India Rejects UN Human Rights Office’s Concerns Over Delhi Protest Detentions

In a post on X, India told the United Nations that the comments by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) amount to "unwarranted interference in India's internal affairs."

It said, "We have seen the OHCHR's comments regarding today's events in New Delhi. India is the world's largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by our Constitution and protected by strong institutions, an independent judiciary, and a free media."

UN Human Rights spokesperson Thamin Al-Kheitan said in a statement that his office is concerned by reports of large-scale detentions of protesters, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists across the country before and during the protests.

It further said, "We urge the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is respected. Restraint should be exercised when dealing with peaceful protesters. This should be consistent with the country's democratic traditions and its commitments to human rights."