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UNHRC urges India to drop UAPA case against Arundhati Roy over comments on Kashmir

Arundhati Roy was on 27 June honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her "unflinching and unswerving" writings.

BySouth First Desk

Published Jun 27, 2024 | 9:26 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 27, 2024 | 9:26 PM

Human rights commission on prosecuting Arundhati Roy under UAPA

Arundhati Roy. (Facebook)

The United Nations Human Rights Council led by High Commissioner Volker Turk, on Thursday, 27 June voiced concern over the use of anti-terror law in India to silence critics. It also urged authorities to drop cases against author Arundhati Roy over comments on Kashmir.

On 14 June, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena accorded sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and a former professor in Kashmir under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in Delhi in 2010.

The FIR against the author and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain was based on a complaint by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on 28 October, 2010. The allegations was over speech by the duo at a conference organised under the banner of ‘Azadi – The Only Way’ on October 21, 2010, in New Delhi.

Related: Nod to prosecute Arundhati Roy under UAPA ‘misuse of power’: Sharad Pawar

Taking to ‘X’ to post about it, UNHR said that it is concerned by the use of UAPA to silence critics and asked that the cases against Arundhati Roy and the former professor be dropped.

#India: We are concerned by use of #UAPA anti-terror law to silence critics. Repeat call for review of law & release of human rights defenders detained under it. Urge authorities to drop cases against Arundhati Roy & Sheikh Showkat Hussain over comments on India-admin Kashmir

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) June 27, 2024

Those who delivered speeches at the conference include Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Varavara Rao.

Arundhati Roy was on 27 June honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her “unflinching and unswerving” writings. The prize, established in 2009 by the charity English PEN, defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature in memory of Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter.

(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)

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