By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Manipur unit of the Popular Front of India (PFI) held a conference at Imphal to discuss ways and means to check abuses of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 2008, introduced by the Government to fight terrorism.
The conference was held on November 4, 2012 at Nasir Residence Hall at Lilong. The conference was attended by some of the prominent Muslim activists, ulemas, intellectuals and scholars of the State.
Mufti Arshad giving lecture on UAPA
Mufti Arshad Hussain Quasmi, the President of PFI, Manipur unit, said: “In the name of fighting terrorism many of the innocent Muslim youths are put behind bars by the government under draconian laws like the TADA and POTA till recently and now the dreaded UAPA.”
“Like the earlier two, UAPA has also helped the police commit serious human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, torture, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances,” he added.
Arif Khan delivering the introductory speech
Almost all the 18,686 persons arrested since 1983 in Gujarat under TADA were from minority communities. 15,225 Muslims were arrested in J&K during the same period. Today many innocents are languishing in jails under the UAPA,” Mufti Qasmi further said.
Speakers appealed to build public opinion for the repeal or amendment of the UAPA.