Our concerns over the situation of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir have been shared with your Excellency’s Government through a previous joint communication dated 6 May 2020 (IND 8/2020). We regret that no reply has yet been received to this communication.

As it is our responsibility, under the mandates provided to us by the Human Rights Council, to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful for the observations of your Excellency’s Government on the following matters:

• Please provide any additional information and/or comment(s) you may have on the above-mentioned allegations.
• Please provide information on the legal and factual basis for the arrests and charges brought against the aforementioned journalists and how these are compatible with your Excellency’s Government’s international human rights obligations under the ICCPR. Please provide information about the journalist’s access to legal representation during the periods they were detained.
• Please provide information on the legal basis for the decision of the State Department to close the allotment of the Kashmir Times office and how this decision complies with India’s obligations under international human rights law. 
• Please provide information on the compatibility of the criminal charges against Mr. Javeed, Mr. Shah and Mr Qazi with your Excellency’s Government’s obligations under international human rights law.
• Please indicate what measures have been taken to ensure that journalists and human rights defenders of the region are able to carry out their peaceful and legitimate work in a safe and enabling environment without fear of threats or acts of intimidation and harassment of any sort.