A Muslim woman from Rajasthan has praised and supported India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held in Geneva.

Faiza Rifat from Jaipur outlined the purpose of the CAA as it provides a path to citizenship for religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Act specifically benefits Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who came to India before 31 December 2014.

CAA will allow religious minorities to live with dignity

Referring to recent developments in Bangladesh, Rifat said the implementation of the CAA is important as the Hindu minority in Bangladesh continues to face persecution and violence. He argued that the Act provides an important option for these individuals to migrate to a safe environment and allows them to live with dignity.

Rifat further explained that the CAA helps distinguish between genuine refugees fleeing persecution and illegal immigrants, ensuring that those with a legitimate claim to asylum are granted citizenship while curbing illegal migration.

He argued that this distinction enables the Indian government to more effectively address illicit activities such as drug trafficking, particularly in sensitive border areas.