2020-01-07 11:06:44 -0500
To: Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Release Chandrashekhar Azad
Ask Indian Minister for Home Affairs Mr. Amit Shah to release Chandrashekhar Azad on medical grounds.
Azad’s personal doctor says he could suffer fatal cardiac arrest without immediate medical attention.
Azad’s personal doctor says he could suffer fatal cardiac arrest without immediate medical attention.
Why is this important?
UPDATE 08 January 2020
A Delhi High Court has directed authorities at Delhi’s Tihar prison to provide urgent medical attention to Chandrashekhar Azad.
Azad suffers from a blood thickening disease called polucythemia for which he has been receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) since last year.
The Delhi High Court’s directive is an important milestone -- the prison officials know very well that continuing to keep Azad in the prison can be life-threatening. Now, even the court has spoken. They must obey the court’s directive.
This makes it even more crucial to up the ante on Tihar jail authorities to send Azad to the AIIMS. We mustn’t slack in our efforts to shine a spotlight on this willful denial of medical care to Azad.
Source:
'Give Urgent Medical Treatment To Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad If Required' : Delhi Court Directs Tihar Jail Authorities
https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/allahabad-hc-passes-slew-of-directions-for-increasing-security-in-courts-read-order-151404?infinitescroll=1
Indian grassroots activist, and leader of the Dalit independent organisation Bhim Army, Chandrashekha Azad was arrested by the Delhi Police on 21st December, 2019. This was a day after he participated in a peaceful protest against the unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi.
Azad’s personal doctor Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti visited him in prison on 2nd January, and shared his concerns about Azad’s deteriorating medical condition in a tweet on 3rd January. He said, “He (Azad) is suffering from a disease which requires biweekly phlebotomy from AIIMS (All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi under Haematology Department from where he is under treatment from last 1 years. If not done then his blood might get thicker which may results into sudden cardiac arrest or stroke”.
Despite Dr. Bhatti’s warning, the Delhi Police, and Home Minister Amit Shah refuse to move Chandrashekhar Azad to AIIMS. The authorities in the jail where he is now lodged refuse to acknowledge his medical condition and insist that he is “absolutely fine.”
This is an outright violation of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convention for Civil and Political Rights (which India has signed and ratified).
Chandrashekhar Azad’s medical condition is rapidly deteriorating, and we fear that without immediate medical attention, as stated by his personal physician, he will die in jail for lack of care.
We know that the High Commissioner has been following the civil unrest unfolding in India with respect to the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act. We appreciate her speaking out about it in the recent past. Now, we need her to intervene immediately to remind the Indian Government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights law.
Sources:
Chandrashekhar Azad Being Denied Medical Care in Prison, Says His Doctor - The Wire (https://thewire.in/rights/chandrashekhar-aazad-bhim-army-medical-care)
Jailed "Raavan" Needs Urgent Medical Care, Says Bhim Army, Officials Deny - NDTV (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-needs-urgent-medical-care-says-bhim-army-officials-deny-2158971)
'Chandrashekhar Azad May Suffer Cardiac Arrest': Doc's SOS as He Alleges Cops Denying Medical Care to Bhim Army Chief - News18 (https://www.news18.com/news/politics/chandrashekhar-azad-may-suffer-cardiac-arrest-docs-sos-as-he-alleges-cop-denying-medical-care-to-bhim-army-chief-2445199.html)
Chandrashekhar Azad may suffer cardiac arrest in Tihar jail, police denying medical care, alleges physician - FreePressJournal (https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chandrashekhar-azad-may-suffer-cardiac-arrest-in-tihar-jail-police-denying-medical-care-alleges-physician)
A Delhi High Court has directed authorities at Delhi’s Tihar prison to provide urgent medical attention to Chandrashekhar Azad.
Azad suffers from a blood thickening disease called polucythemia for which he has been receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) since last year.
The Delhi High Court’s directive is an important milestone -- the prison officials know very well that continuing to keep Azad in the prison can be life-threatening. Now, even the court has spoken. They must obey the court’s directive.
This makes it even more crucial to up the ante on Tihar jail authorities to send Azad to the AIIMS. We mustn’t slack in our efforts to shine a spotlight on this willful denial of medical care to Azad.
Source:
'Give Urgent Medical Treatment To Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad If Required' : Delhi Court Directs Tihar Jail Authorities
https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/allahabad-hc-passes-slew-of-directions-for-increasing-security-in-courts-read-order-151404?infinitescroll=1
Indian grassroots activist, and leader of the Dalit independent organisation Bhim Army, Chandrashekha Azad was arrested by the Delhi Police on 21st December, 2019. This was a day after he participated in a peaceful protest against the unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi.
Azad’s personal doctor Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti visited him in prison on 2nd January, and shared his concerns about Azad’s deteriorating medical condition in a tweet on 3rd January. He said, “He (Azad) is suffering from a disease which requires biweekly phlebotomy from AIIMS (All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi under Haematology Department from where he is under treatment from last 1 years. If not done then his blood might get thicker which may results into sudden cardiac arrest or stroke”.
Despite Dr. Bhatti’s warning, the Delhi Police, and Home Minister Amit Shah refuse to move Chandrashekhar Azad to AIIMS. The authorities in the jail where he is now lodged refuse to acknowledge his medical condition and insist that he is “absolutely fine.”
This is an outright violation of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convention for Civil and Political Rights (which India has signed and ratified).
Chandrashekhar Azad’s medical condition is rapidly deteriorating, and we fear that without immediate medical attention, as stated by his personal physician, he will die in jail for lack of care.
We know that the High Commissioner has been following the civil unrest unfolding in India with respect to the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act. We appreciate her speaking out about it in the recent past. Now, we need her to intervene immediately to remind the Indian Government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights law.
Sources:
Chandrashekhar Azad Being Denied Medical Care in Prison, Says His Doctor - The Wire (https://thewire.in/rights/chandrashekhar-aazad-bhim-army-medical-care)
Jailed "Raavan" Needs Urgent Medical Care, Says Bhim Army, Officials Deny - NDTV (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-needs-urgent-medical-care-says-bhim-army-officials-deny-2158971)
'Chandrashekhar Azad May Suffer Cardiac Arrest': Doc's SOS as He Alleges Cops Denying Medical Care to Bhim Army Chief - News18 (https://www.news18.com/news/politics/chandrashekhar-azad-may-suffer-cardiac-arrest-docs-sos-as-he-alleges-cop-denying-medical-care-to-bhim-army-chief-2445199.html)
Chandrashekhar Azad may suffer cardiac arrest in Tihar jail, police denying medical care, alleges physician - FreePressJournal (https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chandrashekhar-azad-may-suffer-cardiac-arrest-in-tihar-jail-police-denying-medical-care-alleges-physician)