Two U.S.-based not-for-profits, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), known for their vocal criticism of Indian political leaders on minority and caste rights issues, faced account suspensions on the popular social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in India. This action took place on Sunday following a “legal demand,” as indicated by a message on the platform.
While their presence on Facebook remains unaffected in India, the advocacy organisations are navigating the situation amidst X’s ongoing legal battle with the Indian government over Internet blocking orders. Despite this, X has largely complied with most of the IT Ministry’s blocking orders.
HfHR said they learned about the block from a screenshot posted on Twitter in the early hours of October 14th.
“Although this is by far the Indian state’s most blatant effort yet to silence HfHR, it is not the first time that we have been targeted by India’s BJP government. Earlier this year, BJP leaders, including BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya and Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani, and right-wing media outlets in India launched a coordinated online campaign to smear our Executive Director Sunita Viswanath as an agent of George Soros—invoking well-known antisemitic tropes about Soros and attacking Sunita’s marriage to her husband, who is Jewish.”
Hindus for Human Rights
“We received no official communication from X (formerly Twitter) until the morning of October 16th. X has offered no explanation for why this demand was made, nor has it offered any opportunities for an inquiry or an appeal of this suspension.”, HfHR said in a statement, adding, “It is clear that this demand is part of a larger and ongoing crackdown by the Modi regime against dissenting voices both in and out of India. Earlier this month, Delhi police raided the offices of Newsclick, one of India’s few remaining independent and critical media outlets, confiscating journalists’ electronic devices and arresting Editor in Chief Prabir Purkayastha. And just last week, criminal charges were filed against noted Indian writer and activist Arundhati Roy for a speech she delivered more than twelve years ago.”
“Although this is by far the Indian state’s most blatant effort yet to silence HfHR, it is not the first time that we have been targeted by India’s BJP government. Earlier this year, BJP leaders, including BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya and Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani, and right-wing media outlets in India launched a coordinated online campaign to smear our Executive Director Sunita Viswanath as an agent of George Soros—invoking well-known antisemitic tropes about Soros and attacking Sunita’s marriage to her husband, who is Jewish.”, HfHR statement said.
IAMC has been actively highlighting reported violations of Indian Muslims’ rights, including inflammatory speeches by politicians, desecration of places of worship, and instances of police brutality. HfHR has been advocating for the explicit prohibition of caste-based discrimination, which led to the vetoing of a related Bill by the State Governor, Gavin C. Newsom, in California.
In response to IAMC and HfHR’s advocacy, BJP leaders have alleged foreign interference. Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, pointed out former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s alleged association with HfHR during his U.S. visit. She suggested that the organizations receive funding from George Soros, the progressive billionaire whose Open Societies Foundations have frequently been criticised by the Indian right.
