By M Ghazali Khan
London: Human rights organizations have released a 2025 report as part of their ongoing campaign against the British bulldozer manufacturer JCB. The report accuses the company of supplying bulldozers used in the illegal and inhumane demolition of residential homes in India and Israel.
Titled ‘Stop JCB’s Bulldozer Genocide: A Report on Human Rights Violations in Palestine, India & Kashmir,’ the document opens with a striking statement: ‘The sun may have set on the British Empire, but British imperialism lives on. Today’s robber barons are ruthless and unethical multinational companies like J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited (JCB)…’
The report highlights JCB owner Anthony Bamford’s connections with the Conservative Party and reveals that, despite accusations of offshore tax fraud, King Charles awarded him a Royal Warrant of Appointment in January 2025 in recognition of his services.
‘When a company sells its products knowing there is a likelihood they will be used to abuse human rights and does not take steps to prevent this, it fails to meet its responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This is happening across the three locations discussed in this report,’ the report states.
It provides detailed accounts of how JCB equipment has been used in demolition campaigns in Palestine, India, and Indian-administered Kashmir, calling on the company to: ssever all ties with Israel’s Ministry of Defence; cease operations in occupied Kashmir, and ensure its products are not used in human rights violations.
Addressing the launch at Birkbeck College, University of London, activist Afreen Fatima from Allahabad recounted, via video link, how her home was demolished in 2022. She described the terror tactics employed by Hindutva-led governments in Uttar Pradesh and at the national level. Displaying remarkable courage and resilience, Fatima declared her unwavering hope that injustice and tyranny will one day end.
Two young activists from Palestine also shared their experiences. Tamara Ezz El-Din Barbar, 24, from the town of Silwan in Jerusalem, and Sara Maher Fhedat, Project Coordinator at the Al Thouri Silwan Women’s Center, spoke about the constant threat of demolition. Sara shared the story of her home, built by her late father, who was martyred by Israeli forces. Both expressed optimism that justice would eventually prevail.
Other speakers included Peter Frankental, Director of Economic Affairs at Amnesty International, and writer and well-known human rights activist Kalpana Wilson. Both stressed the importance of maintaining pressure on governments to uphold their human rights obligations and curtail JCB’s role in these abuses.
The report was jointly published by the South Asia Solidarity Group, South Asia Justice Campaign, Nijjor Manush, South Asians for Palestine, and the JCB Stop Bulldozer Genocide campaign. The full report is available online.
