01/02/20 01/02/20 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from m new york, this is democracy now! >> so many of us were killed. this is not the first time the u.s. has us. we were bound twice before and a third time. i swear to godod and on my life, we will not leave here until they leave here. amy: iran-backed militia members withdraw from the u.s. embassy in baghdad, iraq after being protesting a airstrikes that

killed at least 24 militia members. we'll get an update from guardian correspondent ghaith abdul ahad. and we go to syria, where a quarter of a million people have fled the russian-backed syrian offensive e in idlib. >> we didid not know whwhere the bombing cacame from. eveverywhereasas bombed. he ran awawawith her clothes on us. we wanant everythingng we n nee. food and some drink. we need everything. amy: aid groups warn syria could face the worst humanitarian crisis in syria's nine-year war. we will get an update. then to india, where protests against a new anti-muslim citizenship law continue despite a government crackdown with more than 1000 people arrested and at least 27 killed. >> enacted by hitler.

it is a steppingstone for holocaust. amy: all that and more, coming up. welcome to democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. in iraq, members of an iranian-backed militia and its supporters have withdrawn from the green zone after a two-day standoff outside the u.s. embassy in baghdad. the militia members broke into a gatehouse at thehe perimeter of the sprawling embassy tuesday, setting fire to the structure. on wednesday, u.s. troops tear gas militia members. aftersh -- they withdrew pledging to pursue legislation to force u.s. troops out of iraq . >> the american troops in iraq are supposed to be either

training y your rocky forces to combat terrorism but the killing of militias, this is something unacceptable. for this reason, we are miming here untilhe u.s. troops lveve aq.. amy: the embassy standoff meme after the u.s. launcd d a sl of airrikekes iraq q d syriri sunday that lllled a l lst 24 iraq m members o of thirirania back militit kataiaib hezbollal. the iraqi imime minister had warnrned defense secretary m mak esper against the airstrikes, which me a as retaliation after a u.s. contractor was killed in friday. attack in iraq the pentagon has sent 750 troops more to the middle east and secretary of state mike pompeo has delayed a trip to ukraine and four other nations. the show down at the u.s. embassy in baghdad comes amidst months of antigovernment protest in iraq most of the protesters say they were not part of the showdown at the usmc and t ty are opopposed to corruption anda

reading influeuence in i iraq. in syria, aid workers say syrian government artillery fire killed at least nine civilians, including five children, on new year's day in the nororthwestern province of idlib, which is facing a heavy bombing and a ground offensive by the russian-backed syrian government. aid workers say at least 16 more civilians were injured in a cluster munitions bombing of a school where displaced people were taking refuge. over the last month, nearly 300,000 civilians have been forced to flee the syrian government's offensive against idlib, which is home to about 3 million civilians, 76% of whom are women and children. since april, at least 60 health facilities have been bombed in the region, sparking the united nations to launch a limited inquiry into seven of the incidents. we'll have more on the offensive in idlib later in the brbroadca. in australia, the eastern state of new south wales has declared a week-long state of emergency, amid raging climate-fueled wildfires.

thousands of residents and tourists are fleeing the area. in the neighboring state of victoria, troops are preparing to evacuate thousands more people who are trapped by the fires there. at least 4000 were forced to flee to the beach to escape the approaching blazes. the unprecedented fire season in australia comes as the indonesian capital of jakarta was inundated by the worst rainfall in nearly a quarter century. at least 21 people have died in the flooding, and more than 60,000 w were forced to evacuate their homes. bothth increasingly powerful wildfires and extreme rainfall have been linked to climate change. across the world, protesters celebrated the new year by taking to the streets to demand more democracy and to protest economic aususterity. in hong kong, tens of thousands of people marched on new year's day to demand more political autonomy from beijing. police arrested 400 protesters,

bringing the total number of people arrested in the ongoing pro-democracy protests in hong kong to over 7000. in chile, thousands poured into the streets of the capital santiago to protest economic inequality and to commemorate the 26 people who have been killed during the ongoing demonstrations. this is sandra, one of the protesters. >> we came because we have been protesting for months. the government has not listen to us, you us. they have done unconstitutional things. we come to celebrate because it is not a celebration. we came to commemorate all of those e who have been injured ad killed by this government. amy: in france, union workers continue their strike to protest french president emmanuel macron's efforts to raise the retirement age. it is now france's longest rail workers' strike since 1968.

