Mehraj was arrested by National Investigation Agency on March 20, 2023, under the UAPA and is currently being held in a jail in New Delhi.
As Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj has completed more than 1,000 days in jail, the Journalist Federation of Kashmir on Friday demanded for his immediate release.
Mehraj, a Srinagar-based reporter known for his work on human rights, public health and social justice, was arrested on March 20, 2023, and is currently lodged in a jail in New Delhi. He was booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s stringent anti-terror law. Authorities have said the case is under legal process.
In a statement, the JFK said Mehraj’s prolonged detention amounted to a situation where “the process has become punishment,” describing it as both a personal tragedy for his family and a broader reflection of shrinking civil liberties in the region.
Mehraj is the founding editor of Wande Magazine, has served as a senior editor at TwoCircles.net, and has written for local and international outlets including Rising Kashmir, Himal and Deutsche Welle.
In 2024, while in custody, he received the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award for reporting on heroin addiction in Kashmir.
“Journalism is not a crime,” the JFK said, adding that reporting on sensitive issues should not be treated as criminal activity. The group said the continued use of stringent laws against journalists sends a “chilling message” to the media community and undermines the public’s right to information.
Concerns over Mehraj’s detention have been raised by journalists’ unions, press freedom organisations and human rights groups in India and abroad.
The JFK also criticised what it described as increased scrutiny of journalists in Kashmir, including raids and seizure of electronic devices, citing the recent summoning of journalist Jehangir Ali of The Wire.
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