Geneva: Kashmiri delegation on Tuesday met with Michel Frost Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, during the 37th session of United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva.
During the meeting, Kashmiri delegation briefed the Special Rapporteur about the situation of human rights defenders in occupied Jammu and Kashmir where these defenders especially the journalists and lawyers are harassed, intimidated, and detained by Indian Occupation forces.
The delegation also discussed the denial of travel documents to political leaders and human rights defenders. The suspension of internet services and media gages was also discussed at length. It was brought in to the notice of special Rapporteur that government of Indian in 2017, under the colonial British law Indian Telegraphic Act, 1885 suspended internet service 42 times in Indian occupied Kashmir and thereby deprived the people from the valuable right of freedom of speech and expression.
The delegation praised the special rapporteur for his concerns on the situation of human rights defenders around the globe especially in Indian Occupied Kashmir and serious concerns were shown on the continuous detention of Kamran Yousf photojournalist who is languishing in Tihar Jail for a couple of months. The delegation also brought the attention of special rapporteur towards the arrest of noted human rights defender Parvez imroz who was arrested by occupation forces for promoting the systematic human rights violation committed by Indian occupation forces. The delegation comprised of Sardar Amjad Yousf Executive Director Kashmir Insititute of International relations, Hassan Banna Member APHC, Advocate Parvez Ahmad Shah member APHC, Shamem Shawl member APHC and Professor Shugfta Ashraf