Bureau Report
Srinagar: Advocate Arshad Iqbal, spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), strongly condemned the continued house detention of religious and political leader Mirwaiz Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq. He said keeping him from religious, social and political activities for so long violates fundamental human rights and religious freedom.
Iqbal also voiced grave concern over thousands of Kashmiri youth and political leaders held in Indian prisons, reportedly in harsh conditions and without basic facilities. He named Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam Bhat, Aasiya Andrabi, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Hamid Fayaz, Bilal Siddiqi, Mushtaq-ul-Islam and Naeem Ahmad Khan among those facing prolonged imprisonment.
He condemned raids on the homes of detainees and resistance leaders, harassment of their families and actions against their properties, saying these cause suffering and create an atmosphere of fear.
The DFP spokesperson appealed to Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross to take notice, seek access to Indian prisons, independently examine detention conditions and inform the international community.
He urged the United Nations, the international community and rights organizations to turn urgent attention to Kashmir and take meaningful steps to ensure the Kashmiri people’s fundamental rights and their right to self-determination.
