations of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. "The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last two years and the complete freezing of bank accounts is not accidental. "More than four million Indians have supported Amnesty International India's …

Amnesty Shuts India Operations, Accuses Govt of ‘Witch-Hunt’ and ‘Harassment’
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty Shuts India Operations, Accuses Govt of ‘Witch-Hunt’ and ‘Harassment’

News 18  

Human rights organisation Amnesty International India on Tuesday announced that it will be shutting its operations in the country after it was “compelled to let go off staff in India” and halt all its research work as all its bank accounts have been frozen. “The complete freezing of Amnesty International India’s bank accounts by the government of India, which it …

Amnesty to halt work in India after its bank account ‘frozen’
4 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty to halt work in India after its bank account ‘frozen’

Al Jazeera  

Rights body says it shut its operations due to a continuing gov’t crackdown over the last two years. Amnesty International says it is halting work in India due to a “continuing crackdown” and “harassment” by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last two years and the complete freezing of bank …

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