This is a letter from various UN Special Rapporteurs to the Government of India concerning allegations of arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and torture against Waheed Para, Irfan Ahmad Dar and Naseer Ahmad Wani, and reprisals against Waheed Para following engagement with UN Security Council members.

Topics: torture, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, ill-treatment, property destruction

Terms: Waheed Para, Irfan Ahmad Dar, Naseer Ahmad Wani, terrorism charges, custodial torture, National Investigation Agency, abusive interrogations, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Counter-Intelligence in Kashmir (CIK), victim intimidation, Rashtriya Rifles, human shields, vandalism, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance

This is the Indian Government's official response to a February 2021 press release issued by UN Special Rapporteurs on minority issues and freedom of religion or belief. “This press release calls into question the larger principles and objectivity and neutrality that the SRs are mandated by the Human Rights Council to adhere to.”

Topics: impunity, lack of accountability, failure of the UN, violation of international law, attacking credibility of UN

This report summarizes the human rights crisis in Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir during the period August 2020 through January 2021.

Topics: overview of human rights issues, civilian security, children and women, health, industry and employment, media

Terms: Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, preventive detention, arbitrary detention, district development council (DDC) elections, lockdown, Covid-19 pandmeic, loan defaults, high unemployment, no independent media, media intimidation, lack of venue for human rights, lack of venue for women's rights, lack of venue for child rights, no right to information, erosion of political and economic rights, land law changes, media policy, disempanelment of media, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), civiilan deaths, fake encounter killings of Imtiyaz Ahmad, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Abrar, killing of Irfan Ahmad Dar, killing of Babar Qadri, fake enconter killing of Aijaz Maqbool Gania, Athar Mushtaq Wani and Zubair Ahmed Lone, killing of Satpal Nischal, harrassment of civilians by government forces, destruction of civilian property, internet freedom, internet speed, judicial response to violations, access to justice, habeas corpus, Public Safety Act (PSA), raids on human rights defenders, educational access, Roshni Act, Muharram processions, violence against women, demolition drive of Gujjar and Bakerwal homes, violations of right to habeas corpus, right to fair and speedy trial, right to education, right to heal and medical care, right to free speech and expression, right to peaceful assembly, right to work, freedom of the press, right to know, right to registration of complaints, right to magisterial investigation in cases of alleged custodial deaths, right to due process in arrests, right to regular, free and fair elections, rights of indigenous and forest dwelling communities, rights of burial according to religion, women’s rights to protection against violence, sexual harassment and access to women’s police stations

This communication from the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom from Racial Discrimination and Freedom of Religion expresses concern regarding the elimination of Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomy status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India and the implementation of the new Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (“Domicile Rules”) and other legislation in Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir. These changes may lead to a reduced level of political representation and participation of the native groups (Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Sikh, Ladhaki and other minorities), due to the abolishment of the regional government and its power to legislate. In addition, newly adopted legislation may cause demographic changes and risks undermining the linguistic and cultural rights and the freedom of religion or belief of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the autonomous region which had been established in 1947 to guarantee their ethnic, linguistic and religious identities. Other concerns relating to the deterioration of the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including alleged ongoing human rights violations of India’s Kashmiri minorities, particularly Kashmiri Muslims.

Topics: minority rights in state of Jammu and Kashmir

Terms: violation of international human rights law, abrogation of Article 370A, local land rights, residency rights, Kashmiri Muslim, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Sikh, Ladakhi and other minorities, Human Rights Council resolutions 43/8, 43/4, 41/12, 43/46 and 40/10.

This is a communicatin from five UN Special Rapporteurs (on minority issues, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, racial discrimination and freedom of belief to the Government of India expressing grave concern on the loss of autonomy and implementation of new Domicile Rules and other legislation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir which may lead to a reduced level of political representation and participation of native groups, cause demographic changes and undermine the cultural rights and freedom of belief of the people

Topics: violations of political rights, violations of cultural rights, violations of social rights, Domicile Rules

Terms: reduced political representation, demographic change, violatios of freedom of belief, Domicile Rules, indigenous rights