Kashmiri Human Rights – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Khurram Parvez released from a New Delhi jail this week, bringing relief to his family and supporters after years of legal battles. The well-known Kashmiri human rights defender walked free late on Wednesday night.
Journalist Irfan Mehraj was also released on the same day. Both men had spent years in custody on serious charges linked to terror funding.
Their families confirmed the news to reporters shortly after the release. It marks a major moment in a case that has drawn attention from around the world.
Who Are Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj?
Khurram Parvez worked as programme coordinator for the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. He was picked up by India’s National Investigation Agency back in 2021 from his home in Srinagar.
Irfan Mehraj is a freelance journalist. He worked as a researcher with the same rights group. Officers arrested him in 2023.
Both men were accused of using their organisation to fund militant activities. They also faced charges of pushing a separatist agenda. Both have denied every allegation against them.
Why the Kashmir Activist Released Jail Case Matters
A lower court granted the two men bail last week. But the investigation agency did not accept this decision easily. They quickly filed an appeal against it.
The Delhi High Court stepped in on Tuesday. Judges refused to pause the release order. However, they added stricter conditions on what the men can and cannot do.
Under the new rules, both must arrange their own place to stay in Delhi. This is where their trial continues. Neither man is allowed to travel back to Kashmir for now.
A Case Watched Closely by Rights Groups
The organisation both men worked for has spent decades tracking alleged abuses in Kashmir. Their reports cover torture claims, killings, and unmarked graves near the border.
Global rights bodies have long called for their release. The United Nations human rights office is among those who spoke up for them.
Back in 2023, a UN panel said Parvez’s arrest looked like payback for his activism. They called it an attempt to silence him and the wider Kashmiri civil society.
After the release, two Paris-based rights groups shared strong words too. They called the charges baseless and urged Indian officials to drop the case entirely.
Journalists working in the region say pressure on them has grown since 2019. That year, the government removed the region’s special autonomy status.
Government figures show that over 3,600 people were arrested under anti-terror laws between 2019 and 2023. More than half of them are still behind bars today.
The Kashmir region remains split between India and Pakistan since 1947. Armed conflict there has continued since 1989, costing thousands of lives over the decades.
For now, both Parvez and Mehraj remain free but under close watch. Their case continues in the coming weeks as the agency pushes to reverse the bail decision.
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