UN rights chief calls out hate speech, discrimination against minorities in India
Geneva: UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk has expressed concern about restrictions on civic space and hate speech and discrimination against minorities especially Muslims ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Volker Turk made the comments while speaking at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.
He said, “….. I am concerned by increasing restrictions on the civic space – with human rights defenders, journalists and perceived critics targeted – as well as by hate speech and discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims.”
Commenting on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the high commissioner underlined that “with an electorate of 960 million people” it will be “unique in scale”. However, Turk also emphasised on the need to have “an open space” and “meaningful participation in elections”.
Notably, as per Washington-based India Hate Lab (IHL), anti-Muslim hate speech in India rose by 62% in the second half of 2023 compared to the first six months of the year.
