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Thailand: New FIDH report details more than a decade of lèse-majesté abuse

September 4, 2026

A new report published on 2 September 2026 by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) sheds light on the severe human rights impacts of the enforcement of Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code (lèse-majesté) since the country’s latest military coup in May 2014.

The report, titled “The unsayable – Q&A on Thailand’s lèse-majesté”, answers 15 frequently asked questions about Article 112 and its implications for human rights, civic space, the media, and democratic development in Thailand.

“The evidence of the serious human rights violation linked to the enforcement of Article 112 is overwhelming and causes great damage to Thailand’s international standing. Reform of Article 112 is long overdue and efforts by Thai civil society to peacefully campaign for such changes should be commended and protected,” said FIDH Vice-President Teppei Ono.

Statistics about lèse-majesté reflect the severity and scope of the human rights violations linked to the enforcement of Article 112. Between May 2014 and July 2026, at least 461 individuals were prosecuted under Article 112, with at least 199 receiving prison sentences. The 10 longest prison sentences imposed under Article 112 averaged approximately 30 years and six months, with the longest sentence reaching 50 years. At least 21 children were prosecuted under Article 112, with the youngest one aged 14.

As of July 2026, 29 individuals remained detained under Article 112. Of these, 12 were detained pending trial or appeal, while the judgments for the remaining 17 had become final. Among those behind bars is prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, who has accumulated a prison term of over 31 years stemming from 11 lèse-majesté convictions for his speeches and online posts that called for monarchy reform. Three additional lèse-majesté cases remain pending.

At the international level, all the relevant key United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms have consistently expressed their concerns over various aspects of the enforcement of Article 112 and declared it incompatible with Thailand’s human rights obligations under international law…

FIDH and TLHR call on states to use Thailand’s fourth UPR to raise their concerns over the ongoing abuse of Article 112 and make recommendations to the Thai government to bring this provision into line with international law. FIDH and TLHR also urge Thai authorities to establish a moratorium on new lèse-majesté prosecutions and to immediately release all those who are being deprived of their liberty under Article 112.

The unsayable – Q&A on Thailand’s lese majeste

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‘Why is the Chinese Communist Party so scared?’

September 4, 2026
Hong Kong Watch

Benedict Rogers in Hong Kong Watch of 1 September 2026 asks the same kind of question I aksed many years ago in a symposium about NGOs [see Chapter 4, titled “From human rights projects to strategies: The search for coherence,” in the book NGOs in China and Europe: Comparisons and Contrasts edited by Yuwen Li – 2012].

Benedict Rogers writes iner alia: Within the past week, the Chinese regime has convicted a Hong Kong barrister and a trade unionist for the crime of organizing a peaceful vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen massacre and sentenced a Chinese artist to three years in prison for satirical sculptures of the long-dead leader Mao Zedong, responsible for the deaths of millions of Chinese civilians during his rulen.In so doing, Xi Jinping’s dictatorship has proven once again its thin-skinned paranoia, its neurotic fear of dissent and humor, and its ruthless determination to silence freedom of expression and bury history and truth.

Hong Kong lawyer Chow Hang-tung, aged 41, and trade unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, aged 69, representing the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted on Aug. 21 of the crime of “inciting subversion” — simply for having organized candle-lit vigils to remember the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. They now face up to ten years’ imprisonment.

Both have already been in jail for the past five years and have now been convicted under Hong Kong’s draconian national security law imposed on the city by Beijing in 2020.

Both the conviction of Chow and Lee, and the sentencing of Gao [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2026/08/27/chinese-artist-gao-zhen-sentenced-to-the-maximum-of-3-years-prison-over-satirical-mao-statues/], have drawn international condemnation from the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and governments.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders, Andrea Bolanos Vargas, said she is “deeply concerned” about Chow and Lee’s verdict, and called for their immediate release. She said: “Peacefully preserving memory and calling for truth, justice and accountability are human rights activities and must never be criminalized.”

