Tribunal Upholds Extension of Ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front

On October 5th, a tribunal under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) upheld the Union Home Ministry’s decision to extend the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), led by Yasin Malik, for an additional five years.

The ban, initially renewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on March 15, 2024, categorizes the JKLF as an “unlawful association” under UAPA provisions.

In Kashmir, the UAPA is being used to stifle all forms of dissent and expression of the people against the ongoing occupation. India is expanding the definition of “terrorism” to include all forms of resistance to occupation, including non-violent expression. This further endangers Kashmiri civil society and rights defenders.

In its March notification, the MHA alleged that the JKLF, led by imprisoned pro-freedom leader Yasin Malik, engages in activities deemed harmful to “security and public order,” with potential to disrupt “the unity and integrity” of the country. The UAPA tribunal, led by Delhi High Court Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, supported this stance, stating that organizations promoting Kashmiri self-determination and freedom are incompatible with the framework of the Indian Constitution.

Yasin Malik has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in Kashmiri freedom struggle.

The extended ban on JKLF underscores the ongoing efforts by the Indian state to curb pro-freedom movements in Jammu and Kashmir amidst heightened measures to enforce compliance with repressive Indian constitutional mandates.