Tue, 16/02/2021 - 10:40

FSMI Statement on the arrest of 22-year-old climate activist, Disha Ravi

Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old climate activist, has been arrested and sent to remand for 5 days on charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy. All this has happened without any evidence and also without the presence of her legal counsel. This makes this arrest illegal and a gross misuse of power. She has been supporting the ongoing farmers' protest and wants their issue to be resolved. Standing by our own farmers is not sedition. Invoking those charges is just to silence their voice. In the recent times, we have been seeing many such instances where supporters of farmers are being silenced.

Twitter accounts of journalists and Independent news sources have been blocked. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate raided the offices of Newsclick. The ED has taken over all private correspondence of the individuals along with the documents they have the power to collect.

Whether it is shutting down the Internet, crushing independent journalism or arresting activists under charges without evidence, these moves are aimed at thwarting truth and justice. FSMI stands in solidarity with Disha Ravi, demands that she be released immediately and the non bailable warrants be withdrawn. FSMI also demands that the private correspondence of individuals be returned back to the individuals, private data in their devices be scrubbed. The judgement of Puttuswamy vs Union of India has termed privacy to be a fundamental right and hence follows the privacy to correspondence between individuals.