during macron's new year's day address, he vowed to press ahead with his efforts to overhaul the pepension system. this is union representative labidi hani. >> sincece the first day, decemr 5, we have been calling for this with warm to be withdrawn completely today we are expecting the same one. the statement that macron has made us not surprise us because we were not expecting anything from him. he is a president for love himself that does not listen to the people. macron has to listen to the french people. not the french people who have to listen to macron. amy: in israel, prime minister benjamin netanyahu has asked the israeli parliament to grant him immunity from prosecution in three corruption cases.. netanyahu'u's rare and unpopular move means he could remain out of court for as long as he serves in parliament. netanyahu is the longest-serving isisraeli prime e minister. he's rurunning for a fourth consecutive term in an election on march 2, the third national election in israel i in less thn a year.

in mexico, at least 16 prisoners were killed when a riot erupted in a prison in the central state of zacatecas. mexico's prisons are notoriously overcrowded. tuesday's violence follows another deadly prison riot in october, in which six prisoners were killed in the central state of morelos. pope francis condemned violence against women during his new year's day address at the vatican. >> women are sources of life yet they are continually offended, beaten, raped, and reduced to prosecute themselves and suppress the life they carry in their womb. amy: on wednesday, pope francis also apologize for slapping away the hand of a woman on new year's eve in a video that has since e ne viral.. and scores of new laws are taking effect across the country with the start of 2020,

affecting wages,s, privacy righ, gun laws, marijuana use, criminal justice, and more. the minimum wage has gone up in 21 different states and in about two dozen cities and counties across california. the california consumer privacy acact now allows california residents to learn what data companies have collected about them and to demand thosese companies delete the datata if residents want. california has also suspended the statute of limimitations for sexual abuse crimes for three years, allowing survivors the chance to pursue prosecution. colorado has tightened its gun laws, although a number of colorado counties oppose the new measure and have declared themselves to be second amendment "sanctuaries." tennessee has loosened its gun laws by making it easier for residents to receive a concealed carry handgun permit. in illinois, marijuana is now legal. in new york, cash bail has been eliminated for most misdemeanor

and nonviolent felony cases, in a move criminal justice reform advocates say could lead to the release of thousands of people incarcerated before their trial. oregon now bans single-use plastic bags at grocery stores. and california has become the first state in the country to explicitly ban discrimination against people based on their natural hairir. the "crown act" now makes it illegal for employers or school officials to impose dress codes or policies that ban afros, braids, locks, or other hairstyles. california state senator holly mitchell celebrated the move, saying -- "this law protects the right of black californians to choose to wear their hair in its natural form, without pressure to conform to eurocentric norms." and those are some of the headlines. this democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. nermeen: and i'm nermeen shaikh. welcome to all of our listeners and viewers fromom around the country and around the world.

we begin today's show in iraq, where iran-backed militia members and their supporters withdrew from the u.s. embassy in baghdad's heavily guarded green zone on wednesday after being tear gassed by american security forces. their withdrawal ended a tense standoff that began tuesday when militia members broke through the embassy's receptioion area chanting "death to america" while thousands rallied outside to protest several u.s. airstrikes in iraq and syria that killed at least 24 members of the militia kataib hezbollah. the u.s. airstrikes came after an american contractor was killed in a rocket attack in kirkuk, iraq, friday. the embassy withdrawal was ordered by militia leaders, who saidid they agrereed to leave ar iraqi prime minister adel abdul-mahdi pledged to pursue legislation to force u.s. troops out of iraq. amy: secretary of state mike pompeo delayed his trip to

ukraine, and the pentagon sent 750 troops to the middle east in response to the embassy showdown. the united states has around 5000 troops stationed in iraq, as well as an undisclosed number of civilian contractors. four -- for more, we go to istanbul where we're joined by ghaith abdul ahad, a correspondent for the guardian newspaper. welcome to democracy now! can you explain what just happened in iraq over these last few days? explain who the irani and-backed militia is, what happened at the u.s. embassy, and now the deal that has been made with the iraqi prime minister and parliament to consider tossing out u.s. troops? >> good morning. to understand what has happened the last few days, we have to go back three months with the beginning of the demonstrations in baghdad, popular demonstrations against the

corrupt political system dominated by the pro-arabian militias -- iranian militias. the militias and the political parties have been the back force. in these militias have been associated with corruption, with the worst kind of service system in this country. along the last couple of months, certain things have been happening. away from the media. here are almost attacks, the last of which killed a contntractor. two o or three weeks earlier, to iraqi soldiers were serioususly hurt. at the same time, yet the kidnapping, detention, whoppearance of activists participated. these militias have been on the back foot.