These two cases are just the latest examples of Beijing’s intensifying intolerance of dissent. They follow the 20-year prison sentence imposed on Hong Kong media entrepreneur and devout Catholic  Jimmy Lai, aged 78, earlier this year, and the imprisonment of hundreds of other pro-democracy campaigners, human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, and religious practitioners in Hong Kong and across China….

All these cases combined raise an important question. If China is — as Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party want us to believe — the world’s new superpower, why is it so terrified of a barrister and a trade unionist and a media entrepreneur lighting candles, or an artist making satirical sculptures?

If the regime in Beijing is as strong as they suggest, why are they so scared of Christians gathering to pray, Tibetans meditating on the Dalai Lama’s teachings, Uyghurs fasting during Ramadan, or Falun Gong practitioners practising physical exercises similar to yoga and promoting “truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance?” And why does it consider it a crime to promote understanding of different ethnic and religious cultures?

The truth is, the regime in Beijing hates humour, is scared of jokes, and is terrified of any opinion or belief that diverges from total loyalty not only to the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology but also to its key leaders, contemporary and historical. Any perceived mockery of Mao is deemed an insult to Xi, any attempt to remind the world about the tragedy of Tiananmen is seen as an assault on today’s regime, and any practice of religion or spirituality is regarded as a rejection of the regime’s attempts at self-deification.

In other words, this is a fragile regime, scared of its own shadows, its own murderous history, and its own people. Such a regime may be able to lock up brave dissidents, lawyers, trade unionists, journalists, artists, and religious believers for a time. It may be able to shut down free expression and freedom of religion for a while. But it can never silence the souls of its people, for whom the courage of Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, Gao Zhen, and so many others stands as a light in the darkness.

This article was published in UCA News on 31 August 2026.

https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2026/9/1/why-is-the-chinese-communist-party-so-scared-benedict-rogers

https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/04/hong-kong-misuses-colonial-era-law-to-violate-rights

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30 August 2026 was the International Day of the Victims of Disappearances

August 31, 2026

On the 2026 International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances many organisations call on States and all stakeholders to reaffirm the primacy of law over force, the centrality of victims over oblivion, and the irreplaceable value of multilateralism and the international rule of law.

This heinous crime constitutes a violation of, among others, the prohibition of torture and/or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment with multidimensional and transgenerational impact, leaving families suspended between grief and hope, unable to mourn. Unfortunately, 46 years after the establishment of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and 20 years after the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the crime continues being perpetrated every day in all regions of the world.

Through their fight and mobilization, victims human rights defenders and their organizations are also key actors of the search and investigation processes; gathering evidence, conducting their own searches, demanding accountability and advocating for changes in law, policies and practices, victims of enforced disappearances have become some of the most important human rights defenders of our time.

The centrality of this role is undeniable. Nonetheless, its importance and impact are hardly known and not sufficiently acknowledged and supported. To the contrary, some States expect that the victims take the lead and replace the action of the authorities in charge of the search and investigation processes related to their cases. In other instances, the authorities shift the burden of proof, making the victims fully responsible for gathering evidence of the enforced disappearances, while, as the “paradigm of the perfect crime”, they usually are shrouded in secrecy. Victims should never be put in a situation where they have to replace the State’s duties to search, investigate, prosecute and provide reparation, and concrete action remains necessary to support victims in the daily nightmare they face.

Dialogue and synergy between States, victims, civil society organizations and international mechanisms must be strengthened to raise awareness on the ongoing reality of enforced disappearances, to share lessons learned and promote cooperation between all stakeholders. Explicit action is required, that demonstrates commitment, such as allocating resources to search and accountability mechanisms and supporting families of the disappeared.

