Kashmiri journalist barred by Indian officials from travelling abroad – World

Indian journalists banned Gowhar Geelani, a journalist and writer from Kashmir, from flying abroad, apparently in light of the situation in occupied Kashmir, media reported on Sunday.

Geelani, who recently joined the German news agency Deutsche Welle As editor, I was going to attend an eight-day conference in Bonn.

According to The wireHe was detained at the immigration desk of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for more than an hour before he was denied permission to travel abroad.

"On the night of August 31 and September 1, 2019, I had to fly to Bonn, Germany, on the Lufthansa Airlines (LH 763) plane through Munich with the sole objective of attending the advanced journalists training program as publisher of Deutsche Welle, Germany's international public broadcaster, at its headquarters in Bonn " The wire He quoted Geelani saying.

The journalist said he would have returned on September 8, immediately after the conclusion of the workshop.

According to Indian express, Geelani was arrested "at the request of the Intelligence Bureau."

"I had registered and the Immigration staff asked me to accompany them to a room, where an officer, who identified himself as Abhishek, told me they were instructed not to allow me to leave the country," the publication published. He quoted Geelani saying.

When the journalist sought an explanation, they told him: "Aap jaante hai aajkal kafi diqqat hai Kashmir ko lekar" (You know that there are many difficulties today with the Kashmir situation).

When protesting, the Kashmir journalist was reportedly informed by the immigration official: "Sir, you cannot fly abroad […] The J&K state government has pointed out the problem " The wire reported.

Immigration officials said they were helpless and were only "following orders."

Geelani waited five hours before recovering his passport and checked baggage, according to The wire.

Have a look: Stories of torture after the annexation of India emerge from occupied Kashmir

“I am a published author, television journalist, television analyst and political commentator. Last month, my book Kashmir: Rage and Reason was published by Rupa Publications. I do not understand what unknown crimes I have committed for which I have been denied my right to employment, the right to travel and the right to freedom of expression, "he said.

Geelani said The impression that in 13 years of extensive travel was the first time he was prevented from boarding a flight.

"I missed my training program. This not only restricts my right to travel and talk, but also my right to employment," he said.

Several of the prominent cashmere have been retained or have been prevented from traveling freely since the Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.

Earlier this month, the Indian Administrative Service officer turned politician Shah Faesal was also arrested at the IGI airport while on his way to Boston.

"I think the government is paranoid right now, due to the total blockade, there are no stories coming out of Kashmir," he said. The impression. "Then, any Kashmir that has a voice, whether from civil society or commerce or politics, if they go abroad and talk to people, stories will break this silence."

Examine: How India is trying to portray & # 39; calm, normal & # 39; in occupied Kashmir enclosed

Detention & # 39; unconstitutional & # 39;

Lead attorney Vrinda Grover called the action completely "unconstitutional," according to The impression.

“It was in connection with a job opportunity; we have nothing to show that he was going to talk there, ”she said.

"Any Kashmiri who travels outside the country will say things that the government does not like, which is clearly an apprehension that the government fears because that goes against what the government and its means are producing with a complete embargo. communication and information ".

"These people then become the force of truth and facts and that is why they are forbidden," he said, adding that "unless the Indian media stand up and fight in this battle, they really they are leaving it to their Kashmir counterparts, and I think it's a tragedy. "

Kashmir lawyers detained under the Public Security Law

A former president of the Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Nazir Ahmed Ronga, is being held under the Public Security Law, The wire reported on Saturday.

An association lawyer said Ronga was arrested on August 4, a day before the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of India repealed article 370 of the Indian Constitution and put Kashmir occupied locked.

The Public Security Law (PSA) allows imprisonment for up to six months without trial, according to The wire.

In the PSA dossier that the publication agreed to, Ronga has been accused of "its potential to mobilize people to participate in the vote, even when a boycott was called."

The former president was also accused of "raising his voice against the revocation of article 370 and the bifurcation of the state in two territories of the Union on August 5".

In addition, the current president of the association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, has also been reserved under the Law and sent to jail in Agra.

One of the charges against Qayoom in the PSA dossier says that Qayoom has emerged over time as one of the "staunch defenders of secession ideology."

He has also been "accused of making calls during the 2008 turmoil when massive protests broke out against the transfer of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board," he said. The wire citing the dossier.