suddenly, they have managed to bait the americans into this airstrike which killed 24 iraqi fighters. we he e to remember, this is pa o of a government structu.. soldiers s onraqi iraqi soilndnd thahas beenhe trigger for these demonsatations inhe pastwor three ys, these militiasas, these powewer, popolitical powers, considered iranian backed pro-iran, have all managed to regain initiative by portraying themselves -- portraying what is happening in the country as a struggle between america on one side and iran on the other side. you see the graffiti on the walls of the embassy. association, they managed to portray the demonstrators as all members of this american

plots working to destabilize the iraqi government. this airstrike over the last week has been the best gift these ministers could aspire for because it just transformed the political narrative in iraq today. nermeen: could you give more background on the role that iran has been playing in iraq? you just said the graffiti on the u.s. embassy included saying "my leader." could you explain who he is and how you think these u.s. strikes might change the dynamic, both of the protest as well as what these militias will now do, the role they will play in iraq? to go back to these demonstrations, you see a very corrupt political system and iraq. this political corrupt system dominated by either religious political parties or militias,

all backed by iran. so by association, the people in the street are denouncing iranian interference for these militias and also for what they perceive as an arabian -- iranian interference. mainly, for the support of these she of politicians. of sentiment has been central to the iraq demonstrations the past three months, which helped push the political parties supported by iran's militia to one corner versus the iraqis on the other corner. that has been the narrative. there is another narrative, which is this bigger iran versus america conflict, which as iraqi and many iraqis fear, we fear iraq will become the next battleground between iran and

the united states. where will they fight? solomonic, the godfather of these militias in iraq -- exaggerated, a course, but that is what people talk about. but mostly the militias, members of the popular mobilization, have been pushed to the corner trying to defend their biggest ally --iran -- but justify the role in politics. many of the kids demonstrating the streets are also shia, also served in these militias. but when the war against isis finished, those kids came back to see the warlords of these militias have enriched themselves while the majority shia are still poor. that dynamic, that shift in the dynamic of demonstrations from before is shia kids

demonstrating shia militias. it is the most important thing that is happen in iraq and 30 or 40 years, these demonstrations. for the past three months, where these militias have been trying to say, oh, this is all an american plot and this is where we are today. we're in a situation where the demonstrations in baghdad have justified to explain they're not part of an americacan plot theseing iran or militias. amy: explain what is happening with the caretaker -- the iraqi prime minister who has already said he is leaving, but the u.s. troops moving in and tear gassing. some media outlets have described it. that is why the militias pulled out.t. others said they have already decided to pull out once they say they got the agreement of the iraqi prime minister to push in the parliament, to pass a bill that has been there for some time, but this is added

strength, to pass a bill to toss the u.s. troops out. >> these are all theatrics. on theple participated attack i in the embassy were senior security advisor, had a parliamentary block -- between them, pro-irani and militias and parties come a they have more than 160 members. they could have called for the removal of u.s. forces not today, but with this airstrike, long b before. all of these theatrics is to try anger industry. the iraqi prime minister -- the iraqi army, security forces on theieird 16 years own without amamerican support, which is a disgrace with allll f the money spent on them because of corruption, mismanagement, you call it. today anorak, we have two military. some say three. we have a sort of official

government army, police force, special forces, whatever, and on the other side you have all of these militias incorporated also official within the structure, but one that it has loyalty certainy to iran and part of the political system and iraq and the other has loyalty to the iraqi states. the first one, the a partial iraqi army, is very weak, corrupt. only a certain element can stand on its own. this is the complicated situation in iraq. this is the layers of complication, not only demonstrators against corrupt governments, also demonstrators against strong militias. and within the larger american conflict -- to go back to your question, yes, they will table a motion that will call for the removal of all american troops in iraq, but will that be achieved?

