Writers and human rights experts call on India to repeal laws that threaten free expression in world's largest democracy

TORONTO, May 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Earlier this year, India's Ministry of Home Affairs used an extensive arsenal of vague and overbroad laws to muzzle the world's largest environmental watchdog, Greenpeace International. Using seemingly innocuous provisions in the Indian Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, the government effectively silenced criticism of a controversial nuclear power plant by freezing the bank account of Greenpeace India. Officials justified their actions on the basis that Greenpeace was a "threat to national economic security."

In a ground-breaking new report, PEN International in partnership with PEN Canada and the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, call on India to repeal overbroad and vaguely worded laws that enable censorship in the world's largest democracy.

Imposing Silence: The Use of India's Laws to Suppress Free Speech finds that overreaching legislation and longstanding problems with the administration of justice have produced cumbersome legal processes that deter citizens from exercising their right to free expression. The resulting chill silences political criticism and often discourages marginal voices from speaking out on sensitive social, cultural, and religious matters.

The report features original contributions from prominent Indian writers tackling issues from free speech online and in film; to censorship by mobs that threaten violence, file lawsuits in distant local courts, and demand that the state prosecute writers and journalists. Arundhati Roy, who was charged with sedition over comments on Kashmir, and who was interviewed for the report, laments the chilling effect that censorship laws have on free expression: "The most frightening thing is that any mad coot can go and lodge a complaint against you. It's a serious amount of harassment."

The report documents many violations of the right to free expression since Prime Minister Modi's inauguration one year ago this month. During his first year in office, PM Modi has visited 14 countries, most recently Canada, to promote increased trade and investment, but has consistently failed to address human rights concerns. Indeed, when held to account at the United Nations, India has consistently downplayed the seriousness of freedom of expression issues and avoided reforms that would bring its Constitution and censorship laws in line with its international obligations.

Imposing Silence focuses on the legal and regulatory environment that facilitates censorship precisely because this is an area where the federal government is poised to show leadership, and includes a number of targeted recommendations that chart a path forward towards freer expression in India. "India's Supreme Court has just struck down a vague law that criminalized offensive online content," said Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee. "We hope this report will help the government and courts further review laws that silence dissent, and move forward with the necessary repeals and reforms."

"Vague and overbroad laws that are easily abused run contrary to India's international human rights obligations," said Renu Mandhane, Executive Director of the IHRP. "Fortunately, many of the legal issues that restrict free speech in India could be resolved quickly, and relatively inexpensively, if there is sufficient political will to do so."

"Urgent reforms are needed to prevent further abuses," said Tasleem Thawar, Executive Director of PEN Canada, "for although vexatious lawsuits often fail, or are withdrawn, the current system allows legal proceedings to linger for so long that they nearly always succeed in silencing critical speech and dissuading others from speaking out."

The President of PEN International, John Ralston Saul, notes "India's failure to protect speech is especially significant, as the nation represents one sixth of humanity, and is an emerging power in the region." PEN International and its partners expect to travel to India to meet with lawmakers prior to India's Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council in 2017.

The report is available online at: www.pen-international.org

Social Media: #PENReportIndia
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PEN International celebrates literature and promotes freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global community of writers now comprises 144 Centres spanning more than 100 countries. Our programmes, campaigns, events and publications connect writers and readers for global solidarity and cooperation. PEN International is a non-political organization and holds consultative status at the United Nations and UNESCO. www.pen-international.org 

PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of expression as a basic human right at home and abroad. PEN Canada promotes literature, fights censorship, helps free persecuted writers from prison, and assists writers living in exile in Canada. www.pencanada.ca

The International Human Rights Program (IHRP) at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law enhances the legal protection of existing and emerging international human rights obligations through advocacy, knowledge-exchange, and capacity-building initiatives that provide experiential learning opportunities for students and legal expertise to civil society. www.ihrp.law.utoronto.ca

SOURCE PEN Canada

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