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Human rights

India's Unlawful Deportations of Bengali Muslims Exposed by Human Rights Watch

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Human Rights Watch has accused the Indian government of arbitrarily expelling hundreds of ethnic Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh in recent weeks, ignoring due process and international human rights standards. The Indian authorities claim the immigrants are "illegal" but have refused to provide official data on the number of people expelled. Human Rights Watch has interviewed 18 people, including Indian citizens who were deported and later returned to India. The expulsions have continued despite the Indian government receiving a letter from Human Rights Watch on July 8 detailing the findings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Indian authorities have expelled hundreds of ethnic Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh in recent weeks, despite many being Indian citizens from states bordering Bangladesh.
  • The Indian government has refused to provide official data on the number of people expelled, with Border Guard Bangladesh reporting that India expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children between May 7 and June 15.
  • Authorities in BJP-run states have rounded up Muslims, mostly impoverished migrant workers, and turned them over to Indian border guards, who have allegedly threatened and beaten detainees to force them to cross into Bangladesh without adequately verifying their citizenship claims.
  • The Indian government has had to readmit dozens of people who eventually proved their Indian citizenship.
  • The expulsions have been linked to a deadly attack by gunmen against Hindu tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in April, which led to the harassment of Muslims and the seizure of their phones, documents, and personal belongings.
  • Human Rights Watch has criticized the Indian government for violating international human rights standards and the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits returning people to a territory where they face threats to their lives or freedom.

Statistics:

  • More than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children were expelled by India between May 7 and June 15 (Border Guard Bangladesh).
  • 100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were expelled by Indian authorities to Bangladesh across the Assam border in May.
  • 40 Rohingya refugees were forced into the sea near Myanmar by Indian authorities, with the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, calling this "an affront to human decency."
  • The Indian government has refused to provide official data on the number of people expelled.
  • Dozens of people have been readmitted to India after proving their Indian citizenship.

Sources:

  • Human Rights Watch (dated release)
  • Border Guard Bangladesh (online resource)
  • United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (report)
  • Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on Myanmar (statement)
  • India's Ministry of Home Affairs (undated response to HRW)
  • Indian Supreme Court (judgment)

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