Khurram Parvez’s 4-year detention ‘unlawful’, his ‘only crime giving voice to those world preferred not to see’: Srinagar MP

“1,460 days. Four long years. Khurram Parvez remains locked inside a cell in Delhi’s Rohini Jail, 700 kilometres away from his children and his wife. His only ‘crime’ was giving voice to those the world preferred not to see,” Ruhullah said in a post on X. “They charged him under anti-terror laws, yet the only weapons Khurram ever carried were his words, his courage, and his relentless work. Even after an IED blast took two of his colleagues and cost him his leg, he refused to step back from the path of justice,” the National Conference leader said.

Ruhullah, in his post on Saturday, said the four years of Parvez’s detention “places a responsibility on all of us: to carry his work forward. Our greatest act of solidarity is to stand up every day, in our own small but steady ways, against oppression, against the shrinking of our rights, and for the dignity of our people”.

“For Khurram, for Irfan (Khurram’s associate who was arrested by NIA later), and for every Kashmiri who has dared to defend our rights — a Kashmir that speaks in one voice, for them and for itself, is the most powerful show of support we can offer,” Ruhullah said.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, has also called for the release of Parvez. “Today marks the fourth anniversary of the arbitrary detention of the Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez,” Lawlor said, adding, “It is a shameful date, one that leaves a dark stain on India’s human rights reputation. I call for his immediate release.”

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly, Gina Romero, has also called for Parvez’s release, calling his detention “arbitrary and unjust”.

“Today marks four years since HHRR defender Khurram Parvez was detained on fabricated, terrorism related charges in India. His detention is arbitrary, unjust and appears to be a reprisal for his HHRR work in Kashmir. I call for his immediate release,” she said.