EFSAS Article: The skewed & misleading Human Rights narrative on J&K
May 18, 2020
Historically, Indian-Administered J&K has been singled out for criticism for alleged human rights violations even as the region battles the menace of a long-running Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism. In the ensuing violent atmosphere and by virtue of the higher degree of transparency in India, any transgression is highlighted, the mitigating circumstances notwithstanding. This results in a near-farcical situation where terrorists such as Burhan Wani, despite having the blood of Kashmiris on their hands, get favourable mentions in UNHRC reports on J&K while non-violent social and political activists such as Arif Shahid, who are brutally murdered by the State just for demanding the rights of their people and an end to oppression, and for holding and expressing differing opinions, do not even figure in such reports.
