ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) strongly condemned the illegal arrest of renowned Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Pervaiz by India’s notorious National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Chairman KIIR, Altaf Hussain Wani on Tuesday took strong exception to the arrest of Khurram Pervaiz by NIA and termed it as the latest flagrant violation of international law and basic human rights.
“KIIR strongly condemns the ongoing persecution and reprisals by the Indian occupation authorities against civil society and human rights defenders, who played key role in highlighting the rights situation in the region in the aftermath of 5th August 2019 when the valley was turned into an information black-hole for the outer world”, Wani said, adding that Khurram has been one of those leading voices who refused to succumb under pressure tactics, risked their lives and tore into shreds India’s false and fabricated normalcy narrative on Kashmir by bringing to the fore the on-ground-realities in Kashmir.
The Indian occupation authorities, he said, have responded to the expression of dissent and the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression with arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and a campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting the work of Kashmiri rights activists.
“Khurram Pervaiz is being victimized for his work and standing up for the rights of his own people, calling spade a spade and speaking truth to the power”, Wani said, adding the he has been under fire over the role he played in exposing India’s dodgy and destructive role in Kashmir.
Expressing his serious concern about the safety and security of Pervaiz, Wani said that the recent raids on the residence and office of the high-profile rights activist (Pervaiz) and his subsequent arrest was part of the Indian government’s nefarious game plan to enable complete silence on Kashmir.
Demanding urgent release of Khurram Pervaiz and other rights activists he said that it was high time the world human rights watchdogs should take effective cognizance of his unjustified and unwarranted arrest and play their due role in his early release.
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