Why Activist Khurram Parvez was arrested?

Ground Report | New Delhi: Activist Khurram Parvez was arrested; Khurram Parvez is a well-known human rights activist and program coordinator of JKCCS, a union of human rights organizations. NIA officials raided his residence and JKCCS office in Srinagar on Monday 22 November and then took him for questioning.

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Activist Khurram Parvez arrested

Later Khurram Parvez was formally arrested and his family was sent to the arrest memo. According to the memo, charges have been filed against him under several sections of the IPC and UAPA. These include allegations of providing money for terrorist organizations and activities.

Although Khurram Parvez was initially detained for questioning, the NIA formally arrested him overnight. The arrest memorandum says he was arrested in the case, FIR RC-30/2021 / NIA / DLI filed Nov. 6, under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, 121 (to deliver, attempt to rid, instigate to wage a war against the government) and 121A (conspiracy to commit crimes punishable by Section 121); and Sections 17 (fundraising for terrorist acts), 18 (conspiracy), 18B (recruiting any person or persons for terrorist acts) and 40 (fundraising for a terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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Parvez has been charged under a strict anti-terrorism law for raising funds for terrorist acts. Provisions of the law, which critics call draconian, allow authorities to jail people without pressing charges for three months, and that period can be extended, The Washington Post reported.

'Illegal' arrests in 2016

In October 2020 also, NIA had raided several places in Kashmir including Parvez's house and office. Parvez has been targeted by agencies in the past as well. In 2016 he was charged and arrested under the controversial Jammu and Kashmir law PSA.

After 76 days of custody, he had to be released on the orders of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. At that time, the court had called his arrest "illegal" and said that the district magistrate who ordered his arrest had "abused" his powers. The court had also raised questions on the police investigation and witnesses.

“He’s not a terrorist, he’s a Human Rights Defender,” said Mary Lawlor, a U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/MaryLawlorhrds/status/1462821562566987781?

But it is clear that Parvez is still the target of police and other agencies. His arrest has been opposed by many politicians, journalists, and activists. The UN's Special Officer on Human Rights, Mary Lawler, supported Parvez in a tweet, writing that "he is not a terrorist but a defender of human rights".

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