Indian court jails Yasin Malik for life

JKLF chief tells court he is practising non-violent politics after giving up arms in 1990s

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR:

An Indian court on Wednesday jailed senior Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik for life over several charges, including “terror funding”, triggering street protests outside his residence and condemnation from the Kashmiris diaspora worldwide.

Last week, a special Indian court convicted the 56-year-old chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) on charges of “terrorism and funding acts of terror” after he “pleaded guilty” to all the 10 charges. However, he told the court on Wednesday that he had been practising non-violent politics after giving up arms in the 1990s.

Today is a black day for Indian democracy & its justice system. India can imprison Yasin Malik physically but it can never imprison idea of freedom he symbolises. Life imprisonment for valiant freedom fighter will provide fresh impetus to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 25, 2022

The prosecutors had demanded of the court to award death penalty but Special Judge Parveen Singh instead sentenced him to life under a section of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The court said that Malik “did not want any trial and therefore, he was ready to plead guilty”.

The trial court was designated for cases brought by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s top anti-terrorism investigation body. NIA had accused Malik of offences, including waging or attempting to wage war against India, and helping raise funds for anyone to “commit a terrorist act”.

Malik’s wife Mushaal Hussein Mullick said that the sentencing by a “kangaroo court” was illegitimate. “Verdict in minutes by Indian kangaroo court,” she wrote on Twitter. “The iconic leader will never surrender,” she added.

Strongly condemn unjust sentencing of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in a sham trial. India can never silence Kashmiris’ voice for freedom and self-determination. Pakistan stands with Kashmiri brothers and sisters, will continue to provide all possible support in their just struggle

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 25, 2022

The JKLF said it was discussing the situation emanating from Malik’s sentencing to formulate a new strategy. However, JKLF Vice Chairman Khawaja Saif Din warned that India had compelled the Kashmiris to take up arms against it again.

“We will take a decision on what strategy we have to adopt following the life imprisonment of our leader,” Khawaja said. “Our group was holding negotiations with the Indian government for the solution of the Kashmir issue. But today, India has compelled Kashmiris to again take up arms against it.”

In Srinagar, the main city of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), authorities severed internet connections and police fired tear gas shells and pellets to disperse stone-pelting protesters outside Malik’s residence, who were shouting slogans demanding his freedom.

Local politicians in IIOJK said that the verdict was a setback to peace efforts. “We are afraid that this will further compound the uncertainties in the region and will only fuel more alienation and separatist feelings,” a group of parties said in a statement. Crowds also gathered in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to call for Malik’s release.

Humble roots

A former student activist from humble roots, Malik led one of the first groups of the Kashmiri fighters. He was first arrested in 1990 by Indian forces and has spent several years in different jails since. He said he was tortured for years in various Indian detention centres.

Pakistan strongly condemns life sentence awarded to Yasin Malik on fabricated charges. Such oppressive tactics cannot dampen the spirit of people of Kashmir in their just struggle against illegal Indian occupation. We stand with them in quest for self-determination as per UNSCRs

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 25, 2022

Malik led hundreds of armed fighters until 1994 when he renounced violence to campaign peacefully for the liberation of Kashmir. He has since campaigned for Kashmir’s right to self-determination as chairman of the JKLF.

Malik has had talks several times with the Indian government, including with two previous prime ministers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had declared JKLF an “unlawful association” in 2019, the year when India split the IIOJK after abrogating the constitutional clauses that granted special status to the region.