Srinagar, Dec 03: Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Mohd Ashraf Sehrai on Monday expressed serious concern over the ‘illegal incarceration, violations of the right to life, right to freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion, freedoms of peaceful assembly and association as well as other fundamental human rights of the people of Kashmir guaranteed by international human rights law, which India violated since decades.
While expressing serious concern over the plight of political prisoners lodged in detention centres in and outside Kashmir, Sehrai as per a statement issued to KNS that “the political prisoners for no reason are implicated in fake cases and ongoing human rights ‘violations’ being committed by the government forces where common people are facing the wrath of the forces and getting maimed, incarcerated and humiliated day in and day out.”
Sehrai said the draconian laws like PSA are invariably invoked to deny freedom of expression and freedom of assembly to people who are law abiding citizens.
“It also manifests that a proclaimed largest democracy is practising undemocratic methods. It is appalling that a large number of prisoners are arbitrarily detained and slapped with draconian laws. These include youths, elderly people and the lone breadwinners. This is against the Geneva Convention declaration for prisoners. Majority of prisoners lodged in state and outside prisons are kept in inhuman conditions as well,” he said.
He said the continued and illegal incarceration resistance leaders, activists and youth and shifting of prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir to outside jails, which is a violation of the Supreme Court guidelines.
“The mass shifting of Kashmiri prisoners to outside prisons is being done clandestinely even without informing their respective families which has added to the miseries’ of the parents whose loved ones have been languishing in jails for their only crime of demanding Kashmir resolution,” he said.
He said that the experiences of the political prisoners in Kashmir with respect to their health issues they have faced due to the imprisonment and the ill treatment they met with during imprisonment or detention is a topic of utmost consideration.
Hailing the services and sacrifices rendered by prisoners, Sehrai said, “They have created laudable history and we salute them for their steadfastness, persistence and commitment.”
Sehrai appealed international agencies and organizations for human rights to take cognizance of ‘unabated’ arrests, re-arresting detainees and use their influence to check ‘lawlessness and violations of court orders in state’.
Sehrai demanded unconditional release of all political leaders including Dr .Gh Mohd Bhat ,Peer Saifullah, Ayaz Akber, Raja Mehraj u Din Kalwaal, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Mohd Yousuf Falai, Ab Gani Bhat, Bashir Ahmed Qureshi, Sheikh Mod Ramzaan, Farooq Ahmed Shah, Umar Adil Dar, Haji Bashir Sofi, Ab Rehmaan Taantray, Bashir Ahmed Saliha, Ab Hamid Logri, Javed Ahmed , Mohd Amin Ahanger, Sartaj Ahmed Sheikh, Ashiq Hussain Naarchor, Nasir Abdullah Ganai, Ajaz Ahmed Bahroo, Ab Hameed Lone, Imtiyaaz Ahmed Mir, Zaffer ul Islaam Shah, Nazir Ahmed Mantoo, Mohd Yaseen Taantray, Syed Ahmed Sheikh, Shahid Tantray, Waseem Mehraj Farash, Bashir Saliha, Bashir Sofi, Ab Rehmaan Tantray, Shakeel Pandit, Rayees Mir, Danish Mushtaq, Gulzaar Lone, Ab Hameed Parray, Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, Mehar Naikoo, Lateef Dar, Ghulam Hassan Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Hadi Qayoom, Mushtaq Malik, Rouf Ahmed Sheikh and Tauseef Akber Bhat.
Meanwhile, Sehrai strongly condemned the continuous arbitrary arrest of JKLF Chairman Mohd Yasin Malik by the authorities and termed the frequent and prolonged incarcerations of JKLF chairman as ‘travesty of justice’.
While expressing his serious concern over the worsening health of Malik following which he has been shifted to SKIMS Hospital, he said that “frequent and prolonged incarcerations have taken a heavy toll on the health of Malik. No amount of intimidation can prevent leadership from speaking the truth and serving its cause.”
Sehrai demanded his immediate release and wished him speedy recovery. (KNS)
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