A Call for Justice, Accountability, and the Protection of Stateless Persons
Date: May 2025
Issued by: Over 70 individuals and organisations across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America
Endorsed by: Nationality for All (NFA)
Nationality for All (NFA) proudly endorses the Joint Statement on the Illegal Deportation, Detention, and Torture of Rohingya Refugees by India, issued collectively by over 70 individuals and organisations worldwide.
The statement strongly condemns India’s recent forced deportations and arbitrary detentions of Rohingya refugees, many of whom are registered with UNHCR and legally residing in India. These expulsions — conducted via land and maritime routes in early May 2025 — occurred without due process and were accompanied by credible reports of torture, inhumane treatment, and violations of fundamental rights.
🚨 Violations of Law and Humanity
India currently hosts an estimated 22,500 Rohingya refugees, most rendered stateless by Myanmar’s military regime. Yet, recent state actions have flagrantly violated both international and domestic law, including:
- The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they face persecution or serious harm.
- Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing equality before the law and protection of life and liberty.
- India’s treaty obligations under:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- The Genocide Convention
These actions represent a grave breach of humanitarian principles, international obligations, and the rule of law, further entrenching the precarity faced by stateless and refugee populations in India.
✊ A Collective Call to Action
Together with civil society organisations, advocates, and human rights defenders around the world, we urge:
- An immediate end to unlawful deportations, arbitrary detentions, and forced returns.
- An independent investigation into the reported acts of torture and refoulement.
- Legal recognition and protection for stateless persons and refugees in India.
- Strong international condemnation and diplomatic action to hold India accountable for these violations.
- The development of a legal framework for the protection of refugees and stateless persons, grounded in human rights and due process.
🕊️ Standing in Solidarity
This joint statement stands as a collective voice for justice and human dignity — affirming that no one should be detained, deported, or tortured for seeking safety.
NFA joins our partners across continents in calling on India to uphold its international commitments, respect the rights of refugees, and protect all individuals from statelessness and persecution.
📄 Read the full Joint Statement
