India says new law saves persecuted refugees. Rohingya ask ‘Why not us?’

Exclusion and Intentions: India's Controversial Citizenship Law

India's new citizenship law, which aims to aid persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, has excluded Muslim communities and the Rohingya people, leading to questions about the government's intentions. Despite facing religious persecution, the Rohingya remain excluded from the legislation, and some have been deported from India due to their "illegal" entry. Critics argue that the law is anti-Muslim and politically driven.

"Human Rights Crisis: The Rohingya Refugee Situation in Myanmar"

The United Nations has denounced the military campaign in Myanmar as having "genocidal intent", resulting in thousands of people fleeing to refugee camps in Bangladesh and India. The Indian government has taken a stance that the Rohingya do not have the fundamental right to live in India, despite being granted UNHCR cards. This position has been criticized as a double standard, particularly given India's exclusion of persecuted minorities from citizenship laws. The deportation of Rohingya could potentially endanger their lives as Myanmar faces a civil war following a military coup.

The Exclusion of Rohingya: CAA Controversy

(Amendment) Act (CAA), which was passed in December 2019, has faced widespread protests in India due to concerns that it will marginalize the country’s 2 million-strong Muslim minority. Despite this, the CAA does not include the Rohingya, who are predominantly Muslim, and many fear that they will be targeted in deportation efforts by the Indian government.

The Controversy of India's Citizenship Amendment Act

The Amendment Act (CAA) grants nationality to religious minorities fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, but excludes Muslim groups like the Rohingya and Ahmadiyya. India, which isn't a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, doesn't have a law protecting refugees. Critics argue that the CAA promotes anti-Muslim sentiment and leaves out other persecuted groups.

Challenges to Rohingya Rights and Safety in India

The Indian government's stand on the rights of the Rohingya community has been critiqued, with concerns over their safety and protection. Senior officers' reckless statements have been highlighted, and the non-refoulement policy has been cited as a constitutional right. Rohingya activists have expressed concerns over social media hate campaigns and the portrayal of the Rohingya as a potential national security threat by the Indian media.

PIL DOCTRINE: REFUGEE The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as a person who "owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of [their] nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail [themself] of the protection of that country."

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

Link:https://aje.io/lmkhx2

Reported By: DAKILA MILLAMENA