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Father Stan Swamy: The Indian authorities target one of the country’s oldest human rights defenders

Posted on 21/10/202021/10/2020 by cswpress in Asia, India

On 8 October, members of India’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) arrested Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and long-time activist on tribal rights in the country. While the targeting of those who stand up for human rights in India is nothing new, Father Swamy’s case has drawn particular international attention because, at 83-years-old, he is one of the country’s oldest human rights defenders (HRDs).

“The oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India”

Father Swamy has been working with India’s Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) for over three decades. Even in his old age, and despite suffering from numerous health issues, he has continued to advocate for the group right up to the present day. In a video released just days before his arrest, Father Swamy said that he had filed a case in the Jharkhand High Court on behalf of 3,000 young Adivasis who had been imprisoned.

He was arrested at the Jesuit-owned Bagaicha social centre in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, and was subsequently informed that he would be remanded in custody in Taloja Jail near Mumbai until 23 October.

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“I’m not buying it, China”: The cost of fast fashion for religious and ethnic minorities in China’s Uyghur region

Posted on 07/10/202021/10/2020 by cswpress in Asia, Campaigns, China

A new cotton jumper arrived in my post this week, with three words on the label that sent my mind spinning: ‘Made in China.’ Whereabouts in China? Was it made in the Uyghur region? Was this jumper a product of forced labour? A token of a part I had played – albeit unknowingly – in fuelling an industry which I knew to be entrenched in the plight of China’s religious and ethnic minorities?

Where does China’s cotton come from?

China is one of the world’s largest cotton producers and most of its cotton is produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Uyghur Region), referred to by many Uyghurs as ‘East Turkestan.’ Credible reports claim that the Uyghur Region produces 84% of China’s cotton output, and it is the main supplier and exporter of cotton, apparel, and textile products to Chinese factories, within China and internationally.[1] The Coalition to End Uyghur Forced Labour believes that 20% of the world’s cotton comes from the Uyghur Region.

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Waiting for action: An interview with a victim of forced displacement in Mexico

Posted on 14/09/202014/09/2020 by cswpress in Latin America, Mexico

On 28 July 2019 four Protestant Christians were forcibly displaced from the village of Cuamontax Huazalingo in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Community leaders told the victims that the expulsion was the consequence of their failure to sign an agreement that bans Protestants from entering the village.

Over a year after they were forced to leave their homes, CSW spoke with Uriel Badillo, who was among those displaced:

“My name is Uriel Badillo Lara. I am originally from the Cuamontax community, in the Municipality of Huazalingo, Hidalgo State, Mexico, but I am currently living in my sister’s house in Atlaltipa Tecolotitla, in the Municipality of Atlapexco, along with my parents, my wife and our new-born. I make a living doing odd jobs like helping with electrics and maintenance.”

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Esperando acción: Una entrevista con una víctima del desplazamiento forzado en México

Posted on 14/09/2020 by cswpress in español, Latin America, Mexico

En el 28 de julio de 2019 cuatro cristianos protestantes fueron desplazados por la fuerza de la comunidad de Cuamontax Huazalingo en el estado de Hidalgo, México. Los líderes de la comunidad dijeron a las víctimas que la expulsión fue la consecuencia de no querer participar en las fiestas religiosas católicas y su falta de firma de un acuerdo que prohíbe a los protestantes ingresar a la aldea.

Más de un año después de que los cristianos fueron obligados a abandonar sus hogares, CSW habló con Uriel Badillo, uno de los desplazados:

“Mi nombre es Uriel Badillo Lara. Soy originario de la comunidad de Cuamontax, en el Municipio de Huazalingo, Estado de Hidalgo, México, pero actualmente vivo en la casa de mi hermana en Atlaltipa Tecolotitla en el Municipio de Atlapexco. Allí también viven mis padres, mi esposa, y nuestra beba. Me gano la vida haciendo trabajos ocasionales como ayudar con la electricidad y el mantenimiento.”

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Voices from Cuba: Alain Toledano Valiente

Posted on 09/09/202014/09/2020 by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente is a prominent leader in the Apostolic Movement in Cuba. He also leads Emanuel Church in Santiago de Cuba along with his wife, Marilín Alayo Correa. Pastor Toledano and his wife have experienced intense harassment at the hands of the Cuban authorities for over two decades.

In February 2016, over 200 church leaders in Pastor Toledano’s denomination were detained as the authorities demolished the Emanuel Church building. Pastor Toledano was out of the country at the time. Since then he has been prevented from leaving Cuba, subjected to repeated police summons, and threatened with imprisonment on multiple occasions.

In recent months, Pastor Toledano and his family have continued to experience severe harassment, even in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures.

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