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A coalition of international human rights organizations on Friday called for the immediate release of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj, marking three years since his arrest by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Nearly three dozen rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Mehraj’s continued detention is based on charges they believe are politically motivated and linked to his work documenting human rights issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
The organizations claimed that the case reflects growing pressure on journalists and researchers working on sensitive issues in the region. The advocacy groups highlighted the detention of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez, the coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), who has been held since 2021. Investigators previously described Mehraj as an associate of Parvez, a claim that rights organizations say forms part of the basis for the charges against him.
The coalition urged the Indian government to end what they described as reprisals against journalists and human rights defenders in Jammu and Kashmir and to reconsider laws that allow extended detention without trial. They also criticized the government for failing to respond to several inquiries previously raised by UN human rights experts regarding alleged violations in the region.
The groups called on the international community to monitor the situation closely and encourage greater protection for journalists and civil society organizations, stating that continued attention from international institutions may be necessary to ensure that press freedom and basic civil liberties are upheld in the region.
Mehraj was arrested in March 2023 during an investigation conducted by India’s National Investigation Agency. Authorities accused him of involvement in activities connected to militant networks and charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), a statute frequently used in terrorism-related cases that allows extended detention during investigations.
Authorities accused Mehraj of several offenses, including criminal conspiracy and inciting disaffection toward the government under Sections 120-B and 124-A of the Indian Penal Code. Prosecutors also invoked multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including Sections 17, 18, 38, 39, and 40, which relate to raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiring to commit a terrorist act, membership in a terrorist organization, and providing support or financial assistance to such groups. Officials have also relied on the Public Safety Act (PSA), which permits administrative detention without trial for up to two years in the interest of public safety.
Many observers link the current situation to developments following India’s decision in August 2019 to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. According to figures released by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, thousands of individuals were detained in the months following the policy change, though many have since been released. Human rights groups have also raised concerns about detainees being transferred to prisons in other Indian states, which can make it difficult for families and lawyers to maintain regular contact. Prison conditions and access to medical care have also been cited as ongoing concerns by rights monitors.
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Nearly three dozen rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Mehraj’s continued detention is based on charges they believe are politically motivated and linked to his work documenting human rights issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
The organizations claimed that the case reflects growing pressure on journalists and researchers working on sensitive issues in the region. The advocacy groups highlighted the detention of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez, the coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), who has been held since 2021. Investigators previously described Mehraj as an associate of Parvez, a claim that rights organizations say forms part of the basis for the charges against him.
The coalition urged the Indian government to end what they described as reprisals against journalists and human rights defenders in Jammu and Kashmir and to reconsider laws that allow extended detention without trial. They also criticized the government for failing to respond to several inquiries previously raised by UN human rights experts regarding alleged violations in the region.
The groups called on the international community to monitor the situation closely and encourage greater protection for journalists and civil society organizations, stating that continued attention from international institutions may be necessary to ensure that press freedom and basic civil liberties are upheld in the region.
Mehraj was arrested in March 2023 during an investigation conducted by India’s National Investigation Agency. Authorities accused him of involvement in activities connected to militant networks and charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), a statute frequently used in terrorism-related cases that allows extended detention during investigations.
Authorities accused Mehraj of several offenses, including criminal conspiracy and inciting disaffection toward the government under Sections 120-B and 124-A of the Indian Penal Code. Prosecutors also invoked multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including Sections 17, 18, 38, 39, and 40, which relate to raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiring to commit a terrorist act, membership in a terrorist organization, and providing support or financial assistance to such groups. Officials have also relied on the Public Safety Act (PSA), which permits administrative detention without trial for up to two years in the interest of public safety.
Many observers link the current situation to developments following India’s decision in August 2019 to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. According to figures released by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, thousands of individuals were detained in the months following the policy change, though many have since been released. Human rights groups have also raised concerns about detainees being transferred to prisons in other Indian states, which can make it difficult for families and lawyers to maintain regular contact. Prison conditions and access to medical care have also been cited as ongoing concerns by rights monitors.
The post Rights groups urge release of Kashmir journalist after 3 years in detention appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.