An alarming development in Pakistan-administrated Jammu Kashmir has been brought to our attention. Two human rights activists, Arslan Shani and Asma Batool, have been charged with blasphemy allegations in Pakistan-held Jammu Kashmir on the behest of fundamentalist forces, historically sponsored by the state, particularly after the draconian military regime of Zia-ul-Haq. Such charges of blasphemy can very easily lead to these young rights activists being killed by religious fanatics, as has happened numerous times in the past. The details of the cases registered against them are as follows:
Arslan Shani
23/8/24
Thana (Police Station) Hajeera
Clause 298/499y
FIR No. 182/24
Asma Batool
25/8/24
Thana (Police Station) Abbaspur
Clause 298/489o/489p
FIR No. 52/24
We condemn this heinous act of oppression by the Pakistan’s and Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir’s authorities on the common people to curb voices of dissent. We demand that the charges against Arslan Shani and Asma Batool be withdrawn immediately, that Asma Batool be liberated, and that the state and non-state actors involved in such acts of repression be tried in courts and punished according to universal values of democracy, freedom of expression, justice and human rights. We also reserve the right of registering our protest at Pakistan’s embassies and consulates globally if frivolous charges against Arslan Shani and Asma Batool are not dropped, and the latter is not set free.
