India’s Republic Day contrasts with curbs on civil liberties in IIOJK: Zaffar Quraishi
London: Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global, Zaffar Ahmad Quraishi, has said that India’s Republic Day celebrations starkly contrast with the continuing restrictions on civil liberties in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a press statement in London issued on the eve of January 26, Quraishi cited recent reporting by Reuters revealing that Kashmiri journalists were summoned by police and forced to sign pledges not to “disturb peace” after reporting on the monitoring and profiling of mosques and religious institutions. He said press bodies have widely condemned the move as an attempt to intimidate independent media and silence critical reporting.
Quraishi also referred to ongoing restrictions imposed on religious and political leaders, including senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He said the Mirwaiz’s movement has again been curtailed, preventing him from performing his religious duties, which reflects systematic curbs on religious freedom in the occupied territory.
Highlighting the misuse of draconian laws, Quraishi pointed to the recent conviction by a Delhi court of Kashmiri women leaders Aasiya Andrabi, Sofi Fehmeeda, and Nahida Nasreen after nearly eight years in custody. He noted that while the court did not establish their involvement in any specific act, they were convicted on conspiracy and association charges under India’s counter-terrorism law, with sentencing still pending.
“Democratic credentials are measured by the protection of press freedom, religious liberty, and due process,” Quraishi said, stressing that counter-terrorism measures must not be used as a pretext for collective punishment of the Kashmiri people.
