Geneva: The United Nations said on Tuesday was very disturbed by death in the pre-trial detention of Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old Indian rights activist and Jesuit Imam.
Swamy, who was detained for nine months without trial under Indian anti-terror law, died on Monday before hearing bail.
Priest, who campaigned for a marginalized tribal community, was arrested last year for allegedly inciting violence between various Indian castees in 2018.
“We are very sad and disturbed by the death of the 84-year-old father of Stan Swamy,” Liz throssib, a spokesman for the commissioner’s office The UN height for human rights, told reporters in Geneva.
Swamy was denied guarantees despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other diseases.
He was hospitalized in May with Coronavirus and suffered a heart stop over the weekend.
The priest has been detained under the prevention law of activities that violate the law (UPA), which effectively allows people to be held without limit trials.
“High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and UN independent experts have repeatedly raised pastor stan cases and 15 other human rights defenders related to the same event as the Indian government for the past three years, and urged their release from pre-trial detention, “Throssell said.
“The High Commissioner has also raised concerns over the use of the UPA in connection with the defense of human rights – Batah Legal Stan challenged before the Indian court before he died.” Throssell said that remembering the severe impact of Covid-19 pandemic, countries – India included – had to free all people who were detained without sufficient legal basis, including those held only to express different views.
“We emphasize, once again, calls high Commissioner in the Indian government to ensure that no one is detained for training their fundamental rights for freedom of expression, assembly of peace and associations,” said their spokesman.