Written answers

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the growing international calls for the release of a person (details supplied) from prison in India on bail on humanitarian grounds. [6043/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have expressed my concern on a number of occasions about the arrest of this person who is one of a number of human rights defenders in India currently being detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi has monitored this case since the detention of the human rights defender last October. The Ambassador of Ireland to India has raised this case at senior levels within India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy receives regular updates on the conditions of detention of the human rights defender who is elderly and has a health condition. I was disappointed to learn that the courts have refused bail in this case, but understand that certain essential items of personal care have been provided after judicial intervention.

The Embassy joined other EU Member States in raising the case with the National Human Rights Commission of India, expressing concern about the conditions of his detention, given the age and health profile of the human rights defender, and raising the possibility of his release on humanitarian grounds. However, the National Human Rights Commission having reviewed the circumstances of the arrest and detention, found that no protection applies on the grounds of infringement of human rights. In light of this outcome, I have asked that this case be raised at the forthcoming meeting of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue.

The promotion of human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, is a priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland expects the Indian authorities to have due regard for the wellbeing of the human rights defender in this case during his detention and to have full respect for the rule of law including presumption of innocence.

Our Embassy in New Delhi will continue to monitor developments in this case.

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