An Indian court sentenced Kashmiri activist Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment, along with Naheeda Nasreen and Fehmeeda Sofi. The verdict, delivered by a special court of India’s National Investigation Agency, has drawn widespread criticism. Observers say it is part of a broader attempt to silence pro-freedom voices in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Andrabi, founder of the women’s organization Dukhtaran-e-Millat in 1987, has spent decades advocating for Kashmiri rights. She worked to empower women socially, economically, and educationally while speaking out against alleged human rights violations. Human rights groups warn that her sentencing undermines civil liberties and international legal standards.
Supporters note that Andrabi accepted the life sentence without renouncing her political stance, reflecting the resilience of Kashmiri resistance. Her husband, Muhammad Qasim Faktoo, has been imprisoned since 2003 under similar circumstances. Analysts highlight previous cases, including Maqbool Bhat, Afzal Guru, and Yasin Malik, to illustrate a pattern of suppressing political opposition in the region.
Kashmiri activist Asiya Andrabi sentenced to life has sparked strong condemnation from leaders and international observers. az Rathore”,”politician”], Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, called it political repression. Experts warn the ruling could heighten instability and escalate calls for urgent global attention to the Kashmir conflict.