National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament, Aga Syed Ruhullah, has urgently demanded the immediate and unconditional release of human rights activist Khurram Parvez, who has now spent over 1,400 days in jail.
“For more than 1,400 days, the BJP-RSS government has unjustly detained Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez. His imprisonment is not just an affront to his personal dignity, but a calculated assault on the collective rights and liberties of all Kashmiris,” stated MP Ruhullah.
He further elaborated that by silencing Khurram, the authorities aim to deprive the people of Kashmir of the very sense of protection and accountability that a dedicated human rights advocate provides.
“His absence is intended to erode their confidence and deny them the assurance that someone will speak out when their rights are violated,” Mr. Ruhullah emphasized.
Khurram Parvez, a 46-year-old human rights activist based in Kashmir, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2021.
Parvez previously served as the program coordinator for the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and as Chairman of the Board for the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD).
The JKCCS was recognized with the Rafto Prize for human rights in 2017. The NIA carried out Parvez’s arrest under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).