Here some more references that show how widespread action is on this day:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/08/international-day-victims-enforced-disappearances

States must ensure truth, justice and accountability for victims of trafficking and enforced disappearance

Statements and speeches Statement for The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/international-day-victims-enforced-disappearances-today-1528341

https://citizen.digital/article/opinion-actionow-kenya-must-end-enforced-disappearances-13-n389273

When the missing are not allowed to be forgotten: 30 August and Manipur’s unfinished search for truth

https://www.article19.org/resources/yemen-enforced-disappearance-as-a-tool-to-silence-the-press

https://civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/op-eds/8736-why-solidarity-is-vital-to-freeing-imprisoned-human-rights-defenders

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Environmental defender Pablo López Alavez released after more than 15 years

August 19, 2026

On 27 March 2026, Pablo López Alavez was released following a ruling by the High Court of Justice of the State of Oaxaca on appeal. The decision revised the legal classification of the offences and imposed a sentence of 15 years and 3 months imprisonment for the offence of simple homicide. Taking into account the time the human rights defender had spent in detention since his arbitrary arrest on 15 August 2010, the court considered the sentence to have been served and ordered his immediate release. Although the sentence remains in force, his release represents a significant step forward after more than 15 years of detention. Due to concerns for Pablo’s safety and that of his family, as well as for security reasons, this information is only being made public now.

Pablo has been released after a fight for justice and freedom of over 15 years, led by his wife, the woman human rights defender Yolanda Pérez Cruz, and organisations from the state of Oaxaca, as well as Mexican and international civil society organizations. Activists, collectives and human rights organisations celebrate the release of our colleague Pablo López Alavez, a Zapotec forest defender originally from the community of San Isidro Aloapam, Oaxaca. This long journey would not have been possible without the support and solidarity shown from all corners of the world. We thank all the organisations, individuals and collectives who never gave up on their efforts and commitment to securing his release over the course of more than 15 years. We thank the international bodies for their sensitivity in highlighting the political use of the criminal justice and the prison system to criminalise and impose prolonged punishment on human rights defenders in Mexico.

On 15 August 2010, the human rights defender was arbitrarily detained and tortured by a group of armed individuals without an arrest warrant. In the years that have passed since then, Pablo was detained and subjected to further violations of his human rights, including the right to a fair trial.

His family were forcibly displaced from their community due to the constant and serious threats they have faced as a result of their struggle for justice and the defence of human rights: so they are currently under protective measures granted by the Oaxaca State Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office (DDHPO). We emphasise that Pablo’s detention and his family’s forced displacement have had profound impacts on their well-being, including chronic illnesses, cultural and community displacement, as well as the necessity of having to learn Spanish against their will and adapt to an urban, mestizo environment.

The fight for justice continues. We, the undersigned organisations, call on the Federal Judiciary to conduct a thorough review of the case, as the ruling that convicted him lacks a solid basis. In order to put an end to the criminalisation that the defender has faced for more than 15 years, an acquittal must be issued in favour of the forest defender and comprehensive measures must be adopted to provide redress for the harm caused. This implies ensuring that the authorities responsible for the serious violations committed against him are properly investigated, prosecuted and punished, as well as implementing all necessary measures to protect his physical integrity and psychological well-being, as well as that of his family and the organisations that have supported them. Finally, our organisations emphasise the obligation of the Mexican authorities to establish robust guarantees of non-repetition.

The conviction was issued without taking into account the serious inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence presented by the prosecution. Nor did it give due consideration to the evidence presented by the defence, which demonstrated that the human rights defender was elsewhere when the events of which he was accused took place.

Nine years after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued Opinion 23/2017, which concluded that Pablo’s deprivation of liberty is arbitrary and motivated by his legitimate work in environmental defence; and that, similarly, in December 2020, a group of United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued the joint communication UA MEX 14/2020 calling for his release and the adoption of comprehensive reparatory measures; both of these opinions by international United Nations experts remain unfulfilled.

We therefore demand that the State of Mexico, in compliance with its international obligations, put an end to the serious and systematic violations of the rights of the forest defender Pablo López Alavez, and we call on the authorities to:

  • Comply immediately with the recommendations set out in Opinion 23/2017 and UN Urgent Action UA MEX 14/2020, including comprehensive redress and guarantees of non-repetition;
  • Overturn the conviction issued on 27 March 2026 and acquit Pablo López Alavez, given the lack of a proper assessment of the evidence, which resulted in his wrongful imprisonment and prevented him from continuing to defend the territory;
  • Ensure comprehensive and effective protection measures for him and his family, who remain under constant harassment and threat;
  • Refrain from the misuse of criminal law against defenders of the territory and indigenous peoples, and ensure that no unfounded criminal proceedings are initiated or pursued on the grounds of the legitimate exercise of their defence of human rights.

