'Deeply saddened and disturbed': UN body expresses shock over death of Father Stan Swamy

NEW DELHI: The United Nations body on human rights has expressed anguish over death of Jesuit priest Stan Swamy, who was jailed under the anti-terror law in the Elgar Parishad case.
"We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the death of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy," Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

"High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and the UN's independent experts have repeatedly raised the cases of Father Stan and 15 other human rights defenders associated with the same events with the government of India over the past three years, and urged their release from pre-trial detention," she added.

The 84-year-old was undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of the Holy Family Hospital, where he was shifted from the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai following the Bombay high court's order. He was waiting for interim bail on medical grounds in the case.

Last month, the NIA had filed an affidavit before the HC opposing Swamy's bail plea. It had said that there did not exist "conclusive proof" of his medical ailments.

In a statement, the UN body also urged government to ensure that no one is detained for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association.

"The high commissioner has also raised concerns over the use of the UAPA in relation to human rights defenders - a law Father Stan was challenging before Indian courts days before he died."
Throssell further said that considering the severe impact of the Covid-19, countries must release everyone detained without a sufficient legal basis, including those detained simply for expressing critical or dissenting views.
Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs on Stan Swamy's death
UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor termed Stan Swamy's demise as "devastating" and said he was imprisoned on "false charges of terrorism".
"The news from India today is devastating. Human Rights Defender & Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy has died in custody, nine months after his arrest on false charges of terrorism," Mary Lawlor, said on Twitter.
"Jailing HRDs is inexcusable," she added, referring to human rights defenders.