July 20, 2022
Staff report
Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), an Indian human rights organization, on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the arrest of Indian activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad by Gujrat Police.
Setalvad is also a Trustee as well as Secretary of CJP, and is being detained in Sabarmati Women’s Prison in Ahmedabad.
The organization registered its strong protest over the June 15 arrest and assault of Setalvad in what the CJP understands as a false case in order to target her for her work in helping the victims of the post-Godhra riots of 2002.
“We have gone through the FIR and also the affidavit filed in reply to the bail application filed by the State of Gujarat. The claims of the State of Gujarat that Ms. Teesta Setalvad has taken money from Mr. Ahmed Patel are preposterous. There was no conspiracy of any sorts that she had entered into as is being claimed,” the statement read.
The CJP asserts that Setalvad’s sole aim was to seek justice for the victims of the post Godhra riots, and that helping victims of riots cannot be termed as an offence or crime as has been made out in the FIR and the reply.
The organization also reiterated its strong belief that the activist did not fabricate evidence or coerced witnesses to give false statements. Rather, the CJP holds, she had merely facilitated the process of justice for the victims.
“We stand by Ms. Teesta Setalvad, have full faith in the independent judiciary of the country and hope that Ms. Setalvad is not only released on bail at the earliest but the case against her is quashed,” the organization stated.