Amnesty International criticizes India's new anti-terrorism laws

Dec 19, 2008, 10:26 GMT

   New Delhi - Human rights group Amnesty International Friday criticized India's proposed anti-terror laws saying they violate international human rights treaties.

   The new legislation has been approved by the Indian Parliament and now requires President Pratibha Patil's approval before becoming law.

   The Indian government had rushed the proposed National Investigating Agency Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill through parliament after the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November left more than 170 dead.

   The new laws allow suspects to be detained without bail for up to six months on the orders of a judge and tighten other procedures.

   The rights group called on the president, Indian authorities and lawmakers to urgently review the amendments and provisions of the new legislation aiming to set up a National Investigating Agency.

   'The president should reject the new amendments to anti-terror laws which would violate international human rights treaties,' Amnesty said in a statement.

   'While we utterly condemn the attacks and recognize that the Indian authorities have a right and duty to take effective measures to ensure the security of the population, security concerns should never be used to jeopardize people's human rights,' said Madhu Malhotra, of Amnesty's Asia Pacific arm.

   Amnesty criticized the new amendments, which included 'sweeping' definitions of acts of terrorism, no clear or strict definition of what constitutes 'membership' of terrorist groups, closing courts to public proceedings and denial of bail to foreign nationals who may have entered the country in an unauthorized manner.

   'India's experience with previous anti-terrorism laws has shown that they can lead to abusive practices,' the statement said.

   Muslim organizations in India as well as the communist parties have raised questions and expressed concerns over the new laws.

   The ruling United Progressive Alliance had earlier scrapped an anti-terror law after criticism that it was misused and targeted the Muslim community.

   India's Home Minister P Chidambaram said the government sought a fair balance between fundamental rights and the authority of investigative agencies while framing the bills.