Kashmiri journalist arrested under UAPA

The NIA said that Irfan Mehraj’s arrest followed a comprehensive investigation into a NGO’s terror funding case, which was registered in October 2020.

Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Srinagar on Monday for allegedly propagating a secessionist agenda under the garb of protecting human rights. Separately, the agency also charge-sheeted an alleged militant associate.

Mr. Mehraj worked for the online portal TwoCircles.net, which focusses on news about marginalised communities, and also edited Wande Magazine, an online magazine of longform writing. The NIA said that his arrest followed a comprehensive investigation into a non-governmental organization’s (NGO) terror funding case, which was registered in October 2020.

“Mr. Mehraj was a close associate of Khurram Parvez and was working with his organization, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS). Investigation revealed that the JKCCS was funding terror activities in the Valley and had also been in propagation of a secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” the NIA said.

Also read: Global rights bodies call for release of Kashmir-based activist Khurram Parvez

Mr. Parvez, 46, whose organisation worked on alleged custodial disappearances and rights abuses in J&K, was arrested in 2022. The JKCCS was awarded the Rafto Prize for human rights in 2017. Mr. Parvez’s arrest was condemned by human rights groups, as well as by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor. Mr. Parvez is facing charges under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in a case that pertains to “criminal conspiracy and illegal money transfer for terror activities”.

The Press Club of India (PCI) “vehemently opposed the imposing of UAPA on mediapersons”, according to its statement. “The misuse of this draconian law by the NIA in randomly arresting Irfan Mehraj, a journalist from Kashmir ominously points towards a violation of freedom of speech and expression. We demand his immediate release,” a PCI spokesman said.

The Journalist Federation of Kashmir, a Kashmir-based journalists’ body, also condemned the arrest. “Mehraj is a hardworking journalist whose work has appeared in several local, national and international platforms. He regularly contributed to the international broadcasters Deutsche Welle (DW), Al Jazeera and TRT. His work has also appeared in The Caravan, Himal Magazine, Brighter Kashmir and Rising Kashmir. His arrest seems to be another tactic of intimidating journalists in Kashmir who have always worked under perilous conditions, holding up values of press freedom in the face of dangers to life and liberty,” it said.