UN human rights body expresses concern over Delhi detentions, urges immediate release
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a statement expressing concern over the detention of individuals during recent protests in Delhi. The body flagged the police's handling of demonstrations, stating that restrictions on assembly must meet international standards of necessity and proportionality.
OHCHR urged the Indian government to respect citizens' fundamental right to peaceful protest and called for the immediate release of detainees. The statement emphasised that security measures during protests should be proportionate to actual threats and not used to suppress legitimate dissent.
The intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny of protest policing in the national capital. OHCHR's position aligns with international human rights norms requiring governments to balance public order with protection of democratic freedoms.
