04/10/2024
| Facebook Suspends Indian Human Rights Activist Suhas Chakma After False Complaints from Bangladesh
Delhi, October 4, 2024
In a controversial move, Facebook has suspended the account of Suhas Chakma, a leading Indian human rights activist and Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG). This suspension reportedly followed a spate of false reports from Bangladesh. Known for his tireless advocacy for the rights of indigenous people, particularly the Chakma community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Chakma has long been a vocal critic of human rights violations in the region.
The suspension comes shortly after Suhas Chakma publicly condemned the recent surge of violence against the Chakma community, which saw over 100 homes and businesses set ablaze, allegedly with the backing of the Bangladesh Army, in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina's government's collapse. Chakma’s unwavering stance on the issue seems to have attracted the ire of certain groups, resulting in a coordinated effort to have his account removed through false reports.
This incident has raised concerns over Facebook’s handling of such complaints and the ease with which human rights defenders can be silenced by malicious actors.
