Australia must use its considerable influence to pressure the Indian government to stop the daily persecution of Muslims and other minorities

The Australian government likes to promote the close relationship that we have with India. The proverbial red carpet was rolled out for visiting Indian PM Modi in May and he was feted like a rockstar. PM Albanese said that "Prime Minister Modi is the boss" and that Modi had "brought the spirit of the world's biggest democracy to Australia" and had "helped make our democracy stronger and more inclusive."

The Australian government claims that our strong relationship with India is based on shared values. Surely then Australia has the leverage to hold the Indian government to account for the growing violence and persecution against Muslims and other minorities.

Over forty Muslim community organisations and peak bodies including the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), ANIC, and AFIC, have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Albanese calling upon the PM to appeal to Modi to "take immediate, comprehensive measures to put an end to these ongoing human rights violations."

Australia cannot continue to make the mistakes of the past by putting economic and security interests ahead of the human rights of persecuted people around the world.