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-report/release-forest-defender-pablo-lopez-alavez-after-15-years-7-months-and-12-days

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Afghanistan’s human rights crisis worsening after five years of Taliban

August 17, 2026

As Taliban rule in Afghanistan continues, UN experts and many others warned that normalisation continues despite increasing restrictions imposed on the population, including women and girls, over the past year. They urged States to accelerate steps towards accountability.

“Five years may be a short period in the life of a country, but it is a long one in a child’s life,” the experts said. “A generation of girls has now been denied secondary education. A girl who was in grade six when the ban began is reaching adulthood without another day in school.”

Over the past year, the Taliban have further entrenched their institutionalised gender-based repression. The experts reiterated that the Taliban’s intentional and targeted gender-based deprivation of fundamental rights amounts to the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds. As this repression forms part of an institutionalised system of gender-based discrimination, oppression and domination, the experts said it can also be characterised as gender apartheid. They urged States to actively support the codification of gender apartheid as a distinct crime against humanity…

Enforcement measures, some involving cruel and inhuman punishment, have also intensified, the experts said. In 2025 alone, more people were publicly flogged than in all the previous years of Taliban rule combined.

“Women have been turned away from hospitals on account of their attire or for lacking a male guardian, denying them their right to access health care. In June 2026, at least 30 women and girls were jailed in Herat for allegedly violating the Taliban’s dress code. When residents protested, security forces opened fire, killing at least two people, including a boy.”

They called for strengthened support for the International Criminal Court, warning that “the newly mandated Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan must not remain only an achievement on paper; it must also be properly and swiftly resourced.”

“Afghanistan is not a safe country: mass returns and forced deportations in violation of the obligation of non-refoulement must stop, particularly for those who face heightened protection risks, including religious or ethnic minorities and LGBT persons,” the experts said.

“There should be no moves to normalise the Taliban de facto authorities, including by accepting diplomats or holding meetings in capitals, without demonstrated, measurable progress against human rights benchmarks, particularly for women and girls,” the experts said. “For five years, Afghans’ human rights have been systematically violated, yet many continue to strive bravely and against the odds to restore them. The international community must not let them down again.”

The full statement is available here.

Afghanistan: UN experts warn against normalisation of Taliban rule (Press Release)

HRW calls for release of six rights workers from Taliban prison

https://amu.tv/249925

https://www.omct.org/en/resources/blog/a-bridge-to-justice-an-afghan-woman-lawyer-on-resilience-solidarity-and-a-hopeful-future

Ravadari Says Taliban Have Arbitrarily Detained More Than 6,000 People in Afghanistan

https://amu.tv/250139

https://8am.media/eng/five-years-taliban-world-misunderstand

https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/07/afghanistan-advance-accountability-for-grave-abuses-in-afghanistan

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Algeria: UN experts demand release of arbitrarily detained journalist Hassan Bouras

August 11, 2026

On 10 July 2026, UN experts expressed deep concern over the detention of Algerian journalist and human rights defender Hassan Bouras, who faces serious risks after several weeks on hunger strike in detention.

“We are deeply concerned by the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Bouras, as well as the serious risks to his life, health and physical integrity,” the experts said.

On 12 April 2026, plainclothes security agents apprehended Bouras outside his home in El Bayadh, reportedly without a warrant or explanation. The following day, the El Bayadh court ordered his pre-trial detention on several charges, including membership of a terrorist organisation and disseminating publications deemed harmful to the national interest.

“We are troubled that his arrest and detention appear to be linked to the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, to promote, protect and defend human rights as well as to participation in public affairs through his work as a journalist and human rights defender,” the experts said.

The arrest follows a pattern of judicial harassment linked to Bouras’ journalistic and human rights activities.

On 2 May, Bouras was placed in solitary confinement for beginning a hunger strike to protest his detention and the violation of his human rights. During the hunger strike, which lasted 26 days, he collapsed twice and developed serious health complications without receiving adequate medical care – a matter of acute concern given his pre-existing cardiac and respiratory conditions. His deteriorating condition raised acute concerns for his health and well-being.

On 22 June, his case was referred to the local criminal court and is now pending trial. This comes amidst increasing concerns regarding restrictions on civil and political rights and freedom of the press in the country, as well as the ability of journalists and human rights defenders to carry out their work free from intimidation.

The experts stressed that deprivation of liberty for the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression is incompatible with international human rights law. They recalled that all persons deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and respect for their inherent dignity and body integrity.

“We urge Algerian authorities to act without delay to protect Mr. Bouras’ life, health and freedom of expression. He must be granted immediate access to legal counsel and adequate medical care,” the experts said.

“We call for Mr. Bouras’ immediate release and for an end to the broader pattern of harassment and prosecution of journalists and human rights defenders in Algeria.”

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/algeria-un-experts-demand-release-arbitrarily-detained-journalist-hassan

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/case-history-hassan-bouras

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UN experts urge Thailand not to extradite Chinese journalist Bai Zhaodong

August 11, 2026

UN human rights experts have urged Thailand to halt the possible extradition of Chinese journalist Bai Zhaodong, warning he could face persecution, torture and other serious rights violations if returned.

United Nations human rights experts have called on Thailand to prevent the possible extradition of Chinese journalist and human rights defender Bai Zhaodong to China, warning that his return could expose him to persecution, torture and other serious human rights abuses.

In a press release, the experts urged Thai authorities to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which bars countries from transferring individuals to places where they face a genuine risk of persecution or other serious harm.

Bai left China in 2023 after allegedly facing persecution over his human rights activities and was subsequently recognised as an asylum seeker. The UN experts said he has been held in Thai immigration detention since January 21, 2026, despite having completed a two-month prison sentence imposed in March for immigration-related offences.

The experts noted that Bai’s planned resettlement to a safe third country was reportedly blocked on two separate occasions. They also expressed concern that Chinese authorities have formally requested his extradition.

”Immigration status alone cannot justify prolonged deprivation of liberty. Human rights defenders seeking international protection must not be returned to countries where they are at risk of facing persecution, torture or other irreparable harm,” the experts said.

The statement also highlighted concerns over Thailand’s recently approved draft regulations introducing a unified and expedited deportation process for foreign nationals. The Thai Cabinet approved the framework on July 14, 2026.

https://www.firstpost.com/world/un-experts-urge-thailand-not-to-extradite-chinese-journalist-bai-zhaodong-warn-of-persecution-and-torture-14036781.html/amp

UN experts urge Thailand not to return human rights defender Bai Zhaodong to China (Press release)

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/08/un-experts-urge-thailand-not-return-human-rights-defender-bai-zhaodong-china

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Call for inputs to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the mental health of human rights defenders

August 4, 2026

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders invites States, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, medical and mental health professionals, academics, United Nations entities, regional organizations, donors, and other relevant stakeholders to provide inputs for an upcoming thematic report to the 64th session of the Human Rights Council on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of human rights defenders. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2026/03/10/andrea-bolanos-vargas-next-special-rapporteur-on-human-rights-defenders/]

Human rights defenders play a vital role in promoting and protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic values, environmental protection, and social justice. In carrying out their work, defenders are frequently exposed to a range of pressures and risks, including threats, harassment, intimidation, surveillance, criminalization, arbitrary detention, reprisals, online abuse, displacement, and violence. These experiences may have significant consequences for their mental health and psychosocial well-being.

The report aims to examine the challenges faced by human rights defenders in maintaining their mental health and well-being, identify barriers to accessing adequate support, and highlight promising practices and measures that can help create enabling environments in which defenders can safely and sustainably carry out their work.

The Special Rapporteur welcomes contributions from all regions and encourages submissions reflecting the experiences of defenders working in diverse contexts, including women human rights defenders, Indigenous defenders, environmental and land rights defenders, LGBTIQ+ defenders, journalists, lawyers, trade unionists, youth defenders, defenders with disabilities, and defenders operating in situations of conflict, occupation, humanitarian crises, or authoritarian settings.

