KIIR Chairman denounces detention of environmental activist Rehmatullah
Islamabad: Chairman of Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) Altaf Hussain Wani has strongly denounced the detention of Rehmatullah Ahmed, a young and dedicated environmental activist from Doda, occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Altaf Hussain Wani in a letter addressed to UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland said Rehmatullah Ahmed has been detained and booked under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) by the IIOJK authorities.
Following is the full text of the letter:
“Michel Forst Nov 15, 24 UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders United Nations Office at Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Subject: Urgent Appeal Regarding the Detention of Environmental Activist Rehmatullah Ahmed Excellency,
I write to urgently bring to your attention the case of Rehmatullah Ahmed, a young and dedicated environmental activist from Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, who has been detained and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) by the local authorities.
This detention appears to be part of a broader and concerning pattern of using draconian security laws against activists, particularly those raising issues related to environmental degradation, public health and civic rights in the region. Background: Rehmatullah Ahmed, a vocal critic of the unscientific disposal of solid waste in Doda, has long been at the forefront of challenging local government inefficiencies and advocating for sustainable development. His activism took a pivotal turn in November 2023 when he raised concerns about the failure of a solid waste management project initiated by the National Building Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) in 2008.
Despite substantial investment, the project failed to address the growing environmental hazards caused by improper waste disposal and the toxic burning of garbage in Doda town. In a video posted on November 6, Rehmatullah accused the Doda administration and local authorities of negligence, calling the unscientific garbage disposal a “scam” that endangered public health.
Rehmatullah’s detention comes closely on the heels of the arrest of five trade union leaders from Kishtwar, who were also detained under the PSA for raising concerns about the environmental impact of ongoing power projects in the region.
Both sets of arrests indicate a troubling trend where the PSA, a law intended for preventing threats to public safety, is increasingly being used to silence legitimate environmental activism and critical voices in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rehmatullah, who was previously detained under the PSA in 2016, had his detention quashed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 2017 on grounds that he was deprived of his fundamental right to make effective representation against his detention.
Despite this, he has once again been targeted, this time under allegations of being an “overground worker and sympathizer of militants”—charges that appear to be entirely fabricated and aimed at discrediting his activism.
No formal charges related to anti-terror activities have been filed against him and he has been granted bail in multiple previous cases. Urgent Appeal: Excellency, the detention of Rehmatullah Ahmed under the PSA is a blatant violation of his rights and a direct attempt to suppress his efforts to hold the administration accountable on environmental and public health issues.
It is imperative that the international community take immediate notice of this development and demand the release of Rehmatullah and other activists who have been unjustly detained under the same law. The use of the PSA to silence critics and activists in Jammu and Kashmir has become an alarming trend, particularly since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
This law, which has been widely condemned by human rights organizations like Amnesty International, is being increasingly weaponized against those who question government policies or advocate for environmental protection and civic rights.
It is crucial that the United Nations and other international bodies act swiftly to ensure that such practices are not allowed to continue. We appeal to your Excellency to urgently intervene in this matter and call upon the Government of India to cease the misuse of the PSA against environmental and civic activists like Rehmatullah Ahmed.
His only “crime” is his commitment to raising awareness about critical issues affecting his community, including pollution, waste management and the broader environmental consequences of unchecked development.
Rehmatullah’s detention is not only an infringement of his fundamental rights but also a clear message to other activists that their voices will be silenced if they dare to challenge the status quo.
As a champion of human rights, we implore you to advocate for his immediate release and to press for accountability regarding the misuse of security laws in Jammu and Kashmir. We remain hopeful that your intervention will help prevent further suppression of free speech and activism in the region and protect the rights of individuals who seek justice for their communities.
Sincerely,
Altaf Hussain Wani,
Chairman, Kashmir Institute of International Relations
Tel: 051 8356310 Cell # +92 300 514216″.