can they actually achieve that? malaki sign the agreement with the agreement with the americans. can they remove -- can the iraqi government stand on its own without american air force and air support? it will be interesting to see. again, the theatrics of it all, the scimitar graffiti -- of the graffiti on the walls. the theatrics of it all has dominated the scene anorak over the past week. shifted the narrative from demonstrators against the corrupt government into iran versus america conflict. nermeen: can you explain what you think the effect has been of ththe trump administrationon withdrdrawing from the iran nuclclear deal and the effects f this maximum pressure sentients that have been placed on iran by the trump administration, and

how that has altered what iran is doingng in iraq? >> simply put, disastrous. disastrous in every single politics.the iraqi we have to remember, the iranian influence did not exist in 2003 pre-american invasion. the irradiance -- iranians took the natural steps of any nation, which is to defend their country beyond their borders. they decided to build a buffer zone as a way to influence iraqi politics and defend themselves against whatever american adventure, as they call it. americans left and iran became stronger and stronger. when the americans canceled that agreement with iran, our biggest fear was not the state of american-iranian relationship,

but my country, iraq, because that is the battles on. when you apply maximum pressure on iran, when would they defend themselves? iraq, saudi arabia, and other countries along this soft belly of the united states. this is where the iranians can hit. this is where americans have their military bases. one commander appeared on tv last year or a couple of years ago and that every american in the country of every american soldier in the country, we consider our hostatage. this is s what thehe iranianansl defend. this was o our fear whenen the americans decided to do maximum pressure on iran without any alternative, without any realistic alternative. what we want iranian to do, topple the iranian? government at the same time, keep putting pressure and that is reflecting horribly in politics. thing, the actual fear

in the country now in baghdad is another round of civil war -- only this one will be a shia-shia civil war and will be disastrous. 2020 just enter this, new year, is the presidential election. --sident trump asked promised in 2016 he was going to withdraw troops from placess lie iraq and syria a and afghanista. what does this mean? does this put him in the very seriouss find if he wants to pursue what he is doing and iraq -- going back to him saying years ago as president that he was going to keep iraq -- u.s. troops in iraq to monitor iran, which infuriated everyone there. >> i personally, i would love to see that back of the american troops today, tomorrow, yesterday, 10 years ago. the fact he wants to say we will

leave the middle east -- lovely. thank you so much. but at the same time, you increase troop level in iraq and say we have our troops there to monitor iran. as you said, suddenly you put iraq in a situation either with america or iran. iran is our neighbor. iran has the longest border with us. we have been fighting with the iranians for centuries. we don't want to be going to war with iran. we don't want to be the launching base for another american adventure in the middle east. at the same time, the agreements , the forces agreement of the united states, state american forces are in iraq to secure iraqi airspace, secure iraqi government agagainst attack. that shifts the narrative. that uses iraq as a launchpad. alliesse we have iranian

accusing them of plotting. again, using that american argument to counter the demonstrations in the streets. this is what these militias have been doing all along, even before these strikes. now you have the strike. now you have this rhetoric, this trump rhetoric. can i say this? every single demonstrator i have talked to in the squares in baghdad, they pray, they tell me, they wish, they pray that ump would d never utter a tweet regarding iraqi politics because they do not want to be part of this iran versus american narrative. it aslitias want to make it is targeting iran, no americans are using these demonstrations for their own pressure on iran. this is a delicate situation in iraq. it is a country awash with , and a, military forces new civil war can spark within

hours if not days. nermeen: you were just in baghdad before christmas when these widespread protests were ongoing. but now given the u.s. airstrikes -- very quickly, before we conclude -- are protesters concerned now that there demonstrations will be viewed as pro-american because they have been anti-iranian? biggest concern for the demonstrators. ththe biggest concern n is that wowould be labeled as pro-americans. but at the same time, the people in the streets, the rioters, all of them are very focused on day one to say we are not part of any american plot, we denounce the american airstrikes. they're trying to push back the narrative narrative toward

electing a new prime minister and reforming the constitution and election law, which has been a demand from day one. amy: ghaith abdul ahad, correspondent for the guardian newspaper. speaking to us from turkey. when we come back, we turn to syria where a quarter of a million people have fled the russian backed syrian offensive in idlib. stay with us. ♪ [music break]

amy: music by arslan hazreti from the album "middle eastern." this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. nermeen: we turn now to syria, where aid workers a searing government artillery fire killed at least nine civilians, including five children, on new ernr's day in the northwest province of idlib. at least 16 more civilians were injured. amy: over the last month, nearly 300,000 civilians have been forced to flee.

