RTI Movement calls for release of environmental activist Rehmatullah
Voicing concerns against environmental degradation, policy violations a crime
RehmatullahRelease#
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, voicing Concerns against environmental degradation and policy Violations has become a crime, as evident in the detention of environmental activist Rehmatullah Padder from Doda under the draconian Public Safety Act. The Right to Information (RTI) Movement demands his immediate release.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued in Srinagar, RTI Movement Chairman Dr. Muzaffar Butt appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and ensure that charges against Rehmatullah are dropped. Dr. Muzaffar highlighted that Rehmatullah’s activism exposed the occupation regime as a case has been registered against the activist for raising voice against the dumping of waste in forest areas of Doda in violation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Rules 2016.
“Booking him under the draconian law Public Safety Act is highly condemnable, as people like him work for public safety through their climate and environmental efforts,” said Dr. Muzaffar, urging an investigation into the circumstances of Rehmatullah’s detention.
Rehmatullah’s detention highlights a troubling trend where social activists and environmental advocates face harsh reprisals under draconian laws for raising their voices against environmental degradation and policy violations, especially in occupied jammu and Kashmir.
Across the occupied territory, similar cases reflect how authorities employ stringent laws to stifle voices raising critical environmental issues. For instance, in 2022, journalist and environmental activist Fahad Shah was detained multiple times under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for reporting on ecological harm due to unchecked infrastructure projects in sensitive areas. Similarly, the Kashmiri lawyer and activist Talib Hussain, known for his advocacy on forest preservation, faced intimidation and legal action when he highlighted illegal encroachments and deforestation in the Jammu region.
The RTI Movement warned that the misuse of these laws not only undermines democratic values but also discourages efforts to protect Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem, calling on authorities to uphold the rights of those committed to safeguarding the environment and public health.
