DFP urges UN chief to intervene in unjust conviction of Kashmiri women activists
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has expressed grave concern over the unlawful conviction and harsh sentencing of three Kashmiri women activists under India’s draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), terming it a blatant attempt to silence dissent in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the party highlighted that an Indian court on March 24, 2026 sentenced prominent resistance leader Aasiya Andrabi to life imprisonment, while her associates Fehmeeda Sofi and Nahida Nasreen were each awarded 30-year prison terms. The letter noted that the court failed to establish any involvement of the women in acts of violence, funding, or militancy.
The DFP stated that the convictions raise serious questions about the rule of law, freedom of expression, and political rights in the occupied territory. It emphasized that such actions reflect a pattern of politically motivated prosecutions aimed at targeting voices that challenge New Delhi’s policies in the region.
The party warned that the continued use of draconian laws like the UAPA against peaceful activists, particularly women, illustrates India’s growing reliance on coercive measures to suppress the Kashmiri people’s legitimate demand for their right to self-determination. It added that these acts are part of a broader strategy to criminalize dissent and intimidate civil society.
The letter urged the United Nations to take immediate cognizance of the situation and intervene to ensure justice for the convicted women. It called for the release of all political prisoners in IIOJK and stressed the need for an impartial international investigation into the misuse of anti-terror laws in the territory.
The JKDFP further appealed to the international community to hold India accountable for its human rights violations in Kashmir and to play a proactive role in resolving the longstanding dispute in accordance with UN resolutions.
