RAWALPINDI: A Kashmiri delegation met United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst during the 37th session of United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva.
During the meeting, the Kashmiri delegation briefed the special rapporteur about the situation
of human rights defenders in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK). “Defenders, especially the journalists and lawyers, are harassed, intimidated, and detained by forces,” a message received here on Wednesday read.
The Kashmiri delegation gave a detailed briefing to Forst about the situation of human rights defenders in IOK, saying that these defenders, especially the journalists and lawyers, were threatened and detained by the Indian occupation forces.
The delegation also discussed the Indian government’s policy of denying travel documents to political leaders and human rights defenders who wanted to travel to Kashmir. The suspension of internet services and media gag by India was also discussed at length in the meeting.
It was brought to the notice of the special rapporteur that in 2017, the Indian government suspended internet service 42 times in IOK under the colonial British law Indian Telegraphic Act, 1885, and thereby deprived the people of the right to freedom of speech and expression.
Furthermore, the Kashmiri delegation praised Forst for his concern on the situation of human rights defenders around the globe, especially in IOK. In addition, serious concerns were raised by the participants of the meeting on the continuous detention of photojournalist Kamran Yousaf, who was languishing in Tihar jail for the last couple of months.
Leader of the delegation and Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) Executive Director Sardar Amjad Yousaf later told reporters over telephone from Geneva that the Kashmiri delegation also brought to the attention of the UN special rapporteur the fake encounter maneuvered by the Indian occupation forces in Shopian where six innocent Kashmiris lost their lives, and the arrest of noted human rights defender Parvez Imroz who was arrested by the occupational forces for exposing the systematic human rights violations committed by the Indian security forces.
Other members of the Kashmiri delegation included All Parties Hurriyat Conference members Hassan Banna, Advocate Parvez Ahmad Shah, Shamim Shawl and Professor Shugfta Ashraf.
