A/HRC/48/28 restrict foreign funding, including the FCRA. 31 She stated that the FCRA “has been invoked over the years to justify an array of highly intrusive measures, ranging from official raids on NGO offices and freezing of bank accounts, to suspension or cancellation of registration, including of civil society organizations that have engaged with UN human rights bodies.”32 As regards 2020 amendments to the FCRA, the High Commissioner further expressed concern that “actions based on the grounds of vaguely defined ‘public interest’ leave this law open to abuse, and that it is being used to deter or punish NGOs for human rights reporting and advocacy that the authorities perceive as critical in nature.”33 She urged the authorities to carefully review the FCRA for its compliance with international human rights standards. 40. On 16 March 2021, special procedures mandate holders raised concern about allegations of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment of Mr. Waheed Ur Rehman Para and other civil society actors, and reprisals against Mr. Para by Indian intelligence following his engagement with members of the UN Security Council (IND 4/2021). On 30 July 2020, Mr. Para had engaged with UN Security Council members in a closed virtual meeting where he raised issues related to the Government of India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir, its treatment of Muslim minorities, and the recent border tensions with China. Following this engagement, Mr. Para reportedly received threats from National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials indicating that he was inviting trouble by engaging in such events. 41. According to information received, on 25 November 2020, Mr. Para was arrested by the NIA on alleged terrorism charges and held in their custody for one month at its headquarters in New Delhi. While in NIA custody, Mr. Para was reportedly interrogated about the meeting with Security Council members and threatened to cease speaking against the Government. He was held in a dark underground cell at sub-zero temperature, where he was allegedly deprived of sleep, seriously physically assaulted, including beaten with rods, stripped naked and hung upside down. On 11 January 2021, Mr. Para was charged in relation to financial support to terrorist groups and transferred to Srinagar under the custody of Counter-Intelligence in Kashmir. He reportedly appeared before court with a lawyer for a bail hearing, which was denied. As of May 2021, he remains in remand. 42. On 20 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report, vehemently denying the alleged arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture and ill-treatment against Mr. Para by the NIA. It stated that the Agency’s actions should be seen as part of the Government’s efforts to combat terrorism financing. The matter is currently sub judice before the competent court and, in the meantime, Mr. Para has been provided medical assistance and was allowed to meet his counsel while in police custody. 11. Indonesia 43. OHCHR has received reports of individuals and communities targeted for cooperation and sharing information with the UN. Previous incidents have not been included in the annual report of the Secretary-General due to concerns that once an individual or organization is seen or perceived as cooperating with OHCHR or UN human rights mechanisms, this exposure can lead to further harm. Individuals cooperating with the UN have reportedly been subject to threats, harassment and surveillance by government, non-State and private actors, including business enterprises, and local political actors, especially those individuals reporting on indigenous communities and land-related rights such as extractive, infrastructure, and agribusiness projects. 44. On 26 June 2020, special procedures mandate holders addressed concerns about the criminalization and intimidation of human rights defenders in the Papua and West Papua provinces (IDN 2/2020). 34 In particular, they drew attention to the alleged intimidation 31 32 33 34 https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=26398&LangID=E. Ibid. Ibid. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35417. 29