Geneva, A seminar held alongside the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) brought international scrutiny to India’s alleged misuse of its judiciary in suppressing dissent in Jammu and Kashmir. Experts from diverse legal backgrounds voiced their concerns, emphasizing the erosion of fair trial rights for Kashmiri prisoners and political activists.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the seminar, organized by the Community Human Rights and Advocacy Center, featured insights from advocates Ahmer Bilal Sofi and Barrister Tanvir, alongside speakers Altaf Hussain Wani and Ronald Brones, with Muzammil Thakur serving as the moderator. The panel highlighted the challenges faced by Kashmiri individuals in obtaining impartial hearings, citing violations of international legal standards, including those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention.
Participants detailed instances where the Indian judiciary’s practices raised questions about its neutrality, particularly in cases involving Kashmiri detainees. The panel criticized the pattern of arresting and detaining Hurriyat leaders, rights advocates, and civil society members, often without fair trial guarantees.
The speakers condemned the perceived alignment of some Indian judges with prosecutorial roles, undermining their judicial impartiality. They pointed to the reopening of old cases against Kashmiri figures as indicative of the judiciary’s politicization, aligning with governmental strategies to stifle opposition.
The seminar concluded with a call to the international community to address the situation in Kashmir, urging global actors to press India to uphold judicial independence and halt the judiciary’s use as a tool against Kashmiri dissent. The discussion underscored the broader implications of these actions on the credibility of India’s justice system and the principles of democratic governance and human rights.