INVITATION TO A PUBLIC DISCUSSION NEEDLE OF SUSPICION: TARGETING MUSLIMS IN TERROR CASES

When: Saturday, 6th April 2013 Timing: 3pm to 7pm Where: Institute of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Queens Road, near Congress party office About the Programme: The arrest of 11 Muslim youth in Karnataka on 29th August 2012 for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate prominent politicians and two journalists from Bangalore created a big stir in Karnataka. Three of the Bangalore accused, journalist Muthi-ur-RahmanSiddiqui, Mohammed Yusuf Nalbandh and junior scientist Aejaz Ahmed Mirza, were released six months after their arrest. While the charge sheets of the first two could not be filed for lack of evidence, the latter was released on bail as per the orders of the special NIA court. In Karnataka, around 43 Muslims have been accused and detained in various jails across the country under charges of being part of a terrorist group; many of them have been acquitted for want of evidence. What happens to these ‘terror accused’ after their release? How does society, particularly members of their own community, view them? What about the loss – financial and otherwise – they would have undergone during their long period of incarceration in jails? What about their right to live with dignity? Why has the media coverage of this issue been inadequate? These are some of the questions this discussion will address. Schedule of Programme: Release of Report:“Burden of Proof: Targeting Muslim Youth in Terror Cases in Karnataka”by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL),Karnataka, People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). The report is based on testimonies of Muslim youth in Hubli and Belgaum. Speakers: Manisha Sethi Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association (JTSA) Muthi-ur-RahmanSiddique, journalist, Aejaz Ahmed Mirza, junior scientist and Yusuf Nalbandh S.A.H. Razvi, advocate, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)

ORGANISERS:PEOPLE’S UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES(PUCL),KARNATAKA, PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC FORUM(PDF), ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS(APCR), NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS(NCHRO), KARNATAKA KOMUSOUHARDAVEDIKE(KKSV), ALTERNATIVE LAW FORUM(ALF), SOUTH INDIA CELL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND MONITORING(SICHREM), PRAJARAJAKIYAVEDIKE(PRV), NETWORK OF WOMEN IN MEDIA, INDIA(NWMI), MARAA, PEDESTRIAN PICTURES, ANEKA, SANGAMA, VIMOCHANA, CONCERN (IISC), INDIAN SOCIAL INSTITUTE AND LESBIT