ICAED is deeply concerned by the detention without legal basis of a member of its Steering Committee and Human Rights Activist, Khurram Parvez.
On 14 September 2016, Mr. Parvez was prevented from boarding his plane to Geneva, where he was going to participate in the Human Rights Council, despite having an invitation, a valid visa and all other necessary documents. At that time, Mr. Parvez was held by airport authorities who informed him that this action resulted from an order from the Intelligence Bureau, but no written order was shown to him. The day after this incident, Mr. Parvez received a call from the police asking to come to the local station for questioning. Even though he agreed to come the day after, he was arrested without warrant and kept under preventive detention in Kothi Bagh police station. The following day, Mr. Parvez was charged under section 107 and 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for breach of peace and design to commit cognizable offense, and was later transferred to Kupwara sub -jail on 16 September 2016, away from his family and lawyer. ICAED is also concerned that Kupwara’s sub -jail was not adequately equipped to fulfill Mr. Parvez particular needs due to his disability, despite a medical officer taking record of this disability.
Five days after the beginning of his detention, on 20 September 2016, Mr. Parvez’s case was reviewed by the principal District and Session judge in Srinagar who set aside Mr. Parvez’s remand order, and ordered his release. Despite this court order, Mr. Parvez was not released and was taken to Kupwara police station and subsequently to Kothi Bagh police station. His lawyer was informed that he is being detained under the Public Safety Act but no order, warrant or grounds for detention were given. Mr. Parvez’s Lawyer has approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar about this detention in violation of the Sessions Court order and the police should be submitting a report on it on 23 September. According to the latest information, Mr. Parvez has now been transferred to Jammu jail, 300 km away from his family and legal counsel.
This detention is taking place in clear violation of the Sessions Court order and international human rights standards. Thus, ICAED urges the Indian authorities to release Mr. Parvez without further delay.
Press contact:
- Mary Aileen Bacalso : fpicaed@gmail.com
