Hyderabad, India - On October 13th, 2023, a peaceful demonstration organized by student activists from Naujawan Bharat Sabha and Disha Student Forum turned tumultuous as police intervened, leading to police brutality and the forceful detention of protesters.

The gathering convened at the Liberty Circle, Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad, aimed to express solidarity with Palestinians. However, tensions escalated swiftly after police, present at the site prior to the protesters' arrival, seized placards and instructed the demonstrators to disband.

In a concerning turn of events, the Police targeted Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) among the activists, resulting in the detention of ten individuals, including women activists, at the Saifabad Police Station.  Their personal information was collected before their eventual release at 5 PM that day.

HRDA–India advocating for the fundamental right to protest within democratic structures, emphasized the necessity to critically examine limitations imposed on this right. Quoting international agreements such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders 1998, they reiterated the recognition of the right to peaceful assembly.

Highlighting the vulnerable position of women defenders in public actions, HRDA–India stressed the significance of investigating and prosecuting instances of gender-based violence against them during protests, urging a zero-tolerance approach. They emphasized that rectifying these violations is crucial not only to address immediate harm but also to underscore the importance of protecting fundamental rights and those advocating for them.

In response to the incident, HRDA–India urged immediate action from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to:

1. Conduct a transparent, independent inquiry into the alleged illegal detention of HRDs. Ensure the safety of HRDs and their families, shielding them from potential further harassment by law enforcement.
2. The plea to the NHRC aims to address perceived violations of the right to protest and seeks assurances for the safety of individuals engaged in advocating for human rights.