three quarters of whom are women and children. at least two h hospitals and 14 health centers to close. for more, we're joined by two guests. via democracy now! video stream from gaziaiantep, tuturkey, notr from the syryrian bord, yassssin al-haj saleh is a syrian writer, dissident, and former political prisononer. and in berkeley, california, loubna mrie is a syrian writer, photographer, and activist who worked in idlib from 2012 to 2014 for reuters. welcome both of f you to democry now! yassin al-haj saleh, , can you describe what isis taking place right now in idlibib? been outside the offensive since december with more than one quarter of a million people displaced from a town in ididlib witith 100,000

asslple just momenents ago completelyly -- the population s been completely displace. fortunately's were able to find a car or something to flee the attacks. and jet fighter most of these people are now in camps, not -- with no aid from the u.n. agencies. -- russians and the chininese ththe u.n. security cocouncil aw dececision talks --urity council were about aid deliveries without control of this energy.

it is extremely paradoxical. let me say -- alalmost nine yeas war with a death toll that i p people.eds 60600,000 6.5 million are displaced outside syria and the neighborining countries. almost one million in europe. what is happening in idlib is

only one month of this -- more months -- second war. when i was young myself, there was a smaller war with a total of tens of thousands in jail. i was one of them at the time. and now it is a bigger thing. the most sinister thing about the situation in syria is that one regime is still in power, more powerful now than ever because now it is protective of the russians and the iranians with many substate actors also defending the regime. lebanon, has below, other countries. havave seenfrom what w we in the 20th century like nazi, germany.

but the nazi were toppleds. in cambodidia, it wawas big bute reregime was toppled. evil genocide rehabilitateted. expect around ththat in the future the victims will be in the millions. nermeen: the justification of the assad regime and its russian backers is that idlib has been group.led by a jihadist this is the last area in which they are powerful, so this assault i is to oust emem. your resesponse to that? well, why schools a

hospititals are beingg attacked? is this for breaking the civilians from terrrrorist orgaganizations? when you target hospitals, "newts, and schoolsls as yoyork timimes" repoport has shn today, i it is -- the aim is too displace thehe population, not o help them against terrosts. norm allt has been the these almost nine years. really a we have theorist organization but itime needs this to justify

is inviting -- know not a russian speaker or assad speaker defended the people were called for a special terrorists. i'm not thinking american, by speaker hasu.n. called for a tribunal for justice for the victims of terrrrorism. from rocock avenue. i live there for some time. thanother disappeared more six years ago. , we were --riends

americans and u.n. officials about our loved ones. it is not against terrorism, it is only for sovereignty, for power, for agencies assad like the resume, russia, iran. it is helping everybody to be a fighter. the israeli government, the american administration, the russians, the assad regime -- they are not helping us against terrorism. maybe 90 persons fell at theicms hands of thehe assad regime and its protectors. amy: you wrote an article called "terror genocide and agenda craddock turn." explain n what you meaean.

well, genos meansns tribe or race. about democracy. the notionsnot about of thehe people. it is about c culture. racism is taking thihis cultural guise. these are e all minorities s lin syria. the infrfrastructure for genoci. w war and terrototo .ustify weakakening democracy to wken populalar m movements or people or organinizations. weak shadenow i in

because the powerful is more powerfulul. this is happening inin the u u.s up when trump was elected, happening inin india. they're using the same narrrrative. this hapappening against the muslims in china. it is everywhere in the world. democracy is notot in a crisis because ththis is not about a democratic majajority. it i is about cultutural, racial majorities. the e white supremacists in eure and the u.s., hinduin india. and, by the way, in our country, and the e arab wororld. they wentdldle east -- to work because they are majority. it is happening israel. isisrael is a ststate of the jeh people, not a state of the citizens. palestinians are excluded.

