Kozhikode: A documentary film ‘Then They Came for Me’ directed by rights activist and documentary film-maker Gopal Menon and produced by the Solidarity Youth Movement, the youth wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala was premiered in the city recently.

The film based on the cases and lives of people who had been arrested from Kerala under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) was formally released by noted civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad at a formal function organized by the producers.

Prominent Malayalam critic, KEN Kunjahammed received the copy of the film. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Setalvad said she was targeted and harassed for talking for the unprivileged and voiceless.

“BJP-led Gujarat government charged six cases against me including five criminal cases. Even anticipatory bail is being denied,” she said.

She said that BJP govt is using UAPA to suppress the voice of the voiceless. Though governments are changing, such draconian laws are not dropped. The laws are tried against the dalits, backward classes, farmers and minorities of the country who stand against the government.

“This is obviously transgression over the freedom of citizens,” she said expressing lamentation over the silence of media over this issue. But, until the people refuse to remain silent, human right struggles will continue, she said.

Presiding over the meeting State president of the movement T. Mohammed Velom said that the film was also a resistance against the ongoing moves from the government to torture and silence the young and reacting minds in the pretext of crackdown on Maoists.

The film throws light on the ‘shocking’ incidents of misuse of acts such as UAPA against innocent members of marginalised sections, including Dalits and Muslims to silence and stop them from protesting against the injustices, he said. GP Ramachandran, Gopal Menon, CM Sherif and others also spoke.

(Agencies)