“We are deeply saddened and saddened by the passing of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy,” Liz ThruselA spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said.
“High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and independent UN experts have repeatedly raised the cases of Father Stan and 15 other human rights defenders linked to similar incidents with the Indian government over the past three years, and urged their release from pre-trial detention. is,” he added.
#India: We are saddened and upset by the death of 84 year old human rights defender father #StanSwamy, after prowl… https://t.co/fpuoAlSpZ8
— United Nations Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) 1625566024000
The Jesuit priest died amidst a long and painful struggle for interim bail on medical grounds.
The 84-year-old was undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of Holy Family Hospital, where he was shifted from Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai on May 28 this year following the Bombay High Court order.
Last month, the NIA had filed an affidavit before the high court opposing Swamy’s bail plea. It had said that “conclusive evidence” of his medical ailments did not exist.
In a statement, the UN body also urged the government to ensure that no one is detained for exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“The High Commissioner has also expressed concern over the use of UAPA Regarding human rights defenders – a law Father Stan was challenging before Indian courts a few days before he died.”
Throsel further said that given the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries should release all those detained without sufficient legal grounds.
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