Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the CAA, he stressed its role in protecting persecuted minorities and contributing to India’s broader goals of social security and stability.
In an important statement at the 57th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Faiza Rifat, a Muslim woman from Jaipur, Rajasthan, expressed her support for India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Rifat stressed the aim of the CAA to provide a path to citizenship for religious minorities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Specifically, the law benefits Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who entered India before December 31, 2014.
According to Rifat, the CAA addresses an urgent need by providing refuge and legal status to those who have historically faced persecution in their home countries.
Highlighting the recent developments in Bangladesh, Rifat argued that the implementation of the CAA is crucial as the Hindu minority in Bangladesh faces constant persecution and targeted violence.
The law, he said, offers these people a vital option to migrate to a safer environment and allows them to live with dignity.
Rifat further explained that the CAA helps differentiate between genuine refugees fleeing persecution and illegal immigrants.
She said, “The CAA helps distinguish between genuine refugees fleeing persecution and illegal immigrants, thereby ensuring that those with legitimate claims to asylum obtain citizenship while curbing illegal migration.”
This distinction, he argued, allows the Indian government to more effectively tackle illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, particularly in sensitive border regions.
Highlighting the humanitarian dimension of the Act, Rifat described the CAA as a protective measure for vulnerable minorities, protecting them from exploitation and ensuring their safety within India’s borders.
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the CAA, he stressed its role in protecting persecuted minorities and contributing to India’s broader goals of social security and stability.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: September 18, 2024 | 11:17 PM IS
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