-- it issking global dominantnt globally now and it -- genocide is becomimi normalized, political solution to many problems in the world. i am sorry to say, in the w west and the u.s., they have repaired warstage for this post-cold , discourse about the war on terror. if you cocould talk about what happened to your wife commit your brother. a had interviewed years ago man who also disappeared. and your brother

disappearered together? >> my brother was a political and 1991.etweween 1987 athahat time i was in jaiail. samir was an a activist. -- a highly us respected human n rights activi. they werere there and abducted the northern -- part off syryria. unfortunately, we don't know anything about their fate.

let me just say something about th conxt. thisis happened after the chemil massacre in august 2013. gift of i islamist ororganizations. it created paranoia everywhere in syriaia. the independent peoplee, two womemen indndependent w without whohoere politically actitive against the regime, wee in ththatvisible region, whicich was c completely besieged by thehe assad powerer. anand my brorother and friends e , , eted the same year

and i syryrian figurereasbducted d and my doctor and friend work abducted. it was part of thisis extxtremey ininhuman situation that wawas inflicted on syrians andnd many commmmon organanations thahat appeared in the country. idlib is only one of these, but the main thing is the assad regime that have been holding the country for 50 years now, which is one half of the whole modern history of syria. link towill certainly the article your most recent piece headlined "the impossible -- "the love of my life disappeared

six years ago, but i cling to hope. loubna mrie, your response to this latest offensive, the ongoing offensive and idlib? and what the situation is of these civilians there, 76% of the population there is a civilian population. turkey has largely closed its borders. where are these people to go? >> thank you so much for having me. before i answer this question, i think it is important to explain to your audience why the situation in idlib today is pretty difficult and unique at the same time. idlib is the only syrian province today that is outside and notrnment control safeguarded by foreign powers such as the u.s. or turkey -- which kind of puts, as i puts idlib in

a difficult situation. in the past years, most of the rebel held areas that have fallen back under the syrian , so manyt control people who have been living in this rebel held areas, especially those who feared the persecution of the government, have led to idlib. more than 400,000 to the pre-existing population of 3 million. here we are talking about 3 million civilians stuck in idlib today. as you mentioned, the borders have been closed. people are on the borders sleeping under olive trees, some sleeping and their cars. there is no place to go. -- people knew,

ok, there might be a solution for these people to flee, but sasadly, there is no i idlib for these civilians to flee to. is horrible. i was talking to one of my good friends on new year's eve just to make sure he is ok and safe. mentioned he has been sleeping with his wife and seven-year-old daughter in thehe car on theeurkish bororders. he told me he cannot think of any s solution. he has beeeen active against the syrian government since 2012. to liveto l lve or under the syrian control is not really possible. he ended the conversation saying that he is considering committing suicide. that is insured. the situation is horrible. no one knows whahat is going to happen. nermeen: very quickly before we

conclude, has the -- has turkey said anything about allowing at least some people from idlib to come into turkey to seek refuge? beennestly, if you have following the news recently, turkey made it clear they don't want any syrian refugees anymore in turkey. we have seen reports of deportations, mass partititionsf syrias being sent bacacto and d to idlib. i don't see -- i i don't think tuturkey might welcome any syrin regees. people h have been dyiying on te borders trying to cross turkeyy tto seek refuguge. i don't know, if i i can just ad one e point if i h have time, yu and h hownining the hgs

ththe syrian govovernment is sag there only in idlibb to attack radical groups and hds. amy: explalain what h hds is. >> it isis one of the radical groups tododay in n idlib. which the syrian government has been using as justificationon to attack civilians in idlib. as i m mentioned eararlier, thee are more t than 3,400,00000 civilianans in n idlib. a as a justificication to attatack 3 million civiliansns s really similarar to ththe logict israel uses. israelel and its supupporters uo jujuify theirttacks. i i think we shouould never jusy attatacks jususbecause there is one radicalgroup to attack all civilians. amy: loubna mrie, thank you for

being with us, syryrian writer, photographer and activist who worked in idlib from 2012 to 2014 for reuters. currently writing her first book about the war in syria. we also want to thank yassin al-haj saleh speaking to us from turkey. when we come back, we go to india where protest against the anti-muslim citizenship law continue despite the government crackdown that has killed at least 27 people. stay with us. ♪ [music break]

released at the height of the protests in india. nermeen: we end today's show in india, where the death toll amid the government's crackdown on widespread protests has risen to at least 27 people, with over 1000 more arrested. the protests are against the controversial new citizenship law, which provides a path to indian citizenship for undocumented immigrants from

