India Targets Academic Over Criticising Rising Crackdown on Kashmiris in IIOJK

In a move sparking international concern, India has cancelled the overseas citizenship of renowned Kashmiri academic Dr. Nitasha Kaul, intensifying fears over its growing intolerance toward dissent—both at home and abroad.

The Indian government has revoked the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of Dr. Nitasha Kaul, a British-based Kashmiri Pandit academic, in what is widely being condemned as a retaliation for her critical views on India’s human rights record and democratic decline.

Dr. Kaul, who teaches at the University of Westminster in London, shared the official cancellation notice on social media, describing it as a clear case of “transnational repression.” She accused the Indian authorities of punishing her for her scholarly work, which often highlights the treatment of minorities in India and the political situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“IMPORTANT NOTE – I received a cancellation of my #OCI… A bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of #TNR (transnational repression) punishing me for scholarly work,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter), drawing attention from global academics, human rights groups, and activists.

Dr. Kaul’s academic work frequently addresses the erosion of democratic institutions and increasing authoritarianism under PM Narendra Modi’s government. Her research and public commentary have focused on the marginalization of minorities, particularly in IIOJK, making her a consistent target of backlash from state-aligned voices.

This is not the first time she has faced state interference. In 2023, she was deported from Bengaluru shortly after arriving to attend an academic conference. The sudden and unexplained deportation was seen by many as part of a broader pattern of silencing critics of the Indian government.

Dr. Kaul, originally from IIOJK, began her academic journey at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce and later pursued postgraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Hull in the UK. Her scholarship has earned her international recognition, but her critical stance has also drawn the ire of Indian authorities.

The cancellation of her OCI—a status that allows foreign nationals of Indian origin to live and work in India indefinitely—underscores the increasing measures taken by the Indian government to suppress dissent, even from voices based abroad. Rights defenders argue that this sets a troubling precedent for academic freedom and freedom of speech.

Critics warn that India’s move to strip a scholar of her overseas citizenship for expressing dissent reflects a deeper shift toward authoritarianism. The targeting of academics and activists, even those with heritage ties to India, sends a disturbing message about the cost of opposing the state narrative.

As concerns over democratic backsliding in India continue to mount, Dr. Kaul’s case is being viewed as emblematic of a broader crackdown on intellectual freedom, dissent, and Kashmiri advocacy.