Khurram Parvez

Chairperson of AFAD and JKCCS

Jammu & Kashmir

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on November 23, 2021, regarding the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arresting Mr. Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri HRD, under the draconian anti-terror law the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 

Mr. Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri HRD and Chairperson of AFAD and JKCCS. 

NIA conducted the raids at several locations in Kashmir including at the offices of JKCCS based on the NIA FIR in October 2020. Under Section 120-B and 124-A of IPC and 17, 18, 22A, 22C, 38, 39, and 40 of the UAPA. 

Again, on 22^nd November 2021, the NIA officials conducted a raid on the office premises of JKCCS as well as the residence of Mr. Parvez in Srinagar, Kashmir, where they were seized the laptop and phone by them and taken for questioning to the NIA office at Church Lane. On the same day, Mr. Parvez’s family received an arrest memo under sections 50(1) and 50A(1) of the CrPC and arrested him in the evening under sections 120B, 121, and 121A of IPC and sections 17, 18, 18B, 38 and 40 of the UAPA.

We believe that an internationally renowned HRD like Mr. Parvez has been arrested under the fabricated charges of the UAPA are a blatant misuse of powers to intimidate him and are an act of reprisal for covering issues of human rights abuses by the State and its security agencies.