The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined 32 civil society organizations in a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj, who marked three years in arbitrary pre-trial detention on March 20.
In the joint statement, the organizations said Mehraj’s detention reflects a pattern of persecution of journalists and human rights defenders in Indian-administrated Jammu and Kashmir. They urged Indian authorities to repeal the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act — which have been used to silence journalists and activists — to enable an environment for civil society and the news media to operate freely in the region.
CPJ research shows at least 15 journalists have been charged since 2014 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an anti-terror law that allows for detention without trial or charge for up to 180 days.
India currently holds two journalists in prison, according to CPJ’s latest data.
Read the full statement here.