Amnesty International Urges India to End Repression of Dissent in Jammu and Kashmir

Amnesty International has called on Indian authorities to halt the ongoing repression of dissent in Jammu and Kashmir, coinciding with the first state-level elections in the region in a decade, Jurist News reported yesterday.

Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India, emphasized the need for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to freely participate in decision-making processes without fear of harassment or intimidation.

The backdrop of this call lies in the historical conflict over Kashmir, which has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, has led to increased unrest and human rights violations in the region.

Amnesty’s 2022 report highlighted a surge in human rights abuses, including police-involved deaths and restrictions on press freedom, such as internet shutdowns and travel bans on dissenting voices. Despite a Supreme Court ruling against indefinite internet suspensions, the situation remains dire for many journalists and activists in the region.