Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the arrest of Khurram Parvez by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India in Srinagar.
In a statement issued, the Hurriyat spokesperson said that the arrest of Parvez, Kashmir’s well Known and respected human rights activist, has caused great concern among the people.
“Global rights organisations have also expressed shock at his arrest and demanded his release, Hurriyat said while asking authorities to stop its policy of “repression” on citizens of Kashmir and release Parvez immediately.
Pertinently, the arrest of Parvez has evoked widespread criticism globally including calls by Rafto Foundation, Amnesty International, and the UN for his immediate release.
In a statement, Rafto Foundation, a Norway-based non-profit working in the field of human rights, said the allegations against Khurram “lack any credibility whatsoever. We appeal to Indian authorities to respect Mr Parvez habeas corpus rights and release him from detention without delay.”
Mary Lawlor, the United Nations UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, also came out in defence of Khurram.
“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.”
Amnesty International, referring to the Parvez’s arrest, said that the authorities have misused the “anti-terror law”.
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights. The organization has more than seven million members and supporters around the world.
“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 organisation tweeted.
Khurram, who lives on Gupkar Road in Srinagar’s Sonawar locality, has been a vocal critic of the Government of India’s decision in 2019 to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
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