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April 02, 2025 – Kashmir –
Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj has been detained without trial for over two years under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a law criticized for its broad and vague provisions that facilitate the suppression of dissent.
Arrested on March 20, 2023, by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), Mehraj faces charges related to alleged support for secessionist activities. He is accused of collaborating with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a human rights organization led by activist Khurram Parvez, who has also been detained under similar charges.
Despite his prominent role as the founding editor of Wande Magazine and a senior editor at TwoCircles.net, Mehraj has not been formally charged or granted a trial, raising concerns about the misuse of the UAPA to stifle independent journalism. International organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned his detention, calling for his immediate release and highlighting the broader implications for press freedom in the region.
The prolonged detention of Mehraj underscores the growing challenges faced by journalists and human rights defenders in Kashmir, where the application of the UAPA has been increasingly used to target individuals critical of the state. As of March 2025, Mehraj remains incarcerated without trial, with his case serving as a stark example of the potential for abuse inherent in the UAPA.
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