APHC Raises Alarm Over the Dire Conditions of Detained Kashmiri Leaders and Activists

As the health of Kashmiri political prisoners deteriorates, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has called for urgent international intervention to address the human rights violations taking place in IIOJK and India’s jails.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health and inhumane conditions faced by Hurriyat leaders and activists who are currently detained in jails across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and India. In a statement released from Srinagar, APHC spokesman Abdul Rashid Minhas highlighted the alarming situation, pointing out that despite the worsening health of these political prisoners, the Hindutva-driven BJP-led Indian government, along with the jail authorities, has continuously ignored their legitimate legal and medical needs.

The APHC vehemently condemned the denial of basic rights, including access to legal assistance and proper medical care, for these incarcerated individuals. This, according to the statement, is a blatant violation of the prisoners’ rights as protected by international human rights conventions. The APHC called on global human rights organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to take immediate action and intervene in the matter. They urged these organizations to address the plight of the illegally detained Kashmiri leaders and activists held in jails across India and IIOJK.

The statement also named several prominent political prisoners, including APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, and Fehmeeda Sofi, among others, who have suffered from various health issues during their prolonged detention. Many of these leaders have been incarcerated for years, enduring harsh conditions as they continue to advocate for the self-determination of the Kashmiri people and their freedom from Indian occupation.

The APHC paid tribute to the resilience and unwavering determination of these political prisoners, emphasizing that despite the harsh conditions, the Indian authorities have been unsuccessful in breaking their spirit. The APHC further urged the United Nations Secretary-General to intervene immediately, urging India to allow human rights organizations to visit the jails and assess the prisoners’ conditions to ensure their rights are upheld.

In addition to highlighting the prisoners’ suffering, the APHC reiterated its call for a peaceful and just resolution to the Kashmir conflict, in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The statement emphasized that the people of IIOJK have endured immense sacrifices since India’s illegal occupation in 1947, and their struggle for justice, self-determination, and freedom remains resolute.

As the situation grows more dire for these detained leaders, the international community’s attention is crucial in bringing attention to the ongoing human rights violations taking place in the region, and ensuring that the voices of Kashmiri political prisoners are heard.