Ruhullah says BJP-RSS regime silencing rights defenders, seeks release of Khurram
Srinagar: National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Agha Syed Ruhullah has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of noted Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez, who has been languishing in jail for over 1,400 days under draconian laws.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Ruhullah said that keeping Khurram Parvez in unlawful captivity since 2021 is not only an assault on his dignity but a calculated attack on the collective rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people. “By silencing Khurram, the BJP-RSS regime seeks to strip Kashmiris of the very sense of protection and accountability that a vigilant human rights defender provides,” he added.
The NC leader said Khurram’s absence is meant to erode the confidence of the people and deny them the reassurance that someone will raise the alarm when their rights are trampled.
Khurram Parvez, 46, was arrested by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) under black provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He had been serving as Program Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and Chairman of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD).
JKCCS, known globally for documenting human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was awarded the Rafto Prize for human rights in 2017. Rights groups worldwide, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly called for Khurram’s release, terming his arrest an attempt to stifle independent voices in the occupied territory.
