Highlighting the scourge of terrorism, India on Friday said terrorists are trying to exploit financial and emotional distress caused by the ongoing corona pandemic and Covid-19 lockdowns. Moreover, the terrorists are trying to collect funds under the garb of charitable activities but it is feared this money will be used to finance terror activities, India said.
Making these assertions at the ongoing 45th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, First Secretary Pawan Badhe, Permanent Mission of India to UN in Geneva, said due to widespread COVID-19, terrorists are making malevolent attempts to exploit the financial and emotional distress caused by lockdowns to disturb the cohesiveness of societies.
In his statement, he said “Terror groups have also exhorted supporters to target security forces and health workers. Another disturbing trend has been the collection of funds by proscribed terrorist outfits ostensibly for undertaking charitable activities, but which, in reality, would be used to finance terror.”
Speaking on the topic “Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention,” the Indian envoy said “The increased presence of people online and on social media has been targeted by terrorists to disseminate misinformation through hate speeches, fake news and doctored videos. The intent has been to entice and establish links with vulnerable individuals and recruit them in their cadres.”
He also said “We underscore the need to foster a society in which individuals and communities are able to counter the spread of terrorist ideologies and challenge those who espouse them.” Underlining the challenge posed by terrorism, India also urged the Council to play a major role in preventing radicalization of impressionable minds.
India stressed that the Council cannot remain immune to the devastating human rights impacts caused by terrorism. The Council has to spread awareness about the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable groups, particularly children and young persons, in order to prevent their indoctrination by terrorist ideologies.