India Bans Kashmiri Political Organizations Under UAPA in IIOJK

The ban, enforced under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), marks yet another step by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to silence political voices advocating for Kashmiri self-determination.

The Indian government has imposed a five-year ban on the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Masroor Abbas Ansari, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The ban, enforced under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), marks yet another step by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to silence political voices advocating for Kashmiri self-determination.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Amit Shah, issued two separate notifications declaring these political organizations unlawful. The justification for the ban was that the AAC and JKIM allegedly promote anti-India sentiments and support the region’s right to self-determination, which India considers a threat to its sovereignty.

The notification further stated that if not banned, the AAC would continue to advocate for Jammu and Kashmir’s freedom from Indian rule and intensify the ongoing struggle. The BJP government has accused AAC of inciting protests, encouraging election boycotts, and making speeches against Indian occupation. Several cases, including sedition and unlawful assembly, have been registered against AAC members, particularly Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in various police stations across Srinagar.

Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM) was also banned on identical charges. The BJP government claims that the organization’s activities challenge India’s territorial claims over Jammu and Kashmir and contradict its national interests. Critics argue that the ban is a calculated move to stifle all political resistance in the disputed region.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the ban, calling it an unjust attack on Kashmiri political organizations. He stated that the AAC, formed in 1964 during the Holy Relic agitation, has always pursued a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict through democratic and non-violent means. He lamented that members of AAC have endured imprisonment, persecution, and even martyrdom in their struggle for the Kashmiri people’s rights. He further accused the Indian government of using force to suppress the truth, asserting that while voices may be silenced, the struggle for justice will continue.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) spokesperson, Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, termed the ban as state terrorism. He denounced it as a deliberate attempt by the BJP-led government to crush the Kashmiri people’s legitimate demands and political expression. He urged the international community, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the European Union (EU), to intervene and ensure the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.

The ban on AAC and JKIM is seen as part of India’s broader crackdown on political dissent in Kashmir, which has intensified since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. The continued suppression of Kashmiri political organizations further highlights the growing human rights concerns in the region. International bodies and human rights organizations have repeatedly called for India to halt its repressive measures and engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute.