In a report expressing concern with the “acts of alleged arbitrary detention and intimidation of journalists covering the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” the United Nations has demanded an explanatory response regarding the mentioned cases from the government of India.
The editor-in-chief of the news organization The Kashmiriyat, Qazi Shibli, was among other journalists mentioned along with the daily journal The Kashmir Times.
The report also makes a mention of the ordeals of The Kashmir Walla editor – Fahad Shah and two other independent journalists – Auqib Javeed and Sajad Gul.
It sums up how on 29 July 2019, Shibli was detained in Anantnag allegedly for “reporting a story related to the deployment of security troopers in the Kashmir valley,” before the abrogation of the Articles 370 and 35-A on 5 August, 2019.
“After being questioned intermittently, he was kept in detention under the Public Safety Act for a period of 9 months and placed in solitary confinement.buy kamagra effervescent online https://pridedentaloffice.com/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/new/kamagra-effervescent.html no prescription He was subsequently released on 24 April 2020,” says the report.
In July 2020, once again, Shibli was arrested “for reporting on a Fake Encounter in Shopian Kashmir. He was reportedly detained for more than 18 days with no access to legal representation.”
It’s pertinent to mention that this particular issue was widely reported after Shibli brought it out and after investigation, the allegations of the families of the deceased persons turned out to be true.
Among other things in the report, the closing of the Kashmir Times was one of the concerns mentioned. “We are also deeply concerned by the alleged closure of the Kashmir Times offices, which also seems to be connected to its independent and reportedly outspoken reporting in the region,” it reads.
It says that while the U.N. does not “wish to prejudge the accuracy of the information made available to us, we express serious concern at the reported acts of harassment and seemingly arbitrary detention and criminal proceedings and detentions levied or imposed against the aforementioned journalists, which is reportedly related to their journalistic activities on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The report expresses particular concern with the fact that “some of the above journalists seemingly did not have access to legal representatives while in detention, in apparent contravention of the right to counsel and to a fair trial under international human rights law.”
“We are deeply concerned that these alleged violations of the rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and to a fair trial and defence guarantees may be part of a broader pattern of silencing of independent reporting in Jammu and Kashmir,” which might end up deterring other journalists and civil society from reporting on issues of “public interest and human rights in the region.”
It reads that the U.N. was also “deeply troubled by the fact that, in addition to being punished for it, some of these journalists were reportedly told or threatened to change the focus of their reporting, sometimes on vague national security related grounds.”
It says to the GoI that “any limitations must be determined by law and must conform to the strict test of necessity and proportionality must be applied only for those purposes for which they were prescribed and must be directly related to the specific need on which they are predicated.”
The U.N. seeking clarification from the Government of India, in all cases brought to their attention, has asked for additional information regarding all the allegations made in the report and the legal and factual basis for the arrests and charges against the journalists mentioned in the report, and information on the legal basis for the decision of the State Department to close The Kashmir Time’s office.
“Please provide information on the compatibility of the criminal charges against Mr. Javeed, Mr. Shah and Mr Qazi with your Excellency’s Government’s obligations under international human rights law,” the report demands.
It also seeks from the government of India, the information on the measures that have been taken to ensure the peaceful and legitimate work “in a safe and enabling environment without fear of threats or acts of intimidation and harassment of any sort.buy viagra super dulox force online https://pridedentaloffice.com/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/new/viagra-super-dulox-force.html no prescription ”
The report dated June 03, 2021, was sent to the GoI, for it to respond within 60 days, after which, the report was supposed to be made public via their communications reporting website.
Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Elina Steinerte, the Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have also urged to the GoI that “all necessary interim measures be taken to halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence and in the event that the investigations support or suggest the allegations to be correct to ensure the accountability of any person(s) responsible for the alleged violations.”