New Delhi Nov 23 PTI The arrest of Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez in a terror funding probe has drawn sharp reactions from the human rights community including global organisations which said he is not a terrorist and called for his immediate releaseParvez coordinator of the JK Coalition of Civil Society was detained and later arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the National Investigation Agency during a raid at his residence and office in Srinagar on Monday officials said Amnesty International the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders the World Organisation Again Torture OMCT the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights as well as rights activists in India criticised the move to arrest the 42-year-old who they said was a human rights defenderIm hearing disturbing reports that Khurram Parvez was arrested today in Kashmir is at risk of being charged by authorities in India with terrorism-related crimes Hes not a terrorist hes a Human Rights Defender Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders said in a tweet The OMCT a Geneva-based non-profit which works with groups across the world to fight for human rights said it was deeply concerned about Khurrams high risk of torture in custody India Rights defender KhurramParvez detained for questioning after his house office were raided by National Investigation Agency officialsWe are deeply concerned about the high risk of torture while in custody We call for his immediate release it said on TwitterParvez is being questioned in Srinagar and is likely to be taken to Delhi officials said In October last year the NIA conducted raids at several locations in Kashmir Valley including Parvezs residence and office in a case related to certain so-called NGOs and trusts raising funds in India and abroad in the name of charitable activities and then using those funds for carrying out secessionist and separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir they saidAccording to Amnesty International The arrest of Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez is yet another example of how anti-terror laws are being misused to criminalize human rights work stifle dissent in India Instead of targeting HRDs authorities should focus on bringing accountability for human rights violations it added in its tweetKerry Kennedy president of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights in a statement demanded his immediate release Instead of attempting to silence and punish human rights defenders Indian authorities should work to end impunity for perpetrators of human rights abuses The human rights body also praised Khurram for bravely documenting human rights abuses and providing much-needed assistance to victims of these abuses to encourage India to abide by its international human rights law obligationsBack home noted social activists Yogendra Yadav and Kavita Srivastava wondered if working for human rights is a crime and termed Khurrams arrest a matter of shameWhy the arrest of Khurram Pervez Is doing HR work a crime Is it wrong to defend advocate the cause of those violated by the action of security forces in JK Is questioning policies of the State Union Govt including repealing of Art 370 a crime Release KhurramParvez NOW tweeted Srivastava Arrest of Khurram Parvez should be a matter of shame A life long human rights defender is now being accused of terrorism and will be in jail without trial In 2016 after being jailed for more than 2 months the court called his detention illegal Should the State never learn said social activist Yogendra YadavIn 2016 Parvez was booked under the Public Safety Act PSA and released after 76 days of prisonJanhastakshep a peoples intervention group also unequivocally condemned the arrest of the noted civil rights activist The UAPA it alleged has become a favourite tool of the ruling classes to silence any opposition to their anti-people ruleJanhastakshep appeals to and hopes that all democratic sections of the society shall speak up against the arbitrary arrest of Khurram Parvez in order to protect those fighting against the ruling fascist dispensation it said in a statementSeveral Kashmiri origin people including author Mirza Waheed also took to Twitter to raise their voice against the arrest of the activistKhurram Parvez is someone whod defend the rights of even those out to persecute him Its a travesty that one of Kashmirs most recognised human rights defenders has been arrested - he should be released from detention without delay the British Kashmiri author of Tell Her Everything saidGowhar Geelani the author Kashmir Rage and Reason recalled that Parvez had lost a leg in an unfortunate incident in the early 2000 and said his body of work on the situation of human rights in JK is unparalleledWell-known for for his humility integrity and professionalism Parvez is a figure of int repute the author-journalist tweetedKhurram Parvezs arrest by National Investigating Agency NIA of India will only invite India global criticism and news headlines for its handling of human rights and silencing the activists in Kashmir Once again added Rouf Kashmir a resident of Kashmir PTI MG MIN MIN MIN

New Delhi Sep 25 PTI Eminent womens rights activist poet and author Kamla Bhasin passed away on Saturday She was 75Activist Kavita Srivastava said on Twitter Bhasin breathed her last around 3 amBhasin has been a prominent voice in the womens movement in India and other South Asian countriesKamla Bhasin our dear friend passed away around 3am today 25th Sept This is a big setback for the womens movement in India and the South Asian region She celebrated life whatever the adversity Kamla you will always live in our hearts In Sisterhood which is in deep grief Kavita Srivastava tweetedThe chant of Azaadi which echoed across protest sites in the country is said to have been popularised by Bhasin as a feminist slogan against patriarchyNetizens took to Twitter to condole Bhasins demiseSupreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said Kamla Bhasin was not only a womens rights activist but also a philanthropist who set up and helped setting up many fine public Interest institutions like Jagori in Himachal Pradesh and School for democracy in RajasthanShe will be missed by many May her soul rest in peace he tweetedSocial activist Harsh Mander also expressed grief at her passing awayImmense grief at passing of Kamla Bhasin She has been and will remain a massive influence on many generations teaching us by word action poetry song storytelling the equality of genders She loved life loved people he tweetedCongress leader Shashi Tharoor also took to Twitter to condole her deathHe shared her poem and posted a message Farewell to the inspiring Kamla Bhasin voice of womens empowerment heroine of girls education immortal poet Historian S Irfan Habib said Very sad to hear about the tragic demise of dear friend and an exceptional human being Kamla Bhasin We were just discussing her health yesterday but never realised that she will leave us next day You will be terribly missed Save the Children India in a tweet said Your legacy will live on in songs of hope and writings of courage The spirit of movement will continue to ignite change Rest in glory Kamla Bhasin Your work will continue inspiring our collective efforts to drive change for every girl towards a vision of equality you espoused PTI UZM TIR TIR

New Delhi Sep 25 PTI Eminent womens rights activist poet and author Kamla Bhasin passed away on Saturday She was 75Activist Kavita Srivastava said on Twitter Bhasin breathed her last around 3 amBhasin has been a prominent voice in the womens movement in India and other South Asian countries Kamla Bhasin our dear friend passed away around 3am today 25th Sept This is a big setback for the womens movement in India and the South Asian region She celebrated life whatever the adversity Kamla you will always live in our hearts In Sisterhood which is in deep grief Kavita Srivastava tweeted PTI UZM TIR TIR