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In India, the Supreme Court suspended this Wednesday, May 11, all prosecutions for the act known as ” incitement ”, a colonial-era law enacted by article 124 A of the Indian Penal Code, is often used arbitrarily to silence political opponents. Pending re-examination of this law, those charged under this title will be able to obtain parole, according to the country’s highest court.
With our correspondent in New Delhi, Antoine Guinard
It is irrelevant to continue using the law against sedition, until it is reviewed. This was announced on Wednesday, May 11 by the Supreme Court of India, which asked the government not to accept complaints in this regard.
The Supreme Court had advised the Indian government on Tuesday that Section 124A be ” detained ” Across the country. Revision of this law could take several months, according to the country’s highest court.
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The day before, Modi’s government had urged the Supreme Court to postpone a hearing aimed at questioning the constitutional validity of this colonial law, to give it time to reassess and modify it.
Like several other laws inherited from British colonialism that still apply in India, Article 124A is considered harsh and easily manipulated, as it very vaguely criminalizes acts of incitement.
In particular, it makes it possible to arrest and imprison, without concrete evidence, demonstrators, political opponents, journalists and human rights activist… which the Modi government has accused the Modi government of carrying out with gusto since coming to power in 2014.
