Khurram Parvez is an internationally acclaimed human rights defender. He is the Co-founder and Program Coordinator for the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances. He has devoted his life to conducting groundbreaking human rights investigations in many places, but especially in his home, Kashmir. He’s risked his own life to defend victims of torture, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings.
Khurram and JKCCS are internationally recognized as model human rights defenders. Khurram works directly with victims of human rights violations and their families to document and investigate their experiences and seek accountability for violations. In 2023, Khurram was awarded the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, in 2022 he was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2022,” and in 2006 he won the Reebok Human Rights Award.
On November 22, 2021, Khurram was arrested by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)—a law condemned by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and international civil society because it violates international laws and norms and has resulted in widespread abuses.
Khurram is a prisoner of conscience. He is being illegally detained.
Irfan Mehraj is a talented journalist, researcher and avid human rights activist. He is the founder and editor of Wande Magazine and editor of Two Circles where he writes about human rights abuses, challenges facing Kashmiris of all faiths, and everyday life in Indian-administer Kashmir. He has also been published in a number of global publications including Deutsche Welle, The Indian Express, TRT World, The Wire, The Caravan, Himal Southasian and NewArab.
In 2024, Irfan was awarded the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award in recognition for his incredible journalism and human rights work.
On March 20, 2023, Irfan was arrested by India’s NIA under the UAPA for his alleged connections with JKCCS. Ifran remains imprisoned in Delhi awaiting due process more than 500 miles away from his family, friends, and support network in Kashmir.
Irfan is a prisoner of conscience. He is being illegally detained.
Khurram Parvez, why is he in jail today? He is a tentpole in Kashmir who walks the line between what the state has done to its people and standing against militarism. His organization has documented the horror of what the Indian state has done in Kashmir. That is why he is in jail because he is actually exposing the terrorism and terrorists that the Indian state is. That is why he is in jail.
Hello, I’m David Barsamian. I want to speak on behalf of a very courageous human rights defender, Khurram Parvez. He has done tremendous work in the field of human rights and deserves our congratulations for all he has accomplished over many, many years. His release from imprisonment is demanded by all people of good conscience. Khurram Parvez, zindabad.
Khurram’s unjust detention is not only an attack on him but on the human rights movement at large. By amplifying his case, we reinforce our collective stand against the criminalization of human rights work and systemic oppression in Jammu and Kashmir. Show your support for Khurram, Irfan, and all political prisoners. Download our full social media toolkit and check out our friends at Action Alert.
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I stand with Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj. I stand with the victims of human rights violations. I stand with human rights defenders.
Khurram Parvez is an internationally acclaimed human rights defender. He has done groundbreaking human rights work in many places, but especially in Kashmir. He’s risked his own life to defend victims of torture, arbitrary detention, sexual violence and extrajudicial killings. He’s been a leading advocate against enforced disappearances and landmines. He’s been persecuted before for his human rights work. He’s now being held in a maximum security prison. Because he’s stood up for victims and violations that the Indian government wants to silence and ignore.
Join me in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Khurram Parvez. Educate yourself on who he is and the work that he’s done. Educate yourself about what has happened and is happening in Kashmir.
Defend human rights! Defend human rights defenders! Free Khurram Parvez now!
