In May 2024, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK). Indian forces killed at least five people and continued their ongoing campaigns of mass arbitrary detention and property expropriation, including based on purported links to “terrorism.” Indian authorities continued to enhance state surveillance and suppress free expression, including through arresting virtual private network (VPN) users and expanding digital surveillance through AI-based facial recognition technologies.

Numerous Kashmiri journalists, human rights defenders, political activists, and dissenters continue to be arbitrarily detained. Emblematic cases include those of human rights defenders Khurram Parvez – illegally imprisoned for over two and half years (959 days), journalist Sajad Gul – illegally imprisoned for almost two and a half years (915 days) and academic Abul Ala Fazili – illegally imprisoned for over two years (813) days.

This is the joint written contribution by Kashmir Law and Justice Project and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) for review of India under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—141 Session of Human Rights Committee (01 Jul 2024 - 02 Aug 2024). It focuses on issues that have emerged in Indian-administered Kashmi rsince August 2019 (when the list of issues prior to submission of India's fourth periodic report was adopted). It describes a broad set of violations pursuant to the ICCPR and provides a series of recommendations.

In April 2024, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK). Indian forces killed at least six people and continued their ongoing and systematic campaigns of mass arbitrary detention and property expropriation, including houses and agricultural land. Indian authorities continued to criminalize any form of dissent, including by pursuing at least two people for online expression.

In March 2024, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK). Indian forces killed at least one person and escalated their ongoing, systematic campaign of mass arbitrary detention in the lead-up to Indian elections. Indian authorities banned several pro-self-determination groups. While free speech and assembly remain criminalized, Indian authorities coerced participation in BJP rallies.

In February 2024, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK). Indian forces continued to systematically arbitrarily detain people, raid homes and expropriate property, including houses and agricultural land. The Indian government extended the ban (instituted in 2019) on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir (JeI) and banned several other pro-rights organizations. The Indian government passed laws to further disempower Muslims in IAK.