Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez arrested in Srinagar
Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez has been arrested in Srinagar.
As being reported, Khurram Parvez was arrested late Monday night by India’s federal National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Khurram Parvez, 42, has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other multiple charges.
He is the program coordinator for a widely respected rights group in the disputed territory, the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), and chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD).
His wife Samina told AFP that Personnel from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Khurram Parvez in the main city of Srinagar, They also confiscated Parvez’s mobile phone, laptop, and some books, along with her cell phone.
“They said it’s a case of ‘terror funding’,” she said.
The United Nations have strongly criticised the arrest of a prominent activist in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) on terror charges, saying he is “not a terrorist”.
Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, called Parvez’s arrest “disturbing”.
I’m hearing disturbing reports that Khurram Parvez was arrested today in Kashmir & is at risk of being charged by authorities in #India with terrorism-related crimes. He’s not a terrorist, he’s a Human Rights Defender @mujmash @RaftoFoundation @GargiRawat @NihaMasih pic.twitter.com/9dmZOrSwMY
— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) November 22, 2021
Following Pervez’s arrest, Amnesty International in a statement said: “The arrest of Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez is yet another example of how anti-terror laws are being misused to criminalize human rights work & stifle dissent in India. Instead of targeting HRDs, authorities should focus on bringing accountability for human rights violations.”
The arrest of Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez is yet another example of how anti-terror laws are being misused to criminalize human rights work & stifle dissent in India. Instead of targeting HRDs, authorities should focus on bringing accountability for human rights violations.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) November 23, 2021
The reactions to the development are pouring in on social media:
Indian occupation forces raid the office of a human rights organization (JKCCS) in Kashmir and the home of prominent human rights activist @KhurramParvez.
— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) November 22, 2021
This is how India tries to conceals its atrocities in J&K from the world! pic.twitter.com/fORqjH3xtC
#India: Rights defender @KhurramParvez detained for questioning after his house & office were raided by National Investigation Agency officials.
— OMCT (@omctorg) November 22, 2021
🔴We are deeply concerned about the high risk of torture while in custody.
We call for his immediate release.
https://t.co/skXz3gM879
https://twitter.com/KashHistorypics/status/1406840915692441606
