ISLAMABAD: India’s abuse of Counterterrorism Regulations (CTR) and crackdown on dissent is under scrutiny as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) prepares for its 4th periodic review of the country’s record on tackling illicit funding, scheduled for tomorrow (November 6).
The review comes amidst concerns raised by global human rights organizations regarding the Indian government’s alleged abuse of the Counterterrorism Regulations (CTR) to curtail freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Amnesty International India has called on the Indian government to stop the abuse of Counterterrorism Regulations (CTR). The international human rights organization has formally appealed to the FATF, urging them to pressure the Indian government to stop prosecuting and intimidating human rights organizations and non-profit organizations (NPOs) under the guise of countering terrorist financing.
Since the last review, Indian authorities have canceled the licenses of more than 20,600 non-profit organizations, a move seen by human rights activists as a crackdown on dissent. The FATF, an intergovernmental organization aimed at combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system, is expected to document India’s recent actions in its upcoming review.
International observers argue that the Indian government has exploited FATF’s recommendations, originally designed to prevent terrorist financing, to implement a coordinated campaign restricting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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The Indian government has introduced draconian laws such as the Foreign Contribution Regulation, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, granting authorities extensive powers. However, these actions have been met with strong criticism, with many asserting that these actions disregard FATF’s standards and international human rights laws.
Activists and international observers have accused India of using alleged bogus foreign funding and terrorism charges to target, intimidate, harass, and silence its critics, blatantly violating FATF standards in the process. The government’s actions have been condemned for disregarding fundamental principles of freedom of speech and assembly, and for undermining the very essence of democratic values.
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Meanwhile, political observers have claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has weaponized CTR laws to implement its Hindutva ideology, a right-wing nationalist political ideology associated with Hindu fundamentalism and colonialist policies. These allegations raise concerns about the misuse of counterterrorism regulations to advance political agendas, which runs contrary to the spirit of the FATF’s objectives.
Human rights advocates and observers continue to call for a thorough investigation into these allegations, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring freedom of expression and association for all citizens.
