A film about a human rights defender slain 30 years ago has inexplicably been taken off the streaming platform that had hosted it. Since then, human rights defenders, journalists and members of the political opposition have faced extreme forms of harassment through misuse of state powers. Persecution of human rights defendersA key factor in including India on the watchlist is the continued judicial persecution of human rights defenders and protest leaders. They include Khurram Parvez from the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Coalition, who has been charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Mandeep S Tiwana is the secretary general of global civil society alliance, Civicus.