ISLAMABAD, Nov 26, (Asia Free Press): The world’s top Muslim body, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday expressed deep concern over the detention of Kashmiri human rights activist by Indian forces in disputed territory of India administered Kashmir.
In a statement, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the OIC said that Khurram Parvez was arrested under the draconian and illegal anti-terror laws citing fabricated and unsubstantiated charges of “terror funding” and “conspiracy”, without access to free and fair trial, which are contradictory to the international human rights and humanitarian laws.
Khurram was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India on Monday.
The Commission highlighted that Khurram Parvez, Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances and Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, has been a long-standing vocal critic of the Indian Government’s occupation and oppression of the Kashmiri’s human rights.
Khurram’s arrest has been widely criticised by the international human rights community including the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor. In a tweet, she condemned the human rights defender’s arrest in Indian administered Kashmir saying, “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.”
“The Commission is appalled by the incidents of illegal detentions of human rights and political activists and members of civil society and media by the Indian Occupation forces under the impugned draconian laws such as the Armed Special Forces Power Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA),” the commission said in a statement.
These laws are sources of impunity enjoyed by the Indian security forces to carry out blatant human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiris to silence their voices for their right to self-determination, the Commission added.
The Commission urged the international community to immediately intervene and pressurize the Indian government to immediately release Khurram Parvez, and restore all fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris and repeal its afore-mentioned discriminatory laws, which are incompatible with universal human rights standards and international human rights laws
