The wave of protest in India in response to The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) passed on 11th December 2019 is being violently suppressed. Protesters claim the Act fundamentally alters the concept of Indian citizenship and is against the secular and inclusive India Constitution as it introduces discrimination against Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Protests are happening across all the states in the Northeast of India and have spread to the university campuses in the rest of the country. There have been deaths and injuries in the Northeast and the government has imposed an internet blackout effectively cutting them off from the rest of the world. Injuries have also been reported from JamiaMillia and AMU. On the 19th December, students, noted academicians, activists and political leaders have been detained by the police, following peaceful protests.

As a University, we have colleagues and friends in these Universities that are under attack. We are appalled by the disturbing images we have seen of Delhi police in riot-gear forcibly entering the JamiaMillia campus and attacking students using tear gas shells and batons, including in their accommodation hostels, the library and the mosque. We condemn what appears to be the specific targeting of Muslim students at this religiously mixed university. We also condemn the ongoing illegal siege, internet blackout and curfew imposed on Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and the violent attacks on universities across the Northeast regions. These universities include Cotton University; Assam University; Tezpur University; Assam Engineering College; TISS; Dibrugarh University; and Guwahati University.

A violent response to political protests by those who are responsible for the protection of citizens has a chilling effect on the democratic rights granted under the Indian Constitution. We believe that the brutalization of students, the attack on universities and violent suppression of citizens’ voices is against the fundamental norms of a democratic society and contrary to the idea of India. We express solidarity with the citizens in the northeast, and students, faculty and staff of Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, and all those campuses that are currently experiencing violence, and support the ongoing protests to uphold the secular principles of the Constitution.

DISCLAIMER: This statement has been issued by the undersigned in their individual capacity and does not in any manner reflect the official position of Dublin City University regarding this matter, whatever that maybe.