“The FIDH International Board (IB) has chosen a figure from our federation’s network, for whose struggle in India, we have nothing but admiration,” said Alice Mogwe, President of FIDH. “Khurram Parvez is in prison for his fight for truth, justice and human rights. Justice will prevail. His struggle is our struggle.”
Khurram Parvez, tireless activist
As human rights defender (HRD) based in Srinagar, Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir, Khurram Parvez has played a leading role in the human rights movement in Kashmir. He has been involved with the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP, FIDH member organisation since 2019) and the Jammu Kashmir Civil Society Coalition (JKCCS). He is also President of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). His work as an advocate is focused on enforced disappearances at the regional level, documentation of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, litigation and training of young rights defenders.
Khurram Parvez was arrested on 22 November 2021 by Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials after a 14-hour raid on his home and the JKCCS office in Srinagar. Since then, Khurram has been charged with several trumped-up, politically motivated charges. Khurram is currently being held in an overcrowded prison, far from his home, with common law prisoners. His arrest has been described by the UN as “retaliation for his legitimate activities as a human rights defender”. It has no other purpose than to try to silence him and the entire human rights movement in Kashmir.
Khurram is the 2023 recipient of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, in recognition of his tireless work exposing rights violations in Kashmir.