Rights organizations call for India to release imprisoned human rights advocate News
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Rights organizations call for India to release imprisoned human rights advocate

Human rights organizations on Wednesday urged the government of India to end the prolonged imprisonment of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez. Khurram has been held in custody for three years on charges of terrorism and related offenses, which many believe are unfounded and politically motivated.

Khurram is the coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and a vocal advocate for human rights and self-determination in Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir. He has faced a campaign of persecution for his work documenting human rights violations in the region.

In 2016 Khurram was prevented from attending a UN Human Rights Council session and subsequently detained under the controversial Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act. The detention was declared unlawful by the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. In 2021 Khurram was arrested again by National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the harsh provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

According to the statement, the NIA raided on the offices of JKCCS, Khurram’s residence and other locations in 2020, which further underscores the targeted nature of the crackdown on dissent in the region.

Jammu and Kashmir were stripped of state autonomy and placed under the control of the federal government of India in 2019. In October, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an application to expedite the restoration of statehood by December. The court denied a similar application in 2023.

In August 2024, human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged the EU to enhance public oversight and accountability concerning their policies towards India. The suggestions included demanding the prompt release of all human rights defenders and journalists detained arbitrarily, as well as the repeal or modification of oppressive laws employed to suppress dissent and target minority groups.

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