In April 2026, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK). Indian authorities continued their systematic denial of free expression, including through the targeting of social media accounts addressing human rights issues in IAK as “anti-India content.” Indian authorities escalated their targeting of Muslim religious and educational institutions, seizing control of 58 independent religious schools and banning a major seminary, Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, pursuant to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Indian authorities continued their systematic campaigns of mass detention and property expropriation, including through the re-arrest of self-determination activist Shabir Shah (granted bail in March 2026 after seven years of detention) and charging his wife, Bilquies Shah, with “terror financing.”
Numerous Kashmiri journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and dissenters continue to be arbitrarily detained. Emblematic cases include those of human rights defender Khurram Parvez—illegally imprisoned for four and a half years (1,641 days), journalist Irfan Mehraj—illegally imprisoned for over three years (1,157 days), human rights lawyer Mian Abdul Qayoom—illegally imprisoned for almost two years (695 days) and scholar Shafat Wani—illegally imprisoned for over a year (406 days).