The American Bar Association’s (ABA)’s Center for Human Rights has called for the release of all human rights defenders arrested in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case in the interest of flattening the COVID-19 curve, upholding the fundamental rights of detainees and enhancing national security, as their detention was arbitrary. The international list features names of those arrested from Africa, Eurasia, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. A preliminary review by the by the Justice Defenders Program of the Bhima Koregaon judicial records raised serious concern regarding procedural irregularities, abuse of process, and violations of fundamental human rights. Several countries have already taken steps to release non-violent and low-risk detainees. Yet human rights defenders who have been detained arbitrarily in retaliation for exercising their rights remain behind bars.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 18, 2020 19:41 UTC