DNA
ISLAMABAD: The NIA on Monday arrested Khurram Parvez from his residence SonwarSrinagar. As per the family sources, the agency raided his home and office and confiscated some of his books, phone and laptop.
Mr.Khurram Parvez, is Program Coordinator of the JKCCS (Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society: a Srinagar based organisation that monitors and investigates human right abuses) and the Chairperson of the AFAD (Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances: a consortium of 13 NGOs from 10 Asian countries that campaign against enforced disappearances)
On 14 September 2016 Mr. Parvez was stopped from travelling to Geneva to participate in the United Nations Human Rights Council on orders from the Intelligence Bureau, and was laterbooked under draconian law.
Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFOVK) denounce this abuse of the UAPA and other draconian laws by the Indian authorities to silence human rights defenders and dissidents under the guise of national security. Almost 2300 people have been arrested in Indian occupied Kashmir since disputed region’s semi-autonomous status was unilaterally revoked by Government of India.
Our organisations condemn the arbitrary use of anti-terrorism law against Mr. Parvez and call for his immediate and unconditional release. Additionally, we demand an end to the harassment of human rights defenders, political activists and journalists. The government of India must remove all legal and administrative barriers that impede their legitimate work. We also call on the international community, notably the other members of the United Nations Human Rights Council of which India is currently a member, to insist that India comply with its human rights obligations, including by allowing Indian human rights defenders to freely engage in their work and to enjoy their rights to free expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
