Responding to the Indonesian Government’s bestowment of its highest state honour upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena said:
“The awarding of Indonesia’s highest medal of honour to Prime Minister Modi is overshadowed by the sharp deterioration of the human rights situation in India under Modi’s government. Authorities continue their assault on dissent, as sedition and anti-terror laws have been used to criminalize journalists, comedians, academics and students exercising their right to freedom of expression.
“Social media platforms have been ordered to block critical voices. Peaceful protesters have been detained. Journalists and activists have been arrested and prosecuted, while the Bhima Koregaon activists, Umar Khalid and other Muslim activists remain behind bars. Religious and ethnic minorities face escalating persecution, including Muslims targeted through discriminatory laws on marriage.
“State institutions under Modi’s administration have also even been deployed to silence independent critical voices, including international media organizations and civil society groups. These cases further underline the shrinking space for rights and freedoms and the rise of intolerance in India.
“Human rights issues are not something the Indonesian government can ignore when awarding a state honour to an individual.”
Background
The President of Indonesia awarded the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna (Star of the Republic of Indonesia, the highest civilian award of the nation) to the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, in Jakarta on 7 July 2026. According to the official website of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, this government’s highest state honour was bestowed in recognition of Modi’s leadership, which is considered to have played a significant role in advancing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Amnesty International Annual Report 2025/26 notes the deteriorating human rights situation in India, highlighting the routine criminalization of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly by the Indian government under Modi. Sedition and anti-terrorism laws are used to criminalize journalists, activists, comedians, academics, and students exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The Indian state financial and investigative agencies have also been deployed to harass, silence and criminalize independent critical voices – this includes media organizations, such as the BBC, and civil society organizations, such as Amnesty International India.
Note: This quote has been published on 14 July 2026.