SRINAGAR- The United Nations on Wednesday sought release of Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez and asked for amendment in Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and a probe into the Hyderpora civilian killings.
.@UNHumanRights on #Kashmir: We are deeply concerned at the arrest of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez under Indian counter-terrorism legislation. We are unaware of the factual basis of the charges. He is known as a tireless advocate for families of the disappeared. pic.twitter.com/RrgGSRlVxn
— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) December 1, 2021
“We are deeply concerned at the arrest of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez’ under Indian counter-terrorism legislation, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA),” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Rupert Colville said in a statement issued on Monday.
The UN has. raised concern over civilians killed by government forces in the course of anti-militancy operations including in Hyderpora recently, and disposal of their bodies in secret.
Parvez, who has now been in custody for more than a week, is accused of terrorism-related offences. “We are unaware of the factual basis of the charges. He is known as a tireless advocate for families of the disappeared and has been targeted before for his human rights work. In 2016, he was detained under another controversial law, the Public Safety Act, for two and a half months after being prevented from travelling to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He was released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court declared his detention illegal,” Colville said
