Lucknow citizens come out in support of Dr Binayak Sen

A public demonstration was staged in Lucknow by various citizens and people's organizations and citizens in support of Dr Binayak Sen and to condemn the fraudulent punishment by the Court against Dr Binayak Sen. Across the country, citizens have taken to the streets protesting against the charges levelled against the prestigious 'Jonathan Mann Awardee for Global Health and Human Rights' (2008) Dr Binayak Sen, who is a well-known paediatrician and human rights defender in Chhattisgarh.

"We are shocked to hear that the District and Sessions Court in Raipur has charged Dr Binayak Sen of sedition, treason and conspiracy against the State leading to life imprisonment. His conviction is one more example of the state succeeding in securing the conviction of an innocent person on the basis of false evidence" said the media release.

This committed advocate of civil liberties, Dr Binayak Sen, has spent over three decades in the service of some of the poorest and most underserved communities and raised his voice relentlessly against atrocities in the State of Chhattisgarh. The imprisonment of Dr Binayak Sen is symbolic of gross injustice and violation of democratic values by the State and the suppression of the voices of human rights defenders.

"We, as individuals and as members of various civil society organizations completely disagree with the verdict.

We condemn the charges, the prosecution and the conviction as a blow to democracy.

We hope that the higher judiciary will grant him immediate release and ensure that no further harm is done to him and the human rights movement.

We will support all efforts to obtain justice for Dr Binayak Sen.

We demand:
- Immediate release of Dr Binayak Sen because there is no concrete evidence
- Repeal the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, in the undercover of which grotesque human rights violations take place in the state.
- Wind up Salwa Judum" said the media release.