05.02.2025 10:00
Defying Oppression Across Generations
Ambassador Babar Amin
The Political and Human Rights Landscape in Indian-Illegally-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
The political and human rights landscape in IIOJK remains marked by state repression, arbitrary detentions, and systematic silencing of dissent. Political leaders, human rights defenders, and journalists advocating Kashmir's right to self-determination are routinely targeted under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Many imprisoned Kashmiris, held without fair trials, have been declared prisoners of conscience by international human rights bodies.
These laws serve as tools of oppression, enabling indefinite detentions under vague charges. The PSA permits imprisonment without trial for up to two years, prompting Amnesty International to call it a "tyrannical lawless law." UN experts have also criticized UAPA for allowing authorities to label individuals as "terrorists" without proof, effectively suppressing civil society, journalists, and rights activists. AFSPA grants sweeping immunity to Indian forces, shielding them from accountability for extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence, reinforcing IIOJK's status as one of the world's most heinous militarized zones.
Political Leaders as Prisoners of Conscience
Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929–2021)
A towering figure in Kashmir's resistance, Syed Ali Shah Geelani was a relentless advocate for self-determination and Kashmir's affiliation with Pakistan. As the head of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), he endured decades of imprisonment and house arrest.
Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai (1944–2021)
Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and a veteran pro-freedom leader, died in custody on May 5, 2021, after being denied medical care. Arrested under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), his condition worsened with severe symptoms of COVID-19, yet even a screening test was denied.
Shabir Ahmad Shah
Shabir Ahmad Shah, a leading political figure in IIOJK, has spent nearly 38 years in prison. First arrested in 1968 at age 14 for organizing a student protest, he has since been repeatedly jailed under PSA and UAPA.
Yasin Malik
Yasin Malik, a prominent Kashmiri leader, was declared a "prisoner of conscience" by Amnesty International for his arrest, detention, and sentencing over his advocacy for Kashmiris' self-determination.
Asiya Andrabi
Asiya Andrabi, leader of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, has been repeatedly imprisoned under PSA and UAPA for her pro-freedom stance. Currently held in Delhi's Tihar Jail under dire conditions since 2018.
Masarat Alam Bhat
Masarat Alam has been at the forefront of the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination, organizing large-scale anti-India protests. Frequently arrested under the PSA, UAPA, and other charges.
Ayaz Akbar
Ayaz Akbar, a senior Hurriyat leader, has been repeatedly arrested under the UAPA for his role in the Kashmiri freedom movement. His most recent arrest was in 2019 after he led protests against the revocation of IIOJK's special status.
Human Rights Defenders and Journalists Under Persecution
Khurram Parvez
Khurram Parvez, a renowned human rights defender and coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), has documented rights violations in IIOJK for decades.
Aasif Sultan
Aasif Sultan, a Kashmiri journalist, was arrested in August 2018 under the UAPA on charges of harboring militants and supporting a banned group.
Irfan Meraj
Kashmiri journalist Irfan Meraj was arrested in 2023 under UAPA for his work as a researcher with Khurram Parvez's JKCCS.
Majid Hyderi
Kashmiri journalist Majid Hyderi was arrested in September 2023 on charges of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and defamation linked to his journalistic work.
Conclusion
The imprisonment of Kashmiri political leaders, human rights defenders, and journalists highlights the oppressive nature of India's rule in IIOJK. These prisoners of conscience face persecution for their political beliefs, rights activism, and journalism under unjust laws meant to suppress dissent.