Amnesty International is deeply worried by the continued arbitrary detention of Gen-Z activist Majid Ansari and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Three activists—Majid Ansari, Sarishma Thapa and Nelson Ghatani—were detained after visiting a holding centre in Kirtipur on Saturday. They had gone there to express solidarity with victims of forced evictions housed in the Kirtipur holding centre that was severely affected by the heavy flooding of Friday night. Video footage on social media shows police using verbal abuse and unlawful force including physical assaults before dragging them into a police vehicle, with Majid Ansari sustaining blood marks and visible bruises.
Of the three arbitrarily arrested, Sarishma Thapa and Nelson Ghatani were released on Saturday night.
“This arbitrary detention of activists simply for expressing solidarity with victims of forced eviction has raised serious concerns over violations of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, liberty and security of person, signaling an alarming threat to civic space in Nepal,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
“The majority of the ministers in the current government came to power on the back of Gen-Z protests in September 2025. They vehemently advocated for the right to protest and freedom of expression, and against police’s repression while pledging to hold law enforcement accountable for the crackdown during the September protests. It’s deplorable that within four months of taking office, the government is now forgetting its commitment and is using the same repressive tactics as its predecessor government to unlawfully target young activists peacefully expressing their dissent.”
It’s deplorable that within four months of taking office, the government is now forgetting its commitment and is using the same repressive tactics as its predecessor government to unlawfully target young activists peacefully expressing their dissent.
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal
“The state must stop the weaponisation of law enforcement to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and guarantee that the constitutional right to dissent is fully protected. The authorities must also ensure the safety, security and access to appropriate medical care of Majid Ansari, and guarantee that he is not subjected to intimidation, harassment or further abuse.”
The arrests followed severe flooding of Radhaswami Satsang Centre in Kirtipur, a government designated holding centre for the victims of forced evictions, thereby exposing unsafe conditions at holding centres housing families displaced by the forced evictions. Earlier in April, before starting the forced eviction drive, the Prime Minister had stated that the riverside settlements were being cleared and relocated to ensure the safety of the communities living there.
The authorities must also ensure the safety, security and access to appropriate medical care of Majid Ansari, and guarantee that he is not subjected to intimidation, harassment or further abuse.
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal