‘Should be protected, not persecuted’: Press and human rights bodies condemn journo’s arrest

Media and human rights groups have condemned the arrest of Kashmir journalist Irfan Mehraj, issuing statements calling for his release.

Mehraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on Monday in connection with a “terror funding” case. He was booked under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA said Mehraj “close associate” of human rights activist Khurram Parvez and was “working” with Parvez’s J&K Coalition of Civil Societies, which it accused of “funding terror activities in the valley”. Parvez had been arrested in November 2021.