afghanistan, bangladesh, and pakistan -- unless they are muslim. opponents of the law say it's a step toward the official marginalization of india's 200 million muslims. paramilitary and police forces were deployed in responsnse to e protests in muslim-majority districts in uttar pradesh in new delhi, and the internet was shut down. amamy: for more, we go to mumbai where we're joined via democracy now! video stream by rana ayyub, indian journalist who is a global opinions writer for "the washington post." her recent piece is headlined "india's protests could be a tipping point against authoritarianism." welcome to democracy now! explain. >> thank you, amy. fofor the longest timime, the governmentnt's attackck on the muslim minoritities which constitute abobo 25050 milon muslimims in the country.. the firsrst five years underer momodi's gime, there wewere h he mumuslims for the actions of consuming beef or allegations

that muslim men are m marryining non-muslim women, so they would be lynched in the streets. laws were being introduced. the first five years and mr. was for doge whistle. the second term, which modi has just begun, is about consolidation of the hindu world. so far, those who oppose mr. --i's majority views [indiscernible] in august, there was a clampdown followedre --kashmir by thehe supreme c court judgmet and the ruling for a masassive

temple will be built.. bill.nship amenendmen m minority fromom neneighboring country willll be given cititizenship except muslims. an attempt t tcreate a hindu natiti. a country which will nono longer reremain secular democracy. fofor the first timime, there ss toto be an attempt by thcitizens of thehe countryry, especially muslims, who are out in thehe .treetets the prprotest in mumbai, which s -- close to 200,000 people participating in mumbai,

against the prime minister. it is a tipping. mr. modi is driven muslims of this country to the walls. they have been silent for the last six years, but i think they have chosen now to break the silence because mr. modi is seeking to delegitimize the existence or make them second-class citizens in their own country where they and their forefathers have lived. these are the same muslims chose india or pakistan in the 1970's. there is every day humiliation with muslims. it is hard to see the protests that are happening all over the country -- not just muslims, but also non-muslims who are standing in solidarity with them -- to protect the very idea of india, which we have been celebrating for decades. gandhi's in you which have been

, the culture of this country, which is now under threat by mr. modi's government. nermeen: can you explain? as you are saying, these massive havest all over india that been taking place, is there any indication the modi government is likely to withdraw or modify the citizenship amendment act or the nrc or, and deed, not to push through subsequent proposals like the uniform civil code? as the interior minister or anyone else in the modi government respondeded to the prototest by suggesting theyey l compromise? >> not yet. in facact, the government has turned a blind e eye to the 27 lives that have been lost in the 20t three weeks, of which were murderedd i in a province

ruled by bjp chief minister. mr. modi a and the interior minister did not anticipate the backlash because they were seeing a very passive indian citizenry, which was not --ecting to one majority theyey thought they cocould puse more bill. they did not anticipate his backlash. having said that, i think the government has decided to -- their target audience is the majority hindu population, to whom it is trying to communicate we are fighting and d people are protesting against our decision ofgive you the right supremacy. it doesn't look like the government is going to rollback this act yet. there is immense pressure on the indian government.

the protest has sustained itself, and that is a good sign. but i don't see them revoking this because the government has decided to wait this out. they're planning to introduce two more bills. the population control bill and the uniform code which is an attack on the indian minorities because there is this misconception -- as we call it, [indiscernible] itsad by the bjp and affiliates that muslims in this country are producing more childrenen and the hindus anandy will take over india by 2050. kind of fake news that has been part of the bjp machinery. their leader keeps talking about this in tweweets and social m m. there inoducing two moree billlls. howill have t to wait andnd see ththe protest impactct the --ernmement's decisionon becaue the chief minister said i wiwill

tatake revenge on ththe protests and two weeks later, 20 mile sums were slaughthtered in the - 20 m muslims were slaughtered in the span of two nights. if y you want to protest, go t o pakistan. basisically, i implying muslimsy belong and pakistan if they have to protest. hostel which was home to orphans was attacked by police officers. the teacher was a muslim clerir. amy: we haveve five seconds. >> he was striripped nakeded. mrmr. modi's response to the prototest has been a backlash. abutttting point and response of the protest. amy: we will link your piece in "the washington post." "india's protests could be a tipping point against authoritarianism." rana ayyub indian journalist who

, is a global opinions writer for "the washington post." thank you for being with us. i will be speaking friday night in new york after the showing of "advocate."

announcer: on this episode of "earth focus"... we vivisit oil-rich communitiesn california's san n joaquin vavay and along alaska's arctic slope, where residents are asking tough questions about the consequences ofof fossil fuel extractction. it's been t the bedrock of their economicic livelihoods for deces but is now fracturing communities and threatening the planet. [camera's shutter advancing]