Srinagar, The recent re-arrest of Srinagar-based journalist Asif Sultan, immediately following his release after more than 2,000 days in custody, underscores the precarious situation for journalists in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), as detailed in a new BBC report.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Sultan’s ordeal began in 2018 with his arrest under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a charge he has consistently denied. Critics suggest his detention was linked to his journalistic work, including an article about Burhan Wani, a well-known militant leader. Sultan’s case highlights the broader challenges and risks journalists in the region face, particularly since the abrogation of IIOJK’s special status in 2019, which has seen a tightening of press freedoms under the current Indian administration.

The re-arrest of Sultan moments after a brief reunion with his family exemplifies the ongoing struggle between maintaining journalistic integrity and navigating the heightened scrutiny by Indian authorities. The BBC report emphasizes the increase in charges against journalists under stringent laws such as the UAPA and the Public Safety Act (PSA), marking a significant uptick in the suppression of media freedom.

This trend of “repeated cycles of arrest and bail,” where journalists find themselves caught in a loop of legal challenges and re-arrests, raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom in the contested territory. Despite the global attention Sultan’s case has received, local authorities have remained silent on the issue, and efforts to obtain comments from the police have been met with no response.

Sultan’s father’s hopeful statement amidst the ongoing legal turmoil reflects the resilience of journalists in IIOJK who continue to seek to shed light on the complexities of life in the region. As Sultan’s legal proceedings drag on, his story becomes a poignant symbol of the broader struggle for press freedom in Kashmir.