PAKISTAN URGES INDIA TO END ILLEGAL DETENTION OF KASHMIRI ACTIVISTS

WebDesk August 18, 2023 2 minutes read

Pakistan has urged India to bring an end the unjustified and illegal detention of Khurram Pervaiz, Irfan Mairaj and numerous other Kashmiri activists who are languishing in jails for raising their voice against Indian oppression. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, United Nations Special Procedure for Human Rights have also expressed serious concerns at the arrest, detention and charges against Kashmiri Human Rights defenders, in communication addressed to Government of India. She said the communication by the UN Special Procedures is yet another indictment of the Indian occupation authorities in IIOJK as it continues to silence and harass Kashmiri human rights defenders. Khurram Parvez is an internationally acclaimed Kashmiri human rights defender and JKCCS was awarded the Rafto Prize for human rights in 2017. Parvez was booked in 2022 under the UAPA. There was worldwide condemnation of Parvez’s arrest, with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, saying: “Indian authorities appear to be intensifying the long-standing repression of Kashmiri civil society.” Journalists and human rights defenders in Kashmir face increasing detention, raids, denial of passports, and surveillance, aiming to promote self-censorship and instill fear. Indian government has total control on information coming of out of the region after passing restrictive media policies such as the 2020 Revised Media Policy and 2021 Film Policy. After an initial 18-months internet shutdown, the Indian authorities still often suspend internet services in various parts of Kashmir often without any prior notice. In addition, the sudden forced closure of the Kashmir Press Club in 2022 by the Indian government was a big blow to the already disintegrating media pool. Aakar Patel, Chair of the board of Amnesty International India said, “For three years now, civil society and media in Jammu and Kashmir have been subjected to a vicious crackdown by the Indian government, which is determined to stifle dissent using draconian laws, policies and unlawful practices in their arsenal.” The international community, particularly the UN, should hold India accountable over harassment of journalists and rights activists who become the voices of IIOJK.