Over 60 civil society organizations from 11 countries and nearly a dozen prominent individuals have released a statement in support of the India American Muslim Council (IAMC), terming “the baseless and false allegations” leveled by the Indian Government against the organization as “Islamophobic.”
“[W]e have seen a barrage of attacks on the event and its organizers by Indian political and media figures alike, as well as the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs. These attacks have manifested almost exclusively in the from of a vile, Islamophobic smear campaign directed against the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), which has been baselessly accused of being sponsored by the Pakistani government and having links to terrorist organizations,” read the statement.
“These disgusting accusations, which are primarily being peddled by a Hindutva-affiliated fake news outlet, have already been thoroughly refuted by IAMC, and do not deserve to be dignified by any further response,” the statement said.
A Special Congregational Briefing on “Protecting India’s Pluralist Constitution” was held on 26 January, India’s 73rd Republic day. Organized by an interfaith coalition of 17 organizations, the event featured remarks by the former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari, members of the United States Congress, senior leaders from leading human rights advocacy organizations, among others. Speakers on the event talked about the rising intolerance and attacks against the secular and pluralist fabric of the Indian Constitution.
Days after the Special Congressional Hearing, a barrage of attacks were directed on the event and its organizers by BJP leaders and media figures alike, as well as the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs. These attacks have been directed exclusively against Indian American Muslim Association (IAMC), which has been baselessly accused of having terrorist links and sponsorship of Pakistani government.
Some of the major organizations to sign the statement include- Hindus for Human Rights(USA), People Against Apartheid and Fascism (South Africa), Solidarity Belgium (Belgium), India Solidarity Germany (Germany), The Crescent Hub (Kuwait), Mahatma Gandhi Foundation (India).
Individual signatories include, John Dayal (writer) Arjun Sethi (Civil Rights Lawyer), Martha Nussbaum (Philosopher and Professor), Apoorvanand (Scholar and writer), Audrey Trushchke (Author and Historian) and Safoora Zargar (Student activist, Jamia Millia Islamia).
, terming "the baseless and false allegations" leveled by the Indian Government against the organization as "Islamophobic."){kind=link}