[IMC-Editorial] [India Thinkers Net]Continuing harassment of women artists and activists

[India Thinkers Net at Zinester.com]

Letter to the Editor: 29th October, 2003

We are shocked by the continuing harassment of activists and artists,
especially women, by the state machinary - the government and the police - in Gujarat. A few months back, it was Nafisa Ali who had to face an FIR on a 'defamation' case, for advocacy on behalf of the Muslim riot victims. Barely a week back it was Shubhradeep Chakraborty, who made a documentary called Godhra Tak, following the trail of the karsevaks from Ayodhya to Godhra. Now it is Mallika Sarabhai, against whom an FIR has been lodged, allegedly for cheating and conspiracy.

In Mallika's case, a well planned conspiracy seems to be behind the
timing of the FIR. After four months of enquiries, the police chose to
act at a time when the courts are on vacation, with the intention of
arrest, or forcing the victim to plead for anticipatory bail, allowing
for continuing interrogation.

After hearing about the facts behind the absurd charges, it does not
take much credulity to feel that Ms.Sarabhai is being intimidated. She
was the principal petitioner in a Supreme Court case demanding a CBI
enquiry into the Gujarat pogroms. She has continued to speak out on the
issue.

State intimidation to violate the freedom of speech and movement of
innocent citizens is a gross blow against democracy. We condemn such
tactics against people who have the courage to speak up about human
rights violations. By all reports, thousands of people from the minority community are still being persecuted, harassed and subjected to socio-economic boycott in Gujarat. India needs more Mallikas to speak out on this.

Ammu Abraham, Aruna Burte, Women's Centre, Bombay

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Courtesy:Harsh Kapoor/SACW


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