23rd September 2016

Call to Indian government to release detained human rights defender Khurram Parvez
We, the under mentioned Sri Lankan citizens and organizations express our serious concern over the arrest
and detention of the Mr. Khurram Parvez, Chairperson of the Asian Federation against Involuntary
Disappearances (AFAD) and Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society
(JKCCS).
Mr. Parvez was barred by immigration authorities in Delhi airport from boarding his flight to Geneva to
attend the UN Human Rights Councils 33rd Session on 14th September. No official written reason has
been given. Mr. Parvez was verbally informed that the Intelligence Bureau of India had ordered that he was
not allowed to travel outside the country. Mr. Parvez was to lead the AFAD delegation and to attend various
meetings with UN officials and representatives of Permanent Missions of UN Member States in Geneva.
Two days later, around 12.30am on 16 September Mr. Parvez had been arrested from his home in Srinagar
and brought to the Kothibagh Police station. No justification was given for the arrest, and no arrest warrant
was shown. Mr. Parvez was later hen taken to the Kupwara sub-jail, which made it difficult for him to
communicate with his lawyers and isolated him from his family, both based in Srinagar. Even after a subjail authorities were served with the Sessions Court order quashing his detention, he was taken back to the
Kothi Bagh Police station and later, Police have stated that Mr. Parvez is being taken to Jammu to be
detained at the Kot Bhalwal jail. Seven days after being first detained in Srinagar, Mr. Parvez will now be
lodged close to 300 kilometers away from his family and legal counsel, making access to both very difficult.
His legal team has been informed by the Police that that was being detained under the Public Safety Act,
but they have not been provided any orders, warrants or grounds for detention. His lawyers had moved the
acting Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, questioning his continued detention despite the Sessions Court
order. The Police have been ordered to submit a report the next day.
We note that article 9(1) of the ICCPR, to which India is a state party, provides that No one shall be
subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds
and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law. Article 9(2) states that anyone who is
arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest. Article 14(3)(b) of the ICCPR
is very clear in stating that everyone shall be entitled to communicate with a counsel of his own choosing.
The above provisions aim at ensuring that every deprivation of liberty will be in accordance with the law, in
order to make sure the rights and safety of a person arrested are protected at all times, and that he / she will
be entitled to due process not subjected to enforced disappearance, cruel, inhumane and degrading
treatment etc. The actions taken by the Indian authorities against Khurram Parvez are in blatant violation
of the above articles of the ICCPR and endangers the safety and rights of Mr. Parvez.
This appears to be a reprisal for his long years of human rights activism. The timing of the denial to travel
and arrest appears to indicate the Indian authorities aimed to stop him from participating in the 33rd session
of the UN Human Rights Council.
We demand the immediate release of Mr. Parvez. And in the meantime, to ensure his physical and mental
well-being and to grant him free access to his lawyers and to allow him to freely communicate with his
family.
Organizations
1. Education Renaissance Programme
2. Free Media Movement
3. Human Rights Office, Kandy

4. INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre

5. International Centre for Ethnic Studies
6. Women Development Innovators
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Ananda Jayasekara
Angelica Chandrasekeran
Anushaya Collure
Balasingham Skanthakumar, Social Scientists Association
C. Dodawatte, Free Media Movement
Chameera Perera, Left Center
Damith Chandimal
Deekshya Illangasinghe
Dharshanie Alles
Fr. Nandana Manatunga
Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director, World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty
Commission
Hans Billimoria, The Grassrooted Trust, Sri Lanka
K. Aingkaran, Attorney-at-Law
K.J. Brito Fernando - President Families of the Disappeared
Marisa De Silva
Nalini Ratnarajah
Philip Dissanayake - Secretary - Right to Life Human Rights Center
Dr. Philip Settunga
Ruki Fernando
Samal Hemachandra
Sudantha Madawa Fernando, Aluth Parapura
Srinath Chathuranga, Aluth Parapura
Thiyagaraja Waradas
Udaya Kalupathirana
Upul Wicramasinghe