JEDDAH, 6 January, 2021, (TON): The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the prolonged illegal detention of Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Aasiya Andrabi, and her two associates in an Indian jail.

The IPHRC in a statement issued in Jeddah said the charges, based on India’s controversial Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), were “concocted” and “baseless.”

The IPHRC said that despite her advancing age, deteriorating health condition and the threat of coronavirus, Andrabi is being held on fabricated charges and denied due process. It said the situation was deeply concerning.

The IPHRC urged the UN, OIC member states and the international human rights organizations to demand the immediate release of Aasiya Andrabi, her associates and the commission reiterated its strong concerns over growing incidents of illegal detention of human rights and political activists, and members of civil society and media by the Indian security forces.

The body said “draconian” laws such as the Armed Special Forces Power Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA) and the UAPA form the basis of many of the detentions.

It also called upon the UN to repeal its afore-mentioned discriminatory laws, which are incompatible with human rights standards and restore all fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris.

Andrabi is the founder of one of the most influential women rights organizations in held Kashmir and is widely respected as a voice of reason with concrete contribution towards women empowerment in held Kashmir.

NIA court orders framing of charges against Asiya Andrabi and her two associates. Andrabi and her associates are being held without access to free and fair trial and subjected to physical and psychological torture and denied critical medical care endangering their lives in contravention of the international human rights and humanitarian laws.