On Wednesday, the United Nations denounced the arrest of Human Rights defender Khurram Parvez, who was recently detained by the National Investigating Agency (India).
The UN in its statement said that they are deeply concerned about the arrest of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez under Indian counter-terrorism legislation.
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“We are unaware of the factual basis of the charges. He is known as a tireless advocate for families of the disappeared,” the UN added.
Earlier various civil society organizations have come forward to raise concerns against the arrest.
Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, took to micro-blogging site Twitter to raise concern over Khurram’s arrest.
“I’m hearing disturbing reports that Khurram Parvez was arrested today in Kashmir & is at risk of being charged by authorities in #India with terrorism-related crimes. He’s not a terrorist, he’s a Human Rights Defender,” Lawlor tweeted.
It is pertinent to mention that Parvez was arrested by the National Investigating Agency from his house in Srinagar last week after the NIA sleuths also raided his house and office.
Khurram is associated with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. His family said that they received an arrest warrant (case 30/2021) in Khurram’s name on Monday evening. “He was taken for questioning by the officials who said they were from the NIA,” sources said.
The family said that Khurram’s phone, laptop, and some books have been taken in by the forces. And that he will be taken to Delhi.
It is worth mentioning that on September 21, 2016, Khurram was booked under Public Safety Act after District Magistrate Srinagar in this regard issued an order. His detention courted criticism and condemnation from various rights groups internationally.
Meanwhile David Kaye, a former UN special Rapporteur took to twitter and said, Khurram’s arrest is yet another extraordinary abuse in Kashmir.