Chairperson DHR Amina Masood Janjua calls for release of illegally detained Kashmiri journalist Irfan Meraj & HR activist Khurram Pervez

ISLAMABAD, April 05 (SABAH): Terming arrest of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Meraj and Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Pervez in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as vindictive actions by Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA), non-government organization Defence of Human Rights (DHR) on Wednesday urged the authorities concerned to release them forthwith.

In a statement issued by the DHR here, Irfan Meraj is an independent journalist and an editor of Online Line Portal. Before this, he used to work in Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society as a researcher. He was called for interrogation on March 20 in NIA office and afterwards was arrested over allegation of illegal funding to non-government organizations.  The journalist was then produced before a court in New Delhi and 10-day remand was obtained on March 22.

Khurram Pervez is a coordinator of JKCCS and has been in Tihar jail since last 16 months. NIA arrested him in 2021 for his alleged involvement in illegal activities. These arrests are being made to spread fear among the people of Jammu and Kashmir

Defence of Human Rights called the international community to stop this systematic targeting of human rights activists in the occupied Kashmir, who seek to practice their profession in the occupied land without fear. Chairperson DHR Amina Masood Janjua stressed upon India to stop illegal and immoral activities against Kashmiris.