A detailed outline is to be found in the document.

Call for inputs to the report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to the 64th Human Rights Council

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk deplores crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Uganda

August 1, 2026

On 30 July 2026 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk denounced the crackdown on dissent in Uganda, alongside a gradual erosion of the rule of law, increased military involvement in civilian institutions, and shrinking civic space – all of which are creating a climate of fear throughout the country.

“I am appalled that the authorities are increasingly targeting any form of dissent, and deepening restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of all those living in Uganda,” said Türk. “Those who dare to speak out are silenced.”

Since the general elections on 15 January 2026, repression has increased against all those perceived to oppose the Government. According to information received by the UN Human Rights Office, since the elections, at least 50 opposition leaders and supporters, five human rights defenders and five journalists have been subjected to human rights violations. These include instances of enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrest or detention based on legal provisions which do not comply with international human rights law.

In addition, 10 leading civil society organisations have been suspended since January 2026, while others have been closely scrutinised and, at times, subjected to harassment.

The Office has also received information about increased military involvement in functions ordinarily carried out by civilian institutions. Some media outlets have been forced to close temporarily.

In May 2026, the Protection of Sovereignty Act was enacted, imposing extensive restrictions on international funding and foreign engagement with civil society organisations. The legislation includes severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 10 years for violations.

“The actions of the authorities are creating a climate of fear that is increasing self-censorship, further stifling public debate and deepening polarisation,” said Türk.

“I call on the Government to abide by its obligations under international human rights law, the African Charter and the Ugandan Constitution to ensure a vibrant civil society where everyone can freely express their views and participate in public affairs,” he added.

The UN Human Rights Chief urged the Government to uphold the separation of powers and the rule of law, including by preventing military interference in civil institutions..

see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/uganda/

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/uganda-crackdown-fundamental-freedoms

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1168057

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Human rights defenders Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj finally released on bail in India

July 24, 2026

Khurram Parvez, coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and Chair of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), has spent decades documenting human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, including enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings. Irfan Mehraj, a journalist and human rights defender associated with JKCCS, has similarly contributed to documenting and reporting on human rights concerns in the region.

Both human rights defenders have faced prosecution under spurious allegations related to terrorism and secessionism that human rights organisations have consistently characterised as politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence. The charges against both defenders remain in place, and the conditions attached to Khurram Parvez’s release continue to impose severe restrictions on his rights and freedoms. The international community, including the UN human rights system, must remain closely engaged until all charges are dropped and any restrictions on their work and freedom come to an end.

22 July 2022: The case in which Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, and Irfan Mehraj, a Kashmiri journalist and human rights defender – both associated with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) – have been granted bail involves trumped-up charges of “funding terror activities” and “propagation of secessionist agenda” in retaliation for their widely respected and recognised human rights documentation and accountability work through JKCCS. On 18 July 2026, a New Delhi District Court held the bail hearing in this case.

Kashmir human rights defender and MEA laureate Khurram Parvez to be granted bail but not free yet

In June 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD), in its Opinion No. 8/2023, determined that Khurram Parvez’s detention was arbitrary and called on the Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him.

Although the conditional release of the two defenders comes as a relief, after a prolonged period of arbitrary pre-trial detention, the harassment through legal means against them continues, in a context of longstanding and ongoing grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Observatory calls on the Indian authorities to drop all charges against Khurram and Irfan, as they are part of politically motivated proceedings aimed at discrediting their legitimate work and the JKCCS.

https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/india/india-khurram-parvez-and-irfan-mehraj-released-on-bail

https://kmsnews.org/kms/2026/07/23/kashmiri-rights-defender-khurram-parvez-journalist-irfan-mehraj-released-on-bail.html

https://ishr.ch/latest-updates/india-bail-for-kashmiri-human-rights-defenders-must-be-followed-by-justice

https://kashmirtimes.com/opinion/comment-articles/does-bail-mean-freedom-unfinished-liberty-of-khurram-and-irfan

Posted in human rights, Human Rights Council, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR, Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
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